Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of premenstrual syndrome in elite female athletes and the associated factors. Methods: We surveyed elite female athletes in the National Training Center about their experiences of premenstrual syndrome. Premenstrual syndrome was diagnosed using the premenstrual symptoms screening tool. The MannWhitney test was applied to determine the association of premenstrual syndrome with differences in age, training time, and body mass index; and the chi-squared test was performed to investigate the association of premenstrual syndrome with differences in alcohol and coffee intake, diet for weight loss, stress fracture, and menstrual regularity. Results: Of the 124 athletes, 18 (14.5%) met the criteria for the diagnosis of premenstrual syndrome. These athletes complained of symptoms such as fatigue/lack of energy (18, 100%), anger/irritability (14, 77.8%), joint/muscle pain (10, 55.6%). There was no significant difference in menarche age, training time, or body mass index between the premenstrual syndrome and non-premenstrual syndrome groups. There was also no significant difference in alcohol or coffee intake, diet for weight, stress fracture, or menstrual regularity between the two groups. The athletes with premenstrual syndrome felt that premenstrual symptoms interfered with their performance, but few of them visited the doctor. Conclusion Premenstrual syndrome athletes felt that their performance was hampered because their symptoms were not adequately managed. However, none of the factors we investigated showed any association with premenstrual syndrome. Hence more research and proactive management of the premenstrual symptoms of female athletes is recommended.

The physical activity has an important physiological and psychological benefit for all people, and the exercise program has a key role in the management of diabetes. This article presents exercise recommendations for people with diabetes. Though the patients with diabetes may give many benefits from regular physical exercise, there may be several hazards from exercise as well. We assessed 30 patients with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and 15 normal control subjects with sedentary life-style for their workload, heart rate on maximal performance and maximal oxygen uptake, change of blood glucose level after exercise using bicycle ergometer and Astrand nomogram. The workload, heart rate on maximal performance and maximal oxygen uptake were lower in diabetic patient than control subjects. Blood glucose decreased in diabetic patient than control subjects, after exercise and the lowered value was maintained until 60 minutes after exercise. The maximal oxygen uptake was lower in diabetic patients than control subjects. The blood glucose decreased in both diabetic patients and normal control after exercise.
Blood Glucose ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Exercise ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Motor Activity ; Nomograms ; Oxygen

In post-stroke patients, the pain or paresthesia of the affected limb is common. These symptoms may be caused by a variety of pathologic conditions. Considering the debilitating effects of the pain, it is important to determine the exact cause and manage appropriately. A 41-year-old woman who had experienced a hemorrhagic lesion in the right basal ganglia and corona radiata 4 months previously presented with an irritating tingling sensation in her left upper extremity. She failed to respond to a number of treatment options including medications and physical agent modalities. Following a diagnosis of disputed thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) caused by scalene muscle dysfunctions, she received ultrasound-guided electrical twitch-obtaining intramuscular stimulation (ETOIMS) which significantly alleviated the pain. This case suggests that the disputed TOS should be considered as one of the possible causes of post-stroke pain, and that detailed history-taking and physical examination, as well as imaging or electrophysiological studies, might be required for accurate diagnosis. Furthermore, ultrasound-guided ETOIMS can be used as a safe and minimally invasive technique for the treatment of the disputed TOS with fewer systemic and local side effects.
Adult ; Basal Ganglia ; Diagnosis ; Extremities ; Female ; Humans ; Muscles* ; Paresthesia* ; Physical Examination ; Sensation ; Stroke ; Thoracic Outlet Syndrome ; Upper Extremity*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the dose-related effect of trunk control training (TCT) using Trunk Stability Rehabilitation Robot Balance Trainer (TSRRBT) in chronic stroke patients with poor sitting balance. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 38 chronic stroke patients with poor sitting balance that underwent TCT with TSRRBT. The participants were assigned either to the low-dose training (LDT) group (n=18) or to the highdose training (HDT) group (n=20). In addition to the conventional rehabilitation therapy, the LDT group received 5 sessions of TSRRBT intervention per week, whereas the HDT group received 10 sessions of TSRRBT intervention per week. The outcome measures were the scores on the Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS) and its subscales, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Functional Ambulation Classification (FAC), and the Korean version of Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI). All outcome measures were assessed before the training and at the end of the 4-week training. RESULTS: After the 4-week intervention, TIS, BBS, FAC, and K-MBI scores showed improvement in both LDT and HDT groups. Furthermore, the improvements in TIS scores and its subscales were significantly greater in the HDT group than in the LDT group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: TCT using TSRRBT could be an additional treatment for the conventional rehabilitation therapy of chronic stroke patients with poor sitting balance. HDT may provide more beneficial effects on improving patients’ sitting balance than LDT.
Biofeedback, Psychology ; Classification ; Humans ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Rehabilitation ; Retrospective Studies ; Stroke* ; Video Games* ; Walking

OBJECTIVE: To identify the effects of isokinetic strengthening of trunk muscles on balance in hemiplegic patients after stroke. METHOD: All participants were ambulatory hemiplegic patients, injured at least 6 months prior to study. The patients (n=16) were randomly divided into two groups. The control group received neurodevelopmental treatments and gait training 3 times a week. In addition to the same treatments provided for the control group, the experimental group received trunk isokinetic strengthening exercises using isokinetic dynamometer 3 times a week. Trunk muscle peak torque and balance in the experimental group were compared with those in control group at baseline and 4 weeks after treatments. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, lesion of hemiplegia, time after stroke onset, trunk muscle strength and Berg balance score before treatments between two groups. In the experimental group, peak torques of trunk extensor increased significantly at 60degrees/sec and 90degrees/sec at 4 weeks (p<0.05), but there were no significant improvements in peak torques of trunk flexor at all degree and extensor peak torques at 120degrees/sec. Both the extensor and flexors showed no significant changes in the control groups. In the experimental group, a mean percent change in peak torque involving the trunk extensor was significantly increased at 60degrees/sec. In the experimental group, Berg balance scores, 10 m gait velocity, sit to stand and gait 3 m and return, and 10 seconds stair up and down were improved (p<0.05). No significant improvements were noted in the control group. CONCLUSION: Isokinetic strengthening of trunk muscles can improve balance in hemiplegic patients.
Exercise ; Gait ; Hemiplegia ; Humans ; Muscle Strength ; Muscles ; Stroke ; Torque

OBJECTIVE: To investigate and compare the effect of low-dye taping (LDT) and figure-8 modification of LDT (MLDT) on peak plantar pressure and heel pain in patients with heel pad atrophy. METHODS: There were reviewed 32 feet of 19 patients who have been diagnosed with heel pad atrophy who were enrolled in this study. The patients were diagnosed with heel pad atrophy with clinical findings, and loaded heel pad thickness measured by ultrasonography. At the first visit, patients were taught how to do LDT and MLDT. They were instructed to do daily living with barefoot, LDT and MLDT at least one time per day. Patients performed pedobarography with barefoot, LDT and MLDT within 2 weeks. The severity of heel pain was also checked with the visual analogue scale (VAS) during daily living with barefoot, LDT and MLDT. RESULTS: VAS of hindfoot were significantly decreased after LDT and MLDT (p < 0.01). Peak plantar pressure under hindfoot were also decreased after LDT and MLDT (p < 0.01). The effect of MLDT in decreasing peak plantar pressure of hindfoot (p < 0.01) and pain relief (p=0.001) was better than the effect of LDT. CONCLUSION: The LDT technique is clinically useful for pain management and reducing peak plantar pressure of hindfoot in patients with heel pad atrophy. MLDT is more effective than LDT in reducing peak plantar pressure and heel pain in patients with heel pad atrophy.
Atrophy* ; Foot ; Gait ; Heel* ; Humans ; Pain Management ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: To develop the Korean version of the Kessler Foundation Neglect Assessment Process (KF-NAP), which enables a more functional assessment of unilateral spatial neglect, by first translating it into Korean and then statistically standardizing it. METHODS: Two rehabilitation specialists translated the KF-NAP into Korean. The entire process of administering the Korean KF-NAP to 30 patients with brain disease was video-recorded. Five occupational therapists from 4 university hospitals nationwide evaluated the 30 video-recorded examination cases. We analyzed inter- and intra-reliabilities of the Korean KF-NAP using the intraclass coefficient and Pearson correlation coefficient. Internal consistency reliability of the assessment categories was also examined using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. RESULTS: For the construct validation study, the Korean KF-NAP was strongly correlated with the Albert's test and letter cancellation test (r ≥ 0.8; p < 0.05). The intraclass correlation coefficients for the first and second assessments of the Korean KF-NAP were 0.973 and 0.982, respectively, showing high reliability (p < 0.05). The intra-rater reliabilities exceeded 0.9 (p < 0.05), and Cronbach's alpha coefficient exceeded 0.8, showing internal consistency reliability. CONCLUSION: The Korean KF-NAP is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing hemispatial neglect symptoms in patients with brain diseases.
Brain Diseases ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Perceptual Disorders ; Rehabilitation ; Reproducibility of Results* ; Specialization ; Translating ; Translations

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of isokinetic eccentric knee extensor and flexor strengthening training on affected limbs of patients with chronic hemiplegia. METHOD: Twenty-one subjects with chronic stroke were participated in this study. All subjects were indoor ambula tors. The hemiplegic knee flexors and extensors of the experimental group (n=11) were trained eccentrically using Cybex 770 dynamometer 3 times a week for 6 weeks. Conventional rehabilitation treatment was administrated to the control group at the same duration and frequency as the experimental group. Total peak torque, total work and functional parameters were measured before and after training. RESULTS: Significantly higher mean percent changes of peak torque and total work were observed in the experimental group compared to the control group at all eccentric angular velocities tested. Functional parameters also showed significant improvements in the gait speed, a timed stair climb up and down, and sit-to-stand time compared to the control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The isokinetic eccentric strengthening training of knee extensors and flexors in patients with chronic hemi plegia were useful in strengthening the affected leg and functional improvement.
Extremities ; Gait ; Hemiplegia* ; Humans ; Knee* ; Leg ; Paralysis ; Rehabilitation ; Stroke ; Torque

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of spinal stabilization exercise against with lumbar extensor strengthening exercise. METHOD: Sixty patients with chronic low back pain were enrolled into the study and randomly classified into three groups. Groups were treated with spinal stabilization exercise (Group 1), lumbar extensor strengthening exercise using a MedX machine (Group 2), or with a combination program (Group 3) for 8 weeks. Patients were not given any other treatment modalities. Isometric peak torque of the lumbar extensors, pain rating score (PRS), Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) score, and the Oswestry low back pain disability questionnaire (OLBPD-Q) were assessed at 0, 4, and 8 weeks of exercise. RESULTS: 1) After 8 weeks, all groups showed incremental improvements in maximal isometric torque of the lumbar extensors and exhibited improvement in SF-36, PRS, and OLBD-Q scores (p<0.05). 2) There were no significant differences in the degree of improvement among the three groups after 8 weeks of exercise. 3) The percentage of patients with scores of good or excellent in Group 3 was higher than in Groups 1 and 2 according to all evaluation tools. CONCLUSION: In the treatment of chronic low back pain, all exercise groups showed decreased pain, improved quality of life, and increased lumbar extensor strength regardless of the exercise type employed. We suggest that exercise programs in general are effective for the treatment of chronic low back pain and a combination exercise program seems to be most beneficial.
Humans ; Low Back Pain ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Torque