Hyung Seok Nam | 5 Articles |
Brain disorders![]()
![]() Objective
To confirm that the simplified insole does not affect the gait speed and to identify objective sensor-based gait parameters that correlate strongly with existing clinical gait assessment scales. Methods Ten participants with gait impairment due to hemiplegic stroke were enrolled in this study. Pairs of insoles with four pressure sensors on each side were manufactured and placed in each shoe. Data were extracted during the 10-Meter Walk Test. Several sensor-derived parameters (for example stance time, heel_on-to-toe_peak time, and toe_peak pressure) were calculated and correlated with gait speed and lower extremity Fugl-Meyer (F-M) score. Results The insole pressure sensor did not affect gait, as indicated by a strong correlation (ρ=0.988) and high agreement (ICC=0.924) between the gait speeds with and without the insole. The parameters that correlated most strongly with highest β coefficients against the clinical measures were stance time of the non-hemiplegic leg (β=-0.87 with F-M and β=-0.95 with gait speed) and heel_on-to-toe_peak time of the non-hemiplegic leg (β=-0.86 with F-M and -0.94 with gait speed). Conclusion Stance time of the non-hemiparetic leg correlates most strongly with clinical measures and can be assessed using a non-obtrusive insole pressure sensor that does not affect gait function. These results suggest that an insole pressure sensor, which is applicable in a home environment, may be useful as a clinical endpoint in post-stroke gait therapy trials.
To evaluate the feasibility of a new position (internal rotation in hanging) in ultrasonography, we compared the length of the glenohumeral joint space and the effectiveness of steroid injection with the hanging position and with the commonly used abdomen or cross position. A prospective, randomized controlled trial was performed in 42 patients with adhesive capsulitis of shoulder. We used three arm positions for the posterior approach as follows: the patient's palm on thigh, other hand on abdomen (abdomen position); hand on patient's opposite shoulder (cross position); arm in hanging position with internal rotation of shoulder (hanging position). The order of shoulder position was randomized and blinded. Real-time ultrasonography-guided intra-articular steroid injection was performed by posterior approach at the first position in each patient. The Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), and range of motion (ROM) were measured before steroid injection and 2 weeks after injection. The lengths of the joint space were 2.88±0.75, 2.93±0.89, and 2.82±0.79 mm in abdomen, cross, and hanging position respectively, with no significant difference among the three positions (p=0.429). Treatment efficacy was significantly improved in ROM, total BPI, and SPADI in all three positions (p<0.001). The changes in ROM for shoulder abduction were 23.6°±19.7°, 22.2°±20.9°, and 10.0°±7.8° in abdomen, cross, and hanging position, respectively. Changes in total BPI scores were 25.1±15.7, 23.6.±18.0, 11.6±6.1, and changes in total SPADI score were 35.0±14.2, 30.9±28.9, and 16.5±10.3 in abdomen, cross, and hanging position, respectively. There were no significant difference among the three positions for all parameters (p=0.194, p=0.121, and p=0.108, respectively. For patients with adhesive capsulitis who cannot achieve or maintain abdomen or cross position, scanning and injection with the shoulder in internal rotation with hanging position may be a useful alternative. Citations Citations to this article as recorded by
To investigate the accessibility of medical services for Korean people with spinal cord injury (SCI) compared to the control group (CG) and to evaluate significantly related factors. A total of 363 community dwelling people with chronic SCI were enrolled and 1,089 age- and sex-matched subjects were randomly selected from the general population as the CG. Self-reported access to medical services was measured by asking "Have you experienced the need for a hospital visit in the last year but could not?". This was followed up by asking the reasons for not receiving services when medically necessary. Variables, including lack of finances, difficulties making medical appointments, and lack of transportation were evaluated for accessibility to medical services. Sixty subjects (16.5%) in the SCI group had difficulties receiving medical services due to a lack of accessibility, compared to 45 (4.1%) in the CG (p<0.001). Variables causing difficulties receiving medical services were lack of transportation (27 persons, 45%), lack of finances (24 persons, 40%), and difficulty scheduling hospital appointments (9 persons, 15%) in the SCI group. In the CG, availability (lack of available time) and acceptability (deciding not to visit the hospital due to mild symptoms) were the reasons for not receiving medical care. People with SCI experienced limited accessibility to medical services, which was due to environmental rather than personal factors compared to that in the CG. Therefore, development of social policies to reduce or remove environmental variables is necessary. Citations Citations to this article as recorded by
To investigate the characteristics of community-dwelling spinal cord injury (SCI) persons with obesity, including diet, socioeconomic factors, weight reduction method, and frequency of body weight and abdominal circumference measurements. We developed a questionnaire based on 'the Fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2009'. A total of 371 community-dwelling SCI persons were enrolled in this study. Inclusion criteria were SCI persons older than 20 years with more than 1 year elapsed since the injury. Trained investigators visited SCI persons' home to complete the questionnaire and measure abdominal obesity (AO) as defined by the waist circumference. Prevalence of AO was 29.2% in SCI persons and 27.4% in the general population (GP), showing no significant difference. Education showed correlation with AO in both SCI persons and the GP. The injury level, type of injury and income did not show any correlation with AO in SCI persons. Only 28.8% and 48.8% of SCI persons measured their waist circumference and body weight within the past year, respectively. Also, SCI persons with AO thought that their body was less obese compared to persons with AO in the GP (p<0.001). The method of weight reduction was diet modification in 53.6% of SCI persons with AO, which was higher than 37.1% of persons with AO in the GP. In SCI persons, obesity perception as well as socioeconomic factors correlated with AO, but these were not relevant factors in the GP. Therefore, development of a specific and intensive weight control program for SCI persons is necessary. Citations Citations to this article as recorded by
To evaluate the feasibility of the ICF for initial comprehensive evaluation of early post-acute spinal cord injury. A comprehensive evaluation of 62 early post-acute spinal cord injury (SCI) patients was conducted by rehabilitation team members, such as physicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, nutritionists, medical social-workers, and nurses. They recorded each of their evaluation according to the ICF first level classification. The contents of the comprehensive evaluation were linked to the ICF second level categories, retrospectively. The linked codes were analyzed descriptively and were also compared with the brief ICF core set for early post-acute SCI. In the evaluation of early post-acute SCI patients based on the ICF first level categories, 19 items from the body functions domain, such as muscle power functions (b730) and urination functions (b620), 15 items from the body structures domain, including spinal cord and related structures (s120), 11 items from the activities and participation domain, such as transferring oneself (d420) and walking (d450), and 9 items from the environmental factors domain, e.g., health professionals (e355), were linked to the ICF second level categories. In total, 82.4% of all contents were linked to the brief ICF core set. Prognosis insight, a personal factor not linkable to an ICF code, was mentioned in 29.0% of all patients. First level ICF categories can provide a structural base for a comprehensive evaluation in early post-acute spinal cord injury. However, frequently linked items, including the brief core set, as well as personal factors should be considered via a checklist in order to prevent the omission of significant contents. Citations Citations to this article as recorded by
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