• PNF and Movement
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• v.19 no.2
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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.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.148-159
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• 2012

Objectives: This study investigated the correlation among Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke (PASS), Timed "Up and Go" Test (TUG) and gait (velocity, cadence, step-length, stride-length and single-limb support). Methods: The 70 subjects were assessed on trunk control measured with the use of the PASS, dynamic balance (TUG) and gait function (by GAITRite). The data were analyzed using Pearson product correlation. Results: The PASS total scores were significantly correlated with PASS-M, PASS-C, and PASS-T (r =.80 ~ .88 p<.01). All items of the PASS were significantly correlated with TUG (r = -.63 ~ -.81 p<.01), velocity (r = .44~.58 p<.01), cadence (r =.38 ~.51. p<.01), affected side step length (r = .44 ~.56 p<.01) and affected side stride length (r = .45 ~.59 p<.01). But affected side single-limb support was lowly correlated with PASS-M, PASS-C, PASS-T and PASS-total (r = .25~.36 p<.05). Conclusions: Measures of trunk control were significantly related with values of dynamic balance and gait. Based on these results, trunk control is an essential core component of balance and gait. Trunk control training programs after stroke should be developed and emphasized.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.1-10
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• 2016

Background: Gait problems appear in most stroke patients. Commonly, stroke patients show the typical abnormal gait patterns, such as circumduction, genu recurvatum, and spastic paretic stiff-legged gait. An inclined treadmill gait exercise is good for gait problems of stroke patients. In addition, the backward walking training has been recommended in order to improve the component of the movement for the forward walking. Objects: The purpose of this study to investigated the effects of backward walking with inclined treadmill training on the gait in chronic stroke patients. Methods: A total of 30 volunteers were randomly allocated to two groups that walked on an inclined treadmill: the experimental group ($n_1=15$), which walked backward, and the control group ($n_2=15$), which walked forward. To measure the improvement of the patients' gait, a Figure of Eight Walking Test (F8W), Four Square Step Test (FSST), and Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) were performed. We also measured spatio-temporal gait variables, including gait speed, cadence, stride length, and single limb support using a three-axial wireless accelerometer. The measurements were taken before and after the experiment. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare both groups before and after the interventions. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for the comparisons after the interventions. The statistical significance was set at ${\alpha}=.05$. Results: Before and after experiment, all dependent variables were significantly different between the two groups (p<.05). As compared to the control group, the experimental group showed more significant improvements in F8W, FSST, speed, cadence, stride length, and single limb support (p<.05); however, FGA in this group was not significantly different from the control (p>.05). Conclusion: Our results suggest that backward walking on an inclined treadmill is more effective for improving the gait of stroke patients than forward walking.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers D
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.248-253
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to develop a portable gait-event detection system which is necessary for the cycle-to-cycle FES(functional electrical stimulation) control of locomotion. To make the system portable, we made following modifications in the gait signal measurement system. That is, 1) to make the system wireless using Bluetooth communication, 2) to make the system small-sized and battery-powered by using low power consumption ${\mu}$ P(ATmega8535L). The gait-events were analyzed in off-line at the main computer using ANN(Artificial Neural Network). The Proposed system showed no mis-detection of the gait-events of normal subject and hemiplegia subjects. The performance of the system was better than the previous wired-system.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.401-406
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• 2015

In this study, the gait imbalance evaluation algorithm based on two axes angle using encoder is proposed. This experiment was carried out to experiment with a healthy adult male to 10 people. The device is attached to the hip and knee joint in order to measure the angle during the gait. Normal and imbalance gait angle data were measured using an encoder attached to the hip and knee joints. Also, in order to verify the reliability of estimation of asymmetrical gait using hip and knee angle, it was compared with the result of asymmetrical gait estimation using foot pressure. SI (Symmetry Index) was used as an index for determining the gait imbalance. As a result, normal gait and 1.5cm imbalance gait were evaluation as normal gait through SI using an encoder. And imbalance gait of 3cm, 4cm, and 6cm were judge by imbalance gait. Whereas all gait experiments except normal gait were evaluation as imbalance gait through SI using the pressure. It was possible to determine both the normal gait and imbalance gait through measurement for the angle and the pressure.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Telematics and Electronics B
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• v.33B no.9
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• pp.1-12
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• 1996

In this paper, we propose an adaptive gait by which a quadruped walking robot can walk against external disturbances. This adaptive gait mechanism makes it possible for a quadruped walking robot to change its gait and accommodate external disturbances form various external environmental factors. Under the assumption that external disturbances can be converted to an external force acting on the body of a quadruped walking robot, we propose a new criterion for the stability margin of a waling robot by using an effective mass center based on the zero moment point under unknown external force. And for a solution of an adaptive gait against external disturbances, an method of altitude control and reflexive direction control is suggested. An algorithmic search method for an optimal stride of the quadruped mehtod, the gait stability margin of a quadruped walking robot is optimized in changing its direction at any instance for and after the reflexive direction control. To verify the efficiency of the proposed approach, some simulaton results are provided.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 1996.07b
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• pp.1228-1230
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• 1996

A neural network(NN) mechanism is proposed to modify the gait of a biped robot that walks on sloping surface using sensory inputs. The robot starts walking on a surface with no priori knowledge of the inclination of the surface. By accumulating experience during walking, the robot improves its walking gait and finally forms a gait that is adapted to the surface inclination. A neural controller is proposed to control the gait which has 72 reciprocally inhibited and excited neurons. PI control is used for position control, and the neurons are trained by a reinforcement learning mechanism. Experiments of static gait learning and pseudo dynamic learning are performed to show the validity of the proposed reinforcement learning mechanism.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.74-79
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of the FES-gait with augmented feedback training to the FES alone on the gait and functional performance in individuals with chronic stroke. Methods: This study used a pretest and posttest randomized control design. The subjects who signed the agreement were randomly divided into 12 experimental groups and 12 control groups. The experimental groups performed two types of augmented feedback training (knowledge of performance and knowledge of results) together with FES, and the control group performed FES on the TA and GM without augmented feedback and then walked for 30 minutes for 40 meters. Both the experimental groups and the control groups received training five times a week for four weeks. Results: The groups that received the FES with augmented feedback training significantly showed a greater improvement in single limb support (SLS) and gait velocity than the groups that received FES alone. In addition, timed up and go (TUG) test and six minute walk test (6MWT) showed a significant improvement in the groups that received FES with augmented feedback compared to the groups that received FES alone. Conclusion: Compared with the existing FES gait training, augmented feedback showed improvements in gait parameters, walking ability, and dynamic balance. The augmented feedback will be an important method that can provide motivation for motor learning to stroke patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.236-241
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• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the effects of aquatic proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern exercise on the balance, gait ability, and depression in patients with chronic stroke. Methods: Thirty patients with chronic stroke were assigned randomly to an experimental (n=15) or control (n=15) group. The experimental group performed aquatic proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern exercise. The control group performed ground proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern exercise. Training was conducted once a day for 30 minutes, five days per week for six weeks. The balance ability was measured using the Berg balance scale. The gait ability was measured using the 10 Meter walk test. Depression was measured using the Beck depression inventory. Results: As a result of a comparison within groups, the experimental and control group showed a significant difference for balance, gait ability, and depression after the experiment (p<0.05). In a comparison between the two groups, the experimental group, in which aquatic proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern exercise was applied, showed more significant changes in balance, gait ability, and depression than the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Based on these results, aquatic proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern exercise effectively improved the balance, gait ability and depression in patients with chronic stroke.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.243-251
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the effects of aquatic and land dual-task training on balance, gait, and depression in chronic stroke patients. Methods: A total of 24 patients diagnosed with chronic stroke were the subjects. They were assigned to either the experimental group (n = 12) or the control group (n = 12). The experimental group performed aquatic dual-task training, while the control group performed land dual-task training. The aquatic and land dual-task training sessions were conducted once a day for 30 min, 5 days per week, for 6 weeks. Balance was measured using the Berg balance scale. Gait was measured using the Timed Up and Go Test. The Beck's Depression Inventory was used to measure depression. Results: Both the experimental and control groups showed significant differences in balance, gait, and depression after the intervention (p < 0.05) in the within-group comparisons. It was found that the experimental group showed more significant differences in balance, gait, and depression than the control group (p < 0.05) when the two groups were compared. Conclusion: It can be concluded that aquatic dual-task training effectively improved the balance ability, gait ability, and chronic stroke patients' depression based on these results.