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*

Effort to improve balance ability in the field of rehabilitation has been constantly issued and developed up to now. A variety of subcomponent of postural control including function and cognition should be needed in many body systems and be complicatedly linked to each system. In South Korea, although decreased postural dysfunction due to neurological or musculoskeletal disorders has been well documented, we do not have many experience and knowledge of vestibular rehabilitation for maintain and improve balance function. In the United States, vestibular physical therapy is already acknowledged as clinical subspecialty by American Physical Therapy Association. However, there is no curriculum subject related to vestibular rehabilitation in standard education of physical therapy and no specialist who has clinical experience and knowledge of this realm. Therefore, we reviewed general information and basic knowledge of vestibular rehabilitation such as current state of vestibular disorder in South Korea, pathology, major causes of vestibular dysfunction including peripheral vestibular disorders, vestibular neuritis, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, and central disorder, evaluation of vestibular dysfunction, and treatment for vestibular dysfunction new approaches. We expect that physical therapist in South Korea recognize clinical significance of vestibular exercise and that clinical concern and research will be begun in near future.
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo ; Cognition ; Curriculum ; Dizziness ; Education ; Humans ; Korea ; Pathology ; Physical Therapists ; Rehabilitation ; Specialization ; United States ; Vestibular Neuronitis

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of kinesio taping on lumbar flexibility onto erector spinae and sacroiliac joint. METHODS: Sixty healthy adults (male=36, female=24) participated in this study and were randomly assigned to the experimental group that received kinesio taping onto erector spinae and sacroiliac joint (n=30) or the control group that received X-letter placebo taping onto them (n=30). Lumbar flexibility (flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation) was measured using back range-of-motion instrument (BROM) II before and after taping. RESULTS: In the change of lumbar flexibility after taping in the experimental group, there were statistically significant difference in flexion, lateral flexion, and rotation (p < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in extension. There was no significant difference in the change of lumbar flexibility after taping in the control group. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, kinesio taping onto erector spinae and sacroiliac joint improved the joint function. Kinesio taping may reduce the muscle tension and facilitate the circulation of tissue fluid. In light of these results, it is thought that the application of kinesio taping had influence on an increase in lumbar flexibility. Therefore, kinesio taping will be able to be used as the method of the prevention of pain and the treatment in the lumbar region.
Adult ; Humans ; Joints ; Lumbosacral Region ; Methods ; Muscle Tonus ; Pliability* ; Sacroiliac Joint*

PURPOSE: Gait variability is defined as the intrinsic fluctuations which occur during continuous gait cycles. Increased gait variability is closely associated with increased fall risk in older adults. This study investigated the influence of attention-demanding tasks on gait variability in elderly healthy adults. METHODS: We recruited 15 healthy elderly adults in this study. All participants performed two cognitive tasks: a subtraction dual-task (SDT) and working memory dual-task (WMDT) during gait plus one normal gait. Using the LEGSys+ system, we measured the coefficient of variation (CV %=100×[standard deviation/mean]) for participants' stride time, stride length, and stride velocity. RESULTS: SDT gait showed significant increment of stride time variability compared with usual gait (p < 0.05), however, stride length and velocity variability did not difference between SDT gait and usual gait (p>0.05). WMDT gait showed significant increment of stride time and velocity variability compared with usual gait (p < 0.05). In addition, stride time variability during WMDT gait also significantly increased compared with SDT gait (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: We reported that SDT and WMDT gait can induce the increment of the gait variability in elderly adults. We assume that attention demanding task based on working memory has the most influence on the interference between cognitive and gait function. Understanding the changes during dual task gait in older ages would be helpful for physical intervention strategies and improved risk assessment.
Adult* ; Aged* ; Aging ; Gait* ; Humans ; Memory, Short-Term ; Risk Assessment

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of whole body vibration exercise (WBVE) on lower extremity muscle activity and balance ability according to different methods of exercises in football player and use it as basic data for the rehabilitation training of chronic ankle instability. METHODS: Thirty subjects were randomly divided into two groups: the two groups, which each group have 15 members, are WBVE group and neuromuscular training (NMT) group according to training method. The exercise program was conducted for six weeks. Subjects were measured on lower extremity muscle activity and balance ability. RESULTS: The muscle activity increasement of the WBVE group was significantly higher than that of the NMT group (p < 0.05) and the balance ability decreasement of the WBVE group was significantly higher than that of the NMT group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings of this study suggest that WBVE may have a beneficial effect on improvement of lower extremity muscle activity and balance ability in football player with chronic ankle instability.
Ankle* ; Exercise ; Football* ; Lower Extremity* ; Methods ; Rehabilitation ; Vibration*

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of trunk side shift exercise on the Cobb's angle. METHODS: Fifty-eight subjects (control group=30, scoliosis group=28) were enrolled in this study. The idiopathic scoliosis groups were divided randomly into two groups, a side shift exercise (SSE) group, and a trunk stabilization exercise (TSE) group. The SSE group performed side shift exercise on the developed chair training for eight weeks. The TSE group performed trunk stabilization exercise. A one-way ANOVA test was carried out to compare the results within the idiopathic scoliosis patient group before and after the exercises based on the different exercise methods. RESULTS: The Cobb's angles were compared among control group and SSE group and TSE group. As a result, there was a significant difference from SSE group and TSE group(p=0.000), but there were no significant differences between the SSE and TSE groups (p=0.085). CONCLUSION: Side shift exercises are effective in improving the Cobb's angle. Therefore, the use of the side shift exercise chair designed in this study can replace general exercise either at work or during studies. Therefore, this method is easily accessible for busy modern students who are exposed to scoliosis or spinal disorders due to a pattern of inactivity.
Exercise ; Humans ; Methods ; Scoliosis*

Purpose: In Japan, the long-term care insurance and health insurance acts have stipulated the visiting rehabilitation system to provide support at the national level. The prior case of Japan would provide guidelines for seeking a suitable policy direction in South Korea. This study aims to examine the historical transition process of the visiting rehabilitation system in Japan, and the issues that emerged in the process of the institutionalization of this system. Methods: To examine the historical transition process of the system, the regulations announced by the government and their reports were reviewed. The relevant issues were qualitatively analyzed based on the opinions of scholars, therapists, and interested organizations that were reported in published papers on the topic.Result: The visiting rehabilitation system has been implemented in the following chronological order: The Health and Medical Service Act for the aged (1982-2006), the Health Insurance Act (1988-), and the Long-term Care Insurance Act (2000-). Currently, visiting rehabilitation is provided through hospitals, clinics, visiting nursing stations, etc. The following issues came to the fore in the process of the institutionalization of the system: (1) the complexity of the system, (2) the necessity of changing perceptions into a life model approach, (3) insufficient service provision by therapists, (4) the lack of human resources and an education system, (5) the lack of awareness of care managers and doctors about visiting rehabilitation, and (6) the necessity of quality enhancement through a team approach. Conclusion It is deemed worthwhile to refer to the visiting rehabilitation system in Japan and the issues that emerged in the process of institutionalizing the system while seeking a policy direction for a similar system in South Korea.

Purpose: This descriptive study aimed at physical therapists to determine the actual conditions of sexual harassment occurring in the workplace, their coping strategies, and effective coping methods. Methods: In total, 186 responses were collected through Google from June 28 to August 21, 2021. The questionnaire consisted of 102 questions about the subject’s general characteristics, sexual harassment, psychological stress, physical stress, and sexual harassment prevention education. Statistical Package For The Social Sciences (SPSS) was used for analysis, frequency analysis, percentage, standard deviation, and corresponding sample t-test, and the significance level was set to 0.05. Results: The perception of sexual harassment was 7.1, which was lower than that of other occupations. The perpetrators of visual, verbal, and physical sexual harassment appeared in the order of patients, coworkers, and guardians. Psychological and physical stresses were higher than the average due to damage caused by sexual harassment, requiring some attention. Work stress showed an average level. With the higher perception, a negative correlation was observed in the face of mitigation (p < 0.001). Conclusion The number of victims of sexual harassment is increasing every year. To cope with sexual harassment, there should be a department capable of counseling and processing in the workplace, and what occurs should be analyzed. In addition, educational programs are needed to prevent sexual harassment in consideration of the characteristics of hospitals.

Purpose: This study examined the effect of vibration exercise on the thickness of the oblique extrinsic, oblique abdominal, and biceps muscles, which are trunk muscles, targeting children with spastic cerebral palsy. Methods: The participants in this study were 20 children (8 male and 12 female) with cerebral palsy aged 5–10 years. They were classified into two groups using a randomized allocation method, and the trunk muscle thickness was measured using an ultrasound-imaging device before and six weeks after the experiment. A paired t-test was used for the within-group changes, and an independent t-test was used for the inter-group changes. The significance level was set to α = 0.05. Results: There was a significant increase in the inter-group change in the experimental group and control group in the intra-group change in the external oblique muscle and internal oblique muscle. After six weeks, there was a significant increase in the experimental group compared to the control group. Conclusion Vibration exercise had a positive effect on the trunk muscle thickness of children with cerebral palsy. Vibration exercise produced a significant difference in the changes in the trunk muscle thickness in children with cerebral palsy compared to no vibration exercise. These results may provide basic data for future research and as a training method for strengthening the trunk muscles in clinical trials.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of assistance tools such as gym balls, wedges, and straps on lower extremity muscle activity and the increase in the range of motion made possible by the use of these tools. The subjects were divided into two groups: a group capable of deep-squatting (PS) and the second finding it impossible or having difficulty in performing such squats (IS). Methods: Twenty-three subjects participated in this study. Surface electromyography was used to measure the muscle activation of the rectus femoris (RF), vastus medialis (VM), and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles during deep squats, normal squats (NS), gym ball squats (GS), wedge squats (WS), and strap squats (SS). A motion analysis system was used to measure the range of motion of the knee joint during each of these exercises. Results: There was a significant difference in the RF muscle activity between the possible squat (PS) and the impossible squat (IS) groups in the GS, and there were significant differences in the RF and TA muscle activity between the groups in the WS. Both the PS group and the IS group showed a significant difference in the TA muscle activity depending on the tool used. There were also significant differences in the range of motion of the knee joints between the intervention methods using NS and those using the tools. Conclusion In both groups, the muscle activity of the TA muscles was lower when GS, WS, and SS were performed compared to NS. In addition, compared to NS, the range of motion of the knee joint increased when the three tools were used. This study shows that the activity of the RF, VM, and TA muscles decreased and the range of motion of the knee joint increased during deep squats for both the PS and IS groups when tools were used.