• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.99-105
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• 2018

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of craniocervical flexion exercise on deep cervical flexor thickness and gait in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. Methods : Twelve children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy were recruited for this study. All subjects performed active craniocervical flexion exercise 3times a week over the course of 6weeks. using a pressure bio feedback unit. Ultrasonography was used to assess deep cervical flexor thickness, and a 10m walking test was used to assess gait function. For the statistical analysis, a paired t-test was used to compare the differences pre- and post-value. SPSS Statistics version 20.0 was used for statistical analysis, and statistical significance was defined as a p-value less than 0.05. Result : The results of this study indicate that children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy experienced statistically significant positive changes in both deep cervical flexor thickness (p<.05). and gait(p<.05) following the intervention. Conclusion : In conclusion, craniocervical flexion exercise can positively affect deep cervical flexor thickness in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy, which in turn positively affects gait.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.687-693
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• 2011

Spring-mass models have been widely accepted to explain the basic dynamics of human gait. Researchers found that the leg stiffness increased with gait speed to increase energy efficiency. However, the difference of leg stiffness change with gait speed between the young and the elderly has not been verified yet. In this study, we calculated the lower limb stiffness of the elderly using walking model with an axial spring. Vertical stiffness was defined as the ratio of the vertical force change to the vertical displacement change. Seven young and eight elderly subjects participated to the test. The subjects walked on a 12 meter long, 1 meter wide walkway at four different gait speeds, ranging from their self-selected speed to maximum speed randomly. Kinetic and kinematic data were collected using three force plates and motion capture cameras, respectively. The vertical stiffness of the two groups increased as a function of walking speed. Maximum walking speed of the elderly was slower than that of the young, yet the walking speed correlated well with the optimal stiffness that maximizes propulsion energy in both groups. The results may imply that human may use apparent limb stiffness to optimize energy based on spring-like leg mechanics.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2024

Purpose: This study investigated the effect of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on gait speed in a stroke patient with genu recurvatum. Methods: The subject was a 52-year-old female diagnosed with stroke. Information on health was collected through client Interview based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). The ICF was used to identify connections between functional problems, and for diagnosis, and functional problems were described using ICF terms. For prognostic purposes, comprehensive goals for functional activity and participation level are presented as long- and short-term goals. Intervention was performed using an exercise program composed of techniques and principles based on PNF concepts for 50 minutes a day, 3 times a week, for 6 weeks. Gait speed and lower limb strength before to after intervention differences were used as study outcomes. Results: Clinical advantages were observed in body function (3.6kg increase in knee extension strength, 1.4kg increase in knee flexion strength, 0.9kg increase in hip abduction). Gait speed, which was the patient's primary limitation, was improved by 0.2m/sec. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, application of the PNF concept would appear to improve gait speed and genu recurvatum in stroke patients.

• 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.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.1914-1920
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• 2019

Background: Mobilization and cranio-cervical flexion exercise has been reported in reducing pain from cervical part and improving its motor function; also, has been represented that alleviate of neck pain and recover of neck muscles improve the normal gait performance. However, few studies have identified the effects of mobilization and exercise on pain and gait parameters with preceding issues. Objective: To examine the effects or changes of pressure pain threshold (PPT) and gait parameters in patients with chronic neck pain. Design: Cross-Sectional Clinical Trials Methods: Twenty patients with the history of neck pain (>3 months) performed the cervical mobilization and cranio-cervical flexion exercise. Gait parameters were assessed with wireless device and collected data were transmitted to the personal computer via Bluetooth. The PPT was measured posteroanterior direction at the prone position and the mean of subsequent three PPT measurements was used for the final analysis. Results: Both cervical central posteroanterior mobilization (CCPAM) (p<.000) and sling-based cranio-cervical flexion exercise (SBCCFE) (p<.000) group showed a significant increase in the PPT and the gait parameters, cadence (p<.023), was significantly increased in the CCPAM group, however slightly increased in the SBCCFE group. The comparison between the CCPAM and the SBCCFE groups after treatment did not show significant differences for the score on the PPT and gait parameters. Conclusions: This study suggests that CCPAM and SBCCFE increase PPT, cadence, and gait speed.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.18-25
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• 1997

Prosthetic replacement is one of the most common methods of reconstruction after resection of malignant tumor around the knee. Gait analysis provides a relative objective data about the gait function of patients with prosthesis. The purpose of this study was to compare the gait pattern of the patients who underwent limb salvage surgery with prosthesis for distal femur and that of patients with prosthesis for proximal tibia. This study included ten patients (4 males, 6 females, mean age 22.7 years, range 14-36) who underwent a wide resection and Kotz hinged modular reconstruction prosthesis replacement and six normal adult(Control). The site of bone tumor was the distal femur (Group 1) in six patients and proximal tibia (Group 2) in 4 patients. The follow-up period ranged from 15 to 82 months (mean : 33 months). The evaluation consisted of clinical assessment, radiographic assessment, gait analysis using VICON 370 Motion Analysis System. The gait analysis included the linear parameters such as, walking velocity, cadence, step length, stride length, stance time, swing time, single support and double support time and the three-dimensional kinematics (joint rotation angle, velocity of joint rotation) of ankle, knee, hip and pelvis in sagittal, coronal and transverse plane. For the kinetic evaluation, the moment of force (unit: Nm/kg) and power (unit: Watt/kg) of ankle, knee and hip joint in sagittal, coronal and transverse plane. In the linear parameters, cadence, velocity, step time and single support were decreased in both group 1 and group 2 compared with control. Double support decreased in group 2 compared with control significantly(p<.05). In contrast to our hypothesis, there was no significant difference between group 1 and group 2. In Kinematics, we observed significant difference (p<.05) of decreased knee flexion in loading response (G2

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.11 no.2
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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.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.23-28
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• 2011

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate functional gait and pulmonary function of patients with subacute or chronic stroke for aperiod after the onset of stroke. Healthy people of similar ages served as a control group. The study focused on the clinical importance of intervention with cardiopulmonary rehabilitation treatment in patients with stroke. Methods: The standard time period used to differentiate the subacute and the chronic stroke groups was six months. Each group, including the control, was allocated 11 subjects. Vital capacity (VC), forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory volume at one second ($FEV_1$) were measured with a spirometer for each subject. Walk tests (10 m and 6 min) and functional gait tests were then conducted. Results: Significant differences were noted for VC, FVC, and $FEV_1$ between the subacute stroke group and the normal group and between the chronic stroke group and the normal group (p<0.05), but no significant difference was evident between the subacute stroke group and the chronic stroke group (p>0.05). No significant difference was seen between the subacute stroke group and the chronic stroke group in the 6min walk test (p>0.05), whereas a significant difference was observed between the subacute stroke group and the chronic stroke group in the 10 m walk test (p<0.05). Conclusion: The general rehabilitation treatment is effective with respect to functional aspects, but it has limited effect in improving pulmonary function and muscular endurance. Therefore, additional intervention of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation is necessary in the rehabilitation treatment process of patients with stroke.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.241-248
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• 2015

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the theta on the components of ground reaction force according to the ground conditions during gait. Method : Six healthy women(mean age: 22 yrs, mean height: $166.14{\pm}2.51cm$, mean body weights: $56.61{\pm}4.58kg$) participated in this study. The medial-lateral GRF(Fx 1), anterior-posterior GRF(Fy 1, Fy 2), vertical GRF(Fz 1, Fz 2, Fz 3), and impact loading rate were determined from time function and frequency domain. Also, GRF theta were time function and forces. Results : Fx 1, Fy 1 and Fy 2 of stair descending showed significant statistically higher forces than that of level walking, and ascending. Fz 1 of stairs descending showed significant statistically higher forces than that of level walking and stairs ascending(theta $88.62^{\circ}$). Also, Fz 2 of level walking showed significant statistically higher forces than that of stairs ascending and descending(theta $65.78^{\circ}$). Fz 3 of stairs ascending showed significant statistically higher forces than that of level walking and stairs descending($65.26^{\circ}$). Impact loading rate of stairs descending showed significant statistically higher forces than that of level and ascending walking. The GRF showed similar correlation with GRF theta(r=.603) according to the ground conditions during gait. Conclusion : These results suggest that the GRF theta can be used in conjunction with a gait characteristics, prediction of loading rate and dynamic stability.