• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.259-269
• /
• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate age-related bimanual coordination functions in older adults. Method: Thirteen studies that compared bimanual coordination functions in older adults with those in healthy young adults qualified for this meta-analysis. We additionally categorized 21 total comparisons from the 13 qualified studies into two types of task-related moderator variables: (1) kinematic versus kinetic movements and (2) symmetry versus asymmetry movements. Results: Random effects model meta-analysis found that older adults revealed significant bimanual coordination impairments as compared with young adults (Hedges's g = -0.771; p < .0001; I² = 74.437%). We additionally confirmed specific bimanual coordination deficits using two moderator variables: 1) kinematic (Hedges's g = -0.884; p < .0001; I² = 0.000%) and kinetic (Hedges's g = -0.666; p = .023; I² = 86.170%). 2) symmetry (Hedges's g = -0.712; p = .001; I² = 74.291%) and asymmetry (Hedges's g = -0.817; p < .0001; I² = 76.322%). The moderator variable analysis indicated older adults indicated bimanual coordination deficits in the upper extremities than healthy young adults while performing kinematic bimanual coordination tasks and asymmetry coordination tasks. Conclusion: These findings suggest that developing motor rehabilitation programs based on asymmetric bimanual movement task for enhancing interlimb coordination functions of older adults may be crucial for increasing their independence in everyday activities. Given that elderly revealed the deficits in lower extremities coordination when older adults perform gait, posture, and balance, future studies should estimate lower limb coordination functions in elderly people.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.55-61
• /
• 2012

Background : The purpose of this study is to provide the basic data according to cognitive function, that will help activities of daily living of the elderly through the comparative study of activities daily living and functional training. Methods : The subjects of this study 122 patients 65 years old or more ADL and cognitive function assessment was evaluated. They were registered in the Elderly in nursing homes and welfare centers, located in Gyeonggi. All study participants had a sufficient explanation for the purposes of research and evaluation methods and procedures for the elderly. The survey period 17 October to 11 November 2011 was conducted through face-to-face survey was conducted. Results : Cognitive function according to the K-MMSE score of 24 points or more, 23 to 18 points, 17 points or less were classified. Ability to perform activities of daily living (personal hygiene, bathing, toilet use, stair climbing, dressing, stool control, urinary control, gait, chair/bed, etc.) according to the degree of cognitive function by evaluating the ability to perform daily living compared results in all variables were statistically significant (p<.5). Conclusion : As a result, the higher cognitive functions can be seen that the higher the ability to perform activities of daily living.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.252-265
• /
• 2015

Purpose: This study examined the circumstances, risk factors, and the predictors of fall incidents among patients in the small and medium-sized hospitals. Methods: Fifty patients with any fall experiences were matched by gender, age, and medical departments with 100 patients without fall incident at the same hospital. Data were collected from 5 small and medium-sized hospitals. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, a Chi-square test, a Fisher's exact test, and a logistic regression with the SPSS/WIN 21.0 program. Results: In the patients with falls, the largest number of falls occurred during the day shift, in the patients' rooms, and while they were walking. Further 74.0% of the patients had physical injuries, and 34.0% had to take further medical diagnostic tests. Significant differences were found between the patients with falls and the others on 14 variables (cardiovascular disease, anemia, sedative-hypnotics, vasodilators, narcotic analgesics, dizziness, general weakness, unstable gait, walking aids, anger, anxiety, depression, orientation, and fear of fall). Narcotic analgesic use, dizziness, walking aids, and cardiovascular disease were identified as the predictors of fall incidents. Conclusion: These findings are hoped to be used in developing a fall risk assessment tool and fall prevention nursing programs for small and medium-sized hospitals.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
• /
• v.20 no.5
• /
• pp.612-620
• /
• 2006

This paper proposes an optimal trajectory generation method for biped robots for walking up-and-down stairs using a Real-Coded Genetic Algorithm (RCGA). The RCGA is most effective in minimizing the total consumption energy of a multi-dof biped robot. Each joint angle trajectory is defined as a 4-th order polynomial of which the coefficients are chromosomes or design variables to approximate the walking gait. Constraints are divided into equalities and inequalities. First, equality constraints consist of initial conditions and repeatability conditions with respect to each joint angle and angular velocity at the start and end of a stride period. Next, inequality constraints include collision prevention conditions of a swing leg, singular prevention conditions, and stability conditions. The effectiveness of the proposed optimal trajectory is shown in computer simulations with a 6-dof biped robot model that consists of seven links in the sagittal plane. The optimal trajectory is more efficient than that generated by the Modified Gravity-Compensated Inverted Pendulum Mode (MGCIPM). And various trajectories generated by the proposed GA method are analyzed from the viewpoint of the consumption energy: walking on even ground, ascending stairs, and descending stairs.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.79-86
• /
• 2015

This study examined the effects of trunk stabilization exercise on balance and trunk control in children with spastic diplegia. Four children with ambulatory spastic diplegia participated in the trunk stabilization exercise program using a Both Sides Utilized (BOSU) ball, 30 minutes a day, two times a week for eight weeks. Outcome variables included the pediatric balance scale, trunk control movement scale and multifidus thickness using ultrasound image. After trunk stabilization exercise, there was statistically no significant improvement in pediatric balance scale, trunk control movement scale and multifidus thickness. However, individual outcomes were observed with some positive changes. Balance, trunk control movement, and thickness of multifidus were found to be improved. Trunk stabilization exercise using a BOSU ball could improve trunk control and increase the thickness of multifidus in children with spastic diplegia. Further investigation is needed to evaluate subjects according to type of cerebral palsy and to understand the relationship between postural control and gait.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.93-101
• /
• 2008

Wedged soles and rocker soles are widespread shoe designs used to prevent the disorders and reduce the pain of the lower extremity caused by arthritis or diabetic feet. In this study, the effect of a shoe with a laterally wedged sole and a rocker sole simultaneously was analyzed on the kinematics and kinetics of the ankle joint during normal walking. Eight male participants without a history of lower extremity disorders were recruited. Each participant performed twenty walking cycles for each of three walking conditions: bare foot, wearing normal shoes and wearing shoes with laterally wedged rocker soles. The differences between the three walking conditions were statistically investigated including spatio-temporal variables, angular displacements, joint moments and ground reaction forces. The results showed that the laterally wedged rocker sole decreased the sagittal variation of angular displacements as well as the frontal/sagittal average moment on the ankle joints compared to the flat sole. In addition, the rate of angular displacements and loading decreased during the heel contact phase.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.1873-1878
• /
• 2019

Background: Walking is a complex activity. The main components of walking include balance, coordination, and symmetrical posture. The characteristics of walking patterns of stroke patients include slow walking, measured by gait cycle and walking speed. This is an important factor that reflects post-stroke quality of life and walking ability. Objective: This study aimed to examine the effect of deep lumbar muscle stabilization exercise on the spatiotemporal walking ability of stroke patients. Design: Quasi-experial study Methods: The experiment was conducted 5 times per week for 4 weeks, with 30 minutes per session, on 10 subjects in the experimental group who performed the deep lumbar muscle stabilization exercise and 10 subjects in the control group who performed a regular exercise. Variables that represent the spatiotemporal walking ability (step length, stride length, step rate, and walking speed) were measured using GAITRrite before and after the experiment and were analyzed. Results: There was a significant difference in the pre- and post-exercise spatiotemporal walking ability between the two groups (p<.05). Furthermore, there was a significant difference in the step rate and walking speed between the two groups (p<.05). Conclusions: Deep lumbar muscle stabilization exercise is effective in improving the walking ability of stroke patients. Therefore, its application will help improve the spatiotemporal walking ability of stroke patients.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.36 no.6
• /
• pp.301-305
• /
• 2019

Wii^® balance board (WBB, Nintendo, Japan) is a device that can measure and record the center of pressure path length (CPPL) and 95% confidence ellipse area (Area 95) in relation to body sway. For evaluating measure of improvement after reconstruction of medial patellar luxation (MPL) in small sized dogs, A total of 6 dogs with limping and lameness gait attributed to Grade II, III or IV MPL were evaluated. Dogs were measured for difference of extension and flexion range of motion in the stifle (dROM), muscle mass, lameness, willingness to bear weight on the affected limb while standing, and willingness to lift the contralateral limb scores, CPPL and Area 95 of WBB on pre-surgery, post-surgery 4, 8 weeks. CPPL was significantly different on pre-surgery compared with post-surgery 8 weeks (p < 0.05). Except for CPPL, measured variables were significantly different on pre-surgery compared with post-surgery 4 and post-surgery 8 weeks (p < 0.01).

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.15-21
• /
• 2019

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of aqua-noodles on the practice of underwater walking in patients with hemiplegia. Method: After an oral explanation and signing an IRB approved consent form 10 participants ($66.8{\pm}10.75yr$, $165.3{\pm}8.79cm$, $73.6{\pm}46kg$) agreed to participate in this study. Each of the participants was required to walk with the aqua noodles and without the aqua-noodles in a swimming pool. Each participant was asked to walk a distance of 5 m a total of 10 times, 5 with and 5 without the aqua-noodles. The depth of the swimming pool was at 1.3 m, approximately chest height. The following variables were calculated for analysis; height of the knee (m), knee joint ROM ($^{\circ}$), ankle joint ROM ($^{\circ}$), knee joint maximum angular velocity ($^{\circ}/sec$), and ankle joint maximum angular velocity ($^{\circ}/sec$). Results: First, there was a significant increase in time (s) for the maximum knee height to reach as well as the maximum knee height (m) increased when the participant used the aqua-noodles. Second, there was a statistically significant decrease in stride length when the aqua-noodles were used. Conclusion: This study helps to verify that the effect of underwater walking exercise can provide a suitable walking exercise environment. The results of this study provide systematic scientific information about how walking in water can be used for the rehabilitation of patients and the elderly.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.301-309
• /
• 2020

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of white noise on dynamic balance in patients with stroke during walking. Method: Nineteen patients with chronic stroke (age: 61.2±9.8 years, height: 164.4±7.4 cm, weight: 61.1±9.4 kg, paretic side (R/L): 11/8, duration: 11.6±4.9 years) were included as study participants. Auditory stimulus used white noise, and all participants listened for 40 minutes mixing six types of natural sounds with random sounds. The dynamic balancing ability was evaluated while all participants walked before and after listening to white noise. The variables were the center of pressure (CoP), the center of mass (CoM), CoP-CoM inclined angle. Results: There is a significant increase in the antero-posterior (A-P) CoP range, A-P inclination angle, and gait speed on the paretic and non-paretic sides following white noise intervention (p<.05). Conclusion: Our findings confirmed the positive effect of using white noise as auditory stimulus through a more objective and quantitative assessment using CoP-CoM inclination angle as an evaluation indicator for assessing dynamic balance in patients with chronic stroke. The A-P and M-L inclination angle can be employed as a useful indicator for evaluating other exercise programs and intervention methods for functional enhancement of patients with chronic stroke in terms of their effects on dynamic balance and effectiveness.