• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.59-71
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• 2015

Purpose : This study examines the effect of vibration exercise grafting PNF patterns for 6 weeks on upper body stability and equilibrium for seniors having fifteen or over of MMSE-K. Method : A total of 10 senior citizens participated in this study. Each participant performed PNF patterned exercises using vibration sports equipment for 30 minutes, once static a week, for six weeks. We measured trunk stability and balance degree before and after the six-week exercise program. Motor Assessment Scale (MAS) was used to measure trunk stability, while Functional Reach Test (FRT) and Timed Up and Go (TUG) was used to measure balance degree. The collected data was processed using paired t-test to confirm the difference between pre-program conditions and post-program conditions. Results: The results of our study show that post-program trunk stability measurements increased when compared to pre-program data; however, this increase was not statistically significant. pre and post-measurements for satatic balance and dynamic balance were statistically unchanged. Conclusion: Due to limitations in the number of participants, the procedural design of this experiment, and the limited amount of time participants actually controlled, this study failed to produce statistically significant results. However, further study should be conducted using a systematically implemented exercise program to show support for exercising with flexi-bar as an effective program for the elderly.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.198-204
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• 2016

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of hip joint exercise using an elastic band on dynamic balance, agility, and flexibility in healthy subjects. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Thirty-five subjects (between 19 and 23 years) were randomly allocated to two groups: hip flexion exercise (HFE) group (n=17) and the hip abduction exercise (HAE) group (n=18). The HFE group participated in flexion exercise of the hip joint using an elastic band for 50 minutes a day, three days a week for four weeks, while the HAE group participated in abduction exercises of the hip joint using an elastic band for the same period. Dynamic balance was measured using the timed up and go (TUG) test, agility was measured with the standing long jump, and flexibility was measured using the Schober's test (5 cm, 10 cm). Results: The HFE group showed significant differences in the TUG test, standing long jump, and the Schober's test (10 cm) after training (p<0.05). The HAE group showed significant differences in the TUG test, standing long jump and the Schober's test (5 cm, 10 cm) after training (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the HFE group and the HAE group. Conclusions: Flexion and abduction exercises of the hip joint using and elastic band increased dynamic balance, agility, and flexibility in healthy subjects. Additional research on hip joint exercises using an elastic band for improving dynamic balance, agility and flexibility are necessary.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.58-72
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• 2005

The purposes of this study were to determine the effects of rehabilitation programs on functional performance of the lower extremities and whether additional therapeutic exercise with routine rehabilitative therapy improves functional performance more than just routine rehabilitative therapy by it self for inpatients who have suffered a stroke with below moderate severity within 3 to 6 months after the onset of the stroke. Fifty-eight subjects were divided into two groups. Group I was given routine rehabilitative therapy and group II was given additional therapeutic exercise along with the routine rehabilitative therapy. Each group received 6 weeks of rehabilitation. The timed get-up and go test (TUG), the Fugl-Meyer score (FMS), functional independence measure (FIM), functional reach (FR), gait velocity (GV), and the strength of knee extensor and flexor were selected to measure effect of rehabilitation programs. The main results were measured and analysed at baseline, 3 weeks, and 6 weeks after the start of the rehabilitation programs. The results revealed that all of functional performance of the lower extremities in 3 weeks after the start of the rehabilitation programs were significantly improved compared with before the rehabilitation programs in both groups. In 6 weeks, TUG, FIM, FR, GV, and the strength of knee extensor in group I, TUG, FMS, FIM, FR, GV, and the strength of knee extensor and flexor in group II were significantly improved compared with the results after 3 weeks. At 3 weeks after rehabilitation programs, group II made significantly greater gains in TUG, FR, GV, and the strength of the knee flexor compared to the group I. At 6 weeks, group II made significantly greater gains in TUG, FR, GV, and the strength of the knee extensor and flexor compared to the group I. In conclusion, rehabilitation programs for stroke patients within 3 to 6 months after stroke onset significantly contributed to improve functional performance of the lower extremities. It is desirable for improvement of functional performance of the lower extremities to perform additional exercise with routine rehabilitative therapy.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.11 no.9
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• pp.3353-3357
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of visual rhythmic stimulation in gait ability and proprioception in chronic stroke patients. Twenty-one persons after six months post stroke participated in pre and post test control. The subjects were randomly assigned to a rhythmic visual stimulation(RVS) group (n=10) and control group (n=11). Training process was practiced with exercise on thirty minutes a day, three days a week for four weeks. To find out the effect, inspected the proprioception test and gait characteristics by gait analysis. In gait characteristics, the walking speed, cadence and the TUG time were significantly different from RVS group. The proprioception were significantly different RVS and control group. This study showed that the RVS training increased better functional activity by postural adjustment and gait learning of chronic stroke patients than that of control group. And so, the RVS training of hemiplegic patients was very important to successive rehabilitation. A continuous examination of RVS training could be practical use of physical therapy with exercise.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.369-379
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• 2011

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to compare the initial effect of nerve mobilization (NM), static stretching (SS), and contract-relax (CR) techniques to find the best method in improving hamstring flexibility and gait function in patients with hemiplegia. Methods : Eleven patients with hemiplegia were included in this study. Passive knee extension (PKE) range of motion and the sit and reach (SR) test were used to measure hamstring flexibility, while timed up and go (TUG) and the 10m walking (10MW) test were used to measure the subject's gait. Measurements on each test were assessed prior to the experiment, immediately following the experiment, and 30 minutes after the experiment. Analysis of the results utilized a repeated measures analysis of variance to examine hamstring flexibility and the difference in walking ability. Results : The results suggest significant increases in NM, SS, and CR techniques as they relate to hamstring flexibility (p<.05) following (both immediate and 30 minutes post experiment) PKE range of motion and the SR test, but post-hoc showed no significant difference between the three techniques (p>.05). Additionally, the results suggest significant increases in NM, SS, and CR techniques as they relate to gait function (p<.05) following the TUG test, but found no significant difference in the 10MW test (p>.05). Post-hoc analysis between the three techniques suggests that only the NM technique significantly changed gait function. The time of TUG and 10MW test showed no significant difference between the three techniques before an experiment, just after an experiment, and 30 minutes following the experiment according to the measurement points in time (p>.05). Conclusion : This study suggests NM, SS, and CR techniques immediately improve hamstring length and flexibility while improving gait function in patients with hemiplegia.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.783-786
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• 2015

Background: Utilizing geriatric screening tools for the identification of vulnerable older patients with cancer is important. The aim of this study is to evaluate the hospitalization risk of elderly hematologic cancer patients based on geriatric assessment and laboratory parameters. Materials and Methods: In this cross sectional study 61 patients with hematologic malignancies, age 65 years and older, were assessed at a hematology outpatient clinic. Standard geriatric screening tests; activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), timed up and go test (TUG), geriatrics depression scale (GDS) were administered. Demographic and medical data were obtained from patient medical records. The number of hospitalizations in the following six months was then recorded to allow analysis of associations with geriatric assessment tools and laboratory parameters. Results: The median age of the patients, 37 being males, was 66 years. Positive TUG test and declined ADL was found as significant risk factors for hospitalization (p=0.028 and p=0.015 respectively). Correlations of hospitalization with thrombocytopenia, vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency were statistically significant (p=0.004, p=0.011 and p=0.05 respectively). Conclusions: In this study, geriatric conditions which are usually unrecognized in a regular oncology office visit were identified. Our study indicates TUG and ADL might be use as predictive tests for hospitalization in elderly oncology populations. Also thrombocytopenia, and vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiencies are among the risk factors for hospitalization. The importance of vitamin B12 and folic acid vitamin replacement should not be underestimated in this population.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.33-40
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of multi joint-joint position sense (MJ-JPS) training on joint position sense, balance, and gait ability in stroke patients. A total of 18 stroke patients participated in the study. The subjects were allocated randomly into two groups: an experimental group and a control group. Participants in the experimental group received MJ-JPS training (10 min) and conventional treatment (20 min), but participants in the control group only received conventional treatment (30 min). Both groups received training for five times per week for six weeks. MJ-JPS is a training method used to increase proprioception in the lower extremities; as such, it is used, to position the lower extremities in a given space. MJ-JPS measurement was captured via video using a Image J program to calculate the error distance. Balance ability was measured using Timed Up and Go (TUG) and the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Gait ability was measured with a 10 m walking test (10MWT) and by climbing four flights of stairs. The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to assess normalization. Within-group differences were analyzed using the paired t-test. Between-group differences were analyzed using the independent t-test. The experimental group showed a significant decrease in error distance (MJ-JPS) compared to the control group (p<.05). Both groups showed a significant difference in their BBS and 10MWT results (p<.05). The experimental group showed a significant decrease in their TUG and climbing results (p<.05), but the control group results for those two tasks were not found to be significant (p>.05). There was significant difference in MJ-JPS and by climbing four flights of stairs on variation of pre and post test in between groups (p<.05), but TUG and BBS and 10MWT was no significantly (p>.05). We suggest that the MJ-JPS training proposed in this study be used as an intervention to help improve the functional activity of the lower extremities in stroke patients.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.237-244
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• 2016

Purpose: This case report examines the influence of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) combined with a dynamic neuromuscular stabilization approach on balance in patients with cerebellar atrophy. Methods: The target subject of this case report was a 34-year-old woman who was informed of the purpose of this research and voluntarily agreed to participate in it. The case report conformed to research ethics based on the Helsinki Declaration. The target subject was confirmed to have cerebellar atrophy from an unknown cause in 2009 and was diagnosed with slight ataxia. At that time, she could carry out daily activities without physical therapy. On May 19, 2015, she suffered both a subdural hemorrhage (SDH) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in a traffic accident. She was urgently moved to the emergency room and managed by nonsurgical treatment, and then, the cerebellar atrophy and ataxia gradually deteriorated. To evaluate the patient's balance capacity before and after intervention, the trunk impairment scale (TIS), trunk impairment scale (OLST) during eye-closing/opening, timed up and go test (TUG), and visual analogue scale (VAS) were conducted. The PNF intervention program was executed for 30 min, four times a week, for three weeks. Results: The TIS and OLST during eye-closing/opening were improved by as much as a point, by 8.15 s and 6.21 s, respectively, after applying the PNF program. TUG and VAS decreased by 1.33 s and 3 points, respectively, after intervention. According to the result, the OLST during eye-closing/opening and VAS improved remarkably in comparison with those before intervention. Conclusion: As the final result of the case report, PNF intervention combined with DNSA more effectively improved the static balance capacity, such as the OLST during eye-closing/opening and VAS, compared to the dynamic balance capacity. In addition, the intervention duration and period of the exercise program are recommended to be more than 1 h a day for four weeks considering the learning ability of a patient with cerebellar atrophy.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.133-140
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• 2017

Purpose: This study compares the effects of treadmill gait training accompanied by visual feedback and general treadmill gait training on the gait and balance ability of patients with chronic stroke. Methods: A total of 11 patients with chronic stroke were randomly divided into either the treadmill gait training accompanied by visual feedback group (six patients) or the general treadmill gait training group (five patients). The gait and balance ability of the two groups were measured before and after the interventions using the functional reach test, the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, Berg's balance test, and the Biodex balance test. The treadmill gait training accompanied by visual feedback group performed the exercise under the supervision of a therapist after first being provided with a hat and a goal that was devised for the purpose of providing visual feedback information. The interventions were applied to the respective groups for four weeks. For the statistical analysis, we conducted a Mann-Whitney test to compare the results between the two groups. Additionally, the Wilcoxon test was used to compare the results from before and after the intervention in each group. Results: The treadmill gait training accompanied by visual feedback group showed a significant difference in terms of the functional reach test after the intervention when compared to the general treadmill gait training group (p<0.05). Although there was no significant difference, the treadmill gait training accompanied by visual feedback group showed a larger improvement in the TUG test, Berg's balance test, and the Biodex balance test than the general treadmill gait training group (p>0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that treadmill gait training accompanied by visual feedback can be used as a beneficial intervention scheme for the recovery of the gait and balance ability of patients with chronic stroke.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.45-54
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• 2014

Fall is one of the most intimidating health conditions in elders. Comprehensive assessment is necessary to understand the individual and environmental aspects of the falls such as balancing abilities, depression, and quality of life. The purpose of this study was to compare the balancing ability, depression, and quality of life between elderly fallers and elderly non-fallers. Thirty-two community-dwelling elders (fifteen males and seventeen females between 65 and 83 years old), who have experienced fall on walking during last twelve months, were involved in the elderly fallers group. And twenty-four males and twenty-two females between 65 and 83 years old of community-dwelling elders, who have no experienced fall on walking during last twelve months, were involved in the elderly non-fallers group. Berg balance scale (BBS), timed up and go test (TUG), and functional reach test (FRT), were used to evaluate the ability of the physical balance. 'Beck depression scale in Korean' questionnaire was used to assess the depression. 'Korean version of World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument-Bref' questionnaire was used to assess the quality of life. The results were as follows: 1) Balancing abilities measured by the BBS, TUG in the elderly fallers group were meaningfully lower than that of the elderly non-fallers group (p<.05), whereas no significant difference in the FRT was found (p>.05). 2) Depression level in the elderly fallers group was significantly higher than that of the elderly non-fallers group (p<.05). 3) Quality of life in the elderly fallers group was significantly lower than that of the elderly non-fallers group, excluding environment domain (p<.05). Therefore, in order for clinical evaluation of the community-dwelling elders those with reduced balancing ability, it is necessary to evaluate and understand the fall experience, depression, and quality of life.