• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2016

Background: Patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) functionally adapt to decreased postural control due to impaired processing of sensory information. Standing postural control has been the focus of recent research in CLBP. Change in postural control may be a risk factor for CLBP, although available studies are not conclusive. Objects: This study aimed to identify the role of partial weight supported treadmill training (PWSTT) in improving balance, dysfunction, and pain in patients with chronic low back pain. Methods: The study included 22 patients with CLBP. Patients in the control group ($n_1=8$) performed three 20 min stabilization exercise sessions per week, for 4 weeks. Patients in the full weight treadmill training group ($n_2=7$) performed treadmill training for 30 min after stabilization exercise. Patients in the PWSTT group ($n_3=7$) performed PWSTT with 20% of their body weight unloaded after stabilization exercises. By using the Biodex balance system, the dynamic balance abilities of the patients in the three groups were assessed in the quiet standing position under combined conditions of visual feedback (eyes open and closed) and platform stability (level 8). The Korean version of the Oswestry Disability Index and visual analogue scale score were used as the main measure. Results: The results of this study showed that dysfunction and pain were significantly improved in all groups. Although dynamic postural stability with eyes closed was significantly improved only in the PWSTT group (p<.05), no significant difference was found in the other groups. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that PWSTT improved balance, dysfunction and pain in the patients with CLBP. Thus, this intervention is necessary for patients with CLBP with decreased postural control.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.9-18
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• 2013

The study aimed to compare the effect of the treadmill walking training combined with obstacle-crossing (TWT-OC) and treadmill walking training (TWT) on the walking function of patients with chronic stroke. 29 subjects volunteered to participate in this study; they were randomly assigned to either TWT-OC group (15 subjects) or TWT group (14 subjects). Subjects from the TWT-OC group underwent a treadmill walking combined with obstacles-crossing for 30 minutes daily, three days a week for four weeks, whereas subjects from the TWT group received only a treadmill walking. The 10 m walk test (10MWT), 6-min walk test (6MWT), berg balance scale (BBS), timed up and go test (TUG), activities-specific balance confidence-Korean version (ABC-K), and walking ability questionnaire (WAQ) were measured before and after the 4-week training. The TWT-OC group showed significantly better functional mobility of walking and balance measured by 6MWT (p<.01), BBS (p<.01), and TUG scores (p<.05) when compared with those of the TWT group. Further, within-group comparison showed significant improvement in all variables (p<.01) except for 10MWT. These findings suggest that the TWT-OC and TWT may be helpful for improving the walking function of patients with chronic stroke, and the TWT-OC has probably more favorable outcomes for chronic stroke, however, further trials with wider range of subjects are warranted for generalization and clinical relevance.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.1-10
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• 2016

Background: Gait problems appear in most stroke patients. Commonly, stroke patients show the typical abnormal gait patterns, such as circumduction, genu recurvatum, and spastic paretic stiff-legged gait. An inclined treadmill gait exercise is good for gait problems of stroke patients. In addition, the backward walking training has been recommended in order to improve the component of the movement for the forward walking. Objects: The purpose of this study to investigated the effects of backward walking with inclined treadmill training on the gait in chronic stroke patients. Methods: A total of 30 volunteers were randomly allocated to two groups that walked on an inclined treadmill: the experimental group ($n_1=15$), which walked backward, and the control group ($n_2=15$), which walked forward. To measure the improvement of the patients' gait, a Figure of Eight Walking Test (F8W), Four Square Step Test (FSST), and Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) were performed. We also measured spatio-temporal gait variables, including gait speed, cadence, stride length, and single limb support using a three-axial wireless accelerometer. The measurements were taken before and after the experiment. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare both groups before and after the interventions. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for the comparisons after the interventions. The statistical significance was set at ${\alpha}=.05$. Results: Before and after experiment, all dependent variables were significantly different between the two groups (p<.05). As compared to the control group, the experimental group showed more significant improvements in F8W, FSST, speed, cadence, stride length, and single limb support (p<.05); however, FGA in this group was not significantly different from the control (p>.05). Conclusion: Our results suggest that backward walking on an inclined treadmill is more effective for improving the gait of stroke patients than forward walking.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.339-350
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• 2005

This study is the quasi-experimental study on the gait training rehabilitation. The purpose of this study is to prepare the baseline data for most suitable of gait while we were scrutinizing how the walking characters, functional walking ability, gait quality of stroke patients were affected by the gait on BWSTT (Body Weight Supported Treadmill Training) through the change of treadmill velocity and body weight support. To accomplish this purpose, this study used thirty subjects, more than 3 months post stroke, for rehabilitation who were divided between two gait training groups they received the neurophysiological physical therapy. For 6 weeks, 5 times a week for 15 minutes per session, the BWSTT group participated in 30 sessions structured speed-dependent treadmill training with 30% body weight supported, and the ratio of body weight support was gradually decreased as the patients advanced the capability of more self-support. The OGT(Over Ground Training) group received the same quantity of equal sessions like BWSTT. Firstly, we measured the absolute improvement of walking velocity (m/s), capacity(min/m) and cadence(steps/min) among walking characters. Secondly, we measured the functional walking ability such as Functional Ambulatory Category(FAC, score out of 5), Modified Motor Assesment Scale(MMAS, score out of 6) and Gait Quality Chart(score out of 41). Data analysis was performed with using SPSS 10.0 win program. The descriptive analysis was used to obtain average and standard deviation. The independent t-test and the paired t-test were used to compare both the groups about pre and post training test. Treatment effects were established by pre and post assessment. Subjects tolerated the training well without side-effects. Therefore, the results of this study were as follows; 1. There was a more significant difference from the improvement of walking velocity(0.09m/s), endurance(4.53min/m), cadence(4.20steps/min), FAC(0.26score), MMAS(0.33 score) and hip joint and pelvic of gait quality(0.39 score) ever before in the BWSTT group(p<.05). 2. There was a more significant increase from the walking velocity(0.01m/s) in the OGT group(p<.05). 3. There was a more statistical significant increase from comparing the average of walking velocity in both groups ever before(0.42m/s in BWSTT group and 0.31m/s in OGT group)(p<.05). There was a statistical significant difference from the average of cadence in both groups(61.87step/min in BWSTT group and 3.60steps/min in OGT group)(p<.05). As we can see from above, the findings suggest that BWSTT may be more effective than the OGT for improving some gait parameters such as gait velocity and cadency. This conclusion also suggest that BWSTT is more effective for the improvement of gait of stroke patients.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.91-108
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• 1996

The present study was designed to examine effect of short term treadmill and weight-training on aging arophy in the rat skeletal muscle. Male rats of 24 months old were used. Each groups included control, treadmill and weight-training for 4 weeks by using treadmill apparatus and body press apparatus. The histo and cytochemical, ultrastructural and stereological changes in senile skeletal muscles of the rat were observed in the present study. During the training period the body weight and muscular weight in all groups remained constant. The volume density of muscle fiber type IIC and IIB were increased, that of type IIA was decreased, but type I remained constant in treadmill-training group. In weight-training rat, the density of type IIA and IIB were increased, both those of type IIC was decreased. But, all changes of muscle fiber type is not significant. Senile control group some usual formation of mild contraction band, liposuscin pigment and muscular splitting were observed. After treadmill-training, histological and ultrastructural changes occurred in the muscle fiber, such as irregularity of the sarcolemma, interfibrillar vacuolization, longitudinal splitting, and widened I-bond. After weight-training, the changes occurred in the trained muscle fiber, such as appearances of many lysosomes and autophagic vacuoles, severe contraction band, and breakup of myofibrils. Histo and cytochemical studies showed that the activities of succinic dehydrogenase and acid phosphatase remained constant, activities of $Mg^{++}$-ATPase decrease with training. Stereological changes were not observed in the volume and numerical density of all subject component, but the surface density of mitochondrial inner membrane was increased with treadmill-training. These experimental results suggested that endurance training during short-term may result in the adaptible response in senile skeletal muscles. On the other side, weight-training is bad for senile skeletal muscle.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.222-229
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• 2020

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of treadmill exercise on the posture and walking speed of chronic stroke survivors with an ankle-foot orthosis. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Twenty-four chronic persons with chronic stroke admitted to Bobath Memorial Hospital in Seongnam city were divided into two groups by random blind method. Treadmill exercise with an elastic ankle-foot orthosis was performed in the experimental group and treadmill exercise was performed in the control group. The experiment was carried out for 6 weeks, and the experiment was carried out three times a week for 20 minutes per session. To measure the effect, static balance was measured using the MTD system before and after training, and the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) was used to measure functional balance. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the 2 groups in the BBS measurement results for confirming the functional balance (p<0.05). Also, there was a significant difference between the 2 groups in single limb support time, step time and step length (p<0.05). Conclusions: In this study, it was found that treadmill exercise with an elastic ankle-foot orthosis in persons with chronic stroke was effective in maintaining functional balance, walking ability, step length, and step time. Therefore, it is necessary to use a flexible ankle-foot orthosis with proper treadmill exercise as a method of improving balance and walking speed of chronic stroke survivors.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.232-236
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• 2005

Background: A physically active lifestyle and regular exercise training incurs many health benefits. One recently recognized benefit of regular moderate exercise is stress reduction and immune enhancement. Thus, a physical stress such as exercise may act at any number of points in the complex sequence of events collectively termed the immune response. Although exercise causes many propound changes in parameters of immune function, the nature and magnitude of such changes rely on several factors including the immune parameters of interest; type, intensity, and duration of exercise; fitness level or exercise history of the subject; environmental factors such as ambient temperature and humidity. Methods: This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of different type of exercise on superoxide dismutase (SOD), neutrophils, and T lymphocytes of Sprague-Dawley rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups; a non-Trained group (NTG, n=6), a swim-Trained group (STG), and a treadmill-Trained group (TTG). The exercise regimen was designed in a treadmill (5 times/5 days/week) during 8-weeks for TTG, and swim training (5 times/5 days/week) during 8-weeks for STG, and the volume of exercise training was the same in both groups. Results: 8 weeks of regular swim and treadmill training significantly increased liver SOD concentration however, muscle SOD concentration was not statistically significant. In the level of neutrophils, TTG and STG showed significant difference, compared to NTG. TTG was the highest level of neutrophils. In the level of immune cell counts, there was significant difference among TTG, STG, and NTG both in the spleen and thymus. Conculsion: In conclusion, it can be stated that eight weeks swim and treadmill exercise training has beneficial effect in improving immune response and antioxidant defence capacity by augmenting immune cells and SOD activities of SD rats.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.215-222
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• 2020

Purpose: The study investigated the effect on chronic stroke patients' balance of a weight shift to the affected side using an insole on the less affected side during treadmill walking training. Methods: The subjects were 7 patients who had been diagnosed with stroke 6-24 months prior to the study. In each case, an insole was applied on the patient's less affected side during treadmill walking training. Each training session lasted 30 minutes and was undertaken 5 times per week for 4 weeks. Biorescue equipment that measures shifts in center of pressure was used to assess balance ability as measured by the Korea-Berg balance scale (K-BBS) before and after each training intervention. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to evaluate within-group effects. Results: The results revealed statistically significant before and after differences in area, pressure, length, and mean velocity of the balance test and on K-BBS (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In chronic stroke patients, using an insole to adjust the height of the shoe on the less affected side is an effective means of increasing weight-shifting on the paralyzed side during treadmill gait training.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.131-142
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• 2024

PURPOSE: This study was a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature comparing the differences between task-oriented treadmill training and general treadmill training for stroke patients. METHODS: Literature published in the Cumulated Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Embase, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), and PubMed was reviewed. A total of 1,163 studies were initially retrieved, of which eight articles were included in the final review. A quality assessment of the included studies was conducted using the Risk of Bias (RoB) 2.0 tool, and Duval and Tweedie's trim and fill method was used to evaluate publication bias. Data analysis was performed using R studio 4.2.1. RESULTS: According to the quality assessment using RoB 2.0, three articles were evaluated as low risk, two as of some concern, and three as high risk. The overall effect size of task-oriented tradmill training was .35. Regarding gait function, the values were .76, .25, and .40, respectively, for gait endurance, gait speed, and gait pattern. According to Duval and Tweedie's trim and fill method, no publication bias was observed. CONCLUSION: Study findings indicate that task-oriented treadmill training is the most effective intervention for improving gait endurance in patients with stroke. Therefore, applying this intervention to patients with stroke in the community is recommended.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.175-180
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• 2017

Purpose: This study examined the effects of fast walking training on a treadmill on the spinal alignment and muscle thickness of normal adults. Methods: A total of 36 college students in their twenties participated in the study for eight weeks, and they were divided into the normal walking, fast walking, and speed change groups. All the groups were measured in a pre-test before training. The subjects performed exercise three times per week for six weeks. A post-test was conducted six weeks after training began, and a follow-up test was done two weeks after the training ended.Trunk and pelvic tilts were measured in Formetric 4D for the spinal alignment of the subjects. The muscle thickness was examined in the trunk with an ultrasound test. Repeated-measures ANOVA was conducted to test the main effects and interactions among the measurement variables according to time and group. Results: Significant differences were observed in the pelvic tilt according to time. There were significant differences in the external oblique, internal oblique, transverse abdominal muscle according to time. The post-test results showed significant differences in the left external oblique, internal oblique muscles between before training, six weeks into training, and two weeks after the completion of training. There were significant interactions in the left oblique muscles according to the time and group. Conclusion: These findings have some value for patient rehabilitation and clinical applications and interventions through walking training.