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[Purpose] This study was conducted to investigate the effects of forced breathing exercise on the trunk functions of chronic low back pain patients. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-four patients with chronic low back pain were randomly divided into groups of respiratory effort and trunk stabilization exercises. The exercises were performed for 45 minutes, 3 times per week for 6 weeks. Spinal stabilization was measured as the compensation of thesagittal angle joint in relation to the lumbar external load. [Results] After the intervention, the forced breathing and stabilization exercise groups showed a significant difference in lumbar spine stabilization between the first and second stress tests and the control group also showed a significant difference after the intervention. The M1 and M2 tests of lumbar spine stabilization revealed no significant differences between the groups. [Conclusion] The results of this research demonstrate that forced breathing exercise therapy is effective at improving the trunk stability and daily living activities of chronic low back pain patients.

[Purpose] The objective of this study was to examine the effects of a training program using the Nintendo Wii Fit Plus on the ankle muscle strengths of subjects with functional ankle instability. [Subjects and Methods] This study was conducted using subjects in their 20s who had functional ankle instability. They were randomized to a strengthening training group and a balance training group with 10 subjects in each, and they performed an exercise using Nintendo Wii Fit Plus for 20 minutes. In addition, every participant completed preparation and finishing exercises for 5 minutes, respectively. [Results] The muscle strengths after conducting plantar flexion and dorsiflexion significantly increased at the angular velocities of 60° and 120° in the strengthening training group. Furthermore, the muscle strengths after conducting plantar flexion, dorsiflexion, eversion, and inversion significantly increased at the angular velocities of 60° and 120° in the balance training group. [Conclusion] The balance training group using Nintendo Wii Fit Plus showed better results than the strengthening training group. Consequently, it is recommended to add the balance training program of the Nintendo Wii Fit Plus to conventional exercise programs to improve ankle muscle strength in functional ankle instability at a low cost.

[Purpose] The aim of present study was to identify the impact that recent virtual reality training programs used in a variety of fields have had on the ankle's static and dynamic senses of balance among subjects with functional ankle instability. [Subjects and Methods] This study randomly divided research subjects into two groups, a strengthening exercise group (Group I) and a balance exercise group (Group II), with each group consisting of 10 people. A virtual reality program was performed three times a week for four weeks. Exercises from the Nintendo Wii Fit Plus program were applied to each group for twenty minutes along with ten minutes of warming up and wrap-up exercises. [Results] Group II showed a significant decrease of post-intervention static and dynamic balance overall in the anterior-posterior, and mediolateral directions, compared with the pre-intervention test results. In comparison of post-intervention static and dynamic balance between Group I and Group II, a significant decrease was observed overall. [Conclusion] Virtual reality programs improved the static balance and dynamic balance of subjects with functional ankle instability. Virtual reality programs can be used more safely and efficiently if they are implemented under appropriate monitoring by a physiotherapist.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of stroke in the Republic of Korea and its relationship with QOL based on standardized data. [Subjects and Methods] This study utilized raw data from the 2010 KCHS. In total, 229,229 individuals participated in the 2010 survey. The final analysis identified 4,604 individuals who had been diagnosed by a doctor with stroke. To identify the correlation between the aftereffect-related characteristics of stroke patients and QOL, a multiple linear regression analysis was performed. [Results] Participants experiencing aftereffects had a statistically significantly lower QOL than participants who had not experienced aftereffects. Regarding the types of aftereffects, participants experiencing palsy in the arms and legs, facial palsy, communication disabilities, swallowing or eating disabilities, and visual disabilities had a statistically significantly lower QOL than participants without aftereffects. The QOL of participants with one, two, three, four, or five aftereffects was statistically significantly less than that of participants without aftereffects [Conclusion] Stroke directly influences QOL and the number of types of aftereffects experienced by patients. Therefore, it is highly important that physical therapists seek to end the occurrence of one or more types of aftereffects in stroke patients.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to identify the distribution of stages of change in the exercise behavior of university students the transtheoretical model. [Subjects and Methods] Study subjects at four universities in G city were surveyed. A total of 1,000 questionnaires were distributed, and 959 responses were analyzed. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression analysis. [Results] Factors that contributed to the transition from the pre-contemplation stage to the contemplation stage included change-experimental processes (C-EP) and change-behavioral processes (C-BP). Factors that contributed to the transition from the contemplation stage to the preparation stage were C-BP and decisional decisional balance-cons (DB-C). Self-efficacy was the factor that contributed to the transition from the preparation stage to the action stage. However, there was no factor that contributed to the transition from the action stage to the maintenance stage. [Conclusion] When exercise behavior change is low, strategies such as giving one-to-one training, having the subjects read relevant books, and providing information are needed. When exercise behavior change is high, it is necessary to heighten self-efficacy by having subjects select and freely conduct appropriate kinds of exercises.

[Purpose] This study aimed to examine the effects of galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) on visual memory recall and EEG. [Subjects and Methods] In the present study, 42 adults were selected and divided equally into two groups of 21 adults, the GVS group and the Sham group. The error rate was calculated as a percentage based on the total number of errors in the answers to 24 questions after stimulation, while the reaction time was measured in intervals between the time the questions were asked and the time it took the subjects to answer the questions. EEG data were obtained by attaching electrodes to the Fz, Cz, and Pz points during the question and answer phase. [Results] The error rate showed statistically significant differences in the interaction involving the time of response and group. The reaction time showed no statistically significant differences in the interaction involving the time of response and group. When relative band power parameters were analyzed, alpha waves showed no statistically significant differences in the interaction involving the time of response and group, but only the Fz area of beta waves showed statistically significant differences in the interaction involving the time of response and group. [Conclusion] GVS may improve visual memory recall in relation to a flower, a person, an animal, or a building.

[Purpose] This study investigated the effects of types of electrode on N100 and P300 in transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applications. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty subjects were randomly assigned to two groups with 15 subjects in each group depending on the electrode types. A positive electrode on the primary motor area (C4) and a negative electrode on the left primary motor area (C3), and stimulation was applied for 20 minutes. Before and after tDCS, N100 and P300 were measured by attaching an electrode to Fp1 and Fp2. [Results] In tDCS applications, N100 and P300 showed no significant interaction effects between time and group for either latency or amplitude in the Fp1 and Fp 2 areas, but there was a statistically significant difference in the main effect duration. [Conclusion] The latencies of N100 and P300 were shortened and that their amplitudes increased in both the Fp1 and Fp2 areas, regardless of the type of electrode.

[Purpose] This study examined the effect of the distance between the two electrodes on delayed onset muscle soreness during microcurrent therapy. [Methods] In this study 24 healthy women who hadn't exercised regularly for six months were selected and randomly divided into two groups. Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) was induced and experimental Group 1 were given microcurrent treatment with the electrodes attached at a close distance evaluated. Experimental Group 2 received the same treatment with the electrodes attached at a greater distance apart. Visual analogue scale pain and the RIII reflex were evaluated after inducing DOMS and after one day, two days, three days and four days of microcurrent treatment. [Results] The visual analogue scale and amplitude of RIII amplitude only showed significant differences with the length of time of the treatment. [Conclusion] This study found that difference of interelectrode distance has no influence on VAS pain and the RIII reflex of DOMS. Although there were no significant differences in RIII amplitude, we suspect that it may be influenced by current parameters such as frequency and intensity.

[Purpose] Exercise has been recognized as a simple and economical therapeutic modality that effectively benefits patients with diabetes, for instance, increasing insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes. However, thus far, no studies have examined the effect of endurance training exercises on type 2 diabetes. Therefore, this study examined the effect of endurance training exercise regimens on body weight, glucose and insulin levels, lipid profiles, and HbA1c levels in STZ-induced type 2 diabetic rats on a high-fat diet. HbA1c was considered an indicator of glucose control during endurance training. [Methods] A total of 36 rats were included in this study. Diabetes was induced by administering STZ to 2 groups of 12 rats each, and, the remaining 12 rats were classified as the normal group. Biochemical parameters were measured 28 days later, and included: serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, glycosylated hemoglobin, glucose, and insulin levels. [Results] A significant decrease in serum TC and TG levels, and an increase in HDL cholesterol level were observed in the endurance training group. Moreover, blood glucose and HbA1c levels after 28 days of exercising were significantly lower in the endurance training group than in the control group (p<0.05). [Conclusion] These results indicate that endurance training affects body weight and, lipid profiles, as well as fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, and insulin levels, in STZ-induced type 2 diabetic rats on a high- fat diet. We suggest that endurance training exercises may exhibit therapeutic, preventative, and protective effects against diabetes mellitus through improving lipid metabolism, glycemic control, and HbA1c levels.

[Purpose] In the present study, we investigated the effects of antecedent exercise on functional recovery and calpain protein expression following focal cerebral ischemia injury. [Subjects and Methods] The rat middle cerebral artery occlusion model was employed. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups. Group I comprised untreated normal rats (n=10); Group II comprised untreated rats with focal cerebral ischemia (n=10); Group III comprised rats that performed treadmill exercise (20 m/min) training after focal cerebral ischemia (n=10); and Group IV comprised rats that performed antecedent treadmill exercise (20 m/min) training before focal cerebral ischemia (n=10). At different time points (1, 7, 14, and 21 days), limb placement test score and the levels of calpain protein in the hippocampus were examined. [Results] In the antecedent exercise group, improvements in the motor behavior index (limb placement test) were observed and hippocampal calpain protein levels were decreased. [Conclusion] These results indicated that antecedent treadmill exercise prior to focal cerebral ischemia exerted neuroprotective effects against ischemic brain injury by improving motor performance and decreasing the levels of calpain expression. Furthermore, these results suggest that antecedent treadmill exercise of an appropriate intensity is critical for post-stroke rehabilitation.