• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.220-229
• /
• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate activities-specific balance confidence and risk of fallings among rehabilitation patients with impaired of mobility, and to identify the influence of activities-specific balance confidence on their risk of fallings. Method: Data for 132 rehabilitation patients were collected between October June 20 and August 20, 2012 at nine hospitals in a metropolitan city. Data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression with SPSS/WIN 20.0. Result: The mean score for rehabilitation patients' activities-specific balance confidence was 40.18 out of a possible range of 0-100 and the mean score for risk of fallings among rehabilitation patients was 31.10 within a possible range of 0-125. Significant factors affecting the risk of fallings among the rehabilitation patients were 'activity level', 'dementia', 'body mass index', 'anxiety', and 'presence of a caregiver', which together explained 34.7% of the variance. The most significantly factor influencing rehabilitation patients' risk of fallings was activities-specific balance confidence which explained 23.5% of the variance. Conclusion: The study results indicate that activities-specific balance confidence as well as physical factors should be considered for interventions to decrease risk of fallings in rehabilitation patients with impaired mobility.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.520-529
• /
• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify factors influencing activities-specific balance confidence in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: This is secondary analysis of data from an intervention study for improving cognitive function. The data were collected from March 2 to September 30, 2017 at a senior center. Data of 131 older adults were included for this secondary analysis, and were analyzed by using t-test, ANOVA, and multiple regression. Results: The mean score of activities-specific balance confidence is 65.08 out of a possible range of 0-100. The significant factors affecting activities-specific balance confidence among old adults include 'more than 85 years old', 'waist circumference', 'depressive symptoms', 'activity restriction due to fear of falling', and 'self-rated health' which explained 52.8% of the variance. Conclusion: The study results indicate that psychologic factors as well as physical condition should be considered for interventions to increase activities-specific balance confidence.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.37-45
• /
• 2007

This study was designed to examine, applying Rasch analysis based on item response theory, the questionnaires of the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale for the elderly. The subjects were 99 institutional older adults and clients of social welfare facilities. The subjects (17 men, 72 women) ranged in age from 65 to 94 years (mean age 76.5 yrs). The Winsteps software was used to assess whether the ABC scale fits the Rasch model, to estimate the score and to refine the rating scale. The results are as follows. Twenty-two subjects were excluded as misfit persons. Four items were found to be misfits and the order of difficulty of the remaining 12 items was rearranged. Their balance confidence is indicated by -.64~1.12 logit, and the transformation formula is score=[(logit score+2.76)/(2.76+3.48)]${\times}$100. The most difficult item was "Walk outside in icy sidewalks" and the easiest item was "Walk around house." In conclusion, the ABC scale for the elderly has been proven reliable and valid. Therefore, it is expected to be used as an effective examination tool for treatment planning and screening for older adults.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.430-437
• /
• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the balance confidence and balance ability among community-residing stroke patients. Methods: The sample for this study was a convenience sample obtained from patients who visited welfare centers for the disabled in three cities from October to December in 2009. The Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale and Berg Balance Scale were used to measure confidence in task performance and balance ability. Results: The level of balance confidence and balance ability were low in these subjects. There was a significant relationship between balance confidence and balance ability (r=.424, p=.000). Subjects with less balance ability felt less balance confidence. Conclusion: Among community-residing stroke patients, falls are common. Falls prevention which may contribute to the incidence of fall and fall related injury should be part of stroke rehabilitation plan. Also, it is necessary that an intervention for falls prevention after stroke should take into account factors such as the balance confidence and balance ability.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.46-52
• /
• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors affecting falls in 107 elderly living in the city aged 65 or older by evaluating general characteristics, chronic disease status, medical variables related to falls, balance-related confidence, physical ability and depression. Also, the correlations between the significant differences in variables were identified, and the prediction power was determined by deriving the variables with high influence to induce the fall. In the faller group, urinary incontinence, foot pain, lower extremity weakness, number of chronic disease and medication use were significantly higher than those of the nonfaller group. Also, statistically significant differences were evaluated in ABC (Activities-specific Balance Confidence) score, BBS (Berg Balance Scale) score, SGDS (Short Geriatric Depression Scale), FRT (Functional Reach Test) value. The main correlated factor for fall was ABC score, the lower the ABC score, fall risk is increased which is a significant negative impact. When the evaluation is performed by combining those scales, the hit ratio to classify whether faller or nonfaller is increased to 70.01% which is quite higher value.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.173-182
• /
• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of underwater and ground-based diagonal pattern exercises on the balance confidence and respiratory functions of chronic stroke patients. Methods: Thirty chronic stroke patients were assigned randomly to an experimental (n = 15) or control (n = 15) group. The experimental group performed an underwater diagonal pattern exercise. The control group performed a ground-based diagonal pattern exercise. Training was conducted once a day for 30 minutes, five days per week for six weeks. Balance confidence was measured using the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale-Korea version. Respiratory function was measured using a spirometer. Results: In a comparison within groups, the experimental and control groups showed significant differences in balance confidence after the experiment (p < 0.05). In a comparison between the two groups, the experimental group showed a more significant difference in balance confidence than the control group (p < 0.05). In a comparison within groups, the experimental group showed a significant difference in respiratory functions after the experiment (p < 0.05). In a comparison between the two groups, the experimental group showed a more significant difference in respiratory functions than the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Based on these results, underwater diagonal pattern exercises effectively improved the balance confidence and respiratory functions of chronic stroke patients.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.211-223
• /
• 2021

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of task-oriented circuit training using unstable support surface on balance, gait ability, and balance confidence in subacute stroke patients. Methods : Forty-five patients with subacute stroke were randomly divided into the three following groups of 15: 1) TOCT-US group; task-oriented circuit training using unstable surface (experimental group 1), 2) TOCT-SS group; task-oriented circuit training using stable surface (experimental group 2), and 3) CON group; conventional physical therapy (control group). All patients participated in one of the three training programs for 6 weeks, 30 minutes per session, 3 times per week. Patients' balance ability was assessed using the BT-4, BBS (berg balance scale), TUG (time up and go test), and LOS (limit of stability). Gait speed was measured to examine gait ability. K-ABC (activities-specific balance confidence scale) was also used to assess the level of patients' confidence in daily activities. Results : After the intervention, the sway area in experimental groups 1 and 2 decreased, but that in the control group increased. Experimental group 1 showed significant improvement compared with experimental group 2 and the control group. BBS, TUG, and LOS scores of experimental group 1 were significantly improved compared with those of experimental group 2 and the control group. Also, gait speed significantly improved in experimental group 1 compared with experimental group 2 and the control group. Experimental groups 1 and 2 showed significant improvement in K-ABC scores after training. Conclusion : Patients with subacute stroke had significantly improved balance, gait, and level of confidence in performing activities of daily living following task-oriented circuit training using the unstable surface. This indicates that task-oriented circuit training using unstable surfaces can be an effective treatment method for the recovery of balance and gait in subacute stroke patients.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.187-196
• /
• 2011

Purpose: The study evaluated the effects of a fall prevention program in a Korean rural area. Methods: A single pretest-posttest design group was studied. Thirty nine residents in the same rural area participated in a program comprised of education and exercise. The 5-week fall prevention program was performed for 60 minutes, once a week. Results: Fall Efficacy Scale (FES) score and Activities-specific of Balance Confidence Scale (ABC) score were significantly increased after the program, but the pre-and posttest FES and ABS scores were not significantly different between the fall experience group and non-fall experience group. Conclusion: The fall prevention program can improve rural residents' FES and ABS, and is recommended as a fall prevention intervention.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2021

Background: The requirements for postural and motor control in backward walking training (BWT) may improve balance and walking speed in patients with acute stroke. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of BWT on balance, balance confidence, and fall efficacy in this population. Design: Randomized controlled pilot trial. Methods: This study included 14 subjects with acute stroke (onset of illness less than one month). They were randomly allocated to a BWT (n=7) or forward walking training (n=7) group and observed five times in a week for a period of two weeks. Measurements were taken before and after the experiment using the Berg balance scale (BBS), Activities-specific balance confidence scale (ABC), and Fall efficacy scale (FES). Results: The BBS, ABC and FES scores obtained in both groups after the experiment were significantly higher than those before the experiment (p<0.05). In addition, the BBS, ABC, and FES scores in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: These findings indicate that BWT improved balance and balance confidence and decreased the risks of fall in patients with acute stroke. Further study is needed to better understand the effects of backward walking in acute stroke patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.71-76
• /
• 2016

Purpose: This study was conducted to assess the effects of robot-assisted gait training with visual feedback on gait, balance, and balance confidence in patients with chronic stroke. Methods: Thirty subjects with chronic stroke were randomly assigned to two groups: the experimental group (n=15) and the control group (n=15). The experimental group performed robot-assisted gait training for 30 minutes and the control group performed gait training with assisted devices training for 30 minutes after both groups performed conventional physical therapy for 30 minutes. Both groups performed the therapeutic interventions for 5 days per week, for a period of 4 weeks. For assessment of the 10 m walking test (10 MWT), Figure of 8 on the walk test (F8WT), Timed-Up and Go test (TUG), and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) were used to test the gait and balance, and the Korean version of the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale was used to test the balance confidence. Results: The experimental group showed significant improvement in the 10 MWT and the K-ABC (p<0.05), and the control group showed significant improvement in the BBS and the TUG (p<0.05). In four measurements, there were significant differences between the two groups (p<0.05), and the control group showed significant improvement in the F8WT at pre and post intervention (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that Robot-assisted gait training with visual feedback is an effective intervention for improving straight gait abilities and balance confidence, while the control group showed some improvement in curve gait and balance. Thus, we suggest both Robot-assisted gait training with visual feedback and gait training with assisted devices training exercise as a therapeutic intervention in chronic stroke rehabilitation.