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

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.9 no.3
• /
• pp.47-65
• /
• 2002

This study examined the correlations among the Berg Balance Scale, which is a clinical tool used to evaluate balance ability, spatiotemporal parameters of gait, and falling; determined the parameters most closely related to falling; and identified a discriminatory parameter and its predictability. Thirty-four subjects aged 72 to 92 years participated in this study. Following a questionnaire survey about falling, the Berg Balance Scale and spatiotemporal parameters of gait were measured. The results revealed that the incidence of falls increased with aging and an accompanying reduction in the flexion range of motion of the hip joint. The gait characteristics of elderly people who fell easily included a slower walking speed, shorter stride, and longer stance time than other elderly. When the cutoff score was set at 45, the Berg Balance Scale was able to identify correctly those individuals who truly have experience of falling than when the cutoff score was set at 39. But when the cutoff score was set at 39, the scale's specificity identifying correctly those individuals who truly have not experience of falling was higher than at the cutoff score of 45. Therefore, the Berg Balance Scale is an appropriate screening method in a clinical setting for the early detection of elderly people at risk of falling. In conclusion, elderly people with a Berg Balance Scale score. below 45 are the most likely to fall owing to their decreased balance ability.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.175-181
• /
• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of interference current therapy and laser therapy on functional recovery after total knee arthroplasty by measuring the Berg balance scale and range of motion. Methods: Subjects were 30 patients who were admitted to G Hospital after total knee arthroplasty. They were randomly assigned to experimental group I in which interference current therapy was applied (n=10), experimental group II in which laser therapy was applied (n=10), or the control group (n=10). The Berg balance scale and range of motion of the subjects were measured before, after 2 weeks, and after 4 weeks of therapy. Results: There was a statistically significant change (p<0.05) in the Berg balance scale and range of motion before and after therapy intervention among the laser therapy group and the interference current therapy group. There was also a significant change between the groups in the Berg balance scale and range of motion. Tukey's post hoc comparison showed a statistically significant difference between the control group and experimental group I and between the control group and experimental group II (p<0.05). Conclusion: The application of interference current therapy and laser therapy resulted in a significant change in both the Berg balance scale and range of motion among patients with total knee arthroplasty. The findings of this study can be used as preliminary clinical data in evaluating functional recovery in patients with total knee arthroplasty in a post-clinic setting.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.28-34
• /
• 2007

The purposes of this study were to provide the basic data and investigate the reliability of functional reach test and identify correlation of Berg balance scale (BBS) and functional reach test (FRT). The subjects were twenty healthy young adults and forty-five over 65 years old in order to compare balance ability. These data were analyzed by independent t-test and Pearson's correlation test using SPSS WIN 10.0. The results were as follows. Intrarater reliability coefficients of FRT was .976 and interrater was .942. FRT was significantly correlated with age, height, and BBS (p<.05). There were no significant differences in FRT and BBS by sex. There was significant difference in reach distance between below 74 elderly and above in FRT. FRT is very reliable test for balance and significantly correlated with BBS. Therefore, it is suggested that FRT is a clinically useful tool to substitute for BBS measuring balance ability in the elderly.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.1-5
• /
• 2011

Purpose: This study examined the relationship between the center of pressure (COP) displacement time during the stance phase and dynamic balance ability when older adults cross a 10 cm obstacle. Methods: Fifteen older adults were enrolled in this study (all ${\geq}65$ years of age). The F-scan was used to measure the COP displacement time when subjects cross a 10 cm obstacle, and the Dynamic gait index. Berg's balance scale and the Four square step test were used to measure dynamic balance ability. Results: The Dynamic gait index, Berg's balance scale and the Four square step test were correlated with each other. Dynamic balance ability was correlated with COP displacement time during the stance phase at an obstacle crossing in older adults. Conclusion: People with higher dynamic balance ability show a smaller COP displacement time during the stance phase at an obstacle crossing. Therefore, dynamic balance ability can be predicted by measuring the center of pressure displacement time.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
• /
• 2013.05a
• /
• pp.1457-1458
• /
• 2013

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.49-55
• /
• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the effects of taping therapy on the balance and gait of stroke patients. Methods: The subjects of this study were 30 stroke patients. The treatment groups were prescribed a combination of taping, therapy applied simultaneously to the ankle and the hip joint, and general physical therapy twice a day for 30 minutes each, five days per week for 4 weeks for a total of 40 times. The control group was treated with general physical therapy for 30 minutes, 5 times per week for 4 weeks, and total 40 times. All subjects were followed up on a Berg balance scale, timed up and go test, activity-specific balance confidence scale, and GaitRite. Results: The group that simultaneously received taping therapy to the ankle and hip joint showed more significant effects than the group treated with ankle joint taping only (p<0.05). Effects were noted in the Berg balance scale, timed up and go test, activity-specific balance confidence scale and gait ability test. Compared to the control group, the group treated at the ankle and hip joint showed significant effects after the experiment in the Berg balance scale, timed up and go test, activity-specific balance confidence scale, and gait ability test (p<0.05). Conclusion: Taping therapy applied to both the ankle and hip joints, and combined with general physical therapy appears to be effective in patients with chronic stroke who have an impaired balance and gait ability.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.1 no.4
• /
• pp.49-56
• /
• 2013

Purpose : This study aimed to understand the influence of the virtual reality program combined with cognitive activity on elderly people's balance ability. Method : We randomly divided 14 elderly people receiving daytime protection service from D daytime protection center for senior citizens located in Busan-si into a group(seven) with cognitive activity combined with virtual reality program, and the other group(seven) with only virtual reality program. In order to compare the balance ability before/after the therapeutic intervention, the Berg Balance Scale was carried out. The Mini-Mental State Examination-Korea(MMSE-K) was also conducted to compare their cognitive functions. Result : Both groups showed statistically significant differences in balance ability before/after the therapeutic intervention(p<.05) while there were no statistically significant differences in balance ability after the therapeutic intervention(p>.05). The cognitive functions before/after the therapeutic intervention were not statistically significantly different in both groups(p>.05). Conclusion : The findings showed that the application of virtual reality program combined with cognitive activity could improve elderly people's balance ability. It is considered that the application of virtual reality program can have positive influence on the improvement of elderly people's balance ability, as an intervention method for improving balance ability in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 2013

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of bobath treatment on the balance and gait in adult hemiplegia. Methods : The study was performed with patients of hemiparesis caused by cerebral stroke. The participants were based on random sampling method. The hemiplegia patient received Bobath therapy. Each rehabilitation program lasted 40 minutes a day, 5 days a week, for 6 weeks. Pertinent indicators Berg's balance scale (BBS), gait velocity, and static balance analysis were recorded before and after the programs, as well as every 2 weeks during the rehabilitation programs. Results : There was showed a significantly increase of BBS score. Static open and close showed statistically significant in interaction by time and groups. There was significant difference of gait velocity. Conclusion : These findings in this study that the Bobath therapy was effective therapy in improving dynamic balance and gait velocity.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.5 no.3
• /
• pp.11-20
• /
• 1998

The purposes of this study were to determine the effect of different degrees of severity of diabetic neuropathy on balance function, and to evaluate dynamic balance and functional performance in diabetes patients. Twenty-four subjects with diabetes mellitus were divided into three groups according to results of sensory nerve conduction study. All subjects were evaluated for dynamic balance which was measured using computerized dynamic posturography, and functional performance which was measured using the Berg balance scale. One-way analysis of variance was used to determine whether there were any statistically differences of dynamic balance function and functional performance among the three groups. The Spearrnan's rank correlation was used to determine statistical significance between dynamic balance and age. The results were as follows: 1. Dynamic balance measured using computerized dynamic posturography was significantly lower in the no response group than in the normal amplitude group (p<0.05). 2. Functional performance tested by the Berg balance scale was not statistically different among the three groups (p>0.05). 3. an inverse relationship was found between dynamic balance measured using computerized dynamic posturography and age (r=-0.68, p<0.05). These results suggest that patients with severe diabetic neuropathy have loss of dynamic balance function. Therefore, patients with severe diabetic neuropathy need to have their balance evaluated and receive appropriate education.