• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.61-69
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• 2016

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of the virtual reality training (VRT) using 3-dimensional video gaming technology on spatiotemporal gait parameters in older adults. METHODS: The study participants were divided into two groups: the VRT group and the control group. Those in the VRT group were enrolled in a VRT, which was conducted for 60 min per day, two times a week, during the 6-week research. The Wii-Fit balance board game was used for the VRT intervention. The VRT consisted of 6 different types of games, namely, jogging, swordplay, ski jump, hula hoop, tennis, and step dance. A 3-dimensional TV was used for 3-dimensional display. Participants in both the groups received 3 sessions of fall prevention education, at the first, third, and fifth weeks. Their gait parameters were measured by using OptoGait. RESULTS: After 6 weeks of the VRT, the spatial gait parameters of the participants, that is stride length and step length, were significantly improved compared with those of the control group participants (p<0.05). The temporal gait parameters, such as velocity, cadence, stride time, and step time, also showed improvement after the completion of the VRT training (p<0.05). Both the temporal and spatial gait parameters of the VRT group participants showed improvement after 6 weeks of the program compared with those of the control group participants (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The VRT using 3-dimensional video gaming technology might be beneficial for improving gait parameters to prevent falls among older adults.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.185-190
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• 2020

Purpose: Gait and cognitive impairment in stroke patients exacerbate fall risk and mobility difficulties during multi-task walking. Virtual reality can provide interesting and challenging training in a community setting. This study evaluated the effect of community-based virtual reality gait training (VRGT) using a 360-degree image on the gait ability of chronic stroke patients. Methods: Forty-five chronic stroke patients who were admitted to a rehabilitation hospital participated in this study. Patients meeting the selection criteria were randomly divided into a VRGT group (n=23) and a control group (n=22). Both these groups received general rehabilitation. The VRGT group was evaluated using a 360-degree image that was recorded for 50 minutes a day, 5 days per week for a total of 6 weeks after their training. The control group received general treadmill training for the same amount of time as that of the VRGT group. The improvement in the spatiotemporal parameters of gait was evaluated using a gait analyzer system before and after training. Results: The spatiotemporal gait parameters showed significant improvements in both groups compare with the baseline measurements (p<0.05), and the VRGT group showed more improvement than the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Community-based VRGT has been shown to improve the walking ability of chronic stroke patients and is expected to be used in rehabilitation of stroke patients in the future.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.194-203
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• 2020

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the gait patterns of cerebellar infarction patients with those of corticospinal tract stroke patients through a follow-up of patients with ataxic gait due to cerebellar infarction and corticospinal tract stroke. Methods: We investigated two cases of patients with cerebellar infarction and two cases each of acute or chronic corticospinal tract stroke who were hospitalized at Wonkwang University Gawangju Medical Center from September 1, 2017 to February 15, 2020 based on medical records and gait analyses. The spatiotemporal gait parameters of each patient were measured three times at 2-week intervals except those of the chronic corticospinal tract stroke patients, which were measured twice at a 1-month interval. Results: Spatiotemporal gait parameters, which include velocity, cadence, step length, stride length, and single support, were consistently increased in the cerebellar infarction patients in comparison to the corticospinal tract stroke patients. The stance phase was decreased in all the patients. Conclusions: The cerebellar infarction patients' gait spatiotemporal parameters were found to consistently improve. Moreover, gait analysis can be used to effectively measure improvement of ataxic gait.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2014

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to understand the relationship between gait symmetry and functional balance, walking performance in stroke patients and to makes recommendation regarding the most suitable measure for standardization of expression of spatiotemporal gait symmetry. Methods: 45 subjects with stroke (31 men, 14 women, $57.3{\pm}10.3$ years old) participated in this study. Gait symmetry was calculated by equations of symmetry ratio (SR) and symmetry criterion (SC) for stance time, swing time, single leg support time (SLST), step length, and stride length. Spatiotemporal parameters were measured respectively by walkway system ($GAITRite^{TM}$ system). Limit of stability (LOS) by using forceplate (Balance Performance Monitor) during voluntary weight displacement and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) were measured as functional balance and Timed Up and Go test (TUG) and Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) were assessed as functional walking. Results: SR in stance time and swing time was correlation with BBS, TUG and FAC (p<0.05). SR in SLST only with BBS (p<0.01), SR in step length only with FAC (p<0.05). SC in stance time was correlation with BBS and TUG (p<0.05). SC in swing time and SLST with BBS, TUG and FAC (p<0.01), SC in step length with TUG and FAC (p<0.01), SC in stride length with BBS and FAC (p<0.01). Conclusion: Gait symmetry in spatiotemporal gait parameters provides meaningful information about functional balance and walking performance in stroke subjects. Our analysis may support the recommendations of the symmetry criterion as equation for standardization of gait symmetry.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.251-257
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• 2016

The Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS) was balance measurement equipment for school-age children with mild to moderate motor impairments. The aims of this study are to examine the correlation between PBS and spatiotemporal gait parameter and to identify the walking function with cerebral palsy through balance scale. The PBS consists of 14 items such as sitting of standing, standing to sitting, transfers, standing unsupported, standing on one foot, turning 360 degrees, turing to look behind, etc., and the spatiotemporal parameters include walking speed, stride length, step length, step width, cadence, double-limb support. All subjects were independently ambulatory children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy, and they were assessed on PBS and spatiotemporal gait parameters by an experienced pediatric physical therapist. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to assess the correlation between PBS and spatiotemporal gait parameters, and the level of significance was set at ${\alpha}$ = 0.05. Total score of PBS(r=.49~.58), standing to sitting(r=.48~.60), turning to look behind(r=.47~.53), and pick up object(r=.52~.69) were positively correlated with walking speed, stride length, step length, and cadence. Most items of the PBS were negatively correlated with double-limb support(r=-.48~-.92). These findings suggest that the pediatric balance scale can be applied to estimate gait function level for children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.295-306
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of robot-assisted gait training on the active ranges of motion, gait abilities, and biomechanical characteristics of gait in patients who underwent lower extremity surgery, and to verify the effectiveness and clinical usefulness of robot-assisted gait training. Methods: This study was conducted on 14 subjects who underwent lower extremity surgery. The subjects participated in robot-assisted gait training for 2 weeks. The active ranges of motion of the lower extremities were evaluated, and gait abilities were assessed using 10-m and 2-min walk tests. An STT Systems Inertial Measurement Unit was used to collect data on biomechanical characteristics during gait. Spatiotemporal parameters were used to measure cadence, step length, and velocity, and kinematic parameters were used to measure hip and knee joint movement during gait. Results: Significant improvements in the active ranges of motion of the hip and knee joints (flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction) and in the 10-m and 2-min walk test results were observed after robot-assisted gait training (p < 0.05). In addition, biomechanical characteristics of gait, spatiotemporal factors (cadence, step length, and velocity), and kinematic factors (gait hip flexion-extension, internal rotation-external rotation angle, and knee joint flexion-extension) were also significantly improved (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study are of clinical importance as they demonstrate that robot-assisted gait training can be used as an effective intervention method for patients who have undergone lower extremity surgery. Furthermore, the findings of this study are clinically meaningful as they expand the scope of robot-assisted gait training, which is currently mainly applied to patients with central nervous system conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.117-125
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• 2020

PURPOSE: Aging causes changes in the postural alignment and gait due to changes in the nervous and musculoskeletal systems. On the other hand, the relationship between the changes in posture alignment and gait is unclear. This study examined the relationship between the postural alignment and spatiotemporal gait parameters in Korean elderly women. METHODS: Thirty-two-healthy elderly women participated in this study. All subjects were assessed for their posture alignment and gait ability. Stepwise multiple linear regression was performed to determine to what extent the postural alignments could explain the spatiotemporal gait parameters. RESULTS: Coronal head angle was moderately correlated with the velocity (r = -.51), normalized velocity (r = -.46) and gait-stability ratio (r = .58) (p < .05). The trunk angle was moderately correlated with the normalized velocity (r = -.32) and gait-stability ratio (r = .32) and weakly correlated with the velocity (r = -.28) (p < .05). The coronal shoulder angle was moderately correlated with the swing phase (r = -.57), stance phase (r = .56), single limb stance (r = -.56) and double limb stance (r = .51) (p < .05). The coronal head angle and trunk angle accounted for 36% of the variance in velocity, 33% variance in normalized velocity and 46% variance in the gait-stability ratio (p < .05). The coronal shoulder angle accounted for 32% variance in the swing phase, 32% variance in the stance phase, 31% variance in the single limb stance and 26% variance in the double limb stance (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Changes in posture alignment in elderly women may serve as a biomarker to predict a decrease in walking ability due to physical aging.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.33-39
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• 2011

Background : The purpose of this study was to apply cervical orthosis for temporal parameters of gait was to evaluate the effect. Methods : Seven normal adults participated in this study. Before and after applying a cervical orthosis compared to gait. Outcome measure were: general characteristics, temporal parameters of gait. General chacteristics included age, gender, height, weight. Temporal parameters included the Velocity cycle, Stride length, Step length, Cadence cycle, Initial double support time. Temporal parameters of gait, using the motion analysis system for cervical orthosis were evaluated before and after applying. The data was analyzed using SPSS 12.0 software and the Wilcoxon's signed-ranks test. Results : Velocity cycle and Step length were no significant differences(p>0.05). But Stride length, Cadence cycle, Initial double support time were significant(p<0.05). After apply Cervical orthosis in gait, Stride length and Initial double support time was decreased and Cadence cycle was increased. Conclusion : Changes in temporal of temporal parameters of gait was apply a cervical orthosis with the limitations of vision due to take effect. Therefore, Cervical orthosis does not interfere with the normal gait pattern by limiting the Range of Motion so that we consider to apply.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 2013

■ Objectives The goal of this pilot study is to observe the change of gait pattern according to the clinical status in a patient with ataxic gait by cerebellar infarction. ■ Methods We measured the spatiotemporal gait parameters of a patient with ataxic gait four times, in which, first, the patient was not able to walk independently, second, able to walk independently, third, unable to walk independently by general tremor, and, last, able to walk independently after disappearing of general tremor. ■ Results When a patient with cerebellar ataxic gait was able to walk independently and the cerebellar tremor was disappeared, the change of gait pattern was that step and stride length decreased and total double support and stance phase increased. ■ Conclusion When different clinical characteristics were improved, the change of gait showed same pattern.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.135-145
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between cognitive and motor inhibition by comparing muscle activity and ground reaction force during unplanned gait termination according to reaction time measured through the stop-signal task. Methods: Sixteen young adults performed a stop-signal task and an unplanned gait termination separately. The subjects were divided into fast and slow groups based on their stop-signal reaction time (SSRT), as measured by the stop-signal task. Electromyography (EMG) and ground reaction force (GRF) were compared between the groups during unplanned gait termination. The data for gait termination were divided into three phases (Phase 1 to 3). The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare spatiotemporal gait parameters and EMG and GRF data between groups. Results: The slow group had significantly higher activity of the tibialis anterior in Phase 2 and Phase 3 than the fast group (p <0.05). In Phase 1, the fast group had significantly shorter time to peak amplitude (TPA) of the soleus than the slow group (p <0.05). In Phase 2, the TPA of the tibialis anterior was significantly lower in the fast group than the slow group (p <0.05). In Phase 3, there was no significant difference in the GRF between the two groups (p >0.05). There were no significant difference between the two groups in the spatiotemporal gait parameters (p >0.05). Conclusion: Compared to the slow group, the fast group with cognitive inhibition suppressed muscle activity for unplanned gait termination. The association between SSRT and unplanned gait termination shows that a participant's ability to suppress an incipient finger response is relevant to their ability to construct a corrective gait pattern in a choice-demanding environment.