• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.45-57
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• 2018

Purpose : This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of an task oriented training program combined with action-observation on balance and gait ability of patients with chronic stroke. Method : The subjects of this study were 30 patients with hemiplegia who agreed to participate and were picked up. Participants were randomly divided into equal groups; namely, an experimental group that underwent task oriented training combined with action-observation 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, Sway Area and Limit of Stability test. In addition, gait ability was assessed using the 10 Meter Walking Test to measure the taken to walk 10 meters. Gait time and speed taken to walk 10 meters were used to examine gait ability. Results : There were significant improvements in the subscales of the balance and gait ability test of those who participated in the action-observational training program, while the control group showed only significant changes in the evaluation items of the sway length in eyes opened condition and gait time. Conclusion : Therefore, Action-observational training program effectively improved the balance and gait ability in patients with stroke.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the effects of taping therapy on the balance and gait of stroke patients. Methods: The subjects of this study were 30 stroke patients. The treatment groups were prescribed a combination of taping, therapy applied simultaneously to the ankle and the hip joint, and general physical therapy twice a day for 30 minutes each, five days per week for 4 weeks for a total of 40 times. The control group was treated with general physical therapy for 30 minutes, 5 times per week for 4 weeks, and total 40 times. All subjects were followed up on a Berg balance scale, timed up and go test, activity-specific balance confidence scale, and GaitRite. Results: The group that simultaneously received taping therapy to the ankle and hip joint showed more significant effects than the group treated with ankle joint taping only (p<0.05). Effects were noted in the Berg balance scale, timed up and go test, activity-specific balance confidence scale and gait ability test. Compared to the control group, the group treated at the ankle and hip joint showed significant effects after the experiment in the Berg balance scale, timed up and go test, activity-specific balance confidence scale, and gait ability test (p<0.05). Conclusion: Taping therapy applied to both the ankle and hip joints, and combined with general physical therapy appears to be effective in patients with chronic stroke who have an impaired balance and gait ability.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.211-223
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• 2021

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of task-oriented circuit training using unstable support surface on balance, gait ability, and balance confidence in subacute stroke patients. Methods : Forty-five patients with subacute stroke were randomly divided into the three following groups of 15: 1) TOCT-US group; task-oriented circuit training using unstable surface (experimental group 1), 2) TOCT-SS group; task-oriented circuit training using stable surface (experimental group 2), and 3) CON group; conventional physical therapy (control group). All patients participated in one of the three training programs for 6 weeks, 30 minutes per session, 3 times per week. Patients' balance ability was assessed using the BT-4, BBS (berg balance scale), TUG (time up and go test), and LOS (limit of stability). Gait speed was measured to examine gait ability. K-ABC (activities-specific balance confidence scale) was also used to assess the level of patients' confidence in daily activities. Results : After the intervention, the sway area in experimental groups 1 and 2 decreased, but that in the control group increased. Experimental group 1 showed significant improvement compared with experimental group 2 and the control group. BBS, TUG, and LOS scores of experimental group 1 were significantly improved compared with those of experimental group 2 and the control group. Also, gait speed significantly improved in experimental group 1 compared with experimental group 2 and the control group. Experimental groups 1 and 2 showed significant improvement in K-ABC scores after training. Conclusion : Patients with subacute stroke had significantly improved balance, gait, and level of confidence in performing activities of daily living following task-oriented circuit training using the unstable surface. This indicates that task-oriented circuit training using unstable surfaces can be an effective treatment method for the recovery of balance and gait in subacute stroke patients.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.121-130
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• 2017

Objectives This study was designed to investigate the correlation between the gait analysis indices and Lumbar X-ray indicators. Methods 21 cases of patients who received treatment from October 2013 to February 2017 for abnormal posture were analyzed. Three indicators were measured in the lumbar spine X-ray. These indicators include Ferguson's angle, Lumbar lordotic angle, L4-5 IVD angle. Gait analysis indices were estimated by Treadmill Gait Analysis system. The data were analyzed to find out correlation between the gait analysis indices and Lumbar X-ray indicators. Spearman correlation was used. Results Ferguson's angle and Difference of gait balance of front and rear had a negative linear relationship, but there was no statistical significance. Lumbar lordotic angle and Difference of gait balance of front and rear had a negative linear relationship, but there was no statistical significance. L4-5 IVD angle and Difference of gait balance of right and left had a negative linear relationship, but there was no statistical significance. Conclusions Difference of gait balance of front and rear had strong level of a negative linear relationship with Ferguson's angle and Lumbar lordotic angle.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.55-63
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of balance training with Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) on balance and gait in patients with chronic stroke. Design: A cross over design Methods: Nine patients with stroke were recruited into this study. They were measuring their balance ability and gait ability. The intervention "A" included 4 weeks of balance training with Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) for 40 m/d, 3 d/wk. Intervention "B" included 4 weeks of balance training with placebo Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) for 40 m/d, 3 d/wk. Of the 9 patients who completed the study, 5 were randomly assigned to" group A-B", and 4 to group B-A. The crossover occurred after 4 weeks. Results: Following are the specific results of balance training with Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) on patients with chronic stroke. First, patients who received treatment A showed improvement compared with patients who received treatment B in static balance. There were significant decreases in anterioposterior, mediolateral postural sway extension and velocity moment (p<0.05) with their eyes opened and closed conditions. Second, they had significantly improved in dynamic balance (p<0.05). Lastly, there were also improvement in their gait velocity and cadence (p<0.05). Conclusions: These findings suggest that, the Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) combined with balance training more effectively improves the balance and gait ability, I'm convinced that it could be actively used in clinics added to the conventional physical therapy in the future.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.183-188
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• 2017

Background: Recommendations have been proposed for minimum aerobic fitness among firefighters but it is unclear if those criteria relate to performance on the fireground. Less fit individuals fatigue more quickly than fit individuals when working at comparable intensity and may have gait changes, increasing risk of falls. We evaluated the effect of fatigue during a live burn evolution on gait parameters and functional balance comparing them to aerobic fitness levels. Methods: A total of 24 firefighters had gait and balance tested before and after a live burn evolution. Data were stratified by aerobic fitness of greater/less than 14 metabolic equivalents (METs). Results: Analysis of gait cycles measurements before and after the live burn evolution revealed that single leg stance, cycle, and swing time decreased (p < 0.05) but there were no differences in the other measures. There were no differences in time to complete the functional balance test, or errors committed before or after a live burn evolution. When firefighters were sorted by fitness level of 14 METs, there were no differences for errors or time before or after the live burn evolution. Balance data were analyzed using a linear regression. Individuals with lower fitness levels required more time to complete the test. Conclusion: A 14-MET criterion failed to distinguish gait or balance characteristics in this group. However, less fit firefighters did require more time to complete the balance test (p = 0.003). Aerobic fitness alone does not predict gait changes among firefighters following a live burn evolution but does appear to influence functional balance.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2016

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of balance training on balance pad and sand on balance and gait ability in stroke patients. METHODS: Sixty stroke patients were divided into a Balance Pad group(BPG, N = 20), a Sand group (SG, N = 20) and a Hard Ground group (HGG, N = 20) randomly. The subjects in the Hard Ground group stood in a comfortable position, faced a therapist, then threw a Swiss ball back and forth. They then performed balance training in which they raised and lowered their ankles while facing forward or moved objects from one table to another. The BPG performed same tasks in HGG, on an unstable surface using a balance pad. The SG performed same tasks on sand ground. All groups received training 30min per day, five times per week, for eight weeks. RESULTS: After intervention, all groups showed significant increases balance and gait components. And the BPG and the SG showed significant increase in weight distribution rate, Sway length and BBS compared with the HGG, but there was no significant difference in Cadence, Stride length among three groups. CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, balance training on unstable surface using balance pad and sand was more effective in improving balance in stroke patients.

• 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.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.161-167
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of regular training on the uneven surface that stroke patients encounter in their daily life on their ankle joint muscle activity and balance ability. They were divided into two groups: the gait training group on uneven surfaces and the gait training group on normal surfaces. Methods: In this study, 30 patients diagnosed with stroke and undergoing rehabilitation were selected. 15 people in the uneven surface gait training group and 15 people in the flat gait training group were selected. The muscle activation of the ankle muscles was measured when walking again on a even surface after walking on an uneven surface and on a flat ground. After each gait training, the limit of stability and Romberg test were performed to evaluate the balance ability. Results: As a result of the experimental results before and after walking by group, the tibialis anterior muscle activity of the paralyzed side was significantly decreased in the uneven surface walking group. As a result of measuring balance ability after training, the limit of stability in all directions was significantly increased in the uneven surface gait training group, and the area and length moved significantly decreased in the uneven surface gait training group in the Romberg test as well (p<0.05). Conclusion: After walking on uneven surface, it was confirmed that the muscle activity of the ankle joint decreased in normal flat walking, and thus the efficiency of muscle activity was increased. In addition, it was possible to confirm the improvement of the balance ability of the gait training on the uneven surface, and in conclusion, it could be confirmed that it had an effect on the improvement of the walking ability.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.413-420
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• 2010

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the effect of trunk stability exercise on various support base and posture on gait speed, static and dynamic balance performance. Methods : Included 17 persons with stroke who were living in the community. Trunk stability exercise program was conducted three times per week, 50 minutes per session, for 8 consecutive weeks. Subjects were tested with 10 m walking test(sec), multidirectional reach test (cm), timed get up and go test(sec) and K.A.T.3000 at both (pre and post treatment) time points. Paired t-test was used to exam mean differences between pre and post treatment by using SPSS 12.0. Results : After 8 weeks exercise program, there were significant differences in gait speed, static and dynamic balance performance(p<0.05). Conclusion : This study have shown that trunk stability exercise on various support base and posture improve physical functions(gait speed, static and dynamic balance performance).