• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.407-415
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• 2013

PURPOSE: This study is to examine the effects of different types of tasks on gait functions of chronic stroke patients when different types of dual tasks were applied while the patients were implementing practical and continuous circuit tasks using their upper and lower extremities circulating many workbenches. METHODS: Forty-four chronic stroke patients were divided into a dual motor circuit task training group, a dual cognitive circuit task training group and a simple task training group. Before training, all the patients were identically encouraged to receive conservative physical therapy for 30 minutes by a physical therapist were thereafter made to train for 30 minutes, five times a week for a total of eight weeks with individual additional tasks. The dual motor circuit task training consisted of continuous circuit training motor tasks and additional motor tasks and the dual cognitive circuit task training consisted of tasks combining the same circuit training motor tasks and additional cognitive tasks. The simple task training consisted of natural walks on a flat terrain to the front, rear and lateral sides of the terrain. Changes in functional gait abilities made through the training were evaluated using GAITRite. SPSS Win 12.0 was used for the data analysis. RESULTS: As for the gait variables that showed significant differences in comparison between the groups over the training period, the dual motor circuit task training group showed more significant differences than the dual cognitive circuit task training group and the simple task training group at 4 weeks and 8 weeks of training(p<.05). CONCLUSION: Therefore, it could be seen that the practical and continuous dual circuit task training was more effective than simple task training on gait. In comparison between the types of dual tasks, the dual motor circuit task training group showed more effects than the dual cognitive circuit task training group.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.211-223
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• 2021

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of task-oriented circuit training using unstable support surface on balance, gait ability, and balance confidence in subacute stroke patients. Methods : Forty-five patients with subacute stroke were randomly divided into the three following groups of 15: 1) TOCT-US group; task-oriented circuit training using unstable surface (experimental group 1), 2) TOCT-SS group; task-oriented circuit training using stable surface (experimental group 2), and 3) CON group; conventional physical therapy (control group). All patients participated in one of the three training programs for 6 weeks, 30 minutes per session, 3 times per week. Patients' balance ability was assessed using the BT-4, BBS (berg balance scale), TUG (time up and go test), and LOS (limit of stability). Gait speed was measured to examine gait ability. K-ABC (activities-specific balance confidence scale) was also used to assess the level of patients' confidence in daily activities. Results : After the intervention, the sway area in experimental groups 1 and 2 decreased, but that in the control group increased. Experimental group 1 showed significant improvement compared with experimental group 2 and the control group. BBS, TUG, and LOS scores of experimental group 1 were significantly improved compared with those of experimental group 2 and the control group. Also, gait speed significantly improved in experimental group 1 compared with experimental group 2 and the control group. Experimental groups 1 and 2 showed significant improvement in K-ABC scores after training. Conclusion : Patients with subacute stroke had significantly improved balance, gait, and level of confidence in performing activities of daily living following task-oriented circuit training using the unstable surface. This indicates that task-oriented circuit training using unstable surfaces can be an effective treatment method for the recovery of balance and gait in subacute stroke patients.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.21-32
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify whether task-related circuit exercise program combined with sensorimotor training for 4 weeks could improve the balance and gait in stroke patients. Method: Fifteen stroke patients who had agreed with the study were randomly divided into 3 groups categorized as task-related circuit exercise program combined with sensorimotor training group (experimental group 1, n=5), task-related circuit exercise program group (experimental group 2, n=5), and control subjects performed conventional physical therapy (control group, n=5). The balance and gait were assessed by BT-4 force platform system, Berg Balance Scale, 10meter Walk Test and Smart Step at before training and after training. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to analyze change before and after intervention in intra-group. Kruskal Wallis H test, Mann-Whitney U test and Bonfferoni correction were used to analyze changes of all variables in inter-groups. Result: The experimental group 1 showed significant improvements in postural sway area, BBS scores, walking velocity and plantar pressures of affected foot, whereas the experimental group 2 showed significant improvements in BBS scores, and the control group were no significantly different in all variables following training. The changes of postural sway area and BBS scores in the experimental group 1 were significantly greater than them of the control group. The changes of postural sway area in the experimental group 1 was significantly greater than that of the experimental group 2. Conclusion: The result of this study suggest the task-related circuit exercise program combined with sensorimotor training is an effective intervention to improve balance and gait in stoke patients.