• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.235-244
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• 2022

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate of the foot plantar pressure and usability after gait training using the ExoAtlet wearable exoskeleton robot in an incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI) patient. Design: A case study Methods: Six participants with an asymmetry in motor and sensory function completed the gait training using ExoAtlet wearable exoskeleton robot for 15 sessions, five per weeks, 3weeks. They were divided into two groups (low and high strength group) and group differences were evaluated about session at stating of gait, gait distance at final session and foot plantar pressures and useability after training. Results: Low strength group was faster than high strength group on adaptation of robot gait. And high strength group increased faster than low strength group on the gait distance during training. In standing and gait, weaker leg was higher than stronger leg on mean foot plantar pressure in low strength group. And stronger leg was higher than weaker leg on foot plantar pressure in high strength group. The length of the anterior-posterior trajectory of the center of pressure during gait was similar in low strength group, but different in high strength group. useability was positive about ExoAtlet wearable exoskeleton gait after training. Conclusions: ExoAtlet wearable exoskeleton robot gait training was positive about improving gait in all participants regardless of differences in severity of symptoms and gait abnormalities.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.245-249
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• 2006

The aim of this study is to design and develop the gait rehabilitation equipment that judge patient's movement of his/her center of gravity using pressure sensors, and to aid hemiplegic patients to balance themselves using an automatic stepper that changes the patient's center of gravity. It is hard to bear the weight on the affected side for hemiplegic patients. The gait rehabilitation equipment detects the footing phase of hemiplegic patient during training and moves the unaffected footing side of the stepper up and moves the affected footing side down simultaneously so that the patient's center of gravity can shift from unaffected side to affected side. The gait rehabilitation system was developed and applied for hemiplegic patients during exercise. Eight hemiplegic patients and one normal adult were studied. The developed gait rehabilitation system could judge not only the normal adult's intention but also the patient's intention to move his/her center of gravity. Even though the most of hemiplegic patients exercised in automatic mode and a few hemiplegic patients exercised in manual mode, the developed gait rehabilitation system can aid the hemiplegic patients to train more easily.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.134-139
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• 2017

Objective: Dual-task interference is defined as decrements in performance observed when people attempt to perform two tasks concurrently, such as a verbal task and walking. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes of gait ability according to the dual task interference in chronic stroke survivors. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Ten chronic stroke survivors (9 male, 1 female; mean age, 55.30 years; mini mental state examination, 19.60; onset duration, 56.90 months) recruited from the local community participated in this study. Gait ability (velocity, paretic side step, and stride time and length) under the single- and dual-task conditions at a self-selected comfortable walking speed was measured using the motion analysis system. In the dual task conditions, subjects performed three types of cognitive tasks (controlled oral word association test, auditory clock test, and counting backwards) while walking on the track. Results: For velocity, step and stride length, there was a significant decrease in the dual-task walking condition compared to the single walking condition (p<0.05). In particular, higher reduction of walking ability was observed when applying the counting backward task. Conclusions: Our results revealed that the addition of cognitive tasks while walking may lead to decrements of gait ability in stroke survivors. In particular, the difficulty level was the highest for the calculating task. We believe that these results provide basic information for improvements in gait ability and may be useful in gait training to prevent falls after a stroke incident.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.181-188
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• 2022

Objective: The purpose of this study to investigate the correlations among the motor function, balance, and gait velocity and the strength that could explain the variation of gait velocity of chronic stroke survivors. Design: This was a cross-sectional cohort study. Methods: Thirty hemiplegic stroke survivors hospitalized in an inpatient rehabilitation center were participated. The muscle tone of ankle plantarflexor and muscle strength of ankle dorsiflexor were measured respectively with modified Ashworth scale (MAS) and hand-held dynamometer. And the motor recovery and function with Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA), balance with Berg balance scale (BBS) and timed up and go (TUG) test were measured. Gait velocity was measured with GAITRite. The correlation among motor function, muscle tone, muscle strength, balance, and gait were analyzed. In addition, the strength of the relationship between the response (gait velocity) and the explanatory variables was analyzed. Results: The gait velocity had positive correlations with FMA, muscle strength, and BBS, and negative correlation with MAS and TUG. Regression analysis showed that TUG (𝛽=-0.829) was a major explanatory variable for gait velocity. Conclusions: Our results suggest that gait velocity had correlations with muscle strength, MAS, FMA, BBS, and TUG. The tests and measurements affecting the variation of gait velocity the greatest were TUG, followed by FMA, BBS, muscle strength, and MAS. This study shows that TUG would be a possible assessment tool to determine the variation of gait velocity in stroke rehabilitation.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.149-155
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• 2014

Objectives This study was designed to investigate the correlation between the difference of pelvic height and difference of gait balance. Methods 62 cases of patients who received treatment from January 2011 to March 2014 for abnormal postures were analyzed. Their difference of pelvic height were estimated by whole spine X-ray analysis and gait balance were estimated by Treadmill Gait Analysis system. The data were analyzed to find out correlation between difference of pelvic height and difference of gait balance, and correlation between the position of pelvic tilt and gait balance higher side. Pearson correlation and Chi-square analysis were used. Results Pelvic height heigher side were more left than right side, and gait balance higher side were also more left than right side. Difference of pelvic height and difference of gait balance had a positive linear relationship, but there was no significant correlation. The position of pelvic tilt had significant correlation with gait balance higher side. Conclusions The position of pelvic tilt had significant correlation with gait balance higher side and difference of pelvic height had no significant correlation with difference of gait balance.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 2008

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of gait training with the use of an electromechanical gait trainer with functional electrical stimulation (FES) for patients that had undergone subacute stroke. Methods: The study subjects included nine subacute stroke patients of the Korea National Rehabilitation Center in Seoul, Korea. Outcome was measured using the timed Up and Go test, Fugl-Meyer-L/E assesment, with determination of the comfortable maximal gait speed, composite spasticity score, functional ambulatory category and Berg balance scale. All measured scores were recorded before, during, and after rehabilitation and at an eight-week follow-up. Results: Patients who received electromechanical-assisted gait training in combination with FES after subacute stroke were more likely to achieve independent walking, functional activities, balance and gait speed. Conclusion: The outcome of our gait-training program demonstrates that it may be practical to integrate FES into electromechanical gait training without any adverse effects. However, further randomized controlled studies are needed to evaluate if patient outcome after combined training is superior to outcome after the use of electromechanical gait trainer treatment alone or conventional gait training alone.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.1500-1503
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• 2003

One of the main goals in the rehabilitation of SCI patients is to enable the patient to stand and walk themselves. We are developing high-thrust powered gait orthosis(PGO) that use air muscle actuator(shadow robot Co., UK) to be assisted gait and rehabilitation purposes of them. We made of PD controller and measured hip joint angle by its load and the pressure to control air muscle of PGO. As a results, maximum flexion angle of hip joint is $20^{\circ}$, and angular velocity is 30.4${\pm}2.5^{\circ}/sec$, and then delay time of system was average 0.62${\pm}$0.03s. As the hip flexion angle and the pelvic angle is decreased during the gait with PGO, the patient can walk faster. By using the PGO, the energy consumption can also be decreased. therefore, the proposed PGO can be a very useful assitive device for the paraplegics to walk.

• 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.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.43-52
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• 2012

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to observe the effect of a gait training using PNF on a gait and balance ability of a person with chronic stroke. Methods : The subject was left hemiplegia due to cerebral infarction. The subject participated in PNF gait training session as well as baseline for 30 minutes a day for 4 weeks. we used the 10-meter walking test(10MWT), figure-8-of walk test(F8WT), dynamic gait index(DGI) for measuring the gait ability and four square step test(FSST), Berg balance scale(BBS) for measuring the balance ability through the whole sessions. Results : The gait ability was enhanced compared to first baseline, as measured by 10MWT(27.3%), F8WT(36.6%), DGI(8 points increased). The balance ability was improved compared to first baseline, as measured by FSST(49.1%), BBS(10 points increased). The increase was maintained in second baseline session. Conclusion : The PNF gait training program is helpful to enhance the adaptation of the gait and balance according to the various environmental demands.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.866-871
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• 2010

Gait analysis is essential for leg diagnosis and rehabilitation for the patients, the handicapped and the elderly. The use of 3D motion capture device for gait analysis is very common for gait analysis. However, this device has several shortcomings including limited workspace, visibility and high price. Instead, we developed gait estimation system using gyroscopes. This system provides gait information including the number of gaits, stride and walking distance. With four gyroscope (one for each leg's thigh and calf) outputs, the proposed gait modeling estimates the movements of the hip, the knees and the feet. Complete pedestrian localization is implemented with gait information and the heading angle estimated from the rate gyro and the magnetic compass measurements. The developed system is very useful for diagnosis and the rehabilitation of the pedestrian at the hospital. It is also useful for indoor localization of the pedestrians.