Dongwook Na
Yonsei University
研究室紹介
Professor Dongwook Na's research lab specializes in pediatric rehabilitation and neuromuscular disorders, with a primary focus on improving motor function and quality of life in children with cerebral palsy. The lab investigates innovative, non-invasive interventions such as hippotherapy, botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) injections, and orthotic devices like ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs), often combining them with serial casting or ultrasound-guided assessments. A key emphasis is placed on objective measurement of muscle architecture, postural control, and functional outcomes using advanced imaging and biomechanical tools. The lab also develops and validates culturally adapted patient-reported outcome measures, such as the Quality of Communication Life Scale, to support individualized therapy and rehabilitation planning.
Research Overview
Research Output Trend
Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.
Selected Papers
15Purpose: The purpose of our study was to investigate the effects of hippotherapy on gross motor function and functional performance in children with spastic cerebralpalsy (CP). Materials and Methods: We recruited 34 children (M:F=15:19, age: 3‒12 years) with spastic CP who underwent hippotherapy for 45 minutes twice a week for 8 weeks. Twenty-one children with spastic CP were recruited for control group. The distribution of gross motor function classification system level and mean age were not s
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to test the hypothesis that combination therapy of serial cast and botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) injection can further enhance the effects of a BTX-A injection in ambulant children with cerebral palsy (CP)who have an equinus foot. Materials and Methods: Children in group A (30 legs of 21 children) received a serial casting application after an injection of BTX-A,and children in group B (25 legs of 17 children) received only a BTX-A injection. Assessments we
The aim of this article was to present a review of the research literature on the outcome of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) injection for management of upper limb spasticity in children with cerebral palsy (CP). We searched the electronic databases of MEDLINE, CINAHL and PUBMED for all published studies with full-length English text available. For each study, the quality of the methods and the strength of evidence were assessed by 2 independent reviewers based on the American Academy for Cerebra
배경 및 목적: 의사소통능력은 심리사회적 적응 및 타인과의 상호작용에 필수적이다. 본 연구에서는 의사소통 삶의 질 척도(Quality of Communication Life Scale: QCL, 이하 QCL)를 우리말로 번안하고 신뢰도와 타당도를 검증하고자 청각장애 및 정상청력 청소년에게 시행하였다. 방법: 대상자로는 언어치료를 받고 있거나 농학교에 재학 중인 만 13~18세의 청각장애 청소년 90명, 그리고 이들과 성별 및 연령을 일치시킨 정상청력 청소년 180명을 포함하였다. QCL과 PedsQL을 실시한 후 비교하고, 문항 내적일관성과 검사-재검사 신뢰도, 내용타당도, 대면타당도, 공인타당도 및 내적 구성타당도를 산출하였다. 결과: 두 집단 사이에 의사소통 관련 삶의 질의 유의한 차이가 있었다. 또한 QCL은 높은 문항 내적일관성 신뢰도를 지니고 있으며, 의사소통 관련 삶의 질을 측정하는데 높은 타당도를 보여 의사소통 관련 삶의 질 평가도구로서 매우 유용한 도구임을 알 수 있었
Purpose: This study used ultrasonography (US) to investigate the architectural changes in gastrocnemius muscles (GCM) after botulinum toxin injection (BoNT-A) in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Materials and Methods: Thirteen childrenwith CP who received a BoNT-A injection into their GCM to treat equinus were recruited (9 males and 4 females). Architectural changes in both the medial and lateral heads of the GCM from a total of 20 legs were assessed using B-mode, real-time US. Muscle thicknes
Purpose: To identify the characteristics of static standing balance and its postural control mechanisms during quiet side-by-side standing and the changes in these measures whilst wearing hinged ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) in children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy (CP). Materials and Methods: Twenty-one children with bilateral spastic CP (6.10 ± 1.09 year-old) and 22 typically developing (TD)children (5.64 ± 0.49 year-old) were recruited. Pressure data were recorded while subjects with or
The upper chest wall does not grow properly in children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) with paradoxical breathing. This suggests that long-term inability to take a deep breath in developing children may result in underdevelopment of the upper chest wall. In addition, a rapid and paradoxical breathing pattern is frequently observed in children with severe cerebral palsy (CP), which often corresponds to the underdevelopment of the upper chest wall. The present study is designed to evaluate the
Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether electrical stimulation (ES) improves the paralytic effect of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) and evaluate the differences between low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF) ES in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (CP). Materials and Methods: Twenty-three children with spastic diplegia CP who had BTX-A injections into both gastrocnemius muscles were assessed. Following the toxin injection, electrical stimulation was g
Purpose: This study aimed to investigate useful parameters for estimating gastrocnemius(GCM) muscle volume (MV) using ultrasonography (US) and anthropometryin children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP). Materials and Methods: Eighteenlegs from nine children with spastic CP aged 2 to 6 years were investigated in this study. Tibial length (TL) of each leg was measured and muscle thickness (MT) and anatomical cross-sectional area (aCSA) of GCM muscles were assessed using US. The volume of the GCM wa
The purpose of this study was to evaluate how soft tissue surgery for correcting equinus deformity affects the kinematic and kinetic parameters of the ankle and proximal joints. Sixteen children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy and equinus deformities (age range 3-16 years) were included. Soft tissue surgeries were performed exclusively on the ankle joint area in all subjects. Using computerized gait analysis (Vicon 370 Motion Analysis System), the kinematic and kinetic parameters during b
Purpose: The objective of this study was to describe hand function in relation with gross motor function and subtype of spastic cerebral palsy and to investigate the relationships among gross motor function, bimanual performance, unimanual capacity and upper limb functional measures in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP). Materials and Methods: We collected upper extremity data of 140 children with spastic CP. The Gross Motor Functional Classification System (GMFCS) was used to assess gros
Purpose: Hip adductor spasticity has a great impact on developing hip displacement in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Obturator nerve (ON) block is less invasive intervention rather than soft tissue surgery for reduction of hip adductor spasticity. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of ON block on hip lateralization in low functioning children with spastic CP. Materials and Methods: The study was performed by retrospective investigation of the clinical and radiographic follow-
Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the changes of pressure distribution on the foot after orthopaedic surgery for equinus deformity in spastic cerebral palsy using F-scan system. Method: Twenty-one children with spastic cerebral palsy were participated in this study. They had equinus deformity on foot and received soft tissue surgery. Pressure distribution on foot was measured before and after operation using F-scan system (Tekscan Inc., USA). Paired t-test was used in comparison o