• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.384-390
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• 2022

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the side-step tasks based circular training program (STCT) on balance and gait characteristics in stroke patients. Design: A randomized controlled trial Methods: Twenty-four stroke patients were randomly divided into two groups of twelve patients each. One group was applied with the STCT whereas the other group was treated with conservative physiotherapy (CP). The ability of gait was measured in 10m walking test and stride length on both side using BTS G-WALK (BTS Bioengineering S.p.A, Italy) and the ability of balance was measured in Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Timed Up and Go Test (TUG). Results: The STCT group was significant differences in the balance parameters of BBS and TUG (p<0.05) and showed significant differences in gait variables in 10m walking speed, stride length of affected and non-affected side after the experiment before and after the experiment (p<0.05). In addition, the STCT group showed a significant difference in BBS compared to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study confirmed that the side-step tasks based circular training program (STCT) improves balance and walking ability in stroke patients. STCT is expected to be used as a useful intervention method for stroke rehabilitation.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.610-621
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• 2013

Purpose: The study was designed to identify influencing and mediating factors of health behaviors of stroke patients based on the hypothetical model constructed in this study. Methods: Non-experimental correlational research design was used. One hundred and five stroke patients were conveniently selected from one university hospital located in Incheon. Data were collected with survey and analyzed by path analysis to examine the significant influencing and mediating factors of health behaviors in stroke patients. Results: Age, diagnosis, disability in ADL, knowledge related to health behavior, and self-efficacy had significant direct causal influences on health behavior. And it was shown that knowledge and self-efficacy mediated influence of cohabitation status with family( whether or not living together with family) on health behavior. Self-efficacy also mediated influence of knowledge on health behavior. Conclusion: From the results, it was proposed that providing knowledge related to health behavior and enhancing self-efficacy by educating skill necessary for health behaviors and promoting health related beliefs might increase health behavior particularly for stroke patients living together with family.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.56-61
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• 2019

Purpose: The spasticity of stroke patients decreases the ankle range of motion and increases the gastrocnemius muscle tone. This study examined the effects of stretching exercise and far infrared irradiation on the ankle function in stroke patients with spasticity. Methods: This study was conducted on 20 stroke patients admitted to Jesaeng General Hospital, who were divided into a study group (stretching exercise with far infrared) and control group (stretching exercise only). The dorsiflexion range of motion was measured using a smartphone and the medial gastrocnemius muscle tone and stiffness were measured using a Myoton pro. Results: With the exception of the non-paretic gastrocnemius muscle tone in the control group, the medial gastrocnemius muscle tone and stiffness decreased significantly in both groups. In both groups, the dorsiflexion range of motion increased significantly. In addition, the experimental group had a significantly higher dorsiflexion range of motion than the control group. On the other hand, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the medial gastrocnemius muscle tone and stiffness. Conclusion: For stroke patients with spasticity, stretching exercises increased the ankle's range of motion and decreased the gastrocnemius muscle tone. The addition of heat therapy further increased the ankle's range of motion. On the other hand, as the sample size was small, future studies should include more subjects.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.193-197
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study was to assess the feasibility of a proposed study "To investigate the effects of applying a vibration stimulation to the paretic and non-paretic sides on balance and gait in stroke patients" before proceeding with the main study. Methods: A total of 30 patients who had suffered a stroke and who met the selection criteria participated in this study. However, only 14 patients completed the study. The study subjects were randomly assigned to vibration stimulation on either both sides (B group) or the paralyzed side (P group). The interventions were applied for six weeks. The patients were assessed using the Berg balance scale (BBS), Timed up and go (TUG), 10-meter walk (10 MW), and 6-minute walk (6 MW) tests. Results: There was a significant difference before and after the application of vibration stimulation in the BBS, TUG, 10MW, and 6 MW tests in the B group (p<0.05). Similarly, there was also a significant difference observed in the 10 MW and 6 MW tests in the P group (p<0.05). The difference between the two groups was not significant in the BBS, TUG, 10 MW, and 6 MW tests (p>0.05). Conclusion: This pilot study suggests that it would be feasible to conduct a large-scale randomized controlled trial (RCT) to examine the effects of applying a vibration stimulation to the paretic and non-paretic sides, on the balance and gait in stroke patients.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.301-309
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• 2020

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of white noise on dynamic balance in patients with stroke during walking. Method: Nineteen patients with chronic stroke (age: 61.2±9.8 years, height: 164.4±7.4 cm, weight: 61.1±9.4 kg, paretic side (R/L): 11/8, duration: 11.6±4.9 years) were included as study participants. Auditory stimulus used white noise, and all participants listened for 40 minutes mixing six types of natural sounds with random sounds. The dynamic balancing ability was evaluated while all participants walked before and after listening to white noise. The variables were the center of pressure (CoP), the center of mass (CoM), CoP-CoM inclined angle. Results: There is a significant increase in the antero-posterior (A-P) CoP range, A-P inclination angle, and gait speed on the paretic and non-paretic sides following white noise intervention (p<.05). Conclusion: Our findings confirmed the positive effect of using white noise as auditory stimulus through a more objective and quantitative assessment using CoP-CoM inclination angle as an evaluation indicator for assessing dynamic balance in patients with chronic stroke. The A-P and M-L inclination angle can be employed as a useful indicator for evaluating other exercise programs and intervention methods for functional enhancement of patients with chronic stroke in terms of their effects on dynamic balance and effectiveness.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.171-181
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the meridian massage on the hand edema, activities of daily living (ADL), and depression in hemiplegic stroke patients. Methods: The research was a quasi-experimental design using a non-equivalent control group pre-post test. The subjects were 40 stroke patients who admitted to rehabilitation department in a hospital. The data was collected from January to March, 2009 used the millimeter measurement for checking hand edema and the structured questionnaires. The meridian massage on affected hand was carried out for 10 minutes per day during 2 weeks to the experimental group. Descriptive statistics,-test, Fisher's exact test, and t-test with SPSS/WIN 12.0 program were used to analyze the data. Results: After the intervention, there were statistically significant differences in the changes of hand edema, ADL, and depression in the experimental group compared with the control group. Conclusion: The meridian massage was effective in improving hand edema, the level of ADL, and depression for the hemiplegic stroke patients. Therefore the meridian massage can be utilized as an effective adjuvant therapy for stroke patients suffering from hand edema in clinical practice.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.73-90
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• 2002

Objectives: This study investigated significant factors that influence functional evaluation of stroke so as to be a fundamental data for estimating prognosis of stroke patients. Methods: 204 patients were studied within 7 days of admission, after the diagnosis of stroke through brain CT scan, brain MRI scan and clinical observations. They were hospitalized in the oriental medical hospital of Dongeui University from February to July in 2001. They were examined at the early stage of onset, after 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 6 weeks, and measured for average mark and the degree of improvement by using the Activity Index. Results: Ischemic stroke, past history of stroke, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, risk factor of obesity, non-professional emergency treatment and hospitalizing time after 1 day from onset, high blood pressure, tachycardia pulse and high blood sugar in abnormal vital sign in acute stage, conscious, cognitive or communication disorder, motor aphasia, dysphagia, constipation for more than 3 days, urinary incontinence, visual field defect, insomnia, and chest discomfort in early stage of onset had a negative influence on functional evaluation. Conclusions: Type of stroke, past history, risk factors, emergency treatment and hospitalizing time after onset, abnormal vital sign and intercurrent symptoms in Acute stage were relevant factors in predicting functional evaluation of stroke.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.7-12
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• 2011

Purpose: The cane is one of the most popular assistive devices for stroke patients. Clinical complaints of sensorimotor functions on the ipsilateral upper limb were appealed in stroke patients who had used a cane for a long period. Therefore, we investigated whether cane usage for a long-term period affected sensoriomotor dysfunctions on the non-affected upper limb, in terms of pain presence, shoulder joint sense, a nine-hole pegboard test, and a tracking task. Methods: We recruited 12 stroke patients, who were divided into the cane-using (CU) group or the non-cane using (NCU) group, according to cane usage experience. We evaluated joint position sense for the integrity of proprioceptive reposition sense in the shoulder joint, used a nine-hole pegboard test for upper limb dexterity evaluation, and a tracking task for visuomotor coordination. Results: Four patients in the CU group had complained of shoulder pain none did in the NCU group. In addition, the CU group showed more reposition errors on the shoulder joint than the NCU group did. In addition, the CU group had more difficulty in proprioceptive sense perception and in performance of the nine-hole pegboard teat and tracking task, compared with the NCU group. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that cane usage for a long period in stroke patients could give rise to trigger joint pain and decrease proprioceptive sense. In addition, complex motor performance in the ipsilateral upper limb could deteriorate. In stroke patients who had used acane for long period, careful observation and proper intervention will be necessary.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.37-47
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• 2014

Falls are common after stroke and most frequently related to loss of balance while walking. Consequently, preventing falls is one of the goals of acute, rehabilitative, and chronic stroke care. The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence and risk factors of falls and to determine how well the Falls Efficacy Scale (FES), Timed Up and Go test (TUG), and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) could distinguish between fallers and non-fallers among stroke patients during inpatient rehabilitation. One hundred and fifteen participants with at least 3 months post-stroke and able to walk at least 3 m with or without a mono cane participated in this study. Fifty-four (47%) participants reported falling, and 15 (27.8%) had a recurrent fall. Logistic regression analysis for predicting falls showed that left hemiplegia [odds ratio (OR)=4.68] and fear of falling (OR=5.99) were strong risk factors for falls. Fallers performed worse than non-fallers on the FES, TUG, and BBS (p<.05, p<.01, respectively). In the receiver operator characteristic curve analysis, the TUG demonstrated the best discriminating ability among the three assessment tools. The cut-off score was 22 seconds on the TUG for discriminating fallers from non-fallers (sensitivity=88.9%, specificity=45.9%) and 27 seconds for discriminating recurrent fallers from single fallers and non-fallers (sensitivity=71.4%, specificity=40.2%). Results suggest that there is a need for providing fall prevention and injury minimization programs for stroke patients who record over 22 seconds on the TUG.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.581-591
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was conducted to develop a self-management program using goal setting for patients after a stroke. The program was based on a theory-based Goal setting and Action Planning framework (G-AP), and the effectiveness of the program was examined. Methods: A non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used. The experimental group (n=30) received the self-management program using goal setting based on the G-AP over 7 weeks. The education was delivered individually with a specifically designed stroke workbook. The control group (n=30) received only patient information leaflets about stroke. Results: There were significant differences between the two groups. Stroke knowledge, self-efficacy, and health behavior compliance were significantly higher (all p<.001), and hospital anxiety (p<.001) and depression (p<.001) were significantly lower in the experimental group compared to the control group. Conclusion: This self-management program using goal setting based on a G-AP was found to be useful and beneficial for patients in stroke rehabilitation settings.