• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.123-129
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze the effect of twelve-week Taekwondo and walking exercises on the double-leg balance control by dividing elderly females into Taekwondo, walking exercise and control groups. In total, 30 elderly females were randomly divided into Taekwondo, walking exercise, and control groups, with 10 subjects in each group. Subjects participating in this study were 10(age $69.4{\pm}5.8$ years), 10(age $71.4{\pm}7.6$ years) and 10(age $70.6{\pm}4.8$ years) in the three groups, respectively. Although the AP measures were not significantly different among the groups and times, the ML RMS distance and ML velocity, among the ML measures showed a significant difference among the groups and times. Average velocity and 95% confidence ellipse area were also significantly different among the groups and times. Twelve-week Taekwondo and walking exercises were found to be effective in improving static balance control. Future studies on the development of a Taekwondo intervention program tailored for the elderly with many subjects conducted by using a long-term training program are expected.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.83-91
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• 2020

Objective: The study aimed to develop a functional performance index that evaluates the functional performance of Parkinson's patients, i.e., to integrate biomechanical measurements of walking, balance, muscle strength and tremor, and to use multiple linear regression with stepwise methods to identify the most suitable predictors for the progression of disease. Method: A total of 60 subjects were tested for sub-variables of four factors: walking, balance, isometric strength and hand tremors. Potential independet variables were extracted through correlation analysis of the sub-variables and dependent variables, Hoehn & Yahr scale. And then, a stepwise multiple regression analysis using the potential independent variables was performed to identify predictor of Hoehn & Yahr scale. Results: First, the results of the study showed that physical composition and gait had a relatively more correlated with the progression of the disease, compared to balance and hand tremor. Second, Parkinson's functional performance is characterized by dynamic pattern of walking, such as foot clearance and turning angle (TA) of walking, and a high-explained regression model is completed. Conclusion: The study emphasized the importance of walking variables and body composition in minor pathological features compared to Parkinson's patient's balancing ability and hand tremor. Specifically, it revealed that dynamic walking patterns functionally characterize patients. The results are worth considering when assessing functional performance related to the progression of the disease at the site.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.53-60
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• 2018

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify the effect of a backward walking exercise using a mirror on balance and gait in patients with stroke. METHODS: Twenty subjects with post-stroke hemiparesis volunteered to participate in this study. The experimental and control groups performed backward walking exercise plus conventional therapy or conventional physical therapy, respectively, for 6 weeks. Assessment instruments included the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), timed up and go test (TUG), and 10-m walking test (10MWT). Evaluation was performed before and after the 6-week training period. We conducted a paired t-test to compare the within-group changes before and after the intervention. An independent t-test was used to compare between-group differences. The statistical significance level was set at ${\alpha}=.05$ for all variables. RESULTS: The experimental group showed a significant within-group change in the BBS, TUG, and 10MWT (p<.05). The control group also showed a significant change (p<.05). A significant difference was observed between the experimental and control groups with regard to changes in the BBS, TUG, and 10MWT results after the interventions (p<.05). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that backward walking exercise using a mirror may be valuable for future research. Further studies with a wider range of pathology and longer experiment duration are required to validate the results of the present study.

• 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.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.67-74
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• 2009

Background: This study had been carried out with 20 elderly subjects as its object for about one month from November 3, 2008 to December 14, 2008 in order to observe the effect of Underwater Treadmill on the elderly's walking and balance ability. Methods: Subjects were assigned either experimental group (n=10) or the control group (n=10), experimental group received Underwater Treadmill program (30 min per course, 3days a week for 6weeks). Subjects were assessed for muscle power (Nicolas Manual Muscle Test), balance (Functional Reach Test), gait ability (Time Up and Go, 10M walking test) before experiments and after experiments. Results: The results of this study were as follows; 1. After underwater treadmill exercise, the change of isometric contraction indicated a beneficial increase on lower extremity muscle power of experimental group and functional test of balance function; FRT, TUG indicated beneficial difference between groups. 2. beneficial difference between groups in walking speed of hourly index change of walking function. 3. between muscle power and balance, gait ability, we could find out there's high correlation ship between lower extremity muscle power increasing and balance and gait ability of the elderly. Conclusion: Aerobic exercise using underwater treadmill effects on muscle power strengthening of the elderly, and because of this, increase of lower extremity muscle power is very helpful not only to improvement of balance ability, but also to improvement of gait ability, so it will be used as a physical therapy program on clinic and used as an exercise program for protecting the elderly from falling down very well.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.675-683
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• 2010

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of Whole body vibration exercise(WBVE) in patient with chronic stroke. Methods : Thirty patients were divided into two groups by randomly experimental group(14 subject) and control group(16 subject) in a single blinded, randomised study. experimental group was conducted for the 6-weeks WBVE program and had a structured exercise program for 16 minutes, 5 days per week and control group was conducted for the shame exercise program. Outcome variables included the knee extensor strength, Berg balance scale, Timed up and go test at 0 and 6 weeks. Results : The experimental group tended to improve more than the control group in balance(Berg balance scale) and walking ability(Timed up and go test). There were no trends in differences in change scores by the knee extensor strength. Conclusion : WBVE program may be helpful to improve knee extensor strengthening, dynamic balance and walking ability for patients with chronic patients.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.11-20
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of dual-task training with cognitive effort on the walking and balance functions of chronic stroke patients. The study included 14 chronic stroke patients, who were randomly divided into the experimental group (EG) and control group (CG), each with 7 patients. The EG performed the dual-task training with cognitive effort 3 times a week, 30 minutes for 4 weeks, where as the CG performed single-task training three times a week, for 30 minutes for 4 weeks. Outcome assessments were made with 10 m walk test, timed up and go test, 6 minutes walk test, and Berg balance scale. In within-group comparison, subjects from the EG showed significant differences in all variables (p<.05), while subjects from the CG showed only significant differences in 6 minutes walk test, and Berg balance scale (p<.05). Further, there was significant difference in the improvement rate of 10 m walk test. The findings suggest that the dual-task with cognitive effort may be beneficial for improving walking and balance functions of patients with chronic stroke.

• 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.

• 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 Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.23-33
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• 2021

Purpose : This study aimed to investigate the effects of dual-task training according to the variability of the walking environment on balance, gait, and function in patients with stroke. Methods : Twenty-five patients with stroke were randomly assigned to experimental group I (n=12) and experimental group II (n=13). Experimental group I and II performed obstacle and non-obstacle walking training, respectively, along with cognitive tasks for 21 minutes per session, 3 times a week for 6 weeks. Both groups received additional general physical therapy for 30 minutes per session. The functional reach test (FRT), gait analyzer (G-Walk), and functional independence measure (FIM) were used to evaluate balance, gait and function of pre- and post-interventions, respectively, while gait cadence, gait velocity, and stride length were evaluated using a gait analyzer. Results : In the within-group comparison of FRT, all the two groups showed significant post-intervention improvements (p<.05). In within-group comparison of gait cadence, all the two groups showed significant post-intervention improvements (p<.05). In within-group comparison of gait velocity, all the two groups showed significant post-intervention improvements (p<.05). In within-group comparison of stride length, experimental group I showed significant post-intervention improvements (p<.05), while experimental group II did not show significant post-intervention improvements (p>.05). In within-group comparison of FIM scores, experimental group I showed significant post-intervention improvements (p<.05), while experimental group II did not show significant post-intervention improvements (p>.05). There was a significant difference in the change of FIM scores pre- and post-intervention (p<.05) in the between-group comparison. Conclusion : The results of this study show that dual-task training with cognitive tasks and walking training can improve the balance, gait and function of patients with stroke, and obstacle walking training is effective for improving functions including activities of daily living compared to non-obstacle walking training.