• Annals of Geriatric Medicine and Research
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.17-23
• /
• 2017

Background: In at-risk older adults, gait speed is an important factor associated with quality of life and falling risk. In this study, we assessed whether therapeutic exercise could improve gait speed. Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the 'best' therapeutic exercise method by analyzing each exercise in terms of intensity, type, and several gait speed indices. For the analysis, we gathered 122 papers through a database search and selected 9 (n=627) that were appropriate for the meta-analysis. Results: In 8 of the 9 included papers, gait speed improved with therapeutic exercise. Usual gait speed (n=246) improved more than maximal gait speed (n=574). A resistance program was more effective than a nonresistance program for improving maximal, but not usual, gait speed. We also found that the effects of therapeutic exercise were greater in noncommunity than in community-dwelling elderly people. Conclusion: In conclusion, therapeutic exercise was effective in improving gait speed.

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

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.159-167
• /
• 2013

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the gender differences on gait pattern and the kinetics on lower extremities according to the different gait speed. Ten collegiate male students (age : $23.80{\pm}2.94$ yrs, height : $179.40{\pm}5.04$ cm, weight : $66.57{\pm}5.64$ kg) and ten female students (age : $23.40{\pm}2.91$ yrs, height : $166.06{\pm}5.61$ cm, weight : $53.76{\pm}2.75$ kg) participated in this study. To investigate the role, the ratio of the use, and the effectiveness of each joint during gait, we examined the joint work and the contribution to total work. The results of this study were as follows: First, gait pattern was not differ between male and female, hip joint ROM increased with the increase of gait speed both male and female. Second, the eccentric work of the ankle joint decreased with the increase of the gait speed both male and female, on the other hand increased on the knee joint. Third, in the result of the contribution to total eccentric work, male in both the two gait speed was the biggest on the hips joint. However, female in normal gait speed was the greatest on the ankle joint, was the most on the knee joint in the fast gait speed. Forth, the concentric work on the ankle and hip joint increased with the increase of gait speed both male and female. Fifth, in the result of the contribution to total concentric work, there is no difference in the male both the two gait speed, however decreased in the female on the knee joint with the increase of the gait speed, on the other hand increased on the ankle joint.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.39-52
• /
• 2016

Objective: This paper investigates gait changes according to different heel heights and speeds, and the interaction between the effects of the heel height and the speed during walking on stride parameters and joint angles. Furthermore, the relationship among heel height, speed and gait variables is investigated using linear regression. Background: Gait changes by heel height or speed have been studied respectively, but has not been reported whether there is an interaction effect between heel height and speed. It would be necessary to understand how gait changes when a person wears heels in different heights at various speeds, for example, high-heeled walking at fast speed, since it may cause unusual gait patterns and musculoskeletal disorders. Method: Ten females were asked to walk at five fixed cadences (94, 106, 118, 130 and 142 steps/min.) wearing three shoes with different heel heights (1, 5.4 and 9.8cm). Nineteen gait variables were analyzed for stride parameters and joint angles using two-way repeated measure analysis of variance and regression analysis. Results: Both heel height and speed affect movement of ankle, knee, spine and elbow joint, as well as stride length and Double/Single support time ratio. However, there is no significant interaction effect between heel height and speed. The regression result shows linear relationships of gait variables with heel height and speed. Conclusion: Heel height and speed independently affect stride parameters and joint angles without a significant interaction, so the gait variables are linearly amplified or diminished by the two factors. Application: Walking in high heels at fast speed should be careful for musculoskeletal disorders, since the amplified movement of knee and spine joint can lead to increased moment. Also, the result might give insight for animators or engineers to generate walking motion with high heels at various speeds.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.62-68
• /
• 2021

Purpose: This study examined whether mirror therapy could improve the balance, gait, and motor function of patients with subacute stroke. Methods: Thirty-three patients with subacute stroke were divided randomly into three groups: experimental group1, experimental group2, and the control group. The patients in experimental group1 performed a mirror therapy program on the unaffected side of the lower extremities, and the patients in experimental group2 performed mirror therapy on the affected side of the lower extremities. Both groups performed the exercise for 30 minutes per session, five times a week for four weeks. The control group did not receive mirror therapy. BBS, POMA, 10MWT, and the BRS were used to evaluate the balance, the quality of gait, gait speed, and the motor function before and after the intervention. Results: The gait speed increased significantly in the experimental groups1 and 2 after the intervention. The control group showed no significant difference in the gait speed after the intervention. The change in gait speed before and after the intervention showed a significant difference among the groups. Experimental group1 showed a significant increase in the gait speed compared to that of the control group. Conclusion: This study suggests that mirror therapy could be an effective intervention to improve the gait speed of patients with subacute stroke. On the other hand, there was no difference in the effectiveness of mirror therapy and therapeutic exercise on the balance, gait, and motor function.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.471-477
• /
• 2022

Objective: The greatest motor impairment after stroke is a decreased ability to walk. Most stroke patients achieve independent gait, but approximately 70% do not reach normal speed, making it difficult to reach a standard of daily living. Therefore, a wearable exoskeleton is recommended for optimal independent gait because different residual disorders hinder motor function after stroke. This review synthesized the effect on gait speed in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in which gait training using a wearable exoskeleton was performed on post-stroke patients for qualitative and quantitative analysis. Design: A systematic review and meta-analysis of a randomized controlled trials Methods: RCTs using wearable exoskeletons in robotic rehabilitation of post-stroke patients were extracted from an international electronic database. For quality assessment and quantitative analysis, RevMan 5.4 was used. Quantitative analysis was calculated as the standardized mean difference (SMD) and presented as a random effect model. Results: Five studies involving 197 post-stroke patients were included in this review. As a result of the analysis using a random effect model, gait training using a wearable exoskeleton in post-stroke patients showed a significant improvement in gait speed compared to the non-wearing exoskeleton (SMD=1.15, 95% confidence interval: 0.52 to 1.78). Conclusions: This study concluded that a wearable exoskeleton was more effective than conventional gait training in improving the gait speed in post-stroke patients.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.17-28
• /
• 2003

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of treadmill gait training on the functional characteristics and the temporal-distance parameters of gait in hemiplegic patients, as compared with conventional gait training. The subjects of this study were 32 hemiplegic patients who had been admitted or were visited out-patients at Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University, from March 3 through April 25, 2003. These subjects were randomly divided into treadmill gait training group or conventional gait training group. We evaluated the gait ability, motor functions, muscle strength, spasticity, physiological cost index, and temporal-distance parameters. We analyzed the changes between pre and post training in each groups, and the difference between two groups. Temporal-distance parameters were obtained using the ink footprint method and then energy consumption using physiological cost index. The results were as follows: 1. After a six-week training, treadmill gait training group significantly improved, as. compared to pre-training, in gait ability, motor functions for the leg and trunk and gross function, muscle strength of the lower limb, gait speed, cadence, step length both on the affected and on the unaffected side, step length symmetry, and energy consumption(p<0.05). 2. After a six-week training, conventional gait training group significantly improved, as compared to pretraining, in gait ability, motor functions for the leg and trunk, muscle strength of the lower limb, spasticity the upper limb, gait speed, cadence, step length both on the affected and on the unaffected side, and energy consumption(p<0.05). 3. After a six-week training, the treadmill gait training group significantly improved, as compared to the conventional gait, training, in gait speed and step length on the unaffected side. These results show that treadmill gait training was improved gait speed and step length on the unaffected side of hemiplegic patients, as compared with conventional gait training. Further research is needed to confirm the generalization of these findings and to identify which hemiplegic patients might benefit from treadmill gait training.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.8 no.3
• /
• pp.425-431
• /
• 2013

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of visual control on gait speed and balance in patients with stroke. Static balance and gait speed were investigated with comparison and fixed direction of visual. METHODS: We included twenty-six patients with stroke. Participants were measured static balance while standing on a forceplate with one of 4 different visual direction in front, floor, non-affected side and affected side for 30 seconds. To compare of the gait speed, participants had to walk with one of fixed visual direction. And to compare of gait speed with visual dispersion, gait speed were measured with visual change in left and right, up and down direction every 5m, 2m and 1m intervals. RESULTS: The result of the static balance with fixed visual showed that the affected side and the non-affected side were shown significantly increased sway of total sway length, mediolateral distance, anteroposterior distance, average velocity(p<.05). The gait speed with fixed visual showed that affected side was significantly slower(p<.05). And the gait speed significantly increased as interval of visual dispersion decrease in the sagittal and horizontal plane(p<.05). CONCLUSION: The results from this study showed that the visual direction effected on static balance and the faster visual movement made to increase the gait speed. Therefore the rehabilitation training with visual control may be implemented for stroke patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.67-74
• /
• 2020

PURPOSE: The progression of the center of pressure (COP) velocity of the stance phase may have important roles for predicting gait speed in older adults with cognitive decline. This study was conducted to identify the correlation between gait speed and the velocity of COP progression during the stance phase in older adults with cognitive decline. METHODS: Forty adults aged 65 years or older (twenty participants without cognitive decline, 20 participants with cognitive decline) were recruited. The COP progression velocity was measured using an F-scan pressure-sensitive insole system. The stance phase was divided into four sub-stages. (loading response, mid-stance, terminal stance, and pre-swing). Gait speed, double support phase, and cadence were also measured. Correlations and multiple regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Gait speed was associated with the COP progression velocity in midstance (r = .719, p < .05), cadence (r = .719, p < .05) and the COP progression velocity in loading response velocity (r = .515, p < .05) in older adults with cognitive decline. However, no correlation was found in older adults without cognitive decline. In multiple regression analysis using gait speed as a dependent variable, the COP progression velocity in midstance and cadence were significant predictors of gait speed, with the COP progression velocity being the most significant predictor. CONCLUSION: The COP progression velocity is an important factor for predicting gait speed in older adults with cognitive decline, suggesting that the cognitive function influences gait speed and the velocity of COP progression.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
• /
• v.4 no.4
• /
• pp.539-548
• /
• 1997

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of FES on the clinical test patients who had disturbance gait due to cereberal vascular accident. The subjects for study were 16 hemiplegic patients (9 Male and 7 Female) who can gait with or without device. Their average age was 55 and they received average of 20.19 month of treatment collected data analysis was completed by using one-way analysis variable(ANOVA), Pearson ($-1{\leq}r{\geq}1$). The results were as follows : 1) There was difference in four variable (stride length,gait speed,gait cadence) between at the biginning and at the end of the treatment of FES (p<0.01). 2) There was relationship in capacity of activity between MAS and stride length (r = 0.751), gait speed (r = 0.689) but no relationship gait cadence (r = 0.236). 3) Age revealed relationship of stride length (r = -0.727), gait speed (r = -0.725), gait cadenc (r = -0.362). 4) There was no relationship in months post-CVA with MAS (r = 0.171), stride length (r = -0.110), gait speed (r = -0.096), gait cacedce (r = -0.154).