• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.47-56
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• 2019

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate effects of a stim-up matt walking exercise program on balance and gait of the frail elderly. Methods: A total of 37 elderly people recruited from S city were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n=22) and control group (n=15). The stim-up matt walking exercise program was offered twice a week for 8 weeks. Data were analyzed by SPSS 21.0. Results: The dynamic balance ability Timed Up and Go test of the experimental group was significantly faster than that of the control group (t=21.72, p<.001). The static balance ability open-eye standing test (t=44.15, p<.001) and close-eye standing test (t=9.01, p=.005) also showed increase in effects of the experimental group. In the walking ability, gait cycle (t=2.48, p=.018), cadence (t=-2.21, p=.034) and gait speed (t=-2.78, p=.009), positive effects were on. However, no statistically significant differences were found in stride length and double support. At the ankle joint range left ankle plantar flexion (t=3.92, p<.001) and left ankle dorsal flexion (t=4.51, p<.001) were higher in the experimental group than in the control group, and also right ankle plantar flexion (t=2.79, p=.008) and right ankle dorsal flexion (t=2.92, p=.006) increased in the experimental group. Conclusion: The significance of this study is that the stim-up matt walking exercise program for the frail elderly proves to be useful for improving balance and walking.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.77-85
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• 2012

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of trunk exercises on the balancing ability of elderly Hansen's disease patients with lower extremity dysfunction. Method : A total of 24 elderly Hansen's disease patients were divided into two groups: 10 without lower extremity dysfunction and 14 with lower extremity dysfunction. The groups exercised for 60 minutes, two days a week, for a total 12 weeks; balancing ability was measured with the one leg standing test, tandem walking test, and timed up-and-go test. The patients were tested and their results were compared both before and after the completion of their exercise programs. Lower extremity dysfunction was assessed according to the following criteria: unilateral foot-drop, toe-loss, and below-knee amputation. Results : After the exercises, participants in both groups showed a positive, statistically significant difference in balance, compared with before the exercises (the one leg standing test, tandem walking test, and timed up-and-go test; p<.05). For comparison purposes, the group with dysfunction and the group without dysfunction were tested before and after the completion of their exercises. Before the exercises, there was a statistically significant difference in the one leg standing test, tandem walking test, and timed up-and-go test (p<.05). However, after the exercises, there was no significant difference in the one leg standing test, tandem walking test, and timed up-and-go test (p>.05). Conclusion : Ultimately, balancing ability was improved in both of the groups after trunk exercises were performed. Although balancing ability was improved, elements of lower extremity dysfunction remained, such as unilateral foot-drop, toe-loss, and below-knee amputation.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.1495-1499
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• 2003

There is some equipment that helps user to exercise and to walk. But almost all equipments require some physical strength of their muscles. So we developed a system that could assist walking action of the people with lower-limb disability. The system called as walking stand adopted the balancing mechanism which assures the stable walking, and the 4 link-based mechanism that had 2 degrees of freedom on each leg. The walking stand uses four motors and has two sets of the special link-structure to simulate the human walking mechanism. With our system, even serious disabled with lower-limb disability may enjoy walking rehabilitation. And by adjusting the power, it can be used as the walking assistant mechanism instead of conventional wheelchairs. Experiments showed that our walking stand is applicable to the rehabilitation and also to the mobile device in our daily life for those people who do not have enough physical ability to walk by themselves.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1398-1405
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of heel off stairway walking exercise on the increase of muscle activity and balance activity of the ankle joint muscles in university students with functional ankle instability. The conservative treatment for the control group consisted of stairway walking (n=10) and the experimental group consisted of heel off stairway walking (n=11). The therapeutic intervention of the control and experimental groups was performed a total of 12 exercise sessions, 3 times per week for 4 weeks. To compare the two groups, the level of ankle disability was assessed by using the EMG, BT4 and Pedoscan in pre-treatment and post-treatment. Muscle activity increased in both the experimental groups and control groups in each group, however there was no significant difference between the groups. Balance ability did not show any significant difference. This study demonstrates that heel-off stairway walking is effective in significantly increasing muscle activity, however did not significantly improve balance ability.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2019

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Graston technique for lower extremity range of motion (ROM), muscle strength, walking ability in hemiplegia patients. Methods: Twelve subjects participated in this study. The ROM of the knee extension was measured by 90-90 straight leg raise test, the hamstring and quadriceps muscle strength was collected by utilizing a handheld dynamometer. In addition walking speed was evaluated by 10 meter walking test. The group was applied intervention using a Graston instrument for one minute. After intervention, immediate effect was assessed. The significant level was set at ${\alpha}=.05$. Results: The ROM of the knee extension, quadriceps muscle strength and walking speed were significantly increased. Hamstring muscle strength was significantly reduced. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that Graston instrument technique has the effect of instantaneously flexibility the muscles, and the muscle applied with the technique has weakened, while the muscle of the opposite side has increased the muscle strength. In addition, the muscle flexibility and the walking speed have increased.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.249-257
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the effects of additional trunk exercises on an unstable surface on the balance and walking ability of individuals with chronic stroke. Methods: Sixteen patients with chronic stroke participated in this study. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups: experimental group (n=8) and control group (n=8). All the participants underwent a typical physical therapy program for 30 min a day. Moreover, the experimental group participated in a 30 min trunk exercise program on an unstable surface, whereas the control group participated in a 30 min trunk exercise program on a stable surface. Both groups performed the exercises five times a week for three weeks. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) was used to measure changes in balance. The gait variables were measured using the GAITRite system (CIR System Inc., Clifton, NJ, USA) to examine changes in walking ability. Results: Both groups showed a significant intragroup improvement in balance, gait speed, cadence, stride length, and double support period (p<0.05). In the intergroup comparisons after the intervention, the experimental group showed significant improvements over the control group in balance, gait speed, cadence, stride length, and double support period (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study applied additional trunk exercises on an unstable surface to chronic stroke patients, and the results showed a significant improvement in the patients' balance and walking abilities. Therefore, trunk exercise on an unstable surface may be applicable as an intervention method to improve the balance and walking ability of chronic stroke patients.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2020

Background: The aim of this study was to conduct an Otago exercise program with total knee replacement patient (TKR) in a clinical setting and ascertain its effects on balance, walking ability and falls efficacy. Methods: The participating subjects were 30 people who had been diagnosed with TKR. They were assigned to two groups (Exp; Otago exercise and general physical therapy, n=15; Con; balance exercise and general physical therapy, n=15), and the exercises were conducted for three sessions per week for four weeks. The main balance outcomes were evaluated using the timed up and go test (TUG), while walking ability was evaluated using the 10m walk test (10MWT), direction change ability was measured using the figure 8 of walk test (F8WT), and the decrease of fear was evaluated using the modified falls efficacy scale (MFES). Results: In the analysis results, the Exp group showed significant increases in TUG, 10MWT, and F8WT within the both groups. There were significant differences in all variables between the Exp group and the Con group at the post-intervention evaluation, but there was no significant difference between the groups with respect to the TUG. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that Otago exercise would be useful to improve balance and walking for TKR patients who want to improve their abilities and activities of daily living.

• 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.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.8-17
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of hip joint mobilization (HJM) on walking ability, balance ability, and the joint range of motion in stroke patients to minimize the problems of the musculoskeletal system in patients with central nervous system diseases. All volunteers were randomly assigned to the HJM group ($n_1=14$) and the general neurodevelopment therapy (NDT) group ($n_2=16$). The HJM procedure involved applying Maitland mobilization techniques (distraction, lateral gliding, inferior gliding, and anterior gliding) by grade 3 to both hip joint. The mobilization process included mobilization and NDT for 15 min/day, 3 days a week for 4 weeks. The outcome measures were evaluated, including the hip joint passive range of motion (ROM) test and femur head anterior glide test (FHAG) using prone figure four test, dynamic and static balance abilities [timed up and go (TUG) test and center of pressure (COP) analysis], and walking ability [10-meter walking test (10MWT) and 6-min walking test (6MWT)]. Both the groups showed significant post-training differences in the hip joint ROM (FHAG and degree of hip extension) and 10MWT. The post-training improvements in the TUG test were significantly greater in patients of the HJM group than in the NDT group; however, there were no post-training improvements in COP in both groups. Patients in the HJM group showed post-training improvement in the 6MWT; however, statistically significant differences were not observed. Patients in the NDT group showed post-training improvements in the 6MWT. These results suggest that HJM improves hip joint ROM, dynamic balance ability, and walking speed in stroke patients. However, further studies are required to evaluate the long-term therapeutic efficacy of HJM in stroke patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.59-66
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• 2017

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of postural control training on balance and walking ability in chronic stroke patients. METHODS: Eighteen chronic stroke patients were allocated equally and randomly to an experimental group (n=9) or a control group (n=9). All participants received 60 minutes of comprehensive rehabilitation treatment, the experimental group additionally received a postural control training for 30 minutes, while the control group additionally performed a treadmill training for 30 minutes. These 30-minute training sessions were held five times per week for three weeks. Balance was assessed using Berg balance scale (BBS) and walking ability (gait speed, cadence, step length, and double limb support) was assessed using the GAITRite system. RESULTS: Improvement on all outcome measures was identified from pre-to-post intervention for both groups (p<.05). Post-intervention, there was a significant between-group difference on measured outcomes (p<.05). The experimental group exhibited greater improvement in the gait speed (p=.01; 95% CI .08-.16), cadence (p=.04; 95% CI .34-4.79), step length (p=.02; 95% CI 1.50-5.17), double limb support period (p=.04; 95% CI -2.18 to -.14), and BBS (p=.01; 95% CI 1.04-6.74) compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that postural control training may be beneficial for improving balance and walking ability of patients with chronic stroke.