• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.89-98
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• 2018

PURPOSE: While underwater, patients with hemiplegia experience unwanted limb flotation on their paretic side due to low muscle mass and high body fat. However, only a limited number of studies support the effectiveness of this practice. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine how the balance and walking abilities of patients with hemiplegia due to stroke were affected by wearing an aquatic cuff on their ankles during underwater treadmill walking. METHODS: Twenty stroke patients were divided into an experimental group comprised of 20 patients who would wear an aquatic cuff and a control group comprised of 10 patients without an aquatic cuff. Both groups underwent a six-week intervention for 30 minutes a day three times a week. To evaluate the groups' balance and walking abilities before and after the intervention, the 10 m walking test, timed up go test, Berg Balance Scale, functional reaching test, and the GAITRite system were used. RESULTS: The results of the 10 m walking test, timed up go test, differences between the left and right gait cycles, and functional reaching test showed statistically significant differences in the rates of change between the two groups (p<.05). CONCLUSION: The study results suggest that underwater treadmill training in stroke patients can be more effective when they wear an aquatic cuff on their ankles compared to wearing no aquatic cuff.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.39-45
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine correlations between the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Functional Reach Test (FRT), Timed Up & Go (TUG), Motor-Free Visual Perception Reach Test Vertical format (MVPT-V), Functional Independence Measure (FIM). Methods: The subjects used in this study were 35 stroke patients from Cheongju ST. Mary's hospital. Balance was measured by BBS, FRT. Functional mobility was measured by TUG. Visual perception was measured by MVPT-V. FIM was used to evaluate the activities of daily living. Data was analyzed using pearson product correlation. The TUG and MVPT-V index were analyzed by linear regression. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between FRT and BBS (r=0.89, p<0.01), FIM (r=0.74, p<0.05), MVPT-V (r=0.40, p<0.05), and TUG (r=-0.36, p<0.05). There was significant statistical differences between TUG and MVPT-V (r=-0.64, p<.01). However, statistically significant differences were observed between BBS and FIM (r=0.79, p<0.01). The visual close item of the MVPT-V showed the strongest variance in predicting TUG. Conclusion: The use of both quantitative and qualitive scales was shown to be a good measuring instrument for the classification of general clinical performances of stroke patients. In particular, the results suggest that the visual perception test may be able to predict functional locomotion in stroke patients.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.97-104
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• 2017

Background: South Korea is one of fastest aging countries in the world. Poor balance and falls of the elderly are main health issues. Objects: The goal of this study was to understand the association between the socioeconomical factors and the standing balance of elderly living in the rural and urban area. Methods: One hundred sixty-six elderly participants who were older than 65 and were able to walk without an assistive device were recruited in the city of Gwangju and in the rural area of Jeonnam, South Korea. All participants performed the static and dynamic standing balance tests. Static standing balance was measured with chronometer in seconds while standing on one leg. Dynamic balance was tested with the timed up and go test (TUG), measured in seconds while getting up from a chair and walking 3 meters and back to sit. The static and dynamic standing balance was analyzed using analysis of variance and the Fisher's Least Significant Difference post hoc test. Results: Male participants from both areas had no difference in one leg standing and TUG. The female elderly living in rural area took shorter in TUG than females living in urban area. Age decreased the one leg standing time in both areas while did not affect the TUG significantly. As the monthly income increased, both of one leg standing and TUG increased in urban area, while the medium monthly income showed best performance (it was not statistically significant) in both of one leg standing and TUG in rural area. Conclusion: Socioeconomical factors affects differently the standing balance of the elderly living in rural and urban South Korea. Female living alone in urban area with low monthly income demonstrated worst standing balance in this study.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.137-148
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• 2011

Objectives : This study was to investigate the visual bio-feedback training for 5 weeks on balance and postural control for patients with stroke. Methods : The 26 subjects were randomly selected from the patients of the E hospital in the S city who met the study conditions. They were divided into a visual bio-feedback training group of 13 patients and a self-resistance exercise group of 13 patients. The visual bio-feedback training group received visual bio-feedback and general physiotherapy for five weeks and the self-resistance exercise group received cycling and general physiotherapy for the same period. The subjects were measured and compared for stability index, weight distribution index, fall down index, functional reach test and timed up and go test before and after the program. Results : The visual bio-feedback training group showed significant changes after the experiment in stability index, weight distribution index, functional reach test and timed up and go test(p<0.05), and the self-resistance exercise group also showed significant differences(p<0.05). The changes between prior to and after the experiment show that the visual bio-feedback training group had more significant effects than the self-resistance exercise group(p<0.05). Conclusions : The visual bio-feedback training for five weeks had effects in the improvement of the balance and posture control of stroke patients. Based on these results, more effective training programs should be developed and propagated.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.17-21
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the correlations, if any, between SPPB (Short physical performance battery), FRT (Functional reach test), and TUG (Timed up and go test) in hospitalized frail people. Methods: Seventy frail elderly patients (male/female: 16/54) participated in this study. All subjects could walk with or without an assisting device and they had no mental problems. Subjects were scored on physical functioning using the SPPB, FRT, and TUG. The data were analyzed using Pearson Correlation Coefficients. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between (a) SPPB and (b) FRT (p<0.01) and TUG (p<0.01). SPPB and FRT scores showed a positive correlation (r = 0.38) and SPPB and TUG scores showed a negative correlation (r = -0.56). Conclusion: SPPB, FRT, TUG scores are correlated with each other. From these results, we conclude that the SPPB is a useful method for predicting walking, balance, and physical function in frail elderly people.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.32-39
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• 2021

Objective: The weakness of muscle strength due to stroke affects the posture control and gait in the patients with stroke. Stroke This study examined the effects of the stair climbing training with functional electrical stimulation on muscle strength, dynamic balance, and gait in individuals with chronic stroke. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Total forty-eight patients were randomly assigned to the 3 groups. Participants randomly divided to stair climbing training with functional electrical stimulation group (SCT+FES group, n=16), stair climbing training group (SCT group, n=16) and control group (n=16). Subjects in the SCT+FES group and SCT group performed stair walking training with and without functional electrical stimulation for 30 minutes, 3 sessions per week for 4 weeks and all subjects received conventional physical therapy for 30 minutes with 5 sessions per week for 4 weeks. Outcome measurements were assessed using the sit-to stand Test for strength, timed up and go test and modified-timed up and go test for dynamic balance, and 10m walk test and GaitRite system for gait. Results: In the SCT+FES group, subjects have been shown the significant increase in lower extremity strength (p<0.05), significantly improve in dynamic balance (p<0.05), and significantly improve in their temporal gait parameter (p<0.05). The SCT+FES group was significantly better than other groups in all parameters (p<0.05). Conclusions: This result suggested that the SCT+FES may be effective strategy to improve muscle strength, dynamic balance, and gait for individuals with chronic stroke.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.7-15
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• 2012

Background : The purpose of this study is to determine the effect Berg Balance Scale(BBS) evaluating frequency on the walking speed and dynamic balance control in patient with stroke. Method : sixteen patient with stroke were randomly allocated to an experimental and control group of eight patients each. For the experimental group, we performed both general physical therapy and BBS and general physical therapy only for the control group. The general physical therapy programs for the 2 group were conducted for 1 hour 1 a day, 5 times a week for 4 weeks, and BBS for the experimental group was conducted for 1 time a week. Result : A comparison of the Berg Balance Scale(BBS). Timed Up Go test(TUG) and 10 meter Walking Test(10mWT) score obtained before and after the 4-week treatment revealed statistical significant different(p<.05) for the experimental group. BBS evaluated weekly and the first day and the last day evaluated in both groups after 4 weeks of BBS assessment improved significantly were (p<.05) especially in the assessment group on a weekly basis more improvement was. BBS weekly assessment group and the first day and on the last day, a group evaluation after 4 weeks in both the change of the TUG, 10mWT was significantly improved in the evaluation group(p<.05). Conclusion : 1 time a week of the BBS assessment of with stroke patients BBS, TUG, 10mWT that can help to improve. especially on a weekly basis, more has been improved.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.64-71
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• 2007

The purposes of this study were to determine correlations between the Berg Balance Test (BBS), Timed -UP & Go Test, Fugl Meyer-L/E, Balance, Sensory (FM-L/E, B, S), Motor Assessment Scale-Gait (MAS-G), Comfortable maximal Gait Speed (C MGS), and the Modified Barthel Index (MBI). The subjects were 40 stroke patients of the Korea National Rehabilitation Center in Seoul. Main outcome measures were Balance control (BBS, FM-B), Gait (TUG, C MGS, MAS-G), ADL (MBI) and Motor Function of Lower Extremities (FM-L/E, S). The data were analyzed using Pearson product correlation. FM scales between other clinical and instrumental indexes and multiple stepwise regression analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors for Balance, Gait and ADL Motor Function of Lower Extremity inclinations. The results of this study were as follows: The BBS, FM-L/E, balance, sensory and MBI showed positive correlation relations, but TUG and C MGS showed negative correlations. The sensory factor of the FM-scale showed the strongest variance in predicting BBS. However the FM-balance showed the strongest variance in predicting TUG, MAS-G and C MGS. The use of both quantitative and qualitative scales was shown to be a good measuring instrument for the classification of the general clinical performance of the patients.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.11-21
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate how COP displacement of a hemiplegic foot in stance phase during gait is related to clinical balance measures and the recovery stage in hemiplegic stroke patients. Twenty-eight functionally ambulant hemiplegic patients who had suffered from strokes and thirty age-matched healthy subjects participated in this study. COP parameters were calculated. Clinical balance was measured using the Functional Reach Test (FRT) and Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT). The recovery stage, proprioception, and clonus of the ankles or lower extremities were also measured for physical impairment status. The COPx max-displacement in the medial-lateral side of the stroke patients was significantly longer than that of the normal group (p=.038). The COPy max-displacement in the anterior-posterior side of the stroke patients was significantly shorter than that of normal group (p<.001). Significant differences in the COPx and COPy displacement asymmetry index were found between the two groups (p<.01). The FRT was correlated with the COPx displacement (r=.552) and COPy displacement (r=.765). The TUGT was correlated with the COPy displacement (r=-.588) only. The recovery stage of the lower extremities was correlated with COPy displacement (r=.438). The results of the study indicate that the characteristic of COP displacement in hemiplegic feet in stance phase during gait is related to balance ability and recovery in stroke patients. COP parameters acquired by the mapping of foot pressure in stance phase during gait will provide additional useful clinical information. This information can be used by clinicians to assess objectively the pathologic gait with other diseases and to evaluate the therapeutic effects on gait in stroke patients.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.18-27
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• 2011

This study was to investigate the positive effects of specially designed trunk-stabilization exercise program on lower extremity balance of elderly with history of leprosy. In this participants, lower extremity functions has been undermined by the development of damage in peripheral nerves. A total of 40 elderly with history of leprosy were divided into 2 groups of equal size ($n_{1,\;2}=20$): a group that participated in the exercise program, and a control group that did not exercise but did continue to engage in normal daily activities (including walking). The exercise group exercised for 60 minutes 2 days a week for 12 weeks. Static balance ability was measured by asking study participants to a one leg standing test: dynamic balancing ability was measured with a tandem walking test and a timed up-and-go test. The participants in the exercise program and the control group were tested before and after completion of the exercise program for comparison, and then divided according to their ability to feel sensory in the soles of their feet into the categories of normal sensory group: group with sensory loss in one foot: and group with sensory loss in both feet. The participants in the exercise program showed a positive, statistically significant difference in static balance compared with the control group (p<.05) as measured using the one leg standing test. Similarly, the participants in dynamic balance (p<.05) as measured using the tandem walking and timed up-and-go tests. Finally, these improvements were related to the severity of sensory loss in the soles of the feet for all study participants.