• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.9 no.3
• /
• pp.315-324
• /
• 2014

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the correlation of weight bearing ability at the affected side with balance and gait abilities for the development of pressure biofeedback based equipment to stroke patients. METHODS: This study included 35 patients with stroke patient. The tests were conducted to determine the weight bearing ratio while pushing a step forward the affected side, static balance ability using the total length of COP(Center of pressure), sway velocity of COP, COP velocity at the X and Y axis. Functional reaching test (FRT), berg balance scale (BBS) were used to assess the dynamic balance ability and timed up and go test (TUG), 10m walk test (10mWT) were used assess the gait ability respectively. In order to determine the correlation between measured variables, bivariate correlation analysis was conducted. RESULTS: A significant correlation of the weight bearing ratio were shown with COP total length and velocity(r=-.34), Y-axis velocity(r=-.39), FRT(r=.42), BBS(r=.54), TUG (r=-.39), and 10m walking test (r=-.42). CONCLUSION: This study result showed that as patients with stroke had more weight bearing ratio at the affected side, not only their static and dynamic balance abilities increased more but also functional gait ability improved more. These results mean that, to improve stroke patients' static, dynamic balance ability and gait ability, weight bearing training with the affected side foot placed one step forward necessary for gaits are important.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.8 no.3
• /
• pp.21-31
• /
• 2020

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a cognitive-exercise program using step on the cognitive function, gait, and depression of elderly with mild cognitive impairment. Methods : The subjects comprised 30 elderly people with mild cognitive impairment who used elderly welfare centers in the provinces A, B, and C between March 21 and June 7, 2019. They were divided into an experimental group (n=15) and a control group (n=15) before undergoing an experiment based on a pretest-posttest control group design. The lowenstein occupational therapy cognitive assessment-geriatric population was used to assess the subjects' cognitive function, while the 4-stage balance test, 30-second chair-stand test, timed up & go test, and functional reach test were employed to evaluate their gait. In addition, the beck depression inventory was used to measure their levels of depression. Results : The cognitive-exercise program using step enhanced the subjects' cognitive function and gait and reduced their levels of depression. Furthermore, statistically significant differences were found between the experimental group and the control group. Conclusion : The cognitive-exercise program using step promoted the process of sensorimotor and cognition through the learning process of various steps taking left and right steps and cognitive activities. It improves gait by activating the coordination of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems of the body and positively affecting posture control, balance, flexibility, and lower extremity muscles. It also relieved depression by performing successful step learning and cognitive activities with forward-looking (doing) that leads to pleasure and achievement. The present study confirmed the value of a cognitive-exercise program using step to treat multiple domains of functional decline in elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment. This is therefore proposed as an intervention program for this patient group.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.83-91
• /
• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was both to examine the effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) lower leg taping and treadmill training on the gait and balance abilities of patients with hemiplegia resulting from a stroke and to provide a taping method based on the PNF concept. Methods: Twenty patients with hemiplegia resulting from a stroke were randomly and equally assigned to a control group (n=10), which received treadmill training, and to an experimental group (n=10), which received PNF lower leg taping and treadmill training. The intervention was conducted five times per week for six weeks. In order to measure changes in the gait ability of the subjects, a 10-meter walking test (10MWT) and a 6-minute walking test (6MWT) were conducted, and in order to measure changes in the subjects' balance ability, a timed up and go test (TUG) was performed. In order to compare differences within each group before and after the intervention, a paired-t test was carried out, and in order to compare differences between the two groups, the analysis of covariance was utilized. All statistical significance levels were set at ${\alpha}=0.05$. Results: There were significant differences before and after the intervention within both groups in changes of 10MWT, 6MWT, and TUG (p<0.01). Regarding differences between the two groups, the experimental group underwent more effective changes than the control group in 6MWT and TUG (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study applied PNF lower leg taping and treadmill training to patients with hemiplegia resulting from a stroke, and this resulted in improvement in the subjects' gait and balance abilities. Taping and treadmill training based on the PNF concept is considered to be usefully applied as one of the programs to improve hemiplegic patients' gait and balance abilities.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.29 no.5
• /
• pp.246-254
• /
• 2017

Purpose: Previous studies have reported that action observation training has beneficial effects on enhancing the motor task, such as balance and gait functions. On the other hand, there have been few studies combined with action observation training and auditory feedback. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of action observation training with auditory feedback on the gait function in stroke patients with hemiparesis Methods: A total of 24 inpatients with post-stroke hemiparesis were assigned randomly to either an experimental group 1 (EG 1, n=8), experiment group 2 (EG 2, n=8), control group (CG, n=8, EG 1). The EG 2 and CG watched video clip demonstrating three functional walking tasks with auditory feedback, without auditory feedback, and showing a landscape image, respectively. The exercise program consisted of 30 minutes, five times a week, for four weeks. The participants were measured to 10MWT (10 m walk test), 6MWT (6 minutes walking distance test), TUG (timed up and go test), DGI (dynamic gait index), time and steps of F8WT (figure-of-8 walk test). Results: In the intra-group comparison after the intervention, EG 1 and EG 2 showed a significantly different gait function (10MWT, 6MWT, DGI, TUG, F8WT) (p<0.05). In the inter-group comparison after intervention, EG 1 showed significant improvements in the entire gait parameters and EG 2 only showed significant improvement in DGI and TUG compared to CG (p<0.05). Conclusion: These findings show that action observation training with auditory feedback may be used beneficially for improving the gait function of stroke patients with hemiparesis.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.77-84
• /
• 2017

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of visual feedback training-for gradual weight shift in sit-to-stand training-on the balance and walking abilities of chronic hemiplegia patients. Methods: Twenty patients with chronic hemiplegia volunteered to participate in this study. The experimental group received visual feedback for gradual weight shift in the sit-to-stand training, while the contrast group followed the standard process for the sit-to-stand training. The evaluation of the balance and walking ability was conducted with the functional reach test (FRT), Berg balance scale (BBS), five time sit-to-stand (FTSTS) test, timed up and go (TUG) test, 10 m walk test (10MWT), balancia, activities-specific balance confidence (ABC) scale, and falls efficacy scale (FES). Results: In the results before and after intervention, there was a significant difference in TUG, 10MWT, ABC, and FES in the visual feedback training group (p < 0.05). In the control group, there was a significant difference in the 10MWT and ABC (p < 0.05). Also, in the evaluation of the postural fluctuations, the control group data showed a significant increase in Covar. The visual feedback group showed a significant difference in the W average. Conclusion: The visual feedback training group showed some improvement in terms balance and walking ability and on the ABC scale and FES. Therefore, if the diagonal progressive weight bearing exercise is combined with the various patterns and basic principles of PNF, it may be a more efficient intervention method.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.245-252
• /
• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of action observation training on lower limb muscle activity and dynamic balance in chronic stroke patients. Methods: This study evaluated 20 chronic stroke patients who were divided randomly into a control and an experimental group comprising 10 patients each. Both the experimental group and the control group performed the general exercise therapy provided by the hospital, but the experimental group also performed action observation training. Lower limb muscle activity was measured with a surface electromyograph, and dynamic balance was measured with the Timed Up and Go test and the 10-meter walk test. The paired t-test was used to compare the groups before and after the experiment. Furthermore, the independent t-test was used to assess differences in the degree of change between the two groups before and after the experiment. Results: The within-group comparisons for both the experimental group and the control group showed significant differences in muscle activity and dynamic balance (p<0.05). In a comparison between the groups, the differences in the muscle activity and dynamic balance of the experimental group appeared significant compared with those of the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: The study results indicate that action observation training is effective in improving the muscle activity and dynamic balance of chronic stroke patients.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.31-39
• /
• 2019

Purpose: Cognitive function is a main concern for rehabilitation progression in individuals who have sustained brain damage, even among those whose motor function has returned after brain damage. The purpose of this study was to investigate how cognitive impairment relates to functional independence in postural stability and gait performance in patients with chronic hemiparetic stroke. Methods: This was an observational design in an outpatient rehabilitation hospital. Twenty-eight adults with chronic hemiparetic stroke, receiving a course in an outpatient rehabilitation program, participated in this study. They were divided into two groups (i.e., non-cognitive impairment and cognitive impairment groups) via a cut-off score of 23 or less on a mini-mental state examination. Functional independence was assessed with the timed up-and-go test (TUG), 10-meter walk test (10mWT), five times sit-to-stand test (FTSST), Berg balance scale (BBS), and modified Barthel index (MBI). The independent t-test was used for statistical analysis when comparing the two groups. Results: The cognitive impairment group had less functional independence, balance, and gait performance than those of the non-cognitive impairment group had. The former also showed a statistically significant decrease in their TUG score, FTSST score, BBS score, and MBI score compared to the latter, but not in their 10mWT score (p<0.05). Although the non-cognitive impairment group walked faster than the cognitive impairment group did, that difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that cognitive impairment relates to functional independence in postural stability and the activities of daily living. In rehabilitation settings, cognitive impairment would be considered a major component in therapeutic rehabilitation to overcome the patients difficult physical problems and to treat for improving functional independence more after stroke.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.453-463
• /
• 2020

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of an intensively rehabilitation program on the gait, balance, functional performance, and wearing satisfaction of patients with traumatic lower extremity amputations caused by industrial accidents. Methods: In this study, the anonymized electronic medical records of individuals who participated in the intensive rehabilitation program (among those who were admitted to the hospital belonging to the Labor Welfare Corporation) due to an industrial accident from August 2018 to September 2019 were collected. As a result, the records of 12 subjects meeting the screening criteria were analyzed. Results: According to the time of application to the intensive rehabilitation program, the 10 Meter Walk Test (10MWT) (p < 0.01), Berg Balance Scale (BBS) (p < 0.01), Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) (p = 0.01), the L Test of Functional Mobility (L-test) (p < 0.01), Prosthetic Limb Users Survey of Mobility (Plus-M) (p < 0.01), and Houghton Score Question (HSQ) (p < 0.01) values significantly improved with time. Conclusion: This study confirmed the positive effect of an intensive rehabilitation program on the gait, balance, functional performance, and wearing satisfaction of patients with traumatic lower extremity amputations caused by industrial accidents. However, this study was limited by the absence of a control group, and, thus, it highlights the need for more extensive research with a large sample.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.99-105
• /
• 2021

Purpose: This study aims to report on the effect of providing customized visiting exercise, a musculoskeletal intervention method, to the elderly in the community. Methods: In this study, subjective pain was measured to evaluate pain and physical ability of the elderly, and timed up & go (TUG) test and psychological level test were performed for myofascial pain perception symptoms and gait function. Measurements were performed twice before and 4 weeks after treatment. Participants in the exercise group (n=108) performed the spine exercise, whereas those in the spine exercise group (n=108) performed the spine exercise using complex exercise program (3 times/week for 4 weeks). Results: The significant test of visual analogu scale (VAS), pain pressure threshold (PPT), TUG, psychosocial factor according to applying the exercise within groups used T-test. In the result following analysis, there was significance on VAS (p=.000), PPT (p=.000), TUG (p=.000), Psychosocial factor (Depresion; p=.000, Anxiety; p=.000) within group. Conclusion: Then, exercise has benefit on the VAS, PPT, TUG, psychosocial factor in patients with myofacial pain syndrome. So, it may suggest that exercise will be helpful of the pain, gait and psychosocial factor improvement the patients with spine pain.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.69-79
• /
• 2024

PURPOSE: This study compared the effect of the muscle energy technique (MET) and stretching technique on ankle dorsiflexion passive range of motion, balance, and gait ability of stroke patients with limited ankle dorsiflexion. METHODS: Forty-four post-stroke patients participated. The participants were randomized into the MET group (METG; n = 22) and the stretching group (STG; n = 22). The METG was subjected to the MET to relax the dorsiflexion, while the STG was subjected to the dorsiflexion stretching technique. Both groups completed standard neurological physical therapy for 30 min per session. The intervention was conducted five times a week over 3 weeks for a total of 15 times. All participants underwent ankle dorsiflexion passive range of motion measurement and Berg Balance Scale score determination and completed a 10-m walking test and the timed up and go test before and after the intervention. RESULTS: After the 3-week intervention, both groups showed significant improvement after the intervention (p < .05). METG participants showed greater improvements in ankle dorsiflexion passive range of motion and 10-m walking test results compared to STG participants (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Both interventions improved ankle dorsiflexion passive range of motion, balance, and gait ability in stroke patients with limited ankle dorsiflexion. Moreover, the MET was superior to ankle dorsiflexion passive range of motion on the 10-m walking test.