• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.39-47
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• 2016

PURPOSE : This study attempts to find the effects of water perturbation exercise performed on stroke patients in their physiological cost index and gait ability tests. METHOD : The subjects were 30 stroke patients, water perturbation exercise group was performed 3 day per week, for 40 minutes a day, for a period of eight weeks. The physiological cost index and gait of all subjects were assessed by using the polar, 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT), and 10 meter Walk Test(10mWT) at pre training and post training. Paired t-test was used to analyze change before and after intervention in group. Pearson's correlation was used to analyze correlation of all variables. RESULT : Water perturbation exercise group showed increased physiological cost index. Water perturbation exercise increased gait ability, showing a significant difference. Showing the correlation between the relatively high amount between physiological cost index and 6 minutes walking test. CONCLUSION : From the result of the study, we found that water perturbation exercise was effective in improving physiological cost index and gait ability. The patient is considered to be used by itself to involve the treatment and the risk of falling from the lowered state into the treatment method for the intensive treatment of stroke patients to be useful in improving the cardiovascular system and ability to walk. Through underwater training for stroke patients in the future on the basis of this study it is considered to require additional clinical studies on the impact on daily living and quality of life of stroke patients.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.63 no.2
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• pp.440-452
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to determine if an 8-week therapeutic riding (TR) program was effective in improving the walking ability of students with intellectual disabilities. Thirteen students diagnosed with intellectual disabilities participated in the TR program. TR sessions were conducted twice a week (30 min per session), with a total of 16 rides taking place over an 8-week period. A gait measurement analyzer was used to measure progress based on a turn test (6-m walking and turning test), walk test (10-m walking), and timed up and go (TUG) test. Measurements were made three times: before horse-riding (P0), after 4 weeks (8 rides) of horse-riding (P1), and after 8 weeks (16 rides) of horse-riding (P2). Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software (ver. 22.0). Descriptive statistics were generated on the general characteristics of the subjects, and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to verify the normality of the data. Because of the lack of normality, the data were analyzed using a nonparametric method and the significance level was set to 0.05. Measurements of the duration of the forward gait cycle (s) in the turn test and the forward gait speed (m/s) in the walk test indicated improved walking ability after the TR program (p < 0.001); the stride length (% height) also increased significantly (p < 0.05). The walk test revealed a significant effect of the program on the duration of the forward gait cycle (p < 0.05), while there were significant improvements on the left and right of the elaborated strides (p < 0.001). No significant improvement in TUG test performance was observed after the TR program. In this study, an 8-week TR program had positive results on gait. Therefore, further research is merited, where TR programs are likely to improve the walking ability of individuals with intellectual disabilities.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2022

Background: Functional massage is a therapeutic massage that incorporates joint motion in non-end-range to reduce pain and improve range of motion (ROM) in patients. This study was aimed at investigating the immediate effect of functional massage on pain, range of motion, balance ability and, gait speed of patients having undergone total hip replacement. Methods: Twenty patients were treated by one participating orthopedic manual physical therapist and randomly assigned to the control group (n=10) or the experimental group (n=10). To treat patients of each group, functional massage and range of motion exercises were used. The experimental group received a functional massage and the control group received range of motion exercise for minutes for one session. The visual analog scale was used for pain assessment. Balance ability was measured using a timed up and go test and a one-leg standing test for patients. The 10-meter walk test was used for the measurement of gait speed assessment of patients. Results: Significant improvements were observed in terms of balance ability (p<.05), gait speed (p<.05), and ROM (p<.05) after functional massage. There was no significant inter-group difference (p>.05). Conclusion: Application of the functional massage showed that statistically significant improvements in ROM, gait speed, and balance ability after a single treatment session. This technique may be a useful treatment in patients having undergone total hip replacement.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.441-451
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• 2015

Objective : The purpose of the study was to investigate and compare the differences between Parkinson's disease rating, balance, fall and gait scales. Results : Parkinson's disease rating scales include the Hoehn-Yahr Scale and the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). The Hoehn-Yahr Scale can measure disease rates easily; however it is not sensitive enough to evaluate the disease's process and management. UPDRS's advantage is in it's higher inter-reliability score; however it is more complicated to use. Parkinson's balance scales are comprised of the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC). BBS has the advantage in that it is cheaper to measure and simple in use. ABC's advantage is especially in it's ability to measure higher functional levels; however it is more difficult measure responses due to scores appearing in both extremes. The Fall Efficacy Scale (FES) and The Survey of Activities and Fear of Falling in the Elderly (SAFE) are Parkinson's fall scales. FES's leverage over SAFE is that it is simpler to measure; however it does not coincide with responses which proves disadvantageous in measuring balance loss in high-level Parkinson's patients. SAFE's advantage is in it's simpler use and ability to be utilized without encountering the fear of fall; however it's at a disadvantage in regards to its use with multilateral aspects providing insufficient inspection. Lastly, the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) and the Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) are Parkinson's gait scales. DGI is advantageous in its ability to test gait ability when exposed to a variety of external environments; however it is disadvantageous in that it registers higher scores with activities. FGA's advantage is in it's dynamic balance test; however it at a disadvantage with those unable to walk. Conclusion : A researcher of Parkinson's patients must choose each scale while considering their positive and negative characteristics.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2018.05a
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• pp.576-579
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• 2018

Purpose : This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of an action-observational task oriented training on balance and gait ability of patients with chronic stroke. Method : The subjects of this study were 30 patients with chronic stroke who agreed to participate and were picked up. Participants were randomly divided into equal groups; namely, an experimental group that underwent action-observational task oriented training for at least 30 minutes/day for 6 weeks and a control group that underwent general task-oriented training. Patients' balance was assessed using the Sway Length(SL), Sway Area (SA) and Limit of Stability (LOS) test. In addition, gait ability was assessed using the 10 Meter Walking Test (10MWT). Gait time and speed taken to walk 10 metres were used to examine gait ability. Result : There were significant improvements in the subscales of the balance and gait ability test of those who participated in the action-observational task oriented training, while the control group showed no significant changes. Conclusion : Therefore, Action-observational training effectively improved the balance and gait abiltiy in patients with chronic stroke.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.139-150
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• 2019

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine the effects of treadmill gait training with obstacle-crossing on the static and dynamic balance ability of patients with post stroke hemiplegia. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with post stroke hemiplegia were divided into three groups as: treadmill gait training with obstacle-crossing (TOG, n=7), treadmill gait training without obstacle-crossing (TGG, n=7) and a control (CON, n=7). TOG and TGG performed exercise for 20 minutes, three times a week for 8 weeks. Static balance ability (stability typical, ST; weight distribution index, WDI; fourier harmony index, FHI; and fall index, FI) and dynamic balance ability (berg balance scale, BBS and timed up and go test, TUG) were measured before and after 8 -weeks in each exercise group. Statistical analyses were conducted using two-way ANOVA with repeated measures, a paired t-test, and multiple comparisons according to Tukey's HSD. RESULTS: FHI and BBS were significantly increased at TOG (p<.01) and TGG (p<.05) after 8-weeks compared to before treadmill gait training with obstacle-crossing. FHI and BBS were significantly increased at TOG compared with CON and TGG (p<.05). CONCLUSION: Treadmill gait training with obstacle-crossing was more effective than that without obstacle-crossing to improve posture control and independent daily life performance of hemiplegia patients.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.205-213
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of somatosensory input on the gait ability and equilibrium sensory of elderly women. The subjects who participated in this study were 31 elderly women with a mean age of 75 years or older who no using a walking stick and had no abnormality in otolaryngology. The control group consisted of 30 elderly women who did not exercise regularly more than twice a week. Dependent variables consisted of 2.44m timed up and go test, 10m usual gait, 10m fast gait and 6minute gait. The equilibrium sensory test was performed using EquiTest (NeuroCom, USA). The results of the study on gait ability were not statistically significant for 2.44m timed up and go test, and 10m usual gait. However, 10m fast gait (P<.001) and 6min gait (P<.05) showed significant differences. According to the results of the study on equilibrium sensory ability, there was no significant difference between Condition 1 and Condition 5 however Condition 2 (P<.01), Condition 3 (P<.01), Condition 4(P<.01) and Condition 6 (P<.05) showed statistically significant differences. In conclusion, walking stick have beneficial effects on walking and equilibrium sensation, and elderly women need to actively use walking stick when going out and walking.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.18-23
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• 2006

The limited walking ability after a stroke restricts a patient's independent mobility at home and in the community. It also brings about significant social handicaps. Therefore, it is necessary to improve walking ability in community-dwelling persons with stroke. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of gait training and muscle strengthening exercise of lower extremities in persons with chronic stroke. Nineteen community-dwelling individuals with stroke participated in this program. The exercise program lasted for seven weeks, with a 1-hour program twice per week, and it consisted of balance training, gait training, and strengthening of lower extremities. The outcome of the program was assessed by the gait speed, Wisconsin Gait Scale (WGS), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Stroke Impact Scale (SIS). Significant effects were found for the WGS, BBS, and mobility and hand function domain of the SIS (p<.05). It was found that short-term gait training exercise could improve quality of gait, balance, and mobility. Therefore, a more effective exercise program is required for community-based persons with stroke.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-17
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• 2004

The purposes of this study were to find correlations among Fugl-Meyer Assessment scale, gait speed, and Timed Up & Go test (TUG) and to predict gait ability from subscales of Fugl-Meyer Assessment scale. The study population consisted of 30 stroke patients referred to the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine in the Bundang Jaesang General Hospital. All subjects were ambulatory with or without an assistive device. All participants were assessed on Fugl-Meyer Assessment scale and gait speed (m/s), TUG (s). The data were analyzed using independent t-test, Pearson product moment correlation analysis and stepwise multiple regression. The results revealed that all items of Fugl-Meyer Assessment scale, except passive joint range of motion were significantly correlated with gait speed and TUG. In particular, sensation score, lower extremity motor and coordination score have a significant correlation with gait speed and TUG (p<.05). The sensation score and lower extremity motor score were important factors in comfortable gait and maximal gait speed. Their power of explanation regarding comfortable gait and maximal gait speed were 63.0% and 65.0%, respectively. The sensation score and lower extremity coordination score were important factors in TUG. Their power of explanation regarding TUG was 55.0%. These results showed that Fugl-Meyer Assessment scale is significantly correlated with gait speed and TUG. Therefore Fugl-Meyer Assessment scale is an appropriate assessment tool to predict gait ability of patients with stroke. Further study about gait speed and TUG by change of Fugl-Meyer Assessment score is needed using a longitudinal study design.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.33-39
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• 2016

Purpose : The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of plastic ankle foot orthosis on adult post-stroke hemiplegic patients walking ability and balance. Method : The searched for the case controlled clinical trials about the effects of plastic ankle foot orthosis(pAFO) for walking ability and balance using quantitative gait analysis in adult post-stroke patients. Ten trials were selected from Riss4U databases published until June 2016 in Korea. The selected trials contained a control group with pre-test and post-test design, measured walking ability and balance as a dependent variable. Result : The selected ten trials involved a total of 180 patients. The walking speed, cadence, the portion of double limb supporting, stride length on affected side were improved by plastic ankle foot orthosis. Conclusion : The plastic ankle foot orthosis has some evidence to improve the walking ability and balance in post-stroke hemiplegic patients.