• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.8-17
• /
• 2014

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of hip joint mobilization (HJM) on walking ability, balance ability, and the joint range of motion in stroke patients to minimize the problems of the musculoskeletal system in patients with central nervous system diseases. All volunteers were randomly assigned to the HJM group ($n_1=14$) and the general neurodevelopment therapy (NDT) group ($n_2=16$). The HJM procedure involved applying Maitland mobilization techniques (distraction, lateral gliding, inferior gliding, and anterior gliding) by grade 3 to both hip joint. The mobilization process included mobilization and NDT for 15 min/day, 3 days a week for 4 weeks. The outcome measures were evaluated, including the hip joint passive range of motion (ROM) test and femur head anterior glide test (FHAG) using prone figure four test, dynamic and static balance abilities [timed up and go (TUG) test and center of pressure (COP) analysis], and walking ability [10-meter walking test (10MWT) and 6-min walking test (6MWT)]. Both the groups showed significant post-training differences in the hip joint ROM (FHAG and degree of hip extension) and 10MWT. The post-training improvements in the TUG test were significantly greater in patients of the HJM group than in the NDT group; however, there were no post-training improvements in COP in both groups. Patients in the HJM group showed post-training improvement in the 6MWT; however, statistically significant differences were not observed. Patients in the NDT group showed post-training improvements in the 6MWT. These results suggest that HJM improves hip joint ROM, dynamic balance ability, and walking speed in stroke patients. However, further studies are required to evaluate the long-term therapeutic efficacy of HJM in stroke patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.13-21
• /
• 2021

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of action observational training with acoustic stimulation (AOTA) on the balance and gait ability in stroke patients. METHODS: Forty-five chronic stroke patients were divided into three groups. The AOTA group (n = 15) received training via a video that showed a normal gait with the sound of footsteps. The action observation training (AOT) group (n = 15) received AOT without acoustic stimulation. The control group (n = 15) received physical training. Each intervention was applied once per day, three times per week for six weeks. The participants in the AOTA and AOT groups had five minutes of AOT. The participants in the all group had 20 minutes of physical training. All participants were measured using the Berg Balance Scale, the Timed Up and Go Test, the Functional Reaching Test, 10 Meter Walk Test, six Minute Walk Test, and Dynamic Gait Index. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 for Windows. The between- and within-group comparisons were analyzed using the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test and a paired t-test, respectively. For all statistical analyses, the significance level was set to .05. RESULTS: The one-way ANOVA test identified significant differences among the measurement results of the three groups (p < .05). Post hoc analyses indicated the AOTA group to undergo more significant balance and gait changes than the control group (p < .05). CONCLUSION: The gait and balance abilities could be improved effectively for patients with stroke when action observation training and acoustic stimulation were applied simultaneously.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.41-48
• /
• 2023

PURPOSE: Falls are caused by a decline in physical and cognitive function. A quantitative evaluation tool that can comprehensively evaluate motor and cognitive functions for elderly people with an impaired physical function. This study assessed the clinical application potential by confirming the correlation between the physical function tests, cognitive and the stepping trail-making test (S-TMT). METHODS: Fourteen community-dwelling older patients (65-75 years) were recruited. The study conducted cognitive function tests with the trail-making test (TMT-A, B), and physical function tests (6-minute walking test (6MWT), short physical performance battery (SPPB), and timed up and go (TUG)). The results of were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0. Descriptive statistics were used for the general characteristics of the study subjects, and the correlations between S-TMT, other functional tests were examined through Pearson's correlation analysis. The statistical significance was set to .05. RESULTS: S-TMT had a significant positive correlation with the TUG (r = .588^*) and trail-making test-B (TMT-B) (r = .689^*, p < .05). Furthermore, S-TMT showed a negative correlation between SPPB (r = -.397) and 6MWT (r = -.422), but it was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: S-TMT is a cognitive-gait dual-task performance evaluation tool that can be performed safely. A significant correlation was confirmed between the TUG test and the TMT-B. S-TMT is a dual-task screening tool that can evaluate both physical and cognitive functions simultaneously.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.147-155
• /
• 2014

Purpose: This study was to determine the effects of before and after application of silicone sleeve on balance and muscle strength in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction patients. Methods: 13 subjects who had one or more months after ACL surgery were involved. Dynamic balance, timed up and go (TUG), stair step, vertical jump, proprioception and isokinetic knee strength were measured while subjects under taped, untapped and silicone sleeve conditions. Results: For 30 seconds one-leg standing, there was a significant improvement under silicone sleeve on operated side with eyes open and both taping and silicone sleeve revealed similar effects with eyes closed (p<0.01). Application of silicone sleeve showed significant effects in proprioceptive function on the operated side compared to both taping and none (p<0.05). For stair step test, TUG and vertical jump was a tendency to improve after application of silicone sleeve, but no significant different. Muscle strength on operated side of quadriceps and hamstring was significantly improved compared with none or taping(p<0.05). Conclusion: Silicone sleeve application for ACL reconstruction patients was effective immediately on improving strength and balance. Therefore, depending on the intended use and the disease is considered appropriate use of silicone sleeve will be able to help prevention and functional movement.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.74-80
• /
• 2013

We evaluated whether group locomotor imagery training-combined knowledge of performance (KP) lead to improvements in gait function in community dwelling individuals with chronic stroke. Ten adults who had suffered a hemiparetic stroke at least 6 months earlier participated in group locomotor imagery training-combined KP for 5 weeks, twice per week, with 2 h intensive training. Dynamic gait index scores increased significantly after the group locomotor imagery training-combined KP. However, times for the timed up-and-go test did not improve significantly after the training. Group locomotor imagery training-combined KP may be a useful option for the relearning of gait performance for community dwelling individuals with chronic hemiparetic stroke.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.8 no.3
• /
• pp.387-395
• /
• 2013

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of the training using Pedalo equipment on balance function in post-stroke patients. METHODS: The present study was case-series. Ten post-stroke patients participated in the study. Participants performed the training using Pedalo equipment. The training using four Pedalo equipment lasted 30 minutes, 3 times a week for 6 weeks. Force platform, Berg Balance Scale(BBS), and Timed Up and Go(TUG) test were used to assess balance ability before and after training. RESULTS: After training using Pedalo equipment, there were significantly improved on path length and sway velocity of post-stroke patients in the both of eye open and - close conditions comparing with baseline. Also, on the BBS and TUG, there were significant improvements after training. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that the training using Pedalo equipment may be effective on improving the balance ability in the post-stroke patients. Through this study, we were able to confirm the potential of training using Pedalo equipment as an intervention in the rehabilitation of post-stroke patients.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.29-36
• /
• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate effect of fabric ankle-foot orthosis on spatiotemporal gait parameters, compared to a barefoot condition in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Eleven children with spastic cerebral palsy participated in this study. Spatiotemporal gait parameters were measured with the GAITRite system. Fabric ankle-foot orthosis significantly improved Timed Up and Go test time and gait velocity. There was no significant difference in cadence. The step time significantly improved in both the more and less affected foot compared to the barefoot condition. The step length of the affected foot also significantly improved, but there was no significant difference in the step length of the less affected foot. There was significant improvement in the stride length of both the affected and less affected foot, but no significant difference in single stance or double stance. The fabric ankle-foot orthosis could improve stability, and selective control of the joint and promote better walking in children with cerebral palsy. Consequently, the fabric ankle-foot orthosis might be an alternative assistive device for neurological populations as a primary role instead of the typical ankle-foot orthosis.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.37-46
• /
• 2020

Background: The present study aimed to investigate the immediate effects of Soft Tissue Mobilization (STM) before Mobilization with Movement (MWM) on ankle ROM, pennation angle, balance in stroke patients. Methods: A total of 22 subjects were randomly assigned to one of two groups: the experimental group and the control group. The experimental group received intervention STM before MWM. STM was applied for one minute, MWM was applied one set of six times, in a total 3 sets. The passive ankle joint range of motion (ROM) was measured using a goniometer, the pennation angle was measured using RUSI, and the balance was measured using Timed Up & Go Test. Results: The ROM of the ankle dorsi-flexion, muscle tissue (pennation angle) and balance were significantly increased. Conclusion: In this study, it was confirmed that the ankle dorsi-flexion ROM, pennation angle of the medial gastrocnemius muscle, and balance were significantly improved in the group where STM was performed before the MWM intervention. Therefore, the physiotherapists should consider these results in their intervention. If MWM is applied to stroke patients, applying STM first is a better intervention.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.475-483
• /
• 2014

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of close kinetic chain resistant exercise of lower extremity on the gait with stroke patients. METHODS: The subjects were 50 patients who were diagnosed with cerebrovascular accident. They were randomly assigned either to a close kinetic chain resistant exercise of lower extremity group (study group)(n=25) or open kinetic chain resistant exercise of lower extremity exercise group (control group)(n=25). Gait abilities were measured by using Timed Up & Go (TUG) test, Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) and spatio-temporal gait variable that were velocity, cadence, stride length, double limb support by 3 axises wireless accelerometer and sway angle of center of mass by same instrument. RESULTS: Study group and control group before and after the intervention there were significantly difference in TUG, FGA, spatio-temporal gait variables and sway angle of center of mass (p<.05). There were significantly different between study group and control group for all variables at post-exercise. CONCLUSION: When all is said and done it is expected to be used as a method for the treatment and prevention in the process of rehabilitation of patients with stroke. In its final analysis when applying resistant exercise of lower extremity to stroke patients' gait, close kinetic chain is more effective than open kinetic chain.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.148-159
• /
• 2012

Objectives: This study investigated the correlation among Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke (PASS), Timed "Up and Go" Test (TUG) and gait (velocity, cadence, step-length, stride-length and single-limb support). Methods: The 70 subjects were assessed on trunk control measured with the use of the PASS, dynamic balance (TUG) and gait function (by GAITRite). The data were analyzed using Pearson product correlation. Results: The PASS total scores were significantly correlated with PASS-M, PASS-C, and PASS-T (r =.80 ~ .88 p<.01). All items of the PASS were significantly correlated with TUG (r = -.63 ~ -.81 p<.01), velocity (r = .44~.58 p<.01), cadence (r =.38 ~.51. p<.01), affected side step length (r = .44 ~.56 p<.01) and affected side stride length (r = .45 ~.59 p<.01). But affected side single-limb support was lowly correlated with PASS-M, PASS-C, PASS-T and PASS-total (r = .25~.36 p<.05). Conclusions: Measures of trunk control were significantly related with values of dynamic balance and gait. Based on these results, trunk control is an essential core component of balance and gait. Trunk control training programs after stroke should be developed and emphasized.