PURPOSE: This study investigated the effects of trunk muscle activity with power grasping during one leg stance. METHODS: Twenty-eight subjects participated in this study. Subjects were divided into two groups, one that performed power grasping, and another that did not. An investigator measured the activities of a subject's trunk muscle such as internal oblique (IO), external oblique (EO), erector spinae (ES), and gluteus medius (GM) while a subject was doing one leg stance. RESULTS: An independent t-test was used to analyze trunk muscle activities with power grasping during one leg stance between the experimental group and the control group. Only the EO activity differed significantly between groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that one leg stance with power grasping affected trunk muscle activity. Therefore, this is a useful method for providing lumbar spine stability.
Hand Strength* ; Humans ; Leg* ; Low Back Pain ; Methods ; Research Personnel ; Spine

PURPOSE: This purpose of this study was to compare additionally applied weight underwater gait training and over-ground gait training to improve balance and lower extremity strength in stroke patients. METHODS: Subjects were randomly allocated into two groups. Underwater gait training group (n=10) and Over-ground gait training group (n=9). The groups performed their respective programs as well as conventional physical therapy 3 times/week for 6 weeks. All subjects were assessed with the Berg balance scale test, the timed up and go test, and the medical research council test pre and post in-tervention. A paired t test was applied to compare the differences before and after the intervention, and an independent t test was used to compare the differences between the groups. The level of statistical significance was set at p<0.05. RESULTS: The results showed that subjects in the underwater gait training group had a significantly increased Berg balance scale, timed up and go, and medical research council scores (p<0.05), and over-ground gait training group showed a significantly increased medical research council score (p<0.05) after intervention. The underwater gait training group showed a more significant improvement in medical research council, Berg balance scale and the timed up and go test scores compared to the over-ground gait training group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Findings of this study suggest that applying additional weight during underwater gait training improves lower extremity strength and balance in stroke patients. It' findings can contribute to the development of more efficient rehabilitation for stroke patients.
Gait* ; Humans ; Lower Extremity* ; Rehabilitation ; Stroke*

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine how a manual therapy (joint mobilization and flexion-distraction technique) would affect pain and function with the chronic low back pain. METHODS: Thirty patients were assigned to either the experimental group (n=15) or the control group (n=15). Patients in the experimental group performed joint mobilization and flexion-distraction technique. Patients in the control group performed spinal decompression therapy. Both exercises were performed for three days per week, for a period of six weeks. Pain was measured by the visual analogue scale (VAS) and functional disability was measured using the Oswestry disability index (ODI). A paired t-test was used for identify differences before and after treatment, and an independent t-test was used to identify differences between treatment groups. RESULTS: In the within group comparison, the experimental group and control group differed significantly for all variables (p<0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in any variables between groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The above results confirmed that it is necessary to confirm the various benefits of therapy with the joint mobilization and the flexion-distraction technique. The findings of the concerned study will be useful to doctors applying therapy to treat patients with the chronic low back pain.
Decompression ; Exercise ; Humans ; Joints ; Low Back Pain* ; Musculoskeletal Manipulations*

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to examine the effects of different sizes of blood flow restriction areas on the thickness of the external oblique and biceps brachii. METHODS: The study subjects were 52 adults who were divided into four groups that performed plank exercises over a six-week period after blood flow restriction. Changes in the thickness of the external oblique and biceps brachii were measured using ultrasonography before the experiment, then three and six weeks after the experiment. The changes in each variable over time were evaluated by repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULTS: The external oblique and biceps brachii showed significant differences in muscle thickness with regard to time and the interaction between time and each group (p<0.01), but no significant differences with regards to changes between groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: A larger blood flow restriction area resulted in a statistically significant increase in muscle thickness. The results of this study may be used as the basis for future studies and for rehabilitation in clinical practice.
Adult ; Exercise ; Humans ; Rehabilitation ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the changes in dorsiflexion and balance following proximal and distal tibiofibular joint manipulation in individuals with a history of lateral ankle sprain (LAS). METHODS: Fifteen participants with a history of unilateral LAS, exhibiting a restriction in ankle dorsiflexion were included in this study. LAS ankle received a manipulation to the proximal and distal tibiofibular joint, while the opposite control ankle received no manipulation intervention. The outcome measures included ankle dorsiflexion and balance. Ankle dorsiflexion was measured using weight-bearing lunge test. Static and dynamic balances were measured using the overall, anterioposterior, and mediolateral balance index via the biodex balance system. Measurements were obtained prior to and following manipulation. RESULTS: This study showed that ankle dorsiflexion and dynamic balance were improved following the manipulation compared to those prior to the manipulation (p<0.05). There was no significant change in static balance (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The joint manipulation technique applied to the ankle of those with a history of LAS appears to improve ankle dorsiflexion and dynamic balance. This suggest that a manipulation to the proximal and distal tibiofibular joint could be provided as preliminary data regarding the prophylactic effects of recurrent LAS.
Ankle Injuries* ; Ankle* ; Joints* ; Lung ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Weight-Bearing

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of blood flow restriction and different support surfaces for bridge exercises on the thickness of the transverse abdominis and multifidus, which are trunk-stabilizing muscles. METHODS: The study's subjects were 45 adults who were divided into three groups that performed bridge exercises over a six-week period on their respective support surfaces after blood flow restriction. Changes in the thickness of the subjects' transverse abdominis and multifidus muscles were measured using ultrasonography before the experiment, then three and six weeks after the experiment. The changes in each variable over time were analyzed using a repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULTS: The transverse abdominis showed significant differences in muscle thickness with regard to time and the interaction between time and each group (p<0.05), but no significant differences with regard to changes among groups (p>0.05). The multifidus showed significant differences in muscle thickness with regard to time, the interaction between time and each group, and changes between groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Blood flow restriction and different support surfaces for bridge exercises led to significant differences in the thickness of the transverse abdominis and multifidus. This study's results may be used as the basis for future studies and for rehabilitation in clinical practice.
Adult ; Exercise ; Humans ; Muscles ; Paraspinal Muscles ; Rehabilitation ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of the FES-gait with augmented feedback training to the FES alone on the gait and functional performance in individuals with chronic stroke. METHODS: This study used a pretest and posttest randomized control design. The subjects who signed the agreement were randomly divided into 12 experimental groups and 12 control groups. The experimental groups performed two types of augmented feedback training (knowledge of performance and knowledge of results) together with FES, and the control group performed FES on the TA and GM without augmented feedback and then walked for 30 minutes for 40 meters. Both the experimental groups and the control groups received training five times a week for four weeks. RESULTS: The groups that received the FES with augmented feedback training significantly showed a greater improvement in single limb support (SLS) and gait velocity than the groups that received FES alone. In addition, timed up and go (TUG) test and six minute walk test (6MWT) showed a significant improvement in the groups that received FES with augmented feedback compared to the groups that received FES alone. CONCLUSION: Compared with the existing FES gait training, augmented feedback showed improvements in gait parameters, walking ability, and dynamic balance. The augmented feedback will be an important method that can provide motivation for motor learning to stroke patients.
Electric Stimulation* ; Extremities ; Gait* ; Humans ; Learning ; Methods ; Motivation ; Stroke* ; Walking

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to identify the impacts of stroke patients' general and disease-related properties on depression and family support. METHODS: Subjects consisted of 79 persons who were diagnosed with cerebral hemorrhage and cerebral infarction and met the criteria for selection. The Korean version of Beck depression inventory (BDI) and a revision of the family support developed by Cobb were used. Frequency analysis of the subjects' general and medical history properties was conducted, and one way ANOVA was utilized to evaluate the degree of depression and family support with respect to the properties. Pearson's correlation coefficient was conducted to investigate the degree of depression and family support. RESULTS: Participants showed no significant difference in depression based on the subjects' general and disease-related properties (p>0.05), although there were significant differences in family support based on marital status, hobbies and the medical expenses payers (p<0.05). The correlation between family support and depression was r=-0.491 (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Through the results of this study, it was found that general and disease-related properties would not have any impact on depression while they would affect family support.
Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Cerebral Infarction ; Depression* ; Hobbies ; Humans ; Marital Status ; Stroke*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a task-oriented upper arm exercise performed in a sitting position on either an unstable support surface or a stable support surface for children with cerebral palsy. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated 18 children with cerebral palsy. Eight subjects were randomly assigned to each of the stable and unstable support surface groups. We performed the upper arm exercise three times a week for 6 weeks. To confirm the effects of the intervention, the berg balance scale test, modified functional reaching test (MFRT), timed up and go test (TUG), and Jebsen-Taylor hand function test were conducted before and after the study. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed in MFRT and TUG between the experimental and control groups (p<0.05). In the Jebsen-Taylor hand function test, there were significant differences between the groups for the items picking up small objects, stacking checkers, lifting large light objects, and lifting large heavy objects (p<0.05), but not for writing and stimulation of feeding. Significant differences were observed between the groups in items of card turning, lifting large light objects, and lifting heavy objects. CONCLUSION: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a task-oriented upper extremity exercise program for dynamic balance and hand function performed in a sitting position with either stable or unstable support by cerebral palsy patients. There were improvements in the two groups, but performing the exercise while sitting on an unstable support surface had a greater effect on dynamic balance and hand function than exercise while sitting on a stable supporting surface. The results of this study can be used to improve the daily lives of cerebral palsy patients.
Arm* ; Cerebral Palsy* ; Child ; Hand* ; Humans ; Lifting ; Prospective Studies ; Upper Extremity ; Writing

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the validity and reliability of the measurement of shoulder joint motions using an inertial measurement unit (IMU). METHODS: For this study, 33 participants (32 females and 1 male) were recruited. The subjects were passively positioned with the shoulder placed at specific angles using a goniometer (shoulder flexion 0°–170°, abduction 0°–170°, external rotation 0°–90°, and internal rotation 0°–60° angles). Kinematic data on the shoulder joints were simultaneously obtained using IMU three-dimensional (3D) angular measurement (MyoMotion) and photographic measurement. Test-retest reliability and concurrent validity were examined. RESULTS: The MyoMotion system provided good to very good relative reliability with small standard error of measurement (SEM) and minimal detectable change (MDC) values from all three planes. It also presented acceptable validity, except for some of shoulder flexion, shoulder external rotation, and shoulder abduction. There was a trend for the shoulder joint measurements to be underestimated using the IMU 3D angular measurement system compared to the goniometer and photo methods in all planes. CONCLUSION: The IMU 3D angular measurement provided a reliable measurement and presented acceptable validity. However, it showed relatively low accuracy in some shoulder positions. Therefore, using the MyoMotion measurement system to assess shoulder joint angles would be recommended only with careful consideration and supervision in all situations.
Female ; Humans ; Organization and Administration ; Photography ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Reproducibility of Results* ; Shoulder Joint* ; Shoulder*