• PNF and Movement
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.267-273
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• 2018

Purpose: Leg length discrepancy (LLD) is one of the risk factors for postural imbalance. This study aimed to investigate the effect of induced leg length discrepancy on the limitation of stability (LOS) and static postural balance. Methods: Thirteen adults (males, 7; females 6) participated in this study. The LOS and static postural balance [sway length, sway area, and sway velocity of center of gravity (COG) displacement] were measured by the balance trainer system. The subjects were asked to move the COG for the anterior, posterior, and left and right directions maximally and to keep standing on the platform with and without induced LLD for 30 s in the open and closed eyes conditions, respectively. The LLD was artificially induced to 2 cm using insole. Wilcoxon test was used to compare the LOS and the static postural balance between with and without induced LLD. Results: The anterior and posterior LOS significantly decreased in induced LLD (p<0.05), and the left and right LOS were not significantly different between with and without LLD (p>0.05). Sway length, sway area, and sway velocity of the COG displacement significantly decreased in induced LLD (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study suggests that induced LLD could decease the antero-posterior LOS and increased the static postural balance. Therefore, the LLD could disturb the postural balance.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.168-176
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• 2021

Background: The foot is a complex body structure that plays an important role in static and dynamic situations. Previous studies have reported that altered foot posture might affect knee joint strength and postural stability, however their relationship still remains unclear. Objects: The purpose of this study was to identify whether pronated foot posture has an influence on knee isokinetic strength and static and dynamic postural stability. Methods: Forty healthy young males aged 18 to 26 years were included. Foot posture was evaluated using the Foot Posture Index-6 (FPI-6), and the subjects were divided into two groups according to their FPI-6 scores: a neutral foot group (n = 20, FPI-6 score 0 to +5) and a pronated foot group (n = 20, FPI-6 score +6 or more). Biodex Systems 3 isokinetic dynamometer was used to evaluate knee isokinetic strength and hamstring to quadriceps ratio at three angular velocities: 60°/sec, 90°/sec, and 180°/sec. The static and dynamic postural stability in a single-leg stance under the eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions were measured with a Biodex Balance System. Results: There were no significant differences between the groups in knee isokinetic strength and static postural stability (p > 0.05), but there was a significant difference in the medial-lateral stability index (MLSI) for dynamic postural stability under the eyes-closed condition (p = 0.022). The FPI-6 scores correlated significantly only with the dynamic overall stability index (OSI) and the MLSI (OSI: R = 0.344, p = 0.030; MLSI: R = 0.409, p = 0.009) under the eyesclosed condition. Conclusion: Participants with pronated foot had poorer medial-lateral dynamic stability under an eyes-closed condition than those without, and FPI-6 scores were moderately positively correlated with dynamic OSI and dynamic MLSI under the eyes-closed condition. These results suggest that pronated foot posture could induce a change in postural stability, but not in knee isokinetic strength.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.39-46
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• 2016

Loss of postural stability can possibly lead to slip and fall accidents in the number of workplaces and everyday life. This study was aimed to examine the effects of whole body fatigue and partially limited visual field on the ability of maintaining postural balance during quiet standing. A group of twelve healthy male subjects participated in the experiment. Before and after experiencing the whole body fatigue induced by bicycling exercises, the position coordinates of subject's center of pressure (COP) were obtained under the two levels of visual field condition (i.e., open visual field and limited visual field). Four levels of the whole body fatigue examined were rest, 300watt, 600watt, and 900watt. Position coordinates of COPs measured on a force plate were then converted into the total length of postural sway path in both the medio-lateral (ML) direction and the anterior-posterior (AP) direction. Two-way ANOVA result showed that the length of sway path in the AP direction became significantly larger as the whole body fatigue accumulated. Post-hoc test revealed statistically significant differences between rest and 900watt and between 300watt and 900watt. The significant increase of the sway length was also found when the visual field was partially obstructed by the boxes. In the ML direction, however, there was no statistically significant difference of the postural sway in both the AP and ML directions. The results imply that the ability of maintaining postural stability can be reduced significantly due to such tasks along with whole body fatigue. The postural balance can also be impaired by the limited visual field.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.25-33
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• 2012

In this study, we analyzed the effects of game-based visual feedback training on postural balance control in young adults. We provided postural balance training for four weeks in fifth minute a day and three days a week using training system of postural balance based forceplate. We evaluated the ability of postural balance using balance SD(Biodex, medicalscience Inc., USA) for the validation of game contents based visual feedback training program. The results showed that postural stability and limits of stability were improved significantly before and after the training(p<0.05). Our study indicates that postural balance training of visual feedback based game could be adapted for improving postural balance. Also, for application of this game-based visual feedback training in older adults, we could develope of various game contents for disease types and conduct quantitative analysis and data collection of postural balance in the aged.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.16-23
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• 2018

Postural instability can increase the likelihood of hazardous slip and fall accidents in workplaces. The present study intended to extend understanding of the effect of abnormal neck posture on postural control during quiet standing. The effect of body fatigue on the postural control was also of primary concern. Twelve healthy undergraduate students volunteered to participate in the experiment. Standing on a force platform with the neck neutral, flexed, extended, or rotated, subjects' center of pressures (COP) were measured under the two levels of body fatigue. For the fatigue condition, Subjects exercised in a treadmill to meet the predetermined level of body fatigue. Analyzing the position coordinates of COPs, the length of postural sway path was assessed in both medio-lateral (ML) axis and anterior-posterior (AP) axis. Results showed that, in AP direction, neck extension or rotation significantly increased the sway length as compared with neck neutral. Neck extension led to greater sway length compared to neck rotation. Neck flexion did not differ from neck neutral. The sway length in the AP direction also became significantly larger as the body fatigue accumulated after treadmill exercise. In ML direction, as compared to neutral posture, the neck extension, flexion, or rotation did not significantly affect the length of postural sway path. However, the sway length seemed to increase marginally with the neck extended during the fatigued condition. This study demonstrates that abnormal neck posture may interfere with postural control during standing. The ability to maintain postural stability decreases significantly with the neck extended or rotated. Body fatigue leads to postural instability further.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.53-67
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• 1996

Since Romberg's test in 1953, the analysis of postural sway during upright stance has been widely used as a tool for evaluating balance and disorders of the postural control system. This review describes the methods that have been used to evaluste the static and dynamic performance of the postural control system. Various identification methods of postural control system based on standing balance are discussed and measures of postural sway are described. The application areas of standign balance research, with an emphasis on postural control evaluations, are also briefly described. This review can be used to gain an understanding of the dynamics of human standing balance.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.142-144
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• 2017

Purpose: Few studies have addressed the effect of diurnal circadian rhythms on postural stability, and thus the aim of the present study was to examine circadian effects on static and dynamic postural stability in young adults. Methods: Twenty-four subjects (9 men, 11 women: age=$22.20{\pm}1.77$, height=$167.20{\pm}10.47$, weight=$59.85{\pm}10.66$) from a university community volunteered for this study. Static and dynamic balance testing, which recorded using a Good Balance system (Good Balance, Metitur Ltd, Finland) was conducted at 9:00, 13:00, and 17:00 hours on two consecutive days, and the sequencing of static and dynamic balance tests were randomized. Results were analyzed using the non-parametric one-way repeated Friedman test in SPSS version 18.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA), and variable found to be significant were subjected to Wilcoxon post hoc testing. Results: Static and dynamic balance showed significant difference at the three times assessments (test at 9:00, 13:00, and 17:00) during circadian. In the post hoc test of static (anteroposterior distance, mediolateral distance and COP (center of pressure) velocity) and dynamic balance (performance time), 13:00 was the longer and faster than 9:00. Conclusion: These results indicated that control of postural balance is influenced by diurnal circadian rhythms, and confirm that control of postural balance is more effective and better performance in the 09:00 hours than 13:00 hours or 17:00 hours.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.69-80
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of core stability training on postural control and balance of hemiplegia patients who are difficult to control posture due to stroke. Methods : Subjects of the study were consisted of 25 adult hemiplegia patients(experimental 12, control 13) who were receiving rehabilitation therapy in hospital. Its group had a core stability training program by a physical therapists for 40 minutes, five times a week for nine-week period. Measurements of postural assessment scale for stroke(PASS), berg balance scale(BBS) and manual function test(MFT) were evaluated at initial presentation(pretest) and after completion of the each therapy program(posttest). Independent t-test and paired t-test was utilized to detect the mean difference between the groups. Results : Firstly, the result of PASS showed that postural control was significantly increased after the completion of core stability training(p<.01). Secondly, the result of BBS showed that balance control was significantly increased after the completion of core stability training(p<.01) and general physical therapy(p<.01). Lastly, the result of MFT showed that upper extremity's motor function was significantly increased after the completion of core stability training(p<.001). Conclusions : This study showed that core stability training is an effective treatment strategy on postural control, balance and upper extremity's motor function.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.851-860
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• 1998

The purpose of this study was to quantitatively observe changes in postural stability of double leg support and single limb stance. Thirty-six healthy subjects participated in the study. Postural stability were examined using Dynamic Balance System. Each trial was 25 sec in duration. Each of 6 conditions{double leg support and single limb stance ; eyes open in stable platform, eyes closed in stable platform, eyes open in dynamic platform) evaluated effect of visual, vestibular, proprioceptive system. Center of balance found for displacement to the left along the X axis in double leg support and to the forward on left toe in single limb stance. Sway index was the lowest in double leg support with eyes open in stable platform and the higher in single limb stance with eyes closed in stance platform. We believe that reliable and valid measures should be used to determine the contributing factors of our client's postural problems so that we can design the most effective treatment possible.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.181-185
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• 2012

Purpose: We investigated balance change in patients with low back pain (LBP) by comparing postural sway velocity between young LBP patients and healthy subjects. Methods: The cross-sectional study enrolled 37 young patients with over 3-month duration of LBP and 38 healthy subjects between the ages of 20 and 30 years old. All subjects were targeted by measuring their balance during quiet standing with open eye and closed eye conditions. The postural sway velocity between the LBP patients and healthy subjects was compared. As well, postural sway velocity was determined in the LBP patients with both eyes open and closed. Results: Significant differences were evident in the anteroposterior and mediolateral mean velocity of center-of-pressure between LBP patients and healthy subjects, and in LBP patients in the eye open and eye closed conditions. Conclusion: The balance of young LBP patients was worse than healthy subjects during quiet standing, and was especially lessened in the absence of vision.