Earticle

Recently, as the number of industrial accidents related to the musculoskeletal system continues to increase, various efforts are being made to prevent workers musculoskeletal disorders. The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of tailored exercise programs on pain, functional disability, quality of life, and depression in industrial settings. This study conducted a tailored exercise program for 30 minutes once a week for 8 weeks targeting 60 workers with musculoskeletal disorders. This exercise program was based on the principle of movement impairment syndrome and medical training treatment, and proceeded with movement correction, muscle stretching, muscle strengthening exercise, and posture correction exercise. The visual analogue scale was used to measure pain, and the neck disability index, Oswestry disability index, and quick-disability of the arm, shoulder and hand were used to evaluate functional disability, and the world Health organization quality of life scale-Korean version was used to evaluate quality of life. For depression evaluation, the beck depression inventory was used to evaluate before and after the start of the exercise program. After an 8-week tailored exercise program, the pain, quality of life, and depression levels of all workers were significantly improved. Workers complaining of neck pain improved pain and functional disability, workers complaining of upper extremity pain improved pain, functional disability, quality of life, and depression, and workers complaining of back pain improved pain, quality of life, and depression. These results have clinical significance in that tailored exercise program in industrial settings is effective in improving social and psychological aspects such as quality of life and depression as well as prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders of workers.

This study compared the effects of two dynamic stretching techniques, namely the contract- relax (C-R) method of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) and the mobilization with movement (MWM) technique with Mulligan movement, with static stretching (SS) on the gastrocnemius muscle in healthy adult males and females. The average age of the participants was 22.21 years (with a standard deviation of 2.11 years), and a total of 33 participants (14 males and 19 females) voluntarily participated in the study. The participants were divided into three groups: SS, C-R, and MWM, each group consisting of 11 individuals. Outcomes were evaluated through ultrasound, hand-held dynamometer, gastrocnemius muscle pennation angle, muscle tone, and ankle joint dorsiflexion strength and range of motion (ROM) measurements. Measurements were taken before and after applying the SS, C-R, and MWM techniques. Significant differences were observed in gastrocnemius muscle pennation angle, muscle tone, ankle dorsiflexion strength, and ROM before and after the interventions (p < 0.05). When comparing the results between groups, significant differences were found in muscle tone, ankle dorsiflexion strength, and ROM (p < 0.05), while there was no significant difference in the pennation angle (p > 0.05). Therefore, based on the results of this study, it is recommended that for increasing ankle joint strength and ROM while reducing gastrocnemius muscle tone, the application of dynamic stretching techniques such as C-R and MWM is more advisable over using SS as a stretching method.

This study aimed to identify the prevalence and risk factors of sarcopenia for the disease in the Korean older adults, and to provide basic data for preventing the occurrence of sarcopenia through its management. Based on the data from 2008-2011 of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey, 3,485 subjects aged 65 or older who participated in tests for the diagnosis of sarcopenia and health surveys were selected as subjects. Risk factors for the occurrence of sarcopenia were analyzed using complex sample multi-logistic regression analysis. As a results, the incidence of sarcopenia in Korea was 39.3%, and 41.4% for men and 37.8% for women. The higher the age, the higher the blood glucose level, the higher the risk of developing sarcopenia in the case of underweight based on waist circumference and body mass index. Therefore, in order to reduce the incidence of sarcopenia, interventions and lifestyle improvements are required for subjects with these risk factors to prevent the onset of the disease.

This study aims to investigate the effect of a 6-week core stability and general exercise program on muscle strength, balance, and flexibility in elderly female farmers. Twenty four elderly female farmers aged 65 years or older participated in the study. Physical functions (muscle endurance, balance stability, and flexibility) are assessed through lower extremity muscle endurance, trunk flexor endurance, one-leg stand test, and hand reaching test. The exercise program consists of core exercises (bridge, plank, side-plank exercise, etc.), flexibility exercises (lumbopelvic and hip joint mobility), and balance exercises (single-leg balance exercises). After applying exercise program twice a week for a total of six weeks, significant increases in lower limb muscular endurance, trunk flexor muscular endurance, one-leg standing function, and flexibility were observed. These results can be used as a goal to achieve when applying physical function improvement exercises to elderly female farmers and can be used as a reference for setting exercise programs.

The trunk of patients with stroke plays an important role in functional independence and activities of daily living. Trunk control in patients with stroke is one of the crucial factor for performing functional tasks and is an essential component of gait. This study aimed to determine the relationship between the trunk balance ability at initial and gait ability at discharge in patients with stroke. In this study, 27 patients with stroke participated. Trunk impairment scale (TIS) at initial and gait ability (timed up and go [TUG], 10 m walking test [10MWT], 6-min walking test [6MWT], and functional ambulation category [FAC]) at discharge were evaluated. Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients were used to evaluate the relationship between trunk balance ability and gait ability in patients with stroke. TIS showed a significant correlation with 10MWT (r=.42, p<.05), 6MWT (r=.41, p<.05) and FAC (rho=.48, p<.05). The initial trunk control ability and gait ability at discharge in patients with stroke were correlated. It is believed that trunk rehabilitation can be an important part of gait ability in patients with stroke. Additionally, it could be important to evaluate the initial trunk control ability of patients with stroke.

This study investigated the effects of head postural correction on muscle activity during shoulder flexion and abduction. Twenty-four male participants with forward head posture (FHP) and no history of neurological or musculoskeletal surgery or injury were recruited. Their muscle activity was analyzed before and after head correction during shoulder abduction and flexion. Muscle activity and onset time were assessed using wireless surface electromyography of the right splenius capitis (SC); sternocleidomastoid (SCM); upper, middle, and lower trapezius (UT, MT, LT); and serratus anterior (SA) during shoulder movement. Shoulder abduction and flexion in FHP and neutral head posture (NHP) were compared using a paired t-test, and the main effects and interactions of head posture and shoulder movements were determined using a 2 × 2 repeated-measures analysis of variance using head posture and shoulder movements. When comparing shoulder abduction and flexion in the FHP, the muscle activities of the SCM and MT were significantly increased in abduction (p<.05). Muscle activity in all muscles except the SC and SA was significantly lower in NHP than in FHP inboth abduction and flexion (p>.05). Muscle onset time did not significantly differ between the FHP and NHP groups (p>.05). However, the MT moved first in abduction in the FHP and NHP, UT in flexion in the FHP, and SA in the NHP. In this study, the muscle activity differed during abduction and flexion in the FHP. Therefore, arm movement may be useful in clinical practice to improve FHP symptoms, and these research results may be used as basic data for FHP.

The purpose of this study is to verify the reliability and validity of Korean translation of transfer assessment instrument (TAI-K), an evaluation tool that evaluates the transfer ability of patients with spinal cord injury. The study subjects were 30 patients with spinal cord injury. The research instrument used was the TAI-K translated into Korean. The reliability analysis of the evaluation results used the intraclass correlation coefficient, and the validity analysis analyzed content validity and concurrent validity with KSCIMⅢ. The intrarater reliability interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of TAI-K was 0.795 (standard error of measurement, SEM=0.459, minimal detectable change, MDC=1.272). The inter-rater reliability ICC of TAI-K was 0.959 (SEM=0.440, MDC=2.120). The test-retest reliability ICC of TAI-K was 0.790 (SEM=0.415, MDC=1.152). The Cronbach's alpha value of TAI-K was 0.864-0.962, showing high internal consistency. As a result of verifying the content validity of TAI-K, content validity index scale (CVI-S) was analyzed as 0.91, confirming that it is an evaluation tool that meets the purpose of evaluation. The concurrent validity of TAI-K, KSCIMⅢ, and KSCIMⅢ item 12 (moving to sit) was not found to be significant. TAI-K is considered to be very reliable as an evaluation tool. The fact that the results showed a negative correlation in the concurrent validity analysis is presumed to be related to the characteristics of the study subjects. It was concluded that TAI-K can be used as an effective assessment tool to evaluate a patient's ability to transfer, and that further studies and studies based on patient groups are needed in the future.

This study aimed to explore the collaborative elements and strategies between physical therapists and special education teachers to provide substantial support for the ‘Activities of Daily Living' in the 2022 revised special education basic curriculum, and to draw implications. The research utilized literature research methods, analyzing domestic and international policies, laws, official documents from national agencies and related organizations, and previous studies. The findings were as follows: The analysis of content elements of activities of daily living in physical therapy and special education revealed related or common elements in the areas of independent living, physical activity, and adaptive living for those with severe disabilities. The main common elements included emphasis on self-care skills, focus on enhancing physical movement and mobility, and support for adaptation and participation in daily life. The key collaborative elements were: firstly, integrating therapeutic and educational approaches; secondly, jointly setting physical and functional goals in individualized education plans(IEP); thirdly, sharing expertise and resources; and fourthly, developing joint educational programs for activities of daily living Additionally, domestic studies and examples of school-based physical therapy(SBPT) in the United States suggested that collaboration between physical therapy and special education can be effective in supporting educational outcomes when implemented in school environments.

The purpose of this study was analyse the effect of the sit-to-stand exercise with visual deprivation rehabilitation intervention on functional ability and gait performance of subacute stroke patients. The subjects of the study were 22 sub-acute stroke patients. An onset time of less than 6 months were included in the study (subacute stage stroke patients). They are allocated in the visual deprivation group (n=11) and conventional physical therapy group (n=11) and observed for 30 min/1 session, 5 days a week for 4 weeks. Power tract, Timed Up & Go Test (TUG), 10M Walking Test (10MWT), and 6 Minute Walking Test (6MWT) were performed to evaluate the muscle strength, balance, and gait of stroke patients. In this study, We observed significant differences in the muscle strength, TUG, 10MWT as well as 6MWT between the conventional physical therapy and visual deprivation group (p<.01). visual deprivation intervention showed significant improvements in muscle strength(knee extensor muscle & ankle plantar flexor muscle), TUG, 10MWT and 6MWT. Collectively, our research provides the clinical evidence of optimal neurorehabilitation in subacute stroke patients. As a result, it is concluded that combining the intervention with visual deprivation in future clinical practice will help to improve the strength, balance, and walking ability of stroke patients more effectively.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the association between chronic renal failure( CRF) and muscle strength. This study obtained data from the Korea national health and nutrition examination survey(KNHANES, 2019), a cross-sectional and nationally representative survey conducted by the Korean centers for disease control and prevention. Participants in this study were the elderly aged 65 or older, and 1,395 were finally selected. As a result of adjusting all factors that can affect sociodemographic, health, and lifestyle, it was found that the association between CRF and muscle strength was significant at CRF stage 3-5 to 1.766 (95% CI: 1.083-2.881). The treatment of patients with chronic renal failure should be approached in consideration of a decrease in muscle strength, and a systematic and sustainable rehabilitation program is needed taking this into account.

The purpose of this study is to compare the difference in the craniovertebral angle (CVA) on the upper trapezius muscle tone and forced vital capacity (FVC) based on the different smartphone usage durations. Twenty healthy students attending a university in South Korea participated in this study. Subjects were randomly aligned to two groups: a 5-minute and 20-minute smartphone usage group, with each group consisting of ten participants. CVA was measured using digital protractor, muscle tone using Myoton, FVC for respiratory function was measured using digital spirometery. Three measurement variables were assessed before and after the experiment. There was a significant reduction in CVA when compared within each group (p<.05), but there was no significant difference when comparing the difference before and after the experiment within groups and between groups (p>.05). Muscle tone in right and left trapezius showed no significant difference within groups and between groups (p>.05). FVC showed significant decrease in the comparisons within each group (p<.05). FVC decreased significantly in the 20-minute smartphone usage group than in the 5-minute usage group (p<.05). Therefore, during 5 and 20-minute smartphone usage, neck angle and FVC decreased. Particularly, 20-minute smartphone usage had a greater impact on FVC compared to 5-minute usage. It is suggested that maintaining proper alignment of the neck and trunk is necessary during smartphone usage.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of different types of assistive devices using the Freudenstein‘s method on dynamic balances in stroke patients. All participants were measured immediate effects by measuring 10 m walk test, timed up-and-go test, and Berg balance scale under three conditions in three stroke patients. 3 conditions: (1) Shoe (2) UD-flex (3) NOFM (new orthosis using Freudenstein’s metho). In the case of new Orthosis is a four-bar linkage. The Orthosis consists of one active connection and three passive connections, and is structured to form a chain by freely rotating around a central point fixed at each end. The length of each connection was calculated using the Freudenstein’s method. In addition, dorsiflexion of the ankle is created through the action of four chain devices. The results of the study showed that the 10 m walk test, timed up-and-go test, and Berg balance scale of all three stroke patients were measured, and the new orthosis wearing condition showed improvements in all dynamic balance ability compared to the general brace wearing condition. Therefore, to prevent falls in stroke patients, new orthosis can be an alternative in terms of portability and cost-effectiveness, and it is believed that these results can be used as reference data when using orthosis for gait therapy in stroke patients in the future.