• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.49-58
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of bridging stabilization exercise on balance ability and gait performance in elderly women. The subjects of this study were thirty-one elderly women over 65 years old in HongSung-Gun Senior Citizen Welfare Hall. The subjects were randomly assigned into one of three groups (trunk stabilization exercise on the mat, whole body vibration, and Swiss ball) and participated in each exercise program three times a week for 4 weeks. Each exercise began in the bridging position. The dynamic balance and gait were measured by limit of stability area using force plate, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Timed Up and Go Test (TUG). The results were as follows: 1) The limit of stability in three groups increased significantly in anterior-posterior and medial-lateral lean after 4-weeks intervention (p<.05). 2) There were no significant differences in the limit of stability among three groups after 4-weeks intervention (p>.05). 3) The BBS and TUG in three groups increased significantly after 4-weeks intervention (p<.05). 4) There were significant differences among three groups in BBS. Post-hoc test showed that Swiss ball exercise group was significantly higher than the mat and whole body vibration groups. 5) There were no significant differences TUG among three groups after 4-weeks intervention (p>.05). In conclusion, this study suggested that 4 weeks of the bridging stabilization exercises were effective on balance and gait in all three groups. Particularly Swiss ball exercise group showed higher improvement than two other exercise groups (mat, whole body vibration group).

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2013

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact on the ability to walk, balance after side walking training of hemiplegic patients caused by stroke. Method : The subjects were training before stroke onset whether more than one year elapsed 15 patients with chronic stroke patients, and Berg balance scale(BBS) and Timed up and go test(TUG), Functional reaching test(FRT), 20m walking time 200m walking time were measured and recorded. Training period, a total of three weeks, and training frequency circuit training times 10 minutes per training, 5-minute break, the 10-minute training total 25-minute training was conducted. Gait line of 3m to be based on the patient's side walking, and the risk of falling compared to the presence of the experimenter trained under was carried out. Result : 1. TUG, 2. 20m walking time, 3. 200m walking time 4. FRT, 5. All showed significant improvement in BBS. Judging from the results, the side walking training conducted three weeks due to chronic stroke hemiplegic patient's ability to balance and showed a positive effect on the improvement of walking ability. Conclusion : Accordingly, it was more effective to train hemiplegic patients with chronic stroke on side walking.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.447-454
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• 2014

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of inclination treadmill training with dynamic stretching on the spasticity and gait of chronic stroke patients. METHODS: Twenty two subjects were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (EG, n=11) or a control group (CG, n=11). Both groups participated in a standard rehabilitation program; in addition, the EG participated in inclination treadmill training for 20 min per day, five times per week, for 4 weeks, and the CG participated in treadmill walking training for 20 min per day, five times per week, for 4 weeks. Outcome measurements, recorded before and post intervention. Walking ability was measured using the 10m walking test (10MWT) and Timed up and go (TUG) test. Spasticity of the medialis gastrocnemius was measured using a myotonometer. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed the both groups for walking ability and spasticity after the training program. The results of the study were follows: 10MWT and TUG was significantly increased in both groups (p<0.05) and it was also found to be significant between groups after intervention (p<0.05). Spasticity was significantly increased in both groups (p<0.05) and it was also found to be significant between the groups after intervention (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that inclination treadmill training improves gait ability and reduces spasticity of the medialis gastrocnemius. Inclination treadmill training may be used as an easy, effective and accessible way to improve the walking ability and decrease spasticity in stroke patients. Further studies are necessary to generalize the findings of this study.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.587-596
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• 2010

Purpose : This study was performed to investigate the effects of somatosensory training on the spatiotemporal gait parameters and balance in patients with stroke patients. Methods : 24 stroke survivors were allocated in this study, and randomly divided into experimental(n=12) and control group(n=12), independently. Experimental group was applied somatosensory training program plus conventional physical therapy, and control group was applied only conventional physical therapy. All subjects were administered for 30 minutes per day during 8 weeks(5 times a week). Results : Spatiotemporal parameters of gait were significant difference between pre and post intervention in experimental group, except of step length asymmetry ratio(SLAR) and single support time asymmetry ratio (SSAR)(p<.05). But control group had no statistical significance(p>.05). And also there was significant difference between experimental and control group(p<.05), except of cadence and SSAR(p>.05). Balance parameters were significant difference between pre and post intervention in experimental group(p<.05). But control group had no statistical significance(p>.05). And experimental timed up and go test was significantly decreased than control group(p<.05), but berg balance scale and functional reach test were not significant difference between experimental and control group(p>.05). Conclusion : This study was suggested that somatosensory training has effectiveness on the spatiotemporal gait parameters and balance in patients with stroke survivors. So this therapeutic intervention will be effectivelyapply to the stroke survivors in the clinical setting.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.63-70
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• 2019

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of bilateral ankle dorsiflexors-strengthening exercise on the paralytic tibialis anterior activity, balance ability, and gait function of patients with chronic stroke. METHODS: Nineteen patients with chronic stroke were assigned randomly to the experimental and control groups. All participants received general physical therapy for 60-minutes per session, five times a week, for 6 weeks. In addition, the experimental group (n = 9) performed bilateral ankle dorsiflexion muscle-strengthening training three times a week, 30 minutes per session, for six weeks. The control group (n=10) performed the paraplegic ankle dorsiflexion muscle- strengthening training in the same manner. Before and after the intervention, the paralytic tibialis anterior muscle activity, timed up and go test (TUG), and 10m walking test (10 MWT) were performed. RESULTS: Both groups showed significant improvement in the post-intervention muscle activity of the paralytic tibialis anterior, TUG, and 10MWT compared to that before the intervention (p<.05), but the differences between the two groups were not significant (p >.05). CONCLUSION: Bilateral ankle dorsiflexors strengthening exercise is an effective cross-training method to improve the muscle activity of the paraplegic tibialis anterior, balance ability, and walking function in chronic stroke patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.71-80
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• 2019

PURPOSE: This study examined whether a task-oriented training program is an effective intervention to improve the body function, activity, and participation of children with cerebral palsy (CP). METHODS: Ten children with CP (7-13 years old) performed a task-oriented training program for eight weeks (three sessions per week, 30 minutes each). The taskoriented training program consisted of eight activities. The subjects' body function was assessed using a handheld dynamometer, goniometer, Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Balance Performance Monitor (BPM), and the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOTMP). The subjects' activity and participation were assessed using the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) and Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. RESULTS: Task-oriented training provided significant improvements in the subjects' body function. The subjects improved the bilateral isometric muscle strength of the hip flexors, extensors and abductors, knee flexors and extensors, and ankle dorsi- and plantar flexors (p<.05). Bilateral passive hip flexion, abduction, and external rotation, knee flexion, and ankle dorsi- and plantar flexion were also increased (p<.05). In addition, the MAS score of the hip adductors decreased (p<.05) and the BOTMP score increased after training (p<.05). The subjects' activity and participation also improved significantly after training, increasing the GMFM score (p<.05) and decreasing the TUG score (p<.05). On the other hand, the BPM score did not change after training. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that a task-oriented training program can be an effective intervention to improve the body function, activity, and participation for children with CP.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.73-78
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• 2015

Objective: This study focused on subacute stroke patients who were asked to kick a ball while walking on a treadmill. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of a body weight-supported treadmill training (BWSTT) combined with ball-kicking on muscle strength, balance, and gait. Design: Single blind, randomized controlled trial. Methods: Twenty stroke patients who volunteered to participate in this study were randomly assigned to either the BWSTT combined with ball-kicking (BWSTT-BK; 10 participants) group or the BWSTT group (10 participants). Participants in the BWSTTBK group performed treadmill walking combined with simultaneous ball-kicking for 30 minutes daily for 5 weeks. Participants from the BWSTT group performed only treadmill walking. The muscular strength, balance, and gait ability were measured before and after the 5-week training. To assess for muscular strength, a digital muscle tester was used to measure hip flexor, knee extensor, and dorsiflexor strength. To assess for balance, the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) was used. To assess for gait, the 10 meter walk test (10MWT) and Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) was used. Results: The BWSTT-BK group showed significantly improved muscular strength, balance, and gait according to BBS, TUG, 10MWT, FGA, and digital muscle testing scores compared to the BWSTT group (p<0.05). In addition, within-group comparison showed significant improvement in all variables (p<0.05). Conclusions: These findings suggest that BWSTT-BK results in more favourable outcomes for stroke patients. Therefore, BWSTT-BK may be useful for the recovery of gait ability of stroke patients.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.66-72
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• 2015

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of balance training with plantar flexor stretching on ankle dorsi flexion range of motion (ROM), balance, and gait ability in stroke patients. Design: A randomized controlled pilot trial. Methods: Thirty stroke patients volunteered to participate in this study. The subjects were randomly allocated to two groups: the experimental group (n=15) received the neurodevelopment therapy plus balance training with plantar flexor stretching for 20 minutes in one session. The control group (n=15) received the same neurodevelopment therapy plus plantar flexor static stretching for 20 minutes in one session. Both groups underwent sessions four times a week, for a total of 4 weeks. Measurements included passive range of motion (PROM), active range of motion (AROM) of ankle dorsiflexion using a goniometer, timed up and go (TUG), the functional reaching test (FRT), and the 10 m walk test (10 MWT). Results: There were significant improvements in AROM and PROM of ankle dorsiflexion, TUG, and FRT scores after the intervention in the experimental group (p<0.05). However, the control group showed no statistically significant differences except for PROM of ankle dorsiflexion. The experimental group showed a significant improvement in PROM, TUG, and FRT scores compared to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusions: Balance training with plantar flexor stretching improves ankle dorsiflexion ROM and balance ability in patients with stroke. Therefore, this therapeutic intervention will be effective for rehabilitation of stroke patients in the clinical setting.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.81-90
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• 2015

This study aimed to determine the effects of Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation (RAS) using music and a metronome on the gait of stroke patients. 13 female and 15 male volunteers were randomly allocated to two groups: namely a group to receive RAS using music and a metronome group (the experimental group; $n_1=14$) and a group to receive RAS using a metronome only (the control group; $n_2=14$). The affected side was the left side in 15 subjects and the right side in 13 subjects. The mean age of the subjects was 56.6 years, and the mean onset duration of stroke was 8.6 months. Intervention was applied for 30 minutes per session, once a day, 5 times a week for 4 weeks. To measure the patients' gait improvement, we measured gait velocity, cadence, stride length, double limb support using GAITRite, body center sway angle using an accelerometer, and Timed Up-and-Go test. Functional Gait Assessment were conducted before and after the experiment. The paired t-test was used for comparisons before and after the interventions in each group. Analysis of covariance was used for comparisons between the groups after the interventions. Statistical significance was set at ${\alpha}=.05$. Within each of the two groups, significant differences in all of the dependent variables before and after the experiment (p<.05) were observed. However, in the comparison between the two groups, the experimental group showed more significant improvements in all dependent variables than the control group (p<.05). Our results also suggest that in applying RAS in stroke patients, the combination of music and a metronome is more effective than using a metronome alone in improving patients' gait.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.7-13
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• 2008

Purpose: We compared T-type and I-type canes on postural balance in 28 hemiplegic patients. Methods: Subjects were allocated randomly into two groups: a T-shape cane group (n=14) and an I-shape cane group (n=14). Before the test, subjects were trained by a physical therapist to walk with a cane for 6 weeks. The Main Outcome Measures were measured as maximal sway velocity, sway path, sway area, and partial weight bearing using a Balance Performance Monitor (BPM) and ambulation velocity using a 'Timed up and go test'. We also measured the maximal ambulation velocity. Results: The distribution of weight bearing on the affected side without the cane was 35% in the I-shape cane group and 36% in the T-shape cane group. After training, weight bearing on the affected side increased by 45% in the I-shape cane group and 40% in the T-shape cane group. With the cane held in the hand, weight bearing on the affected side in the T-shape cane group decreased by 3%. Conclusion: The I-shaped cane increased static standing balance, including hemiplegic side weight bearing. Therefore, I-shape canes can improve the balance of hemiplegic patients.