• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.11-19
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• 2010

The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of balance training with 'TETRAX' system, a balance training and assessment tool, on balance and mobility in acute hemiplegic patients. Nineteen matched subjects were assigned randomly into either an experimental group or a control group. An experimental group with 10 subjects received balance training with 'TETRAX' exercise program and conventional physical therapy interventions 5 times per week during 4 weeks. A control group with 9 subjects received conventional physical therapy interventions 5 times per week during 4 weeks. Outcome measures were taken before and after 4 weeks of interventions using the Stroke Rehabilitation Assessment of Movement (STREAM), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), gait speed, and the fall down index. Results indicated that both exercise groups improved significantly in STREAM, BBS, and gait speed (p<.05). The experimental group had a little improvement than the control group. Both exercise groups did not show statistical significance in fall down index (p<.05). Following 4 weeks of intervention, except gait speed there was no statistically significant difference between two groups. However, these findings suggest that conventional physical therapy interventions with visual feedback training could be effective on improving balance and mobility than conventional physical therapy alone in acute hemiplegic patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.430-435
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• 2014

Purpose: The objective of this study was a virtual reality-based balance training program effective for improvement in physical function, examined the balance ability and fall efficacy of elderly women with experienced falls, intending to examine the program's usefulness as an exercise program to prevent the recurrence of a fall. Methods: The participants were 30 elderly women aged 65 or older who met the conditions. The participants were randomly assigned to either a balance training group (BT) or a virtual reality-based balance training group (VT) and received the training three times per week, 30 minutes per day, for six weeks. To measure static balance, the Tetrax Portable Multiple System (Tetrax Ltd, Israel) were used. To measure dynamic balance, the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and functional reach test (FRT) was used, and regarding fall efficacy, the Korean Fall Efficacy Scale (K-FES) was used. Results: Tetrax significantly improved after the intervention in both the BT group and the VT group (p<0.05). The comparison between the two groups was not significantly. BBS and FRT result significantly improved after the intervention in both the BT and VT groups (p<0.001), while K-FES was significantly ameliorated in the VT group only (p<.05). Comparing the groups, there were more significant changes in the BBS (p<0.05) and FRT (p<0.01) result of the VT group than the BT group. Conclusion: A virtual reality-based balance training program is considered to be usable as an exercise program to prevent recurrence of falls in elderly women.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.337-343
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• 2012

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of abdominal-compression belt in one leg standing on balance in normal adult. Background: With the effects of increased intra-abdominal pressure, the abdominal-compression belt is contributing to a static balance control. However, specific study is still insufficient. Method: Forty subjects were randomly allocated to two groups: control(n=20) and experimental group(n=20), respectively. The experimental group used an abdominal-compression belt, whereas the control group did not that. All subjects were educated using pressure biofeedback unit and ultrasound imaging for exact application by abdominal-compression belt. Main outcome measurement was used a general stability index, fourier harmony index, weight distribution index, and fall index in tetrax balance system. Results: Experimental group improved significantly on general stability, only 2 factors(eyes closed with head turned forward and eyes closed with head turned backward) among fourier harmony index, and fall index, However, weight distribution index did not revealed significant difference. Conclusion: The findings suggest that application of abdominal-compression belt could be effective on improving balance ability in one leg standing of normal adults. Application: The results of the abdominal-compression belt might help to control balance in workers.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.225-232
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation on the lower extremity function of chronic stroke patients. Methods: The participants consist of 26 chronic stroke patients. They were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n=13) or a control group (n=13) and engaged in exercise three times per week for eight weeks. The experimental group engaged in proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation exercises and the control group engaged in general mat exercises. To measure lower extremity strength, the sit to stand test and the static balance test (standing on one leg) were used. To measure the stability index (SI) and weight distribution index (WDI), a Tetrax Portable Multiple System (Tetrax Ltd, Israel) was used in addition to a static balance test (standing on one leg). Results: : Lower extremity strength and static balance showed a significant improvement in the experimental group (p<.05). The SI and WDI were significantly improved in the experimental group (p<.05) for tests of standing with their eyes open, standing with their eyes closed, and standing on a sponge with their eyes open. Conclusion: Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation exercises have confirmed that lower extremity function improves after exercise interventions in chronic stroke patients.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.378-382
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• 2012

The purpose of this study effectiveness of core strengthening exercise programs on symmetric double limb support and balance ability for elderly. The subjects that 30 persons between the ages of 65~80 elderly participated were divided into two groups randomly for 8 weeks. Tetrax interactive balance system and Berg's balance scale were used to assess support and stability. Paired t-tests were used to evaluate the changes before and after intervention. The difference between the groups was compared using an independent t-test. The experimental group showed significantly increase weight support, stability, balance(p<.05). However, the control group not showed significantly increase weight support, stability, balance(p>.05). In a variation, experimental and control groups showed significantly increased rate of weight support, stability, balance(p<.05). Consequently, core strengthening exercise program should be considered as a therapeutic method for the elderly to improve the balance ability and effectiveness on falls.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.93-102
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• 2016

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the functional effects of action observation plus functional electrical stimulation (FES) treatment on the weight distribution indexes (heel and toe; right and left), stability indexes, gait velocities, and stride lengths of stroke patients. METHODS: The subjects, who were all more than six months post stroke, were randomly divided into two groups of ten each: an experimental group and a control group. TETRAX (Tetrax Interactive Balance System) and GAITRite (GAITRite$^{TM}$ computerized gait analysis system) were measured at baseline, six weeks after treatment. Participants in both the groups received functional electrical stimulation treatment, but the experimental group was provided with additional action observation. Independent t-tests were used to compare the differences between the groups, and repeated measured two-way ANOVA was used to compare the interaction between the groups. RESULTS: The result of the interactions between the groups and the periods showed significant increases in the weight distribution indexes (heel and toe; right and left), stability indexes, gait velocities and stride lengths (p<0.05). However, a comparison between the groups showed no significance in the weight distribution indexes (heel and toe), stability indexes, and stride lengths (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Action observation plus functional electrical stimulation treatment should be considered as a therapeutic method for physical therapy for stroke patients to improve the weight distribution indexes, stability indexes, gait velocities, and stride lengths.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.297-306
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• 2017

The study was performed to determine the impact of the gastrocnemius taping with balance training on spasticity and balance ability of the ankle joint. A total of 25 stroke subjects were divided into two groups: a taping with balance training (n=14), a sham taping with balance training (n=11). Spasticity assesment was scored by modified ashworth scale. Balance ability assesment was performed by functional reach test (FRT), the timed up & go test (TUG). The stability index (SI), the left-right weight distribution (left-right WD), the toe-heel weight distribution (toe-heel WD) were analyzed in the eyes open conditions(EO) and eyes closed conditions(EC) conditions using by the Tetrax interactive balance system. The experimental group showed a significant improvement in SI, left-right WD and toe-heel WD in the EO and EC, MAS, FRT, TUG. In comparison between the groups, a significant improvement was detected in FRT, TUG, SI and left-right WD in the EO, and left-right WD and toe-heel WD in the EC. It was found out that a short period of balance training with taping is effective on spasticity and balance ability in stroke patients. Therefore, any stroke patient without skin damage is encouraged to use the gastrocnemius taping for balance rehabilitation.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.19-26
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• 2009

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of six-week biofeedback training for prevention of falling in elderly persons. Biofeedback training for using the TETRAX system. Methods: Thirty healthy elderly persons(men=17, women=13) who were 79 years of mean age participated in sensory regulation training. They were trained for thirty minutes a day, three times per week. We measured subjects sensory regulated function by TETRAX system, and analyzed mean difference of observed variables by paired t-test between the pre and post test. Results: The first experimental group were significantly difference between pre and post test. The second control group were not significantly between the pre and post test. The third there are significant between group. Conclusion: The results of this study reveal that biofeedback training exercise will improve sensory balance function, and further studies needs to identify which specific factors are related to fall in the elderly population, and it is expected this study may contribute in reducing fall and therapeutic exercise in falling.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.235-246
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• 2011

Purpose: The aim of this study is to compare and assess the effects of lumbar stabilization exercise on the balance ability of young college studets with low back pain after having performed spinal stabilization exercise by using 3-dimensional air-balance system and gym ball. Methods: The subjects of this study were 34 low back patients in their early twenties. They were divided into two groups: 3-dimensional lumbar stabilization exercise group(N=17) and gym ball lumbar stabilization exercise group(N=17). The period of the intervention was for five weeks. VAS(Visual Analogue Scale) for pain test, ODI(Oswestry Disability Index) for ADL limitation test, Tetrax system for static balance test, and Air-balance system 3D for dynamic balance test were used as evaluation tools for this study. Results: Pain showed significant decrease in both groups after having performed the experiment, but ADL limitation of the groups did not show any remarkable difference between before and after the experiment. Dynamic balance ability in the 8-directional angle comparison test significantly increased in all directions except for the backward, left-backward, and right-backward directions. As for dynamic balance ability in the 8-directional postural test, 3D exercise group showed statistically significant reduction in every direction while gym ball exercise group did not(p<.05). However, when it comes to static balance ability in the weight distribution and stability test, there was not significantly change between pre and post test in both groups. Conclusion: This study shows 3-dimensional lumbar stabilization exercise is more effective in the lumbar stabilization of coordinated movement than gym ball exercise, which may imply that 3D air-balance system can be used for the therapeutic treatment of body imbalance for patients with low back pain.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.21-31
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• 2017

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify whether backward walking exercise was more effective than conventional physical therapy for balance and gait in hemiplegic stroke patients. METHODS: Eighteen patients with chronic stroke were randomly assigned to the experimental (n=9) or control (n=9) group. The experimental and control group performed backward walking exercise and conventional physical therapy, respectively, for 8 weeks. Stability Index (SI) and Weight Distribution Index (WDI) during standing were assessed using the Tetrax Balance System. The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and Korean version of the Berg Balance Scale (K-BBS) were used to evaluate balance and fall risk. Walking speed, stride length, and step length on the affected side were measured using the 10-Meter Walk and ink foot printing tests. Wilcoxon signed-rank and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for within- and between- group comparisons, respectively. RESULTS: The experimental group showed significantly higher changes in SI (p<.01), WDI (p<.01), TUG (p<.001), and BBS score (p<.001) following intervention compared with the control group. The experimental group also showed significantly greater improvements in walking speed (p<.01), stride length (p<.001), and step length on the affected side (p<.001) after intervention compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: Backward walking exercise is an effective intervention to improve balance and gait in hemiplegic stroke patients.