KJC Korea
Journal Central

Objective : The purpose of this study was to analyze the time use and quality of life among people with tetraplegia who participate in wheelchair rugby against those who do not participate in any sports. Methods : A researcher analyzed the time use and quality of life for 24 subjects with tetraplegia, 11 of whom participate in wheelchair rugby, using an‘ occupational questionnaire’and‘ WHOQOL-BREF’. Results : The subjects who participate in wheelchair rugby demonstrated greater degrees of leisure time, as well as importance and enjoyment in their occupational performance, than non-participants (p<.05). A higher score for the importance and enjoyment of the subjects’work performance required a greater amount of leisure time (p<.05). Conclusion : We suggest that occupational therapists need to include an analysis and effectiveness of time use pattern in their assessments, and to analyze and use wheelchair rugby activities for developing greater occupational performance for people with tetraplegia.

Objective : The purpose of this study was to know the effects of pain input from friction on proprioception, and to identify the change of proprioception, which is an occupational performance component. Methods : Twenty-two males who had participated in working practice during 1 year were recruited for this study as an experimental group. Also, twenty-two healthy university students were recruited for this study as a control group. We measured the mean positioning error using Winarm three-dimentional motion analysis equipment by having the subjects move their elbow flexion-extension and wrist flexion-extension. Next, the subjects were given an intervention of pain using a brush. We then conducted a retest. The collected data were calculated using a formula and analyzed. Results : Both the experimental and control groups showed significant increases in mean positioning error during an elbow flexion-extension and wrist flexion-extension after pain input (p<.05). However, the difference in mean positioning error before and after was not significant except for the elbow y axis error (p<.05). Conclusion : An increase of pain, which is a somathetic sensory receptor, reduced the firing of proprioceptions for positioning control. When pain appeared, a reduction of proprioception firing was constant without reference to the level of occupational performance skill. Therefore, a program for decreasing pain and increasing proprioception for the prevention of industrial injuries is needed.

Objective : The purpose of this study lies in finding out of the effects of mirror therapy on the upper extremity function and activities of daily living (ADL) of hemiplegic patients who have suffered a chronic stroke. Methods : This study was carried out with 30 patients who were diagnosed as stroke victims. For 6 weeks,the subjects was divided into an experimental who had mirror therapy (MT) intervention, and a control group who had sham therapy (ST) intervention from November 2009 to March 2010. The study procedures were Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA); Functional Independence Measure (FIM) before and after intervention,according to an upper extremity function evaluation; and an ADL performance ability evaluation. Results : 1) The affected upper extremity function and ADL performance ability of the chronic stroke patients of both groups, under MT and under ST before and after intervention, showed statistically significant differences (p<.05), and the group under MT showed a statistically significant level increase in affected upper extremity function and ADL performance ability compared with the group under ST (p<.05). 2) Also, the affected upper extremity function showed a statistically significant correlation with ADL performance ability,which is related with motor function (p<.05, r=.826). Conclusion : MT increases affected upper extremity function and ADL performance ability in comparison with ST, and affected upper extremity function affects motor function-related ADL performance ability. Accordingly, MT would be an applicable treatment to improve the functional recovery and ADL performance ability of chronic stroke patients, and follow-up studies should be carried out focusing on and various functional programs rather than focusing on simple task fulfillment.

Objective : The objectives of this research were to investigate the correlation of post-stroke depression with cognition and upper extremity functions, and to determine whether changes in depression affect the cognition and upper extremity functions of patients with acute stroke. Methods : Fifteen patients who had their first stroke within the last 6 months and received rehabilitation in P rehabilitation hospital in Busan were selected for this study. They scored over 20 points in an Mini-Mental State Examination-Korean version (MMSE-K) test. The participants completed Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Korean version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-K), Neurobehavioral Cognitive Status Examination (NCSE), Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), and Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Tests. Data of the BDI were analysed and sorted into a depression group and non-depression group. After 8 weeks, the depression group was reassessed, and the data were analyzed for a depression-reduced group and a nonchange group. Results : Any correlation between BDI with cognitive and upper extremity functions was not found. However,it was found that a change in BDI score significantly correlates with changes in NCSE and FMA (p<.05). The depression-reduced group improved their upper extremity functions compared to the group showing no change in depression state(p<.05). Conclusion : A reduction in post-stroke depression can influence the functional recovery of the upper extremities. Therefore, post-stroke depression should be a concerned at the incipient rehabilitation stage.

Objective : The objective of this research was to determine the effects of Botulinum toxin A on the arm motor function in chronic spastic hemiplegic patients. Methods : A total of 18 patients who suffered from chronic spastic hemiplegia over 12 months after a brain injury, with wrist and finger strengths of more than a poor minus grade, were enrolled. Botulinum toxin 25 IU (Botox@) was injected into the flexor carpi radialis, flexor carpi ulnaris, flexor digitorum superficialis, and flexor digitorum profundus of each subject's hemiplegic arm. The outcome was assessed by a manual muscle test for arm strength, a dynamometer, a pinch gauge for grip and pinch power, Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Manual Function Test (MFT) and CMS10 measuring system for motion analysis at baseline, after 2weeks, and after an additional 6 weeks of post-injection. Results : After 8 weeks of injection, the subjects’grip and pinch power did not increase significantly. MAS was decreased significantly and wrist extension strength, finger extension strength, and MFT score were increased significantly(p<.05). There were significant improvements in the range of motion score of the passive wrist flexion-active extension movement, as well as in the amplitude of the wrist flexion-extension movement, and hand and finger tap motions (p<.05). Conclusion : A Botulinum toxin injection maybe an effective treatment for spasticity and motor function in chronic spastic hemiplegic patients.

Objective : This study was conducted to identify the preference of Snoezelen equipment of elderly people with dementia. Methods : This study was carried out on 17 elderly people (3 male, 14 female) diagnosed with dementia at W nursing home. An Occupational Therapist experienced in the Snoezelen approach applied 14 Snoezelen pieces of equipment (6 visual stimulations, 1 auditory stimulation, 6 tactile stimulations, 1 olfactory stimulation) through 40-minute sessions with a set (certain) sequence, and every subject conducted two one-week sessions. Two occupational therapists individually measured the subjects' responses to the equipment based on a 7-point Likert scale. The inter-class correlation of the two occupational therapists was 82.5% (first session: 80.6%, second session: 84.4%). Results : The elderly people with dementia in this study showed a positive response to a tactile panel with a round pubble, grain case, water column with a light and bubble, a projector, and mink fur. On the other hand,they showed a negative response to psychedelic light, aroma scent, a tactile panel with a rough pubble, and an optic fiber, which are unfamiliar and stimulating equipment, and no or very little response to relaxing music, a water bed with a vibration device, and a mirror ball. In conclusion, elderly people with dementia showed a preference toward tactile and visual stimulating equipment more than olfactory and auditory stimulation. Conclusion : Tactile and visual equipment needs to be considered prior to setting up a Snoezelen room, and further study needs to pay attention to the effects of individually preferred equipment on the ease or decrease of symptoms of elderly people with dementia.

Objective : The purpose of this study was to compare the degree of sensory processing and anxiety between children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) and normal children, and to determine whether sensory processing skill is related to anxiety in children with ADHD. Methods : The data were provided using 102 children between the ages of 7 and 9. Forty-four children with a diagnosis of ADHD were recruited through two departments of child psychiatry, and 58 normal children were recruited from elementary schools from the same city. A Short Sensory Profile was used to assess their sensory processing skills, and the Korean version of the State Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children was used to assess their level of anxiety. Results : The results show that children with ADHD have significantly higher levels of anxiety and significantly lower sensory processing skills than normal children. However, no significant differences in sensory processing skills and anxiety were found across gender, age, or type of ADHD. A significant correlation was found between trait anxiety and visual/auditory sensitivity, low energy and weakness, under responsive and ‘seeks sensation’, but no significant correlations were found between state anxiety and sensory processing skills. Children with ADHD who have low sensory processing skills demonstrated a higher trait anxiety than children with ADHD who exhibited no difficulty in sensory processing. Conclusion : There are significant differences in sensory processing skills and anxiety between children with ADHD and normal children. Sensory processing skills are related to anxiety in children with ADHD. Therefore, occupational therapists need to consider the relationship of sensory processing skills and anxiety in evaluating and providing intervention for children diagnosed with ADHD.

Objective : Postural control and visual perception are the basic functions for activities of daily living. Thus, the recovery of these abilities is a therapeutic goal for children with cerebral palsy. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of an eye-movement training program on postural control and visual perception of children with spastic cerebral palsy. Methods : From May 1st, 2010 to August 31st, 2010, 10 children with spastic cerebral palsy visiting the“ P”rehabilitation center of Busan participated in this study (age range, 4-8 years). An eye-movement training program with conventional occupational therapy was given to the experimental group, while conventional occupational therapy only was given to a control group. The training program consists of 4 types of eyemovements;saccadic, pursuit, vestibulo-ocular, and vergence movements. The 40-min training sessions carried out three times a week for 8 weeks. Gross Motor Functional Measure (GMFM), Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS), and Pediatric Reaching Test (PRT) were used for an evaluation of postural control ability, and the Korean-Developmental Test of Visual Perception (K-DTVP) was given for visual perception. All tests were performed before and after the 8-week program Results : While the experimental group revealed a statistically significant difference between pre-and postprogram scores for all tests except visual closure of K-DTVP (p<.05), there were some differences for only PRT, eye-hand coordination, and spatial relations of K-DTVP in the control group. Compared to the control group, the trained children showed a significant improvement in both postural control and visual perception (p<.05). Conclusion : This results show that an eye movement training program is effective for an improvement in postural control and visual perception of children with spastic cerebral palsy.

Objective : The purposes of this study were to analyze the duties of occupational therapists through the DACUM method, and to present the importance and frequency of the main duties and tasks currently conducted in Korea. Methods : The DACUM method was used to achieve an analysis of the duties of Korean occupational therapists in the present day. In order to achieve this analysis, a DACUM committee was created, a job analysis was executed through a DACUM workshop, and a survey was conducted on 252 Korean occupational therapists working in metropolitan areas in order to analyze the order of priority for all tasks. Results : This study defined the task of occupational therapists and presented 4 duties (assessment,treatment, education, administration and management) and 21 tasks. Important items in each duty among all tasks were decided by conducting a survey in the job analysis committee, which included presenting an interpretation of the results of a duty assessment, execution of treatment, patient and guardian education, and document administration and management, thus coinciding with the order of priority in all duties excluding education. However, the importance of tasks presented a difference according to job factors, such as rank,career, and work classification. Conclusions : The results of this study will be of help for the development of a university curriculum and an improvement in the continuing education content of special interest sections.

Objective : The purpose of this study was to compare the perceived competence scale with the Perceived Efficacy and Goal Setting System (PEGS), and to determine clinical utility and parent satisfaction as a means to set goals for the intervention of children with disabilities. Methods : The internal consistency was tested, and its correlation was examined by administering the perceived self efficacy and comparing the children’s PEGS scores with those of their parents (N=22). For clinical utility and parent satisfaction, we surveyed 15 occupational therapists and 17 parents for their opinions. Results : Cronbach's alpha reliability for the PEGS was .829. The PEGS scores did not correlate for the children and parents, but the PEGS score did correlate with the perceived self efficacy. Also, the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient was .675. We found a high correlation between PEGS and perceived self efficacy in assessing child motor competence. Conclusion : The results showed that the PEGS has high internal consistency, correlation, and clinical utility. We suggest that a further study is needed for analyzing the test-retest reliability and clinical effectiveness of the treatment procedure.