• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.11-21
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• 1999

Human balance is maintained through a complex process involving sensory detection of body motions, integration of sensorimotor information within the central nervous system, and execution of appropriate musculoskeletal responses. The basic task of balance is to position the body center of gravity (COG) over some portion of the support base. When the COG extends beyond the base of support, the person has exceeded the limits of stability (LOS). At this point, a step or stumble is required to prevent a fall. Automatic postural responses operate to keep the COG over the base of support. They are a set of functionally organized, long-loop responses that act to keep the body in a state of equilibrium. There are four commonly identified automatic postural responses, or strategies. These are ankle strategy, hip strategy, suspensory (knee) strategy, and stepping strategy. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the LOS using various knee strategies. Forty subjects participated in this study. The subjects were comprised of 20 males and 20 females who were without neurologic, orthopaedic or balance performance impairments. The LOS was measured with a Balance Performance Monitor (BPM) Dataprint Software Version 5.3. The results of this study were as follows: 1) Knee joint angle which is to increase stability of standing balance with using knee strategy was at mid-range. 2) There were statistically significant differences in anteroposterior LOSs according to the knee strategy. 3) There were no statistically significant differences in mediolateral LOSs according to the knee strategy. 4) There were statistically significant differences of anteroposterior LOSs with using knee strategy according to gender. 5) There were no statistically significant differences in mediolateral LOSs with using knee strategy according to gender.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 2009

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of high heeled shoes on the static balance and EMG activity of lower extremity muscles. Methods Twenty subjects were composed of control group(wearing low-heeled shoes) and experimental group(wearing high-heeled shoes). Two groups participated in bearfoot standing and measured static balance and EMG activity of lower extremity muscles. Balance Performance Monitor(BPM) was used to measure the static balance and FlexComp $Infiniti^{TM}$ was used to measure the EMG activity of lower extremity muscles. Results In static balance, sway area and path of experimental group was significantly larger than control group(p<0.05). And sway velocity of experimental group was significantly faster than control group(p<0.05). They means static balance of experimental group was significantly lower than control group(p<0.05). In EMG activity, L5 paraspinalis and biceps femoris of experimental group was significantly more increased than that of control group(p<0.05). Conclusion : The long-time experience in wearing high heeled shoes may have caused change in static balance and EMG activity of lower extremity muscles.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.47-55
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to compare the static balance of standing position between adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and a normal group that were aged-matched. There were forty subjects included in this study. Twenty-seven healthy subjects (age, $13.9{\pm}1.2$ yrs; height, $161.9{\pm}7.5$ cm; weight, $52.2{\pm}7.7$ kg) and thirteen AIS subjects (age, $14.2{\pm}2.2$ yrs; height, $161.5{\pm}8.7$ cm; weight, $48.1{\pm}8.1$ kg) were participated in the study. The thirteen subjects in the AIS group had a major Cobb angle between $20.1^{\circ}$ and $49^{\circ}$. Each group was tested with the Balance Performance Monitor (BPM). The parameters for static balance were sway area, sway path, max velocity, mean balance, anterior-posterior angle, and left-right angle of each group with their eyes opened and again with their eyes closed. Both sides of the forward reach test and the lateral reach test were also performed on each group. Results from the BPM tested showed significantly increases in all parameters of static balance with those patients with AIS under the conditions where eyes were opened and closed. In the right and left forward reach test, there was no significant difference between normal and AIS groups. However, in the lateral reach test with right and left direction, there were significant differences between normal and AIS groups. For the normal subjects, there were significant differences in the parameters with sway path and anterior-posterior sway angle between the eyes opened and closed. However, there were no significant differences in the all parameters between eyes opened and closed for the AIS subjects. These results suggest that, balance programs could be used in the rehabilitation setting for intervention of AIS and evaluation of AIS. Further study is needed to measure many patients with AIS and other functional balance scales for clinical application.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.381-397
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• 2001

In the patients with hemiplegia caused by stroke and TBI. postural sway is increased and open displaced laterally over the non-affected leg, reflecting asymmetry in weight bearing on lower extremities during standing balance. Recovery of symmetric weight bearing and postural stability is an important aim in physical therapy. Plastic AFO has been used for hemiplegic patients in order to help their abnormal walking patterns. Past studies have mainly focused on the AFO influences on hemiplegic walking patterns without balance function approaches. The purpose of this study was to identify the immediate effects of plastic AFO and shoes on the static balance in hemiplegic patients. The scale for static balance were weight bearing on affected leg(%), sway area(mm2), sway path(mm), maximal sway velocity(mm/s), anteroposterior sway angle($^{\circ}$ ), and lateral angle($^{\circ}$ ). Seventeen hemiplegic patients participated in this study: 13 men and 4 women, with an average age of 50.18 years. Static balance was measured using BPM(balance performance monitor; dataprint software version 5.3) under four standing condition namely bare-foot standing. standing in shoes, standing with AFO, and standing in shoes with AFO. In order to assure the statistical significance of the results, an one-way ANOVA, the independent t-test. and a pearson's correlation were applied at the .05 level of significant. The results of this study were as follows: 1) There were statistically significant differences in weight bearing(%) on the static balance between affected leg and non-affected leg(p<.01). 2) There were statistically significant differences in sway reverse frequence(Hz) in standing with AFO between affected leg and non-affected leg(p<.05). 3) Sway area(mm2) on standing in shoes with AFO was lower than bare-foot standing(p<.05), Lateral sway angle($^{\circ}$ ) on standing in shoes with AFO was lower than bare-foot standing and standing in shoes(p<.05). 4) Weight bearing in affected leg was not significantly correlated with postural sway.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the The Influence of contract-relax exercise of PNF on Equilibrium Ability. Methods: The subjects were consisted of thirty patients (14 females and 16 males). They were from 20 to 42 years old and the mean age was 25.03. All subjects were randomly assigned to two groups: contract-relax exercise of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation(PNF) group (n=15), control group (n=15). Contract-relax exercise group received contract-relax exercise for about 10 minutes along with therapeutic massage for about 15 minutes, 3 times per week during 4 weeks period. However, control group did not receive intervention during the same 4 weeks. The Balance performance monitor(BPM) was used to measure equilibrium ability. All measurements of each subjects were measured at pre-experiment, after 2 weeks, and post-experiment. Results: The results of this study were summarized below : 1. The sway area of contract-relax exercise group was significantly reduced according to within treatment period(p<.05), most significantly reduced between pre-test and post-test(p<.05). Contract-relax exercise group significantly more reduced than control group(p<.05). 2. The sway path length of contract-relax exercise group was significantly reduced according to within treatment period(p<.05), most significantly reduced between pre-test and post-test(p<.05). Contract-relax exercise group significantly more reduced than control group(p<.05). Conclusion : Contract-relax exercise applied with therapeutic massage can increased equilibrium ability. Additional randomized controlled trials to more fully investigate treatment effects and factors that may mediate these effects are needed.

• 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.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.35-46
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• 1999

The purposes of this study were to evaluate and compare the limits of stability(LOS) at different body positioning(standing and one leg standing) in normal 20 years of age. Fourty subjects participated in the study. Subjects comprised 20 males and 20 females who without neurologic, orthopaedic impairments and balance performance impaired. The LOS was measured at Two Feet Forceplate and One Leg Forceplate with BPM(Balance Performance Monitor) Dataprint Software Version 5.3. The subjects stood 4 inches between the feet at Two Feet Forceplate and stood one legged at One Leg Forceplate. In this study applied the paired t-test and independent t-test to determine the statistical significance of results at 0.01 and 0.05 level of significance. The results of this study were as follows: 1) The anteroposterior LOS significantly increased with one legged stance(p<0.05). 2) The mediolateral LOS significantly decreased with one legged stance(p<0.01). 3) There were significant difference posterior LOS in standing and anterior LOS in one legged stance according to sexual difference(p<0.05). 4) The mediolateral LOS was not significant difference between standing and one legged stance according to sexual difference(p>0.05).

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.7-13
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• 2008

Purpose: We compared T-type and I-type canes on postural balance in 28 hemiplegic patients. Methods: Subjects were allocated randomly into two groups: a T-shape cane group (n=14) and an I-shape cane group (n=14). Before the test, subjects were trained by a physical therapist to walk with a cane for 6 weeks. The Main Outcome Measures were measured as maximal sway velocity, sway path, sway area, and partial weight bearing using a Balance Performance Monitor (BPM) and ambulation velocity using a 'Timed up and go test'. We also measured the maximal ambulation velocity. Results: The distribution of weight bearing on the affected side without the cane was 35% in the I-shape cane group and 36% in the T-shape cane group. After training, weight bearing on the affected side increased by 45% in the I-shape cane group and 40% in the T-shape cane group. With the cane held in the hand, weight bearing on the affected side in the T-shape cane group decreased by 3%. Conclusion: The I-shaped cane increased static standing balance, including hemiplegic side weight bearing. Therefore, I-shape canes can improve the balance of hemiplegic patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.153-158
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• 2022

A telesounder is a device that can monitor the appearance of fish in the sea on land and store fish detection data. This study was conducted to monitor the appearance of fish resources in coastal or near seas by using LTE communication for data transmission of the telesounder. The purpose of this study was to develop a prototype telesounder that can monitor the appearance of fish groups in the waters about 50 km away from the coast and store fish detection data. In this study, the prototype telesounder including a fish finder, communication device and battery for stable operation at sea was developed. The stability of telesounder buoy, data transmission/reception and expected use time were investigated. The expected use time of the telesounder using LTE communication with a lithium battery (12 V, 120 Ah) was about 274 hours under the conditions of 10 minutes off and 10 minutes on, about 520 hours under the conditions of 30 minutes off and 10 minutes on, and about 142 hours under continuous conditions. As a result of the sea test, it was found that the telesounder can be used in the sea area moved about 34 km from the land and the telesounder buoy was evaluated to have secured basic stability (buoyancy balance, waterproof, antenna strength, etc.) for operation in a marine environment.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.43-53
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• 2017

Purpose : To examine the relative absolute reliability and validity of step test (ST) scores in subjects with chronic stroke. Method : A total of 27 stroke patients, participated in the study. A relative reliability index (intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC) was used to examine the level of agreement of inter-rater test-retest reliability for ST score. Absolute reliability indices, including the standard error of measurement(SEM) and the minimal detectable change (MDC), and limits of agreement by Bland and Altman analysis. The validity was demonstrated by spearman correlation of ST score with 10 m Walk Test (10mWT), Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Lower/Extremity (FMA-L/E)-total score, Berg Balance Scale (BBS)-total score. Result : An excellent inter-rater reliability in ST scores was found (paretic, ICC=0.993~0.996; nonparetic, ICC=0.982~0.991). In addition, excellent test-retest reliability was found (paretic, ICC=0.992; nonparetic, ICC=0.967). It all showed acceptable SEM of the ST score as paretic and nonparetic were 0.22 and 0.46 respectively (average score <10 %), and the MDC of the paretic and nonparetic were 0.61 and 1.27 respectively (possible highest score <20 %). indicating that measures had a small and acceptable measurement error. The ST score of paretic and nonparetic were also found to be significantly associated with 10MWT (r=0.77~0.79), FMA-LE scores (r=0.73~0.81) and BBS scores (r=0.72~0.76). Conclusion : The ST showed highly sufficient Inter-rater test-retest agreement and validity and acceptable measurement errors caused by due to chance variation in measurement. It also can be used by clinicians and researchers to assess the balance and mobility performance and monitor functional change in chronic stroke patients.