Objective
To assess mobility in prosthetic limb users, the Prosthetic Limb Users Survey of Mobility (PLUS-M) was developed as a brief item bank. The PLUS-M exhibits good reliability and has been translated into more than 15 languages; however, a Korean translation is not yet available. Therefore, this study translated the 44 items of PLUS-M into the Korean language and analysed the psychometric properties of the PLUS-M/Short Form 12 (PLUS-M/SF- 12) instrument through official procedures.
Methods
The process of Korean translation began with a consultation with the developer of the PLUS-M and included the first and second compatibility verification, back-translation, back-translation verification by the developer, and the final approval of the Korean version. This study tested validity using different instruments such as Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale, 2-Minute Walk Test, Timed Up and Go Test to assess various characteristics related to mobility. The translated version PLUS-M was then sent to two physical therapists working at Incheon Hospital and one prosthetist working at a Rehabilitation Engineering Center for them to assess the appropriateness of term use and understanding of the instrument.
Results
The study found excellent internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the PLUS-M/SF-12 Korean version questionnaire, indicating its reliability and predictability across repeated measurements.
Conclusion
This study provided a tool to assess the mobility of individuals with lower limb amputations.

Objective
To investigate the impact of body mass index (BMI) and exercise habits on readmission rates among older patients with heart failure.
Methods
Ninety-seven older patients admitted for heart failure (median age: 81 years; 57.7% male) were included in the study. Patients were categorized into four groups based on the presence or absence of lower BMI and/or the absence of exercise habits. Lower BMI was defined as BMI<20.3 kg/m2 at discharge and exercise habits were defined as engaging in 30 or more minutes of moderate or vigorous exercise at least once a week. The primary outcome was all-cause readmission during the 1-year follow-up period.
Results
The patients were distributed across four groups: lower BMI/non-exerciser (n=24, 24.7%), lower BMI/exerciser (n=22, 22.7%), non-lower BMI/non-exerciser (n=21, 21.6%), and non-lower BMI/exerciser (n=30, 30.9%). Forty-six patients (47.4%) experienced readmission during the 1-year follow-up period. In a cox proportional hazard analysis, non-lower BMI/exerciser remained an independent prognostic factor even after adjusting for confounding factors (non-lower BMI/exerciser vs. lower BMI/non-exerciser: hazard ratio, 0.26; 95% confidence interval, 0.08–0.83; p=0.022).
Conclusion
The coexistence of non-lower BMI and regular exercise habits may reduce readmission during the 1-year in older patients with heart failure. Therefore, it is imperative to conduct appropriate nutritional assessments for patients with lower BMI at discharge. Additionally, promoting and monitoring sustained physical activity after discharge is crucial for older patients with heart failure.

Citations

• Lumbar paraspinal muscle quality and disability in older adults: insights from the SarcoSpine cohort
  Dong Hyun Kim, Yoon-Hee Choi, JooHee Lee, Sang Yoon Lee
  BMC Geriatrics.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef

Objective
To systematically translate the Duchenne muscular dystrophy Functional Ability Self-Assessment Tool (DMDSAT) into Korean and verify the reliability and validity of the Korean version (K-DMDSAT).
Methods
The original DMDSAT was translated into Korean by two translators and two pediatric physiatrists. A total of 88 patients with genetically confirmed Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) participated in the study. They were evaluated using the K-DMDSAT once as a self-assessment and once by an interviewer. The interviewer evaluated the K-DMDSAT again 1 week later using a test-retest approach. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to verify the interrater and test-retest reliabilities. Pearson correlation analysis between the K-DMDSAT and the Brooke or Vignos scales were used to assess validity.
Results
The total score and all domains of the K-DMDSAT showed excellent interrater and test-retest reliability, with an ICC for total scores of 0.985 and 0.987, respectively. All domains had an ICC >0.90. From the Pearson correlation analysis, the total K-DMDSAT score was significantly correlated with the Vignos and Brooke scales (r=0.918 and 0.825, respectively; p<0.001), and each domain of K-DMDSAT showed significant correlation with either the Vignos or Brooke scales.
Conclusion
DMDSAT was systematically translated into Korean, and K-DMDSAT was verified to have excellent reliability and validity. K-DMDSAT can help clinicians easily describe and categorize various functional aspects of patients with DMD through the entire disease progression.

Citations

• Muscle Pathology Associated With Cardiac Function in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
  Jin A Yoon, Heirim Lee, In Sook Lee, You Seon Song, Byeong-Ju Lee, Soo-Yeon Kim, Yong Beom Shin
  Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine.2024; 48(6): 405.     CrossRef

Objective
To compare the reliability and validity of the Korean range of motion standard protocol (KRSP) for measuring joint range of motion (ROM) with those of the conventional ROM measurement using a goniometer.
Methods
We conducted a randomized controlled trial involving 91 healthy elderly individuals. We compared two strategies of measuring joint ROM to evaluate the reliability and validity of each standardized protocol: first, the KRSP based on the Chungnam National University guidelines and second, handheld goniometric measurement. In the first strategy, 3 examiners (1 rehabilitation doctor, 1 physical therapist, and 1 physical therapy student) independently measured joint ROM in 46 randomly selected subjects; in the second strategy, another 3 examiners (1 rehabilitation doctor, 1 physical therapist, and 1 physical therapy student) measured joint ROM in 45 randomly selected subjects. The reliability of each protocol was calculated using intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC(2,1), and root mean square error (RMSE).
Results
Both protocols showed good to excellent intra-rater reliability. With goniometer use, the inter-rater reliability was low—ICC(2,1), 95% confidence interval ranged from 0.643 (0.486–0.783) to -0.078 (-0.296–0.494)— and RMSE was high. With the KRSP, the inter-rater reliability ranged from 0.846 (0.686–0.931) to 0.986 (0.972–0.994) and RMSE was low.
Conclusion
ROM measurements using the KRSP showed excellent reliability. These results indicate that this protocol can be the reference standard for measuring ROM in clinical settings as an alternative to goniometers.

Citations

• Effectiveness of Robotic Systems with Dynamic Body Weight Support in Post-Traumatic Lower Limb Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review
  Oana-Georgiana Cernea, Diana-Maria Stanciu, Roxana Pipernea, Laszlo Irsay, Viorela-Mihaela Ciortea, Mihaela Stanciu, Carmen Daniela Domnariu, Alina Liliana Pintea, Cosmina Diaconu, Florina-Ligia Popa
  Medicina.2026; 62(3): 498.     CrossRef
• Exoskeleton Robot Training in Two Patients with an Electrical Burn and Septic Arthritis: A Case Report
  Seung Yeol Lee, Cheong Hoon Seo, Yoon Soo Ch, Youngmin Kim, Youngsuh Yoon, So Young Joo
  Journal of Burn Care & Research.2025; 46(3): 646.     CrossRef
• Response to letter to the editor
  Christoffer von Essen, Karl Eriksson, Björn Barenius
  Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy.2022; 30(3): 1127.     CrossRef
• An Inertial Measurement Unit-Based Wireless System for Shoulder Motion Assessment in Patients with Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: A Validation Pilot Study in a Clinical Setting
  Riccardo Bravi, Stefano Caputo, Sara Jayousi, Alessio Martinelli, Lorenzo Biotti, Ilaria Nannini, Erez James Cohen, Eros Quarta, Stefano Grasso, Giacomo Lucchesi, Gabriele Righi, Giulio Del Popolo, Lorenzo Mucchi, Diego Minciacchi
  Sensors.2021; 21(4): 1057.     CrossRef