• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.135-144
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• 2008

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of body weight support treadmill training (BWSTT) and parallel bar gait training(P-bar) on gait and balance ability of subacute stroke patients. The subjects were consisted of 27 patients with subacute stroke, and they were randomly devided into two groups which were BWSTT group and P-bar group. Method : The timed up and go(TUG), 10m gait speed were used to measure gait speed, Bergs balance scale(BBS) was used to measure dynamic balance ability, and balance performance monitor(BPM) was used to measure sway area, sway path, max velocity. Result : 1. The TUG and 10m gait speed of BWSTT group and P-bar group were significantly decreased (p<.05). The TUG and 10m gait speed were different significantly between BWSTT group and P-bar group(p<.05). 2. The BBS and sway area of BWSTT group and P-bar group were significantly decreased (p<.05). The BBS and sway area were not different significantly between BWSTT group and P-bar group(p>.05). 3. The sway path and max velocity of BWSTT group and P-bar group were significantly decreased (p<.05). The sway path and max velocity were not different significantly between BWSTI group and P-bar group(p>.05). Conclusion : The outcomes suggest that patient with subacute stroke can improve their gait and balance through body weight support treadmill training.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.93-103
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• 2017

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the effect of active trunk training in the sitting position on balance and energy consumption in early stroke patients. METHODS: The subjects of this study were twenty four early stroke patients were recruited and randomly divided into two groups; experimental group (n=12) and control group (n=12). The subjects in the experimental group participated in active trunk training (20 min) and conventional physical therapy (20 min) five times a week for four weeks. The control group conducted general balance exercise (20 min) and conventional physical therapy (20 min) five times a week for four weeks. The outcomes were assessed using the Berg balance scale, Timed up and go test and energy cost and physiological cost index. RESULTS: Both groups showed a significant increase in their Berg balance scale and significant decrease in their Timed up and go test score, and energy cost and physiological cost index (p<.05). Compared to the control group, the experimental group experienced a greater increase in the Berg balance scale (p<.05) and a larger decrease in the timed up and go test score, and energy cost and physiological cost index (p<.05). CONCLUSION: We suggest that active trunk training in the sitting position may be effective in improving balance and energy consumption in early stroke patients. Thus, active trunk training is important for such patients. Further studies are needed to better understand the effectiveness of trunk training in early stroke patients.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.228-234
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• 2015

The balance ability significantly decreased in the elderly because of deterioration of the neural musculature regulatory mechanisms. Several studies have investigated methods of improving balance ability using real-time systems, but it is limited by the expensive test equipment and specialized resources. Recently, Kinect system based on depth data has been applied to address these limitations. Little information about accuracy/inaccuracy of Kinect system is, however, available, particular in motion analysis for evaluation of effectiveness in rehabilitation training. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to evaluate accuracy/inaccuracy of Kinect system in specific rotational movement for balance rehabilitation training. Six healthy male adults with no musculoskeletal disorder were selected to participate in the experiment. Movements of the participants were induced by controlling the base plane of the balance training equipment in directions of AP (anterior-posterior), ML (medial-lateral), right and left diagonal direction. The dynamic motions of the subjects were measured using two Kinect depth sensor systems and a three-dimensional motion capture system with eight infrared cameras for comparative evaluation. The results of the error rate for hip and knee joint alteration of Kinect system comparison with infrared camera based motion capture system occurred smaller values in the ML direction (Hip joint: 10.9~57.3%, Knee joint: 26.0~74.8%). Therefore, the accuracy of Kinect system for measuring balance rehabilitation traning could improve by using adapted algorithm which is based on hip joint movement in medial-lateral direction.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.17 no.1_2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2010

Background: The objective of this study was to determine whether sensorimotor training using an unstable surface affects dynamic balance and gait function in patients with hemiparesis, and to compare the effect of sensorimotor training with that of cycling exercise. Methods: Two subjects with post-stroke hemiparesis volunteered to participate in this study. Single-subject A-B design with alternating treatment was used for this study. Baseline(A) and intervention(B) phases were performed for 7 and 8 sessions, respectively. Sensorimotor training and cycling exercise were performed for 20 minutes in randomized order. Assessment tools were made by using a step test, timed up and go(TUG) test, and 6-minute walk test(6MWT). Results: Each of the participants improved in all three tests after the two interventions. Participants 1 and 2 showed the improvement for their assessment score after sensorimotor training in the step test by 42.1%(p<.05) and 58%, in the TUG, 31% and 19.5%, and in the 6MWT test, 32.3% and 10.6%(p<.05), respectively. After cycling exercise, participants 1 and 2 also improved in the step test by 32.5% and 53.1%, in the TUG, 27.4% and 18%, and in the 6MWT test, 28.8% and 3%. In statistical analysis between the two interventions, sensorimotor training showed a significant increased values in the step test for participant 1 and the 6MWT for participant 2 as compared with those of cycling exercise. Conclusion: Sensorimotor training and cycling exercise are helpful for improving dynamic balance and gait capacity. Furthermore, sensorimotor training may be more helpful than cycling exercise.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.17-26
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• 2002

This study is aimed to compare the effect of visuo-perceptual biofeedback sitting balance training and conventional sitting balance training using Balance Master on stroke patients with that of program in order to analyze the effect it has on dynamic postural balance. The subjects are twenty-four stroke patients who are receiving physical therapy in Ilsan Paik Hospital and can maintain sitting posture by themselves. These patients were divided to control group and experimental group randomly. In order to compare to control and experimental group before and after the balance training, they were tested with Mann-Whitney U test and in order to compared the changes before and after the balance training, they were tested with Wilcoxon signed-ranks test. The results are as follows: we measured the ability of dynamic posture balance control with limit of stability(LOS) test and rhythmic weight shift test. There was an increasing improvement in the ability of dynamic posture balance control of the experimental group that had visuo-perceptual biofeedback sitting balance control training using the Balance Master(p<0.05, p<0.01). According to the results from above, compared to conventional sitting balance training programs, visuo-perceptual biofeedback sitting balance control training using the Balance Master is considered to be a more valuable therapy in balance control improvement and physical function improvement. It is considered that if the weak points are made up, the training with Balance Master will give help to stroke patients and to patients with balance control disabilities and will further more contribute to successful rehabilitation therapy.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2009

Background: The ability for backward walking is considered to be necessary for the neuromuscular control and maintenance of balance in daily ambulatory activity. This study aimed to determine the effect of backward walking training on the walking speed and balance control in patients with hemiplegia. Methods: Fourteen patients with hemiplegia were randomly allocated to an experimental and control groups of seven patients each. For the experimental group, we performed both conventional training and backward walking training, and conventional training only for the control group. The conventional training programs for the 2 groups were conducted for 30 min, twice a day, 5 times a week for 4 weeks, and backward walking training for the experimental group was conducted for 30 min, 3 times a week. The outcomes were assessed using the functional reach test (FRT), timed up-and-go (TUG) Test, and the 10 meter walk time test (10mWT). Result: A comparison of the FRT, TUG test, and 10mWT scores obtained before and after the 4-week treatment revealed statistically significant differences (p<.05) for the experimental group; however, there was no such difference in the case of the control group (p>.05). On assessment after the 4-week treatment, statistically significant differences were noted in the TUG test and 10mWT scores of the experimental group (p<.05). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that backward walking training is an effective clinical strategy for improving the walking speed and functional mobility of patients with hemiplegia.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.31-43
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate and to verification of changes that the effect of treadmill and body weight support treadmill training on balance and gait ability for sub-acute stroke patients during 4 week. Method: 16 subjects who was diagnosed stroke were divided into 2 groups(8-treadmill training group, 8-body weight support treadmill group) by randomized control trial. Both training programs were consisted with 40 minuted, 5 times a week for 4 weeks and after training programs. Analysis: We analysed effects and changes on balance and gait ability. Analyses were performed using PASW ver. 18.0 and results were reported as mean ${\pm}$ standard deviation (S.D.). To investigate within group comparisons and to verification on effects of exercise, we did paired t test and repeated measured ANOVA test. Significance was set at p<.05. Result: Both training programs showed positive changes in Limit of Stability but significant results which is area of hemiside, area of intact side, area of posterior, total area were reported in body weight support treadmill training group. Changes of Berg Balance Scale was significantly increase and it had significant correlation between groups. Changes of 6 Minutes Walking Test was significant increase in both groups but there was no significant changes on Foot print and Romberg test. Conclusion: After considering all factors, both training programs showed effect on improvement of balance and gait ability in sub-acute stroke patients, but body weight support treadmill training group had better improvement in dynamic balance than treadmill training group. For the increase of balance and gait ability in sub-acute stroke patients, we need to continues study on difference of treadmill and body weight support treadmill and then we will give stroke patients a better satisfaction if we develop and provide a rehabilitation program for improvement of balance and gait ability.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.39-48
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• 2020

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of integrating transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation into treadmill gait training by applying functional electrical stimulation on the spasticity, balance, and gait ability of chronic stroke patients METHODS: Twenty participants were assigned randomly to two groups: the treadmill gait training group with applied functional electrical stimulation (FES) with integrated transcutaneous electricalstimulation (TENS) (experimental group, EG, n = 10) and the treadmill gait training group with FES (control group, CG, n = 10). Both groups received treadmill gait training with FES for 30 minutes a time, four times a week, during five weeks. The experimental group received additional TENS on their L3, L5, and S2 dermatome for 30 minutes before the interventions. The spasticity, balance, and gait ability were evaluated before and after the training to compare the intergroup and intragroup changes. RESULTS: Both groups showed significant improvements in the static, dynamic balance, and gait ability (p < .05), but did not show any significant changes in the muscle tone. The EG showed significant improvements in the static balance ability and gait cycle compared to the CG (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Treadmill gait training combined with FES with integrated TENS is an effective method for improving the static balance and gait cycle. On the other hand, the effects of treadmill gait training with FES on spasticity need to be studied further.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.13-23
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• 2011

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect on the static balance ability according to vestibular training using ball. Methods : Twenty normal subjects participated and were randomly assigned to either a vestibular training group using ball or a control group. The vestibular training using a ball group exercised 3 times per week over 3 weeks. The static balance was assessed by the center of pressure to the stance position. The participants stood barefoot on a force platform in a normal stance and a one-legged stance with a visual close. Results : In the normal stance, there were no significant differences at CoP surface and CoP speed. However, in a one-legged stance, there were significant differences in the vestibular training group between before and after the program. There was also a significant difference between the vestibular training group and the control group. Conclusion : Vestibular training using ball can be implemented as a therapeutic intervention to improve static balance ability in health adults.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.69-80
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of core stability training on postural control and balance of hemiplegia patients who are difficult to control posture due to stroke. Methods : Subjects of the study were consisted of 25 adult hemiplegia patients(experimental 12, control 13) who were receiving rehabilitation therapy in hospital. Its group had a core stability training program by a physical therapists for 40 minutes, five times a week for nine-week period. Measurements of postural assessment scale for stroke(PASS), berg balance scale(BBS) and manual function test(MFT) were evaluated at initial presentation(pretest) and after completion of the each therapy program(posttest). Independent t-test and paired t-test was utilized to detect the mean difference between the groups. Results : Firstly, the result of PASS showed that postural control was significantly increased after the completion of core stability training(p<.01). Secondly, the result of BBS showed that balance control was significantly increased after the completion of core stability training(p<.01) and general physical therapy(p<.01). Lastly, the result of MFT showed that upper extremity's motor function was significantly increased after the completion of core stability training(p<.001). Conclusions : This study showed that core stability training is an effective treatment strategy on postural control, balance and upper extremity's motor function.