The purpose of this study was to find the effects of the lumbar stabilizing exercise on the isometric lumbar extension strength and the range of motion of lumbar extension. 16 healthy subjects were recruited (9 males, 7 females, mean age 25${\pm}$3.2). They performed 5 types of exercises 5 times per week for 4 weeks. We evaluated isometric trunk extension strength (0, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, $72^{\circ}$) by MedX(Ocala, FL) and measured range of motion of lumbar extension. All measurements were measured at pre-exercise and 4 weeks post-exercise. The results of this study were summarized as follows; After 4 weeks of exercise, isometric lumbar extension strength was generally increased but there were only significant differences at $12^{\circ},\;24^{\circ},\;48^{\circ}$. The range of motion of lumbar extension was increased (p<.05). The isometric lumbar extension strength correlated with the range of motion of lumbar extension. In conclusion, our results have shown that lumbar stabilizing exercise influenced both lumbar extension strength and range of motion of lumbar extension.

This study was performed to evaluate the effects of low-intensity ultrasound application to the peripheral nerve injury animal model on enhancement of nerve regeneration and functional recovery. Using aseptic microsurgical techniques, the sciatic nerve of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats was crushed at the outside of right mid-thigh for 30 seconds with fine forceps. Beginning just after surgery, various continuous-wave ultrasound treatments with intensities of 0.2 W/$cm^2$, 0.5 W /$cm^2$ and 1.0 W /$cm^2$ operated at 1 MHz or sham treatment were applied to the opposite inside of the crush site for 1 minute every other day with a transducer moving speed of 2cm/sec. For evaluation of the progress of sciatic nerve regeneration, c-Fos expression in the lumbar spinal cord (L4-5) dorsal horn was investigated. c-fos expression was markedly increased at 1hour after sciatic nerve crush injury, then gradually decreased thereafter. The c-fos expressions were significantly decreased (p<0.05) in all the experimental groups in comparison with the control group until 3days post-crush, and the degrees of decrease were higher in 0.5 W/$cm^2$ and 1 W/$cm^2$ intensity ultrasound application groups. It is suggested that low-intensity ultrasound application to an animal model of sciatic crush injury may suppress pain transmission and promote nerve regeneration, and which may result in delayed progress of muscle atrophy and accelerated progress of muscle recovery and eventually may result in accelerated and improved foot function recovery.

The results of researching on duties of physical therapist, understanding of elderly diseases and policies related with elderly welfare came out from the survey before beginning of education to physical therapists who attended National Elderly Welfare Physical Therapist Workshop during Sep. 11th to 14th, 2007. They have already understood about long-term elderly care insurance from the policy, and responded that those policies will bring more advantage to elders. On contrary, negative response had reason of low service quality. About elderly care system, there were positive answer of appropriate alternatives to support them, but also other critics had opinion of inevitable choice for living conservation. About understanding of elderly diseases, there were more comprehension of diseases as age gets higher, but most did not understand dementia and paralysis. Past experience and process of medical treatment for their disease were such arthritis, paralysis, broken bone, and dislocation of joint. Prognosis of technical training was mostly answered positively, but linking with other related disease programs were not welcomed. Most respondents thought that professional training were needed. The results of understanding diseases during senescent had high percentage of understanding as age and education was high, and it had eye upon statistics of the survey (p < 0.05) Most of those questioned responded that it is appropriate to have six working days per week and eight hours of daily work, however, present wage is not reasonable. Most of those questioned had negative response of work independence, and had an-swered that there should be certificates needed in related fields. For difficulties during work period, they had hardship instituting direction of treatment by lack of program, level of wage, and physical difficulties. Physical therapists averagely wished to have fewer than thirty patients per therapist. After the research, physical therapists who work in those facilities of elderly care systems agreed on policies, though it should not lower service quality. In addition, they were pros to have elderly care system, yet they are still inevitable option to maintain living. For work environment, the period of work was appropriate, but had different opinions for work independence and regular number of patients. Therefore, there should be more organized treatment program that also should be linked to other practical programs at this beginning point of the policy enforcement and the time that many therapists hope to work in elderly care system.

We discuss why many current physical therapy entry-level programs are not designed to educate the type of physical therapy practitioners needed for the 21st century. We face a situation that we have to promote the profession's role in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of movement dysfunctions and the enhancement of the physical health and functional abilities of members of the public. The way how to train professional physical therapists became crucial. The purpose of study was to enhance the educational goals of physical therapy and the physical therapy curricula in Korea. In this study, we compared physical therapy training curricula recommended by WCPT with physical therapy training curricula in universities in other countries by dividing physical therapy curricula in universities and colleges into physical therapy students' electives, major required courses, labs and clinical practices, and counting the proportion of each category in the total credit hours. We discuss differences and similarities between curriculum in a university in Korea and curriculum in a university in the United States. We discussed possibly problematic portions of current physical therapy training curricula in korean universities. Finally, we statistically analyzed the regulations of WCPT and Health and Welfare Ministry in Japan, the Physical therapy curriculum of Creighton Entry-level DPT Program in the U.S. and the Inje University in Korea. The progressing direction of curricula in Korea had been researched. The future direction that korean physical therapy is to use an united curriculum that includes basic requirements of WCPT for all universities and colleges in Korea, rather than using each university's own modified version. The results of study can be helpful for developing a basic level of integrated curricula in universities and colleges in Korea.

The purpose of this case report is to investigate whether an attempt to hold the repeated upright posture under blocking the patient's vision affects the deficits to push away from the paralytic side and the relapse time from down to stand up position without push away in patients with hemiplegia with pusher syndrome. Two hemiplegic patients with pusher syndrome were assessed. The task was performed 4 times per day for 6 weeks. The modified barthel index (MBI) was performed to assess activities of daily living (ADL). For assessing balance, the "balanced sitting" and "sit to stand" are analyzed using by modified motor assessment scale (MMAS). The scale for contraversive pushing (SCP) was used for determination of push away from paralyzed side. MBI, MMAS and SCP were assessed before and after trial of the task. In patient 1, total score of the scale is 0 in sitting posture and standing posture within 3 weeks and 4 weeks, respectively, In patient 2, total score of the scale is 0 in sitting posture and standing posture within 4 weeks and 6 weeks, respectively. These results demonstrated that pusher syndrome was completely resolved in at least 6 weeks. Our findings indicate that this physical therapy seems to be relevant for the hemiplegic patients with pusher syndrome.

Physiotherapy may be defined as the use of physical techniques for the treatment of injuries and movement dysfunction. In the world of human medicine, physiotherapy has been proven as an indispensable aid in the recovery of many musculoskeletal conditions, as evidenced by the extensive physiotherapy departments within most hospitals. Nowadays, this important branch of medicine is also rapidly becoming a recognised tool in the prevention, cure, and rehabilitation of many equine, canine and feline injuries. In 1978, canine physical therapy techniques were described by Ann Downer, a physical therapist on faculty at Ohio State University. Animal physical therapy is a new and rapidly developing field of health care for animals. The benefits of physical therapy have long been recognized in humans. More recently, work in the veterinary field has shown the same benefits of physical therapy to be true for animal patients. Performing orthopaedic or neurological surgery, or fitting a human patient with a cast or splint, and then discharging the patient is an outdated approach. In such cases, physical therapy is clearly warranted. Similarly, recent research has shown that post-surgical rehabilitation and therapy after injuries significantly improves the functional outcomes for animals. The goals of physiotherapy are to relieve pain, restore range of motion/movement, improve function, prevent injuries and expand the physical potential of the patient. Once in the field, physical therapists actively continue their education to keep up to date on the latest treatments and technologies. Via continuing education courses, physiotherapists can learn how to apply their unique and specialized knowledge to other animal species.