Earticle

This case report details a rare occurrence of iliacus muscle hematoma in a 17-year-old female during physical therapy, particularly after an extensive hip extension exercise. The case outlines the patient's experience of intense pain and subsequent development of motor weakness and hypoesthesia, revealing diagnostic findings from electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies. Treatment included a combination of modalities like TENS, infrared, microwave therapy, and manual therapy, which successfully improved the patient's condition as evidenced by follow-up MRI and clinical assessments. This report emphasizes the importance of physical therapists’ awareness of such rare complications and the need for individualized treatment plans, cautious biomechanical assessment, and continuous education in physical therapy practice. It highlights the necessity of a comprehensive approach in managing unusual and complex cases, showcasing the adaptability required in physical therapy.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in gait, pelvic movement, and medial gastrocnemius structure between typically developing children and children with delayed motor development with different muscle tone characteristics. Forty-five participants were divided into three groups: typically developing (TD) children (n = 18), children with spasticity (n = 17), children with central hypotonia (n = 10). BTS G-walk was used to measure gait and pelvic movement, and ultrasonography was used to measure medial gastrocnemius structure. In the result, children with spasticity had smaller peak angle of pelvic obliquity and pennation angle of medial gastrocnemius compared to TD children (p<.05), and larger peak angle of posterior tilt and rotation than children with central hypotonia (p<.05). Children with hypotonia had a shorter stride length and longer stance phase than children with TD (p<.05), and the thickness of the gastrocnemius muscle was thicker than children with spasticity (p<.05), but there was no difference in pelvic movement from TD children (p>.05). Therefore, it is necessary to recognize that the gait and muscle structure of children with delayed motor development are different depending on the muscle tone, and to propose an intervention program appropriate for their characteristics.

This study was to test the immediate effects of foam roller and stretching exercises on hamstring muscle flexibility to identify more effective exercises for hamstring muscle flexibility and provide a basis for an exercise program. In addition, we would like to find out how an increase in hamstring flexibility affects the mobility of the lower back. In this study, 28 adult men and women enrolled at Daejeon University were selected as 14. Fourteen participants were randomly selected to join the Hamstring Foam Roller Group (HFG) and 14 subjects in the Hamstring Stretching Group (HSG) for assessment in the experiment on April 3, 2023. In this study, the Posterior Superior Iliac Spine (PSIS) will be palpated and marked in the locker room. Before the intervention, the SRT+Schober test, FFT+Schober test, and foam roller or stretching exercises will be assessed. After the intervention, the SRT+Schober test and FFT+Schober test are measured once more. the intervention method in this study involved two groups: one group used a foam roller, while the other group performed stretching exercises to relax the hamstring muscles. the application time for foam roller exercise is 3 sets of 90 seconds each, and for stretching exercise, it is 3 sets of 30 seconds each, with a 30-second rest period between each leg. The results indicated that both the Hamstring Foam Roller Group and the Hamstring Stretching Group showed a significant increase in SRT, SRT+Schober test, FFT, and FFT+Schober test after the intervention compared to before the intervention. However, there was no significant difference between the groups. The conclusion of this study suggests that this data can serve as a fundamental basis for an exercise program that can be widely utilized, not only by typical adults, but also by athletes aiming to improve performance, and by elderly individuals in the community seeking to prevent falls.

This study investigates a unique case of trauma-induced abducens nerve paralysis resulting from a rare clivus fracture in a 60-year-old patient. Following a 5-meter fall, the patient presented with symptoms including headache, contralateral limb weakness, and intense vertigo. Imaging revealed epidural and subdural hematomas, along with a right clivus fracture. Post-cranial surgery, exclusive impairment of the sixth cranial nerve was identified, manifested by the inability to abduct the right eye. Magnetic resonance imaging ruled out neoplastic and infectious causes, establishing a link to the clivus fracture. Consistent application of eye patches, except during sleep, led to significant symptomatic relief within six months, including improved lateral gaze in the right eye. This case deviates from the commonly reported bilateral damage, emphasizing the impact of severe head injuries on the abducens nerve's path through the clivus. The notable improvement post-rehabilitation with eye patches underscores the efficacy of targeted rehabilitation methods for such nerve injuries. The discussion explores various causes of abducens nerve palsy, presenting a compilation of case reports to underscore diverse etiological factors and patient demographics.

Scoliosis is a pathology in which three-dimensional spinal deformation occurs, and patients with scoliosis exhibit a reduced ability to balance. Therapeutic exercise is consistently used to improve these balance problems in patients with scoliosis. Thus, the aim of this study is to identify the effects of therapeutic exercise on balance parameteres in patients with scoliosis. SCHOLAR, KOREASCHOLAR, RISS, KISS, KCI, DPpia, and eArticle were searched using the terms scoliosis, exercise, and balance. Twenty-six studies met the inclusion criteria. Our findings suggest that there were still controversial results about the effects of several exercises. Nevertheless, it will be effective to apply therapeutic exercises according to the purpose required for patients’ characteristics in applying the results of the current study. Further studies are needed to provide stronger evidence.

The purpose of this study is to determine the correlation between descending movement of the diaphragm during breathing and respiratory function, respiratory muscle strength, and activities of daily living (ADL) in subacute stroke patients. The subjects of this study consisted of 29 subacute stroke patients hospitalized in the hospital, including 17 adult men and 12 adult women. The diaphragm was measured during quiet breathing and deep breathing in a supine position, and ultrasound M-mode was used to measure the movement of the diaphragm during breathing. To evaluate the respiratory function, forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) were measured using spirometer. Maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) were measured to evaluate the respiratory strength using Micro RPM. In clinical trial, functional independent measure (FIM) and fatigue severity scale (FSS) were measured. In this study, FVC showed a significant positive correlation (p<.01) between PDDB (r=.44) and NDDB (r=.57). FEV1 showed a significant positive correlation (p<.05) between PDQB (r=.45), NDQB (r=.42), and NDDB (r=.53). MIP showed a significant positive correlation (p<.05) between PDQB (r=.38), PDDB (r=.43), NDQB (r=.38), and NDDB (r=.68). MEP showed a significant positive correlation (p<.05) between PDDB (r=.38), NDQB (r=.44), and NDDB (r=.54). FIM showed a significant positive correlation (p<.05) with PDDB (r=.45). As the descending movement of diaphragm is positively correlated with respiratory function, respiratory muscle strength, and ADL, diaphragmatic breathing training which induces the descending movement of diaphragm in stroke patients is considered to be important.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of stair-walking training with knowledge of performance (KP) on balance and walking function in patients with stroke. The study utilized a single-subject experimental research design (A-B-A’). A patient with subacute stroke participated in the study. Experimental process consisted of comprised three phases (totaling 20 sessions): (1) baseline phase (5 sessions), (2) intervention phase (10 sessions), and (3) withdrawal phase (5 sessions). The outcome measures included the one-leg standing test (OLST), sit-to-stand test (STS), Berg balance scale (BBS), and 10-meter walk test (10MWT). During the intervention phase, stair-walking training with KP, focusing on head and trunk postures as well as lower limb motion, was applied for 30 minutes. However, this training was not implemented during the baseline and withdrawal phases. The results showed significant improvements in OLST, STS, BBS, and 10MWT scores during the intervention phase, and these gains were maintained during the withdrawal phase. The findings suggest that stair-walking training with KP may be effectively used to enhance balance and walking function in stroke survivors. This study provides valuable information for rehabilitation professionals seeking to establish useful stroke training programs in clinical practice. However, further studies with robust designs are required to confirm the results of this study.

The purpose of this study is to conduct a systematic literature review to investigate the effect of motor training on pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We searched and analyzed eight related studies published from January 1996 to December 2022 on domestic academic search sites. The result showed that exercise including balance training had a beneficial effect on pulmonary function, exercise tolerance and quality of life in patients with COPD. In addition, certain exercises such as home-based rehabilitation programs and unicycle riding have been found to be effective in improving cardiopulmonary function. Our study also highlights that the need for further study on the long-term effects of state-of-the-art exercise and pulmonary rehabilitation programs on the cost and effectiveness. In conclusion, exercise plays an important role in improving pulmonary function in patients with COPD, and continuos research should focus on optimizing exercise and conducting qualitative studies to better understand personal experiences of patients.

The objective of this study was to investigate the differences in postural changes during typing tasks with and without a recently developed integrated backrest and seat cushion. A total of 30 healthy individuals (27 males, 3 females; mean age of 24 ±1.96) participated in this study. Participants performed typing tasks for 30 minutes while sitting on a regular chair and a backrest chair with a lumbar support device installed. Video analysis was used to observe postural changes, and independent t-tests and paired t-tests were used to verify the statistical significance of the mean difference in postural change angles. The statistical significance level was set at p<.05. The pre-post changes in pelvic angle in the control group significantly decreased (p<.001). The pre-post changes in trunk flexion angle in the control group significantly decreased (p<.05). The pre-post changes in vertical distance in the control group significantly increased (p<.05). The pre-post changes in hip flexion angle in the group using a lumbar support device significantly decreased (p<.001). The pre-angle of hip flexion between the group using a lumbar support device and the control group was significantly different (p<.05). The post-angle of pelvic and trunk flexion were significantly different between the group using a lumbar support device and the control group (p<.05). The use of a lumbar support device effectively maintains the lordotic curvature of the lumbar spine during seated work. further research and development of support devices and chairs for modern individuals who spend extended periods of time sitting should continue to be pursued.

Stroke patients experience impaired voluntary movement, which impact dynamic balance, gait speed and gait ability. The current study was designed to determine the best neurorehabilitation method to improve clinical outcomes, including the time up and go test (TUG), 10 meter walking test (10MWT), and functional ambulation category (FAC) in sub-acute stroke hemiplegic patients. Forty-seven sub-acute stroke survivors consistently underwent proprioceptive whole body vibration (PWBV) or neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT) for 30 min/session, 5 days a week for 4 weeks. The PWBV platform was operated for 30 minutes at a frequency of 20 Hz. Three clinical outcome variables–the TUG, 10MWT and FAC– were examined pre- and post-intervention. We observed significant differences in the TUG, 10MWT as well as FAC scores between the PWBV and NDT groups. PWBV and NDT showed significant improvements in TUG, 10MWT and FAC. Collectively, our research provides the first clinical evidence of optimal neurorehabilitation in sub-acute stroke patients.

This study aimed to determine the effects of slide squat on hip joint pain, abduction strength, dynamic balance, and Q angle in Patients with chronic hip pain. Twenty-two subjects were recruited for this study. The experimental group performed three sets of 10 repetitions of slide squat. All participants measured hip joint pain, abduction strength, dynamic balance, and Q angle in measure before and after the intervention. Paired t-tests were used to clarify significant differences in hip joint pain, abduction strength, dynamic balance, and Q angle before and after intervention. After the intervention, the experimental group had a greater improvement in hip joint pain, abduction strength, dynamic balance, and Q angle than the pretest (P<.05). This study demonstrates that slide squat improved hip joint pain, abdcution strength, balance, and Q angle in chronic hip pain patients. These results suggest that slide squate may be beneficial for hip strength and balance function.

After a stroke, patients may experience various physical symptoms, cognitive impairments, and functional problems, which can lead to emotional distress including depression and anxiety, which can negatively impact rehabilitation outcome. Stroke patients with depression often tend to avoid engaging in outdoor activities, posing a challenge to their community reintegration and participation and resulting in a decreased quality of life. Consequently, clinicians have employed specific assessment tools to evaluate emotional problems following stroke in clinical practice. This highlights the need to develop appropriate treatment strategies to address depressive symptoms after stroke. Numerous studies have investigated the effects of therapeutic interventions on depression in stroke rehabilitation, with the general consensus pointing to the positive effects of exercise therapy in managing post-stroke depression. Current evidence supports the use of exercise and physical activity as a targeted approach in addressing emotional problems after stroke and facilitate functional recovery. However, despite its benefits for depression, detailed protocols and guidelines regarding the intensity, duration, and frequency of exercise therapy have not been clearly established yet. This hinders the development of more effective interventions to alleviate depression in patients with post-stroke hemiparesis. Therefore, this study aims to describe the effects of exercise therapy on depression after stroke and provide comprehensive information based on a literature review. This study findings of will contribute useful information to future researches focused on evaluating and treating depressive symptoms after stroke.