[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the upper limb of function of patients with post-stroke hemiplegia. [Subjects] Twenty subjects were randomly allocated to either the upper tDCS group or the functional training group, with 10 subjects in each group. [Methods] The two groups received functional training for thirty minutes a day, five days a week for four weeks. The tDCS group additionally received tDCS for 20 minutes. The outcome was assessed by the Box and Block test (BBT), grip strength, and the Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA). [Results] There were significant improvements between pre- and post- intervention in both groups, in the BBT, grip strength, and the upper limb and lower lims sub-items of the FMA. The tDCS group showed significantly greater improvements than the control group in the BBT, and upper limb and lower limb sub-items of the FMA. [Conclusion] These findings suggest that tDCS may be more beneficial than functional training for improving the upper and lower limb functions of chronic stroke patients.

Abstract.[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of nerve mobilization applied in conjunction with electromagnetic diathermy, in patients with lower back pain.[Subjects] Twenty-two subjects with lower back pain participated in this study. They had had chronic pain in the lower back area for over six months.[Methods] The subjects were selected based on selection criteria, and randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group (n=11) were given electromagnetic diathermy in conjunction with nerve mobilization to patients. The control group (n=11) were applied with only electromagnetic diathermy.[Results] The Oswestry Disability Index, location of symptom scale and knee joint extensor strength showed significant improvements in the experimental group and control group after the intervention.[Conclusion] Nerve mobilization applied in conjunction with electromagnetic diathermy was more effective at improving function and strength, than nerve mobilization alone.

Purpose:The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of calf tightness on gait, plantar pressure, and balance in adults. Methods: A total of 60 participants were divided into a normal group of 30 subjects with normal dorsiflexion angle (20-25 degrees) and an experimental group of 30 subjects with limited dorsiflexion angle (0-15 degrees) due to calf tightness. Gait ability and foot pressure of the subjects was measured with a treadmill, and the balance ability was measured by PROKIN system. Results: A significant difference in COP length, loading response, and single limb support was observed between groups. The COP length and single limb support ratio in the normal group was greater than in the experimental group, but the experimental group showed a higher ratio for loading response in the gait ratio. Conclusion: Our results indicated that calf tightness was negative effects on balance and gait ability, so assessment of the muscle tightness should be considered during exercise and treatment.Recently, many studies reported that reduced ankle range of motion affects physical activities and walking, and various clinical features such as increased risk of falls, 6 decreased walking speeds, 7 and Korean Physical Therapy intervention.Calf tightness was negative effects on balance and gait ability, so assessment of the muscle tightness should be considered during exercise and treatment. In the future further studies are needed to explore the relationship between calf tightness and balance or gait ability in a wide spectrum of subjects with different ages.

BackgroundThe aim of this study was investigate whether an action observation would have an effect on the action that requires task understanding in humans.MethodsParticipants who met the criteria for this study (n = 36). To evaluate the performance, reaction time and performance accuracy, the stimulus scheduling software was employed. For the electroencephalogram, the equipment QEEG-8 was used.ResultsConcerning the reaction time of the groups of different learning methods a significant difference was found after the learning among the three groups. Regarding the accuracy among the groups of different learning methods, significant difference was found in the action performance accuracy among the three groups. The relative mu power during the SRTT implementation was compared in the CZ, C3 and C4 regions before, during, and after the learning for each group. In the CZ and C4 region, a significant difference was found in the action observation group. In the C3 and C4 region a significant difference was found in the actual practice group.ConclusionsThe result suggests that imitation and learning are involved even in the action that requires task understanding in humans.KeywordsAccuracy; Mirror neuron system; Mu Rhythm; Reaction time; SRTT

Abstract.[Purpose] The aim of this study was evaluate the effect of a sling exercise on shoulder subluxation in stroke patients.[Subjects] The subjects of this study were thirty-four stroke patients with subluxation. They were randomly selected and divided into two groups.[Methods] The subject group (n=17) performed the sling exercise with traditional therapeutic exercise. The control group (n=17) performed only traditional therapeutic exercise.[Results] The results indicate that improvement of corrected vertical distance (cVD), and the ratio of the oblique distance of the affected and unaffected sides (rOD) was greater in the experimental group than in the control group.[Conclusion] We suggest that the sling exercise is effective at reducing the severity of hemiplegic shoulder subluxation in post-stroke patients.