Abdominal muscle plays a crucial role in postural control and respiration control. However, thickness of abdominal muscle in the paretic side of a hemiplegic patient has not been reported in previous studies. The purpose of this research was to compare lateral abdominal muscle thickness between the nonparetic and paretic side in patients with chronic stroke using rehabilitative ultrasound imaging. Twenty two patients with chronic stroke participated in this study. Absolute thickness of transversus abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO) and external oblique (EO) was measured at the end of inspiration and expiration during quiet breathing, and relative thickness was calculated (thickness of each muscle as a percentage of total muscle thickness). Ultrasound imaging was recorded three times and the average value was determined for statistical analysis. Differences in absolute and relative lateral abdominal muscle thickness between the nonparetic and paretic side were assessed with paired t-tests. Absolute muscle thickness of the paretic side TrA was thinner than that of the nonparetic side at the end of inspiration and expiration during quiet breathing. Relative muscle thickness of the paretic side TrA was thinner than the paretic side only at the end of expiration during quiet breathing (p>.05). Therefore, it is necessary to strength TrA in patients with chronic stroke during physical therapy intervention. Further study is needed whether physical therapy intervension will induce TrA thickness in patients with chronic stroke in prospective study design.

The purposes of this study were to examine inter-rater reliability of the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) by children's age and to identify the correlation between the MACS and the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Twenty-six children with CP older than two years participated. Children with CP were classified according to the MACS and the GMFCS by two physical therapists. Inter-rater reliability was analyzed using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICCs). The results showed that the reliability of the MACS for children aged 2~3 years was .88 and for children aged above 4 years was .98 (p<.05). Children with quadriplegia had a higher level of MACS than children with spastic hemiplegia and diplegia. A moderate relationship between the MACS and the GMFCS was found in all children (rater 1, r=.631; rater 2, r=.438). The MACS will be used for classification of children with CP according to the manual abilities. Thus, it offers a reliable method for communicating between therapists about the manual ability of children with CP who are older than 2 years.

This study aimed to compare 2 protocols recommended to patients with chronic cervical cord injury: each protocol included breathing exercises (inhalation-oriented or exhalation-oriented) and facilitation maneuver for the accessory respiratory muscles. Seventeen patients with chronic cervical cord injury volunteered to participate in this study, and we randomized these patients into 2 groups: the inhalation-oriented breathing exercise group (IOBEG) and exhalation-oriented breathing exercise group (EOBEG), consisting of 8 and 9 patients, respectively. Patients in the IOBEG performed inspiratory exercises using intermittent positive pressure breathing devices, while those in the EOBEG performed expiratory exercises using incentive spirometry. All exercises were performed by the subjects twice a day for 4 weeks, with each session lasting an average of 20 min. The outcomes were assessed on the basis of the pre- and post-treatment values of vital capacity (VC), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), and FEV1/FVC. In the IOBEG, no significant differences were observed between the pre- and post-treatment values of any of the measured variables (p>.05); however, in the EOBEG, significant improvement was noted in the VC, FVC, FEV1 measured (p<.05) after the treatment. In addition, the rates of change in the values of VC, FVC, and FEV1 differed significantly between the 2 groups (p<.05). These findings suggest that the EOBEs can enhance respiratory function and are clinically feasible in patients with chronic cervical cord injury. Further studies will be undertaken to evaluate the clinical application of these findings.

Dance movements consist of combinations of movements such as jumping, rotation, maintaining balance, leg lifts, and plantar flexion with toe shoes. Dance movements require great muscle strength of lower extremities as well as muscular endurance. The purposes of this study were to investigate correlation between the anthropometric variables and the peak torque in young female dancers and to identify variables that affect isokinetic peak torque. Twenty-six female dancers (19.7±1.2 years of age) performed concentric maximum force efforts on the knee extensors and flexors at 60°/sec and 120°/sec, the ankle plantar flexors (PF) and dorsiflexors (DF) at 30°/sec and 120°/sec. Antropometric variables such as age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), thigh girth, calf girth and duration of dance training were measured. To identify antropometric variables related to muscle strength, Pearson correlations were computed and a stepwise multiple regression analysis was performed. Pearson correlation coefficients of Knee extensor at 60°/sec and 120˚/sec revealed moderate positive associations with BMI and thigh girth. Pearson correlation coefficients of ankle PF revealed low-to-moderate positive associations with height. Ankle DF also revealed moderate positive associations with BMI and calf girth. The main predictor variables of knee extensor at 60/sec, were stepwise multiple regression, age, height, thigh and girth.

The purposes of this study were to find correlations among Fugl-Meyer Assessment scale, gait speed, and Timed Up & Go test (TUG) and to predict gait ability from subscales of Fugl-Meyer Assessment scale. The study population consisted of 30 stroke patients referred to the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine in the Bundang Jaesang General Hospital. All subjects were ambulatory with or without an assistive device. All participants were assessed on Fugl-Meyer Assessment scale and gait speed (m/s), TUG (s). The data were analyzed using independent t-test, Pearson product moment correlation analysis and stepwise multiple regression. The results revealed that all items of Fugl-Meyer Assessment scale, except passive joint range of motion were significantly correlated with gait speed and TUG. In particular, sensation score, lower extremity motor and coordination score have a significant correlation with gait speed and TUG (p<.05). The sensation score and lower extremity motor score were important factors in comfortable gait and maximal gait speed. Their power of explanation regarding comfortable gait and maximal gait speed were 63.0% and 65.0%, respectively. The sensation score and lower extremity coordination score were important factors in TUG. Their power of explanation regarding TUG was 55.0%. These results showed that Fugl-Meyer Assessment scale is significantly correlated with gait speed and TUG. Therefore Fugl-Meyer Assessment scale is an appropriate assessment tool to predict gait ability of patients with stroke. Further study about gait speed and TUG by change of Fugl-Meyer Assessment score is needed using a longitudinal study design.

본 연구는 급성기가 지난 뇌졸중 환자를 위한 치료적 운동 프로그램이 심박동수에 미치는 영향과 부가적으로 뇌졸중 환자의 기능적 상태에 따라 치료적 운동 형태를 알아보기 위해서 시행되었다. 대상자는 뇌졸중이 발생한지 3개월이 지난 23명의 환자이었다. 심박동수의 변화는 대상자가 각자의 치료적 운동을 수행하는 동안 Polar Vantage XL Heart Rate Monitor를 사용하여 측정하였다. 그 결과, 치료적 운동 동안 환자의 기능 수준 및 발병 기

The purpose of this study was to determine EMG biofeedback training effect on the muscle activities in 3 unilateral facial palsy patients along with multiple baseline design across subjects. The auditory feedback about facial muscles (orbicularis oris, orbicularis oculi, frontalis) was provided with each patient during facial exercise training. Electromyographic (EMG) activity during maximal voluntary contraction and maximal compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude elected by supramaximal electrical stimulation on facial nerve of facial muscles were measured pre- and post- EMG biofeedback training to evaluate motor learning. EMG activity during maximal voluntary contraction was increased after EMG biofeedback training and CMAP amplitude elected by supramaximal electrical stimulation was not changed in all subjects. The results indicate that EMG biofeedback training is useful method to improve motor learning of facial excercise training in unilateral facial palsy patients.