• 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 The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.59-71
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• 2018

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of ankle balance training on unstable and stable surfaces to discover on which surface the proprioception, balance and muscle strength of obese middle aged women improves more. Method : Thirty obese middle-aged women were randomly recruited and divided into two groups (training on an unstable surface, training on a stable surface). The subjects in each group participated in the training for six weeks, three times per week for 30 minutes each session. Proprioception was measured using Dualer IQ digital inclinometer; sway length (SL) and sway area (SA) of center of pressure, and limit of stability (LOS) were measured for balance; muscle strength before and after the training was measured using manual muscle testing. Results : There were significant improvements in the subscales of the proprioception, balance and muscle strength in those who participated in ankle balance training on the unstable surface, and in those who participated on the stable surface. However, before and after the intervention, there were no differences between those who had the balance traning on the unstable surface and those who had the balance traning on the stable surface. Conclusion : Unstable and stable surface ankle balance training are both effective in improving the proprioception, balance and muscle strength of obese middle-aged woman.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.386-391
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• 2015

Purpose: This study investigated whether the strength imbalance between two muscles can affect the score of EMG based biofeedback game, and whether the EMG based biofeedback game score can be used as predictable indicator of the degree of muscle balance alternating the conventional strength measuring equipment. Methods: 40 participated in this study. Biodex was used to measure the peak torque/weight in order to calculate the muscle strength balance index between plantar flexor and dorsiflexor of ankle joint. And muscle balance index (MBI) was calculated. The EMG biofeedback game scores of dorsiflexor and plantar flexor were acquired, so that the EMG electrodes were attached at tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius. The relationship between the game score and the muscle balance index were analyzed. Results: There was negative correlation between the muscle balance index between plantar flexor and dorsiflexor and the peak torque/weight of plantar flexor (r=-0.70). And there was negative correlation between the muscle balance index between plantar flexor and dorsiflexor and the game score of plantar flexor (r=-0.83). Conclusion: The EMG biofeedback game score had significant relationship with muscle imbalance at ankle joint, so it seems that the game score can be used for predicting the degree of muscle imbalance as a parameter.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.63-66
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of the current study was to examine the effects of exercise-induced fatigue of the plantar flexor muscle in the dominant ankle on the plantar flexor strength and postural control function of the contra-lateral side. Methods: Twenty-one young adults (male: 10, female: 11) volunteered to participate in this study. An exercise-induced fatigue protocol to induce fatigue was performed in the plantar flexor of the dominant ankle. For the fatigue protocol, the participants were instructed to raise their heels as high as possible in the position with one leg stance of the dominant lower limb, and the heel was then downed after holding for 1 second. The muscle strength of the contra-lateral plantar flexor was measured using a digital muscle strength test device, and the static and dynamic postural control were tested by acquiring the center of gravity velocity while performing one leg standing. A paired t-test was used to identify the differences between the pre- and post, and the data were analyzed using SPSS 12.0 software. Results: Comparison of the pre- and post-test data revealed a significant difference in the plantar flexor strength and dynamic postural control after exercise-induced muscle fatigue in the dominant side. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in the static postural control. Conclusion: These findings have practical implications, suggesting that unilateral muscle fatigue affects the ankle muscle strength and postural ability of the contralateral side.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.173-182
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of visual feedback exercise (VFE), sandal exercise (SE), and thera-band exercise (TE) on people with functional ankle instability. Methods: The 45 study participants were divided into three groups of 15. In the VFE group, participants performed short-foot exercises using visual feedback; the SE group performed sandal exercises, and the TE group performed thera-band exercises. Over a period of 8 consecutive weeks, the experimental groups exercised for 15 minutes per session, four times per week. Balance was measured using the Biodex Balance System for dynamic balance ability (overall balance index [OBI], mediolateral balance index [MBI], and anterioposterior balance index [ABI]). Vibration threshold sense (VTS) was assessed using a vibratory sensory analyzer. Ankle muscular strength was measured using the Biodex 4 Pro. The main outcome measures were assessed at baseline and after 8 weeks of training. Results: Significant improvements in dynamic balance were noted in all three groups (p < 0.05). Significant improvements in VTS and muscular strength were also noted in the VFE and TE groups but not in the SE group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Appropriate environmental and situational mediation may be of great clinical significance for patients suffering from chronic ankle instability. It is hoped that the findings will inform a program for prevention of ankle instability.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.78-82
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• 2003

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to evaluate the clinical outcomes of acute achilles tendon rupture patients treated by early mobilization after operative repair. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, 12 patients of acute Achilles tendon rupture were surgically treated from May 2001 to November 2002, with follow-up period of at least 6 months. There were 10 men and 2 women, and mean age was 35.9 year. The repair method was single Krackow suture technique. Two to three weeks after the operation, early ROM with removable ankle-foot orthosis(AFO) was started. We used Amer-Lindholm scale for the clinical evaluation and analyzed patient's satisfaction and subjective strength deficit. Results: We had 11 excellent results(92%), and 1 good results(8%). One-leg heel raising was possible in all patients. All the patients returned to the preinjury occupations and 7 patients(58%) reached the preoperative level of sports activities. There was no significant difference in ankle ROM and ankle plantar flexion isokinetic strength compared to contralateral side. There was, no reruptures. Conclusion: Early mobilization proved to be a well tolerated, safe, and effective means for the compliant patient.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.330-335
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• 2004

The needs of walking assistive device such as the Ankle Foot Orthosis (A.F.O.) are getting greater than before. However, most of the A.F.O. are generally imported rather than domestic manufacturing. The major reason of high import reliability is the rack of impact properties of domestic commercial products. Therefore, this research is going to focus on the evaluation of impact properties of the A.F.O. which has the high import reliability. Unfortunately, these kinds of researches are not performed sufficiently. This research is going to evaluate impact energy behavior in composite materials such as the glass/epoxy (S-glass, $[0/90]_{2S}$) and the aramid/epoxy (Kevlar-29, woven type, 8 ply) of ankle foot orthosis. The approach methods were as follows. 1) The history of impact load and impact energy due to the various velocities. 2) Relationship between the deflection and damage shape according to the impact velocities. 3) The behavior of absorbed energy and residual strength rate due to the various impact velocities.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.94-97
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• 2020

Purpose: Fatigue breakage of cortical screws sometimes occurs after syndesmosis fixation, regardless of the period of screw retention. This study compared the fatigue strength of a novel screw design to conventional cortical screws in the fixed state of syndesmosis. Materials and Methods: Twelve sawbone models were tested mechanically to determine the fatigue strength of three screw designs. The first group was composed of cortical screws, while the second and third groups were newly-designed screws. The second group was composed of screws with a 2.4-mm diameter thread-free portion of the mid-shank while the third group had a 2.0-mm diameter thread-free mid-shank. A 400 N load was applied repetitively to a fibula model and the number of cycles until screw failure was recorded. Four screws from each group were tested, giving a total of 12 fatigue tests. Results: The average cycles until screw failure for groups 1, 2, and 3 were 8,134, 63,186, and 2,581, respectively. The second group showed the highest fatigue strength (p=0.018). The other two screw designs showed similar fatigue strength (p=0.401). Conclusion: New screw designs with a thread-free portion in the mid-shank could reduce the occurrence of fatigue breakage after syndesmosis fixation.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.129-133
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• 2019

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate effect of ankle instability on peripheral muscle activation among female ballet dancers to provide information on the development of prevention programs for ankle injury rehabilitation. Methods: 32 female ballet dancers were randomly divided into two groups: experience ankle sprain group (n=16, age, $20.7{\pm}0.8years$, BMI $18.6{\pm}1.2kg/m2$) and non-experience ankle sprain group (n=16, $age=21.0{\pm}0.8years$, BMI $19.6{\pm}2.0kg/m2$). Activation of the peroneus longus, tibialis anterior muscle, and gastrocnemius during vertical landing, half pointe, and gait between the two groups were measured. Body composition analyzer was used to examine skeletal muscle mass and body fat mass. Results: A total of 32 patients were included. In the experience ankle sprain group (n=16: left sprain 14, right sprain 2), average ankle sprain injury occurred 7.5 months before the study. The average age of the dancers in the experience ankle sprain group and non-experience ankle sprain group was $20.7{\pm}0.8$ and $21.0{\pm}0.8years$, major period was $64.5{\pm}23.8$ and $71.6{\pm}25.8months$, BMI was $18.6{\pm}1.2$ and $19.5{\pm}2.0kg/m2$, respectively. No significant differences were found on body composition between the two groups (p>0.05). The experience ankle sprain group showed significantly lower tibialis anterior and peroneus longus muscle activation (p<0.5), while gastrocnemius muscle activation appeared to be significantly higher (p<0.05) during landing, half pointe, and normal gait. Conclusion: Ankle sprain can cause a decline in peripheral muscle activation and coordination, which increased the risk for repetitive ankle sprain in the future. Moreover, ankle peripheral muscle selective strength training, coordination program development, and application need to be considered to prevent ankle sprain.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.5909-5919
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of the intensive ankle joint strategy training on the muscular strength and balancing ability in the elderly women. The subject of this study were 30 elderly women aged from 65 to 80 and randomly assigned to three groups. For 6 weeks, two experimental groups took the training an hour every 3 days of a week. The results that measured the dynamometer, FRT, and SEBT after implementing general lower limbs exercise and the intensive ankle joint strategy training for 6 weeks showed that the changes in the control and experimental group I were not statistically significant while the changes in the experimental group II were statistically significant (p<.05). For the prevention of the elderlies from fall and the treatment approaches, it is deemed to be necessary additional studies on the diverse variables through the intensive training of the ankle strategy.