• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.346-350
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of calf tightness on gait, plantar pressure, and balance in adults. Methods: A total of 60 participants were divided into a normal group of 30 subjects with normal dorsiflexion angle (20-25 degrees) and an experimental group of 30 subjects with limited dorsiflexion angle (0-15 degrees) due to calf tightness. Gait ability and foot pressure of the subjects was measured with a treadmill, and the balance ability was measured by PROKIN system. Results: A significant difference in COP length, loading response, and single limb support was observed between groups. The COP length and single limb support ratio in the normal group was greater than in the experimental group, but the experimental group showed a higher ratio for loading response in the gait ratio. Conclusion: Our results indicated that calf tightness was negative effects on balance and gait ability, so assessment of the muscle tightness should be considered during exercise and treatment.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.421-429
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• 2022

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze the effects of arch support taping on static balance, static/dynamic foot contact area, and ground reaction force during walking according to the types of elastic tapes with mechanical elasticity differences. Design: Cross-sectional study Methods: Twenty-six participants selected for flexible flat feet through the navicular drop test were randomly assigned to non-taping, Dynamic-taping, and Mechano-taping conditions. Static balance and foot contact area were compared in the standing posture according to arch support taping conditions, and foot contact area and ground reaction force were compared during walking. Results: There was no significant difference in static balance according to the taping condition in the standing position, but the foot contact area in the Mechano-taping condition showed a significant decrease compared to the non-taping condition (p<0.05). The foot contact area during walking significantly decreased in the Dynamic-taping and Mechano-taping conditions (p<0.05), but there was no significant difference between the ground reaction force. Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, it was confirmed that among the types of elastic taping, arch support taping using dynamic taping and Mechano-taping has the effect of supporting the arch with high elastic recovery. Any type of elastic tape can be used for arch alignment in flexible flat foot.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2024

Purpose: Ankle instability is a common issue in both daily activities and sports, often leading to recurrent injuries. Elastic taping is a non-pharmacological intervention used to improve ankle stability. This study aimed to investigate the immediate effects of elastic taping on ankle stability, center of pressure (COP) movement, and foot pressure distribution. Methods: A single-group pre-posttest design was employed, with 30 participants included in the study. Plantar pressure and COP parameters were measured before and after the application of elastic taping. Taping was administered in three distinct patterns to enhance ankle stability. Results: Immediate effects of elastic taping were evident in COP parameters. Following taping application, there was a significant decrease in COP total displacement, COP area, and COP velocity. However, no significant changes were observed in plantar pressure parameters. Conclusion: The application of elastic taping in this study demonstrated immediate effects on ankle stability and COP parameters, indicating its potential as a viable intervention for improving balance. Further research with larger sample sizes and long-term follow-up is needed to elucidate the sustained effects of elastic taping on ankle stability.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.297-309
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• 2009

The study analyzed the mechanism of plantar foot pressure distribution during pitching wedge swinging on a flat, an up hill lie and a down hill lie to provide the fundamental information regarding biomechanical motion data by using plantar foot pressure measuring instrument. In the results, time factor spanning according to slope differences, plantar foot pressure factor and swing motion on the slope could have negative effect on the coiling of lower limbs during back swing, as well as the blocking of the lower limbs to minimize the dispersion of the weight and the release of the lower limbs after the impact during the down swing process. Moreover, since slope is one of many external factors affecting swing motion, address motion on an up hill lie limits the lower limbs movement, therefore, a relatively narrow stance is better on a down hill lie. It is estimated that a relatively wide stance would be better in order to limit the bigger activation of the lower limbs. Not only for the address motion but also during the down swing on an up hill lie it is concluded that the weight should be on the left foot in order to keep the body balance.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.97-101
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• 2009

Purpose: This study examined how the direction of carrying a load affects the foot stability and kinesiology while walking. Methods: The heel rotation, Hallux stiffness, foot balance, metatarsal load, toe out angle, subtalar joint flexibility were measured in 40 adults (men and women) who carried a load back and forth, walking on a 2-meter-long board. The measurement was carried out three times and the mean of the measurements was used to compare the difference between the front, back and the condition without a load. Results: While walking, heel rotation and hallux stiffness occurred most when a front load was applied compared to a back load or no load condition (p<0.05). A metatarsal load also appeared to be the highest with the frond load, but there was no significant difference in the balance of the whole foot. Both the toe out angle and subtalar joint flexibility appeared to increase significantly (p<0.05). Conclusion: Applying the front load causes subtalar joint instability and increases the plantar foot pressure imbalance during walking.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.628-635
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• 2007

We studied the effect of vibratory stimulations of different leg muscles, tibialis anterior(TA) and triceps surae(TS), and plantar zones in ten healthy subjects during 1) quiet standing, 2) forward lean of body, 3) backward lean of body, 4) right lean of body, and 5) left lean of body. The experiments were performed on the force platform. The effect of vibration were measured by monitoring the area of COP(Center of pressure) sway. The subjects wore a vibratory stimulation system on foot and ankles and were given the instruction not to resist against the applied perturbations. The results show that all vibratory stimulations to lower limb muscles and plantar zones reduced the COP sway area. This reduction of the COP sway area occurred also in partial vibratory stimulations during quiet standing. In forward lean of body, vibratory stimulations to TA reduced the COP sway area. During backward lean of body, vibratory stimulations to TS reduced the COP sway area. When the subject was tilted right, vibratory stimulations to left plantar zone reduced the COP sway area. During left lean of body, vibratory stimulations to right plantar zone reduced the COP sway area. Thus, the influence of vibratory stimulations to leg muscle and plantar zones differed significantly depending on the lean of body. We suggest that the vibration stimuli from leg muscles and plantar zones could be selectively used to help maintaining postural balance stable.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.55-60
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• 2021

This study aims to investigate the effects of 4 weeks visual biofeedback training on the knee joint angle and muscle activities of lower extremity. The participants in this study were 15 volunteers with hyperextended knee. To improve the hyperextended knee, visual biofeedback training was used during 4 weeks. The training is an exercise to maintain the balance between the anterior weight bearing and posterior weight bearing of the plantar foot. The knee joint angle significantly increased and the muscle activity of tibialis anterior was significantly decreased after visual biofeedback training. It was confirmed that visual biofeedback training of correcting hyperextended knee through the information on the plantar pressure distribution has a therapeutic effect.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.11-21
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate how COP displacement of a hemiplegic foot in stance phase during gait is related to clinical balance measures and the recovery stage in hemiplegic stroke patients. Twenty-eight functionally ambulant hemiplegic patients who had suffered from strokes and thirty age-matched healthy subjects participated in this study. COP parameters were calculated. Clinical balance was measured using the Functional Reach Test (FRT) and Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT). The recovery stage, proprioception, and clonus of the ankles or lower extremities were also measured for physical impairment status. The COPx max-displacement in the medial-lateral side of the stroke patients was significantly longer than that of the normal group (p=.038). The COPy max-displacement in the anterior-posterior side of the stroke patients was significantly shorter than that of normal group (p<.001). Significant differences in the COPx and COPy displacement asymmetry index were found between the two groups (p<.01). The FRT was correlated with the COPx displacement (r=.552) and COPy displacement (r=.765). The TUGT was correlated with the COPy displacement (r=-.588) only. The recovery stage of the lower extremities was correlated with COPy displacement (r=.438). The results of the study indicate that the characteristic of COP displacement in hemiplegic feet in stance phase during gait is related to balance ability and recovery in stroke patients. COP parameters acquired by the mapping of foot pressure in stance phase during gait will provide additional useful clinical information. This information can be used by clinicians to assess objectively the pathologic gait with other diseases and to evaluate the therapeutic effects on gait in stroke patients.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.49-56
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• 2012

Background : The purpose of this study is to understand the effects of ankle joint taping on balancing abilities of the elderly and to provide preliminary data on preventing falls among the elderly. Methods : In this study, 20 students(8 male, 12 female) in their 20s from D University as well as 14 elderly(4 male, 10 female) in their 70s from S community center have participated. The participants were well informed about the experiment and voluntarily participated. We measured the difference in balancing ability before and after taping between the two groups using methods such as standing on single-leg stance, TUG, and plantar pressure. Kinesio taping, a stop-watch, and the EMED-system were used as equipment along with the SPSS 12.0 program, with a significance level of 0.05, to test the difference before and after taping between the two groups. Result : First, the 70s group showed a significant increase in the dorsal flexion angle after taping. Second, the 70s group showed a significant increase in duration time of standing on one foot after taping. Third, the 70s group's TUG time was significantly shorter. Fourth, the maximum peak value for static and dynamic plantar pressure showed a significant decrease after taping; and dynamic plantar pressure area value decreased as well within significant range. Conclusion : The study has shown that taping is effective on static dynamic balancing ability of the elderly.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to compare the balance and gait between fallers and non-fallers in elderly. A brief questionnaire was used to obtain the fall history. Twenty-seven women subjects were evaluated in this study. Eleven subjects and a mean age of 84.5 years (SD=4.6) were designated as the faller group. Sixteen subjects and a mean age of 80.3 years (SD=5.3) were designated as the non-faller group. The fall-related factors (mental status, balance, range of motion and muscle strength of lower extremity, sensation of foot, and cadence, walking velocity, stride length) were compared between faller group and non-faller group and measured. The results showed that faller group had significantly less range of motion of the hip flexion and knee extension, and strength of the knee extensor and ankle dorsiflexor and plantar flexor than non-faller group. The scores of the Functional reach test and One leg standing were significantly less in faller group than in non-faller group. Faller group showed less walking velocity and stride length compared to non-faller group. However, there was no significant difference in cadence during comfortable waking and fast walking between two groups. There were no significant differences in pressure, position sensory between two groups. These results suggest that exercise for improving the flexibility, muscle strength of the lower extremity and balance may be useful strategies to prevent fall in elderly. Further studies are needed to identify which specific factors are related to fall in the elderly population.