Differences in respirogram phase between taekwondo poomsae athletes and nonathletes.

[Purpose] Respiratory physiotherapy is an effective approach to improving lung function in patient, including athletes with respiratory dysfunction caused by sports injury. The purpose of this study was to analyze the differences in the respirograms between taekwondo poomsae athletes and nonathletes according to the respirogram phase. [Subjects and Methods] Respiratory measurements for 13 elite taekwondo poomsae athletes were obtained.

A comparative study of the effects of trunk exercise program in aquatic and land-based therapy on gait in hemiplegic stroke patients.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of aquatic and land-based trunk exercise program on gait in stroke patients. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were 28 hemiplegic stroke patients (20 males, 8 females). The subjects performed a trunk exercise program for a total of four weeks.

Differences in strength-duration curves of electrical diagnosis by physiotherapists between DJ-1 homozygous knockout and wild-type mice: a randomized controlled pilot trial.

[Purpose] Strength-duration (SD) curves are used in electrical diagnosis by physiotherapists to confirm muscle degeneration. However, the usefulness of SD curves in comparing muscle degeneration in DJ-1 homozygous knockout (DJ-1(-/-)) and wild-type mice (DJ-1(+/+)) is not yet fully understood. The electrical properties of the gastrocnemius muscles of DJ-1(-/-) and DJ-1(+/+) mice were compared in the current study.

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.

The effects of aquatic trunk exercise on gait and muscle activity in stroke patients: a randomized controlled pilot study.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between muscle activity and gait function following aquatic trunk exercise in hemiplegic stroke patients. [Subjects and Methods] This study's participants included thirteen hemiplegic patients (ten males and three females). The aquatic therapy consisted of administering concentrative aquatic therapy for four weeks in a therapeutic pool.

Analysis of isokinetic muscle strength for sports physiotherapy research in Korean ssireum athletes.

[Purpose] The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the muscle conditions such as the isokinetic muscle of Korean ssireum athletes. [Subjects and Methods] This study enrolled 25 elite ssireum athletes. We measured body composition and peak torque at an angular speed at 60°/s using an isokinetic muscle strength dynamometer.

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.

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).

Differences in two-point discrimination and sensory threshold in the blind between braille and text reading: a pilot study.

[Purpose] This study investigated two-point discrimination (TPD) and the electrical sensory threshold of the blind to define the effect of using Braille on the tactile and electrical senses. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-eight blind participants were divided equally into a text-reading and a Braille-reading group. We measured tactile sensory and electrical thresholds using the TPD method and a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator.

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.

Somatotype and body composition analysis of Korean youth soccer players according to playing position for sports physiotherapy research.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the somatotype and physical characteristic differences among elite youth soccer players. [Subjects and Methods] In the present study, we evaluated twenty-two Korean youth soccer players in different playing positions. The playing positions were divided into forward (FW), midfielder (MF), defender (DF), and goalkeeper (GK).

Effect of a muscle strengthening exercise program for pelvic control on gait function of stroke patients.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of strengthening exercises for the hip extensors on the gait performance and stability of patients with hemiplegia. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were fifteen stroke patients (ten males, five females). The experimental subjects performed a hip extensor strengthening exercise (HESE) program for a total of four weeks.

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.

Phosphorylation of Heat Shock Protein 27 is Increased by Cast Immobilization and by Serum-free Starvation in Skeletal Muscles.

[Purpose] Cast immobilization- and cell starvation-induced loss of muscle mass are closely associated with a dramatic reduction in the structural muscle proteins. Heat shock proteins are molecular chaperones that are constitutively expressed in several eukaryotic cells and have been shown to protect against various stressors. However, the changes in the phosphorylation of atrophy-related heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) are still poorly understood in skeletal muscles.

Decrease of PKB/Akt Phosphorylation is Partially Mediated by SAPK/JNK Activation in Serum-free L6 Myoblasts Starved with Low Glucose.

[Purpose] Studies have been using cell cultures of muscle cells to mimic atrophy in in vivo and in vitro tests. However, changes in the activation of atrophy-related PKB/Akt is not fully understood in serum-free starved skeletal muscle cells. The purpose of the present study was to determine the change of PKB/Akt phosphorylation in L6 myoblasts under serum-free starvation conditions.

Cofilin Phosphorylation Decreased by Serum-free Starvation with Low Glucose in the L6 Myoblasts.

[Purpose] Many studies have been using cell culture models of muscle cells with exogenous cytokines or glucocorticoids to mimic atrophy in in vivo and in vitro tests. However, the changes in the phosphorylation of atrophy-related cofilin are still poorly understood in starved skeletal muscle cells. In this study, we first examined whether or not phosphorylation of cofilin is altered in L6 myoblasts after 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours of serum-free starvation with low glucose.

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.

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.

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.

Waveform Analysis of the Brachial-ankle Pulse Wave Velocity in Hemiplegic Stroke Patients and Healthy Volunteers: A Pilot Study.

[Purpose] Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (BaPWV), which has been reported as an index of arterial stiffness, is very closely related to cardiovascular risk factors. A high BaPWV indicates high cardiovascular risk. However, BaPWV and pressure waveforms after stroke are not fully understood.

Decrease of Both Cofilin and LIM Kinase Phosphorylation in the Skeletal Muscles of Immobilization-induced Atrophy Rats.

[Purpose] Immobilization-induced atrophy is a general phenomenon caused by prolonged muscle disuse associated with orthopaedic conditions. However, changes in the phosphorylation of atrophy-related cofilin and LIM kinases are still poorly understood. In this study, we examined whether or not phosphorylation of cofilin and LIM kinases is altered in the skeletal muscles of rats after 3, 7, 14, and 21 days of cast immobilization.

Increase of Myoglobin in Rat Gastrocnemius Muscles with Immobilization-induced Atrophy.

[Purpose] Atrophy is a common phenomenon caused by prolonged muscle disuse associated with bed-rest, aging, and immobilization. However, changes in the expression of atrophy-related myoglobin are still poorly understood. In the present study, we examined whether or not myoglobin expression is altered in the gastrocnemius muscles of rats after seven days of cast immobilization.

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.

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.