• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.104-110
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• 2013

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of intensive gait training with body weight support treadmill training on gait and balance in stroke disability patients. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Twenty-six stroke patients (20 men and 6 women) participated in this study. All subjects were hospitalized patients. They were randomly divided into two groups: the experimental group (body weight supported treadmill training group, n=14) and control group (treadmill group, n=12). The mean ages were 52.07 years (experimental group) and 53.83 years (control group). Subjects in both groups received conventional training 10 times/wk. Subjects in the experimental group practiced body weight supported treadmill training for 30 minutes a day, 3 day/wk. Subjects in the control group practiced treadmill training for 30 minutes. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and GAITRite were used to evaluate balance and gait parameters (step length, cadence and gait speed) before and after the intervention. Results: BBS scores in the experimental group showed significantly greater improvement ($4.33{\pm}1.54$), compared with the control group (p<0.05). Significantly greater improvement in the gait speed ($24.13{\pm}4.53$ cm/s), affected side step length ($10.40{\pm}3.42$ cm), sound side step length ($11.97{\pm}3.29$ cm), and cadence ($23.88{\pm}5.52$ step/min), compared with the control group (p<0.05). Conclusions: Intensive gait training with Body Weight Support Treadmill Training may improve gait and balance in subacute stroke.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.311-319
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• 2021

Objective: To investigate the effect of emphasized initial contact by using a wearable air-pressure insole to provide auditory-feedback with variations of maximum peak pressure (MPP) of the affected side on spatiotemporal gait parameters and gait symmetry of stroke patients Design: A cross-sectional study Methods: Eighteen stroke patients participated in this study. All subjects walked five trials using an air-pressure insole that provides auditory feedback with different thresholds set on the insole. First, subjects walked without any auditory feedback. Then, the MPP threshold on the affected side was set from 70% and increase threshold by 10% after each trial until 100%. They walked three times or more on the gait analyzer for each trial, and the average values were measured. Before starting the experiment, subjects measured body weight, initial gait abilities and affected side MPP without auditory feedback. Results: Temporal and spatial variables were significantly increased in trials with auditory feedback from air-pressure insole except for non-paralyzed single support time and spatial gait symmetry compared to trials without auditory feedback(p<0.05). Among the four different thresholds, the walking speed, unaffected side single support time, affected and unaffected side stride, and affected side step length were greatest at 80% threshold of maximum peak, while affected single support time, temporal gait symmetry, and unaffected step length were greatest at the maximum peak of 100% threshold. Conclusions: These results indicate that auditory feedback gait using air-pressure insoles can be an effective way to improve walking speed, single support time, step length, stride, and temporal gait symmetry in stroke patients.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2003

Body weight support treadmill training is a new and promising therapy in gait rehabilitation of patients with hemiplegia. The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of body weight support treadmill training on gait and standing balance in patients with hemiplegia. Eighteen patients with hemiplegia participated in the study. A 10 m-timed walk test, measurements of step length and standing balance score were administered. Intervention consisted of body weight support treadmill training five times a week for 2 weeks. The data were analyzed by paired t-test. Body weight support treadmill training scoring of standing balance, step length and 10 m-timed walk test showed a definite improvement. Body weight support treadmill training offers the advantages of task-oriented training with numerous repetitions of a supervised gait pattern. The outcomes suggest that patients with hemiplegia can improve their gait ability and standing balance through body weight support treadmill training.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.33 no.9
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• pp.761-768
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• 2016

Weight bearing is effective during rehabilitation of gait, in the elderly and disabled people. Various training devices using weight bearing function were developed along with treadmill walking; however, no device has been developed in conjunction to walking on the ground. Here, we designed a rail type frame of a gait rehabilitation system for body-weight support (BWS) function, and analyzed its mechanical safety in the static weight bearing condition of a vertical axis. Computational simulations were performed to analyze structure of the driving parts, which are connected with a rail and driving rollers and the lower plate of the BWS. Structural analyses showed the drivers and BWS were safe, when simulated at 135kg weight under static conditions. Thus, this rail type rehabilitation system can be used for gait training of the elderly and disabled.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.55-76
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• 1996

The objective of this study was to identify the immediate effects of the short leg brace on the weight bearing distribution and gait patterns of hemiplegic patients. The subjects of this study were 18 hemiplegic patients who had been hospitalized or visited out-patient department of Rehabilitation Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, from January 5, 1996 through March 23, 1996. PLS(Posterior Leaf Spring) on and off changes in gait patterns were measured using ink foot print as well as by recording weight bearing distribution using a limb load monitor. The data were analyzed by the correlation and paired t-test. The findings were as follows: 1. Eighteen subjects were more weighted on the affected leg when PLS was put off(42.74%) than on(40.08%). 2. The defference in gait patterns between PLS on and off was statistically significant, with an increase in step length by 1.7cm on the involved side; a decrease in foot angle by 4.41 degree on the involved side; and a narrowing of base of support by 1.46cm when PLS were off. In conclusion, this study showed that PLS did not affect the weight bearing distribution and gait patterns of hemiplegic patients. Since, the evaluation method used in this study has limitations in regard to temporal distance gait values. Further studies are required to numerous experiments for subject and extensive study.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2014

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a three dimensional balance trainer in combination with a video-game system and visual feedback on balance recovery and gait function in subacute stroke patients. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Twenty-three subacute stroke patients were assigned to either an experimental (n=12) or a control group (n=11) using a random permuted block design and sealed envelopes. The experimental group received additional 3-dimensional balance training combined with visual feedback and a game program for 30 min/day, 5 days/week for 4 weeks. Both groups received 30-min of conservative physical therapy sessions based on neurodevelopmental therapy. Before and after the 20 sessions, walking abilities were evaluated by the the GaitRite system and balances were evaluated using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). The Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS) was used to assess trunk muscle performances. Results: After the 4-week intervention, BBS and TIS scores were significantly increased in both groups (p<0.05), and increases in these scores were significantly greater in the experimental group (p<0.05). After the 4-week intervention, gait speed and cadence were significantly increased in both groups (p<0.05), and as was observed for BBS and TIS scores, changes of gait speed and cadence were significantly greater in the experimental group (p<0.05). Conclusions: The study shows that the 3-dimensional balance trainer combined with visual biofeedback and a video-game system provides a therapeutic means for improving balance and gait ability in subacute stroke patients.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.152-162
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• 2024

Objective: This study was conducted to analyze the effect of wearable Electromyography-controlled functional electrical stimulation (EMG-controlled FES) System on Gait Function and cardiopulmonary metabolic efficiency during walking in older adults. Design: Cross-section study Methods: Total 22 older adult participants suitable to selection criteria of this study participated in this study. The EMG-controlled FES System, which functions as a wearable physical activity assist FES system was used. All participations performed randomly assigned two conditions (Non-FES assist [NFA], FES assist [FA]) of walking. In all conditions, spatio-temporal parameters and kinematics and kinetics parameters during walking was collected via 3D motion capture system and 6 minutes walking test (6MWT) and metabolic cost during walking and stairs climbing was collected via a portable metabolic device (COSMED K5, COSMED Srl, Roma, Italy). Results: In Spatio-temporal parameters aspects, The EMG-controlled FES system significantly improved gait functions measurements of older adults with sarcopenia at walking in comparison to the NFA condition (P<0.05). Hip, knee and ankle joint range of motion increased at walking in FA condition compared to the NFA condition (P<0.05). In the FA condition, moment and ground reaction force was changed like normal gait during walking of older adults in comparison to the NFA condition (P<0.05). The EMG-controlled FES system significantly reduced net cardiopulmonary metabolic energy cost, net energy expenditure measurement at stairs climbing (P<0.05). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that EMG-controlled FES is a potentially useful gait-assist system for improving gait function by making joint range of motion and moment properly.

• The Journal of Korea CHUNA Manual Medicine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.117-133
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• 2004

The purpose of this article is making a contribution to add the knowledges of meridian muscles and myofascial meridians of lower limb that relate with gait and basic movements. We have researched on the gait analysis, basic analysis of articular movement and the related muscles. In addition this article is suggested to study about the therapy with apply meridian muscles and myofascial meridians to lower limb's motor disturbance.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.165-174
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• 2009

Purpose：This study was performed for effects of gait training on treadmill and stable surface which influenced on the lower limbs muscular activity needed in gait, plantar foot pressure with hemiplegic patients caused by cerebrovascular accident. Methods：Two groups of adult hemiplegia(n=20) were allocated randomly in this study: treadmill gait training group and control group. The gait training program was provided to experimental groups for 8 weeks (5 times a week). Measurements of pre and post experiment were plantar foot pressure. For measuring muscular activation rectus femoris, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius were detected. Results：The results of this study showed that in comparison of pre and post changes of gait training, the treadmill gait training group has noticeable changes than other groups in activity of rectus femoris and tibialis anterior, the control group revealed statistically significant differences in plantar foot pressure Toe2-5, M1, M3, M5, MF area, activity of gastrocnemius. Conclusion：These results mean gait training resulted by treadmill, stable surface provides effective muscle activation and plantar foot pressure with stroke.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.37-45
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of treadmill training on gait, balance, and trunk control in a patient with hemiparesis. A female subject who had suffered a left hemiparesis 12 months previously was selected for this study. A single subject ABA design was used. Eight data-collection sessions were conducted during each of three phases (baseline-intervention-withdrawal). During baseline and withdrawal phases, the treatment based on Bobath approach was performed for the subject, and during the intervention phase, treadmill walking training was added. Assessment tools were made using the 10 m walk test, Rivermead Visual Gait Assessment(RVGA), Berg Balance Scale(BBS), and a seated Lateral Reach Test(LRT). During the intervention phase, the time measured in 10 m walk test and the scores of RVGA and BBS were significantly improved, and the number of steps in 10 m walk test and LRT showed a small improvement. During withdrawal phase, the time measured in 10 m walk test and the scores of RVGA and BBS were shown the carry-over effect. This findings indicate that treadmill training has significant effect to gait function and balance in a patient with chronic hemiparesis.