Tae-Hyun Lee

A Pilot Study on the Effect of Functional Electrical Stimulation of Stroke Patients in a Sitting Position on Balance and Activities of Daily Living

[Purpose] This study investigated the effect of functional electrical stimulation (FES) of stroke patients in a sitting position on balance and activities of daily living. [Methods] FES was applied to stroke patients (six male, three female) while in a sitting and supine position. FES was applied six times for 30 minutes each for a total of six weeks. [Results] The timed up and go (TUG) values at weeks 2, 4, and 6 after FES treatment in a sitting position were noticeably decreased in a time-dependent manner, compared with controls. In the sitting, the functional reach test (FRT) values were significantly increased in a time-dependent manner. The same values in the supine position weakly showed a similar pattern to those in the sitting position. Furthermore, the functional independent measurement (FIM) values in the sitting position were markedly increased in a time-dependent manner. In the sitting position, the intensity of FES was markedly decreased in a time-dependent manner. The same values in the supine position weakly showed a similar pattern to those in the sitting position. [Conclusion] These results suggest that the conditions of stroke patients in both the sitting and supine positions after FES treatment were improved and that FES had a greater effect in the sitting position.

A Review of Signal Transduction of Endothelin-1 and Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase-related Pain for Nanophysiotherapy

[Purpose] An understanding of pain is very important in the study of nanophysiotherapy. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms of endothelin-1 (ET-1)- and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-related pain, and suggest their applications in pain physiotherapy. [Method] This review focuses on the signal transduction of pain and its mechanisms. [Results] Our reviews show that mechanisms of ET-1- and MAPK-related pain exist. [Conclusions] In this review article, we carefully discuss the signal transduction in ET-1- and MAPK-related pain with reference to pain nanophysiotherapy from the perspective of nanoparticle-associated signal transduction.

Analysis of combat sports players' injuries according to playing style for sports physiotherapy research.

[Purpose] This study describes the characteristics of injuries in strike and non-strike combat sports, and the results are intended for use in the area of sports physiotherapy research. [Subjects and Methods] The study was conducted on 159 athletes involved in a variety of combat sports. The participants included elite college players of the following sports: judo (47), ssireum (19), wrestling (13), kendo (30), boxing (16), and taekwondo (34). Of the participants, 133 were male and 26 were female. In the case of ssireum and boxing, all of the athletes were male. [Results] In the case of the combat sports, the types of injury and injured regions differed according to playing style. Dislocation and injuries to the neck, shoulders, and elbows were more frequent in the non-strike sports, while injuries to the wrists and hands were more frequent in the strike sports. There was a high incidence of sprains, strains, bruises, and injuries to the lower limbs in both groups. [Conclusion] We suggest that the characteristics of injuries in combat sports differ according to playing style, and our study will therefore provide physical therapists and researchers with information that can be used to prevent injury.

Effects of conventional overground gait training and a gait trainer with partial body weight support on spatiotemporal gait parameters of patients after stroke

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to confirm the effects of both conventional overground gait training (CGT) and a gait trainer with partial body weight support (GTBWS) on spatiotemporal gait parameters of patients with hemiparesis following chronic stroke. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty stroke patients were alternately assigned to one of two treatment groups, and both groups underwent CGT and GTBWS. [Results] The functional ambulation classification on the affected side improved significantly in the CGT and GTBWS groups. Walking speed also improved significantly in both groups. [Conclusion] These results suggest that the GTBWS in company with CGT may be, in part, an effective method of gait training for restoring gait ability in patients after a stroke.

Differences in Rheobase and Chronaxie between the Paretic and Non-Paretic Sides of Hemiplegic Stroke Patients: a Pilot Study.

[Purpose] Rheobase and chronaxie are used to confirm muscle degeneration. For stroke patients, however, the uses of rheobase and chronaxie in determining paretic side muscle degeneration is not yet fully understood. Thus, in this study, we examined the electrical properties of the quadriceps muscles of stroke patients’ paretic side and compared them with their respective values on the non-paretic side. [Method] The subjects were six stroke patients (three females, three males). The pad of an electrical stimulator was applied to the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis regions to measure rheobase and chronaxie until the contractive muscle response to electrical stimulation became visible. [Result] Rheobase was significantly increased on the paretic side compared to that of the non-paretic side of hemiplegic stroke patients. Furthermore, chronaxie was significantly increased on the paretic side compared to the non-paretic side of hemiplegic stroke patients. [Conclusion] These results suggest that stroke affects the sensitivity of skeletal muscle contraction. Therefore, this data may contribute to our understanding of the muscle status of stroke patients.

Somatotype Analysis of Elite Boxing Athletes Compared with Nonathletes for Sports Physiotherapy

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to show somatotype and physical characteristic differences between elite boxing athletes and non-athletes. [Methods] The somatotypes of 23 elite boxing athletes and 23 nonathletes were measured with the Heath-Carter method. The subjects were divided into four weight divisions as follows: lightweight, light middleweight, middleweight, and heavyweight class. [Results] The endomorphic component values of the boxing athletes were lower than those of the nonathletes. However, the mesomorphic component values of the boxing athletes were higher than those of the nonathletes. There was no significant difference in the ectomorphic component between the two groups. The higher weight divisions tended to have higher values of height, weight, and BMI than the lower weight divisions. The higher weight divisions also tended to have higher values for the endomorphic and mesomorphic components and a lower value for the ectomorphic component than the lower weight divisions. The group of nonathletes consisted of eight endomorphs, four mesomorphs, six ectomorphs, and five central types. Among the boxing athletes, there were 16 mesomorphic, four ectomorphic, and two central types and one endomorphic type. Subdividing the athletes into 13 somatotypes resulted in five balanced mesomorphs, five endomorphic mesomorphs, five mesomorph-ectomorphs, three mesomorph-endomorphs, two mesomorphic ectomorphs, two central types, and one ectomorphic mesomorph type. [Conclusion] The data from this study provides in part physical characteristics of elite boxing athletes that can be used to establish a reference for systemic study of sports physiotherapy.

The effects of a progressive resistance training program on walking ability in patients after stroke: a pilot study

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a progressive resistance training (PRT) program on the walking ability of chronic stroke patients with hemiparesis following chronic stroke. [Subjects and Methods] The participants of this study were fifteen hemiplegic patients. The main outcomes measured for this study were the peak torque of the knee extensor; the gait ability as measured by electric gait analysis of walking speed, walking cycle, affected side stance phase, affected side stride length, symmetry index of stance phase, and symmetry index of stride length; and 10-m walking speed; and the Berg balance scale test. [Results] Walking speed and affected side stride length significantly increased after the PRT program, and 10-m walking time significantly decreased after RPT in stroke patients. [Conclusion] These results suggest that the progressive resistance training program may, in part, improve the stride of the affected side leg of stroke patients after stroke and also positively impact walking speed.

A Pilot Study on Pain and the Upregulation of Myoglobin through Low-frequency and High-amplitude Electrical Stimulation-induced Muscle Contraction

[Purpose] It is well known that, in both in vivo and in vitro tests, muscle fatigue is produced by severe exercise, electrical stimulation, and so on. However, it is not clear whether or not low-frequency and high-amplitude modulation specifically affects serum myoglobin or urine myoglobin. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of low-frequency and high-amplitude modulation on serum myoglobin and urine myoglobin. [Methods] The study used whole blood samples and urine produced over 24 hours from the thirteen healthy subjects. [Results] There was a significant increase in serum myoglobin following electrical stimulation at a frequency of 10 Hz compared with the control group. Furthermore, within 24 hours, urine myoglobin also showed a significant increase for the test volunteers subjected to electrical stimulation at the 10 Hz frequency compared with the control group. However, there were no significant differences in the concentrations of hematologic results in subjects treated with electrical stimulation. [Conclusion] These results suggest that increased myoglobin related to muscle fatigue from electrical stimulation, particularly with a current of 10 Hz combined with a high-amplitude, may be partially related to increased muscle damage.

A review of deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt hypertension and its relevance for cardiovascular physiotherapy research

[Purpose] The purpose of this review was to elucidate the deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt-related hypertensive mechanism and to contribute to future studies of cardiovascular physiotherapy. [Methods] This paper focuses on the signal transductions that control hypertension and its mechanisms. We include results reported by our laboratory in a literature review. [Results] Our results and the literature show the various mechanisms of DOCA-salt hypertension. [Conclusion] In this review paper, we carefully discuss the signal transduction in hypertension based on our studies and with reference to cardiovascular physiotherapy research.

Analysis of the respirogram phase of Korean wrestling athletes compared with nonathletes for sports physiotherapy research

[Purpose] Respiratory function is important for patients including athletes who require physical therapy for respiratory dysfunction. The purpose of the present study was to analyze the differences in the respirograms between Korean wrestling athletes and nonathletes according to phase for the study of sports physiotherapy. [Subjects and Methods] Respiratory function was measured using spirometry in both the athletes and nonathletes while they were in a sitting position. [Results] Spirometry parameters in the athletes were significantly higher than in the nonathletes. In respirogram phasic analysis, the expiratory area and total area of forced vital capacity were significantly increased in the athletes compared with the nonathletes. The slopes of the forced vital capacity for athletes at slopes 1, 2, and 3 of the A area were significantly increased. In correlative analysis, chest circumference was significantly correlated with slope 3 of the A area of the forced vital capacity. [Conclusion] The results suggest that the differences in changes in the phases of the respirogram between the Korean wrestling athletes and nonathletes may in part contribute to our understanding of respiratory function in sports physiotherapy research.