• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.253-261
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• 2012

Purpose: In this study, the following experiment was conducted to see how to apply the sprinter pattern in proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) and functional weight bearing exercise affected balance capabilities and weight bearing among chronic stroke patients. Methods: The subjects included 27 subjects who had been diagnosed with hemiplegia due to stroke. A total of 12 sessions was held, 3 sessions a week over 4 weeks, were provided to the groups. The control group received general rehabilitation program, and the experimental group performed sprinter pattern in PNF or functional weight bearing exercise. The weight bearing capability and static balance capability test was implemented by using Good-Balance System and Frailty and Injuries Cooperative Studies of Intervention Techniques, while the dynamic balance capability test was carried out by using Four Square Step Test and Timed "Up and Go". Results: The paretic/nonparetic side weight bearing by application of each exercise showed that there were no significant differences in variation among each groups on before exercise, after exercise, 2 weeks after exercise. Static balance test by application of each exercise showed that there were significant differences after exercise and 2 weeks after exercise. Dynamic balance test by application of each exercise showed that there were significant differences after exercise and 2 weeks after exercise. Conclusion: To put the results together, the application of sprinter pattern and functional weight bearing exercise was effective in improving static and dynamic balance capabilities. Therefore, these exercises are helpful to improve balance in patients with stroke.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of a handrail (presence and position) on treadmill gait and balance in stroke patients during gait training. Methods: 39 patients with stroke (male 31, female 8) participated in this study. The training groups were classified into a no-handrail group (NHG), front handrail group (FHG), and bilateral handrail group (BHG). Each group comprised 13 subjects. The subjects were trained to walk in a straight path 30 minutes per day for 8 weeks. The Good Balance System was used to measure static balance and dynamic balance. To measure walking ability, timed up and go (TUG) was also assessed. Results: The NHG showed no significant differences in static balance, dynamic balance, and TUG. The FHG was significantly different in their medial-lateral speed of static balance, dynamic balance, and TUG. The BHG was significantly different in their static balance, dynamic balance, and TUG. Conclusion: These findings consider the effects of holding handrails concomitantly with changes in postural stability. We conclude that for training stroke patients, treadmill walking while holding handrails improves balance and gait more than treadmill walking without holding handrails. The resulting changes in muscle activity patterns may facilitate the transfer to a gait pattern. The results of this study suggest methods for training treadmill walking in stroke patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.159-165
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• 2018

Purpose: The aims of this study were to determine if game-based training with constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) is effective in improving the balance ability in female patients with a total knee replacement, and to provide clinical knowledge of CIMT game-based training that allows the application of total knee replacement. Methods: Thirty-six patients who had undergone a total knee replacement were assigned randomly to CIMT game training (n=12), general game training (n=12), and self-exercise (n=12) groups. All interventions were conducted 3 times a week for 4 weeks. All patients used a continuous passive motion machine 5 times a week and 2 times a day for 4 weeks. The visual analog scale (VAS), muscle strength of knee flexion and extension, and range of motion (ROM) of knee flexion and extension were assessed, and the functional reach test (FRT), and timed up and go (TUG) test were performed to evaluate the balance ability. Results: All 3 groups showed significant improvement in the VAS, knee flexion and extension muscle strength, FRT, and TUG test after the intervention (p<0.05). Post hoc analysis revealed significant differences in FRT, and TUG of the CIMT game training group compared to the other group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Although the general game training and CIMT game training improved both the knee extension muscle strength and dynamic balance ability, CIMT game training had a larger effect on dynamic balance control.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.21-31
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• 2020

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a cognitive-exercise program using step on the cognitive function, gait, and depression of elderly with mild cognitive impairment. Methods : The subjects comprised 30 elderly people with mild cognitive impairment who used elderly welfare centers in the provinces A, B, and C between March 21 and June 7, 2019. They were divided into an experimental group (n=15) and a control group (n=15) before undergoing an experiment based on a pretest-posttest control group design. The lowenstein occupational therapy cognitive assessment-geriatric population was used to assess the subjects' cognitive function, while the 4-stage balance test, 30-second chair-stand test, timed up & go test, and functional reach test were employed to evaluate their gait. In addition, the beck depression inventory was used to measure their levels of depression. Results : The cognitive-exercise program using step enhanced the subjects' cognitive function and gait and reduced their levels of depression. Furthermore, statistically significant differences were found between the experimental group and the control group. Conclusion : The cognitive-exercise program using step promoted the process of sensorimotor and cognition through the learning process of various steps taking left and right steps and cognitive activities. It improves gait by activating the coordination of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems of the body and positively affecting posture control, balance, flexibility, and lower extremity muscles. It also relieved depression by performing successful step learning and cognitive activities with forward-looking (doing) that leads to pleasure and achievement. The present study confirmed the value of a cognitive-exercise program using step to treat multiple domains of functional decline in elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment. This is therefore proposed as an intervention program for this patient group.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.69-78
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify whether inclined treadmill gait training with rhythmic auditory simulation (RAS) could improve on balance and gait in stroke patients. Method: Fifteen stroke patients who had agreed with the study were allocated to the group 1(n=5), group 2(n=5), or group 3(n=5). The group 1, group 2 and group 3 performed RAS with inclined treadmill gait training, inclined treadmill gait training and treadmill without incline gait training respectively for 3 weeks (30 minutes per session, 5 times in a week). The balance was assessed using Timed Up & Go (TUG) and Berg Balance Sale (BBS), and the gait was evaluated using 6 Minutes Walking Test (6MWT) and spatio-temporal walking variables as walking speed, cadence, Single Limb Support of affected side(SLS) and Symmetric Index(SI) before and after training. Result: Both the group 1 and group 2 showed significant improvement after training in all variables of balance and gait. The group 3 showed significant improvement in TUG values, 6MWT values, walking speed, cadence and SI. The changes in the group 1 were significantly greater in all dependent variables of balance and gait than those of the group 2 and group 3. The changes in the group 2 were significantly greater in TUG values, BBS scores, 6MWT values, walking speed, and cadence than those of the group 3. Conclusion: The result of this study show inclined treadmill gait training with RAS is more effective to improve balance and gait in stoke patients than inclined treadmill or general treadmill gait training without RAS.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.30-40
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• 2017

Background: Many studies have reported positive results of the various mirror training and virtual reality games in improving dynamic standing balance and posture adjustment in chronic stroke patients. However, no systematic study has been conducted to compare the effects of virtual reality games and the mirror balance training. Objects: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of Wii balance games and Mirror Self-Balancing Exercises in improving proprioception of knee joint and standing balance of people with chronic stroke. Methods: Twenty patients with chronic stroke volunteered for this study. The subjects were randomly divided into a Wii balance games group and a Mirror Self-Balancing Exercises group with 10 patients in each group. Each training was performed for 30 mins a day for 4 days. In addition to the balance training, 30 mins neuro-developmental-treatment based routine physical therapy was given to both groups. Proprioception was measured using two continuous passive motion devices, and static balance was measured using a Wii balance board. Dynamic balance assessment tools included the Berg Balance Scale, Dynamic Gait Index, and Timed Up-and-Go test. Results: All measured variables before and after the experimental results showed a significant improvement in both groups (p<.05). Only the improvement of the affected knee proprioception appeared to be significantly greater in the Wii balance game group (p<.05). However, other variables did not differ between the groups (p>.05). Conclusion: The findings suggest that both Wii balance games and Mirror Self-Balancing Exercises may be helpful for improving the proprioception of knee joint and the balance of patients with chronic stroke.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.83-91
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was both to examine the effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) lower leg taping and treadmill training on the gait and balance abilities of patients with hemiplegia resulting from a stroke and to provide a taping method based on the PNF concept. Methods: Twenty patients with hemiplegia resulting from a stroke were randomly and equally assigned to a control group (n=10), which received treadmill training, and to an experimental group (n=10), which received PNF lower leg taping and treadmill training. The intervention was conducted five times per week for six weeks. In order to measure changes in the gait ability of the subjects, a 10-meter walking test (10MWT) and a 6-minute walking test (6MWT) were conducted, and in order to measure changes in the subjects' balance ability, a timed up and go test (TUG) was performed. In order to compare differences within each group before and after the intervention, a paired-t test was carried out, and in order to compare differences between the two groups, the analysis of covariance was utilized. All statistical significance levels were set at ${\alpha}=0.05$. Results: There were significant differences before and after the intervention within both groups in changes of 10MWT, 6MWT, and TUG (p<0.01). Regarding differences between the two groups, the experimental group underwent more effective changes than the control group in 6MWT and TUG (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study applied PNF lower leg taping and treadmill training to patients with hemiplegia resulting from a stroke, and this resulted in improvement in the subjects' gait and balance abilities. Taping and treadmill training based on the PNF concept is considered to be usefully applied as one of the programs to improve hemiplegic patients' gait and balance abilities.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.149-155
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of using proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) exercise in the progressive sitting position on the dynamic balance ability of a patient with a cerebellar injury. Methods: The subject had ataxia due to cerebellar injury. The subject participated in a PNF bilateral scapular pattern exercise with stabilizing reversal technique during a progressive sitting position session as well as baseline for 20 minutes a day for 4 weeks. In the first session, PNF exercises were performed at a height of 40 cm for 10 minutes, and in the second session they were performed at 50 cm for 10 minutes from a lower center of gravity (COG) to a higher COG sitting position. We used the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Five-Times-Sit-to-Stand Test (FTSST), and the Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT) to measure the subject's dynamic balance ability every two days through the entire session. Results: After participating in the program, the subject's dynamic balance ability improved compared to the first baseline, as measured by BBS (2 points increased), FTSST (5.3 sec decreased), and TUGT (2 sec decreased). The increase was also maintained in the second baseline session. Conclusion: PNF exercise using bilateral scapula patterns with a stabilizing reversal technique helps to enhance the dynamic balance ability of a cerebellar injury patient.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.59-64
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• 2017

Objective: Elderly people with dementia experience not only cognitive dysfunction but also motor function deficits, such as balance and gait impairments. Recently, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) has been used to reduce pain as well as to control muscle spasm, spasticity and motor performance in various types of subjects. The purpose of this study determined the effect of a single trial TENS on balance and gait function in elderly people with dementia. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Methods: Twenty-two subjects with dementia were assigned to the TENS group (n=12) and ten subjects were assigned to the control group (n=10) randomly. Subjects were classified into two groups: the TENS group (n=12) and the placebo-TENS group (n=10). The TENS group had electrical stimulation applied on the calf muscle for 15 minutes, while the placebo-TENS group had not received real electrical stimulation. The timed up and go test (TUG) and functional reach test (FRT) were used to measure the balance function, and the 10 meters walk test (MWT) and 6MWT were used to assess gait ability. All tests were performed before and after intervention under a single-blinded condition. Results: After intervention, there were significant improvements in TUG, FRT, 10MWT, and 6MWT results in the TENS group (p<0.05), while the placebo-TENS group did not show significant changes in all outcome measurements. There were also differences in all tests between the two groups at post-measurements (p<0.05). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that a single trial TENS application on the calf may be used to improve balance and gait function in elderly people with dementia.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 2020

Objectives : The aim of this study was to report the effectiveness of Combined Korean Medicine treatment on a intracerebral hemorrhage patient with hemiplegia and gait disturbance. Methods : A 56-year-old, female patient with hemiplegia and gait disturbance was treated by Korean Medicine including acupuncture, moxibustion and herbal medicine. The effect of the treatment was evaluated by Manual Muscle Test(MMT), Modified Rankin Scale(MRS), Korean version of Modified Barthel Index(K-MBI). The gait of the patient was evaluated by 10m walk test, Timed Up&Go Test(TUG), Functional Ambulatory Category(FAC), GAITRite and Symmetry Criterion(SC). Results : After treatment, MMT, MRS, K-MBI, gait parameters and gait symmetry were improved. Conclusions : This study suggests that Combined Korean Medicine treatment might be effective for a intracerebral hemorrhage patient with hemiplegia and gait disturbance.