This study investigated the effects of a rehabilitation program using a wearable device on upper limb function, the performance of activities of daily living, and rehabilitation participation in acute phase stroke patients. A total of 44 patients were randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group (n = 22) was requested to wear a glove-type device while they were administered a game-based virtual reality (VR) rehabilitation program of 30 mins per session, 5 sessions per week, for 4 weeks. The program was given in addition to conventional physical therapy. The control group (n = 22) was administered only conventional physical therapy. To examine the intervention effects, the Fugl-Meyer assessment scale, hand strength test, and Jebsen–Taylor hand function tests were performed to examine upper limb function. The Korean version of the modified Barthel Index was used to assess the performance of activities of daily living, and the Pittsburgh rehabilitation participation scale was used to estimate rehabilitation participation. Neither the experimental nor the control group showed significant differences in the pre-intervention homogeneity test, while both groups showed significant improvement in all post-intervention dependent variables. Notably, the experimental group showed a significantly greater improvement in the results of the hand strength test, Jebsen–Taylor hand function test, and Modified Barthel Index. The findings suggest that the rehabilitation program using a wearable device, in addition to conventional physical therapy, is more effective than conventional therapy alone for improving upper limb function, the performance of activities of daily living, and rehabilitation participation in acute phase stroke patients. Our findings suggest that the novel rehabilitation program using a wearable device will serve not only as an effective therapy for enhancing the upper limb function, the performance of activities of daily living, and rehabilitation participation in acute phase stroke patients but also as a highly useful intervention in actual clinical practice alongside conventional physical therapy.

[Purpose] This study investigated the effects of resistance exercise using Thera-band on balance of elderly adults. [Methods] Subjects (age range, 60-70 years) were randomly assigned to an experimental (n=12) or control group (n=12). The experimental group performed stretching and resistance exercises, and the control group performed stretching exercises only. Before and after the 5-week intervention, the participants' static and dynamic balance were evaluated using the Berg Balance Scale, the Timed Up & Go Test, and the Tetrax Portable Multiple System (Tetrax Ltd., Ramat Gan, Israel) after 5 weeks. [Results] After the intervention, the values of the Tetrax in the weight distribution index with eyes open and that with eyes closed and the stability test index with eyes open were significantly lower in the resistance exercise group than in the control group, and the pre-test values were was significantly higher than the post-test values. However, there were no significant differences between groups in the values of the Berg Balance Scale, the Timed Up & Go Test, and the Tetrax stability test index with the eyes closed. [Conclusion] The findings of this study indicate that resistance exercise using the Thera-band is possible to improve the static and dynamic balance of elderly adults.

[Purpose] This study was conducted to quantify the effect of sling exercise therapy in the recovery of lumbosacral sagittal alignment (LSA) and in the control of low back pain. [Subjects and Methods] A total of 102 chronic low back pain patients were divided into two groups, a physical therapy group and a sling exercise group. In both groups, programs were conducted thrice a week for twelve weeks. With respect to LSA, pelvic tilt (PT), sacral slope (SS), and pelvic incidence (PI) were measured with plain radiography. Pain was measured on a visual analogue scale (VAS). [Results] Differences were found in visual analogue scale, delta score of visual analogue scale, pelvic tilt, delta score of pelvic tilt, and delta score of pelvic incidence between sling exercise therapy and physical therapy groups. VAS, pelvic tilt, and pelvic incidence was positively changed after sling exercise. However, only the visual analogue scale was found to be improved after physical therapy. [Conclusion] Sling exercise therapy and physical therapy were effective in reducing pain. However, pelvic tilt and pelvic incidence were positively changed after sling exercise therapy for Lumbosacral Sagittal Alignment, but were unchanged after physical therapy. Therefore, sling exercise therapy is more effective than physical therapy for the recovery of Lumbosacral Sagittal Alignment in patients with chronic low back pain.

: The interpretation of the correlation between cervical lordotic angle (CLA) and neck pain (NP) among clinicians remains contentious, reflecting the nuanced nature of this association within clinical discourse. This relationship assumes paramount importance in clinical practice, as it serves as the cornerstone for devising effective therapeutic strategies aimed at the management and prevention of NP. The objective of this study was to determine the difference in CLA between individuals with and without NP. The inclusion criteria entailed observational studies rigorously evaluating CLA through radiological imaging in both NP patients and healthy controls (HC), while pediatric, geriatric populations, and non-degenerative spinal conditions were excluded. We conducted a thorough electronic search across several databases including Medline, Cochrane Library, Embase, CINAHL, and PEDro. The search strategy employed terms pertinent to cervical alignment and NP, using Boolean logic. Specifically, search terms such as "neck pain*", "cervical pain*", and "lordo*" were used to ensure comprehensive coverage of relevant literature. We estimated the standardized Mean Differences (SMD) and their corresponding 95% Confidence Intervals (CI). Additionally, chi-square and I2 statistics were used to evaluate within-group heterogeneity through a random effects model. A total of 6 studies, involving 436 patients with NP and 491 HC, were identified. Overall, individuals with NP demonstrated a tendency towards smaller CLA compared to the HC group.

Eun-Kyung Noh, and Chang-Sik An. Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science 2015;4:79-86. http://dx.doi.org/10.14474/ptrs.2015.4.2.79