Earticle

The purpose of this case report is to investigate the effects of real-time feedback from virtual reality gait training on the balance and gait abilities of a patient with post-stroke left hemiplegia. A 47-year-old male diagnosed with stroke caused by left basal ganglia intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), resulting in right hemiplegia, participated in this case study. Notably, he exhibited hemiplegic symptoms on the right side. Physical therapy interventions included 30 minutes of virtual reality-based real-time feedback gait training, followed by 30 minutes of conventional physical therapy, consisting of Bobath, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF), range of motion exercises, stretching exercises, upper and lower extremity strengthening exercises, overground gait training, cycling, and treadmill gait training. The patient underwent a total of 60 minutes of training per session, conducted three times a week for eight weeks, amounting to a total of 24 sessions. Balance and gait ability were evaluated before the intervention, after four weeks, and after eight weeks. For the assessment of balance, the timed up and go test (TUG) and the berg balance scale (BBS) were utilized. Gait ability was evaluated using GaitRite. Following the intervention, the patient's BBS score improved from 41 to 45 in terms of balance ability, and the TUG result improved from 22.31 seconds to 19.85 seconds. In terms of gait ability, the 10-meter walk test result improved from 22.02 seconds to 19.65 seconds. The affected step length increased from 19.00 cm to 23 cm, while the stride length increased from 34.00 cm to 39 cm. Velocity improved from 1.0 km/h to 1.4 km/h, cadence increased from 50 steps per minute to 60 steps per minute, and single limb support improved from 22.8% of the gait cycle to 25.1% gait cycle. Virtual reality-based real-time feedback gait training had a positive impact on the rehabilitation of a patient with post-stroke left hemiplegia, demonstrating improvements in both balance and gait ability. These findings suggest that further studies are necessary to explore the broader effects of virtual reality-based real-time feedback gait training in patients with post-stroke left hemiplegia.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of lunge exercise with foot intrinsic muscle stretching on joint range of motion, balance, and gait ability. Ten chronic stroke patients (n=10) were selected and interventions were 3 rounds of lunge exercises per day, 5 days a week, for 4 weeks. Each set comprised 10 repetitions. The subjects' joint range of motion (ROM), berg balance scale (BBS), 6-minute walk test (6MWT), and gait analysis were recorded before and after the intervention. A paired t-test was used to determine significant changes in the post-intervention period compared to before the intervention. After 4 weeks of intervention, the ROM significantly increased (p<.001), the BBS significantly improved (p<.001), and the 6MWT significantly showed improvement (p<.001). Additionally, gait speed significantly increased (p=.001). These results suggest that lunge exercise with foot intrinsic muscle stretching reduces and improves joint range of motion, balance, and gait disorders in patients with chronic stroke.

The purpose of this study was to identify the comparison of difference in respiratory muscle thickness and vital capacity during aerobic exercise in 20 minutes according to abdominal breathing and thoracic breathing. A sample of 30 men and women in their 20s were assigned to an abdominal breathing group and thoracic breathing group. All subjects measured their respiratory muscle thickness and vital capacity before aerobic exercise and after aerobic exercise. In order to compare the differences before and after the intervention, the paired t-test was used. In addition independent t-test was used to compare the differences between groups. The P value was set to 0.05. The abdominal breathing group showed significant changes in FEV1, FEV1/FVC (%). The thoracic breathing group showed significant changes in upper trapezius, FEV1, FEV1/FVC (%). In comparison between groups, the abdominal group showed significant differences in upper trapezius, FEV1, FEV1/FVC (%) compared to the thoracic breathing group. The abdominal breathing is effective in improving vital capacity. While using thoracic breathing for aerobic exercise, the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) and upper trapezius (UT) can be excessively active, resulting in musculoskeletal diseases such as forward head posture and thoracic outlet syndrome. Therefore, abdominal breathing should be used for aerobic exercise. and it is recommended to exercise with appropriate strength to prevent compensation of the SCM and UT.

Ankle instability refers to a condition where ligaments and surrounding tissues become weakened and compromised due to a lack of proper treatment. A significant percentage of cases are caused by lateral ankle sprains, which result in symptoms such as pain, swelling, instability, and giving way, negatively impacting balance and gait. This study investigated whether kinesio taping is effective when combined with balance training on unstable surfaces, assessing its impact on static balance and gait. Since there are conflicting views on the actual effectiveness of kinesio taping, this study aimed to serve as a bridge connecting various research findings. Fifteen adults were divided into an exercise group and a group that combined kinesio taping with exercise therapy. Both groups followed the same exercise program for four weeks. Static balance and gait were measured before and after the intervention using the Zebris FDM-SX and BTS G-sensor. In terms of static balance, the exercise group showed a trend towards improvement, with a reduction in the 95% confidence ellipse area of approximately 830mm² after the intervention. In the group combining kinesio taping with balance exercises, a statistically significant reduction was observed after the intervention (p<.05). Regarding gait, the group that combined kinesio taping with balance exercises showed a significant increase in walking speed and stride length after the intervention (p<.05). There were no statistically significant differences between the exercise group and the group that combined kinesio taping with balance exercises. Combining balance exercises with kinesio taping is effective in improving gait and static balance.

This study aimed to identify the effects of squats combined with EMS on dynamic balance and functional ability in females suspected of sarcopenia. It recruited 30 female subjects suspected of sarcopenia. They were randomly divided into an experimental group wearing EMS and a control group without EMS, each with 15 members. Both groups received 30 minutes of intervention programs. Measurements were used before and after the intervention. The dynamic balance ability was measured by the star excursion balance test (SEBT), and the functional ability was measured by the vertical jump test and functional movement screen (FMS). The following statistical analyses were performed: a paired t-test for each group and an independent t-test between two groups. In SEBT, except for the anterior side direction, there were all significant increases between the experimental and control groups (p<.05). While the vertical jump test and FMS did not show significant effects in either group comparison, two tests demonstrated a significant increase in the experimental group before and after the intervention. These results suggest that squats with EMS may be effective for the dynamic balance ability in females suspected of sarcopenia.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the additional effects of an orthopedic manual physical therapy program (OMPTP) combined with prolo injection (PI) compared to PI alone on pain, functional disability, and mobility in patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain. In this study, 36 patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain were randomly assigned to two groups: the OMPTP group with PI and the PI group alone. The numeric rating scale (NRS) was used to assess the subjects’ levels of low back pain, while level. the Korean Oswestry Disability Index (K-ODI) was used to evaluate lumbar functional disability scale. The finger -to -floor (FTF) test was used to assess the subjects’ lumbar mobility. The intervention consisted of PI once a week for a total of three times and OMPTP twice a week for a total of four times for three weeks. The experimental group received both PI and OMPTP, while the control group received only PI. Each OMPTP session lasted 25 minutes. After the intervention, both the experimental and control groups showed significant improvements in pain and disability. The experimental group demonstrated a greater increase in range of motion (ROM) than the control group (p<.05), and a significant difference was observed in the change in disability before and after the experimen t (p<.05). These results suggest that OMPTP can be beneficially used as a therapeutic intervention for faster functional recovery and ROM improvement in patients with chronic low back pain when combined with PI alone.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between shoe abrasion patterns (medial or lateral), Q angle, and foot pressure in healthy young adults. An observational, cross-sectional study design involving thirty participants was employed. The alignment of the pelvis was evaluated by measuring the plantar pressure and the Q angle, in relation to the wear type of the shoe sole. No significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of age, height, weight, leg length, and shoe wear (p<.05). Furthermore, the Q angle, body sway area, maximum plantar pressure (Max P), average plantar pressure (Avg P), and plantar pressure deviation index (center of pressure excursion index, CPEI) were analyzed. The results revealed three significant correlations in the medial abrasion group and 24 significant correlations in the lateral abrasion group. Notably, the lateral abrasion group exhibited higher positive correlations between the Q angle and plantar pressure compared to the medial abraded group. It should be noted that the presence of abrasion inside the shoe is not typical among individuals who walk normally, and its occurrence may be attributed to heterogeneity resulting from differences in general characteristics.

Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability globally, characterized by impairments in motor and sensory functions and limitations in activities of daily living (ADL). Proprioceptive vibration training (PVT) has recently gained attention as a promising rehabilitation approach to activate proprioceptive systems and improve motor function. This study evaluated the effects of proprioceptive vibration training (PVT) on lower limb motor function and activities of daily living (ADL) in chronic stroke patients. This retrospective study involved 28 chronic stroke patients who were divided into a CPT group (n=14) and a PVT group (n=14). Both groups underwent five 30-minute sessions per week for four weeks. The PVT intervention utilized a vibration platform set at 20 Hz, with exercises focusing on lower limb strengthening, weight-bearing on the affected limb, and balance training. Outcomes were assessed using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Lower Extremity (FMA-LE) and the Modified Barthel Index (MBI). Statistical analyses were conducted to evaluate pre- and post-intervention differences and intergroup comparisons. PVT significantly improved Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Lower Extremity (FMA-LE) scores (+26.09%) and Modified Barthel Index (MBI) scores (+33.39%) compared to CPT. A moderate positive correlation between lower limb function and ADL (r = 0.60, p < 0.01) was observed. PVT enhances proprioceptive stimulation, increases muscle activation, and reduces spinal excitability, improving neuromuscular control. These results support PVT as an effective and stable neurorehabilitation method, providing superior outcomes in lower limb function and ADL performance compared to conventional physical therapy.

This study aims to compare the effect of passive stretching of the sternocleidomastoid muscle and iliopsoas muscle on pulmonary functions. Thirty-two university students were participated in this study. The subjects were randomly assigned to either the sternocleidomastoid stretching group (16 people) or the iliopsoas stretching group (16 people). The pulmonary functions (forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, peak expiratory flow rate, and maximal voluntary ventilation) were measured using a Pony FX. All subjects measured pulmonary function before and after the interventions. All pulmonary functions were significantly improved after the sternocleidomastoid stretching group (p<.05). In the iliopsoas stretching group, there was no statistically significant difference in forced vital capacity and peak expiratory flow rate, however forced expiratory volume in 1 second, forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity and maximal voluntary ventilation increased significantly after the intervention. As a result of comparing the difference values before and after the intervention, maximal voluntary ventilation of iliopsoas muscle passive stretching group was significantly improved compared to the sternocleidomastoid muscle passive stretching group (p<.05). Therefore, in this study, passive stretching exercise for the sternocleidomastoid muscle is recommended to improve overall lung function, and passive stretching exercise for the iliopsoas muscle, which affects the major respiratory muscles, is recommended to improve maximal voluntary ventilation.

The composition of physical therapists in hospitals consists of individuals with diverse experience ranging from 1 year to over 10 years in their field. Preferences and prospects towards various fields of physical therapy (PT) may differ based on generational gaps or work experience. Therefore, this study investigated preferences and prospects regarding different fields of the PT according to their work experience and field of practice. ninety-two physical therapists were participated by online survey (Google Forms, Google Inc., CA, USA) for this study. All participants were categorized into three groups according to their years of work experience and five groups according to their current fields of practice. The online survey investigated the preferences and future prospects regarding various fields of the PT as well as the reasons behind their choices, for each group. In preferences for different fields of PT according to work experience, PT for the musculoskeletal system was shown the highest preference and PT for the children and adolescents was shown the lowest preference in all three groups. Additionally, in preferences for different fields of PT according to the fields of practice, individuals tended to have the highest preference for the field they were currently employed excluding those working in PT for the nervous system. Regarding the prospect for different fields of PT according to field of practice, excluding physical therapists working in PT for the children and adolescents, the prospect score for PT for the children and adolescents was the lowest. The results of this study are expected to provide basic information on each field to physical therapists considering job changes or PT students. In addition, it is anticipated that this information could be utilized as foundational data in formulating policies related to PT.

This study aims to investigate the impact of general education courses at a Christian university on the professional ethics of physical therapy students. All participants voluntarily participated after agreeing to the study's purpose and content. This research employed a survey method, distributing online questionnaires via Google Forms to all enrolled students in the Department of Physical Therapy at a Christian university located in Chungcheong Province. Data were collected from a total of 243 respondents, and all responses were included in the analysis. The survey consisted of four sections: general characteristics of participants, items related to general education courses (8 items), personal ethical perceptions (9 items), and awareness of professional ethics in physical therapy (9 items). The findings revealed that most students achieved a grade of B or higher in general education courses, with an average course satisfaction score of 3.65±.86, indicating moderate satisfaction. Among the courses, those in the balanced education category received the highest satisfaction. Regarding personal ethical perception, participants recognized a high ethical responsibility due to the growing professionalism in physical therapy, while self-assessed ethical values were rated as average. Most respondents had no prior ethics education but acknowledged its necessity. For professional ethics, patient safety and protection, along with professionalism, were identified as priorities. Overall, participants demonstrated a high level of awareness across all items related to professional ethics in physical therapy. However, the Pearson correlation coefficient (r) between items related to general education courses and professional ethics was below 0.5, indicating no significant correlation between the two. While the relationship between general education courses and professional ethics was not confirmed, the findings suggest the need for the development of general education programs to help establish the professional values of physical therapy students in Christian universities.

Robot assisted gait-training (RAGT) has been shown to improve the postural balance and gait function in children with cerebral palsy (CP). The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness and efficiency of squat and wearable robot Angel-legs assisted gait training on the balance and gait in the boy with spastic diplegic CP and provide evidence for the clinical application of training using wearable rehabilitation robots. The conventional physical therapy is performed for 30 minutes per session, twice a day for 3 weeks. Squat and gait training with wearable robot was conducted for 30 minutes per session, once a day for 3 weeks (a total of 15 sessions). Outcome measures were evaluated before and after the intervention. Trunk control measurement scales and pediatric balance scale were used to measure balance, gross motor function measure was used to evaluate gross motor function, 10m walking test was used to evaluate walking ability, and electromyography (EMG) was used as a tool to measure muscle activity. Improvements in all of the measurements have been reported after intervention, induced squat & gait training using wearable robot. In particular, maximum of the difference of the same muscle group(quadriceps and hamstring) activity was decreased in EMG measurements. It is associated with using both side muscle equally, then subject improved walking efficiency. In conclusion, these findings suggest that RAGT including squat training may be meaningful for improving of balance ability and gait performance especially walking speed.

The aim is to implement project-based learning (PBL) models in healthcare-related departments (physical therapy, medical laboratory science, early childhood education) through department-specific case studies. The common PBL process for each department was divided into three stages: Pre-class (preparation), In-class (execution), and Post-class (conclusion). The preparation stage involved team-building and the concretization of project plans. The execution stage included field research, problem identification, data analysis and organization, and proposing solutions. The conclusion stage involved refining materials and submitting the final project outcomes. The physical therapy department applied the PBL model for 4 weeks with 98 students in the research methodology class. The medical laboratory science department implemented it for 5 weeks with 30 students in the biochemistry class. The early childhood education department used the PBL approach for 4 weeks with 38 students in the teaching practice class. The common PBL process implemented in the physical therapy, medical laboratory science, and early childhood education departments at wonkwang health science university positively contributed to fostering the 4C skills (creativity, cooperation, critical thinking, and communication) among students.

This case study evaluated severe swallowing disorders that were specific to patients with Miller-Fischer syndrome, a variant of Guillain-Barre syndrome, in addition to the main three symptoms, performed initial active treatment, and investigated its effects. The subject of the study was a male patient in his 30s who was diagnosed with Miller-Fisher's syndrome. As a result of video fluoroscopy, the ability to chew and swallow food was not observed. For 23 days, electrical stimulation treatment and active swallowing disorder rehabilitation were combined. After application, changes in orofacial muscle strength and swallowing function were analyzed. After active swallowing rehabilitation, the tongue and bilateral ball muscle strength increased by 13.5 kPa and 5.5 kPa, respectively. In addition, as a result of the new video fluoroscopy scale analyzed through video fluoroscopy, the score decreased from an initial 74 points to 37.5 points. In this study, in the treatment of swallowing disorder in patients with Miller-Fisher syndrome, early active swallowing disorder rehabilitation therapy and electric stimulation therapy are thought to have a positive effect on the improvement of oral facial strength and swallowing function.

This study aimed to evaluate the usability of the 'ReVive' program, which was designed to improve the social adaptation ability of stroke rehabilitation patients using VR/AR technology. The subjects were 8 rehabilitation patients who had experienced rehabilitation treatment for stroke hemiplegia, spinal cord injury, etc. at a daycare center and a welfare facility for the disabled in Seoul in November 2023 and September 2024. The research method used a combination of quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods such as the program's usability evaluation (SUS), the impact on the daily life of rehabilitation patients (K-DAL), the user experience evaluation (UEQ), and in-depth interviews. The recognition rate of the LeapMotion2 sensor varied depending on the upper limb physical condition of the subjects participating in this study, showing differences in usability. As a result of the study, the ReVive program recorded a high average score of 81.7 points in the SUS, and the overall satisfaction was 86%. In particular, the practicality and interest factors of the program were evaluated as 4.5 points and 4.6 points, respectively, confirming that the user experience was positive. This study objectively demonstrated the effectiveness of a stroke rehabilitation program using VR technology and suggested the possibility of it as a digital rehabilitation training tool for the social reintegration of stroke rehabilitation patients after treatment.

This study used PubMed, KISS, and RISS as a search engine to search domestic and foreign literature published from 2009 to 2024 using words such as “stroke mirror therapy,” “mirror therapy stroke,” and “mirror therapy for the CVA. This study conducted a systematic review to examine the effect of mirror therapy on the recovery of upper limb function in stroke patients. It was confirmed that mirror therapy is effective in improving the l upper extremity function on the paralysis side of stroke patients, and the effect persists even after the end of treatment. I future studies, more detailed studies are needed to supplement these limitations, and additional studies should be conducted on the effects of various symptoms that can occur due to stroke in terms of the therapeutic effect of mirror therapy.