• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.179-185
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• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze and compare vertical ground reaction forces during sit to stand (STS) and gait between female elderly and young individuals using the Wii Balance Board (WBB). Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Fifty-one female elderly people (age: $75.18{\pm}4.60years$), and 13 young people (age: $29.85{\pm}3.69years$) performed the five times STS test and gait respectively on the WBB. We analyzed time (s), vertical peak (%), integral summation (Int_SUM, %), and counter variables (%) in STS and 1st peak (body weight, BW%), 2nd peak (BW%), peak minimum (BW%), time (second), center of pressure (COP) path length (mm), and Int_SUM (BW%) in gait. The independent t-test was used to assess for differences in STS, gait ability, and general characteristics between the female elderly group and young adults group. With the first and last trials excluded, the mean value was obtained from the middle three of the five trials. Results: During STS, Int_SUM and time of young adults were significantly less than of the female elderly subjects. There were no significant differences in peak and counter variables. In gait, all variables (1st peak, 2nd peak, min, time, COP_path, and Int_SUM) showed significant differences between groups (p<0.05). This study demonstrated that the validity of vertical ground reaction forces occurring during STS and gait was significant in female elderly and young adults. Conclusions: Based on the measurement of vertical ground reaction forces in STS and gait using the WBB, it is possible to clinically improve the quality of geriatric physical therapy. Further studies are necessary to examine concurrent validity of elderly patients who have undergone total hip or knee replacement.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.37-45
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• 2020

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of neck stabilization exercise combined with trunk stabilization exercise on balance and gait function in patients with chronic stroke. METHODS: Twenty-two chronic stroke patients were included in this study. The experimental group subjects (n = 11) performed neck stabilization (15 min) and trunk stabilization (15 min) exercises, while the control group subjects (n = 11) performed trunk stabilization exercise only for 30 min. Before and after the intervention, the subjects underwent static balance and gait testing. RESULTS: The 95% confidence ellipse area, center of pressure (COP) path length, and COP average velocity were significantly lower in both groups after the intervention compared to before intervention (p < .05). The average stance force on the affected side increased significantly in both groups after the intervention (p < .05). The changes in the static balance variables were larger in the experimental group than in the control group. The cadence, gait velocity, and single leg support increased significantly in both groups after intervention (p < .05). The changes in the gait variables were larger in the experimental group than in the control group. CONCLUSION: Trunk stabilization is a beneficial intervention, but the combination of neck stabilization with trunk stabilization is a more effective method to increase the gait and static balance in chronic stroke patients.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.34-43
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of underwater treadmill gait training (UTGT) and overground treadmill gait training (OTGT) on the gait, balance ability and pulmonary function of stroke patients. Twenty subjects were recruited for this study. The subjects were randomly assigned to two groups: UTGT ($n_1$=10) and OTGT ($n_2$=10). The 10 m walk test (10 MWT), Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, center of pressure, pulmonary function of forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume after 1 sec (FEV1) and FEV1/FVC were measured before and after 4 weeks of training. Both groups undertook the gait training for 30 min a day, 3 times a week, for 4 weeks, and rating of perceived exertion of the groups were measured and compared. All the studied variables were significantly improved in both groups (p<.05) at the end of the study, except in the FEV1 of OTGT (p>.05). There was significant between-group difference in all of the variables, except in the 10 MWT (p>.05). These findings suggest that UTGT is more effective than OTGT in improving the balance and pulmonary functions of stroke patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.273-278
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of three-dimensional virtual reality horse riding simulator training using a head-mounted display on gait and balance in children with cerebral palsy. Methods: Ten children with cerebral palsy were randomly assigned to the horse riding simulator (HRS) group (n=5) or the horse riding simulator with virtual reality (HRSVR) group (n=5). To evaluate balance, center of gravity (COG) sway velocity and total sway distance of each group were assessed using the Wii balance board, and gait speed and stride length of each group were assessed using a gait analysis system. Results: Intra-group comparisons between pre- and post-intervention measures revealed that there were significant changes in all gait and balance variables such as stride length, gait velocity, COG sway velocity and COG sway distance in the HRSVR group (p<0.05). In the HRS group, there were significant changes in all variables except stride length (p<0.05). In addition, inter-group comparisons showed significant differences between the two groups in stride length, gait velocity and COG sway distance except COG sway velocity (p<0.05). Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that horse riding simulator training combined with 3D virtual reality can be a new positive therapeutic approach for improving functional performance in children with cerebral palsy.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.91-97
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• 2015

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of the removable ankle-foot orthosis (RAFO) which was developed to improve the gait of stroke patients. The subjects of this study were five stroke patients who agreed to participate in this study by signing a written consent form. To verify gait improvement after wearing the orthosis, a Timed Up and Go test and Functional Gait Assessment were performed, and spatiotemporal gait variables such as gait speed, cadence, stride length, double limb support, and the efficient gait test of body sway angle were performed. For every variable, the differences prior to and after wearing the RAFO were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Every gait variable improved significantly after wearing the RAFO compared to prior to wearing it. The pilot study will enhance future efforts to evaluate orthotic function objectively during gait in stroke patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.364-368
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• 2015

Purpose: Walking in the dual-task condition is a critical skill for hemiplegic patients to live in real-life situations. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of dual-task gait training and general gait training on gait parameters and cognitive function in patients with chronic stroke during dual-task walking. Methods: The study included 23 patients with chronic hemiparetic stroke who were randomly divided into experimental (dual-task gait training) and control (general walking training) groups. The 11 subjects in the experimental group and nine subjects in the control group received dual-task gait training (walking while handling a ball, crossing obstacles, picking up various objects, and problem solving simple cognitive tasks and general over-ground gait training, respectively, for 30 minutes per day 5 days per week for 4 weeks. Spatiotemporal parameters and cognitive tasks in the dual-task gait condition were measured. Statistical analysis of the changes between the pre- and post-intervention measurement variables was performed using ANCOVA. Results: In the gait condition under cognitive tasks, the changes pre- and post-intervention in gait velocity, stride length, double support limb, and step symmetry were significantly greater in the dual-task gait training group; however, the dual-task gait training group showed no significant improvement compared to the general gait training group in terms of the assessment of cognitive tasks. Conclusion: The findings suggest that dual-task gait training may be beneficial for walking ability in dual-task walking condition.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.131-142
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• 2005

This study was investigated the stability of the AK amputee gait through analysing the variability on kinematic variables between the sound leg and the prosthetic limb. The one male, AK amputee who could walk for himself with his prosthetic limb was participated in this study. Six cameras of the MCU 240 and the QTM(Qualisys Track Manager) software were used for data collecting in this study. The relative angle of both segments was the difference between the absolute angle of the distal segment and the absolute angle of the proximal segment. The coupling angles between the prosthetic limb and the sound leg were caculated on the thigh Flexion/Extension in relative to the shank Flexion/Extension and the shank Flexion/Extension n relative to the foot Flexion/Extension. In order to evaluate the variability of segment and joint angle, C.V. was used, and to evaluate the variability for coupling angles, the Relative motion calculated by vector coding method of the continuous methods was used. As stated, the gait pattern of the prosthetic limb was almost similar gait pattern of the sound leg, but the prosthetic limb showed that the gait pattern of the sound leg and the prosthetic limb were not stable against the sound leg.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.365-372
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• 2010

The purpose of this study were to analyze the changes in kinematic and kinetic parameters and to find biomechanical benefits of Nordic Walking and normal gait performed under the same velocity. Nine participants(age: $26.73{\pm}3.28$ year, height: $182.45{\pm}4.62\;cm$, weight: $76.59{\pm}6.84\;kg$) was chosen. The velocity of gait was set by 5.75 km/h which was made by a Nordic Walking professional. The data were collected by using VICON with 8 cameras to analyze kinematic variables with 200 Hz and force platform to analyze kinetic variables with 2000 Hz. The results of this study were as follows. First, when compared with Normal gait, Nordic Walking group showed decreased Plantarflexion angle and ROM. Second, Nordic Walking group showed decreased knee flexion angle and ROM. Third, Nordic Walking group showed increased hip joint movement. Fourth, Nordic Walking group showed higher active GRF but decreased loading rate from delayed Peak Vertical GRF time and increased impulse. Fifth, Nordic Walking group showed longer ground contact time. Through this study, we found that Nordic Walking showed higher stability and efficiency during gait than normal gait and that Nordic Walking may help people who have walking difficulties.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.181-188
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• 2022

Objective: The purpose of this study to investigate the correlations among the motor function, balance, and gait velocity and the strength that could explain the variation of gait velocity of chronic stroke survivors. Design: This was a cross-sectional cohort study. Methods: Thirty hemiplegic stroke survivors hospitalized in an inpatient rehabilitation center were participated. The muscle tone of ankle plantarflexor and muscle strength of ankle dorsiflexor were measured respectively with modified Ashworth scale (MAS) and hand-held dynamometer. And the motor recovery and function with Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA), balance with Berg balance scale (BBS) and timed up and go (TUG) test were measured. Gait velocity was measured with GAITRite. The correlation among motor function, muscle tone, muscle strength, balance, and gait were analyzed. In addition, the strength of the relationship between the response (gait velocity) and the explanatory variables was analyzed. Results: The gait velocity had positive correlations with FMA, muscle strength, and BBS, and negative correlation with MAS and TUG. Regression analysis showed that TUG (𝛽=-0.829) was a major explanatory variable for gait velocity. Conclusions: Our results suggest that gait velocity had correlations with muscle strength, MAS, FMA, BBS, and TUG. The tests and measurements affecting the variation of gait velocity the greatest were TUG, followed by FMA, BBS, muscle strength, and MAS. This study shows that TUG would be a possible assessment tool to determine the variation of gait velocity in stroke rehabilitation.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.40-47
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• 2016

Background: Assessments of Sit-to-Stand (STS) and gait functions are essential procedures in evaluating level of independence for the patients after stroke. In a previous study, we developed the software to analyze center of pressure (COP) in standing position on Wii Balance Board (WBB). Objects: This purpose of this study is to measure test-retest reliability of ground reaction forces, COP and time using WBB on STS and gait in healthy adults. Methods: Fifteen healthy participants performed three trials of STS and gait on WBB. The time (s), vertical peak (%) and COP path-length (cm) were measured on both tasks. Additionally, counter (%), different peak (%), symmetry ratio, COP x-range and COP y-range were analyzed on STS, 1st peak (%), 2nd peak (%) of weight were analyzed on gait. Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error measurement (SEM) and smallest real difference (SRD) were analyzed for test-retest reliability. Results: ICC of all variables except COP path-length appeared to .676~.946 on STS, and to .723~.901 on gait. SEM and SRD of all variables excepting COP path-length appeared .227~8.886, .033~24.575 on STS. SEM and SRD excepting COP path-length appeared about .019~3.933, .054~11.879 on gait. Conclusion: WBB is not only cheaper than force plate, but also easier to use clinically. WBB is considered as an adequate equipment for measuring changes of weight bearing during balance, STS and gait test which are normally used for functional assessment in patients with neurological problems and elderly. The further study is needed concurrent validity on neurological patients, elderly patients using force plate and WBB.