• PNF and Movement
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.31-39
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• 2011

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the criterion-related validity of the Berg balance test between fallers and non-fallers in individuals with Parkinson's disease. Methods : Thirty-one patients were recruited for this study. Their initial diagnosis had been made on average $30.1{\pm}10.1$ years earlier. Score of Berg balance test showed significant correlations with indicators of motor functioning and daily living capacity. Berg balance test score was inversely associated with the unified Parkinson's disease rating scale-motor score, and Schwab and England activities of daily living rating scale. Results : In all 3 correlations, lower scores on the Berg balance test correlated with higher unified Parkinson's disease rating scale-motor scores. Results support the criterion-related validity of the Berg balance test. Conclusion : Our research results agree with other published research in suggesting that the Berg balance test may be used as a screening tool and ongoing assessment tool for patients with Parkinson's disease.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.2244-2252
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• 2020

Background: Thera-Band, Narrow squats, Kinesiology taping helps in the reduction of loading on the knee joints. Despite the fact that the varus knee negatively affects the alignment of the lower extremities, most of the studies have analyzed each independently. Objectives: To investigate the effects of a complex exercise program consisting of elastic band exercises and squat exercises on the distance between the inner knees and balance in young adults with genu varum. Design: A cluster randomized controlled trial. Methods: The complex exercise group performed resistance exercises using an elastic band. The taping group used kinesiology tape on the vastus lateralis and biceps femoris. To select those to be included in the study, we measured the distance between the knees using digital Vernier calipers and to measure the balance ability, we used a balance training system. The data were analyzed with the independent t-test and paired t-test. Results: The study indicated a significant difference in the distance between the knees between the two groups, but no significant differences in the dynamic balance between the groups. Also, the static balance comparison between the groups according to the intervention method included the trace length, C90 area, C90 angle and velocity. There were no significant differences in the static balance between the groups. In addition, the complex exercise program was more effective than taping. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate that the complex exercise program and taping decrease the between both the knee and increase the balance.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.161-166
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• 2023

Objective: The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of shoe sole deformation on the muscle activity and balance of the lower extremities when standing on one foot. Design: Crossed-control group study Methods: A total of 18 healthy adults participated in this study. 9 participants with normal shoe and 9 participants with deformed in shoe out-soles (wear shoes) were included. Muscle activity of the tibialis anterior, fibularis longus and gluteus medius during one leg standing was measured using a electromyography. A balance board was used to evaluate balance ability when standing on one leg. The balance ability when standing on one leg was measured by the sway speed and distance of the center of gravity. Results: Muscle activity of the tibialis anterior, fibularis longus and gluteus medius was no significant difference between groups (P > 0.05). Balance ability when standing on one leg was significantly different from the group wearing normal shoes in all variables related to the sway distance and sway speed of the center of gravity. Conclusions: Through this study, the wear of the outer sole of the shoe indirectly confirmed the effect on the wearer's lower extremity muscle activity and balance ability when standing on one foot. These results of this study are expected to be used as basic data for future studies on shoe wear, lower extremity muscle activity and balance ability.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.355-364
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• 2023

Objective: The aim of this study is to test the effects of elastic band exercise accompanied by Swiss ball exercise on lower limb muscle strength, balance and pain in middle-aged women with osteoarthritis. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Methods: Thirty-five participants were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n=18), which performed elastic band exercise combined with Swiss ball exercise, and the control group (n=17), which performed elastic band exercise only. Both groups did a 30-minute session of exercise three times a week for eight weeks and were assessed for lower extremity muscle strength, static and dynamic balance, and pain levels before the first therapy session. All participating patients underwent outcome assessment after eight weeks of therapy without any additional treatment. Results: The experimental group made a significant increase in muscle strength of the lower extremities, static and dynamic balance ability, and pain level (p<0.05). The control group made a significant improvement in lower limb muscle strength, dynamic balance ability and pain level (p<0.05) with no such improvement in static balance ability. The exercise group made a significant increase in static and dynamic balance ability and pain level compared to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusions: These results demonstrated that both Swiss ball exercise and elastic band exercise were effective for middle-aged women with osteoarthritis and found that elastic band exercise combined with Swiss ball exercise produced more significant effects on their balance and pain.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.133-139
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• 2016

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of balance training on a three-dimensional balance trainer that provides the up-and-down vertical movement of the knee joint and left-and-right horizontal movement, along with visual feedback on the functional ability of children with spastic cerebral palsy (CPs). METHODS: 8 CPs participated in this study. The experiment was implemented for 40 minutes, three times a week for a total of six weeks. The subjects received general physiotherapy for 15 minutes in each session focused on balance and walking, as based on the neuro-developmental treatment theory. Balance training was performed for 20 minutes on a three-dimensional balance trainer where knee joint movement providing visual feedback is applied. The evaluations were conducted before and after the test, and posture sway was measured using 10 Meter Walking Test (10MWT), Timed Up & Go Test (TUG), and the Good Balance System to evaluate the functional ability and balance of the subjects RESULTS: 10MWT was not statistically significant (p>.05). On the contrary, TUG and postural sway indicate static balance showed a statistically significant decrease (p<.05). In a static balance test using the Good Balance System, the average moving speed statistically significantly decreased in the AP and ML directions (p<.05), and the mean velocity moment also significantly decreased (p<.05). CONCLUSION: These findings suggested that balance training using the three-dimensional balance trainer, with the features of visual feedback and up-and-down knee joint movement effects on increasing dynamic and static balance.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.73-81
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• 2012

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to measure the standing balance symmetry of stroke patients using a force-plate with computer system, and to investigate the correlation between the standing balance symmetry and that of the walking function in stroke patients. Methods: 48 patients with stroke (34 men, 14 women, $56.8{\pm}11.72$ years old) participated in this study. Static standing balance was evaluated by the weight distribution on the affected and the nonaffected lower limbs, sway path, sway velocity, and sway frequency, which reflected the characteristic of body sway in quiet standing. Dynamic standing balance was evaluated by anteroposterior and mediolateral sway angle, which revealed the limit of stability during voluntary weight displacement. Symmetry index of static standing balance, (SI-SSB) calculated by the ratio of the affected weight distribution for the nonaffected weight distribution, and symmetric index of dynamic standing balance (SI-SDB) by the ratio of the affected sway angle for the nonaffected sway angle. Functional balance assessed by a Berg balance scale (BBS), and the functional walking by 10m walking velocity, as well as the modified motor assessment scale (mMAS). Results: Static balance scales and SI-SSB was the only correlation with BBS (p<0.05). Dynamic balance scales and SI-DSB, not only was correlated with BBS, but also with 10m walking velocity and mMAS (p<0.01). Additionally, there was a significant difference between SI-SSB and that of SI-DSB (p<0.01). Conclusion: The balance and the walking function relate to real life in the stroke showed strong relationships with the dynamic standing balance symmetry in the frontal plane and the ability of anterior voluntary weight displacement in sagittal plane.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.79-87
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• 2010

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to analyze and to compare the difference and the change between dynamic balance exercise group and dynamic balance exercise with core program exercise group. Also, based on this data, to prescribe effective exercises for hemiplegic patients and the pubis in order to achieve more effective dynamic balance exercise rehabilitation and better dynamic balance exercise in the field of therapeutical exercise. Methods : Twenty subjects(Core program exercise plus Dynamic balance exercise group, CP: 10, Dynamic balance exercise group, NCP: 10) were chosen among hemiplegic patients. Measurements of dynamic balance were evaluated at initial presentation(pretest) and after 4, 8, 12 weeks'. Paired t-test and Repeated measured ANOVA was utilized to detect the mean difference between the groups. Results : Firstly, after 4 weeks' and 8 weeks' and 12 weeks' CP exercise and NCP exercise, there were all significant difference to increase dynamic balance (p<0.05). secondly, after 4 weeks' and 8 weeks' and 12 weeks' CP and NCP exercise, there was significant difference to increase dynamic balance more CP group than NCP group. Lastly, among 4 weeks' and 8 weeks' and 12 weeks' CP exercise, there was progressively significant difference to increase dynamic balance(p<0.05). Conclusions : This study showed that dynamic balance exercise with core program exercise is an effective treatment strategy for hemiplegic patients than dynamic balance exercise rehabilitation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.39-45
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• 2023

PURPOSE: This study aimed to provide the basic data necessary for rehabilitation by identifying the effects of complex balance exercises combined with self-observation training on balance and gait improvement in stroke patients. METHODS: This study assigned 20 people randomly into two groups: the control and experimental groups. The experimental group (10 subjects) underwent self-observation training-combined complex balance exercise. The control group (10 subjects) underwent complex balance exercises. A pretest of the balance ability and walking ability of both groups was performed. The interventions were conducted for 30 minutes three times a week for four weeks, and post-tests were conducted four weeks after all interventions were completed. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups according to the increase in Berg Balance Sale within the group and a statistically significant difference by a decrease in 10MWT (p < .01). On the other hand, there was a significant difference only in the change in Berg Balance Sale between the two groups (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Combined balance exercise combined with self-observation training and combined balance exercise alone positively affected the Berg Balance Sale and 10MWT in both groups. On the other hand, in the results between groups, there was a statistically significant difference in Berg Balance Sale in complex balance exercise combined with self-observation training. Therefore, self-observation training should be used for the rapid social rehabilitation of stroke patients.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.123-129
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• 2023

Objective: Kinesio tape has been applied to the ankle to improve balance and gait. Stroke patients show abnormal gait patterns due to foot drop. This study aimed to determine the effects of ankle balance taping which to support the ankle joint on balance and gait in patients with chronic stroke. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Methods: Twenty-four chronic stroke patients were selected and randomized into experimental group (n=12) and control group (n=12). The experimental group applied kinesio taping three times a week for three weeks, and the control group applied placebo taping for the same amount of time. To evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment, the subjects' walking ability, static balance, and dynamic balance were assessed before and after the experiment. Gait speed and spatiotemporal gait ability were measured to examine walking ability, postural sway velocity and velocity moment for static balance, and Timed-Up and Go test and Berg Balance Scale were conducted to check dynamic balance. Results: The experimental group showed a significant increase in walking ability, static balance, and dynamic balance in the within-group pre-post difference (p<0.05). In the between-group comparison, the experimental group had a significant difference in walking ability than the control group (p<0.05). Conclusions: Ankle balance taping can help improve gait, and this study can be used as a basis for future studies of ankle balance taping.

• 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.