• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.140-145
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• 2017

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of visual block with ankle joint fatigue on gait and dynamic balance ability. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Thirty healthy young adults (men=15, women=15) between 22 to 25 years of age voluntarily participated in this study. All subjects performed the gait and dynamic balance test successively in two conditions: the visual block and the open eyes condition. Before the gait and dynamic balance test, muscle fatigue on the ankle joint was induced to all subjects by doing ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion alternately, and then gait parameters (step length, stride length, cadence, velocity, single limb support, and double limb support) were assessed by walking on the GAITRite system (CIR Systems Inc., USA). Subjects also performed the functional reach test (FRT) for assessment of dynamic balance. This study examined gait parameters and FRT scores in each visual block and open eyes condition. Results: The results showed that FRT scores with the visual block condition significantly decreased compared to without visual blocking (p<0.01). Step length, stride length, cadence, and velocity of gait parameters decreased significantly in the visual block condition (p<0.01) while there was no significant difference for single limb support. However, double limb support increased significantly in the visual block system (p<0.01). Conclusions: Therefore, blocking of visual information with muscle fatigue of the ankle joint can affect gait and balance ability of young adults and increase the risk of falls.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.205-213
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of somatosensory input on the gait ability and equilibrium sensory of elderly women. The subjects who participated in this study were 31 elderly women with a mean age of 75 years or older who no using a walking stick and had no abnormality in otolaryngology. The control group consisted of 30 elderly women who did not exercise regularly more than twice a week. Dependent variables consisted of 2.44m timed up and go test, 10m usual gait, 10m fast gait and 6minute gait. The equilibrium sensory test was performed using EquiTest (NeuroCom, USA). The results of the study on gait ability were not statistically significant for 2.44m timed up and go test, and 10m usual gait. However, 10m fast gait (P<.001) and 6min gait (P<.05) showed significant differences. According to the results of the study on equilibrium sensory ability, there was no significant difference between Condition 1 and Condition 5 however Condition 2 (P<.01), Condition 3 (P<.01), Condition 4(P<.01) and Condition 6 (P<.05) showed statistically significant differences. In conclusion, walking stick have beneficial effects on walking and equilibrium sensation, and elderly women need to actively use walking stick when going out and walking.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.52-61
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• 2023

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate effects of ankle elastic and non-elastic taping on postural balance and gait ability in subject with stroke. Design: Cross-sectional study Methods: Twenty-seven subjects with stroke participated in this study. The subjects performed to stand quietly for 30s on the balance platform and walking test with three different ankle taping conditions. The sway length, sway area and sway velocity of center of gravity (COG) displacement was measured to assess the postural balance and the timed up and go test, 10m walking test, 6 minutes walking test was measured to assess the gait ability. Repeated measured ANOVA was used to compare the postural balance parameters and gait ability according to three different ankle taping conditions. Results: Postural balance with non-elastic ankle taping was significantly improved compared to no ankle taping and elastic ankle taping condition(p<0.05). On the other hand, gait ability with elastic ankle taping was significantly increased compared to no ankle taping and non-elastic ankle taping condition(p<0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that an elastic ankle taping could effect to improve the gait ability, whereas a non-elastic ankle taping could effect to improve the postural balance in subject with stroke.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.109-113
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• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of fall experience and task complexity on gait performance in community-dwelling persons with chronic hemiparetic stroke. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Thirty-three persons who had a history of stroke participated in this study. The participants included 18 persons (aged mean 54.0, mean score of 24.6 points on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA) with fall experience (faller group) and 15 persons (aged mean 53.7, mean score of 24.7 points on the MoCA) without fall experience (non-faller group) in the previous six months. This study measured balance and gait performance at two different conditions (with/without 70% of water filled in a 200 cc cup). The participants were clinically assessed using the 10-meter walk test (10MWT), 6-minute walk test (6MWT), Berg Balance scale (BBS), Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), and Timed Up-and-Go (TUG) test. Results: After analyzation, persons in the faller group performed significantly better on the 10MWT, 6MWT, BBS, DGI, and the TUG test in the no-cup-carrying condition than those in the cup-carrying condition (p<0.05). The persons in the non-faller group also performed significantly better in all outcome measures with the no-cup-carrying condition than those in the cup-carrying condition (p<0.05). However, there was no interaction between fall experience and task complexity in the two groups. Conclusions: Our results showed that balance and gait performance depended on fall experience and task complexity but fall experience did not interact with task complexity. Clinicians should consider fall prevention and task complexity during therapeutic approaches in persons with hemiparetic stroke.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.465-473
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• 2011

Purpose : This study was to evaluate gait velocity and muscle activity on 3 different gait conditions in elderly women. Methods : There were one group was 20's generation(n=12), and the other group was over 60's generation (n=12). The velocity of gait was analysed for using the Footscan system, EMG(MP150) for muscle activity. Subjects were measured 3 gait condition(normal, obstacle-10cm, dual obstacle-10cm. Measured values were used by the independent t-test for analysing between groups, and repeated measurement of ANOVA for analysing within group. Results : The results were as follow: velocity and acticities of lower 4 muscles were significantly differences in experimental group. In control group, there were not significantly differences. Contrast-groups were significantly differences of velocity(obstacle, dual obstacle), muscle activities(soleus-dual obstacle, hamstring-all). Conclusion : These results indicate that elderly people are reduced gait ability in dual task, and obstacle gait. So Elderly women need to training obstacle/dual gait for preventing falling.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.193-201
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• 2013

Objectives : This is a case report about undifferentiated somatoform disorder, Wei symptom patient Methods : The patient was treated using acupuncture, electroacupuncture, pharmacopuncture, herbal medication and Korean medical physical therapy. The recovery of this patient had measured in physical examination, gait condition test, body surface temperature, body perimeter and sensory test by dermatome. Results : Through this treatment, the patient's leg elevation angle, body surface tempreature, body perimeter was raised, Rt. lower limb numbness and gait condition had improved. Conclusions : Korean medical therapy including acupuncture, electroacupuncture, pharmacopuncture, herbal medication and Korean medical physical therapy was effective to improve undifferentiated somatoform disorder, Wei symptom patient.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.80-88
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• 2014

Previous studies have reported that decreased cognitive ability has been consistently associated with significant declines in performance of one or both tasks under a dual-task walking condition. This study examined the relationship between specific cognitive abilities and the dual-task costs (DTCs) of spatio-temporal gait parameters in stroke patients. The spatio-temporal gait parameters were measured among 30 stroke patients while walking with and without a cognitive task (Stroop Word-Color Task) at the study participant's preferred walking speed. Cognitive abilities were measured using Computerized Neuropsychological Testing. Pearson's correlation coefficients (r) were calculated to quantify the associations between the neuropsychological measures and the DTCs in the spatio-temporal gait parameters. Moderate to strong correlations were found between the Auditory Continuous Performance test (ACPT) and the DTCs of the Single Support Time of Non-paretic (r=.37), the Trail Making A (TMA) test and the DTCs of Velocity (r=.71), TMA test and the DTCs of the Step Length of Paretic (r=.37), TMA test and the DTCs of the Step Length Non-paretic (r=.36), the Trail Making B (TMB) test and the DTCs of Velocity (r=.70), the Stroop Word-Color test and the DTCs of Velocity (r=-.40), Visual-span Backward (V-span B) test and the DTCs of Velocity (r=-.41), V-span B test and the DTCs of the Double Support Time of Non-paretic (r=.38), Digit-span Forward test and the DTCs of the Step Time of Non-paretic (r=-.39), and Digit-span Backward test and the DTCs of the Single Support Time of Paretic (r=.36). Especially TMA test and TMB test were found to be more strongly correlated to the DTCs of gait velocity than the other correlations. Understanding these cognitive features will provide guidance for identifying dual- task walking ability.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.9-18
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• 2018

Background: Leg length discrepancy (LLD) leads to many musculoskeletal disorders and affects daily activities such as walking. In the majority of the population, mild LLD is a common condition. Nevertheless, it is still controversy among researchers and clinicians on the effects of mild LLD during gait, and available studies have largely overlooked this issue. Objects: The purpose of the present study is to investigate the effects of mild LLD on the gait parameters and trunk acceleration. Methods: A total of 15 female and male participants with no evidence of LLD of >.5 ㎝ participated in the present study. All participants walked under the following two conditions: (1) The non-LLD condition, where the participants walked in shoes of the same heel height; (2) A mild LLD condition induced by wearing a 1.5 ㎝ higher heel on the right shoe. The GAITRite system and tri-axial accelerometer were used to measure gait parameters and trunk acceleration. To compare the variation of each variable, a paired t-test was performed. Results: Compared to the non-LLD condition, step time and swing phase were significantly increased in the mild LLD condition, while stance phase, single support phase, and double support phase significantly decreased in the short limb (p<.05). In the long limb of the mild LLD condition, single support phase significantly increased, while swing phase significantly decreased (p<.05). Furthermore, significant decrease in the gait velocity and cadence in the mild LLD condition were observed (p<.05). In the comparison between both limbs in the mild LLD condition, the step time and swing phase of the short limb significantly increased compared with the long limb, while step length, stance phase, and single support phase of the long limb significantly increased compared with the short limb (p<.05). Additionally, trunk acceleration of all directions (anterior-posterior, medial-lateral, vertical) significantly increased in the mild LLD condition (p<.05). Conclusion: The results of the present study demonstrate that mild LLD causes altered and asymmetrical gait patterns and affects the trunk, resulting in inefficient gait. Therefore, mild LLD should not be overlooked and requires adequate treatment.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2016

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of modified reverse-six taping on the balance and gait performance in Pes Planus. Methods: A total of twelve subjects (4 males, 8 females) in Pes Planus participated in this study. Navicular drop test was used to evaluate Pes Planus. Balance performance(anterior-posterior; A-P, medial-lateral; M-L), overall) was evaluated using the Biodex balance system in two difference condition(no-taping, with reverse-six taping). Gait performance (cadence, velocity) was evaluated using GAITRite System in two difference condition (no-taping, with reverse-six taping). Results: There were significant improvements of A-P and overall in the balance performance after using reverse-six taping (p<.05). there was no significant improvements of M-L balance performance. and, there were no statistical difference of cadence and velocity in the gait performance after using reverse-six taping. Conclusions: This study found that modified reverse-six taping in Pes Planus was improve the balance performance. but dose not affect the gait performance.