Sujin Hwang

Restoring independent gait performance is a primary goal in stroke rehabilitation, as it is a critical determinant for performing activities of daily living and achieving community reintegration (S...

Objectives: This review aimed to comprehensively synthesise evidence on the therapeutic efficacy of driving rehabilitation for patients with acquired brain injury (ABI) and identify and analyse key predictors of successful return‐to‐driving. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using four databases: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and ProQuest. Eleven studies (four randomised controlled trials and seven cross‐sectional studies) were included in the final analysis. Reporting completeness and methodological quality were assessed using PRISMA checklists. A random‐effects model was used to calculate the standardised mean differences (SMDs) and odds ratios (ORs). Main Findings: A qualitative analysis of cross‐sectional studies identified cognitive processing speed, reaction time and functional independence as frequently reported predictors of returning to driving, with a pooled meta‐analysis further highlighting lower initial injury severity (higher GCS scores) as a significant predictor of returning to driving. The meta‐analysis revealed that simulator‐ and VR‐based training significantly reduced driving errors (SMD = −1.19, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −1.75 to −0.64; p < 0.0001). The intervention significantly increased the likelihood of passing the on‐road driving test by approximately 3.37 times (OR = 3.37, 95% CI: 1.36–8.35). Conclusion: The results of this review suggest that simulator‐based interventions may positively impact driving performance and current cognitive and functional activities, as well as psychological self‐efficacy, and facilitat a successful return to driving in patients with ABI. These findings provide a baseline for developing clinical guidelines for the safe resumption of driving.

Purpose: Recent evidence indicates that digital therapeutics effectively enhance cognitive function for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents. This review presents evidence-based recommendations regarding the use of digital therapeutics in rehabilitation and clinical settings for ADHD treatment, synthesizing findings from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Methods: The review examined records up to September 30, 2025, across three main databases: PubMed, Embase, and ProQuest Nursing, ultimately including nineteen RCTs. Key information extracted from these studies included the authors, treatment methods and intensity, outcome measures, and results. Results: Game-based therapies were the most used interventions to improve cognitive functions such as inhibition, working memory, response time, and social skills for ADHD in children and adolescents. While digital therapeutics showed greater effectiveness in experimental groups compared to control groups, it's important to note that five studies included control groups that did not receive any treatment. Conclusion: Moving forward, digital therapeutics for ADHD should be developed as personalized and age-specific interventions, with ongoing research to determine the optimal treatment intensity. Overall, this review suggests that digital therapeutics significantly enhance cognitive function for ADHD in children and adolescent population.

Chiang-Soon Song, O.T., Ph.D.⋅Su-Jin Hwang, P.T., Ph.D.. PNF and Movement 2025;23:273-81. https://doi.org/10.21598/JKPNFA.2025.23.2.273

Su-Jin Hwang, P.T., Ph.D.⋅Se-In Park, P.T., Ph.D.. PNF and Movement 2025;23:1-15. https://doi.org/10.21598/JKPNFA.2025.23.1.1

BACKGROUND: Ever since the start of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, students have been spending an increasingly longer time staring at electrical devices to take online courses. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of the virtual class environment on eye and musculoskeletal problems in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A total of 365 university students were enrolled in this study. They completed an online survey to examine the effects of online learning on eye and musculoskeletal health during the COVID-19 pandemic. The questionnaires consisted of four sections: demographic and general information, environmental and work factors, device-related factors, and visual display terminal syndrome (VDTS). RESULTS: Participants have been taking online classes of 14.5 hours per week during the COVID-19 pandemic. They reported the mean daily usage of digital devices of 4.8±2.2 hours before the pandemic but this increased to 8.1±2.9 during the pandemic. Eye fatigue and neck, shoulder, and back pain have also been reported. The mean VDTS score was significantly influenced by gender, obesity, daily exercise, regular breaks, wear of blue light-blocking glasses, daily hours of electronic device use, and illumination of room. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that university students taking online classes suffered more from VDTS, especially in eye fatigue and neck, lower back, and shoulder pain during COVID-19 pandemic than prior. This study suggests that it is necessary to take breaks in online classes and regularly provide appropriate eye exercise and physical activity to prevent VDTS.

This study aimed to comprehensively summarize assistive technology devices for postural control and gait performance in stroke patients. In the study, we searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published until 31 December 2022 in four electrical databases. The most frequently applied assistive technology devices involving postural stability and gait function for stroke patients were robot-assistive technology devices. Out of 1065 initially retrieved citations that met the inclusion criteria, 30 RCTs (12 studies for subacute patients and 18 studies for chronic patients) were included in this review based on eligibility criteria. The meta-analysis included ten RCTs (five studies for subacute patients and five for chronic patients) based on the inclusion criteria of the data analysis. After analyzing, the variables, only two parameters, the Berg balance scale (BBS) and the functional ambulation category (FAC), which had relevant data from at least three studies measuring postural control and gait function, were selected for the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis revealed significant differences in the experimental group compared to the control group for BBS in both subacute and chronic stroke patients and for the FAC in chronic stroke patients. Robot-assistive training was found to be superior to regular therapy in improving postural stability for subacute and chronic stroke patients but not gait function. This review suggests that robot-assistive technology devices should be considered in rehabilitative approaches for postural stability and gait function for subacute and chronic stroke patients.

Driving enables stroke survivors to freely participate in social integration. The purpose of this review was to summarize the evidence for the therapeutic effects of driving rehabilitation for patients when they return to driving after stroke and evaluate the predictors of returning to driving to identify the factors impacting their driving rehabilitation. This study employed a systematic review and meta-analysis. PubMed and four other databases were searched until 31 December 2022. Our review included randomized controlled trials (RCT) and non-RCTs that investigated driving rehabilitation for stroke and observational studies. A total of 16 studies (two non-RCT and 14 non-RCT) were reviewed; two RCTs investigated the effect of driving rehabilitation with a simulator system, and eight and six non-RCTS evaluated the predictive factors of driving return post-stroke and compared the effects of driving rehabilitation for stroke, respectively. The National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores and having paid employment were significant predictors of resuming driving after stroke. The results suggest that NIHSS, MMSE, and paid employment are predictors of returning to driving post-stroke. Future research should investigate the effect of driving rehabilitation on the resumption of driving in patients with stroke.