• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.241-246
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• 2012

Purpose: We investigated the effect of postural stability and balance with foot orthotics in hemiplegic patients. Methods: The subjects enrolled in this study were 16 hemiplegic patients who were examined for balance ability, weight distribution, and limits of stability with or without foot orthotics insole. Balance was measured according to a stance position by BIORESCUE: static balance open eyes (SEO), static balance close eyes (SEC), dynamic balance open eyes (DEO), dynamic balance close eyes (DEC), right and left weight distribution (RLWD), anterior and posterior weight distribution (APWD) and limit of stability (LOS). The data were analyzed with SPSS window version 18.0 (IBM Co., Armonk, NY, USA). Results: The results were of significant changes to the SEO (p<0.05), RLWD (p<0.05), APWD (p<0.05), and LOS (p<0.05). The SEC, DEO and DEC were not found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: It was found that foot orthotics affected the balance for hemiplegic patients. Therefore, it is thought to help fall prevention to measure the balance ability.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.78-85
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• 2023

Background: Despite fall prevention strategies suggested by researchers, falls are still a major health concern in older adults. Understanding factors that differentiate successful versus unsuccessful balance recovery may help improve the prevention strategies. Objects: The purpose of this review was to identify biomechanical factors that differentiate successful versus unsuccessful balance recovery in the event of a fall. Methods: The literature was searched through Google Scholar and PubMed. The following keywords were used: 'falls,' 'protective response,' 'protective strategy,' 'automated postural response,' 'slips,' 'trips,' 'stepping strategy,' 'muscle activity,' 'balance recovery,' 'successful balance recovery,' and 'failed balance recovery.' Results: A total of 64 articles were found and reviewed. Most of studies included in this review suggested that kinematics during a fall was important to recover balance successfully. To be successful, appropriate movements were required, which governed by several things depending on the direction and characteristics of the fall. Studies also suggested that lower limb muscle activity and joint moments were important for successful balance recovery. Other factors associated with successful balance recovery included fall direction, age, appropriate protective strategy, overall health, comorbidity, gait speed, sex and anticipation of the fall. Conclusion: This review discusses biomechanical factors related to successful versus unsuccessful balance recovery to help understand falls. Our review should help guide future research, or improve prevention strategies in the area of fall and injuries in older adults.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.332-338
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of postural control and locomotion on improvement of two point discrimination (TPD), stereognosis (ST) through somatosensory training (SST) on the upper limb (UL). Methods: The subjects were 20 hemiplegia patients who have problems with unilateral neglect after stroke. The patients were divided into two groups, the experimental group (EG) and the control group (CG). In the EG, SST for TPD, ST was performed 18 times, three times a week for six weeks, together with physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT). In the CG conventional PT and OT without SST was performed for six weeks. Several assessment tools were used in comparison of groups; two point discrimination test (TPDT) on forearm (F), thenar (T), hypothenar (TH), thumb tip (TH-T), index finger tip (IN-T), stereognosis test (ST), postural assessment scale for stroke (PASS), and clinical test of sensory interaction on balance (CTSIB) and timed up and go test (TUG). Results: In the CG, conventional PT and OT resulted in statistically improved TPDT (F), ST, PASS, and TUG. In the EG, SST resulted in statistically improved TPDT (F, T, HT, TH-T, IN-T), ST, PASS, and TUG. TPDT-T, ST, and CTSIB with length of displacement with eye open (LDEO) also showed significant improvement between the groups. Conclusion: In both groups TPDT ST, PASS and TUG, and SST had effects on the UL and TPDT, ST and static postural control had greater effects compared with the PG. Therefore, we could assume that TPD and ST are very important in performing human activities including postural control and locomotion.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.293-301
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• 2016

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of freezing of gait and visual information on the static postural control ability in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD) during the bipedal stance with feet together. Method: This study included a total of 36 patients with PD; the freezer group included 17 PD patients (age: $69.3{\pm}6.2yrs$, height: $159.6{\pm}9.0cm$, weight: $63.4{\pm}9.78kg$) and the nonfreezer group included 19 PD patients (age: $71.4{\pm}5.6yrs$, height: $155.8{\pm}7.1cm$, weight: $57.7{\pm}8.6kg$). Static postural control ability was analyzed using variables of center of pressure (COP) and dividing by mediolateral, anteroposterior, and integration factors during a bipedal stance with the eyes open and closed. Results: Freezers and nonfreezers showed increases in anteroposterior velocity, mediolateral velocity, averaged velocity, and mediolateral 95% edge frequency when visual information was blocked. Additionally, freezers had greater anteroposterior range, 95% confidence ellipse area, and COP anteroposterior mean position than nonfreezers. Conclusion: Freezers and nonfreezers showed a reduction in static postural control ability when visual information was blocked. Additionally, the results of this study found a significant difference in static postural control ability between freezers and nonfreezers with PD. In particular, anteroposterior range, 95% confidence ellipse area, and COP anteroposterior mean position might be used to distinguish between freezers and nonfreezers with PD.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.5-22
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to investigate the balancing training effect on weight bearing ratio and postural sway on the unstable surface for the CVA patients with balance disability. The inclusion criteria were walking independently 20m distances. Eighteen subjects, 4 with right and 14 with left hemiplegic patients were participated in this study. The range of age was from 35 to 75 and the duration from onset time was from 1 to 38 months. The intervention program including balancing training that they were introduced for 10 minutes every other day during 12 weeks to experimental group, and general therapeutic exercise to control group. The result of this study were as following; 1. The balancing training on the unstable surface showed that the postural sway of left/right distribution would appear more effective on sitting with eyes opened. 2. The balancing training on the unstable surface showed that the postural sway of forward/rear distribution, left/right distribution and distance would appear more effective on standing with eyes opened. 3. The balancing training on unstable surface would increase more effective on the weight-bearing ratio of left/right difference and frequency. 4. The balancing training on unstable surface was statistical significant on the postural sway of left/right distribution and area in experimental group. and it was statistical significant on the postural sway of forward/rear distribution, left/right distribution and distance in control group, too.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.43-51
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• 2020

This study examined how the eight-week spinal stabilization exercise program affects the cervical disability index, postural balance ability, and body shape change. The exercise program performed 60 minutes of spinal stabilization exercise three times a week for eight weeks. Sixteen patients with chronic neck pain, who complained of neck pain for six months, were classified into exercise group (n=8 patients) and control group (n=8 patients). The results before and after the eight-week exercise program were observed. Significant differences were observed in the time, group, and interaction of the neck disability index (p<.05). The balance ability showed significant interaction effects between the groups and periods (p<.05). Significant differences were noted in the timing and interaction in the pelvic inclination angle in posture change (p<.05), and there were significant differences in the group, timing, group, and interaction in the cervical and shoulder position angles (p<.05). The above results showed that the spinal stabilization exercise significantly improved the cervical disability index, balance ability change, and body shape change in patients with chronic neck pain. Future studies will analyze the specific changes in spinal structure through radiographic imaging to increase the validity of spinal stabilization exercise.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.9-14
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• 2013

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of visual Auditory rhythmic stimulation(VARS) in gait ability and proprioception with chronic stroke patients. Twenty-one persons after six months post stroke participated in pre test-post test control. Method : The subjects were randomly assigned to a visual Auditory rhythmic stimulation(VARS) group (n=10) and control group (n=11). Training process was practiced with exercise on thirty minutes a day, three days a week for four weeks. To find out the effect, inspected the FRT(functional reach test) by static balance and TUG(timed up and go test) by dynamic balance. Results : In static balance, FRT distance was significantly different between two group. In dynamic balance, TUG time was significantly different between two group. This study showed that the VARS training increase a balance by postural adjustment of chronic stroke patients more than control group. And so, the VARS training of hemiplegic patients was very important to successive rehabilitation. Conclusion : A continuous examination of VARS training could practical used of physical therapy with exercise.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.105-111
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• 2018

Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine the effects muscle fatigue at the knee muscles on balance during standing in healthy adults. Methods Thirty healthy adults were recruited along with their written informed consent. Subjects were randomly assigned to knee extensor group (fatigue on knee extensor, KE), and knee flexor group (fatigue on knee flexor, KF). And subjects performed exercise with each muscle group until muscle fatigue was induced. They were assessed balance ability by functional reaching test (FRT), limit of stability (LOS), and postural sway (one leg standing, normal eye open (NO), normal eye close (NC), pillow with eye open (FO), and pillow with eye close (FC)) before and after fatigue. Results There were significant group differences balance performances in FRT, anterior of limit of stability, one leg standing, and the muscle fatigue of knee muscles were decreased balance performances. The balance performance was affected by visual sense and proprioception. Conclusions These results show that the muscle fatigue of knee muscles decreased balance performance. Therefore, balance exercise program should be trained without muscle fatigue.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.84-93
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• 2020

Despite of a lot of studies about proprioception tests, there are little study results to investigate the relationship between the functional movement and proprioception level. In this study, we tried to perform quantitative analysis for the effect of ankle joint proprioception level on the one leg standing postural control ability. Nine healthy people volunteered for this study. Force and position aspects of proprioception were evaluated using the electromyography system (EMG) and mobile clinometer application, respectively. The center of pressure (COP) trajectories, measured by a pressure mat sensor, were used for quantitative analysis of balance for each subject. We computed indices and errors of force and position aspects of proprioception from the EMG and ankle angle. Mean velocity of total and anterior-posterior direction (Vm and Vm_ap), root mean squared distance in anterior-posterior direction (RDap), travel length (L), and area (A) of COP trajectories were also calculated as indices of postural control ability of subjects. Two aspects of proprioception showed the low correlation from each other as previous studies. However, the EMG error of gastrocnemius lateral activation showed a high correlation coefficient with COP variables such as Vm (ρ=0.817, p=0.007), Vm_ap (ρ=0.883, p=0.002), RDap (ρ=0.854, p=0.003), L (ρ=0.817, 0.007) and A (ρ=0.700, p=0.036). Within our knowledge, this is almost the first study that investigated the relationship between proprioception level and functional movement. These study results could support that the ankle joint proprioception facilitation exercise would have positive effects on functional balance rehabilitation interventions.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.7-14
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• 2010

Purpose: The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of balance and gait ability through two motor dual task training in chronic stroke subjects. Methods: A group of twenty-five subjects who were six months post stroke participated in this study, where they were designated into pretest-posttest control The subjects were randomly allocated into two groups: experimental (n=13) and control (n=12). Both groups received physical therapy for 5 session 30 minutes per week during 6 weeks. Experimental group practiced additional two motor dual task training programs for thirty minutes a day, three days a week during six weeks. Evaluation of results was obtained through analyzing static balance, dynamic balance and gait function. Results: There was significant improvement among the group that practiced the additional two motor dual task training in that the postural sway area with open eye and close eye on the foam surface, the dynamic balance (p<0.05), and the gait function (p<0.05). Conclusion: Two motor dual task training improved static balance on the foam, dynamic balance, gait function. These results suggest that two motor dual task training is a feasible and suitable treatment for individuals with chronic stroke.