• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.258-265
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• 2010

The purposes of this study was to determine the effects of limited hyperextension at knee joint using Limited Motion Knee Brace on balance and walking in patients with hemiplegia. The subjects of this study were 20 post-stroke hemiplegic patients admitted. Subjects were randomly assigned to either experimental group (Limited Motion Knee Brace group) or control group (manual restriction group). Both groups received traditional physical therapy intervention. The effects of each therapeutic method were evaluated by measurements of gait ability assesment, Berg balance scale (BBS), 10-meter walk speed (10MWS), Timed Up & Go (TUG) Test. The results of this research were as followings: (1) After treatment, there were significant BBS scores differences in both experimental and control group compared with pre-treatment(p<0.05). (2) After treatment, there were significant TUG test scores differences in both experimental and control group compared with pre-treatment (p<0.05). (3) After treatment, there were significant 10MWS differences in both experimental and control group compared with pre-treatment (p<0.05). (4) There were significant BBS scores differences in third and fourth week between experimental and control group (p<0.05). It was concluded that Limited Motion Knee Brace was effective for improving balance and for reducing fatigue for experimental group. Therefore, further studies are required to investigate the effect of knee orthosis for improving balance and walking in patients with hemiplegia.

• The Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Ultrasound Society
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.73-77
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the method of dynamic sonographic measurements in the evaluation of the MCL injury of the knee joint while applying valgus and varus stress. Materials and Methods: Seven cases of MCL injury from January to April of 2008 was used for the study. For the evaluation of the medial instability, sonography was used immediately after injury, 6 weeks and 12 weeks after conservative treatment with limited motion brace. The length between the foot of the medial femoral epicondyle and the most proximal point of the tibial cortex was measured in 30 degrees flexion with valgus and varus stress of the knee joint. Results: The foot of the medial epicondyle and the starting point of the proximal tibial cortex underneath the round portion of the articular cartilage were always able to be seen on ultrasonography, even in varus and valgus stress with gravity in 30 degrees flexion of the knee joint. The results of measurements were always constant. Conclusion: Sonography can be used in evaluation of medial instability under the dynamic valgus and varus stress of the knee joint without further injury.