• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.311-321
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• 2011

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to determine effect of Medical Exercise therapy on walking ability and ankle muscles activation after stroke. Method : Participants were randomly divided into either MET training group(n=12) and control group(n=12). All of participants had been receving a traditional rehabilitation program, 5 days a week. MET training group have additionally undergone for six weeks, 3 days a week, the MET program. But control group was not received any additional program except the traditional rehabilitation program. The 10 mWT, F8WT and 2 MWT to measure walking ability were carried out twice before and after training. Muscular activity of the ankle was estimated by analyzing the RMS of action potential for EMG in terms of tibialis anterior muscle(TA), soleus(SO), gastrocnemius medial head(GM), gastrocnemius lateral head(GL). Rresults : At the walking ability, MET training group demonstrated a significant improvememt in the score of the 10 mWT(p<0.001), 2 MWT(p<0.05), but F8WT was not significant improvement(p>0.05). At the ankle muscle activation, MET training group demonstrated a significant improvememt in the RMS of the TA(p<0.01) and SO(p<0.05) but GM(p>0.05) and GL(p>0.05) were not significant improvement. Conclusion : From these results of this study, MET training for 6 weeks has an effect on improvement of walking ability and ankle muscles activation after stroke.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.71-78
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• 2015

Previous studies have investigated stepping over obstacles in treadmill walking training (TWT-OS) and treadmill walking training (TWT) alone for walking capacity not considering real physical activity. As such, we investigated the effects of TWT-OS on physical activity and changes in different levels of physical activity based on community ambulation in stroke patients. Thirty subjects were randomly assigned to either the experimental group or the control group, with 15 and 15 subjects, respectively. However, one subject from the control group was excluded because of inadequate treatment sessions. All subjects underwent routine physical therapy in the form of treadmill walking. The subjects in the experimental group underwent simultaneous training in obstacle-stepping while walking on the treadmill for 30 min/day, five times/week, for four weeks. Subjects were given a three-axis accelerometer to wear at the hip on a belt for one-week pre- and post-training physical activity. Step counts for seven days, average daily step counts, and the average of minutes spent in sedentary, light, and above moderate activity were chosen as outcome measures of physical activity. No significant differences between the groups were found in terms of step counts for seven days, average daily activity, or daily activity spent at sedentary levels after four-week interventions. However, the average daily activity spent at light levels (-42.60 min vs. -6.71 min) was significantly lower in the experimental group than in the controls. Conversely, average daily activity spent at above moderate levels was higher (19.86 min vs. 11.07 min) (p<.05) after adjusting for each baseline value. Significant pre- and post-training differences were found in all variables of the experimental group (p<.05). Thus, TWT-OS could improve physical levels above moderate activity as a community-oriented task more than simple repetitive waking on a treadmill, and it could provide an opportunity for patients ambulatory after stroke to participate in the community again.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.105-113
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this case study was to examine the effects of an intervention based on the concept of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on the weight-supporting ability, fear of falling, and stair-walking ability of stroke patients. Methods: One pretest, three intervention sessions, and one posttest were conducted. In the tests, weight-supporting ability, manual muscle strength, the fear of falling, and the time to go up and down a 'ㄱ'-shaped stair-walking machine were measured and compared. The intervention was implemented for 30 minutes per day for three days in combination with general rehabilitation. The intervention was planned and implemented based on the concept of PNF, and the goal was for the subjects, after their consent, to walk backward down the stairs. Results: After the intervention, functional improvement was seen in weight-supporting ability and the fear of falling felt when walking down the stairs. Whereas the subjects could not perform the task of walking down the stairs on the 'ㄱ'-shaped stair-walking machine in the pretest, they could perform the task in the posttest, and their stair-climbing speed was greater than before the intervention. Conclusion: This study verified that a PNF-based intervention can improve stroke patients' weight-supporting ability and stair-walking ability. Therefore, this intervention can be clinically applied to stroke patients.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.11-20
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• 2020

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of Nordic walking on depression and the physical function of elderly patients with a high risk of depression. METHODS: This study was a blinded randomized allocation study; 32 elderly were assigned to a Nordic walking group (n = 17), consisting of 60 min Nordic walking (including warming up 5 min, warming down 5 min, and Nordic walking 50 min) two days per week for 12 weeks and general leisure group (n = 15), consisting of 60 min leisure program community center. The pre and post 12-week program, depression test, muscle strength (including grip test, and 30sec sit to stand), and balance (including Functional Reach test, and One Leg Standing test) were measured. A Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare within the group, and a Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare between the groups. RESULTS: After 12 weeks, only the Nordic walking group showed significant improvement in depression, muscle strength, and balance (p < .05). In the general leisure group, however, the left grip strength and Functional Reach Test (FRT) showed a significant decrease. The Nordic walking program was better than the general leisure group, and a significant difference was observed in depression, muscle strength, and balance between the two groups (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Nordic walking was effective for the elderly with a high risk of depression. Therefore, Nordic walking may be an option for preventing elderly mental disorders and functional improvement.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.67-74
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to prove the effects of coordinative locomotion training (CLT) on walking speed, walking endurance, and balance for incomplete spinal cord injury patients. Methods: Ten subjects were randomly assigned to the CLT group (n = 5) and the treadmill (TM) group (n = 5). The CLT group performed PNF pattern exercise using the motions of the sprinter and skater for 30 minutes, while the TM group performed using a treadmill for 30 minutes. Both groups performed these therapeutic interventions for five days per week, for a period of four weeks. A 10 meter walking test, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and 6 meter walking test were used for the assessment of gait speed, balance, and gait endurance. The SPSS Ver. 18.0 statistical program was used for data processing. A Wilcoxon signed rank test was used for the comparison of pre- and post-intervention performance and a Mann-Whitney test was used for comparison between the groups. The significance level for the statistical inspection was set at 0.05. Results: Both groups showed significant improvements in the 10 meter walking test, Berg Balance Scale, and 6 meter walking test (P < 0.05). Conclusion: CLT had an effect on the improvement of walking speed, walking endurance, and the balance of incomplete spinal cord injury patients. Thus, we suggest that CLT is a therapeutic intervention for incomplete spinal cord injury patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.364-368
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• 2015

Purpose: Walking in the dual-task condition is a critical skill for hemiplegic patients to live in real-life situations. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of dual-task gait training and general gait training on gait parameters and cognitive function in patients with chronic stroke during dual-task walking. Methods: The study included 23 patients with chronic hemiparetic stroke who were randomly divided into experimental (dual-task gait training) and control (general walking training) groups. The 11 subjects in the experimental group and nine subjects in the control group received dual-task gait training (walking while handling a ball, crossing obstacles, picking up various objects, and problem solving simple cognitive tasks and general over-ground gait training, respectively, for 30 minutes per day 5 days per week for 4 weeks. Spatiotemporal parameters and cognitive tasks in the dual-task gait condition were measured. Statistical analysis of the changes between the pre- and post-intervention measurement variables was performed using ANCOVA. Results: In the gait condition under cognitive tasks, the changes pre- and post-intervention in gait velocity, stride length, double support limb, and step symmetry were significantly greater in the dual-task gait training group; however, the dual-task gait training group showed no significant improvement compared to the general gait training group in terms of the assessment of cognitive tasks. Conclusion: The findings suggest that dual-task gait training may be beneficial for walking ability in dual-task walking condition.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.214-222
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a walking-support program on the pulmonary ventilatory functions of elderly people who had undergone upper-abdominal surgery. Method: The study was a quasi-experimental research design. There were 26 partcipants who were admitted for upper-abdominal surgery to P University Hospital in B city. Walking exercise education was provided individually to the experimental group the day before their operation and 20 minutes a day for five days after the surgery using the 'Walking Exercise Guide Document'. Pulmonary ventilatory function was with FVC (Forced Vital Capacity), PEF (Peak Expiratory Flow), FEVI (Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second), FER (Forced Expiratory Ratio), Oxygen Saturation, and VAS (Visual Analog Scale). Results: The objective indexes of pulmonary ventilatory function were not significantly different between the two groups, but the subjective index was significantly different. Conclusion: With the above results, the walking support program could be an effective nursing intervention for improving pulmonary ventilatory function of surgical patients.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.241-252
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• 2013

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of walking exercise on diabetes mellitus indicator and vascular compliance of type 2 diabetes mellitus adults. Methods The subjects were 2 groups; exercise group(n=11, $age=57.36{\pm}8.74$), non-exercise group(n=10, $age=59.20{\pm}5.81$). Walking exercise five or more times a week, and more than 10,000 steps per day with writing the walking diary ordered to the exercise group. For date analysis, mean and standard deviation scores were calculated, and independent t-test was performed. Result After 45 days of walking exercise, weight (p <.01), abdominal obesity rate (p <.05), body fat mass (p <.05) showed significant difference between the groups. but diabetes indicators and vascular compliance tend to decreased in the exercise group, there was no significant difference between the groups. Conclusions Walking exercise is effective in improving body composition.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.257-270
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• 2019

Purpose: This study is designed as a non-equivalent, control group pre/post-test for identifying effectiveness of a workplace walking program using a fitness tracker including individual counseling and tailored text messaging. Methods: Seventy-nine employees from two large companies were allocated into an intervention group (n=39) and a control group (n=40). Participants were asked to wear a fitness tracker (Fitbit Charger HR) during 24-hour, 5-days per week, for 10 weeks. The intervention group was provided with daily walking steps measured by Fitbit, weekly counseling with a specifically designed workbook, and seven weekly text messaging, and the control group with the fitness tracker only. Results: At the week 10 measurement, there were significant differences between the intervention and control groups in physical activity self-efficacy (p<.001), physical activity behavior (p<.001), daily walking steps (p<.001), systolic blood pressure (p=.033), and wellness (p<.001). Conclusion: These results suggest that the workplace walking program using a fitness tracker including individual counseling and tailored text messaging is more effective for persons with 10,000 steps/day. Therefore, it is recommended to actively apply this workplace walking program to inactive employees for encouraging regular physical activities and improving their wellness.