• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2016

PURPOSE: This study compared the effectiveness of trunk control exercise performed on an unstable surface with that of general balance exercise on dynamic balance in the patients with chronic stroke. METHODS: The persons of this study were thirty-seven chronic stroke patients were recruited and randomly divided into 2 groups; (1) those who performed trunk control exercise on a foam roll and (2) those who performed general balance exercise. The exercises were performed 5 times a week for 4 weeks. To determine the effectiveness of the 2 types of exercises, we measured dynamic balance at the beginning of the exercises and again after 4 weeks at the completion of exercises program. RESULTS: After 4 weeks of exercise, both the groups showed increased Berg's balance scale and timed-up-and-go test (p<.001) scores. However, Trunk control exercise group was more effective than general balance exercise group was in increasing the Berg's balance scale (p<.01) and timed-up-and-go test (p<.05) scores. CONCLUSION: We suggest that trunk control exercise may be effective in increasing the balance ability of patients with chronic stroke than general balance exercise. Thus, trunk control exercise is important for such patients. Further studies are needed for better understanding of the effectiveness of trunk control exercise in chronic stroke patients.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.37-47
• /
• 2014

Falls are common after stroke and most frequently related to loss of balance while walking. Consequently, preventing falls is one of the goals of acute, rehabilitative, and chronic stroke care. The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence and risk factors of falls and to determine how well the Falls Efficacy Scale (FES), Timed Up and Go test (TUG), and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) could distinguish between fallers and non-fallers among stroke patients during inpatient rehabilitation. One hundred and fifteen participants with at least 3 months post-stroke and able to walk at least 3 m with or without a mono cane participated in this study. Fifty-four (47%) participants reported falling, and 15 (27.8%) had a recurrent fall. Logistic regression analysis for predicting falls showed that left hemiplegia [odds ratio (OR)=4.68] and fear of falling (OR=5.99) were strong risk factors for falls. Fallers performed worse than non-fallers on the FES, TUG, and BBS (p<.05, p<.01, respectively). In the receiver operator characteristic curve analysis, the TUG demonstrated the best discriminating ability among the three assessment tools. The cut-off score was 22 seconds on the TUG for discriminating fallers from non-fallers (sensitivity=88.9%, specificity=45.9%) and 27 seconds for discriminating recurrent fallers from single fallers and non-fallers (sensitivity=71.4%, specificity=40.2%). Results suggest that there is a need for providing fall prevention and injury minimization programs for stroke patients who record over 22 seconds on the TUG.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.7
• /
• pp.3305-3310
• /
• 2014

Background: A cancer survivor is defined as anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer, from the time of diagnosis through the rest of their life. The purpose of this study was to examine whether physical functions, health-related outcomes, nutritional status and blood markers in community-dwelling cancer survivors aged 75 years and older are different from those who do not have cancer Materials and Methods: Two hundred seventy-five participants were asked by physicians, nurses, and physical therapists, questions regarding cancer history in a face-to-face interview. Data were collected for demographic information, physical functions, such as handgrip strength, knee extension power, abdominal muscle strength, static standing balance, walking speed and the timed-up-and-go test, health-related outcomes, nutritional status, and blood markers. The measured parameters of survivor diagnosed with cancer were compared with those without a history of cancer. Results: Thirty-seven older adults were previously diagnosed with cancer. Female cancer survivors had lower knee extension power (p<0.05), abdominal muscle strength (p<0.05), walking speed (p<0.05), timed-up-and-go test score (p<0.05), and time to spend on walking per day (p<0.05) than older women without a history of cancer. In men, none of the measured parameters were significantly different between cancer survivors and older men with no history of cancer. Conclusions: The present study shows that partial physical function of women cancer survivors aged 75 years and older differs from that in women with no history of cancer.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.13 no.8
• /
• pp.3610-3617
• /
• 2012

This study was to evaluate the effects of an action observation to improve on gait in stroke patients. Participants were randomly allocated to two groups: experimental (n=10) and control (n=10). Both groups were trained for 60 minutes, 6 times a week during 6 weeks by neuro-development treatment. Experimental group practiced additional action observation for 3 session 10 minutes per week 6 weeks. Both groups were evaluated by gait velocity, affected step length, non affected step length, affected stride length, non affected stride length, double support time, cadence, and timed up and go to test. There were significantly increased by action observation in outcomes of the gait performance from the gait velocity, affected side step length, affected side stride length, cadence, timed up and go test. In conclusion, the action observation improves gait performance in stroke patients. The results suggest that action observation training is feasible and suitable for individuals with hemiparesis patients.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.54-60
• /
• 2018

Objective: Persons with chronic stroke fall more often than healthy elderly individuals. The Timed Up and Go test (TUG) is used as a fall prediction tool, but only provides a result for the total measurement time. This study aimed to determine the optimal cut-off values for each of the 6 components of the TUG. Design: Retrospective study. Methods: Thirty persons with chronic stroke participated in the study. TUG evaluation was performed using a wearable miniaturized inertial sensor. Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values were calculated using the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis for the measured values in each section. Optimal values for fall risk classification were determined. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the risk of future falls based on TUG. Results: The cut-off values of the 6 sections of the TUG were determined, as follows: sit-to-stand >2.00 seconds (p<0.05), forward gait >4.68 seconds (p<0.05), mid-turn >3.82 seconds (p<0.05), return gait >4.81 seconds (p<0.05), end-turn >2.95 seconds (p<0.05), and stand-to-sit >2.13 seconds (p<0.05). The risk of falling increased by 2.278 times when the mid-turn value was >3.82 seconds (p<0.05). Conclusions: The risk of falls increased by 2.28 times when the value of the mid-turn interval exceeded 3.82 seconds. Therefore, when interpreting TUG results, the predictive accuracy for falls will be higher when the measurement time for each section is analyzed, together with the total time for TUG.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.35-44
• /
• 2020

Background: This study was to confirm the effect and feasibility of knee extension assist orthosis (KEAO) on balance and gait in subacute stroke patients. Design: Case study. Methods: The subjects of the study were 4 subacute stroke patients, who had an onset period of less than 6 months. The limit of stability (LOS) and berg balance scale (BBS), timed up and go test (TUG) were used to verify the dynamic balance ability, static balance ability, and gait ability pre and post and after wearing the knee extension assist orthosis (KEAO). In addition, the satisfaction survey was to confirm the feasibility of the knee extension assist orthosis (KEAO) through the to Korean quebec user evaluation of satisfaction assistive technology 2.0 (K-QUEST 2.0). Results: After the wearing on KEAO, the distance for the limit of stability decreased by mean 541.25±240.46 mm2, and the score on the berg balance scale improved by mean 5±2.71 point, and the time for the timed up and go test deceased by mean 3.75±1.71 second. The stability and durability were found to be full score, and the control, ease, effectiveness were some high score, and the size, weight, comfort were some low score in the satisfaction and feasibility. Conclusion: The knee extension assist orthosis (KEAO) produce in this study was improved the static balance ability, dynamic balance ability and gait ability of subacute stroke patients, and the satisfaction and feasibility were high in the stability, durability and effectiveness of the user.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.75-83
• /
• 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of balance training with upper extremity exercise on the improvement of balance performance in people who have had a stroke. Eighteen candidates who have all experienced a stroke, were living in Dong-Gu, Ulsan and were participating in a community based rehabilitation program, have been included in this study. The program was conducted three times weekly, 1 hour per session, for 7 consecutive weeks. Subjects were tested with 7 m and 100 m Timed Gait Test (sec), Timed Get Up and Go Test (sec), Functional Reach Test (cm) and 5 items of Berg's Balance Test at pre-training and post-training. Total balance index and balance ratios were measured by K.A.T. 3000. The balance training program performed by sitting on a chair and gymnastic ball and standing on stable and unstable surfaces during upper extremity exercises such as Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) upper extremity pattern, picking a ball up from floor, throwing and catching it. After seven weekends of balance training, subjects showed a significant difference in balance test results. The exceptions were three items of Berg's Balance Test (p<.05). Balance index score and affected and unaffected side balance ratio had a larger improvement than pre-training (p<.05). The result of this study showed that intervention of this balance training program could improve the balance performance in people who have had a stroke.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Neurotherapy
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.11-18
• /
• 2018

Purpose This study is to investigate the effect of sling exercise on the balance capacity of spastic diplegia cerebral palsy patient based on Bobath concept. Methods A single subject experiment was designed targeting an 8year old child with the rigid bilateral cerebral palsy. The static balance test used the 30 second Rombug test of BT4, and the dynamic balance test used the timed up and go test. Results In the 30second Rombug test of BT4, the child had a smaller median outcome than baseline and withdrawal period. In the TUG test, the walking speed in the intervention period was improved comparing to the baseline and withdrawal period. Conclusion The sling exercise based on the Bobath concept has been proved that it is an effective intervention to improve the static and dynamic balance capacity of patients with rigid bilateral cerebral palsy.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.1387-1392
• /
• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of fall injuries on the balancing abilities and ankle flexibility. Fifteen of the voluntary participants had no experience of falling in the last two years (none falling group, NFG) and 15 others experienced at least one (falling group, FG). Static balance (sway length, sway area), dynamic balance (timed up and go (TUG), and functional to reach test (FRT) were measured in each group. In comparison of static balance, sway length was not significantly different between NFG and FG in both eyes open and eyes close, however the sway area of the FG was significantly wider than that of the NFG (p<.05). In dynamic balance comparisons, TUG of FG was significantly longer than that of NFG (p <.05), however FRT and STS were no significant difference between groups. Ankle flexibility was significantly higher in NFG than in FG. This study suggests that the fall prevention program should include methods for improving ankle stability and lower extremity function.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.5 no.3
• /
• pp.413-420
• /
• 2010

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the effect of trunk stability exercise on various support base and posture on gait speed, static and dynamic balance performance. Methods : Included 17 persons with stroke who were living in the community. Trunk stability exercise program was conducted three times per week, 50 minutes per session, for 8 consecutive weeks. Subjects were tested with 10 m walking test(sec), multidirectional reach test (cm), timed get up and go test(sec) and K.A.T.3000 at both (pre and post treatment) time points. Paired t-test was used to exam mean differences between pre and post treatment by using SPSS 12.0. Results : After 8 weeks exercise program, there were significant differences in gait speed, static and dynamic balance performance(p<0.05). Conclusion : This study have shown that trunk stability exercise on various support base and posture improve physical functions(gait speed, static and dynamic balance performance).