• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.29-38
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• 2020

Purpose : The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of barefoot walking on the sandy beach on pain intensity, disability, motor function, sleep satisfaction, and quality of life in the elderly with low back pain (LBP). Methods : A single-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted involving 32 elderly with LBP who underwent sand walking barefoot (intervention, n=16) or with sneakers (control, n = 16). Both walking methods were carried out for 30 minutes per day, three times a week for four weeks. Pain intensity and disability were assessed using the visual analog scale and Oswestry disability index, respectively. Balance and gait were evaluated using the Berg balance scale and timed up and go test, respectively. Sleep satisfaction was quantified with the Verran and Snyder-Halpern sleep scale. Finally, quality of life was assessed through the WHO quality of life scale's abbreviated Korean version. Results : Compared with the control group, the intervention group showed significant differences in pain intensity (p=.005), disability due to LBP (p=.002), static balance ability (p=.003), dynamic balance ability (p=.002), and sleep satisfaction (p=.017). There was no significant difference in the quality of life between the two groups. Conclusion : Barefoot walking on a sandy beach is significantly effective in improving pain, disability due to LBP, balance ability, and sleep satisfaction in the elderly with LBP. Further studies with larger sample sizes and longer intervention periods must to be conducted to generalize using barefoot walking in LBP management.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.62-72
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• 2023

Objective: Although balance training has been used as an effective ankle injury rehabilitation program to restore neuromuscular deficits in patients with chronic ankle instability, it is not effectively used in terms of motor learning. Attentional focusing can be an effective method for improving ankle kinematics to prevent recurrent ankle injuries. This study aimed to 1) evaluate the effects of attentional focus, including internal and external focus, and 2) determine a more effective focusing method for patients with chronic ankle instability to learn balance tasks. Method: Twenty-four patients with chronic ankle instability were randomly assigned to three groups (external focus, internal focus, and no feedback) and underwent four weeks of progressive balance training. The three-dimensional ankle kinematics of each patient were measured before and after training as the main outcomes. Ensemble curve analysis, discrete point analysis, and post hoc pairwise comparisons were performed to identify interactions between groups and time. Results: The results showed that (1) the external focus group was more dorsiflexed and everted than the internal focus group; (2) the external focus group was more dorsiflexed than the no feedback group; and (3) the no feedback group was more dorsiflexed than the internal focus group. Conclusion: Because dorsiflexion and eversion are ankle motions that oppose the mechanism of lateral ankle sprain, using the external focus method during balance training may be more effective in modifying these motions, thereby reducing the risk of ankle sprain.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.145-150
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• 2023

Purpose: This study examined the effects of ankle control training using neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), leg muscle activation, and balance in stroke patients. Methods: Thirty-one stroke patients diagnosed with cerebral infarction and cerebral hemorrhage were selected for the study. The experimental group underwent ankle control training using NMES, while the control group applied NMES to the paretic tibialis anterior muscle for 30 minutes per session, five times a week for four weeks. The muscle activity changes were measured using surface electromyography, and balance parameters were evaluated using a functional reach test (FRT). Results: The intra-group comparison of the concentric muscle activity revealed improvements in the experimental group, including paretic tibialis anterior (TA) muscle (p<0.05), medial gastrocnemius muscle (MG) (p<0.01), and lateral gastrocnemius muscle (LG) (p<0.05), as well as MG (p<0.05), LG (p<0.05), soleus muscle (p<0.05) of the non-paretic side, and soleus muscle symmetry index (p<0.05). The intra-group comparison of the eccentric muscle activity showed improvements in the experimental group, including MG (p<0.01) and LG (p<0.01) of the paretic side, as well as MG (p<0.01), LG (p<0.01) of the non-paretic side, and LG symmetry index (p<0.01). The intra-group comparison of the functional reach test revealed significant differences in the test results in the experimental and control groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: Ankle control training using NMES had a positive effect on the changes in muscle activation and improved balance in patients with stroke.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.77-85
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• 2007

Purpose: This study was to investigated the effect of physical function and quality of life through physical therapy and occupational therapy by Bobath approach to patient with ALS. Methods: The data of 1 patient with ALS, who visited D hospital in Busan, was collected from June 5, 2006 to August 19, 2007. To determine the physical function and quality of life, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Gait, Skate. Purdue Pegboard, WHOQOL-BREF, COPM were used. Results: BBS score was increased 0 to 33 in the pre and post test. Gait distance was increased 0m to 500m in pre and post test. Skate score was increased 13 to 22 in the pre and post test, Purdue Pegboard score was increased 0 to 3 in the pre and post test, WHOQOL-BREF was increased 1.92 to 2.46 in the pre and post test. Average COPM score of performance and satisfaction grade of pre test score was 1 then Post test score of performance score increased to 5.7 and satisfaction increased to 4. Conclusion: Physical therapy and Occupational therapy increase physical function and quality of life in ALS patients. Physical therapy and occupational therapy should study more about patients with ALS.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.963-968
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• 2010

This paper handles ZMP based control that is inspired by neural networks for humanoid robot walking on varying sloped surfaces. Humanoid robots are currently one of the most exciting research topics in the field of robotics, and maintaining stability while they are standing, walking or moving is a key concern. To ensure a steady and smooth walking gait of such robots, a feedforward type of neural network architecture, trained by the back propagation algorithm is employed. The inputs and outputs of the neural network architecture are the ZMPx and ZMPy errors of the robot, and the x, y positions of the robot, respectively. The neural network developed allows the controller to generate the desired balance of the robot positions, resulting in a steady gait for the robot as it moves around on a flat floor, and when it is descending slope. In this paper, experiments of humanoid robot walking are carried out, in which the actual position data from a prototype robot are measured in real time situations, and fed into a neural network inspired controller designed for stable bipedal walking.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.119-127
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• 2000

In this case report we demonstrated the improvemen of gait pattern and the facilitation of postwalk locomotion on the child who has severe mental retardation with Incomplete gait pattern. Treatments included to stimulate vestibular using balance board and vestibular stimulator, to train weight hearing and shifting, to facilitate visual perception motor coordination, and to train walk ann postwalk locomotion in environment similar to actual daily life. It was performed 130 sessions for 10 months. With this treatment, she could accomplished dynamic stability so that she didn't fall at walk after $1\~2$ months of treatment, and could have done climbing up and down without hand support after 10 months. In gross motor function measure(GMFM), total motor function was improved to $89.98\%$ from $73.53\%$.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.47-57
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• 2001

To simulate an actual slip to measure floor slipperiness, slip resistance testers simulate slip in only forward direction because forward slip in the landing phase was found to be the most important factor for loss of balance. Backward slip in the take off phase was possible but was excluded in the friction test protocol because it was not dangerous. However, backward slip was tested in the friction test protocol without any theoretical background of the significance in generating dangerous slips and falls and was proven to be as good as forward slip in measuring floor slipperiness. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the significance of backward slip in generating dangerous slips and falls with different combinations of floor and shoe sole. The results showed different tendency of backward slip in take off phase being significant in generating dangerous slips and falls because backward slip in the takeoff phase affected gait pattern disturbances seriously. resulted in dangerous falls. Fast toe velocity increased the severity of backward slip and confirmed the significance of backward slip in generating dangerous slips and falls. As a result, this study recommends the utilization of backward slip in the measurement of floor slipperiness.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.83-92
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the changes of physical function, perceptual and cognitive function, emotional function, and functional independence in the institutionalized aged according to functional group activity program (self help Tai Chi exercise plus functional task). Methods: Study subjects were 20 institutionalized aged from June to October in 2010. The subjects received functional group activity program two times a week for 15 weeks. Physical function (grip strength, coordination, lower extremity strength, balance, gait, trunk flexibility), perceptual and cognitive function, emotional function(depression, social skill), and functional independence were measured before and after the program. Results: The subjects showed significantly increased physical function (coordination, lower extremity strength, gait, trunk flexibility), perceptual and cognitive function, emotional function (depression, social skill), and functional independence. The functional group activity program may be an effective strategy for institutionalized elders to enhance their functions. Conclusion: The functional group activity program may be effective on elderly institutions which have limitation in human, material, environmental resources.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.784-792
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• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate a case of a patient with spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) type 2 whose condition improved following treatment with Korean medicine. Methods: A 25-year-old man, diagnosed with SCA type 2, was treated with herbal medicine (Yukmijiwhang-tang-gami), acupuncture, and physical treatment. The therapeutic effect was evaluated using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and gait status. Results: Following treatment, the BBS score increased, and gait ataxia improved. Conclusions: This case study suggests that Korean medicine could be effective for relieving symptoms of SCA type 2.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.59-70
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to propose a task-related circuits program for stroke patients and to test the difference in functional improvements between patients undergoing conventional physical therapy and those participating in a task-related circuits exercise program. The subjects were 10 stroke in-patients of the Korea National Rehabilitation Center in Seoul. We measured the following variables: Motor Assessment Scale (MAS), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Tone Assessment Scale (TAS), speed of gait, rate of step, physiological costs index, age, weight, height, site of lesion, onset day and whether the subject participated in an exercise program. Collected data were statistically analyzed by SPSS 10.0/PC using descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U test, Wilcoxon rank sum test and Spearman's correlation. The results of the experiment were as follows: (1) In the pre-test and post-test for function, there was not a statistical significance between the group partaking in a task-related circuits program and the group of conventional physical therapy (p>.05). (2) In the MAS, BBS and speed of gait test, the group undergoing conventional physical therapy showed a statistical significance (p<.05). (3) In the MAS, BBS, speed of gait, PCI, TAS (passive, associated reaction, TAS total score), the group of task-related circuits program showed a statistical significance (p<.05). As a result, the group participating in a task-related circuits program had a more functional improvement than the group participating in conventional physical therapy. Therefore, an intervention recommended for a stroke patient would be a task-related circuits program consisting of a longer session of each task for a more improved functional recovery.