• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.77-83
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• 2021

Background: Although symmetry of spatio-temporal parameter and center of pressure (COP) shift during walking is associated with knee adduction moment, research on clinical association with knee osteoarthritis (OA)-related knee pain and functional scores is lacking. Objects: The aims were 1) to compare symmetry of gait parameters and COP-shift in patients with unilateral knee OA and pain and matched controls, and 2) to investigate the relationship between symmetry of gait parameters and COP-shift, and clinical measures. Methods: Female subjects (n = 16) had with unilateral radiological knee OA and pain. Healthy controls (n = 15) were age-matched to OA group. Symmetry of foot rotation, step length, stance and swing phase, lateral symmetry of COP and anterior/posterior symmetry of COP during walking was assessed. To assess the clinical variables, pain intensity, pain duration and function using Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Survey (KOOS) subscales were collected. We compared symmetry between groups using Mann-Whitney U-test or independent t-test. Relationships between clinical measures and symmetry index measured using Spearman's correlation test. Statistical significance was set at α = 0.05. Results: Knee OA group showed significantly greater values of only lateral symmetry of COP (p < 0.01) than healthy group. Values of lateral symmetry of COP had moderate or strong correlation significantly with the intensity of knee pain, pain duration, and scores of all KOOS subscales (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Patients with unilateral knee OA and pain showed more asymmetry of lateral COP-shift during walking compared with matched healthy controls. In addition, larger asymmetry of lateral COP-shift has the moderate or strong association with worse of knee pain, worse in KOOS scores and longer duration of knee pain. Asymmetry of lateral COP-shift during walking may be one of the characteristics of unilateral knee OA as the compensatory strategy response to unilateral OA of the knee.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.369-379
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• 2011

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to compare the initial effect of nerve mobilization (NM), static stretching (SS), and contract-relax (CR) techniques to find the best method in improving hamstring flexibility and gait function in patients with hemiplegia. Methods : Eleven patients with hemiplegia were included in this study. Passive knee extension (PKE) range of motion and the sit and reach (SR) test were used to measure hamstring flexibility, while timed up and go (TUG) and the 10m walking (10MW) test were used to measure the subject's gait. Measurements on each test were assessed prior to the experiment, immediately following the experiment, and 30 minutes after the experiment. Analysis of the results utilized a repeated measures analysis of variance to examine hamstring flexibility and the difference in walking ability. Results : The results suggest significant increases in NM, SS, and CR techniques as they relate to hamstring flexibility (p<.05) following (both immediate and 30 minutes post experiment) PKE range of motion and the SR test, but post-hoc showed no significant difference between the three techniques (p>.05). Additionally, the results suggest significant increases in NM, SS, and CR techniques as they relate to gait function (p<.05) following the TUG test, but found no significant difference in the 10MW test (p>.05). Post-hoc analysis between the three techniques suggests that only the NM technique significantly changed gait function. The time of TUG and 10MW test showed no significant difference between the three techniques before an experiment, just after an experiment, and 30 minutes following the experiment according to the measurement points in time (p>.05). Conclusion : This study suggests NM, SS, and CR techniques immediately improve hamstring length and flexibility while improving gait function in patients with hemiplegia.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.93-108
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• 2022

PURPOSE: This review sought to confirm the correlation between dual-task gait and cognitive function in cognitively impaired and healthy older adults. METHOD: We used four databases (DBs), Pubmed, Cochrane library, Kmbase, and Koreamed. Searches were carried out according to the PICOS method, P (participants) were the elderly (above 65 years) with cognitive decline, I (intervention) was walking with dual tasks, C (control group) comprised the elderly without cognitive decline, O (outcome) was the correlation between gait and cognitive function and S (study) was the cross-sectional study. For the methodological quality assessment of each study, we used the Quality Assessment Tool for Observation Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies provided by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). RESULTS: A total of 10 articles were included in this systematic review. For the components of gait, we used pace, rhythm, and variability and we observed that mild cognitive impairment mostly causes low gait performance while performing dual tasks. Among the 10 articles, 9 articles studied pace, of which 7 showed significant results. However, 2 were not significant. Also, 1 article that studied rhythm and 3 articles that studied variability showed significant results. The methodological quality of the 10 studies was fair. CONCLUSION: Gait pace was found to have a high correlation between memory, which is a cognitive ability, and overall cognitive function. It was observed that older adults with mild cognitive impairment have reduced gait pace in single-task walking, and further decrease in dual-task gait pace shows the correlation between memory and gait pace during walking.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.17-24
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• 2018

Purpose : Kinesio taping is a therapeutic method used in the treatment of various musculoskeletal and neuromuscular deficits limited evidence the effects of gluteus medius kinesio taping in neurologic patients. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effects of gluteus medius kinesio taping on balance ability and gait function in after a stroke. Methods : Twenty-four post-stroke patients were included in this study. Gluteus medius taping group and sham gluteus medius taping group were divided into intervention. Kinesio tape was applied the gluteus medius muscles. In all the subjects, the balance ability was measured using the force plate and timed up & go test (TUG) and gait function was assessed using the 10-meter walking test at time points of both before and after the taping. Result : There was a significant difference in balance ability and gait function between the two groups before and after gluteus medius taping group (p<.05). The gluteus medius taping group showed a significant difference between the groups (p<.05). Conclusion : The results suggest that taping may be a useful method during rehabilitation programs for stroke patients. Application of Kinesio taping to the gluteus medius muscles was found to be useful especially in improving balance ability.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.311-319
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• 2000

This study was to measure whether single axis foot or the SACH foot applied to below-knee amputation patients would bring positive changes to the patients' cardiopulmonary function, and help them to overcome their disability. The experiment took place at Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan, from July 20th to November 20th, 1999 with 10 below-knee amputation patients. The patients were asked to equip single axis foot and SACH foot by turns and lead them to walk on a treadmill which was designed to increase its steep slope. Patients heart rate and blood pressure were recorded before and after their walking, The heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure of the patients who were equipped with, either SACH foot or single axis foot, have been increased with as the slant becoming steeper. The heart rates during the experiment did not show relevant changes according to the kind of foot used and the gradient, but the changes occurred before and after the walking(p=0.0001), The similar result of systolic blood pressure was found during the waking(p=0.01). Below-knee amputation patients are expected to walk and perform the routines better, no matter what type of foot is used, as long as they wear an artificial foot properly and taking features of foot product into consideration

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.107-117
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify the effects of a self-monitoring rehabilitation program based on the Bandura's self-efficacy theory on the activities of daily living (ADL), 6-minute walking distances, self-efficacy and quality of life (QoL) among stroke patients after three to six months. Methods: The participants consisted of 29 patients in the experiment group and 28 patients in the control group who admitted at rehabilitation specific hospital. Self-monitoring program developed by the researcher lasted twice a week for 8 weeks from August to September, 2013. Results: ANCOVA showed that all of dependent variables of this study, ADL and 6-minute walking distances as a physical function, self-efficacy and QoL for intervention group were higher than those for control group(p<.001). Conclusion: The self-monitoring rehabilitation program based on the self-efficacy theory was found to be effective in improving physical function, self-efficacy and QoL for early post-stroke patients. Early rehabilitation program for stroke patients was recommended to consider the self-monitoring of current physical and psychosocial status as a strategy of self-management.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.281-288
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• 2010

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation between Pediatric Balance Scale(PBS) and Gross Motor Function Measurement(GMFM) with cerebral palsy(CP) children. Methods : 31 ambulatory children with CP were recruited for this study. PBS is a modified version of the Berg’s Balance Scale to access the children with motor impairments. To access the motor functions that directly influence to the functional independence of the ambulatory CP children, total scores of standing category and walking/running/jumping category of GMFM were selectively compared with PBS score by Spearman correlation coefficient analysis. Results : The results revealed high correlation between PBS and GMFM scores both in standing and walking/running/jumping categories(r=.9). Conclusions : Therefore, this study indicates that PBS can be applied not only as a tool to access balance, but also as a measurement to predict and access the level of standing and ambulatory related functions of children with CP.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.11-29
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• 2021

Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of virtual reality on gait, balance, and upper extremity functions compared to other independent variables or no variables. Additionally, the possibility of virtual reality for stroke patients was discussed. Design: Meta-analysis. Methods: The search for this study was a search term that combined stroke, virtual reality, and training, and the electronic search was conducted through EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library. As a result of the search, 21 studies satisfying the selection criteria of the target study were confirmed as the final analysis target. This study consisted of 21 randomized experimental studies and 21 randomized controlled trials, and the total number of participants was 642. [Experimental group (n=314), control group (n=328); total 642]. As a result of the study, upper extremity function was assessed using a box and block test, a modified Ashworth scale, and a scale including range of motion. The balance was evaluated by the berg balance scale. Gait was a Timed Up and Go test (TUG), stride length, and gait function. Scales including a walking rate scale were evaluated. The effect size for the intervention of the analytical study was meta-analyzed with the RevMan 5.3.3 program of the Cochrane library. Results: The results of the study showed that the function of walking was statistically significant. Balance showed statistically significant results. The upper extremity function showed no statistically significant results. Conclusion: Through this rehabilitation treatment by applying virtual reality environment to the rehabilitation of stroke patients in the future can be proposed as an effective intervention method for the balance and gait function of stroke patients.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.41 no.9
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• pp.825-837
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• 2017

This paper describes a novel type of a walking rehabilitation robot that applies robot technologies to crutches used by patients with walking difficulties in the lower body. The primary features of the developed robot are divided into three parts. First, the developed robot is worn on the patient's chest, as opposed to the conventional elbow crutch that is attached to the forearm; hence, it can effectively disperse the patient's weight throughout the width of the chest, and eliminate the concentrated load at the elbow. Furthermore, it allows free arm motion during walking. Second, the developed robot can recognize the walking intention of the patient from the magnitude and direction of the ground reactive forces. This is done using three-axis force sensors attached to the feet of the robot. Third, the robot can perform a stair walking function, which can change vertical movement trajectories in order to step up and down a single stair according to the floor height. Consequently, we experimentally showed that the developed robot can effectively perform walking rehabilitation assistance by perceiving the walking intention of the patient. Moreover we quantitatively verified muscle power assistance by measuring the electromyography (EMG) signals of the muscles of the lower limb.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.27-35
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• 2023

Purpose: Hallux valgus (HV) is one of the most common chronic foot disorders, occurring when the first toe deviates laterally toward the other toe. HV impairs muscle strength and affects gait function (postural sway and gait speed). Thus, this study aims to investigate using the FDM system the effect of wearing braces on gait while wearing a virtual reality (VR) device. Methods: This study was conducted on 28 healthy adults with HV of 15 degrees or more. To compare differences in walking, depending on whether a toe brace can be worn, the subject walked without wearing anything, walked after wearing the VR device, and walked after wearing the VR device and the toe brace, and the FDM system was used for the gait ability measurement analysis. Results: As a result of a one-way repeated analysis of variance, the walking speed-related variables (cadence, velocity, etc.) in the HV group were higher during comfortable walking. In addition, walking while wearing a VR device and walking while wearing a VR device and a toe brace demonstrated more significant values in terms of six gait parameters (double stance phase, loading response, stage, stage, stage, and stage). The maximum pressure of the forefoot was significantly reduced when walking while wearing a VR device and a toe brace compared to comfortable walking, but in all variables, there was no statistically significant difference between walking while wearing a VR device and walking while wearing a VR device and a toe brace. Conclusion: Orthosis with a VR device during gait (OVG) and gait with a VR device (GVR) affect gait in HV patients. However, there was no significant difference between GVR and OVG. Thus, it is necessary to conduct experiments on various HV angles and increase the duration of wearing the toe brace.