• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.268-284
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of horseback riding simulation training(HRST) on gross motor function of children with cerebral palsy. Twenty-four children with cerebral palsy participated were divided into two groups randomly. Control group and experimental group both received 30 minutes of regular neuro-rehab exercises for three times a week per twelve weeks, but experimental group received additional 15 minutes of the HRST. Gross Motor Function Measure(GMFM) was used to evaluate the changes before and after HRST. Normalized GMFM scores were compared using Mann-Whitney U test, statistical significance was set at a=.05. The results were as followings: First, in each compared before and after the experiment, the control group showed significantly increased GMFM score in dimensions A and B. The experimental group showed significant increasing in all dimensions of GMFM test. Second, the experimental group showed significant differences comparing to control group in dimensions C, D and E of GMFM test. Consequently, HRST should be considered as a therapeutic method for physical therapy for the children with cerebral palsy to improve the functional movements.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.357-365
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• 2012

Purpose : The present study has been performed to find the effects on gross motor function and balance ability of applying a balance exercise program consisting of motions able to stimulate balance-related sensory systems on various support surfaces along with goal-oriented upper extremity tasks to enhance the balance ability. Methods : 10children diagnosed as having spastic diplegia were selected as the subject for this study, of whom 5children were randomly assigned to a control group (CG) and the remainder to a balance exercise group (BEG) to perform the upper extremity task on various support surfaces. Each intervention was executed 30minutes per session with 2sessions a week for 12weeks. To make comparisons before and after intervention, gross motor function measure; standing; demention D(GMFM;D), walking/running/jumping ;demention E (GMFM;E) and pediatric balance scale (PBS) were evaluated. Results : The CG showed a significant difference (p<.05) in GMFM;E. BEG showed a significant difference (p<.05) in GMFM;D as well as GMFM;E and in PBS before and after intervention. BEG showed a significant improvement (p<.05) in GMFM;D and the PBS compared with the CG whereas it did not indicate any statistically significant difference in GMFM;E. Conclusion : According to the results of this study, it has been shown that a balance exercise accompanied by upper extremity task on various support surfaces had an effect on improvement in the gross motor function and the balance ability of children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.45-53
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• 2019

PURPOSE: This study examined the differences in the trunk impairment scores according to the levels of the gross motor classification system by evaluating trunk control in children with spastic cerebral palsy using the index of trunk impairment. In addition, the characteristics of trunk control disabilities were investigated according to the cerebral palsy type. METHODS: The subjects were 49 children (mean age 8.57±1.83 years, 11 with hemiplegia, 26 with diplegia, and 12 with quadriplegia) with spastic cerebral palsy levels I to IV under the gross motor function classification system (GMFCS). The coordination and balance of the children with cerebral palsy were evaluated using the index for trunk impairment. Statistical analyses were performed using a Kruskal-Wallis test, and Bonferroni analyses were used as a post-hoc comparison for any significant results. RESULTS: The median of the total scores of trunk impairment was 13 (range, 9-17), which was 56% of the maximum score. The total score of trunk impairment and subscales differed significantly according to the disease severity and type of motor disability. The scores for children with quadriplegia were the lowest compared to children with hemiplegia and diplegia. CONCLUSION: Trunk control function in children with spastic cerebral palsy was reduced, and varied according to the disease severity and types of motor disabilities. The degree of trunk impairment differed from the trunk control ability according to the degree of motor disability of children with cerebral palsy.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.123-128
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• 2018

Purpose: This study examined the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and horseback riding using a robotic device on the trunk muscle activity and gross motor function in children with spastic diplegia. Methods: Children with spastic diplegia were divided into two groups: an experimental group (NMES and horseback riding using a robotic device [n=10]) and a control group (placebo NMES and horseback riding using a robotic device [n=10]). Each group received general physical therapy and occupational therapy. Each intervention involved the administration of NMES for 15 minutes and horseback riding using robotic device therapy for 15 minutes three times a week for 4 weeks. The evaluation included both the rectus abdominis muscles (RA), external oblique muscles (EO), thoracic paraspinal muscles (TP), and lumbar paraspinal muscles (LP) activity and GMFM. Results: The RA, EO, TP, and LP muscle activity, GMFM C, D, and E were increased significantly in the experimental and control groups. A significant increase in both the TP muscle activity and GMFM D was observed in the experimental group compared to the control group. Conclusion: This study showed that horseback riding using a robotic device is an effective intervention for trunk muscle activity and GMFM in children with spastic diplegia. However, if NMES is added to the back muscles, it is possible to further increase the thoracic paraspinal muscle activity and standing ability.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.123-130
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• 2021

PURPOSE: Robotic gait training is being used increasingly to improve the gross motor performance and gait speed. The present study examined the effectiveness of a novel end-effector type of robotic gait training (RGT) system on standing, walking, running, and jumping functions, as well as the gait speed in children with spastic cerebral palsy. METHODS: Eleven children with spastic cerebral palsy Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I-III (6 males; age range, 15.09 ± 1.44 years) were examined. They underwent 24 sessions (30 minutes/sessions, one time/day, three days/week for eight consecutive weeks) of RGT. The Gross Motor Function Measure-88 D domain (GMFM D), and GMFM E were assessed with a pretest and posttest of RGT. The setting was a one-group pretest-posttest design. RESULTS: A comparison of the pre-test and post-test show that the outcomes in post-test of GMFM D (p < .01), GMFM E (p < .05), and 10MWT were improved significantly after RGT intervention. CONCLUSION: The present study provided the first evidence on the effects of an eight-weeks RGT intervention in participants with spastic CP. The outcomes of this clinical study showed that standing performance, locomotion function, and gait speed increased in after 24 sessions of the end-effector RGT system in children with spastic cerebral palsy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.29-35
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• 2023

PURPOSE: High-intensity physical therapy may help improve some gross motor developmental delays through an increased treatment frequency. This study describes an increase in physical therapy frequency and intensity over an eight-week time frame for a child with a rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorder. METHODS: A single-subject research was performed. The subject was a nine-year-old boy with MECP2 Duplication Syndrome. The outcome measure consisted of one time before and after the intervention. An intensive physical therapy program was applied to this subject. The treatments included reciprocal crawling, high kneeling, tailor sitting, weight-bearing and shifting training to facilitate ankle balance strategies and training to walk without assistance. RESULTS: After the eight-week follow-up, the child achieved a gradual improvement in the gross motor function measures, and the mother reported that the child frequently engaged in tailor sitting and independently walking. CONCLUSION: This case study highlights that intensive physical therapy improved the overall motor function of a child with MECP2 duplication syndrome.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Sensory Integration
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.11-20
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• 2012

Objective : The purpose of this study is intended to provide useful information about the disability evaluation indicators, the Modified Barthel Index (MBI) as a measurement tool for assessing the ability to perform activities of daily living through the correlation between the Modified Barthel Index (MBI) and the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS), and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). Methods : The subject was 82 children with cerebral palsy. The validity was aexamined by calculation of correlation between the Modified Barthel Index (MBI), the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). Results : There were a good significant correlation between the MBI and MACS (r = -.765, p <0.001), the MBI and the GMFCS (r = -.851, p < 0.001) and the MACS and the GMFCS (r = .615, p <0.001). Conclusion : The close correlation between the MBI that is used as the basis of grading cerebral palsy and high reliability and validity of the MACS, GMFCS suggest that disability evaluation indicators, the MBI could be useful for children with disabilities.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.989-995
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• 1999

Musclee spasticity of Cerebral Palsy children brings abnormal posture and becomes delayed for Normal Motor Development. The objective of this study is to discover the effects of physical therapy on subject paitient' s posture and Normal Motor Development after Selective Posterior rhizotomy. The subject patients were 280 children who had physical therapy for about 4 to 6 months after Selective Posterior Rhizotomy. The sum of points both pre and post operation by using Locomotion stage of Vojta and Arens's grading of Gross Motor Function were compared and evaluated. Among total of 280 Cerebral Palsy children who had 4 to 6 months of physical therapy ; total of 206 children(197 by grade 1, 9 by grade 2) has increased out of 218 spasticity type children, and totoal of 42 has increased (by gradel) out of 48 Athetoid type, and total of 8 jas increased (by grade 1) out of 14 Mixed type Physical therapy for Cerebral Palsy children after Selective Posterior Rhizotomy has enhanced Normal Motor Development and their posture. The therapy also has shown the results of shortening the therapy period and better treatment results.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.89-96
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to find out the characteristics of activity areas according to the age difference and provide the alternatives for space planning of activity areas in classroom of childcare centers. This study used the content analysis method for field survey data collected from 36 classrooms of 9 childcare centers in the Daejeon area. Floor plans were converted to Autocad drawings to analyze the characteristics of activity areas. The results of this study were as follows; 1) In case of 0 to 2-year-old classrooms, they had 6 activity areas such as gross-motor area, role play, block building, language, creative expression, exploration/manipulation area. The activity area with the most low frequency was gross-motor area. 2) In case of 0 to 2-year-old classrooms, the size of activity area was in order of gross-motor area > role play > block building > language > creative expression > exploration/manipulation area. In case of 3 to 5-year-old classrooms, the size of activity area was in order of language > art > role play > math > block building > science > tone and rhythmic area. 3) The central areas with easy access in 0 to 2-year-old classrooms were Large-motor and Imaginary Play Areas. Also, more isolated areas were Manupulatives and Block Areas. The central areas with easy access in 3 to 5-year-old classrooms were Arts, Numbers and Manupulatives. While more isolated areas were Music, Movement and Science Areas.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.20-25
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• 2005

The Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) is an internationally widely used outcome measure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the structural properties of the Korean version of GMFM using the Rasch Model, with regard to scoring within rehabilitation centers in Korea. GMFM data for 206 children with cerebral palsy were collected from 11 outpatient rehabilitation facilities by 29 pediatric therapists. The Winsteps software was used to refine the rating scale. This study suggests that the scoring categories of the Korean version of the GMFM should be collapsed from 0 (subject does not initiate task), 1 (subject initiates task), 2 (subject partially completes task), 3 (subject completes task) to 0 (subject does not initiate task), 1 (subject initiates or partially completes task), 2 (subject completes task) for better accuracy in estimating the gross motor function of children with cerebral palsy.