• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.447-454
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• 2011

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of circuit class training on the performance of locomotor tasks in chronic stroke. Methods : The study included 45 patients with chronic stroke randomly divided into experimetal group and control group. Both groups participated in exercise classes three times a week for 8weeks. The experimental group had 10 workstation of circuit class designed to improve walking. The control group practiced fitness exercises by equipment in health center. Walking performance was assessed by measuring walking speed(timed 10-meter walk and TUG), GAITRite analysis and peak vertical ground reaction force through the affected foot during walking. Results : The experimental group demonstrated significant improvement(p<.05) compared with the control group in 10-meter walking and vertical ground reaction force after training. The experimental group showed significant improvements in the walking velocity and cadence by GAITRite system(p<.05). Conclusion : Task- oriented circuit class training leads to improvements in locomotor function in chronic stroke. Further studies are necessary to occur in usual environments to improve walking performance.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2013

Purpose : To identify importance of coordinative locomotor training, we reviewed the coordinative locomotor training using sprinter & skater with respect to motor control theory. Methods : We reviewed literatures related with sprinter & skater and coordination.. Results : The coordinative locomotor training is useful tool to improve interlimb coordination. A problem of interlimb coordination ability is to minimize the degree of freedoms during walking and to solve with context-condition variability and how to make a interlimb coordinative structures. A way of solving method is coordinative locomotor training using sprinter & skater in PNF. The coordinative locomotor training set to fit the gait steps can be applied with gait tasks and can be extended by applying the irradiation of the PNF. Conclusion : The coordinative locomotor training using sprinter & skater in PNF is a useful way method to improve interlimb coordination during walking.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.63-69
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• 2018

Background: Kinovea software that tracking semi-automatically the motion in video screen has been used to study motion-related tasks in several studies. However, the validation of this software in open field test to assess locomotor activity have not been studied yet. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the reliability and validity of this software in analyzing locomotor activities. Methods: Thirty male Institute Cancer Research mice were subjected in this study. The results examined by this software and the classical method were compared. Test-retest reliability and inter-rater reliability were analyzed with Pearson's correlation coefficient and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The validity of this software was analyzed with Pearson's correlation coefficient. Results: This software showed good test-retest reliability (ICC=0.997, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.975-0.994, p<0.001). This software also showed good inter-rater reliability (ICC=0.987, 95% CI=0.973-0.994, p<0.001). Furthermore, in three analyses for the validity of this software, there were significant correlations between two methods (Pearson's correlation coefficient=0.928-0.972, p<0.001). In addition, this software showed good reliability and validity in the analysis locomotor activity according to time interval. Conclusion: This study showed that this software in analyzing drug-induced locomotor activity has good reliability and validity. This software can be effectively used in animal study using the analysis of locomotor activity.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.51-60
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• 2004

Falls are common, costly, and a leading cause of death among older adults. The major predisposing factors of a fall may include age-related deterioration in the dynamic system composed of auditory, somatosensory, vestibular, visual, musculoskeletal, and neuromuscular subsystems. Older adults with a history of frequent falls demonstrated significant reductions in gait velocity, muscle force production, and balance performance. These altered neuromechanical characteristics may be further exaggerated when faced with conflicting multisensory conditions. Despite the important contribution of multisensory function on the sensorimotor system during postural and locomotor tasks, it remains unclear whether multisensory intervention will produce dynamic balance improvement during locomotion in older adults with a history of frequent falls. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to address important factors associated with falls in elderly adults and provide theoretical rationale for a multisensory intervention program model.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.64-73
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• 2011

After stroke, many people have problems with balance during movement. Balance is essential for the optimal functioning of the locomotor system and the performance of many activities of daily living. The Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) is a clinical tool for evaluating balance ability during walking. The test consists of ten tasks, seven tasks of the Dynamic Gait Index and three additional tasks. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability and internal consistency of data obtained with the Korean version of the FGA when used with people after suffering a stroke. One-hundred participants, at least three months poststroke and able to walk at least six meters with or without a walking aid, participated in the study (age range=30~83 years; $mean{\pm}SD=58.8{\pm}10.9$). Two physical therapists and two physical therapy students rated the FGA. Intrarater and interrater reliability of the FGA were assessed using kappa statistic and intraclass correlation coefficients (2,1). The internal consistency of the FGA was assessed using the Cronbach alpha. The Cronbach alpha was good (${\alpha}$=.86~.93). The intrarater (intraclass correlation coefficient=.92~.95) and interrater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient=.91, .95) of the total scores administered by the therapists and students were good, whereas the reliability for single item scores when administered by the physical therapists was moderate to good (kapa value=.42~.97). This study found that intrarater and interrater reliability for total FGA scores and internal consistency were good. Therefore, the Korean version of the FGA can be used as a reliable tool to assess the functional gait performance of patients after stroke.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.85-105
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to characterize the neuroprotective effects and anxiolytic-like effects of Gongjin-dan and Polygala japonica, Polygala tenuifolia, Acorus gramineus mixed pills(G.J.D-P.P.A.). Methods : The neuroprotective effects of G.J.D-P.P.A. determined by the passive avoidance and Y-maze tasks and Morris water maze task, and the anxiolytic-like effects of the G.J.D-P.P.A. using an elevated plus-maze(EPM) in mice. Results : Drug-induced amnesia was induced by treating animals with scopolamine(1 mg/kg, i.p.). A single G.J.D-P.P.A.(400 and 800 mg/kg) administration significantly enhanced cognitive function and attenuated scopolamine-induced cognitive impairments as determined by the passive avoidance and Y-maze tasks(P < 0.05) and also reduced escape-latency on the Morris water maze task(P < 0.05). The administration of GJD-PPA(400 and 800 mg/kg) significantly increased the percentage of time spent in open arms and entries into the open arms of the EPM compared with saline-treated control group(P < 0.05). Moreover, there were no changes in the locomotor activity and myorelaxant effects in any group compared with saline-treated control group. Conclusions : These results suggest that GJD-PPA dramatically possesses the anti-amnestic and cognitive-enhancing activities related to the memory processes, and promotes the anxiolytic-like activity in mice.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.299-306
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• 2013

In the present study, we investigated the effect of ethanolic extract of the seed of Zizyphus jujuba var. spinosa (EEZS) on cholinergic blockade-induced memory impairment in mice. Male ICR mice were treated with EEZS. The behavioral tests were conducted using the passive avoidance, the Y-maze, and the Morris water maze tasks. EEZS (100 or 200 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly ameliorated the scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment in our present behavioral tasks without changes of locomotor activity. The ameliorating effect of EEZS on scopolamine-induced memory impairment was significantly reversed by a sub-effective dose of MK-801 (0.0125 mg/kg, s.c.). In addition, single administration of EEZS in normal naive mouse enhanced latency time in the passive avoidance task. Western blot analysis was employed to confirm the mechanism of memory-ameliorating effect of EEZS. Administration of EEZS (200 mg/kg) increased the level of memory-related signaling molecules, including phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase or cAMP response element-binding protein in the hippocampal region. Also, the time-dependent expression level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor by the administration of EEZS was markedly increased from 3 to 9 h. These results suggest that EEZS has memory-ameliorating effect on scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment, which is mediated by the enhancement of the cholinergic neurotransmitter system, in part, via NMDA receptor signaling, and that EEZS would be useful agent against cognitive dysfunction such as Alzheimer's disease.