Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial of Truncal Exercises after Stroke to Improve Gait and Muscle Activity

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of a trunk exercise program on the gait and muscle activity in stroke patients. The participants of this pilot study included six hemiplegic stroke patients. The outcomes were surface electromyography (sEMG) and spatiotemporal gait parameters. In analysis of sEMG, no statistically difference was found between pre- and post-training of Maximal Voluntary Isometric Contraction (MVIC) in rectus abdominis and external abdominal oblique muscle, but it tended to increase. However, the gait parameter significantly increased in walking speed, walking cycle, and affected stride length in stroke patients. These results suggest that the trunk exercise program may in part improve the gait of chronic stroke patients.

The Effect of Low Frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Combined with Range of Motion Exercise on Paretic Hand Function in Female Patients after Stroke

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has recently been demonstrated to improve motor function after stroke. However, no study has yet tested the synergetic effects of physical exercise on rTMS in clinical settings. We investigated the effect of a 6-session course of low frequency rTMS on contralesional primary motor cortex combined with range-of motion (ROM) exercise on paretic hand function in female stroke patients. This was a single-blind study of the effects of rTMS with or without ROM exercise in female hemiplegic patients after stroke. All patients underwent rTMS on the contralesional primary motor cortex for 15 minutes and ROM exercise on the paretic hand. The cortical excitability determined by the amplitude and latency of the motor evoked potential (MEP) was measured in both first dorsal interosseous (FDI) muscles. We also evaluated arm function using Box and Block, arm reach, 9-hole pegboard, power grip, and pinch grip force tests. The rTMS-induced MEP amplitude of the paretic side significantly increased whereas the non-paretic side showed a decrease through every session. However, the MEP latency significantly increased on the non-paretic hand at post-rTMS with exercise, but a tendency of decrement on paretic hand at same application. Motor function showed improvement in the 9-hole pegboard and arm reach tests at post-rTMS with exercise on the paretic side compared with the non-paretic side. A significant correlation was especially noted between motor function and MEP on the paretic side of stroke patients. Low frequency rTMS with ROM exercise improved hand function after stroke. This may, in part, result in additional rehabilitation in stroke patients.

Analysis of the sensory threshold between paretic and nonparetic sides for healthy rehabilitation in hemiplegic patients after stroke

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in the sensory threshold between the paretic and nonparetic sides of hemiplegic patients. 28 patients who were hemiplegic post-stroke (14 men and 14 women) participated in the electrical sensory and pain thresholds study;22 patients who were hemiplegic post-stroke (13 men, 9 women) participated in a study measureing the sensory threshold with light touch. Electrical sensory and pain thresholds were measured in the forearm via transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. The light-touch threshold was measured in the forearm using monofilaments. The light-touch, electrical sensory, and pain thresholds for the paretic side were significantly higher than for the nonparetic side in our population, respectively. In both the nonparetic and paretic sides, the male group generally showed higher thresholds for pain and sensation than did the female group. These results suggest that the different evaluations of sensory thresholds performed in this study for healthy rehabilitation will be a valuable clinical tool in hemiplegic patients after stroke.

Analysis of Skin Parameters of Korean Men According to the Parts of the Body for Integumentary Physiotherapy Research

Studies have demonstrated that some cutaneous biophysical properties vary with the part of the body. The results to date of skin conditions in human skin of multiple parts of the body have not yet been well established. In this study, we assessed the differences in the skin’s sebum, moisture, pores, wrinkles, pigmentation, and elasticity of each body part in Korean men in their 20s. A total of 34 healthy men were enrolled. A Skin Diagnosis Meter was used to measure the skin’s surface sebum, moisture, pores, wrinkles, pigmentation, and elasticity of each body part. The sebum content was significantly higher on the face than at other sites. Moisture was significantly high on the feet. Pores were significantly high on the face. Wrinkles were significantly high on the face. Pigmentation was high on the face and neck, but not significantly. Elasticity was significantly high on the hands. In the correlation analysis results, sebum and pore were positively correlated, but sebum and moisture and wrinkle and elasticity were negatively correlated. For nearly the first time, this study resulted in systematic reference values for standardized biophysical measuring methods and body parts reflecting the skin physiology of healthy South Korean men. The results show that skin’s surface sebum, moisture, pores, wrinkles, pigmentation, and elasticity vary with the part of the body.

Differences in body components and electrical characteristics between youth soccer players and non-athletes

Many previous studies have focused on youth soccer player injuries without body component analysis compared to non-athletes. Only a few studies which have investigated body components of youth soccer players, and studies that look at electrical characteristics used by rheobase and chronaxie as well as body components are even scarcer. Therefore, we feel that there is a need for a study investigating objective clinical analysis of the body components (body structure and body composition) and electrical characteristics of both youth soccer players and non-athletes. Sixty subjects participated in our study, comprising of thirty youth soccer players and thirty non-athletes. The Inbody 520 was used to measure and analyze body composition and the Duo 500 was employed to measure electrical characteristics. It was observed that the soccer players showed markedly lower total impedance compared to the non-athletes. In both legs, it was particularly noted that there were significant differences between the right and left sides. The soccer players showed a higher skeletal muscle mass and lean/ideal lean × 100% compared to the non-athletes. Furthermore, the soccer players had a lower rheobase and higher chronaxie. A comparison of the genders showed a similar pattern. In this study, we were able to separate the differences in body components and electrical characteristics between the subject groups using a systemic approach. Future studies on diverse types of athletes would contribute further to the development of clinical physiotherapy and sports rehabilitation.

Analysis of occupational noise for the healthy life according to the job characteristics

Noise is known that the physical risk factors defined as any unwanted sound. It can induce the health problems such as hearing loss or annoyance. The objective of this study was to assess the occupational noise exposure of nine groups for twenty peoples according to job characteristics and to compare the noise level by different variables. Personal noise levels were measured for three times using by dosimeters for each participant in Korea. The mean time weighted average noise level (TWA) of total was 73.2 ± 11.5 dBA by American conference of governmental industrial hygienists (ACGIH) standard. Especially, Korean classical music students were highly exposed to 93.2 ± 6.2 dBA but, office workers were 63.2 ± 6.6 dBA. In case of peak sound pressure level (Lpeak), Korean classical music students and firefighters were exposed to the highest level of 151.8 dBC and 145.8 dBC during playing and dispatching, respectively. The analysis of noise level showed that Leq had positive correlations between TWA by ministry of employment and labour (MOEL) (r = 0.98, p < 0.01) and TWA by ACGIH (r = 0.98, p < 0.01). Unlikely other groups, the noise exposure level of the Korean classical music students were exceeded the ACGIH standard. These results suggest that Korean classical music students were exposed high noise level and some solutions are need to reduce the noise exposure level such as using hearing protect device.

A Pilot Study on the Effect of Pelvic Exercise on Standing Balance in Patients with Incomplete Cervical Spinal

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of pelvic exercise on standing balance in patients with incomplete cervical spinal cord injury for healthy rehabilitation. 11 patients (8 men and 3 women) with levels of incomplete injury between cervical 3 and cervical 6 who were participated in a study measuring the standing balance using an interactive balance system (IBS) before and after pelvic exercise. The index of standing balance after pelvic exercise was significantly lower than before exercise in patients with incomplete cervical cord injury. The greatest improvements were observed in incomplete cervical spinal cord injury with neurologic levels of cervical 3 and 4 with Brown-Sequard syndrome. These results suggest that the pelvic exercise for rehabilitation significantly improved in part standing balance in patients with incomplete cervical spinal cord injury.

Analysis of Interferential Current Therapy-Induced Skin Changes in Healthy Korean Men

We examined the changes in numerous skin conditions before and after the ap-plication of interferential current therapy to various regions of healthy male bodies. In this study, we assessed the differences in the skin’s sebum, moisture levels, pores, wrinkles, pigmentation, and elasticity on the shoulders, lower back, and the knees of Korean males in their 20s. A total of 30 healthy males were in-cluded in the study. We used a skin diagnosis meter as a device for measuring the state of the skin. A statistical difference was found when comparing the pre- and post-measurement values in regards to the moisture levels, wrinkles, and pig-mentation. In the correlation analysis results, the sebum and pigmentation, moisture levels and wrinkles, moisture levels and pigmentation, and moisture levels and elasticity were all positively correlated, respectively. The results of this study partially suggest that a change in skin condition is associated with ex-ternal stimulation. The study also found that the effects of the application of in-terferential current therapy on the various skin conditions may differ depending on the region of the body that the application is conducted as well.

The Effects of Hippotherapy on Standing Balance in Patients with Incomplete Cervical Spinal Cord Injuries: A Pilot Study

The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of hippotherapy on standing balance in patients with incomplete cervical spinal cord injuries. Ten patients (8 men and 2 women) who were diagnosed with cervical levels of injury between 3 and 6, and D according to the ASIA Impairment Scale. All patients were tested by the physiotherapists prior to and after hippotherapy treatment. Standing balance was measured using the Interactive Balance System (IBS). The weight distribution index was significantly increased in application of hippotherapy compared with control groups in patients with a neurologic level of cervical 3 and 4, and with Brown-Sequard syndrome, respectively. However, most of the patients exhibited no significant changes in the standing balance index, such as F1, F2-4, F5-6, F7-8, and SI scores, after hippotherapy. These results suggest that hippotherapy did not have a significant effect on the standing balance of patients with incomplete cervical spinal cord injuries.

Characteristic Dermatologic Changes in the Condition of Skin after Ultrasonic Stimulation in Healthy Korean Men

The aim of our study was to recognize different skin conditions of the face and neck using six biophysical parameters and to show the changes after the application of ultrasonic stimulation (US). We assessed the differences in the sebum, moisture, pores, wrinkles, pigmentation, and elasticity of the skin in the face and neck regions. A total of 30 healthy men in their 20s were enrolled. We used a skin diagnosis meter to assess the state of the skin. The sebum and pores of the face were more significant than in the neck. The amount of moisture in the U-zone was significantly higher than in other areas. Statistical differences were found between the pre-and post-measure-ment values in the sebum, moisture, wrinkles and pigmentation. Wrinkles and pigmentation were positively correlated. Our data showed that the changes in skin condition are associated with external stimulants. The effect of US on skin may differ depending on the part of the body, and some biophysical properties of skin vary depending on the location on the body.

Effect of Radiant Spectral Characteristics on Performance of a Near-Infra-Red Heating Module

We simulated the heat transfer phenomena of the heating module that is primarily based on the radiant energy in the near-infra-red(NIR) domain.In the module,the power emitted by the lamp filament is distributed to the lamp glass,reflector,and the target medium,which are cooled by an air flow.The radiant heat transfer is simulated by using the ray-tracing scheme,in which the spectral characteristics of the emission and the materials are incorporated.The heat transport from the lamp glass to the cooling air is analyzed by using the finite volume method.As the lamp-filament temperature rises in the range of 3000-3400K,the NIR radiant power on the target medium increases.However,the lamp-glass temperature also rises,and the proportion of the NIR power to the entire radiation has a peak in the temperature range.The spectral distributions of the absorbed energies in all the components in the module are highly non-uniform,and a monochromatic model of the radiant heat transfer may result in a significant discrepancy.