• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.140-145
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• 2017

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of visual block with ankle joint fatigue on gait and dynamic balance ability. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Thirty healthy young adults (men=15, women=15) between 22 to 25 years of age voluntarily participated in this study. All subjects performed the gait and dynamic balance test successively in two conditions: the visual block and the open eyes condition. Before the gait and dynamic balance test, muscle fatigue on the ankle joint was induced to all subjects by doing ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion alternately, and then gait parameters (step length, stride length, cadence, velocity, single limb support, and double limb support) were assessed by walking on the GAITRite system (CIR Systems Inc., USA). Subjects also performed the functional reach test (FRT) for assessment of dynamic balance. This study examined gait parameters and FRT scores in each visual block and open eyes condition. Results: The results showed that FRT scores with the visual block condition significantly decreased compared to without visual blocking (p<0.01). Step length, stride length, cadence, and velocity of gait parameters decreased significantly in the visual block condition (p<0.01) while there was no significant difference for single limb support. However, double limb support increased significantly in the visual block system (p<0.01). Conclusions: Therefore, blocking of visual information with muscle fatigue of the ankle joint can affect gait and balance ability of young adults and increase the risk of falls.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.99-107
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of foot orthotic on postural sway. Subjects were 15 patients(7 men and 8 women) who prescribed foot orthotic at B hospital and L rehabilitation medicine clinic in Seoul. Postural sway during a single limb stance was measured using the CMS 10 Measuring System when subjects positioned on the balance trainer under two treatment conditions(orthotic and nonorthotic). RCSP(resting calcaneal stance position) while subjects were standing on the glass plate was measured using the angle finder after subjects were positioned in prone to divide equally lower leg and calcaneus using the goniometer. The result was as follows. There were significant difference between postural sway of orthotic and nonorthotic conditions(t=4.888, 4.589, p<0.001), and the leg of the small RCSP within a subject has the small postural sway index($x^2=26.000$, p<0.001). In conclusion, foot orthotics provide structural support for detecting and controlling postural sway in patients prescribed foot orthotics.