• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.53-62
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• 2022

Animal companionship is gaining popularity in Korea, and interest in dog walking is also increasing as a strategy to maintain the physical and mental health of dogs and dog owners. The purpose of this study was to investigate the perception and satisfaction of dog owners with the neighborhood environments for dog walking and to examine the willingness to pay (WTP) for an off-leash dog park. Of a total of 249 online survey respondents, 47.8% said they take a walk at least once a day and mainly walk around nearby neighborhoods or parks. Respondents showed a high attachment to their dogs and recognized that dog walks help increase physical activity and maintain the health of owners and their dogs. The satisfaction with neighborhood environments, such as attractive views and the connection of walking trails, was low, and there was a high demand for off-leash dog parks. The truncated mean WTP was estimated to be 85,618 Korean Won, and the result of regression analysis and t-test revealed that walking frequency and the satisfaction with dog walking facilities were statistically significant in the WTP. In order to encourage dog walking to promote physical activity and health, more attention needs to be devoted to improving neighborhood environments for dog walking.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.619-626
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• 2019

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of a participatory rehabilitation program on sit-rise and rise-to-walk test performances, and perception and motor skills in adults with medically vulnerable individuals and, adults with developmental disabilities in particular. Seventeen adults with developmental disabilities participated in a participatory rehabilitation program using resistance bands and exercise balls, for 60 minutes once weekly over 13 weeks. Their performances were measured before and immediately after the intervention, and 12 weeks after. The findings were as follows. In the sit-rise test, the number of times rising from sitting posture increased after the intervention versus before, but the difference was not statistically significant. In the rise-to-walk test, the performance showed statistically significant difference over time, and the post-hoc test showed a significant effect after the intervention versus before. There was no significant difference in perception and motor skills. In sum, the participatory rehabilitation program positively influenced dynamic balancing related to functional activities but had no significant effect on perception and motor skills, which is related to motor control and motor learning. It is suggested that to increase the participation in community activities, reduce fall risk, and improve dynamic balancing abilities in adults with developmental disabilities, participatory rehabilitation programs should be utilized to promote the physical wellbeing.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.69-80
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• 1998

This research was designed to investigate how the exercise program affects paraplegic standing and walking employing functional electrical stimulation(FES). Emphasis was also given to fatigue of major lower extremity muscles induced by different types of electrical stimulation. We applied continuous and intermittent rectangular pulse trains to quadriceps of 10 normal subjects and 4 complete paraplegic patients. The frequencies were 20Hz and 80Hz, and the knee angle was fixed at 90$^{\circ}$and 150$^{\circ}$to investigate how muscle fatigue is related to muscle length. The knee extensor torque was measured and monitored. We have been training quadriceps and gastrocnemius of a male paraplegic patient by means of electrical stimulation for the past two year. FES standing was initiated when the knee extensors became strong enough to support the body weight, and then the patient started FES walking utilizing parallel bars and a walker. We used an 8-channel constant-voltage stimulator and surface electrodes. The experimental results indicated that paralyzed muscles fatigued rapidly around the optimal length contrary to normal muscles and confirmed that low frequency and intermittent stimulation delayed fatigue. Our exercise program increased muscle force by approximately 10 folds and decreased the fatigue index to half of the initial value. In addition, the exercise enabled the patient to voluntarily lift each leg up to 10cm, which was of great help to the swing phase of FES walking. Both muscle force and resistance to fatigue were significantly enhanced right after the exercise was applied every day instead of 6 days a week. Up to date, the patient can walk for more than two and half minutes at 10m/min while controlling the on/off time of the stimulator by pushing the toggle switch attached to the walker handle.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.109-113
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to examine the potentiality of urban forest roads as an environment for enhancing physical fitness. Six male university students participated in the study as subjects. The subjects walked on an urban forest road for 30 minutes. As a control experiment, they also walked on a national park trail for 30 minutes. Subjects' heart rates were monitored during the walks to calculate the ratio of the average time their heart rates were within the target range (from 60% to 80% of the maximal heart rate) for Enhancing Physical Fitness. After the walks, images of the spaces were analyzed using the semantic differential (SD) method. During the walk on the urban forest road, subjects' heart rates were within the target range 63.3% of the time, and lower than the target range 36.7% of the time. During the control experiment on the national park trail, subjects' heart rates were within the target range only 23.3% of the time, and higher than the target range 76.7% of the time. From the spatial perception evaluation using the SD method, subjects' comfortable and natural feelings when they were on the national park trail were significantly greater than when they were on the urban forest trail, but there were no differences in terms of other SD descriptors, such as friendliness and likeability. The results of our study indicate that the urban forest road provides a good environment for walking to enhance physical fitness. Although not as close to nature as national park trails, urban forest roads offer similar natural environments and have a high potentiality for serving as leisure spaces for urban residents who seek physical activities.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.441-451
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• 2015

Objective : The purpose of the study was to investigate and compare the differences between Parkinson's disease rating, balance, fall and gait scales. Results : Parkinson's disease rating scales include the Hoehn-Yahr Scale and the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). The Hoehn-Yahr Scale can measure disease rates easily; however it is not sensitive enough to evaluate the disease's process and management. UPDRS's advantage is in it's higher inter-reliability score; however it is more complicated to use. Parkinson's balance scales are comprised of the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC). BBS has the advantage in that it is cheaper to measure and simple in use. ABC's advantage is especially in it's ability to measure higher functional levels; however it is more difficult measure responses due to scores appearing in both extremes. The Fall Efficacy Scale (FES) and The Survey of Activities and Fear of Falling in the Elderly (SAFE) are Parkinson's fall scales. FES's leverage over SAFE is that it is simpler to measure; however it does not coincide with responses which proves disadvantageous in measuring balance loss in high-level Parkinson's patients. SAFE's advantage is in it's simpler use and ability to be utilized without encountering the fear of fall; however it's at a disadvantage in regards to its use with multilateral aspects providing insufficient inspection. Lastly, the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) and the Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) are Parkinson's gait scales. DGI is advantageous in its ability to test gait ability when exposed to a variety of external environments; however it is disadvantageous in that it registers higher scores with activities. FGA's advantage is in it's dynamic balance test; however it at a disadvantage with those unable to walk. Conclusion : A researcher of Parkinson's patients must choose each scale while considering their positive and negative characteristics.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.35-45
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was done to determine whether muscle strength training programs have an impact on improving symptoms of urinary incontinence (UI) and physical function among elderly women with UI who reside in long-term care facilities. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted. Participants had to be over 65 years, score over 15 score on the mini-mental state examination, and be able to walk alone or with an assistant. Seventy residents were randomly allocated to either the training group (n=35) or control group (n=35). The program consisted of 50 minutes, twice a week for 8 weeks, and included Kegel's exercise, Thera-band training and indoor walking. Main outcomes were UI symptoms, peak vaginal pressure and physical functions measured with timed up and go test (TUG), one leg standing test (OLST), activities of daily living (ADL) and grip strength. Changes in outcome measurements were calculated from baseline to 4 weeks and to 8 weeks using repeated measures ANOVA. Results: There were significant differences in peak vaginal pressure (p<.001), TUG (p<.001), OLST (p=.012) and grip strength (p<.001) in the interaction between groups and time. Conclusion: Future studies are suggested to confirm the effect of muscle strength training in long-term care facilities where elderly women with UI reside.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.811-820
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• 2020

Objective: The aim of this study was to report the effectiveness of traditional Korean medicine treatment of a gait disturbance in a patient with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus induced by secondary Parkinsonism. Methods: The patient was treated with Korean herbal medicine (Yukmijihwang-tang-gami), acupuncture, moxibustion, and rehabilitation exercise. The gait of the patient was evaluated by the 10 m Walk Test, Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, 360° turning test, Functional Ambulatory Category (FAC), and GAITRite. Results: After 20 days of traditional Korean medicine treatment, we observed improvement in the symptoms of the gait disturbance. Conclusion: Traditional Korean medicine treatment might be effective in the treatment of gait disturbance in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus induced by secondary Parkinsonism.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.71-76
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was conducted to assess the effects of robot-assisted gait training with visual feedback on gait, balance, and balance confidence in patients with chronic stroke. Methods: Thirty subjects with chronic stroke were randomly assigned to two groups: the experimental group (n=15) and the control group (n=15). The experimental group performed robot-assisted gait training for 30 minutes and the control group performed gait training with assisted devices training for 30 minutes after both groups performed conventional physical therapy for 30 minutes. Both groups performed the therapeutic interventions for 5 days per week, for a period of 4 weeks. For assessment of the 10 m walking test (10 MWT), Figure of 8 on the walk test (F8WT), Timed-Up and Go test (TUG), and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) were used to test the gait and balance, and the Korean version of the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale was used to test the balance confidence. Results: The experimental group showed significant improvement in the 10 MWT and the K-ABC (p<0.05), and the control group showed significant improvement in the BBS and the TUG (p<0.05). In four measurements, there were significant differences between the two groups (p<0.05), and the control group showed significant improvement in the F8WT at pre and post intervention (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that Robot-assisted gait training with visual feedback is an effective intervention for improving straight gait abilities and balance confidence, while the control group showed some improvement in curve gait and balance. Thus, we suggest both Robot-assisted gait training with visual feedback and gait training with assisted devices training exercise as a therapeutic intervention in chronic stroke rehabilitation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2014

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of flexible derotator of femur orthosis (FDO) during treadmill gait training on the quadriceps-angle (Q-angle), lateral pelvic tilt, gait speed, and number of steps in children with cerebral palsy. METHODS: Seven children with cerebral palsy who had rotational deformity of the lower extremities participated in this study. We used single group repeated measure design. The procedure consisted of baseline phase, intervention phase, and post-intervention phase. The baseline phase consisted of stretching and strengthening exercise and treadmill gait training without FDO. The treatment phase not only included the same procedures as those for baseline, but also included FDO during treadmill gait training. Postural alignment of the lower extremities was assessed with the Q-angle, and lateral pelvic tilt using the Dartfish software program. A 10-m walk test was used to evaluate gait speed and number of steps. RESULTS: For postural alignment, there was significant differences after the application of FDO (p<.05). For gait ability, there was significant differences in all phases (p<.01). CONCLUSION: These finding suggest that the application of FDO during treadmill gait training had a positive effect on the improvement of postural alignment and gait ability in children with cerebral palsy having rotational deformity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2017

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of weight shift training with Hula Hoop on weight shift change and gait in stroke patients. METHODS: Ten stroke patients were enrolled in this study, and randomly divided into 2 groups. The study group underwent weight shift training with Hula Hoop, while the control group received general physical therapy that included weight shift training. All the studies were performed over a period of 4 weeks. Before and after the intervention, plantar pressure and performance in the 10 m walk test (10MWT) were assessed. Wilcoxon signed ranks test was used to compare the change from before to after the intervention in each group. The differences between the study and control groups were analyzed by using the Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: After 4 weeks of intervention, the change in weight shift and performance in the 10MWT from before to after the experiment showed no statistical significance (p>.05). In addition, the comparison between the groups showed no significance in terms of weight-shift change, and performance in the 10MWT (p>.05). CONCLUSION: Although the difference was not statistically significant, the degree of improvement was similar to that attained with the conventional exercise treatment related to weight- shift training. During the course of the treatment, the patients received feedback through repeated training by themselves. Weight-shift training with Hula Hoop would be effective in improving the walking ability and weight-shifting on the paralyzed side of stroke patients. In the future, the effectiveness of this training would need to be validated.