• PNF and Movement
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.287-301
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• 2021

Purpose: Gait training for stroke patients focuses on adjusting to new environments to facilitate outdoor walking. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify the effects of various ground obstacle walking combined with treadmill walking on the gait parameters and functional gait ability of chronic stroke patients. Methods: Twenty-four chronic stroke patients were divided into two groups: an experimental group (n = 12) and a control group (n = 12). The experimental group received a combined gait training using various ground obstacle walking and treadmill walking (VGOW) five times/week for four weeks. The control group received traditional treadmill training (TW) five times/week for four weeks. Patients were evaluated using the figure-8 walk test (F8WT) and the Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) before and after each intervention. Results: The ANCOVA results showed that both treatments significantly influenced F8WT steps, F8WT time, and FGA score. The paired t-test results showed a significant improvement in F8WT steps, F8WT time, and FGA score in the experimental group compared to those in the control group. Conclusion: Combined gait training using various ground obstacle walking and treadmill walking can improve gait ability in chronic stroke patients.

• PNF and Movement
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.97-104
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• 2017

Purpose: This study seeks to determine the effect of a lower extremity strengthening exercise that uses proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on the gait and balance ability of a stroke patient. Methods: In this case study, a lower extremity strengthening exercise that used PNF was performed by the subject for 30 minutes 4 times per week for a 4-week period alongside typical rehabilitation therapy. The lower extremity pattern used flexion-abduction-internal rotation with knee flexion, extension-abduction-internal rotation, bilateral leg extension pattern. The 10 m walk test and 6 minute walk test were used to assess gait ability. The Berg balance scale was used to assess balance ability. Results: After the intervention, the time for the 10 m walk test decreased by 5.72 sec, the distance for the 6 minute walk test decreased by 20 meters, and the score on the Berg balance scale improved by 7 points, which indicates the effectiveness of this therapy for stroke patients. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that a lower extremity strengthening exercise using PNF can improve the gait ability and balance ability of stroke patients.

• 국제물리치료학회지
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.2060-2064
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• 2020

Background: Recently, the kinesiology taping (KT) method was reported to be effective in improving walking ability in foot drop patients after stroke, but the clinical basis is still unclear. Objectives: The KT method was compared with ankle-foot orthotics (AFO) to investigate gait ability in foot drop patients after stroke. Design: Crossover study design. Methods: In this study, 11 stroke patients with foot drop participated. Walking ability of all subjects for both conditions (KT and AFO) was measured using the GAITRite system. The order of application of the two conditions was determined randomly by drawing lots. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare walking ability between the two conditions. The level of statistical significance was set at P<.05. Results: There were no significant differences between the KT and AFO methods in terms of velocity, cadence, step length, and stride length (P>.05, all). Conclusion: This study recommends KT as an alternative to the AFO, since KT provides evidence of preventing of foot drops and improving gait ability in stroke patient.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.53-58
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• 2017

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of upper extremity coordination exercise (UECE) during standing on the paretic side on balance, gait ability and activities of daily living (ADL) in persons with stroke. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Methods: A total of 27 patients with hemiplegic diagnosis after stroke were divided into two groups. Fourteen patients were in the study group and 13 patients were in the control group. The study group received conventional physical therapy and UECE during standing on the paretic side. The control group received conventional physical therapy and simple upper extremity exercise (SUEE). Subjects in both groups were given upper extremity training for 30 minutes per day, five times a week for 4 weeks. Initial evaluation was performed before treatment and reevaluated 4 weeks later to compare the changes of balance, gait ability and ADL (Korean version of modified Barthel index, K-MBI). Results: Both groups showed a significant effect for balance, gait ability and ADL (p<0.05). In the Independent t-test, between both groups showed a significant effect for balance and gait ability except ADL (p<0.05). Conclusions: In this paper, we investigated the changes in balance, walking, and ADL through UECE. We found significant changes in the study group and the control group. Results of the present study indicated that UECE during standing on the paretic side for 4 weeks had an effect on balance, gait ability and ADL (K-MBI) in persons with hemiplegia after stroke.

• PNF and Movement
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.13-21
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• 2024

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of side walking training combined with squats on the balance and gait ability of stroke patients. The purpose of this study was to provide fundamental data regarding the use of side walking training combined with squats among stroke patients. Methods: Thirty patients with stroke were randomly divided into an experimental group (n=15) that underwent side walking training combined with squats and a control group (n=15) that performed general rehabilitation exercises. Both groups performed their respective exercises for 30 minutes, five times a week for six weeks. Balance was assessed using the functional reach test and timed up and go test, while gait ability was evaluated using the 10-meter walk test. A paired t-test was performed to compare within-group changes before and after the intervention. Differences between the experimental and control groups were analyzed using an independent t-test. For all tests, the level of statistical significance was set at α=0.05. Results: After the exercise, significant within-group improvements in balance and gait ability were observed in both the experimental and control groups (p<0.05). There was also a significant between-group difference in balance and gait ability following the intervention (p<0.05). Conclusion: While general rehabilitation is commonly employed in treating stroke patients and is relatively effective, the application of side walking training combined with squats may offer additional benefits in terms of improving balance and gait ability in these patients.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• 제10권3호
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• pp.356-366
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• 2021

Objective: This study aimed to compare gait ability through gait evaluations in indoor and outdoor environments according to the general characteristics and walking ability of stroke patients. Design: Crossed-sectional study. Methods: The subjects of this study were 57 hospitalized stroke patients.The study subjects were asked to select an indoor environment and an outdoor environment in random order, and the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT), Figure-Eight Walk Test (F8WT) and the Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) were used to assess each environment. Results: The TUG, 10MWT, F8WT time and number of steps, and FGA showed a significant decrease in gait ability in the outdoor environment compared to the indoor environment (p<0.05). Although the TUG, 10MWT, and the time required for the F8WT were statistically higher in the outdoor compared to the indoor environment at points 2, 3, and 4, but not 5 of the functional ambulatory category (FAC), significant increases in the number of steps of the F8WT were found in the outdoor compared to the indoor environment for only points 2 and 3 of the FAC (p<0.05). In the FAC 3 and 4, there was a statistically significant decrease in the outdoor compared to the indoor environment only in the FGA (p<0.05). Conclusions: Therefore, it has been shown that the gait ability of stroke patients is reduced in the outdoor environment compared to the gait ability in the indoor environment.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.123-129
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• 2023

Objective: Kinesio tape has been applied to the ankle to improve balance and gait. Stroke patients show abnormal gait patterns due to foot drop. This study aimed to determine the effects of ankle balance taping which to support the ankle joint on balance and gait in patients with chronic stroke. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Methods: Twenty-four chronic stroke patients were selected and randomized into experimental group (n=12) and control group (n=12). The experimental group applied kinesio taping three times a week for three weeks, and the control group applied placebo taping for the same amount of time. To evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment, the subjects' walking ability, static balance, and dynamic balance were assessed before and after the experiment. Gait speed and spatiotemporal gait ability were measured to examine walking ability, postural sway velocity and velocity moment for static balance, and Timed-Up and Go test and Berg Balance Scale were conducted to check dynamic balance. Results: The experimental group showed a significant increase in walking ability, static balance, and dynamic balance in the within-group pre-post difference (p<0.05). In the between-group comparison, the experimental group had a significant difference in walking ability than the control group (p<0.05). Conclusions: Ankle balance taping can help improve gait, and this study can be used as a basis for future studies of ankle balance taping.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• 제10권3호
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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.

• 대한물리의학회지
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.155-164
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• 2024

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of simultaneous application of gaze stabilization exercise and cognitive training on the balance and gait ability in subacute stroke patients. METHODS: Thirty-five patients diagnosed with stroke within 3-6 months were randomly assigned, and the experimental group (n = 18) to which both gaze stabilization exercise and cognitive training were applied and the control group (n = 17) to which only gaze stabilization exercise was applied were targeted. It was performed for 30 minutes at a time, three times a week, for a total of 4 weeks. Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go test, 10Meter Walking Test, and Walking symmetry were evaluated. RESULTS: In the comparison of changes between Berg Balance Scale, Time Up and Go test, 10 Meter Walking Test, and Gait symmetry, both experimental and control groups showed significant differences before and after the intervention, and in the evaluation of Gait symmetry, significant differences between groups. CONCLUSION: As a result of this study, when gaze stabilization exercise and cognitive training were allied simultaneously, it was possible to improve the balance and gait ability of subacute stroke patients, and had a more significant effect on gait ability. In considered that training that simultaneously applies gaze stabilization exercise and cognitive training can be presented as a balance and gait rehabilitation for stroke patients on the future.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• 제2권2호
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• pp.81-86
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• 2013

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility and effects of balance training using a newly developed elastic band orthosis (aider) for improvement of mobility and balance in chronic stroke patients. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Ten patients with chronic hemiplegia participated in this study. There were six males and four females; two patients had right hemiplegia and eight had left hemiplegia. This study investigated the effect of the elastic band orthosis on balance and gait ability compared with bare foot condition. Gait parameters were measured using the opto-gait system for analysis of the spatial and temporal parameters of walking in stroke patients. In addition, balance ability in stroke patients was evaluated using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Results: This study investigated the effect of the elastic band orthosis on balance compared with bare foot condition. The TUG and BBS showed significant improvement with use of the elastic band orthosis (p<0.05). Use of the Elastic band orthosis resulted in significantly improved velocity, cadence, less-affected step length, less-affected stride length, and less-affected single limb support in stroke patients (p<0.05). Conclusions: We demonstrated a significant improvement in dynamic balance and gait ability in chronic stroke patients using the elastic band orthosis. This orthosis may aid in prevention of spastic foot drop, leading to improvement of walking ability.