Hye-Won Oh

The effect of inversion traction on pain sensation, lumbar flexibility and trunk muscles strength in patients with chronic low back pain

BACKGROUND: Effectiveness of inversion traction has been revealed in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP), however, it is still unknown as to which angles of inversion traction positively affect patients with CLBP. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the angle-effects of inversion traction on pain sensation, lumbar flexibility, and trunk muscles (flexors and extensors) strength in patients with CLBP after an 8 week treatment program. METHODS: Forty-seven women suffering nonspecific CLBP for 23.00 ± 5.45 weeks were included prospectively and randomized into 3 groups: supine group (SG; n = 15), inversion �30 ◦ group (I30G; n = 18), and inversion �60 ◦ group (I60G; n = 14), respectively. Each group completed a 3-minute × 3-set inversion traction protocol at 0 ◦ ,i nverted�30 ◦ ,o r inverted�60 ◦ , respectively for 4 days a week during 8 weeks. The outcome measures included rating of pain using the visual analogue scale (VAS), flexibility of lumbosacral joint, and the isokinetic strength of the trunk flexors and extensors at 60 ◦ /s. RESULTS: Pain was significantly improved after 8 weeks. The reductions observed in VAS scores were lower in the I60G compared with the changes in I30G and SG. Significant interaction effects were observed in trunk flexion and extension particularly in the I60G condition. There was also a significant increase in the extensor peak torque of the I60G. CONCLUSIONS: Inversion traction at angle of �60 ◦ reduced back pain or discomfort and improved lumbar flexibility and isokinetic trunk extensor strength in patients with CLBP following an 8 week program. Therefore, this treatment modality may be suitable for patient groups of similar CLBP phenomenology.

Time-effects of horse simulator exercise on psychophysiological responses in men with chronic low back pain

BACKGROUND: Although horse simulator riding is very beneficial for patients with several diseases, there are few studies relating to treating patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) specifically in terms of physiological and psychological outcome measures. It also has not been medically verified yet on the aspects of psychological responses and physiological changes. As well as there are not known how it can decrease the pain, how it can increase the physical conditioning, and how much good time rides a horse simulator. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the time-effects of an 8 week horse simulator exercise on body composition, visual analogue scale (VAS), and isokinetic torques of the trunk and hip joints in patients with CLBP. METHODS: Forty one young men presenting with CLBP were divided into 4 groups: LBP control group (LCG), LBP horse simulator 10 min riding group (LHS10G), LBP horse simulator 20 min riding group (LHS20G), and LBP horse simulator 30 min riding group (LHS30G), respectively. Three horse simulator exercise groups completed a rehabilitation exercise protocol for 5 days per week during 8 weeks. VAS was used to measure the severity of CLBP and functional disability for checking psychological responses. Body composition measured by bioelectrical analyzer and isokinetic torques were used to consider the physiological pre-post changes. RESULTS: Compared with the baseline, the body composition indices did not change significantly. However, muscle mass and fat mass showed increasing and decreasing tendencies in the LHS30G. The VAS indices showed significant decrease in back pain including other 12 items. A significant decrease was observed for all items except for drug relief. Especially, most of items in the LHS20G were lower than those of the other groups in the post hoc comparison. The horse simulator exercise enhanced the isokinetic strength of trunk and hip muscles. Due to the increased strength, trunk flexor/extensor ratio, hip flexor/extensor ratio, and hip abductor/adductor were close to reference values. The deficit in the ratio scores: hip flexor and extensor and hip abductor and adductor evened out after an experiment. Especially, these improvements were associated particularly with LHS20G. CONCLUSIONS: The horse simulator exercise positively affected psychophysiological responses in patients with CLBP. However, with respect to pain, the 20 min horseback riding group was associated with the best results.

Frequency-effect of playing screen golf on body composition and golf performance in middle-aged men

There are many studies showing that physical training improves body composition including bone mineral density (BMD) in almost all subjects. However, the frequency-dependent effect of playing golf on body composition is still not clearly comprehended. Moreover, the effect of screen golf in relations with exercise-frequency on body composition and golf performance has not been documented. Forty year old men participated and were classified into 4 groups: Control group (n= 10), BMD1 group (n= 10) played screen golf less than 1 day per a week, BMD2–3 group (n= 10) played screen golf 2–3 days per a week, and BMD5 group (n= 10) played screen golf 5 days per week. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was performed on 30 male recreational golfers and 10 sedentary individuals. The data gained through DXA were fat mass, lean mass, regional (head, rib, arm, leg, pelvis, spine and trunk) BMD level, and total BMD level summed by regional scores. The club speeds were measured using the Golfzon Vision machine and the handicap points were measured using a simple questionnaire. The present results suggest that the long-frequency of playing screen golf does not improve bone mineral density, lean mass, and handicap point yet improves fat mass and club speed in the middle-aged men.

The effects of occupation-centered activity program on fall-related factors and quality of life in patients with dementia

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of an occupation-centered activity program for dementia patients living in a local community, and examined the effects of the occupation-centered activity program on their cognitive functions, fall-related factors, and quality of life. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty subjects were divided into two groups: the experiment group (n=15) and the control group (n=15). The occupation-centered activity program was then applied to dementia patients for 60 minutes, 5 times/week for 12 weeks. To identify their cognitive functions before and after the intervention occupation-centered activity program, Mini-Mental State Examination-Korea (MMSE-K) and the Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) were used. To assess fall-related factors, Korean Falls Efficacy Scale for the Elderly (FES-K) was used and leg strength, agility, and balance of the participants was measured. To examine quality of life, the Korean version of Quality of Life-Alzheimer’s Disease Scale (KQOL-AD) was used. [Results] The results of the intervention showed that although cognitive function improved in both the experimental and control groups, fall-related factors and the quality of life significantly improved only in the experimental group. [Conclusion] This indicates that the occupation-centered activity program had a positive effect on dementia patients’ cognitive functions, fall-related factors, and quality of life.

The effect of occupation-centered transition program on self-efficiency and social participation for adult with intellectual disability

This study applied an occupation-centered transition program to adults, aged 18 years or more, with intellectual disabilities and residing in a local community, and examined the effects of the program on participants’ self-efficacy and social participation. To obtain basic data for the program, 44 adults with intellectual disability were divided into two groups: the experimental group, to which an occupation-centered transition program was applied, and the control group, to which the program was not applied. A self-efficacy scale and the K-Community participation indicators (CPI) were used to assess self-efficacy and social participation, respectively. The results showed that the experimental group showed a greater increase in self-efficacy than the control group (p<0.05). Similarly, a greater increase in the CPI scores was observed in the experimental group than in the control group. The changes in the experimental group were significant (p<0.05), but those in the control group were not. These results suggest that an occupation-centered transition program can improve self-efficacy and social participation in adults with an intellectual disability.

The effects a respiration rehabilitation program on IADL, satisfaction with leisure, and quality of sleep of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

[Purpose] This study was designed to determine the effect of a respiration rehabilitation program on daily activities, satisfaction with leisure, and quality of sleep of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. [Subjects and Methods] The program was conducted three times a week for 12 weeks (a total of 36 times) with 20 patients aged between 50 and 70 years old. The Frenchay Activity Index was used to determine the instrumental activities of daily living before and after the intervention. The Korean scale of satisfaction with leisure was employed to determine the satisfaction with leisure, and the Korean version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to measure the quality of sleep. [Results] The total score of all three instruments (instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), satisfaction with leisure, and quality of sleep) improved significantly after the intervention. [Conclusion] In conclusion, the scores of all three instruments (IADL, satisfaction with leisure, and quality of sleep) improved significantly after the intervention, indicating that the respiration rehabilitation program was effective at improving the overall quality of life for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The Effect of Convergence Tailed Occupational Therapy Activities Program on Mental Stability and Social Participation in Elderly People with Mild Cognitive Impairment

Abstract This study aims to examine the effect of Convergence Tailed Occupational Therapy Activities Program (CTOTAP) which is customized to elderly people with mild cognitive impairment on their mental stability and social participation. A total of thirty elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment were randomly divided into a test group and a control group of 15 patients each, undergoing a total twelve sessions of the program (two sessions per week for six weeks) in three steps. In order to investigate the mental stability of the patients before and after the program, the Korean Geriatric Depression Scale (KGDS) was used while the Frenchay Activity Index (FAI) was used to explore the social participation of the patients. According to the findings of this study, there appeared to be an increase in the mental stability, social participation of the test group after the program. In addition, after the program there were differences between the test group and the control group in all of the mental stability and social participation. Therefore, the study has shown that the CTOTAP with customization has positive impact on the mental stability and social participation of patients with mild cognitive impairment.