• PNF and Movement
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.29-37
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• 2011

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to find out of an effect of forward, backward walking using partial weight bearing on walking of the patient with incomplete spinal cord injury. Methods : The average age, and the term of being sick of 6 patients who were selected as the subjects with incomplete spinal cord injury and who received medical attention in the National Rehabilitation Hospital, was 50.3 years old, and 10.7 months, and those were also the patients that were classified as ASIA-C or D by ASIA. The forward, backward walking using a partial weight bearing system as the research method, took total 6 weeks, 3 days per week, 3 times per day, total 45 minutes for each time(15 minutes for a time, 5 minutes for a breathing time), and the 15 minutes was used for forward walking 7.30 minutes, backward walking for 7.30 minutes, to find out before and after the test of WISCI, PCI, Walking Speed, Motor Score of Lower Limbs for the selected patients with incomplete spinal cord injury. Results : The result was showed WISCI from 17 points to 17 points that is, no change occurred at all, and PCI from $161.01{\pm}103.06$ to $74.97{\pm}58.19$, some amount of reduction that is not statistically significant(p<.05). Regarding walking speed, it increased from $24{\pm}.07m/sec$ to. $61{\pm}.35m/sec$, that is statistically significant(p<.05), and motor score of lower limbs showed statistically significant increase like from $33.17{\pm}7.08$ to $37{\pm}5.14$(P<.05). Conclusion : The 4 evaluation categories seem to have shown differences due to an insufficient number of subjects, and short test term, and it seems the more diverse task-oriented walking exercises should be studied in the coming days.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.1-10
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• 2016

Background: Gait problems appear in most stroke patients. Commonly, stroke patients show the typical abnormal gait patterns, such as circumduction, genu recurvatum, and spastic paretic stiff-legged gait. An inclined treadmill gait exercise is good for gait problems of stroke patients. In addition, the backward walking training has been recommended in order to improve the component of the movement for the forward walking. Objects: The purpose of this study to investigated the effects of backward walking with inclined treadmill training on the gait in chronic stroke patients. Methods: A total of 30 volunteers were randomly allocated to two groups that walked on an inclined treadmill: the experimental group ($n_1=15$), which walked backward, and the control group ($n_2=15$), which walked forward. To measure the improvement of the patients' gait, a Figure of Eight Walking Test (F8W), Four Square Step Test (FSST), and Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) were performed. We also measured spatio-temporal gait variables, including gait speed, cadence, stride length, and single limb support using a three-axial wireless accelerometer. The measurements were taken before and after the experiment. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare both groups before and after the interventions. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for the comparisons after the interventions. The statistical significance was set at ${\alpha}=.05$. Results: Before and after experiment, all dependent variables were significantly different between the two groups (p<.05). As compared to the control group, the experimental group showed more significant improvements in F8W, FSST, speed, cadence, stride length, and single limb support (p<.05); however, FGA in this group was not significantly different from the control (p>.05). Conclusion: Our results suggest that backward walking on an inclined treadmill is more effective for improving the gait of stroke patients than forward walking.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.77-85
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• 2014

Objective: In the present study, the effects of progressive body weight support treadmill forward & backward walking training (FBWT), progressive body weight support treadmill forward walking training (FWT), and progressive body weight support treadmill backward walking training (BWT), and on stroke patients' ambulatory abilities were examined. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: A total of 36 chronic stroke patients were divided into three groups with 12 subjects in each group. Each of the groups performed one of the progressive body weight supported treadmill training methods for 30 minute, six times per week for three weeks, and then received general physical therapy without any other intervention until the follow-up tests. For the assessment of the step length, total double support, cadence, gait were measured using optogait and the 10-m walk test (10MWT), 6 minutes walk test (6MWT). Results: In the within group comparisons, all the three groups showed significant differences between before and after the intervention (p<0.05). In the comparison of the three groups, there were significant differences among the three groups in stride length, double limb support stance, cadence, 10MWT, and 6MWT in the third week, and only in stride length, 10MWT, and 6MWT test in the sixth week (p<0.05). Conclusions: This study verified that progressive body weight-supported treadmill gait training positively affected the gait ability of stroke patients in an actual gait environment. It also showed that FBWT group was more effective than FWT group and BWT group training.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.241-250
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• 2022

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of backward walking exercise on changes in the cervical angle and gait parameters in subjects with moderate forward head posture. Methods : Four subjects were selected for this study. In particular, subjects with an average of 43 subjects with moderate craniovertebral angles were selected as the criteria for subject selection. The exercise program consisted of a 5 minutes warm-up exercise, 20 minutes main exercise, and 5 minutes cool-down exercise. In the main exercise, the treadmill speed was 2.5 km/h for men, 2.0 km/h for women in the first week, from the 2nd week to the 4th week, it was increased by 0.5 km/h every week. Results : Craniovertebral angle increased by 2.06±2.46 ° before and after the backward walking exercise, and craniorotational angle decreased by -1.69±3.33 ° before and after exercise. As for the gait parameters, in the amount of change before and after the backward walking exercise, the left foot pressure was 4.58±5.70 % from front to back and the right foot pressure was 5.08±3.06 % from front to back. The left step length and right step length showed a change of -.33±4.43 cm and -2.08±7.26 cm, respectively. stride length showed a change of -2.59±11.18 cm. The left and right stance phase showed a change of -1.02±2.03 % and -1.23±1.54 %, respectively. The left and right swing phase showed changes of 1.02±2.03 % and 1.22±1.53 %, respectively. The left and right step times were -.01±.06 sec and -.02±.12 sec, respectively. The stride time showed a change of -.03±.18 sec. Conclusion : Changes in cervical angle and gait parameters were confirmed by performing backward walking exercise for subjects with moderate forward head posture for 4 weeks. Therefore, additional research should be conducted based on this case study.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.135-144
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• 2021

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 2 weeks of backward walking exercise (BWE) on cervical angle and gait parameters in college students with forward head posture. Methods : Fifteen subjects participated in the experiment. All the participants had a craniovertebral angle (CVA) of 55 degrees or less. The purpose of the study was explained to all the subjects prior to participation, and volunteered to take part in the study. A camera capable of taking pictures of the lateral plane was installed at a distance of 1.5 meters from each subject. Images of forward head posture were obtained before and after performing the BWE, and the CVA and craniorotational angle (CRA) were compared pre- versus post exercise. Foot pressure and gait parameters (step length of left and right, stride length, stance of left and right, swing of left and right, step time of left and right, and stride time) were measured using a rehabilitation treadmill. The subjects performed the BWE for 2 weeks. The exercise program consisted of a 5-minute warm-up exercise, 20-minute main exercise, and 5-minute cool-down exercise. In the main exercise, the treadmill speed was set to 2.4 km/h in the first week and 3.4 km/h in the second week. A paired t test was used to compare the CVA and CRA and gait parameters before and after the exercise. Results : Comparison of the CVA and CRA before and after the BWE revealed a significant difference post exercise, with a marked improvement in forward head posture after the exercise (p<.05). Conclusion : Based on the results of this study, the BWE is considered to be an effective exercise for the forward head posture. Also, additional research is needed to shed light on the impact of the BWE on gait parameters.

• Proceedings of the Korea Contents Association Conference
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• 2016.05a
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• pp.267-268
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• 2016

This study aimed to examine the therapeutic effects of backward walking. The subjects were randomly assigned to an experimental group of 16 subjects and a control group of 17 subjects. All subjects walked barefoot for twenty minutes on the treadmill (HM50EX, Daeho, Korea) for five times per week for total four weeks. The average gait velocities of subjects were 3 km/h on a slope of 10%. The experimental group walked back and the control group walked forward. The experimental group showed significant increments in variable of medial-lateral, anterior-posterior, step length, velocity compared to the pre-intervention results. In addition, the control group showed significant increments in the anterior-posterior, velocity compared to the pre-intervention results. Significant differences in the post-training gains in variable of anterior-posterior, step length, velocity were observed between the experimental group and the control group. There were positive effects of backward walking on their gait and balance ability after intervention.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.31-36
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• 2009

Many daily activities require people to complete a motor task while walking. Substantial gait decrements during simultaneous attention to a variety of cognitive tasks have been shown by a group of severely injured neurological patients of mixed etiology. And previous studies have shown that the attentional load of a walking-associated task increased with its level of difficulty. The purpose of this study was to analyze subjects' gait changes are affected by the effects of arithmetic task difficulty and performance level. Participants performed a walking task alone, three different Arithmetic tasks while seated, and among them, two kinds of the simillar Arithmetic tasks in combination with walking. Reaction time and accuracy were recorded for two of the Arithmetic tasks. The mean values of the gait were measured using a Timed Up and Go test among 11 with post-stroke patients while walking with and without forward counting (WFC) and backward counting(WBC).There was significant Arithmetic Task Difficulty level between the 10-forward counting task condition(FC) and the 10-backward counting task condition(BC)(p=0.008). The mean values of T.U.G time were significantly higher under backward counting dual-task condition than during a simple walking task(p=0.009) and WFC(p=0.009). The change in T.U.G time during WFC was higher when compared with the change during a simple walking, but there was no significant difference (p=0.246). This study suggesting that a high interference could be linked with a high level of difficulty, whereas adaptive task enabled participants to perfectly share their attention between two concurrent tasks. Future research should determine whether dual task training can reduce gait decrements in dual task situations in people after stroke. And the dual-task-based exercise program is feasible and beneficial for improving walking ability in subjects with stroke.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.7285-7292
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate possibility of a forward gait with backward mechanism(dance gait) as rehabilitation and/or walking exercise by means of biomechanical variables. Thirteen professional women dancers(age, $21.1{\pm}1.3yrs$; height, $159.3{\pm}7.2cm$; body mass, $45.1{\pm}8.4kg$)participated in this study. We found that speed, stride length and double limb support time of a dance gait were more greater than backward gait, but stride width of dance gait less than a backward gait. Maximum RoMs, moments and powers of the lower limb joints on a dance gait were more frequent than a backward dance. These results were judged to be sufficient by the possibility of dance gait as rehabilitation and walking exercise.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2021

Background: The requirements for postural and motor control in backward walking training (BWT) may improve balance and walking speed in patients with acute stroke. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of BWT on balance, balance confidence, and fall efficacy in this population. Design: Randomized controlled pilot trial. Methods: This study included 14 subjects with acute stroke (onset of illness less than one month). They were randomly allocated to a BWT (n=7) or forward walking training (n=7) group and observed five times in a week for a period of two weeks. Measurements were taken before and after the experiment using the Berg balance scale (BBS), Activities-specific balance confidence scale (ABC), and Fall efficacy scale (FES). Results: The BBS, ABC and FES scores obtained in both groups after the experiment were significantly higher than those before the experiment (p<0.05). In addition, the BBS, ABC, and FES scores in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: These findings indicate that BWT improved balance and balance confidence and decreased the risks of fall in patients with acute stroke. Further study is needed to better understand the effects of backward walking in acute stroke patients.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.55-61
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• 2018

Purpose: This study is to compare muscle activation of leg muscles with forward and backward gait and treadmill speed. Method: The experimenter is a healthy ten male and female. They practice walking on the treadmill for 2 minutes and then walk 2km/h and 4km/h in front and back for 3 minutes. Muscle activities were recorded from the lower limb muscles (rectus femoris [RF], biceps femoris [BF], gastrucnemius [GCM]). Results: According to the study, lower extremity muscles have higher backward gait than forward gait. Conclusion: Muscle activity at the speed indicated that the muscular activity of the lower limbs was 4.0km/h, which is higher than 2.0km/h.