• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.112-117
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a task-specific obstacle crossing rehabilitation program on functional gait ability in patients with cerebellar ataxia. Overall, we sought to provide ataxia-specific locomotor rehabilitation guidelines for use in clinical practice based on quantitative evidence using relevant analysis of gait kinematics including valid clinical tests. Methods: Patients with cerebellar disease (n=13) participated in obstacle crossing training focusing on maintenance of dynamic balance and posture, stable transferring of body weight, and production of coordinated limb movements for 8 weeks, 2 times per week, 90 minutes per session. Throughout the training of body weight transfer, the instructions emphasized conscious perception and control of the center of body stability, trunk and limb alignment, and stepping kinematics during the practice of each walking phase. Results: According to the results, compared with pre-training data, foot clearance, pre-&post-obstacle distance, delay time, and total obstacle crossing time were increased after intervention. In addition, body COM measures indicated that body sway and movement variability, therefore posture stability during obstacle crossing, showed improvement after training. Based on these results, body sway was reduced and stepping pattern became more consistent during obstacle crossing gait after participation in patients with cerebellar ataxia. Conclusion: Findings of this study suggest that task-relevant obstacle crossing training may have a beneficial effect on recovery of functional gait ability in patients with cerebellar disease.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.129-132
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• 2015

The aim of the present study was to examine whether repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can improve gait ability of acute stage stroke patients. This study was conducted with 39 subjects who were diagnosed as having a hemiparesis due to stroke. The experimental group included 20 subjects who underwent repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and the control group included 19 subjects who underwent sham therapy. The stroke patients in the experimental group underwent conventional rehabilitation therapy and rTMS was applied daily to the hotspot of the lesional hemisphere. The stroke patients in the control group underwent sham rTMS and conventional rehabilitation therapy. Participants in both groups received therapy five days per week for four weeks. Temporospatial gait characteristics, such as stance phase, swing phase, step length in affected side, velocity, and cadence, were assessed before and after the four week therapy period. A significant difference was observed in post-treatment gains for the step length in the affected side, velocity, and cadence between the experimental group and control group ( p < 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed between the two groups on stance phase and swing phase ( p > 0.05). We conclude that rTMS may be beneficial in improving the effects of acute stage stroke on gait ability.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.165-179
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• 2019

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to improve the stroke patient's gait ability by applying a closed or kinetic chain lower limb exercise Methods : The study subjects were 48 hospitalized hemiplegic patients who agreed to participate in the study. 48 subjects went through the intervention: 24 in the experimental group and 24 in the control group. One set consisted of 10 repeats of the exercise. The subjects performed three sets of the exercise once a day, 5 times a week, for 6 weeks. Results : TUG and FGA were significantly improved in the experimental group. The spatio-temporal gait variables in the experimental group all showed significant improvement. In the control group, velocity, cadence, and double limb support showed significant improvement, Trunk sway angle showed significant improvement in all three axes in both groups. Conclusion : The results of this study indicate that a more positive effect in terms of improvement of the stroke patient's gait ability will be seen for closed rather than open kinetic chain lower limb resistance exercise.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.62 no.10
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• pp.1436-1443
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• 2013

A variety of studies on imitating the skeletal structure and the gait of legged animals have been done in order to develop walking robots which have an ability to adapt to atypical environments. In this paper, we analyzed the gait of a Bearded dragon lizard using the motion capture system, proposed a calibration scheme of the motion data and generated the trotting gait of a lizard based on the calibrated data. Also, we constructed the dynamic model based on the biometric data of a Bearded dragon lizard and applied the trotting gait of the lizard to the dynamic model. We verified the validity of the gait with the commercial dynamic simulation software.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.959-966
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• 2009

An essential consideration when analyzing the gait of walking robots is their ability to maintain stability during walking. Therefore, this study proposes a vertical waist-jointed walking robot and gait algorithm to increase the gait stability margin while walking on the slope. First, the energy stability margin is compared according to the posture of the walking motion on slope. Next, a vertical waist-jointed walking robot is modeled to analyze the stability margin in given assumption. We describe new parameters, joint angle and position of a vertical waist-joint to get COG (center of gravity of a body) in walking. Finally, we prove the superiority of the proposed gait algorithm using simulation and conclude the results.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.529-536
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to examine the immediate effects of spiral taping applied to an affected leg on gait ability in stroke patients. Forty two stroke patients were divided into a spiral taping group (n=21) and a quadriceps femoris group (n=21), and each taping method was applied. Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters (Cadence, speed, gait cycle duration, stance phase duration, double support duration) were measured using the 10-meter walk test, the dynamic gait index (DGI) and an accelerometer for both groups. Both groups showed a significant increase in a 10-minute walk, the DGI, cadence, speed before and after the intervention, whereas no significant difference was detected in stance phase duration, gait cycle duration and double support duration on the affected side in all groups. All groups revealed no significant difference in variation. It has been found that the two taping methods augment gait ability in patients with stroke. This study suggests that spiral taping can be an easily applicable method at home.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.1-5
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• 2011

Purpose: This study examined the relationship between the center of pressure (COP) displacement time during the stance phase and dynamic balance ability when older adults cross a 10 cm obstacle. Methods: Fifteen older adults were enrolled in this study (all ${\geq}65$ years of age). The F-scan was used to measure the COP displacement time when subjects cross a 10 cm obstacle, and the Dynamic gait index. Berg's balance scale and the Four square step test were used to measure dynamic balance ability. Results: The Dynamic gait index, Berg's balance scale and the Four square step test were correlated with each other. Dynamic balance ability was correlated with COP displacement time during the stance phase at an obstacle crossing in older adults. Conclusion: People with higher dynamic balance ability show a smaller COP displacement time during the stance phase at an obstacle crossing. Therefore, dynamic balance ability can be predicted by measuring the center of pressure displacement time.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.655-666
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• 2010

Purpose : The examine the reliability and validity of the modified Emory Functional Ambulation Profile(mEFAP) for assessing gait function in chronic stroke patients. Methods : A total of 45 stroke patients, who had a stroke more than 6 months, participated in the study. Reliability was determined by Intra-class Correlation Coefficient($ICC_{3,1}$), including Bland and Altman method (Standard Error of Measurement: SEM, Small Real Differences: SRD). Validity was examined by correlating results to the gait ability(mEFAP, Modified Motor Assessment Scale-Gait(MMAS-G), Scandinavian Stroke Scale-Gait(SSS-G), Functional Ambulation Category(FAC), 10m Waking Test(10m WT)), and Fugl Meyer-Lower/Extremity(FM-L/E), Berg Balance Scale(BBS). Results : Inter-rater reliability for the total mEFAP was High($ICC_{2,1}$=.998), and absolute reliability were excellent (SEM: 1.75, SRD: 4.85). Subjects without assistance factor performed better on all tests than did subjects who had stroke. There were significant correlations between the mEFAP and MMAS-G, SSS-G, FAC(r=-.66~-.79), 10 m WT(r=-.86), and FM-L/E, BBS(r=-.72~-.78), indicating good validity. Increased times on the mEFAP correlated with poor performance on the gait ability, motor function of lower extremity, BBS and slow gait speeds on the 10 m WT in stroke patients. Conclusion : The mEFAP can be administered easily and comprehensively. It is a reliable gait assessment tool for patients with stroke and correlated with known of function, the mEFAP may be a clinically useful measure of ambulation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.135-144
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• 2008

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of body weight support treadmill training (BWSTT) and parallel bar gait training(P-bar) on gait and balance ability of subacute stroke patients. The subjects were consisted of 27 patients with subacute stroke, and they were randomly devided into two groups which were BWSTT group and P-bar group. Method : The timed up and go(TUG), 10m gait speed were used to measure gait speed, Bergs balance scale(BBS) was used to measure dynamic balance ability, and balance performance monitor(BPM) was used to measure sway area, sway path, max velocity. Result : 1. The TUG and 10m gait speed of BWSTT group and P-bar group were significantly decreased (p<.05). The TUG and 10m gait speed were different significantly between BWSTT group and P-bar group(p<.05). 2. The BBS and sway area of BWSTT group and P-bar group were significantly decreased (p<.05). The BBS and sway area were not different significantly between BWSTT group and P-bar group(p>.05). 3. The sway path and max velocity of BWSTT group and P-bar group were significantly decreased (p<.05). The sway path and max velocity were not different significantly between BWSTI group and P-bar group(p>.05). Conclusion : The outcomes suggest that patient with subacute stroke can improve their gait and balance through body weight support treadmill training.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.73-78
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• 2015

Objective: This study focused on subacute stroke patients who were asked to kick a ball while walking on a treadmill. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of a body weight-supported treadmill training (BWSTT) combined with ball-kicking on muscle strength, balance, and gait. Design: Single blind, randomized controlled trial. Methods: Twenty stroke patients who volunteered to participate in this study were randomly assigned to either the BWSTT combined with ball-kicking (BWSTT-BK; 10 participants) group or the BWSTT group (10 participants). Participants in the BWSTTBK group performed treadmill walking combined with simultaneous ball-kicking for 30 minutes daily for 5 weeks. Participants from the BWSTT group performed only treadmill walking. The muscular strength, balance, and gait ability were measured before and after the 5-week training. To assess for muscular strength, a digital muscle tester was used to measure hip flexor, knee extensor, and dorsiflexor strength. To assess for balance, the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) was used. To assess for gait, the 10 meter walk test (10MWT) and Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) was used. Results: The BWSTT-BK group showed significantly improved muscular strength, balance, and gait according to BBS, TUG, 10MWT, FGA, and digital muscle testing scores compared to the BWSTT group (p<0.05). In addition, within-group comparison showed significant improvement in all variables (p<0.05). Conclusions: These findings suggest that BWSTT-BK results in more favourable outcomes for stroke patients. Therefore, BWSTT-BK may be useful for the recovery of gait ability of stroke patients.