• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.39-47
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• 2016

PURPOSE : This study attempts to find the effects of water perturbation exercise performed on stroke patients in their physiological cost index and gait ability tests. METHOD : The subjects were 30 stroke patients, water perturbation exercise group was performed 3 day per week, for 40 minutes a day, for a period of eight weeks. The physiological cost index and gait of all subjects were assessed by using the polar, 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT), and 10 meter Walk Test(10mWT) at pre training and post training. Paired t-test was used to analyze change before and after intervention in group. Pearson's correlation was used to analyze correlation of all variables. RESULT : Water perturbation exercise group showed increased physiological cost index. Water perturbation exercise increased gait ability, showing a significant difference. Showing the correlation between the relatively high amount between physiological cost index and 6 minutes walking test. CONCLUSION : From the result of the study, we found that water perturbation exercise was effective in improving physiological cost index and gait ability. The patient is considered to be used by itself to involve the treatment and the risk of falling from the lowered state into the treatment method for the intensive treatment of stroke patients to be useful in improving the cardiovascular system and ability to walk. Through underwater training for stroke patients in the future on the basis of this study it is considered to require additional clinical studies on the impact on daily living and quality of life of stroke patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.195-203
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of early Robot-assisted training on gait ability, function and ADL in patients with stroke. Methods: 26 patients with stroke were recruited for this study. The subjects were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (EG) or the control group (CG), with 13 patients in each group. All subjects received a routine physical therapy. The robot-assisted training was for 30 min in the case of the EG subjects. The assessment tools of this study involved the gait ability, balance ability, function and ADL. The measurements were recorded before the intervention and after the intervention. Results: EG subjects and CG subjects, the variables measured after the intervention significantly differed from gait ability, balance ability, function and ADL without the FMA (p<0.05). The FMA was only effective experimental group after intervention. Also, there were significant differences in gait ability, balance ability, function and ADL without the FMA at post-test between the 2 groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: The findings indicate that early robot-assisted training exerts a positive effect on gait ability, balance ability, function and ADL in patients with stroke. This result indicates the possibility of application of the early Robot-assisted training to the management for stroke patients. Further studies are required to generalize the result for this study.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.155-164
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• 2020

Objective: This study aimed to compare muscle structure, balance, and gait parameters between healthy adults and persons with stroke and to analyze the correlation among these variables. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Twenty persons with stroke (11 male, 9 female) and twenty healthy participants (9 male, 11 female) were included. Ultrasound images of the triceps surae and the tibialis anterior were acquired in sitting resting, sitting co-contraction, and standing resting positions and also during the functional reach test (FRT) and single leg anterior reaching test (SLART). Muscle thickness and fascicle length were measured. Spatiotemporal parameters of gait were measured using a pressure walkway. Gait speed, cadence, step length, stride length, stance time, and swing time were measured. Results: Changes in percent fascicle length were significantly greater in the gastrocnemius and soleus (SOL) muscles of healthy adults in the sitting co-contraction position (p<0.05). The percent fascicle length of the SOL in FRT and SLART were significantly greater in healthy adults (p<0.05). The mid-stance phase of stroke patients was shorter than healthy adults (p<0.05). A negative correlation was observed between percent fascicle length of the SOL in the sitting co-contraction position and the proportion of the mid-stance phase (p<0.05). Conclusions: The function of the triceps surae is affected in persons with stroke when compared with healthy adults. This can lead to difficulty in performing tasks that involve forward transfer of weight. If the triceps surae is not sufficiently secured, the possibility of compensation in the stance phase increases during gait.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.12 no.9
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• pp.3834-3842
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to analyze the kinematic characteristics of children with Down syndrome got congenitally joint laxity and muscle hypotonic. The subjects are boys with Down syndrome and don't have the other disabilities. We got three dimensional position data and then calculated spatiotemporal and kinematic variables during walking on treadmill used increasingly for gait analysis and training. In result, in order to overcome their gait instability due to their musculoskeletal characteristics they walked with hip, knee and ankle joints more flexed than the typical gait pattern, and on the propulsion phase they extend the lower limb joints less than the typical, result in propel the body less than. The reason is that the more is the propulsion by extending the joints, the greater is the reaction force from the ground on heel contact. This result is expected to be used to develop the training program for intensification of musculoskeletal system aim to improve the other musculoskeletal disabilities as well as Down syndrome.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.205-213
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of somatosensory input on the gait ability and equilibrium sensory of elderly women. The subjects who participated in this study were 31 elderly women with a mean age of 75 years or older who no using a walking stick and had no abnormality in otolaryngology. The control group consisted of 30 elderly women who did not exercise regularly more than twice a week. Dependent variables consisted of 2.44m timed up and go test, 10m usual gait, 10m fast gait and 6minute gait. The equilibrium sensory test was performed using EquiTest (NeuroCom, USA). The results of the study on gait ability were not statistically significant for 2.44m timed up and go test, and 10m usual gait. However, 10m fast gait (P<.001) and 6min gait (P<.05) showed significant differences. According to the results of the study on equilibrium sensory ability, there was no significant difference between Condition 1 and Condition 5 however Condition 2 (P<.01), Condition 3 (P<.01), Condition 4(P<.01) and Condition 6 (P<.05) showed statistically significant differences. In conclusion, walking stick have beneficial effects on walking and equilibrium sensation, and elderly women need to actively use walking stick when going out and walking.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.31-38
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• 2020

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to find a more efficient intervention method through a study of the gait variables and dynamic balance of chronic neck pain patients. METHODS: Forty subjects aged between 40 and 60 years were allocated randomly to two groups; The first group performed PA (Posteroanterior Mobilization), and the second group conducted CCF (Craniocervical Flexion Exercise). The gait variability measured the speed, cadence, and dynamic balance in the forward, leftward, rightward, and rearward directions. An independent t-test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and paired t-test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: In the dynamic balance measurements, the variability of PA (p < .000) and CCF (p < .000) in the rightward direction, PA (p < .004) in leftward direction and forward direction increased significantly (p < .013). In an analysis of the gait variability, the cadence increased significantly in the PA group (p < .022) and not significantly in the CCF group (p < .056). On the other hand, there was no increase in the speed variable, in the PA group (p < .437). In the CCF group, the cadence increased significantly (p < .022). The differences in the PA and CCF group differences were not significant. CONCLUSION: The PA group showed a significant increase in the forward (p < .013), leftward (p < .004), and rightward directions (p < .000). Speed was significant in the CCF group, and cadence was significant in the PA group. The dynamic Balance was effective in the rightward direction in both groups, but there was no significant difference between the two groups.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.35-41
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• 2010

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the effects of sensory feedback training of the ankle with visuoperceptual stimulation on static balance and gait functions in patients with chronic post-stroke hemiparesis. Methods: This study included 16 patients with chronic post-stroke hemiparesis. The subjects were randomly assigned toeither the experimental group (EG) or the control group (CG), with 8 subjects in each group. All the subjects received a routine physical therapy. The EG subjects received a 30-min sensory feedback training for the foot and ankle with visuoperceptual stimulation by using Tetrax Portable Multiple System. This training was conducted 3 times a week for 4 weeks. The scores of balance ability, timed up and go (TUG), and dynamic gait index (DGI) were assessed before and after the intervention. Results: In the EG, the scores of static balance, TUG, and DGI obtained afterthe intervention significantly differed from those obtained before the intervention (p<0.05). Further, in the EG, a significant difference was noted in the rate of change of all the variables when compared with those of the CG (p<0.05). However, in the CG, post-intervention score were only significantly different for DGI. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the sensory feedback training with visuoperceptual stimulation improves balance and gait functions of patients with chronic post-stroke hemiparesis. Further studies are needed to generalize the results of this study.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.315-324
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• 2014

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the correlation of weight bearing ability at the affected side with balance and gait abilities for the development of pressure biofeedback based equipment to stroke patients. METHODS: This study included 35 patients with stroke patient. The tests were conducted to determine the weight bearing ratio while pushing a step forward the affected side, static balance ability using the total length of COP(Center of pressure), sway velocity of COP, COP velocity at the X and Y axis. Functional reaching test (FRT), berg balance scale (BBS) were used to assess the dynamic balance ability and timed up and go test (TUG), 10m walk test (10mWT) were used assess the gait ability respectively. In order to determine the correlation between measured variables, bivariate correlation analysis was conducted. RESULTS: A significant correlation of the weight bearing ratio were shown with COP total length and velocity(r=-.34), Y-axis velocity(r=-.39), FRT(r=.42), BBS(r=.54), TUG (r=-.39), and 10m walking test (r=-.42). CONCLUSION: This study result showed that as patients with stroke had more weight bearing ratio at the affected side, not only their static and dynamic balance abilities increased more but also functional gait ability improved more. These results mean that, to improve stroke patients' static, dynamic balance ability and gait ability, weight bearing training with the affected side foot placed one step forward necessary for gaits are important.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.231-240
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• 2019

Purpose : This study aimed to determine whether resistance exercise using elastic bands for 6 weeks could improve the muscle strength, muscle tone, balance and gait among stroke patients. Methods : A total of 11 stroke patients who had agreed to participate in the study were randomly divided into 3 groups receiving elastic band resistance training on their less affected side (experimental group 1, n=4), affected side (experimental group 2, n=3), and both the sides (experimental group 3, n=4). Muscle strength, muscle tone, balance and gait were assessed using a hand-held dynamometer, the modified ashworth scale (MAS), the berg balance scale (BBS), and G-walk respectively, before and after training. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to analyze intergroup changes after the intervention, whereas the Kruskal Wallis H test, and Mann-Whitney U test were used to analyze intergroup changes in all variables. Results : Strength in all the muscle, except for the flexor and extensor muscles in the affected knees, was increased in all the groups, however, no significant difference was observed. No change in the muscle tone (MAS) was found in any group. All the groups showed increased BBS scores walking speed, and walking symmetry following training, although, the differences were not significant. Changes in the affected step length of experimental group 1 were significantly greater than those of experimental group 3, whereas changes in the affected step length in experimental group 3 were significantly greater than those of experimental group 2. Conclusion : Our results suggest that resistance exercise using elastic bands are a potential intervention for improving lower extremity muscle strength, balance, and gait among stoke patients.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.101-113
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• 2016

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of leg length discrepancy (LLD) on the human body during gait and standing posture. Methods: The study group comprised of 17 adult participants with LLDs of <1 cm. LLDs were artificially induced to 0, 1, 2, and 3 cm. The proportion of weight distribution, shift of the mean center of pressure, and Cobb's angle were measured in the standing position. Kinematic variables such as walking and striding width and time, and the proportion of stance phase for single- and double-limb gait were measured as well. The participants were required to either stand or walk on a treadmill (Zebris FDM) with a pressure plate, and the Cobb's angle measurements were obtained from radiographs. Results: A discrepancy of 3 cm in leg length resulted in a statistically significant shift of the center of pressure in the standing position. Moreover, the Cobb angle increased as the discrepancy became larger. The step length and width of the longer (left) leg during gait statistically significantly increased when the discrepancy was 2 cm. In addition, step time was statistically significant when the discrepancy between the longer (right) and shorter (left) legs was more than 2 cm. The proportion of single-limb stance phase was statistically significant as the discrepancy became larger, especially when the discrepancy was >2 cm for the longer (right) leg and 1 cm for the shorter (right) leg. Conclusion: The study showed that LLD influenced deformations of the human body and walking.