• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.89-98
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• 2018

PURPOSE: While underwater, patients with hemiplegia experience unwanted limb flotation on their paretic side due to low muscle mass and high body fat. However, only a limited number of studies support the effectiveness of this practice. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine how the balance and walking abilities of patients with hemiplegia due to stroke were affected by wearing an aquatic cuff on their ankles during underwater treadmill walking. METHODS: Twenty stroke patients were divided into an experimental group comprised of 20 patients who would wear an aquatic cuff and a control group comprised of 10 patients without an aquatic cuff. Both groups underwent a six-week intervention for 30 minutes a day three times a week. To evaluate the groups' balance and walking abilities before and after the intervention, the 10 m walking test, timed up go test, Berg Balance Scale, functional reaching test, and the GAITRite system were used. RESULTS: The results of the 10 m walking test, timed up go test, differences between the left and right gait cycles, and functional reaching test showed statistically significant differences in the rates of change between the two groups (p<.05). CONCLUSION: The study results suggest that underwater treadmill training in stroke patients can be more effective when they wear an aquatic cuff on their ankles compared to wearing no aquatic cuff.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.3305-3310
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• 2014

Background: A cancer survivor is defined as anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer, from the time of diagnosis through the rest of their life. The purpose of this study was to examine whether physical functions, health-related outcomes, nutritional status and blood markers in community-dwelling cancer survivors aged 75 years and older are different from those who do not have cancer Materials and Methods: Two hundred seventy-five participants were asked by physicians, nurses, and physical therapists, questions regarding cancer history in a face-to-face interview. Data were collected for demographic information, physical functions, such as handgrip strength, knee extension power, abdominal muscle strength, static standing balance, walking speed and the timed-up-and-go test, health-related outcomes, nutritional status, and blood markers. The measured parameters of survivor diagnosed with cancer were compared with those without a history of cancer. Results: Thirty-seven older adults were previously diagnosed with cancer. Female cancer survivors had lower knee extension power (p<0.05), abdominal muscle strength (p<0.05), walking speed (p<0.05), timed-up-and-go test score (p<0.05), and time to spend on walking per day (p<0.05) than older women without a history of cancer. In men, none of the measured parameters were significantly different between cancer survivors and older men with no history of cancer. Conclusions: The present study shows that partial physical function of women cancer survivors aged 75 years and older differs from that in women with no history of cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.77-92
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• 2006

Purpose : This study was to evaluate the effect of traditional balance training on balance in older adults. Methods : The subjects of this study were thirty elderly over 65 years old. Thirty subjects ranging aged from 66 to 85($74.0{\pm}5.83$) completed the study and participated three times a week for 5weeks. Subjects were assessed by utilizing two different balance measure : Static standing balance was measured by balance performance monitor(BPM). Dynamic balance was measured by timed up and go test(TUG). The scale for static standing balance was measured by using frequence(Hz), sway area($mm^2$), sway path(mm), max sway velocity(mm/s), ant/post sway angle($^{\circ}$), left/right sway angle($^{\circ}$), and sway number. Results : The change in frequency were statistically significant on pre-test and post-test(P<.05), 2. The change in sway area were statistically significant on pre-test and post-test (P<.05), 3. The change in sway path were statistically significant on pre-test and post-test(P<.05), 4. The change in max sway velocity were statistically significant on pre-test and post-test (P<.05), 5. The change in ant/post sway angle were statistically significant on pre-test and post-test (P<.05), 6. The change in left/right sway angle were statistically significant on pre-test and post-test(P<.05), 7. The change in sway number were statistically significant on pre-test and post-test(P<.05), 8. The score on timed up and go test shows statistically significant increase on pre-test and post-test (P<.05). Conclusion : This study suggest that traditional balance training have an effect on balance performance ability for elderly people. Therefore, the traditional balance training is recommended for older adults to improve balance performance ability.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.17-21
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the correlations, if any, between SPPB (Short physical performance battery), FRT (Functional reach test), and TUG (Timed up and go test) in hospitalized frail people. Methods: Seventy frail elderly patients (male/female: 16/54) participated in this study. All subjects could walk with or without an assisting device and they had no mental problems. Subjects were scored on physical functioning using the SPPB, FRT, and TUG. The data were analyzed using Pearson Correlation Coefficients. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between (a) SPPB and (b) FRT (p<0.01) and TUG (p<0.01). SPPB and FRT scores showed a positive correlation (r = 0.38) and SPPB and TUG scores showed a negative correlation (r = -0.56). Conclusion: SPPB, FRT, TUG scores are correlated with each other. From these results, we conclude that the SPPB is a useful method for predicting walking, balance, and physical function in frail elderly people.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.39-45
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine correlations between the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Functional Reach Test (FRT), Timed Up & Go (TUG), Motor-Free Visual Perception Reach Test Vertical format (MVPT-V), Functional Independence Measure (FIM). Methods: The subjects used in this study were 35 stroke patients from Cheongju ST. Mary's hospital. Balance was measured by BBS, FRT. Functional mobility was measured by TUG. Visual perception was measured by MVPT-V. FIM was used to evaluate the activities of daily living. Data was analyzed using pearson product correlation. The TUG and MVPT-V index were analyzed by linear regression. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between FRT and BBS (r=0.89, p<0.01), FIM (r=0.74, p<0.05), MVPT-V (r=0.40, p<0.05), and TUG (r=-0.36, p<0.05). There was significant statistical differences between TUG and MVPT-V (r=-0.64, p<.01). However, statistically significant differences were observed between BBS and FIM (r=0.79, p<0.01). The visual close item of the MVPT-V showed the strongest variance in predicting TUG. Conclusion: The use of both quantitative and qualitive scales was shown to be a good measuring instrument for the classification of general clinical performances of stroke patients. In particular, the results suggest that the visual perception test may be able to predict functional locomotion in stroke patients.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.7-15
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• 2012

Background : The purpose of this study is to determine the effect Berg Balance Scale(BBS) evaluating frequency on the walking speed and dynamic balance control in patient with stroke. Method : sixteen patient with stroke were randomly allocated to an experimental and control group of eight patients each. For the experimental group, we performed both general physical therapy and BBS and general physical therapy only for the control group. The general physical therapy programs for the 2 group were conducted for 1 hour 1 a day, 5 times a week for 4 weeks, and BBS for the experimental group was conducted for 1 time a week. Result : A comparison of the Berg Balance Scale(BBS). Timed Up Go test(TUG) and 10 meter Walking Test(10mWT) score obtained before and after the 4-week treatment revealed statistical significant different(p<.05) for the experimental group. BBS evaluated weekly and the first day and the last day evaluated in both groups after 4 weeks of BBS assessment improved significantly were (p<.05) especially in the assessment group on a weekly basis more improvement was. BBS weekly assessment group and the first day and on the last day, a group evaluation after 4 weeks in both the change of the TUG, 10mWT was significantly improved in the evaluation group(p<.05). Conclusion : 1 time a week of the BBS assessment of with stroke patients BBS, TUG, 10mWT that can help to improve. especially on a weekly basis, more has been improved.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.11-21
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate how COP displacement of a hemiplegic foot in stance phase during gait is related to clinical balance measures and the recovery stage in hemiplegic stroke patients. Twenty-eight functionally ambulant hemiplegic patients who had suffered from strokes and thirty age-matched healthy subjects participated in this study. COP parameters were calculated. Clinical balance was measured using the Functional Reach Test (FRT) and Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT). The recovery stage, proprioception, and clonus of the ankles or lower extremities were also measured for physical impairment status. The COPx max-displacement in the medial-lateral side of the stroke patients was significantly longer than that of the normal group (p=.038). The COPy max-displacement in the anterior-posterior side of the stroke patients was significantly shorter than that of normal group (p<.001). Significant differences in the COPx and COPy displacement asymmetry index were found between the two groups (p<.01). The FRT was correlated with the COPx displacement (r=.552) and COPy displacement (r=.765). The TUGT was correlated with the COPy displacement (r=-.588) only. The recovery stage of the lower extremities was correlated with COPy displacement (r=.438). The results of the study indicate that the characteristic of COP displacement in hemiplegic feet in stance phase during gait is related to balance ability and recovery in stroke patients. COP parameters acquired by the mapping of foot pressure in stance phase during gait will provide additional useful clinical information. This information can be used by clinicians to assess objectively the pathologic gait with other diseases and to evaluate the therapeutic effects on gait in stroke patients.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.18-27
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• 2011

This study was to investigate the positive effects of specially designed trunk-stabilization exercise program on lower extremity balance of elderly with history of leprosy. In this participants, lower extremity functions has been undermined by the development of damage in peripheral nerves. A total of 40 elderly with history of leprosy were divided into 2 groups of equal size ($n_{1,\;2}=20$): a group that participated in the exercise program, and a control group that did not exercise but did continue to engage in normal daily activities (including walking). The exercise group exercised for 60 minutes 2 days a week for 12 weeks. Static balance ability was measured by asking study participants to a one leg standing test: dynamic balancing ability was measured with a tandem walking test and a timed up-and-go test. The participants in the exercise program and the control group were tested before and after completion of the exercise program for comparison, and then divided according to their ability to feel sensory in the soles of their feet into the categories of normal sensory group: group with sensory loss in one foot: and group with sensory loss in both feet. The participants in the exercise program showed a positive, statistically significant difference in static balance compared with the control group (p<.05) as measured using the one leg standing test. Similarly, the participants in dynamic balance (p<.05) as measured using the tandem walking and timed up-and-go tests. Finally, these improvements were related to the severity of sensory loss in the soles of the feet for all study participants.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.34-39
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of three cognitive tasks on gait at a preferred walking speed, and at a fast speed, using dual-task methodology. A total of 29 stroke patients participated in the study. All 29 subjects performed 2 motor tasks (10-meter walk task and timed up and go task each at a preferred and a fast speed) and three cognitive tasks [Stroop, word list generation (WLG), serial subtraction (SS)] under dual-task conditions [cognitive-motor interference (CMI)] in a randomized order. Gait speeds were measured in six different conditions. A repeated-measure analysis of variance was employed to compare the results of the Stroop training, WLG, and SS tasks during preferred and fast walking. A Bonferroni adjustment use for post hoc analysis. The level of statistical significance was set at ${\alpha}=.05$. A CMI effect occurred for performance of a 10-meter walking task at two different speed and a cognitive task (p<.05). Stroop had a significantly greater effect than SS and WLG (p<.05). The timed up and go task was affected when performed with fast walking speed during Stroop cognitive task (p<.05), but was not affected if performed with preferred walking speed during a cognitive task (p>.05). This study showed that CMI of Stroop can be used as a rehabilitation program for stroke patients.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.137-148
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• 2011

Objectives : This study was to investigate the visual bio-feedback training for 5 weeks on balance and postural control for patients with stroke. Methods : The 26 subjects were randomly selected from the patients of the E hospital in the S city who met the study conditions. They were divided into a visual bio-feedback training group of 13 patients and a self-resistance exercise group of 13 patients. The visual bio-feedback training group received visual bio-feedback and general physiotherapy for five weeks and the self-resistance exercise group received cycling and general physiotherapy for the same period. The subjects were measured and compared for stability index, weight distribution index, fall down index, functional reach test and timed up and go test before and after the program. Results : The visual bio-feedback training group showed significant changes after the experiment in stability index, weight distribution index, functional reach test and timed up and go test(p<0.05), and the self-resistance exercise group also showed significant differences(p<0.05). The changes between prior to and after the experiment show that the visual bio-feedback training group had more significant effects than the self-resistance exercise group(p<0.05). Conclusions : The visual bio-feedback training for five weeks had effects in the improvement of the balance and posture control of stroke patients. Based on these results, more effective training programs should be developed and propagated.