• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.93-108
• /
• 2022

PURPOSE: This review sought to confirm the correlation between dual-task gait and cognitive function in cognitively impaired and healthy older adults. METHOD: We used four databases (DBs), Pubmed, Cochrane library, Kmbase, and Koreamed. Searches were carried out according to the PICOS method, P (participants) were the elderly (above 65 years) with cognitive decline, I (intervention) was walking with dual tasks, C (control group) comprised the elderly without cognitive decline, O (outcome) was the correlation between gait and cognitive function and S (study) was the cross-sectional study. For the methodological quality assessment of each study, we used the Quality Assessment Tool for Observation Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies provided by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). RESULTS: A total of 10 articles were included in this systematic review. For the components of gait, we used pace, rhythm, and variability and we observed that mild cognitive impairment mostly causes low gait performance while performing dual tasks. Among the 10 articles, 9 articles studied pace, of which 7 showed significant results. However, 2 were not significant. Also, 1 article that studied rhythm and 3 articles that studied variability showed significant results. The methodological quality of the 10 studies was fair. CONCLUSION: Gait pace was found to have a high correlation between memory, which is a cognitive ability, and overall cognitive function. It was observed that older adults with mild cognitive impairment have reduced gait pace in single-task walking, and further decrease in dual-task gait pace shows the correlation between memory and gait pace during walking.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.31 no.5
• /
• pp.292-297
• /
• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the effects of backward walking training with task orientation on the functional walking ability of children with cerebral palsy. Methods: This study was a single-blinded, randomized controlled trial with a crossover design conducted at a single rehabilitation facility with cross-over to the other intervention arm following a two-week break. For a total of 12 children with spastic hemiplegia cerebral palsy, the forward walking training group (n=6) underwent training three times a week for three weeks, 40 minutes a day, and the backward walking training group (n=6) was also trained under the same conditions. To identify the functional walking ability, variables, such as the walking speed, stride length, and step length, were measured using a walk analyzer (OptoGait, Microgate S.r.l, Italy). Results: Both groups showed significant increases in walking speed, stride length, and step length (p<0.01). The backward walking group showed more significant improvement in the walking speed from pre- to post-test (p<0.05). The gait characteristics were similar in the two groups (stride length and step length) but the walking speed in the backward walking group showed a mean difference between the positive effects higher than the forward walking group. Conclusion: Task-oriented backward walking training, which was conducted on the ground, may be a more effective treatment approach for improving the walking functions of spastic hemiplegia children than forward walk training.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.112-117
• /
• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a task-specific obstacle crossing rehabilitation program on functional gait ability in patients with cerebellar ataxia. Overall, we sought to provide ataxia-specific locomotor rehabilitation guidelines for use in clinical practice based on quantitative evidence using relevant analysis of gait kinematics including valid clinical tests. Methods: Patients with cerebellar disease (n=13) participated in obstacle crossing training focusing on maintenance of dynamic balance and posture, stable transferring of body weight, and production of coordinated limb movements for 8 weeks, 2 times per week, 90 minutes per session. Throughout the training of body weight transfer, the instructions emphasized conscious perception and control of the center of body stability, trunk and limb alignment, and stepping kinematics during the practice of each walking phase. Results: According to the results, compared with pre-training data, foot clearance, pre-&post-obstacle distance, delay time, and total obstacle crossing time were increased after intervention. In addition, body COM measures indicated that body sway and movement variability, therefore posture stability during obstacle crossing, showed improvement after training. Based on these results, body sway was reduced and stepping pattern became more consistent during obstacle crossing gait after participation in patients with cerebellar ataxia. Conclusion: Findings of this study suggest that task-relevant obstacle crossing training may have a beneficial effect on recovery of functional gait ability in patients with cerebellar disease.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.29-35
• /
• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of study was to measure stroke patients' ability to balance and their degrees of clinical function and to examine the effect of the aquatic exercise method using tasks related to these features. Methods: Twenty stroke patients were randomly assigned to an aquatic task exercise group and a land task exercise group. Both groups used the same exercise method for 60 minutes each session, three times a week for 12 weeks at the same time point and with the same amount of exercise. Results: Before and after the exercise, static balance was measured using balance measuring instruments locomotive faculties, muscular strength, and dynamic balance were assessed through the Berg balance and 10 m gait tests. Finally, gait abilities were measured, and the data obtained were analyzed to generate the results. Conclusion: Both groups showed significant improvement, but the aquatic exercise group showed slightly more significant results in static balance, Berg balance, and upright walking tests. It is thought that the improvement of stroke patients' balance and gait ability can be triggered through the application of aquatic exercise programs in the future.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.265-273
• /
• 2020

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of participation in contact sports on neurocognitive scores, dual-task walking velocity, and cognitive costs in retired athletes. Method: Forty-four retired athletes (mean age = 26.4±5.5 yrs) and thirty-eight controls (mean age = 26.1±4.9 yrs) participated in this study. Neurocognitive score was collected using computerized neurocognitive testing using RehaCom. Gait velocity was collected one single task, four dual-tasks, and two multi-tasks using Optogait. Mann-Whitney U test was performed to compared differences in cognitive scores among groups. A mixed-design two-way ANOVA and Bonferroni posthoc test were used to assess the effect of group and walking tasks for each condition. Results: The auditory divided attention of neurocognitive score of retired athletes was higher than the control group (p < 0.05). No statistical differences were observed in the other neurocognitive scores between groups. The changes in walking velocity and cognitive costs according to the dual-task walking tests differed between the two groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Although participation in contact sports did not affect the neurocognitive results of retired athletes, it could be confirmed that the reduction in walking velocity and an increase in cognitive costs during dual-task walking. Rather than observing only neurocognitive scores as a single evaluation item for cognitive evaluation of retired athletes in relation to daily life, the application of the dual-task gait test may provide useful information.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.133-144
• /
• 2023

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the effects of task-oriented treadmill training on the gait and balance ability and functional activity in 20 patients with subacute stroke. METHODS: The study subjects were twenty stroke patients, ten randomly placed in the experimental group and ten in the control group. Both the experimental and control groups received 30 minutes of traditional physical therapy and an additional 15 minutes of functional electrical stimulation therapy. The experimental group was given task-oriented treadmill training, while the control group received general treadmill training. Each session lasted for 25 minutes, three times a week, over four weeks, totaling 12 sessions. RESULTS: Both groups showed statistically significant differences in the 10-metre walk test (10MWT), timed up and go test (TUG), Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), and Modified Barthel index (MBI). However, statistically significant differences in the Functional Ambulation Categories (FAC) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) were seen only in the experimental group. There were statistically significant differences in the between-group differences value comparisons in the 10MWT, BBS, TUG, FMA, and MBI. CONCLUSION: Task-oriented treadmill training positively impacts gait, balance, and daily function in subacute stroke patients. This study highlights the benefits of training on unstable surfaces and offers valuable insights for stroke rehabilitation and gait training.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.4 no.4
• /
• pp.21-32
• /
• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify whether task-related circuit exercise program combined with sensorimotor training for 4 weeks could improve the balance and gait in stroke patients. Method: Fifteen stroke patients who had agreed with the study were randomly divided into 3 groups categorized as task-related circuit exercise program combined with sensorimotor training group (experimental group 1, n=5), task-related circuit exercise program group (experimental group 2, n=5), and control subjects performed conventional physical therapy (control group, n=5). The balance and gait were assessed by BT-4 force platform system, Berg Balance Scale, 10meter Walk Test and Smart Step at before training and after training. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to analyze change before and after intervention in intra-group. Kruskal Wallis H test, Mann-Whitney U test and Bonfferoni correction were used to analyze changes of all variables in inter-groups. Result: The experimental group 1 showed significant improvements in postural sway area, BBS scores, walking velocity and plantar pressures of affected foot, whereas the experimental group 2 showed significant improvements in BBS scores, and the control group were no significantly different in all variables following training. The changes of postural sway area and BBS scores in the experimental group 1 were significantly greater than them of the control group. The changes of postural sway area in the experimental group 1 was significantly greater than that of the experimental group 2. Conclusion: The result of this study suggest the task-related circuit exercise program combined with sensorimotor training is an effective intervention to improve balance and gait in stoke patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.25-34
• /
• 2010

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to assess the effect for gait, balance, and depression for stroke patients by group task-related program training based motor learning theory. Methods : The subjects of this study were administrated to the 11 stroke patients (9 male, 2 female) by 5 weeks, 3 times per week, 15 times. The group task-related program training were performed gait, balance, treadmill, muscle strengthening, and game program. Each program took 7~10 minutes and total time took 60 minutes including moving time. The difference of program training were compared using the paired t-test. Results : The results of this study revealed that Fugl-Meyer motor assessment, Chedoke-McMaster Stroke assessment of lower extremity and Berg balance scale were significantly correlated. However, impairment item of Chedoke-McMaster Stroke assessment, spatio-temporal gait parameters, Timed up and go test, and depression item of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory were not significantly correlated. Conclusion : These results support that group task-related program could be a useful treatment to improve the balance skills and motor function of lower extremity for the chronic stroke patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.89-95
• /
• 2019

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare task-oriented balance training on stable and unstable surfaces in terms of the fall risk, balance, and gait abilities in patients with stroke. METHODS: Twenty patients with stroke were divided randomly into a stable surface group (SSG, N=10) or unstable surface group (USG, N=10). The participants in the SSG and USG performed task-oriented balance training on stable and unstable surfaces, respectively. All participants were evaluated using the Tetrax, Berg balance scale (BBS), and 10-meter walking test (10MWT) before and after the intervention. Both groups received training 30 min per day, five times per week, for six weeks. RESULTS: The within-group changes in the fall risk, BBS, and 10MWT were significantly different in both USG and SSG (p<.05). USG showed significantly more improvement in the BBS and 10MWT compared to SSG (p<.05). CONCLUSION: Task-oriented balance training on an unstable surface is more beneficial in improving the balance and gait abilities of stroke patients.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.59-70
• /
• 2004

The purpose of this study was to propose a task-related circuits program for stroke patients and to test the difference in functional improvements between patients undergoing conventional physical therapy and those participating in a task-related circuits exercise program. The subjects were 10 stroke in-patients of the Korea National Rehabilitation Center in Seoul. We measured the following variables: Motor Assessment Scale (MAS), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Tone Assessment Scale (TAS), speed of gait, rate of step, physiological costs index, age, weight, height, site of lesion, onset day and whether the subject participated in an exercise program. Collected data were statistically analyzed by SPSS 10.0/PC using descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U test, Wilcoxon rank sum test and Spearman's correlation. The results of the experiment were as follows: (1) In the pre-test and post-test for function, there was not a statistical significance between the group partaking in a task-related circuits program and the group of conventional physical therapy (p>.05). (2) In the MAS, BBS and speed of gait test, the group undergoing conventional physical therapy showed a statistical significance (p<.05). (3) In the MAS, BBS, speed of gait, PCI, TAS (passive, associated reaction, TAS total score), the group of task-related circuits program showed a statistical significance (p<.05). As a result, the group participating in a task-related circuits program had a more functional improvement than the group participating in conventional physical therapy. Therefore, an intervention recommended for a stroke patient would be a task-related circuits program consisting of a longer session of each task for a more improved functional recovery.