Effects of different seat cushions on interface pressure distribution: a pilot study.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to evaluate pressure redistribution on the supporting area of healthy volunteers when using different cushions. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty healthy individuals ranging in age from 19-23 years old and 20 older adults age 60 or above participated in the study. All participants lived in urban communities in South Korea. Group differences according to gender, age, and cushion types were analyzed with one-way analysis of variance and post-hoc analysis. [Results] Statistically significant differences in peak pressure and mean pressure were identified between age, gender, and cushion types. Peak pressure and mean pressure were higher on firm surfaces and on the air cushion than other cushion types. The pressure ratio was lower when an air cushion was used in the buttock area and was higher when it was used under the thighs compared to that in other conditions. [Conclusion] This study showed that interface pressure can be distributed differently depending on what cushions are used. Therefore, when using seat cushions, individuals should seek advice to help them choose the appropriate cushion for their needs.

Effect of activities of daily living status on resuming driving after stroke.

[Purpose] This study aimed to investigate the effect of the activities of daily living status on resuming driving after stroke. [Subjects] Thirty-one participants with stroke, who visited in Korean national rehabilitation centers, were included in this study. [Methods] The activities of daily living performance and the driving ability of the participants were assessed with the Korean-Modified Barthel Index in combination with the results obtained by using a driving simulator. [Results] Significant correlations were noted among the Korean-Modified Barthel Index, on-road driving total score, reaction time, speed anticipation tests, judgment tests, and steering wheel-pedal operation tests. Results of Stepwise multiple regression also revealed that the Korean-Modified Barthel Index total score and speed anticipation, with an R(2) of 52.9%. In other words, as the Korean-Modified Barthel Index total score and speed anticipation score increased and the driving performance score also increased in patients who had suffered a stroke. [Conclusion] The activities of daily living status was positively correlated with the patients' post stroke driving ability.

Analysis of cortical activation during three types of therapeutic activity.

[Purpose] The objective of this study was to investigate changes from resting of the evoked cortical activity when participants performed three levels of therapeutic activities. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-five students participated in this study. Changes in the amplitude of 16 pairs of evoked potentials were compared for three different activities: adjunctive, enabling, and purposeful. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVA. [Results] Significant differences were found among the selected three activities for the Alpha 1 waveform. The complexity hierarchy was confirmed by descriptive statistics, as well as analyses of the three brain regions: central position (motor) Beta 1; parietal lobes, Beta 2, and occipital lobes, Alpha 1. In each instance, purposeful activity was confirmed as the most complex activity, followed by enabling, and then adjunctive. [Conclusion] This study will provide rehabilitation professionals with valuable information regarding what type of activity they should choose for a correct level of therapeutic challenge when they work with patients to plan meaningful interventions.

Attitude Toward Virtual Rehabilitation and Active Video Games Among Therapists in Korea: A Nationwide Survey.

In this study, we conducted a survey targeting 191 physical therapists (PTs) and 159 occupational therapists (OTs) in South Korea to explore attitudes toward virtual rehabilitation. Utilizing the Korean version of the ADOPT VR by Glegg et al., OT exhibited significantly more experience with virtual reality (VR) and active video games (AVG) than PT. Therapists with VR/AVG experience scored significantly higher in most categories, and the scores in each category were significantly correlated with the Behavioral Intention category, reflecting the willingness to use VR/AVG. The biggest barriers identified were insufficient funds and setup assistance for the equipment. Differences in responses between the groups with and without VR/AVG experience were most prominent in terms of lack of interest and funding. Therapists' attitudes, perceptions, and intentions toward VR/AVG are crucial factors in the establishment and implementation of VR/AVG; thus, the results of this study provide valuable evidence for future policies related to VR/AVG in rehabilitation medicine.

Attitude Toward Telerehabilitation Among Physical and Occupational Therapists in Korea: A Brief Descriptive Report.

The attitude toward telerehabilitation (TR) among therapists (191 physical therapists and 159 occupational therapists) in Korea was surveyed. The survey consisted of 15 questions in the following 8 domains: awareness(AW), attitude (AT), perceived usefulness (PU), perceived behavioral control (PBC), self-efficacy (SE), facilitating conditions (FC), barriers (B), and behavioral intention (BI). Therapists with experience in TR responded with higher scores in all domains except B, regardless of their specialty. The most perceived barriers to TR were unmatched insurance fees and a lack of technical support. Experience with TR was a major factor in attitude and behavior intention toward TR.

Analysis of the aging-induced changes in the motor ability structure using large population fitness test results.

Owing to confounding factors influencing the effect of aging, systematic analyses of age-related changes in motor ability are mostly limited to the use of animals whose diets and genetics can be controlled or the use of datasets of athletes who share similar lifestyles. However, we lack systematic methods for analyzing the effect of aging on the motor ability structure of the general public. We propose that principal component analysis (PCA) on fitness test results of a large sample may provide information on the aging-induced change in the motor ability structure of the general public. We complied the fitness test records of 7402 Koreans between the ages of 20 and 64, and performed PCA on the records of gripping, 50m dash, sit-ups, and shuttle runs, which indicate strength, speed, muscular endurance, and aerobic endurance, respectively. Our analysis shows the structural changes in motor ability around the age of 40 and 60 in Korea. We expect that the proposed approach can be applied to similar datasets from other countries or local communities to quantify any age-induced change in motor ability structure in each specific group.

Development and evaluation of a method to measure wrist range of motion on paretic hand rehabilitation device.

This paper presents the development of wrist ROM measurement system that was implemented on a rehabilitation glove for paretic hand, Easy-Flex, using a rotary potentiometer. This approach enables the device to measure the angles of up to 80° with the approximate resolution of 0.1°. The method along with a universal goniometer and a smartphone clinometer application were tested on 17 healthy participants in terms of reliability. The three instruments were able to accurately measure three different angles (flexion: -10°, neutral: 0°, and extension: 20°) with measurement errors less than 2°. Moreover, ICCs of the proposed method were close to 0.90 indicating the method implemented on Easy-Flex is reliable for measuring wrist flexion and extension measurement.