Background: Wellness programs can be implemented in a university setting and may include varied elements such as physical activity, occupational balance, and vocal health. However, there is limited information that highlights and synthesizes why and how these programs work. Therefore, this study aimed to understand effective programs on physical activity, occupational balance, and vocal health for university constituents in relation to the implementation contexts, mechanisms, and outcomes (CMO). Methodology: Guided by the Health Belief Model in the context of a realist review design, the researchers conducted an iterative search among seven peer-reviewed electronic databases in the health and education fields using a predetermined set of eligibility criteria. Results: The search identified 6564 records, of which programs from 20 records contributed to data synthesis. Nine CMO statements were created, with physical activity programs accounting for most configurations. Key themes identified were tailored and individualized interventions, medium-term incentivization, lifestyle education programs utilizing information and communications technology, interdisciplinary multi-component programs, use of self-monitoring strategies, social support, and shared experiences among employees and students. Analysis of the mechanisms of these effective university programs revealed processes and structures that were consistent with elements of the Health Belief Model. Conclusion Effective university-based PA programs result from a health-supporting culture among staff and students, utilizing self-based, technological, and social approaches that target and address individual and organizational behaviors in physical activity, occupational balance, and vocal health. This realist review provides practical information that may guide the development of university-based programs and policies targeting these areas of wellness.
Exercise ; Work-Life Balance

Introduction: Companies and hospitals in the healthcare industry, like other businesses, are not exempted from the rising labor costs and growing dissatisfaction among employees. The assessment and optimization of total rewards management (TRM) are important since TRM consists of monetary and non-monetary rewards given to employees in exchange for their time, talents, and efforts. Objective: This study assessed the TRM in Philippine healthcare companies. This study also looked into the organizational structure of various health-service companies and their TRM, and the difference between companies with TRM and without TRM in terms of pay, benefits, work-life balance, career development, and performance recognition. Method: A total of 74 human resource personnel were randomly sampled from healthcare companies in the Philippines. A survey questionnaire was administered with items on TRM philosophy divided into five parts – pay, benefits, work-life balance, career development, and performance recognition. High mean scores per TRM component correspond to higher levels of agreement to positive statements to the corresponding TRM component. Chi-square test was used to determine the association between various demographic variables and the existence of a TRM philosophy in a company. T-test was used to determine whether the differences in the mean scores per TRM component were statistically significant or not. Results: Less than half (44%) of the included companies have TRM and companies in Metro Manila were more likely to have an existing TRM philosophy. Companies in the healthcare sector usually disseminate information on TRM during town hall meetings, and not during onboarding. Employees in the healthcare companies had strict work schedules as most employers did not allow flexi-time arrangements. This may have contributed to burnout and stress that are common in most companies. Lastly, employees working in companies with a TRM philosophy do not experience significantly better pay, benefits, work-life balance, career development, and performance recognition than those working in companies without TRM. Conclusion These findings suggest that even companies with an established TRM philosophy need significant improvement in their TRM processes for TRM to translate to better pay, benefits, work-life balance, career development, and performance recognition.
Work-Life Balance

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlations of scores on the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and the Single Leg Stance (SLS) test with stability scores on the Biodex Balance System (BBS) in healthy adults. METHOD: The postural balance of 73 participants was measured on the TUG and SLS tests and with the Overall Stability Index (OSI) on the BBS. The participants were divided into groups by age and by times on the TUG and SLS. The correlations between TUG or SLS and OSI scores were analyzed by groups. RESULTS: TUG scores were significantly correlated with OSI scores in age under 65 years, TUG over 10 seconds and SLS over 30 seconds groups (level 12). TUG scores were also correlated with OSI in total (level 10) and TUG under 10 seconds groups (level 2). However, there were no significant relationships between SLS and OSI scores. CONCLUSION: OSI scores on the BBS are significantly correlated with TUG scores, especially at the easy levels. According to the findings of present study, relatively easy BBS levels are considered to assess the postural balance in healthy adults.
Adult ; Humans ; Leg ; Postural Balance

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility and effects of balance training with a newly developed Balance Control Trainer (BCT) that applied the concept of vertical movement for the improvements of mobility and balance in chronic stroke patients. METHOD: Forty chronic stroke patients were randomly assigned to an experimental or a control group. The experimental group (n=20) underwent training with a BCT for 20 minutes a day, 5 days a week for 4 weeks, in addition to concurrent conventional physical therapy. The control group (n=20) underwent only conventional therapy for 4 weeks. All participants were assessed by: the Functional Ambulation Categories (FAC), 10-meter Walking Test (10mWT), Timed Up and Go test (TUG), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Korean Modified Barthel Index (MBI), and Manual Muscle Test (MMT) before training, and at 2 and 4 weeks of training. RESULTS: There were statistically significant improvements in all parameters except knee extensor power at 2 weeks of treatment, and in all parameters except MBI which showed further statistically significant progress in the experimental group over the next two weeks (p<0.05). Statistically significant improvements on all measurements were observed in the experimental group after 4 weeks total. Comparing the two groups at 2 and 4 weeks of training respectively, 10mWT, TUG, and BBS showed statistically more significant improvements in the experimental group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Balance training with a newly developed BCT is feasible and may be an effective tool to improve balance and gait in ambulatory chronic stroke patients. Furthermore, it may provide additional benefits when used in conjunction with conventional therapies.
Gait ; Humans ; Mobility Limitation ; Postural Balance ; Stroke

There is a need of training and rehabilitation system for the patients who have problems in postural balance control due to diseases, accidents or age. We have implemented the training simulator which can apply virtual exercise for the training of patients. The system is composed of exercise recording, graphic simulator and training unit. We loaded two CCD cameras and three gyro-sensors on the exercise recording platform. Two CCD cameras are separated by 6.5cm to simulate human eyes and record slightly different images for each eye. Three gyro-sensors record acceleration in X, Y, Z axes respectively. These signals are sampled with 0.1 sec time intervals(10Hz) and converted to digital format. To integrate two video signals into one, only odd fields from left camera and even fields from right camera are multiplexed to compose a recording video signal. Digitized acceleration signals are recorded in blanking timing interval of NTSC signal format. Simulated bed positions are displayed on the monitor in graphic format. Training unit consisted of HMD and titling bed. Each recorded image is displayed on HMD while the tilting bed is controlled by the recovered accelerated signals. We have recorded the exercises while walking and driving. These recorded exercises are simulated with HMD and graphic display of position.
Acceleration ; Exercise ; Humans ; Postural Balance* ; Rehabilitation* ; Walking

With developing technology, quantitative analysis of gait and balance has been much interested in last decade. In gait analysis, three-dimensional motions capture and gait analysis using foot pressure is widely used. For measuring balance, posturography with force plate especially dynamic intervention has been developed. Recently wearable device containing accelerometer and gyro-sensor can assess long term monitoring for real living situation beyond lab based environment. Future studies of validity and reliability of quantitative analysis is necessary for clinical implication.
Foot ; Gait* ; Postural Balance ; Reproducibility of Results

We report the case of a 46-year-old man with hypertension whose blood pressure decreased due to saiko-karyukotsuboreito consumption.The patient also presented with some symptoms that suggested autonomic imbalance. After consuming 7.5g/day of a spray-dried powder of saikokaryukotsuboreito (Tsumura & Co.) for 3 months, his blood pressure measured at office was considerably lower. Twenty-four hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring revealed that the surge in morning blood pressure, which is considered to be a risk factor for cerebrovascular disease, diminished in addition to the 24-hour mean blood pressure. A postural test revealed that his autonomic balance, which had been in a sympathetic dominant state, was inversely inclined to a parasympathetic dominant state.Our case report suggests that saikokaryukotsuboreito acts on the autonomic nervous system, which in turn exerts an antihypertensive effect, and that this effect is helpful in lowering the blood pressure in hypertensive patients whose autonomic balance is impaired due to stress.
Blood Pressure ; Assessment of balance ; Hour ; Effective ; Equilibrium

Electronystagmography ; Humans ; Postural Balance ; Vestibular Function Tests

PURPOSE: This study was to examine the effects of treadmill gait training at different controlled inclinations on the standing balance of hemiplegic patients caused by cerebrovascular injury. METHODS: The study's subjects were 44 patients with chronic stroke, randomly divided into three experimental groups: 0° treadmill gait training (n=14), 5° treadmill gait training (n=15), and 10° treadmill gait training (n=15). In addition to conventional physical therapy, the subjects underwent gait training on a treadmill with one of three different inclinations for 30 min per session five times per week for six weeks. The Biodex balance system SD, Berg balance scale, and timed up and go tests were used to measure the postural balance of the patients. RESULTS: This study showed that gait training on a treadmill at controlled inclinations of 0°, 5°, and 10° positively influenced the stroke patients' standing balance. The 5° and 10° inclination gait training groups showed significantly more improvement than the 0° inclination group. CONCLUSION: Gait training on a treadmill with inclinations of 0°, 5°, or 10° can be said to positively affect the postural balance of hemiplegic patients due to stroke. In particular, 5° and 10° inclination gait training offered more significant improvement than the 0° inclination gait training group. When added to regular treatment routines, gait training at controlled inclinations is an effective intervention for improving hemiplegia due to postural balance.
Gait* ; Hemiplegia ; Humans ; Postural Balance* ; Stroke*

OBJECTIVE: To examine the repeatability and the reproducibility of a new evaluation system for seated postural control. METHOD: A total of 30 healthy volunteers (12 male, 18 female, mean age 25.1+/-3.4) participated in this study: 15 for repeatability and 15 for reproducibility study. We invented a new device for the assessment of seated postural control. The device was consisted of unstable platform, force plate, frame, safety harness, monitor and computer. Force plate on unstable platform measured the center of pressure (COP) of subject. COP maintaining time, COP moving time and COP sine curve trace were recorded. Each subject was tested three times with an interval of 3 days between the test sessions. The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between male and female in each parameter. There were no significant differences in COP maintaining time, COP moving time and COP sine curve trace when tested repetitively. ICC for both the repeatability and the reproducibility showed good to excellent reliability for all variables (ICC, 0.60~0.99) except posterior and right-posterior moving time. CONCLUSION: This newly designed system for seated postural control using unstable platform proved to be a reliable tool. It may be a useful method to assess the seated postural control.
Female ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Male ; Postural Balance