• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.77-86
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate the variations in gait parameters in terms of the type of arm sling used in hemiplegic patients. Ten patients with hemiplegia and ten healthy adults participated in this study and walked at self-selected speeds on a GAITRite-instrumented carpet. The activities of the opposite shoulder girdle muscle including the latissimus dorsi, anterior deltoid, and posterior deltoid were simultaneously recorded using surface EMG during gait. They were randomly assigned a condition: without an arm sling, a single strap arm sling, a Harris hemi arm sling, a Rolyan humeral cuff arm sling, and a Bobath roll arm sling. The following gait variables were analyzed: the temporo-spatial parameters of velocity, step length, stride length, swing phase, stance phase, single support, step time and toe in/toe out. The statistical analysis was one-way ANOVA with repeated measures to compare the variation of each variable. In comparison of parameters in each trial in the hemiplegia group, the non-affected side stride length, single support, and toe in/toe out resulted in statistically significantly changes (p<.05). But without an arm sling group did not show any gait parameter differences with arm slings. This study found that several arm slings varied gait patterns in patients with hemiplegia and in healthy adults. In the EMG analysis, the Rolyan humeral cuff arm sling and the Bobath roll arm sling were higher muscle activity for the latissimus dorsi muscle than did the single strap ann sling. Further study should examine the problems that appeared in patients who worn arm slings by focusing on a larger number of subjects and by studying the variety of responses in more detail using an assessment tool that measures variation.

• 한국체육학회지인문사회과학편
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.263-272
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• 2018

This study examined the association of gait variability and physical fitness with frailty status in older women. In a cross-sectional design, 168 elderly women, aged 65 years and older (75.07±5.40 years), measured body composition, gait parameters gait variability, physical fitness variables, MMSE-DS and CES-D. Subjects were classified as robust, pre-frail, and frailty based on the Fried et al.(2001) criteria for frailty weight loss, exhaustion, low hand-grip strength, low gait speed, and physical inactivity. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine the odds ratio (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of frailty status for having gait variability and physical fitness levels. Compared to the robust group (OR=1), the frailty group had significantly higher ORs of having terminal double limb stance (OR=1.48, 95% CI=0.10-2.21, p=.049), step cadence (OR=2.06, 95%CI=1.20-3.43, p=.009) variability, and significantly lower ORs of having upper-strength (OR=0.49, 95%CI=0.31-0.77, p=.002) even after adjusting for age, education, comorbidity, K-IADL, MMSE-KC and CES-D score. The finding of this study suggested that terminal double limb stance, step cadence and upper body muscular strength were independent predictors of frailty.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.107-116
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to describe and compare kinematic gait variables during 3 different(0.5, 1, 2m/s) treadmill belt speed. Twenty health subjects participated. The results were following. 1. There are no significant difficult in step phase according to treadmill belt speed. 2. There are significant difficult in stride length, cadence and foot rotation according to treadmill belt speed. 3. There are significant difficult in hip flex/ext, knee flexion and ankle dorsiflexion according to treadmill belt speed.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.11-17
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• 2008

Falls associated with tripping over an obstacle can be dangerous, yet little is known about the strategies used for stepping over obstacles by Parkinson's patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate stepping over gait characteristics according to obstacle height in Parkinson's patients. The gait of 7 Parkinson's patients was examined during a 5.0 m approach to, and while stepping over, obstacles of 0, 2.5, 5.2, and 15.2 cm. Only five Parkinson's patients were able to clear all obstacles successfully; as such, only their data were analyzed. A one-way ANOVA for repeated measures was employed for selected kinematic variables to analyze the differences of the height of four obstacles. The results showed significant differences between obstacle height and: approaching speed (AS), foot clearance from the obstacle(FC), and step width (SW). The results showed no significant differences between obstacle height and: crossing speed (CS), toe distance (TD), and heel distance (HD). This strategy tends to reduce the risk of toe contact with the obstacle. Parkinson's patients were stepping over the obstacle slowly, stably and inefficiently.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.141-148
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• 2007

Falls associated with tripping over an obstacle can be dangerous, yet little is known about the strategies used for stepping over obstacles in older Parkinson disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate the lower extremity muscle activity on the obstacle gait according to obstacle height in older Parkinson diseases. The obstacle gait of 7 older Parkinson disease was examined during a 5.0 m approach to, and while stepping over, obstacles of 0, 25, 52, and 152mm. Seven pairs of surface electrodes(Noraxon MyoResearch, USA) were attached to the right-hand side of the body to monitor the adductor longus(AL), gluteus medius(GME), gluteus maximus(GMA), biceps femoris(BF), rectus femoris(RF), gastrocnemius(GA), tibialis anterior(TA). Electromyography data were filtered using a 10Hz to 350 Hz Butterworth band-pass digital filter and normalized to the maximum value in the analyzed phases. A one-way ANOVA for repeated measures was employed for selected electromyography variables to analyze the differences of the height of four obstacles. The results showed significant differences between 0.0mm and 25, 52, and 152mm obstacle height in TA and GA activities during the second phase(swing phase). But the more increase obstacle height, the more not increase the muscle activities. This means that the Parkinson disease stepping over obstacle inefficiency. To prevent and reduce the frequency of falls, elderly Parkinson disease maintained and improved their balance, muscular strength, neuromuscular control and mobility.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.33-42
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• 2017

Purpose: This study examined the effects of the fumanet exercise program on the cognitive function and fall down-related physical fitness factor in elderly people. Method: The study period was May 2-June 24, 2016. The participants included 20 elderly persons (control group 10, experimental group 10) who registered at the day-care Center in G. City. Descriptive statistics were used for the analysis of the control and experimental groups' general characteristics. The chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests were conducted to identify the two groups' general characteristics' and dependent variables' homogeneity. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare the pre-and post-intervention cognitive function and fall down-related physical fitness factor, and a Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyze the rate of cognitive function and fall down-related physical fitness factor changes between the groups after the intervention. Result: The participants' fall down-related physical fitness factors (balance, gait, leg strength) increased and memory in the cognitive function sub-area improved in the participants who participated in the fumanet exercise program. The amount of change in gait was significantly different between the control and experimental groups. Conclusion: The fumanet exercise program included gait training using the learn, remember and repeat phased steps. Therefore, this study proposes using the fumanet exercise program to improve the elderly's cognitive function and physical fitness factor.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.97-105
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of an aquatic exercise program on physical fitness, body composition, and gait characteristics using trunk and pelvic angle in women living in urban fringe area. Methods: An aquatic exercise program consists of exercise in a swimming pool and self-help group activity with 16 women living in urban fringe (mean age: 63 years) for 8 weeks (twice a week for 2 hours). Physical fitness, body composition, trunk and pelvic angle using 2D video motion analyzer, and a questionnaire including socio-demographic variables were measured from July to August, 2013. Data were analyzed using a paired t-test with the SPSS/WIN 18.0 program. Results: At the end of 8 weeks intervention, there were significant decreases on body weight (p=.025), body fat (p=.030) and BMI (p=.011). There were significant increases on muscle strength (p=.001) and flexibility (p=.015). Trunk angle was significantly improved, which means participants less moved their body from side to side when they walked (p=.001). Conclusion: From this results, the aquatic exercise program could be an effective nursing intervention to improve physical fitness, body composition, and gait ability for women living in urban fringe area.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.65-79
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was firstly to investigate correctional function of custom semi-rigid foot orthotics for excessively pronated people during gait by observing comfort, navicular movement and leg muscles' activity according to short-term and mid-term wearing duration and secondly to understand positive and/or negative point of view of a recently proposed paradigm related to foot orthotics more profoundly. Sixteen subjects who showed excessive pronation at navicular drop test were recruited for this study. Custom semi-rigid foot orthotics were made fitting for foot characteristics of the subjects by podiatry division of Otto Bock Korea company. While wearing the foot orthotics for two months, comfort of wearing were questioned and vertical navicular movement and electromyography of leg muscles during gait were measured at the condition of both immediately after and 2 months after including a control condition, respectively. The subjects were required to walk on a treadmill at the speed of 1.5m/s and four digital video camera filmed the movement of navicular process at the speed of 60 frames/s. In conclusion, in excessively pronated group continuous increase of comfort from short-term to mid-term wearing of custom foot orthotics is assumed to be closely related with short-term and mid term correctional action, of which are consisted the decrease of the range of navicular drop and navicular raisins- the faster timing of minimum navicular position occurring, and the decrease of leg muscles' activities. This conclusion could lead to positively accept new paradigm related to foot orthotics suggested by Nigg and the author suggest that in the future study the variable which could observe navicular movement would be one of major variables to study preferred path of skeleton in the paradigm.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.24-31
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of the hip internal rotation on gluteal and erector spinae muscle electromyographic (EMG) activity during treadmill walking. Eleven healthy subjects were recruited. All subjects performed treadmill walking while maintaining the hip in neutral position (condition 1) and in internal rotation (condition 2). Surface EMG activity was recorded from four muscles (gluteus maximus (GM), gluteus medius (GMED), tensor fascia latae (TFL), and erector spinae (ES)) and the hip internal rotation angle was measured using a three dimensional motion analysis system. The gait cycle was determined with two foot switches, and stance phase was normalized as 100% stance phase (SP) for each condition using the MatLab 7.0 program. The normalized EMG activities according to the hip rotation (neutral or internal rotation) were compared using a paired t-test. During the entire SP of treadmill walking, the EMG activities of GM in condition 1 were significantly greater than in condition 2 (p<.05). The EMG activities of TFL and ES in condition 2 were significantly greater than in condition 1 (p<.05). The EMG activities of the GMED in condition 1 were significantly greater than in condition 1 (p>.05) except for 80~100% SP. Further studies need randomized control trials regarding the effect of hip internal rotation on the hip and lumbar spine muscle activity. Kinetic variables during gait or going up and down stairs are also needed.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.147-154
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• 2007

This study's purpose is to investigate the effects on leg muscle activity caused by perturbation, using a trapdoor system during the support phase of gait for healthy adults (n = 6, height $177.5{\pm}5.5cm$, weight $81.0{\pm}9.5kg$, age $30.0{\pm}3.3yrs$). The trapdoor had the functional ability of causing inversion or eversion. The release time for the trapdoor was specified for two times, 0.3 and 0.5 seconds after heel contact. While altering these variables, EMG was recorded for the leg muscles (rectus femoris, biceps femoris, vastus lateralis, tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius, soleus). The following conclusions were derived. The steptime was longer for the 0.5s eversion than 0.3s inversion condition. So in order to regain stability after the perturbation the unsupporting leg reached forward rapidly. This quick reflex can be observed through the center of pressure (COP) and its rapid change in direction. The gastrocnemius was activated throughout the total experiment. There was a low amount of activity recorded in the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis and tibialis anterior except for the condition of inversion 0.3s. For most of the conditions, the highest average EMG peak values were recorded during the condition of inversion 0.3s. The iEMG patterns were similar for the conditions of inversion 0.3s and eversion 0.3s. To cope with the rapid change in these conditions, the biceps femoris was activated. During the experiment except for the condition of normal gait, the activity of the soleus and gastrocnemius was relatively high. Therefore, to prevent injury from perturbation of the lower leg strengthening of the soleus and gastrocnemius is required. Likewise to prevent injury to the thigh strengthening for the biceps femoris.