• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.915-918
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of Ankle exercise on balance ability of stroke patients. Participants' balance ability were measured prior to the training and they conducted ankle exercise. As for ankle exercises, ankle stretching training and ankle muscle strengthening training were performed for 10 minutes respectively. They did warm up exercise for 5 minutes and then ankle exercise for 20 minutes. And then they did cooldown exercise for 5 minutes. Their balance ability was measured after 9 weeks. According to the results of analyzing the change of balance ability that timed up and go and Berg balance scale score significantly improved but in the control group it did not significantly decrease. In comparison between the groups, Berg balance scale score significantly improved in the ankle exercise group compared to the control group. Ankle exercise performed by stroke patients are considered to be effective in improving balance ability.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.121-127
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aims to compare the effect on balance during core and ankle muscle strengthening exercises using the Thera-Band. Methods: 21 healthy college students were recruited. The participants were divided into a core strengthening group (CSG), an ankle strengthening group (ASG), and a non-exercise group (NEG). CSG and ASG were performed twice a week for a total of 4 weeks, and static and dynamic balance were measured before and after the intervention. The static balance were measured as stability index and weight distribution index using Tetrax^®. The dynamic balance was measured in each direction by the Y balance test. The Thera-Band intensity was increased after 2 weeks of exercise, and the exercise was subsequently performed. Results: Participants showed static balance with Tetrax^®, a significant difference was noted between normal eye closes and pillow with eye closes in ASG (p<0.05). In the case of dynamic balance with the Y balance test, a significant difference was observed in posterolateral direction (PL) and composite score (CS) between each group for the pre- and post-intervention differences (p<0.05). A significant difference was observed between PL and CS in CSG (p<0.05). Conclusion: These findings show that the progressive Thera-Band exercise had a positive effect on balance abilities. It was confirmed that core strengthening was effective for dynamic balance, and ankle strengthening was effective for static balance.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.47-55
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• 2021

Background: Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common conditions of the lower limbs. The present study aimed to compare the effect of hip muscle strengthening exercise and stretching of lower extremity in plantar fasciitis, with regard to pain, navicular drop and foot and ankle functional ability. Methods: A total of 42 patients diagnosed with plantar fasciitis were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n=21) that applied the hip muscle strengthening exercise and the control group(n=21) that applied the general lower limb stretching. The intervention period was 6 weeks. Results: The results of the experiment showed that the exercises for strengthening the hip muscle had significant effects on pain, navicular drop and foot and ankle functional ability In addition, lower extremity stretching showed improvement effects in pain, navicular drop and foot and ankle functional ability, however, the difference between the groups except navicular drop did not reach statistical significance Conclusion: Both interventions tested in this study were confirmed to be effective treatment options for patients with plantar fasciitis.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.41-50
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• 2024

Background: The purpose of this study aimed to examine the effects of adding a gluteus-medius exercise to an ankle stability exercise on ankle function and balance in adults with chronic ankle instability. Methods: The study included 30 adults with chronic ankle instability living in Daegu province who were randomly divided into an experimental group performing the gluteus-medius exercise during ankle stability exercise and a control group performing the ankle stability exercise only (n=15 each). Before the test, the Cumberland ankle instability tool (CAIT) was used to identify chronic ankle instability, the Y-balance and hop (square, figure of eight, and side) tests were used to assess dynamic stability, and the balance error scoring system (BESS) was used to examine static stability. SPSS statistics version 27 (IBM) was used to analyze the data. Results: Both groups showed statistically significant differences in the CAIT, Y-Balance test, hop test. There was a meaningful difference between the groups. Conclusion: According to the results, it is considered an effective intervention to incorporate gluteus-medius strengthening exercises along with ankle stabilization exercises in the rehabilitation program for improving balance and ankle function in adults with chronic instability.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.163-167
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• 2020

Purpose: Unilateral strength training effects on contralateral sides have been demonstrated in previous studies for lower extremity exercise, upper extremity exercise, and unilateral surface electrical stimulation. This study was performed to investigate the effects of unilateral ankle training on muscle strength and the balance of contralateral lower extremity in healthy adults. Methods: Thirty healthy subjects were randomized equally to a training or a control group. Those in the training group received unilateral ankle isokinetic strengthening training of the dominant leg (right side) for 4 weeks. Contralateral single-limb balance, including Anterio-Posterior Stability Index (APSI), Medio-Lateral Stability Index (MLSI) and Overall Stability Index (OSI), was assessed before and after intervention. Results: Comparison of pre- and post-test data revealed significant improvements in ipsi- and contralateral ankle strengths, and significant improvement in contralateral single limb balance. Conclusion: These results have practical implications because they demonstrate that unilateral ankle isokinetic exercise improves ankle muscle strength and balance ability of contralateral lower extremity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.63-70
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• 2019

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of bilateral ankle dorsiflexors-strengthening exercise on the paralytic tibialis anterior activity, balance ability, and gait function of patients with chronic stroke. METHODS: Nineteen patients with chronic stroke were assigned randomly to the experimental and control groups. All participants received general physical therapy for 60-minutes per session, five times a week, for 6 weeks. In addition, the experimental group (n = 9) performed bilateral ankle dorsiflexion muscle-strengthening training three times a week, 30 minutes per session, for six weeks. The control group (n=10) performed the paraplegic ankle dorsiflexion muscle- strengthening training in the same manner. Before and after the intervention, the paralytic tibialis anterior muscle activity, timed up and go test (TUG), and 10m walking test (10 MWT) were performed. RESULTS: Both groups showed significant improvement in the post-intervention muscle activity of the paralytic tibialis anterior, TUG, and 10MWT compared to that before the intervention (p<.05), but the differences between the two groups were not significant (p >.05). CONCLUSION: Bilateral ankle dorsiflexors strengthening exercise is an effective cross-training method to improve the muscle activity of the paraplegic tibialis anterior, balance ability, and walking function in chronic stroke patients.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.89-94
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• 2016

Objective: This study was aimed to compare the thickness and pennation angle of gastrocnemius through ultrasonography during the heel-drop exercise on ankle dorsiflexion angle. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Nineteen normal adults in their 20s had voluntarily participated in this study. All subjects performed the ankle heel-drop exercise with ankle dorsiflexed to $0^{\circ}$, $10^{\circ}$, and $20^{\circ}$: heel-drop exercise with ankle dorsiflexed to $0^{\circ}$ was executed on floor-level, heel-drop exercise with ankle dorsiflexed to $10^{\circ}$ on a wooden-block of 2.3 cm in height, and heel-drop exercise with ankle dorsiflexed to $20^{\circ}$ on a wooden-block of 5.5 cm in height. In each regimen, the subjects completed a session of 100 heel-drop exercises (10 repetitions${\times}$10 sets; with 30 seconds rest following each set; with 24 hours rest following each exercise). Before and immediately after each heel-drop exercise, the thickness and pennation angle of gastrocnemius were measured using an ultrasonography. Results: After the performance of the heel drop exercises with ankle dorsiflexed to $0^{\circ}$, $10^{\circ}$, and $20^{\circ}$, the thickness of the gastrocnemius was significantly higher than pre-exercise (p<0.05), and furthermore heel-drop exercise with ankle dorsiflexed to $10^{\circ}$ was significantly higher than exercise with the ankle dorsiflexed to $0^{\circ}$ (p<0.05). However, as for the pennation angle of the gastrocnemius, there were no significant changes after each heel-drop exercise. Conclusions: This finding suggest that the heel-drop exercise with ankle dorsiflexed to $0^{\circ}$, $10^{\circ}$, and $20^{\circ}$ is effective on the strengthening of the gastrocnemius. Furthermore, the heel-drop exercise with the ankle dorsiflexed to $10^{\circ}$ is more effective than with the ankle dorsiflexed to $0^{\circ}$.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.69-74
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• 2009

Purpose: This study examined that effect of a change in balance index on ankle Kinesio taping, muscle strength exercises and taping after muscle strength exercises in 30 healthy adult subjects. Methods: The Sway Index of the left, right, front and back on stable, toes up and linear were compared using a Balance System, a balance experimental instrument. Results: The pre and post experimental balance index regarding stable, toes up, and linear were taken for the Kinesio taping group, lower extremities muscle strengthening group, and muscle strengthening with the Kinesio taping group. Statistically significant decreases were observed in all variables except for the left and right pre and post experiment results under stable conditions. Conclusion: The balance index of exercise with taping was lower than that of exercise only. There is a need for objective research on the long-term applications and post-exercise. The body balance appears to be influenced by ankle stabilization using taping.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.1190-1194
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the complex ankle exercises on balance. 22 participants (male: 14, female: 8) with functional ankle instability were participated. Functional ankle instability was selected to be less than 24 points using the Cumberland ankle instability tool (CAIT) with people who had severe ankle sprain and then experiencing ankle giving way. A total of 20 minutes performed three times a week for four weeks with muscle strength and balance exercises. Muscle strengthening exercise was performed with Theraband, and balance exercise was performed with unstable support plates. Biodex balance system(R) was used to measure static and dynamic balance. The dynamic balance was selected in grade 2, 4, and 8. The static and dynamic balance (grade: 2, 4,and 8) balance was significantly decreased in anterior-posterior, and medial-lateral directions (p<.05). The instability was significantly increased after exercise (p<.05). These results suggest that complex exercises are beneficial to decreasing the functional ankle instability.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.557-561
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• 2013

The purpose of this study to identified the effect of muscle strengthening of ankle joints on postural sway. The subjects of this study were 29 healthy adults aged between 20 and 30 years(male 18, female 11). All subjects received ankle muscle strengthening exercise for 3 times, 3 sessions, 30 minutes per week over 4weeks period. The measured item of muscle strength, postural sway. Data collected from all subjects the result were as follows. The ankle strength showed significant increase(p<.05). One leg stand test with eye close increase in static balance(p<.05), left-right sway distance and anterior-posterior sway distance with eye open and close in static balance(p<.05). The result findings show that strength of the ankle joint muscles is a factor which affects postural sway and the ankle joints are important in static balance.