A Case Report of an Intervention Strategy that Applied an ICF Tool to Improve the Walking Ability of Stroke Patients

뇌졸중 환자의 보행능력 증진을 위한 ICF(International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health) Tool을 적용한 중재전략의 증례

Purpose: The objective of this study was to identify functional problems, including walking ability, of patients with strokes using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) and to present a method that could solve functional problems, thereby determining the applicability of the ICF to increase the quality of evaluation and intervention in clinical fields in the future. Methods: Information on stroke patients who were admitted and treated in a hospital was collected. The authors conducted evaluations, interventions, and measurements of the results of the ICF tool in order to improve gait abilities of patients. The subjects were trained using proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) one hour a day and five times a week for four weeks. The result measurement variables were a six-minute gait test, 10 m velocity test, gait instability test, and measurements using the ICF sheet. Results: In the six-minute gait test, gait distance increased by 48 m, from 102 m to 150 m. The gait velocity test result showed an improvement from 0.36m/s to 0.44m/s. The subjects performed a gait instabilitytestwithacupfilledwith50mmwater. In the gait instability test, the amount of water was 38 mm before the intervention; however, it was 50 mm after the intervention. The gait velocity with a cup filled with water improved from 0.25m/s to 0.31m/s. Conclusion: An evaluation and intervention were designed with the ICF tool for stroke patients. Gait abilities improved when the PNF technique was used. The IFC method can be used for evaluation and intervention, and it could help improve gait abilities of stroke patients.