This study aimed to evaluate sarcopenia and locomotive syndrome in Korean elderly patients, analyze the closely related factors, and determine the threshold for distinguishing participants with sarcopenia, locomotive syndrome, and non-disease. To this end, we enrolled 210 subjects aged 65 years or more and classified them into the sarcopenia (n = 36) and locomotive syndrome (n = 164) groups; a control group was also included (n = 10). We evaluated the characteristics of these patients using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and performed statistical analysis. Our findings showed statistically significant differences between the groups, leading to the derivation of a significant threshold value. The threshold value of the TUG test between the control and locomotive syndrome groups was 9.47 s; the threshold value of the BBS was 54 points, respectively. The threshold value of the TUG test between the locomotive syndrome and sarcopenia groups was 10.27 s, and the threshold value of the BBS was 50 points, respectively. These findings suggest that sarcopenia is closely related to locomotive syndrome, and that sarcopenia and locomotive syndrome can be identified using a physical therapy diagnostic evaluation tool.

Background: As society evolves, healthcare professionals face increasing ethical conflicts. Physical therapists, tasked with patient well-being, encounter unique dilemmas that require strong professional ethics. With rising public health standards, there is a growing expectation for these therapists to exhibit high ethical awareness. Objectives: This study aimed to develop a self-assessment tool to evaluate the ethical competence of Korean physical therapists, assess current ethical levels, and provide data for programs aimed at improving this competence. Methods: An eight-step process for tool development and evaluation was implemented. Data were collected through an online survey of physical therapists. To ensure effectiveness, item analysis, exploratory factor analysis, and internal consistency reliability tests were conducted. Results: The development process began with 70 items, which were refined to 48 through expert validation. An online survey with 219 physical therapists revealed five key factors explaining 65.4% of the variance, with factor loadings between 0.52 and 0.85. The internal consistency of the tool, measured by Cronbach's alpha, was 0.90, indicating acceptable reliability. The final assessment tool comprised 18 items. Conclusion: This study successfully developed a validated self-assessment tool for measuring the ethical competence of physical therapists in Korea. The final 18-item tool, utilizing a 4 point Likert scale, is valid and reliable. It serves as a foundational resource for future research and educational initiatives aimed at improving ethical standards among Korean physical therapists.

Corrigendum to: Development of Ethical Competence Self-assessment Tool for Korean Physical Therapists