• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.11-20
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• 2022

PURPOSE: A gait assessment is an important component of the rehabilitation process, and observational gait assessment (OGA) is used routinely in clinical settings. This study examined the association of OGA tools with the independent walking ability in stroke patients to determine a cutoff value of the OGA tool according to independence levels of stroke patient gait. METHODS: Two hundred ten hemiparetic stroke patients participated in the study. The independence of gait was identified using the Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) classifications. The walking ability was assessed using OGA tools (Rivermead Visual Gait Assessment [RVGA], Wisconsin Gait Scale [WGS], Tinetti Gait Scale [TGS], and Functional Gait Analysis [FGA]). RESULTS: Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that among the OGA tools, the FGA correlated with the FAC. The FGA explained approximately 77% of the variance in FAC. In distinguishing the independence levels, the cutoff values were as follows: between FAC 1 and FAC 0 was .5 points; between FAC 2 and lower levels, 5.5; between FAC 3 and lower levels, 11.5; between FAC 4 and lower levels, 14.5; and between FAC 5 and lower levels, 18.5. Items 1, 2, 3, and 10 were identified as explaining most of the variance in the FGA in the stepwise multiple regression. CONCLUSION: The present study found that the FGA is an assessment tool related to the level of gait independence after stroke. Furthermore, the FGA total score can serve as an index of the increase in independence level after stroke.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.43-51
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• 2011

Balance is a complex motor skill that depends on interactions between multiple sensorimotor processes and environmental and functional contexts. Many rehabilitation specialists believe that balance assessment under multitask conditions may be a more sensitive indicator of balance problems and falls than balance assessment in a single-task context. Functional Gait Assessment has many tasks that allow for testing under multitask conditions. The purpose of this study was to determine the concurrent validity between the Functional Gait Assessment (FGA), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Timed "Up & Go" Test (TUG) in patients with stroke. One hundred and five participants with at least 3 months post stroke and able to walk at least 6 m with or without a mono cane, participated in this study. Concurrent validity between the FGA, BBS, and TUG was assessed using Spearman rank order correlation. The FGA correlated with the BBS (r=.80, p<.01) and TUG (r=-.77, p<.01). The good and moderate correlation between the FGA, BBS, and TUG establishes the concurrent validity of the FGA in patients with stroke. These measures provide clinicians with valuable information about patients' functional balance capabilities.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.39-45
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine changes in functional assessment measures (FAMs) and spatiotemporal gait parameters (STGPs) in healthy older adults before and after a 6-week intervention of a proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) training program. Methods: Thirty healthy older adults (mean age: $73.37{\pm}1.21$ age range: 65-79) were randomly assigned either to an experimental group (participating in a 6-week intervention of PNF training) or a control group (only performing daily activities). Participants in the control group did not receive any training program. Performance was assessed by recording changes in the FAMs and STGPs using functional assessment tools and GAITRite. Results: Participants in the PNF group showed significantly improved functional assessment measures and increased stride length, cadence, velocity, and step width (p<0.05). No significant differences in FAMs and STGPs were found in the control group (p>0.05). Conclusion: Participation in a PNF training program improves FAMs and STGPs, thereby increasing the ability of healthy older adults to maintain dynamic balance during functional performance and gait. These findings support the use of PNF training programs as effective fall-prevention programs for the elderly.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.35-43
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• 2016

Background: The Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) was developed to measure of gait-related activities. The FGA was translated in Korean but only a few psychometric characteristics had been studied. Objects: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Korean version of FGA scale using Rasch analysis. Methods: The study included 120 patients with stroke (age range=30~83 years; mean${\pm}$standard deviation=$58.3{\pm}11.1$). The FGA and Berg Balance Scale were performed, and were analysed for dimensionality of the scale, item difficulty, scale reliability and separation, and item-person map using Rasch analysis. Results: The 4 rating scale categories of FGA were satisfied with optimal rating scale criteria. The most items of the FGA showed sound item psychometric properties except 2 items ('gait with the horizontal head turns', and 'gait with narrow base of support'), and the 2 misfit items were excluded for all further analyses. The 8 items were arranged in order of difficulty. The most difficult item was 'gait with eyes closed', the middle difficult item was 'gait level surface', and the easiest item was 'gait with vertical head turns.' A person separation reliability was .93 and the person separation index was 3.57. Conclusion: This study suggests that the 8-item Korean FGA are valid measure of assess the gait-related balance performance, and to set the goal of rehabilitation plan in patient with stroke.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.51-58
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• 2012

Purpose: This study attempts to know functional results and gait analysis usefulness in patients with bone tumor around knee joint tumors who underwent prosthesis knee joint reconstruction. Materials and Methods: Retrospective study was conducted with 7 patients out of 30 patients who underwent prosthesis knee joint reconstruction after wide marginal excision for bone tumor around knee in orthopedics of this hospital from 2001 to 2010. Functional assessment and gait analysis were perforemed. Results: For the SF-36 score, while 'role physical' and 'role emotional' items showed 100% (100 points) high scores individually, general health, physical function, vitality, and social function showed low scores. The mean score of MSTS was 88.1% (23.8 points [17-27]), indicating a relatively high score. For the gait analysis, mean gait velocity was 97.2 m/s, mean cadence was 105.6 step/min, mean stride length was 111.3 m, mean step length was 61.5 cm, swing phase was 39.8%cycle, stance phase was 60.1%cycle, mean single limb support was 37.1%cycle, mean double limb support was 13.0%cycle, and mean push off was 60.7%cycle. Conclusion: It is expected that prosthesis reconstruction after wide marginal excision for bone tumor around knee has relatively good functional results. Gait analysis was considered one of method which showed gait phase and assessed functional ability objectively by quantitative assessment post operative patient condition. It might help treatment and post operative rehabilitation planning with the functional assessment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.123-132
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• 2020

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of both lower extremities proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation training with functional electrical stimulation on the balance and gait of stroke patients. METHODS: Ten patients with stroke were divided randomly into two groups of five patients each who met the selection criteria. The training was conducted five times a week, for 60 minutes. The experimental group received both lower extremities proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation training with functional electrical stimulation while the control group received general physical therapy with functional electrical stimulation. RESULTS: The timed Up-and-Go (TUG) test result was statistically significant after the intervention in the experimental group (p<.041). Berg Balance Scale (BBS) assessment was statistically significant after the intervention in the experimental group (p<.047) and between the experimental and control groups (p<.012). The cadence assessment was statistically significant after intervention in the experimental group (p<.031) and between the experimental and control groups (p<.015). The stride length assessment was not statistically significant after intervention in the experimental group and between the experimental and control groups. Gait velocity assessment was statistically significant after the intervention in the experimental group (p<.031) and between the experimental and control groups (p<.015). CONCLUSION: Both lower extremities proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation training with functional electrical stimulation had positive effects on the balance and gait of stroke patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2006

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of electromechanical gait trainer therapy in stroke patients. The gait trainer was designed to provide nonambulatory subjects the repetitive practice of a gait-like movement without overstraining therapist. To simulate normal gait, discrete stance and swing phase, lasting 60% and 40% of the gait cycle respectively, and the control of the movement of the centre of mass were required. Methods : This preliminary study investigated during 8 weeks therapy on the gait trainer could improve gait ability in 5 subacute and chronic hemiparetic stroke patients. Gait ability(time up & go [TUG], comfortable and maximal gait speed and functional ambulation category[FAC]), functional movement of lower extremity(Fugl-Meyer Assessment [FMA] and composite spasticity score [CSS]) and sensory of lower extremity(Fugl-Meyer Assessment sensory [FMA-s])were the measured. Results : TUG, comfortable and maximal gait speed and FMA were improved significantly. Although FAC, FMA-s and CSS were improved, there were not statistically significant. Conclusion : Therefore, the gait trainer enabled affected patients the repetitive practice of a gait-like movement, which is important for the restoration of walking ability.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2022

Background: Functional massage is a therapeutic massage that incorporates joint motion in non-end-range to reduce pain and improve range of motion (ROM) in patients. This study was aimed at investigating the immediate effect of functional massage on pain, range of motion, balance ability and, gait speed of patients having undergone total hip replacement. Methods: Twenty patients were treated by one participating orthopedic manual physical therapist and randomly assigned to the control group (n=10) or the experimental group (n=10). To treat patients of each group, functional massage and range of motion exercises were used. The experimental group received a functional massage and the control group received range of motion exercise for minutes for one session. The visual analog scale was used for pain assessment. Balance ability was measured using a timed up and go test and a one-leg standing test for patients. The 10-meter walk test was used for the measurement of gait speed assessment of patients. Results: Significant improvements were observed in terms of balance ability (p<.05), gait speed (p<.05), and ROM (p<.05) after functional massage. There was no significant inter-group difference (p>.05). Conclusion: Application of the functional massage showed that statistically significant improvements in ROM, gait speed, and balance ability after a single treatment session. This technique may be a useful treatment in patients having undergone total hip replacement.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.655-666
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• 2010

Purpose : The examine the reliability and validity of the modified Emory Functional Ambulation Profile(mEFAP) for assessing gait function in chronic stroke patients. Methods : A total of 45 stroke patients, who had a stroke more than 6 months, participated in the study. Reliability was determined by Intra-class Correlation Coefficient($ICC_{3,1}$), including Bland and Altman method (Standard Error of Measurement: SEM, Small Real Differences: SRD). Validity was examined by correlating results to the gait ability(mEFAP, Modified Motor Assessment Scale-Gait(MMAS-G), Scandinavian Stroke Scale-Gait(SSS-G), Functional Ambulation Category(FAC), 10m Waking Test(10m WT)), and Fugl Meyer-Lower/Extremity(FM-L/E), Berg Balance Scale(BBS). Results : Inter-rater reliability for the total mEFAP was High($ICC_{2,1}$=.998), and absolute reliability were excellent (SEM: 1.75, SRD: 4.85). Subjects without assistance factor performed better on all tests than did subjects who had stroke. There were significant correlations between the mEFAP and MMAS-G, SSS-G, FAC(r=-.66~-.79), 10 m WT(r=-.86), and FM-L/E, BBS(r=-.72~-.78), indicating good validity. Increased times on the mEFAP correlated with poor performance on the gait ability, motor function of lower extremity, BBS and slow gait speeds on the 10 m WT in stroke patients. Conclusion : The mEFAP can be administered easily and comprehensively. It is a reliable gait assessment tool for patients with stroke and correlated with known of function, the mEFAP may be a clinically useful measure of ambulation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.95-103
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• 2018

PURPOSE: The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of functional electrical stimulation gait training with rhythmic auditory stimulation on balance and gait ability in stroke patients. METHODS: In this blinded randomized controlled study, 26 stroke patients were assigned to either experimental group (n=13) consisting of 30 min of gait training 5 days per week for 4 weeks while performing functional electrical stimulation gait training with rhythmic auditory simulation, or a control group (n=13) performing the same gait training program, also consisting of 30 minutes 5 days a week and lasting for 4 weeks, but without functional electrical stimulation and rhythmic auditory stimulation. At baseline and after the 4 week intervention, balance was measured using the timed up and go test (TUG). Gait velocity was measured using the 10-meter walk test (10 MWT) and gait ability was assessed using the functional gait assessment (FGA). RESULTS: After the intervention, the experimental group showed statistically significant differences in gait velocity and ability (10 MWT, FGA) (p<.05). Between-group differences were statistically significant in gait velocity and ability (10 MWT, FGA) (p<.05). CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that functional electrical stimulation gait training with a rhythmic auditory stimulation gait training program may help improve gait ability in stroke patients.