Background: The growing need for objective and accurate evaluation in Taekwondo poomsae competitions has highlighted the limitations of subjective human judgment. Objectives: This study aims to develop an automated scoring framework using camera-based pose estimation and advanced neural networks to improve the consistency and accuracy of poomsae evaluation. Design: Comparative analysis of neural network architectures on a large-scale dataset of poomsae movements. Methods: A dataset of 902,306 labeled frames, captured from 48 participants performing 62 distinct movements using synchronized multi-view cameras, was analyzed. Five neural networks (HNN, 1D CNN, GCN, MLP, SANN) were implemented and evaluated using accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score. Results: The HNN demonstrated superior performance with an F1-score of 0.78 in classifying Taekwondo poomsae postures. The 1D CNN followed with an F1-score of 0.76, while GCN, MLP, and SANN achieved F1-scores of 0.74, 0.70, and 0.66, respectively. The HNN's hierarchical feature extraction approach proved effective in capturing the complex spatial and temporal patterns inherent in poomsae movements. Conclusion: Hierarchical Neural Networks outperform other architectures in poomsae classification, establishing a foundation for objective and scalable scoring systems in competitive settings.

Background: Subacromial impingement syndrome (SAIS) is a prevalent cause of shoulder pain, often linked to abnormal scapular positioning and movement. Prior research suggests that scapular stabilization exercises (SSE) may improve SAIS symptoms, but there's a lack of research on the specific quantitative effects of SSE on scapular position and function. Objectives: To investigated the effects of SSE on scapular position and shoulder function in patients with SAIS. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Methods: Thirty participants with SAIS, diagnosed using the Scapular Dyskinesis Test (SDT), were randomly assigned to either a scapular stabilization exercise group (SSEG, n=15) or a traditional rehabilitation training group (TRTG, n=15). Both groups received eight weeks of intervention. Outcome measures included the scapular index (SI), measured using digital vernier calipers, and the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI). Results: The SSE group showed statistically significant increases in scapular index (SI) and significant decreases in Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) pain and disability scores. The TRTG showed no statistically significant changes in these measures. The SSE group demonstrated statistically significant improvements in SI and SPADI scores compared to the TRTG. Conclusion: These findings suggest that SSE may be a valuable treatment option for improving shoulder function and reducing pain in patients with SAIS. Further research is needed to validate these findings and explore the longterm effects of SSE.

Background: As the length of stay for rehabilitation and medical care services for occupational injury patients continues to increase, this study aims to explore alternative solutions that can support the corporation's efforts to develop rehabilitation treatment programs in response. Objectives: By analyzing the most frequent diseases among occupational injury patients over the past five years and comparing the average length of stay (LOS) for each disease by disease type, occupation, gender, and type of accident, it is expected that the necessity for developing rehabilitation treatment programs for occupational injury patients can be identified. Furthermore, when applying the developed treatment programs, a reasonable LOS can be derived. Design: Patient clinical data lab. Methods: From January 2017 to December 2021, data from 292,423 occupational injury patients who submitted their initial medical treatment applications to the Korea Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service (KWCWS) and received approval for their occupational injuries were de-identified. After data preprocessing, the cases were categorized by diagnosis, and statistical analysis was conducted using Excel ver. 21.0. Results: In the intensive rehabilitation treatment process, inpatient and outpatient care show a very strong correlation with r=0.8817, followed by the total number of treatment days (r=0.6431) and the number of treatment sessions (r=0.6441). Conclusion: It is necessary to establish application criteria for injury groups that significantly impact the average medical care days and medical care benefits of industrial accident patients. These criteria should consider factors such as exceeding the average length of medical care for specific injury groups (orthopedic/neurological), gender differences (female patient group), discrepancies in inpatient and outpatient medical care benefits, the proportion of high disability grades (Grade 1-3), common injury (accident) types, and the top 1/2/3 associated injury groups by occupation type. Based on these criteria, simultaneous management of the provision timing of rehabilitation service programs and the average medical care days for the 50 most common injury groups is required.

Background: Prolonged use of computers and mobile devices has contributed to postural abnormalities such as Rounded Shoulder Posture (RSP), which is characterized by muscle imbalances that can lead to pain and functional limitations. Correcting these imbalances through targeted stretching and strengthening exercises was expected to help improve postural alignment and muscle function. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of a six-week integrated exercise program targeting the pectoralis minor (PM), upper trapezius (UT), and lower trapezius (LT) on postural alignment and muscle activation in female adults with RSP. Design: Single-group pre-post test study. Methods: Eighteen female university students (aged 20–22 years) with RSP participated in a six-week intervention consisting of PM stretching, UT stretching, and LT strengthening exercises. RSP severity was assessed using acromion-to-ground distance, PM length was measured with a caliper, and surface electromyography (sEMG) was used to evaluate UT and LT muscle activity. Normality was verified using the Shapiro-Wilk test, and paired t-tests were conducted for statistical analysis (α=0.05). Results: After the intervention, significant improvements were observed in all measured variables. Acromion-to-ground distance decreased (P<0.001), PM length increased (P<0.001), UT activation decreased (P<0.01), and LT activation increased (P<0.01). Conclusion: The six-week integrated exercise program effectively improved postural alignment and muscle activation in women with RSP by addressing muscle shortening, overactivity, and weakness. These findings suggest that combined stretching and strengthening exercises can serve as a practical and effective approach for RSP correction. Future studies with longer durations and diverse populations are recommended to further validate these results and enhance clinical applicability.

Background: Recent research suggests that the most effective and proactive method for correcting excessive pronation, which contributes to the lowering of the medial longitudinal arch, is to enhance both intrinsic and extrinsic foot muscles simultaneously. Objectives: This study aims to compare the effects of intrinsic and extrinsic foot muscle exercises on medial longitudinal arch height, plantar pressure distribution, and lactate levels in university students with flexible flatfoot. Design: Randomized controlled trial study. Methods: Twenty-two students with flexible flat foot participated in this study and were recruited by N University in Korea. The subjects were randomly divided into Intrinsic foot muscle strengthening group (IFG; n=11) that went through Intrinsic foot muscle strengthening exercise, Extrinsic foot muscle strengthening group (EFG; n=11) that went through extrinsic foot muscle strengthening exercise. SPSS was used for statistical analysis. Results: Both groups showed significant increases in medial arch height and first metatarsal bone pressure, while EFG also had increased pressure at the second to fourth metatarsal bones. No significant differences were found in lactate levels. Conclusion: Both intrinsic and extrinsic foot muscle strengthening exercises can be suggested as effective interventions for improving medial longitudinal arch height and plantar pressure.

Background: Functional sarcopenia, a subcategory of sarcopenia, has recently been introduced. It is defined by muscle weakness and reduced physical performance, regardless of muscle mass reduction, and may potentially affect overall rehabilitation outcomes in patients. Objectives: This study aimed to classify stroke patients into two groups based on the presence or absence of functional sarcopenia and to compare changes in balance and gait ability after receiving the same rehabilitation intervention. Design: A quasi-experimental design. Methods: A total of 44 stroke patients participated in this study and were classified into functional sarcopenia (n=22) and non-functional sarcopenia groups. Physical function tests were used to assess balance (Timed Up and Go, Berg Balance Scale) and gait (10-Meter Walk Test, Functional Ambulation Category). All participants underwent a four-week convalescent rehabilitation program, receiving five sessions per week, with each session lasting four hours per day. Results: After four weeks of convalescent rehabilitation, both groups showed significant improvements in all outcome measures (P<.05). However, when comparing the pre-post changes, no significant differences were found between the two groups in the changes of balance and gait outcomes (P>.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that stroke patients with functional sarcopenia can achieve a similar level of functional recovery as those without functional sarcopenia when provided with appropriate rehabilitation interventions.

Background: Neck discomfort and movement limitations are common musculoskeletal problems among modern people. While cervical and thoracic joint mobilization are widely used interventions for cervical dysfunction, research comparing their immediate effectiveness in adults with asymmetrical cervical rotation is limited. Objectives: To compare the immediate effects of cervical versus thoracic joint mobilization in adults with adults with asymmetrical cervical rotation and discomfort. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Thirty adults with left-right differences in cervical rotation of more than 5 degrees were randomly assigned to a cervical mobilization group (CMG, n=15) or thoracic mobilization group (TMG, n=15). Both groups received Grade III mobilization for 15 minutes. Range of motion (ROM), pain (VAS), and neck disability index (NDI) were measured before and after intervention. Results: Both groups showed significant increases in ROM after intervention (P<.001). Within-group analysis revealed that the TMG showed significant pain reduction (P<.01) and significant reduction in left-right rotation asymmetry (P<.001), while the CMG showed improvement in ROM but no significant changes in asymmetry or pain (P>.05). Neither group showed significant changes in NDI. Between-group comparisons showed no significant differences in any outcome measures. Conclusion: Both cervical and thoracic joint mobilization increased cervical range of motion in adults with asymmetrical cervical rotation discomfort. The TMG demonstrated significant within-group improvements in left-right rotation asymmetry and pain reduction, suggesting potential clinical benefits of thoracic mobilization for certain aspects of cervical dysfunction.

Background: Stroke often results in impaired postural control and asymmetric weight distribution, which negatively affect balance and functional mobility. Previous research has demonstrated that balance training interventions incorporating proprioceptive stimulation and visual feedback can enhance postural stability in stroke survivors. However, there remains debate regarding the relative effectiveness of these two approaches. While proprioception-based training emphasizes sensory input from mechanoreceptors to improve postural control, visual feedback-based training leverages external cues to facilitate balance adjustments. Objectives: To investigation the effects of proprioception-based trunk exercise and visual-auditory feedback-based trunk exercise on sitting balance in patients with chronic stroke. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: A total of 24 participants diagnosed with chronic stroke were randomly assigned to two groups: the proprioception-based trunk exercise group (PTG, n=10) and the visual-auditory feedback-based trunk exercise group (VTG, n=11). Both groups participated in a 6-week intervention program, five sessions per week, lasting 25 minutes per session. Outcome measures included the Limitation of Stability (LOS), the Korean version of the Trunk Impairment Scale (K-TIS), and the Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke (PASS). Pre- and post-intervention assessments were analyzed using paired t-tests and independent t-tests to evaluate within-group and between-group differences. Results: Both PTG and VTG groups demonstrated significant improvements in LOS, K-TIS, and PASS scores following the intervention (P<.05). However, there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in the amount of change observed. Conclusion: The findings suggest that both proprioception-based and visualauditory feedback-based trunk exercises are effective in improving sitting balance in chronic stroke patients. The lack of a significant difference between the groups indicates that both approaches provide comparable benefits. Future research should explore long-term effects and investigate potential differences in various functional domains beyond sitting balance.