• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.557-561
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• 2013

The purpose of this study to identified the effect of muscle strengthening of ankle joints on postural sway. The subjects of this study were 29 healthy adults aged between 20 and 30 years(male 18, female 11). All subjects received ankle muscle strengthening exercise for 3 times, 3 sessions, 30 minutes per week over 4weeks period. The measured item of muscle strength, postural sway. Data collected from all subjects the result were as follows. The ankle strength showed significant increase(p<.05). One leg stand test with eye close increase in static balance(p<.05), left-right sway distance and anterior-posterior sway distance with eye open and close in static balance(p<.05). The result findings show that strength of the ankle joint muscles is a factor which affects postural sway and the ankle joints are important in static balance.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.381-397
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• 2001

In the patients with hemiplegia caused by stroke and TBI. postural sway is increased and open displaced laterally over the non-affected leg, reflecting asymmetry in weight bearing on lower extremities during standing balance. Recovery of symmetric weight bearing and postural stability is an important aim in physical therapy. Plastic AFO has been used for hemiplegic patients in order to help their abnormal walking patterns. Past studies have mainly focused on the AFO influences on hemiplegic walking patterns without balance function approaches. The purpose of this study was to identify the immediate effects of plastic AFO and shoes on the static balance in hemiplegic patients. The scale for static balance were weight bearing on affected leg(%), sway area(mm2), sway path(mm), maximal sway velocity(mm/s), anteroposterior sway angle($^{\circ}$ ), and lateral angle($^{\circ}$ ). Seventeen hemiplegic patients participated in this study: 13 men and 4 women, with an average age of 50.18 years. Static balance was measured using BPM(balance performance monitor; dataprint software version 5.3) under four standing condition namely bare-foot standing. standing in shoes, standing with AFO, and standing in shoes with AFO. In order to assure the statistical significance of the results, an one-way ANOVA, the independent t-test. and a pearson's correlation were applied at the .05 level of significant. The results of this study were as follows: 1) There were statistically significant differences in weight bearing(%) on the static balance between affected leg and non-affected leg(p<.01). 2) There were statistically significant differences in sway reverse frequence(Hz) in standing with AFO between affected leg and non-affected leg(p<.05). 3) Sway area(mm2) on standing in shoes with AFO was lower than bare-foot standing(p<.05), Lateral sway angle($^{\circ}$ ) on standing in shoes with AFO was lower than bare-foot standing and standing in shoes(p<.05). 4) Weight bearing in affected leg was not significantly correlated with postural sway.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.255-258
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• 2017

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effects of compelled weight shift in paretic lower limb training on balance ability in patients with stroke. Methods: Thirty-six individuals with hemiparesis, who were randomly assigned to a 10CWST (10 mm constrained -weight shift training) group, a 5CWST (5 mm constrained-weight shift training) group, and a control group participated in this study. Compelled weight shift training was performed in 3 sets of 5 min with a rest period of 1 min between sets. Both the 5CWST and 10CWST groups performed 5 times per week for 4 weeks. Static (mediolateral and anteroposterior sway velocities) and dynamic balance (mediolateral and anteroposterior distances) was assessed using the Good Balance system. Results: Significant differences were found in the M-L and A-P sway velocities, and the M-L sway distance. The M-L and A-P sway velocities, and M-L sway distance showed significantly large group effects (p<0.05), time effects (p<0.05), and group-by-time interaction (p<0.05). The post hoc analyses indicated that, following intervention, the 10CWST group showed more significant changes in the M-L and A-P sway velocities, and the M-L sway distance than the control group. Conclusion: These results suggest that the use of compelled weight shift in paretic lower limb training may be an effective method to improve balance ability in patients with stroke.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.67-71
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• 2017

PURPOSE: Muscle fatigue is a cause to change proprioception. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of calf muscle fatigue and visual control on postural balance during single-legged standing in healthy adults. METHODS: Nineteen healthy adults (male) were participated in this study (mean age: 24.36 years; mean height: 171.32 cm; mean weight: 64.58 kg). The postural balance (sway length, sway area, sway velocity of COG displacement) was measured by Balance Trainer System (BT4) in before and after calf muscle fatigue feeling in single legged stance. In this study, repetitive single-legged heel rise test was used to induce fatigue of the calf muscle. Paired t- test was used to compare the postural balance between before and after calf muscle fatigue. Data of subjects were analyzed using SPSS 22.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Level of significance was set to .05. RESULTS: The sway length, sway area, sway velocity of COG (center of gravity) displacement after calf muscle fatigue feeling was significantly increased compared to before calf muscle fatigue feeling during single leg standing both eye open and close conditions (p<.05). CONCLUSION: This study suggested that calf muscle fatigue feeling has affected on postural balance when standing one leg both eye open and close conditions and postural control was disturbed by muscle fatigue and visual feedback in single leg standing.

• 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.4 no.2
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• pp.59-65
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• 1997

To improve the effect of balance training, visual feedback is usually used. During the training process there are some factors which decrease the effect. Neurophysiologically, the main negative factor is thought to be synaptic fatigue which decreases the sensitivity of synapses. The purpose of this study was to find a more effective balance training method. In this study, a total of 60 normal subjects-19~30 years old young males and females(M=30, F=30)-participated, and they were randomized as A, B, and C group, each group containing 20 subjects. First, all groups had a pre-test of sway balance. One minute later, A group was trained in sway balance by continuous visual feedback for 2 minutes, B group by intermittent visual feedback which had 4 sessions of 30 seconds each and a one minute rest break. C group was not trained at all. All groups had a post-test. Only B group had improved balance compared with C group by ANOVA. On the other hand, intermittent visual feedback was more effective than continuous visual feedback in sway balance training with normal subjects.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.56-62
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• 2022

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of ankle joint immobilization on postural balance during quiet standing. Design: Cross-sectional study Methods: Twenty-seven healthy subject participated in this study. The subjects performed to stand quietly for 30s in eyes open on the platform with three different conditions. The sway length, sway area and sway velocity of center of gravity (COG) displacement and limit of stability (LOS) was measured using the balance platform. Repeated measured ANOVA was used to compare the postural balance parameters depending on three different ankle immobilized conditions. Results: Sway length, sway area and sway velocity of the COG displacement with bilateral ankle immobilized condition was significantly increased compared to those of the other two conditions(p<0.05). All directions of LOS with bilateral ankle immobilized condition were significantly decreased compared to those of the other two conditions. Conclusion: These findings suggest that ankle joint immobilization could be one of the factors that interfere the maintaining of the postural balance in quiet standing.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.20-27
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• 2022

Background: The purpose of the present study was to determine whether balance training combined with light touch improves the postural sway and gait speed in stroke patients. Design: Randomized Controlled Trial Study Methods: The current study included 40 stroke patients, who were randomly divided into two groups: the balance training with light touch (LT) group (n=20) and the balance training with heavy touch (HT) group (n=20). Both groups performed balance training on a stable and unstable ground. Additionally, the LT group provided light touch stimulation, and the HT group provided heavy touch stimulation. All the participants underwent 20 sessions of STS training (thirty minutes, five days per week for four weeks). In this study, postural sway was measured using a force platform, and walking speed was measured using a 10 meter walk test. Results: The improvements in postural sway and gait speed were observed to be significantly greater in the LT group, compared to the HT group (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results of the current study imply that balance training combined with light touch is a beneficial and effective therapeutic modality that can be employed to improve the postural sway and gait speed in stroke patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.208-246
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of aqua exercise program on the static balance of child with mental retardation. The subjects were seven male child and three female child with mental retardation(age ranges from 5 to 6). The subjects were practiced with focusing on the aqua exercise program for 8 weeks, from 7, January 2003 to 28, February 2003. The results of this study were as follows : 1. After the exercise program, the balance of double-stance by BPM was significantly reduced of lateral sway number by $12.2\%$(P<.01) with eyes obstruct. 2. After the exercise program, the balance of double-stance by BPM was significantly reduced of anterior and posterior sway number of left leg by $8.5\%$(P<.05) with eyes obstruct. 3. After the exercise program, the balance of double-stance by BPM was significantly reduced of anterior and posterior sway number of right leg by $8.3\%$(P<.05) with eyes obstruct. 4. After the exercise program, the balance of double-stance by BPM was significantly reduced of lateral sway number by $13.2\%$(P<.01) with eyes open. 5. After the exercise program, the balance of double-stance by BPM was significantly reduced of anterior and posterior sway number of left leg by $10.3\%$(P<.05) with eyes open. 6. After the exercise program, the balance of double-stance by BPM was significantly reduced of anterior and posterior sway number of right leg by $10.3\%$(P<.01) with eyes open. As we can see the results of this study, the aqua exercise program improved the static balance of child with mental retardation. Futhermore, it is reasonable program that can improvability of static balance for the children with mental retardation using aqua exercise program. And then it is necessary to develop much better program than now for the children with mental retardation's health and to provide the adequate pool for their aqua exercise.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.273-278
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of three-dimensional virtual reality horse riding simulator training using a head-mounted display on gait and balance in children with cerebral palsy. Methods: Ten children with cerebral palsy were randomly assigned to the horse riding simulator (HRS) group (n=5) or the horse riding simulator with virtual reality (HRSVR) group (n=5). To evaluate balance, center of gravity (COG) sway velocity and total sway distance of each group were assessed using the Wii balance board, and gait speed and stride length of each group were assessed using a gait analysis system. Results: Intra-group comparisons between pre- and post-intervention measures revealed that there were significant changes in all gait and balance variables such as stride length, gait velocity, COG sway velocity and COG sway distance in the HRSVR group (p<0.05). In the HRS group, there were significant changes in all variables except stride length (p<0.05). In addition, inter-group comparisons showed significant differences between the two groups in stride length, gait velocity and COG sway distance except COG sway velocity (p<0.05). Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that horse riding simulator training combined with 3D virtual reality can be a new positive therapeutic approach for improving functional performance in children with cerebral palsy.