Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate changes in Achilles tendon (AT) characteristics of asymptomatic tendons in patients with acute AT ruptures on the contralateral side by using ultrasonography. Methods: From January 2016 to December 2018, 31 patients were enrolled. The contralateral asymptomatic ATs were assessed: (1) fluid collection of paratenon, (2) echogenicity, and (3) thickness. The ATs were divided into the distal, middle, and proximal thirds for evaluation and were assessed before the surgery, as well as at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after the surgery. At each time, pain in the tendons was recorded. Results: In all cases, it was observed that there was a hypoechoic lesion or fluid collection of the paratenon, which did not show a significant change over time. There was no significant difference in tendon thickness according to the period in the distal and proximal areas, and significant differences were observed only in the middle area (p＜ 0.05). A new pain around the tendon occurred most often at 6 weeks after surgery (eight cases of 31 cases, 25.8%). Eight cases of pain (47.1%) remained at 12 months after surgery. Conclusion In patients with acute AT rupture, ultrasonographic hypoechoic lesions or fluid collections of the paratenon were initially observed on the contralateral tendon, but this did not show significant changes over time. A significant change in tendon thickness was observed in the middle area, but this did not show a close association with pain.

Purpose: Recently, many studies on robotic rehabilitation have been conducted, but such studies on patients with ankle sprains are lacking. This study aimed to investigate the effects of robot-assisted rehabilitation on the range of motion of the ankle and balance in patients with ankle sprain . METHODS: This study used the A-B-A’ design and was conducted for a total of fifteen days. The subjects performed general physical therapy for five days each, during the baseline A and A` periods. In period B, robot rehabilitation was performed for five days, along with general physical therapy. The subjects were evaluated based on weight-bearing lunge test (WBLT), single leg stance (SLS), and functional reach test (FRT). RESULTS: The WBLT, STS, and FRT showed significant improvement in periods B and A’ compared to period A, but there was no significant improvement in period A’ compared to period B. Conclusion This study confirmed that robot-assisted rehabilitation was an effective intervention for improving the function of patients with ankle sprain. In the future, a study with a control group comparison should be performed.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the mental health of physical therapy students in clinical practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted during the pandemic and was completed by 100 physical therapy students in two universities in Gwangju and Jeollanam-do, South Korea. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were used to evaluate their anxiety and depression status. A Chi-square test was conducted to evaluate the association of participant characteristics with the risk of having anxiety and depression. Logistic regression models were used to identify the general characteristic factors related to anxiety or depression. Results: Anxiety was found in 28 (28%) of the participants, and depression in 24 (24%). The risk of anxiety and depression in male physical therapy students was 0.189 and 0.211 times lower, respectively, than those female students (p<0.05). The risk of anxiety and depression in physical therapy students with a history of disease was 11.721 and 7.056 times higher, respectively, than those with a history of disease (p<0.05). The risk of anxiety in physical therapy students in clinical practice was 11.721 times higher than that in students who were not in clinical practice (p<0.05). Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a high risk of anxiety and depression among many physical therapy students. More attention and improvements are needed so that physical therapy students can study in a safe environment.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the mental health of physical therapy students in clinical practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted during the pandemic and was completed by 100 physical therapy students in two universities in Gwangju and Jeollanam-do, South Korea. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were used to evaluate their anxiety and depression status. A Chi-square test was conducted to evaluate the association of participant characteristics with the risk of having anxiety and depression. Logistic regression models were used to identify the general characteristic factors related to anxiety or depression. Results: Anxiety was found in 28 (28%) of the participants, and depression in 24 (24%). The risk of anxiety and depression in male physical therapy students was 0.189 and 0.211 times lower, respectively, than those female students (p<0.05). The risk of anxiety and depression in physical therapy students with a history of disease was 11.721 and 7.056 times higher, respectively, than those with a history of disease (p<0.05). The risk of anxiety in physical therapy students in clinical practice was 11.721 times higher than that in students who were not in clinical practice (p<0.05). Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a high risk of anxiety and depression among many physical therapy students. More attention and improvements are needed so that physical therapy students can study in a safe environment.

Open fractures of the tibial shaft have a high incidence of complication and often result in poor outcomes. The most common method of stabilization is the external fixation by way of the Ilizarov method but the small diameter interlocking intramedullary nailing has also been introduced. The purpose of this study is to analyze the result of Ilizarov method and to compare its results with those of delayed intramedullary nailing used in the treatment of open tibial shaft fractures. We analyzed 81 patients with open tibial shaft fractures, treated using Ilizarov external fixator, or by delayed locked intramedullary nailing between January 1987 and December 1994. The follow-up period was an average 14.5 months. Out of the 81 patients, 58 patients were treated by nails and 23 patients by Ilizarov external fixators. Both groups were given the same initial management but the operation of the nailing group was delayed until proper soft tissue coverage and healing of the wound were evident. In the Ilizarov method group, 58 fractures obtained union within 26 to 53 weeks (average of 32.8 weeks) and in the nailing group, 23 fractures showed union within 14 to 51 weeks (average of 21.2 weeks). There was a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). Complications in the Ilizarov group included 4 nonunions, 12 delayed unions, 3 malalignments, 14 wound infections and 13 stiff ankles. There were no nonunion, 10 delayed unions, 8 malalignments, 6 wound infections and 11 stiff ankles in the nailing group. In this study, the Ilizarov group had more delayed unions and nonunions took a longer period of time to obtain the union, and had a more limited range of motion in the ankle, than the nailing group. The nailing group was easier to manage, especially in the soft tis-sue procedure, and it did not require a high level of compliance while having a relatively low risk of malunion.
Ankle ; Compliance ; External Fixators* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; Fractures, Open ; Humans ; Ilizarov Technique ; Incidence ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Wound Infection ; Wounds and Injuries

Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study is to identify the problems and stability of a study to investigate “Effects of Squat Exercise according to Weight Support on Balance and Gait in Patients after Total Hip Replacement.” before proceeding with the study. Methods: Twenty-two rehabilitation patients after THR surgery who met the selection criteria participated. The study subjects were randomly assigned to a squat group using a slider or a squat group using a reformer. The interventions were applied for two weeks. The patients were assessed using Berg balance scale (BBS), Timed up and go test (TUG), and 10-meter walking test (10MW). Results: Although twenty-two study subjects participated in this study, eight study subjects participated dropouts occurred during the study period. There was a significant difference within the group in BBS and TUG in two groups (p < 0.05). The difference between the two groups was not significant in all outcome measures (p > 0.05). The largest effect size was 1.21 and the smallest effect size was 0.39, all from the BBS. Conclusion This pilot study suggest that it is feasible with minor adjustment to conduct a larger scale, powered RCT to examine the efficacy of squat exercise according to weight support with patients after THR.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of Kinesio taping (KT) for balance and gait in patients with stroke through meta-analysis of studies conducted in Korea. Methods: RISS, Science on, and DBPia were the three databases used to collect articles on KT. Keywords such as “Stroke,” “Kinesio taping,” “Elasticity taping,” and “Taping” were used to search for published articles. We systematically searched from the inception of each database to November 2020. Interventions and comparisons were KT and without KT. Outcome measures were the timed up and go (TUG) and 10-meter walking tests (10MWT). Consequently, six studies were selected for the second screening using meta-analyses. Results: Based on the results of the meta-analysis, comparison between patients with and without KT showed that KT was effective for TUG (ES: 2.51, 95% CI: 2.12 to 2.90); however, it was not effective for 10MWT (ES: 0.79, 95% CI: -0.04 to 1.62). Conclusion The current evidence suggests that KT is more effective than without KT interventions for balance function in post-strokepatients. However, more well-conducted randomized controlled trials are required in the future.

Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by recurrent abscesses, nodules, and fistulous tracts. Recently, novel staging systems, including sonographic scoring system of hidradenitis suppurativa (SOS-HS), have been widely introduced in HS. Objective: To assess the efficacy of SOS-HS compared with Hurley staging and modified sartorius scoring (MSS) system and determine the necessity of ultrasound evaluation. Methods: A radiologist performed an ultrasound evaluation, and three dermatologists reviewed the images and videos. Clinical characteristics, including staging and demographic data, were recorded by three dermatologists. The correlation of each staging system and the significance of vascularity (Doppler mode) and lesion depth on sonography were statistically analyzed. Results: Among the 46 patients, 34.8% were classified as stage 1 and 3, and 30.4% were classified as stage 2 in the SOS-HS system, which was statistically higher than the Hurley staging (p＜0.0005). MSS score increased according to the SOS-HS stages (p＜0.0005, p=0.001). Vascularity and depth of involvement also increased with SOS-HS and Hurley staging. Conclusion Sonographic examination can be applied in HS severity assessment and documentation of the clinical characteristics of each lesion in detail. Special tools, such as Doppler mode and depth assessment, can also be useful in HS evaluation.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of Kinesio taping (KT) for balance and gait in patients with stroke through meta-analysis of studies conducted in Korea. Methods: RISS, Science on, and DBPia were the three databases used to collect articles on KT. Keywords such as “Stroke,” “Kinesio taping,” “Elasticity taping,” and “Taping” were used to search for published articles. We systematically searched from the inception of each database to November 2020. Interventions and comparisons were KT and without KT. Outcome measures were the timed up and go (TUG) and 10-meter walking tests (10MWT). Consequently, six studies were selected for the second screening using meta-analyses. Results: Based on the results of the meta-analysis, comparison between patients with and without KT showed that KT was effective for TUG (ES: 2.51, 95% CI: 2.12 to 2.90); however, it was not effective for 10MWT (ES: 0.79, 95% CI: -0.04 to 1.62). Conclusion The current evidence suggests that KT is more effective than without KT interventions for balance function in post-strokepatients. However, more well-conducted randomized controlled trials are required in the future.

Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by recurrent abscesses, nodules, and fistulous tracts. Recently, novel staging systems, including sonographic scoring system of hidradenitis suppurativa (SOS-HS), have been widely introduced in HS. Objective: To assess the efficacy of SOS-HS compared with Hurley staging and modified sartorius scoring (MSS) system and determine the necessity of ultrasound evaluation. Methods: A radiologist performed an ultrasound evaluation, and three dermatologists reviewed the images and videos. Clinical characteristics, including staging and demographic data, were recorded by three dermatologists. The correlation of each staging system and the significance of vascularity (Doppler mode) and lesion depth on sonography were statistically analyzed. Results: Among the 46 patients, 34.8% were classified as stage 1 and 3, and 30.4% were classified as stage 2 in the SOS-HS system, which was statistically higher than the Hurley staging (p＜0.0005). MSS score increased according to the SOS-HS stages (p＜0.0005, p=0.001). Vascularity and depth of involvement also increased with SOS-HS and Hurley staging. Conclusion Sonographic examination can be applied in HS severity assessment and documentation of the clinical characteristics of each lesion in detail. Special tools, such as Doppler mode and depth assessment, can also be useful in HS evaluation.