• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.81-90
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• 2015

This study aimed to determine the effects of Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation (RAS) using music and a metronome on the gait of stroke patients. 13 female and 15 male volunteers were randomly allocated to two groups: namely a group to receive RAS using music and a metronome group (the experimental group; $n_1=14$) and a group to receive RAS using a metronome only (the control group; $n_2=14$). The affected side was the left side in 15 subjects and the right side in 13 subjects. The mean age of the subjects was 56.6 years, and the mean onset duration of stroke was 8.6 months. Intervention was applied for 30 minutes per session, once a day, 5 times a week for 4 weeks. To measure the patients' gait improvement, we measured gait velocity, cadence, stride length, double limb support using GAITRite, body center sway angle using an accelerometer, and Timed Up-and-Go test. Functional Gait Assessment were conducted before and after the experiment. The paired t-test was used for comparisons before and after the interventions in each group. Analysis of covariance was used for comparisons between the groups after the interventions. Statistical significance was set at ${\alpha}=.05$. Within each of the two groups, significant differences in all of the dependent variables before and after the experiment (p<.05) were observed. However, in the comparison between the two groups, the experimental group showed more significant improvements in all dependent variables than the control group (p<.05). Our results also suggest that in applying RAS in stroke patients, the combination of music and a metronome is more effective than using a metronome alone in improving patients' gait.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.249-255
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• 2016

Objective: This purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between dimensionless leg stiffness and kinetic variables during gait performance, and its modulation with body weight. Method: The study sample consisted of 10 young women divided into 2 groups (Control, n=5 and Obese, n=5). Four camcorders (HDR-HC7/HDV 1080i, Sony Corp, Japan) and one force plate (AMTI., USA) were used to analyze the vertical ground reaction force (GRF) variables, center of pressure (COP), low limb joint angle, position of pelvis center and leg lengths during the stance phase of the gait cycle. Results: Our results revealed that the center of mass (COM) displacement velocity along the y-axis was significantly higher in the obese group than that in control subjects. Displacement in the position of the center of the pelvis center (Z-axis) was also significantly higher in the obese group than that in control subjects. In addition, the peak vertical force (PVF) and dimensionless leg stiffness were also significantly higher in the obese group. However, when normalized to the body weight, the PVF did not show a significant between-group difference. When normalized to the leg length, the PVF and stiffness were both lower in the obese group than in control subjects. Conclusion: In the context of performance, we concluded that increased dimensionless leg stiffness during the gait cycle is associated with increased velocity of COM, PVF, and the change in leg lengths (%).

• PNF and Movement
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.287-296
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• 2020

Purpose: The study aims were to develop a wearable inertial sensor-based gait analysis device that uses machine learning algorithms, and to validate this novel device using temporal gait parameters. Methods: Thirty-four healthy young participants (22 male, 12 female, aged 25.76 years) with no musculoskeletal disorders were asked to walk at three different speeds. As they walked, data were simultaneously collected by a motion capture system and inertial measurement units (Reseed®). The data were sent to a machine learning algorithm adapted to the wearable inertial sensor-based gait analysis device. The validity of the newly developed instrument was assessed by comparing it to data from the motion capture system. Results: At normal speeds, intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) for the temporal gait parameters were excellent (ICC [2, 1], 0.99~0.99), and coefficient of variation (CV) error values were insignificant for all gait parameters (0.31~1.08%). At slow speeds, ICCs for the temporal gait parameters were excellent (ICC [2, 1], 0.98~0.99), and CV error values were very small for all gait parameters (0.33~1.24%). At the fastest speeds, ICCs for temporal gait parameters were excellent (ICC [2, 1], 0.86~0.99) but less impressive than for the other speeds. CV error values were small for all gait parameters (0.17~5.58%). Conclusion: These results confirm that both the wearable inertial sensor-based gait analysis device and the machine learning algorithms have strong concurrent validity for temporal variables. On that basis, this novel wearable device is likely to prove useful for establishing temporal gait parameters while assessing gait.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.372-383
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to assess of cane use on the hemiplegic gait of strock patients in temporal and spatial variables. Subjects were thirteen including 8 men and 5 women. They could walk independently without cane, To compare the effect of walking with and without a cane, temporal and spatial variables was measured using GAITRite. Cane walking demonstrated increased stance time on the affected side, and swing time, step length on the sound side were increased, and base of support was decreased. In conclusion, hemiplegic gait pattern of strock patients were improved with cane than those not using a cane.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.270-277
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study is to compare the effect of static balance, lower extremity function, and gait ability between a lower extremity restrain robot gait training and a general robot gait training in subacute stroke subjects. Design: Two-group pretest-posttest design. Methods: A total of 12 subacute stroke patients were randomly divided into an Experimental group (n=6) and a control group (n=6). Both groups were performed for four weeks, three times a week, for 20 minutes. To compare the Static balance function, the center of pressure (COP) path-length and COP velocity were measured. The Fugl-Meyer assessment lower extremity (FMA-LE) were evaluated to compare the Lower Extremity function. 2D Dartfish Program and 10 Meter Walking Test (10 MWT) on Gait ability were evaluated to compare the gait function. Results: In the intra-group comparison, Experimental groups showed significant improvement in COP path-length, velocity, Lower Extremity Function, 10 MWT, Cadence, by comparing the parameters before and after the intervention (p<0.05). Comparison of the amount of change between groups revealed significant improvement for parameters in the COP path-length, velocity, Lower extremity function, 10 MWT by comparing the parameters before and after the intervention (p<0.01). Conclusions: The Experimental group showed enhanced efficacy for variables such as COP path-length, velocity, Lower extremity function, 10 MWT as compared to the control group.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.105-112
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• 2022

Objective: Nonspecific low back pain (NS-LBP) causes pain and disability, affecting the neuromuscular system and altering gait patterns. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of improvement of low back pain symptoms through physical therapy on foot pressure and spatiotemporal gait parameters. Design: A pilot study. Methods: Participants received manual therapy and supervised therapeutic exercise, which consisted of 12 sessions for 6 weeks. Participants were assessed for pain intensity (a numeric pain rating scale), disability index (oswestry disability index), and spatiotemporal gait parameters before and after intervention. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to analyze the before-and-after differences in a single group. Results: All seven NS-LBP patients completed the study without dropout. After six weeks of physical therapy, the numeric pain rating scale and oswestry disability index showed significant improvement (Z= -2.388, P=0.017). There was no significant improvement in both static and dynamic conditions in foot pressure (P>0.05). However, in the spatiotemporal gait parameters, there were significant differences in all variables except the right stance phase and left mid stance (P<0.05). Conclusions: In our pilot study, 12 sessions of physical therapy in NS-LBP patients improved gait quilty in spatiotemporal gait parameters. Similarly, it has resulted in clinically positive improvements in pain and disability.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.247-253
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• 2020

Objective: This study aimed to examine the effects of real-time visual feedback gait training on gait stability in older adults. Method: Twelve older adults participated in this study, being divided into 2 groups including a) visual feedback (VF) and b) non-visual feedback (NVF) groups. For 4 weeks, VF performed a treadmill walking training with real-time visual feedback about their postural information while NVF performed a normal treadmill walking training. For evaluations of gait stability, kinematic data of 15-minute treadmill walking were collected from depth-based motion capture system (30 Hz, exbody, Korea). Given that step lengths in both right and left sides were determined based on kinematic data, three variables including step difference, coefficient of variation, approximate entropy were calculated to evaluate gait symmetry, variability and complexity, respectively. Results: For research findings, VF exhibited significant improvements in gait stability after 4-week training in comparison to NVF, particularly in gait symmetry and complexity measures. However, greater improvement in gait variability was observed in NVF than VF. Conclusion: Given that visual feedback walking gives potential effectiveness on gait stability in older adults, gait training with visual feedback may be a robust therapeutic intervention in people with gait disturbances like instability or falls.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.7285-7292
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate possibility of a forward gait with backward mechanism(dance gait) as rehabilitation and/or walking exercise by means of biomechanical variables. Thirteen professional women dancers(age, $21.1{\pm}1.3yrs$; height, $159.3{\pm}7.2cm$; body mass, $45.1{\pm}8.4kg$)participated in this study. We found that speed, stride length and double limb support time of a dance gait were more greater than backward gait, but stride width of dance gait less than a backward gait. Maximum RoMs, moments and powers of the lower limb joints on a dance gait were more frequent than a backward dance. These results were judged to be sufficient by the possibility of dance gait as rehabilitation and walking exercise.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.37-44
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• 2021

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of functional electrical stimulation (FES) on temporal-spatial gait and the activities of daily living in hemiplegic stroke patients. METHODS: The subjects were 29 hemiplegic stroke patients (57.7 ± 10.3). The patients walked at a self-controlled speed in four states: (1) walking without FES (non-FES), (2) walking with FES on the gluteus medius in the stance phase (GM), (3) walking with FES on the common peroneal nerve and tibialis anterior in the swing phase (PT), (4) walking with both GM and PT. A GAITRite system, Timed-Functional Movements battery, and Timed UP and Go test were used to measure the variables. RESULTS: Significant improvements were observed in all variables of the GM+PT, GM, and PT states compared to the non-FES state (p < .05). There were significant improvements in the GM+PT state compared to GM and PT states (p < .05). Moreover, significant improvements were noted in the single support time on the affected side, backward walking 10ft, and side stepping 10ft on the affected side of the GM state compared to the PT state (p < .05). There were significant improvements in the stride length on the affected side and side stepping 10ft on the unaffected side of the PT state compared to the GM state (p < .05). CONCLUSION: FES is effective in improving the temporal-spatial gait and activities of daily living in hemiplegic stroke patients.

• International Journal of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.177-183
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• 2023

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of 8 weeks of resistance exercise on gait-related abilities and the differences in age groups to provide reference materials for application of training by age group. Subjects in their 30s, 40s, and 50s were recruited and subjected to a lower extremity exercise, in which the intensity gradually increased three times a week for eight weeks. The gait-related variables, torque at 0.18 sec, acceleration time, and torque at 30°, were assessed through isokinetic tests before and after the 8-week training. The torque at 0.18 sec showed a significant increase in the 50s group. There was no significant difference in acceleration time according to time and group. The torque at 30° showed a significant increase in the 30s group. In conclusion, 8 weeks resistance training can increase neuromuscular activity in adults in their 50s group, and changes in training variables are needed to increase torque at 30° that affects knee stabilization in adults over 40s group.