• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.75-82
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• 2017

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of arm training in standing position on balance and walking ability in chronic stroke patients. METHODS: Sixteen chronic stroke patients were allocated equally and randomly to an experimental group (n=8) or a control group (n=8). All participants received 60 minutes of comprehensive rehabilitation treatment, the experimental group additionally received an arm training in standing position for 30 minutes, while the control group additionally performed a treadmill training for 30 minutes. These 30-minute training sessions were held three times per week for six weeks. Upper extremity function was assessed using Fugle-Meyer motor assessment function upper extremity (FMA-UE), balance was assessed using Berg balance scale (BBS), and walking ability (gait speed, cadence, step length, and double limb support period) 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 BBS, gait speed, cadence, step length, and double limp support period (p<.05). The experimental group exhibited greater improvement in the BBS (p=.01; z=-2.48), gait speed (p=.01; z=-3.26), cadence (p=.02; z=-2.31), step length (p=.01; z=-3.36), and double limb support period (p=.03; z=-2.84) compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that arm training in standing position may be beneficial for improving balance and walking ability of patients with chronic stroke.

• 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.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.307-315
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the effects of a stepwise proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) pattern therapy in weightbearing positions on the balance and walking functions of a patient with subacute stroke. Methods: The patient was a 78-year-old man with right post-stroke hemiparesis who had decreased balance and gait function. During the baseline and withdrawal phases, no intervention was applied; however, in the intervention phase, the patient received a stepwise PNF pattern therapy in weight-bearing positions. Results: During the intervention phase, the LOS improved by 296.51% (from $2482.13mm^2$ to $626mm^2$), and walking speed improved by 18.70% (from 0.75 m/s to 0.64 m/s). The LOS and 10MWT values appeared to be clinically significantly improved after the intervention. In addition, the scores of the BBS and ABC scales improved by 100% (from 36 points to 18 points) and 56.52% (from 720 points to 460 points), respectively. Conclusion: These findings suggest that a stepwise PNF pattern therapy may be helpful in enhancing the balance and walking function of a patient with subacute stroke. Further studies are required to validate the results of this study.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.199-207
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• 2021

Objectives: Physical inactivity is the fourth leading global risk factor for mortality, followed by obesity. The combination of these risk factors is associated with non-communicable diseases, impaired physical function, and declining mental function. The World Health Organization recommends physical activity to reduce the mortality rate. Thus, this study examined the effects on anthropometric measurements of a 12-week walking program for elderly people in Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia with a 7000-step goal and weekly group walking activities. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted involving 109 elderly people with a body mass index (BMI) ≥25.0 kg/m². BMI, body composition, and average daily steps were measured at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0, and repeated-measures analysis of variance with the paired t-test for post-hoc analysis was conducted. Results: In total, 48 participants in the intervention group and 61 participants in the control group completed the study. A significant interaction was found between time and group. The post-hoc analysis showed a significant difference between pre-intervention and post-intervention (within the intervention group). The post-intervention analysis revealed an increase in the mean number of daily steps by 3571.59, with decreases in body weight (-2.20 kg), BMI (-0.94 kg/m²), body fat percentage (-3.52%), visceral fat percentage (-1.29%) and waist circumference (-2.91 cm). Skeletal muscle percentage also showed a significant increase (1.67%). Conclusions: A 12-week walking program combining a 7000-step goals with weekly group walking activities had a significant effect on the anthropometric measurements of previously inactive and overweight/obese elderly people.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.111-122
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• 2023

Objective : To identify the effect of lifestyle risk factors on the daily activities and cognition of the older adults in the community using the National Health Insurance Corporation 2015 geriatric cohort database. Methods : Lifestyle risk factors were defined as body mass index (BMI), smoking, drinking, vigorous exercise, moderate exercise, and walking, and basic and instrumental activities of daily living (ADL) and cognitive function variables were included in the analysis. ADL and cognitive function according to sex and age were analyzed using a t-test and one-way ANOVA. The correlation between lifestyle risk factors, ADL, and cognitive function was analyzed using Pearson's correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis was performed to analyze their influence. Results : The factors affecting basic ADL (BADL) were sex and walking exercises, with an explanatory power of 1.7%. Instrumental ADL (IADL) included age, drinking, and walking exercises, with an explanatory power of 2.6%. Cognitive function included sex, age, BMI, vigorous exercise, and walking, with an explanatory power of 5.3%. Conclusion : Lifestyle risk factors partially affected BADLs/IADLs and cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults. This suggests the need to systematically manage lifestyle risk factors to improve and maintain the healthy lives of older adults facing biological aging.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.788-794
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• 2015

This study examines changes in walking ability among patients with stroke after applying dual-task training under the condition of visual control and unstable supporting ground; the purpose is to provide reference data for selecting intervention methods that enhance the walking ability of patients with stroke. Among the patients with stroke who received rehabilitation treatment(at Rehabilitation Hospital B in Gyeonggi, South Korea from May 2014 to July 2014), 29 patients were selected as research subjects; all of them understood the purpose and contents of this research and agreed to participate in the experiment. The research subjects were divided into a visual control and unstable supporting ground dual-task(VUDT) group(10 patients), a visual control dual-task(VDT) group(10 patients), and an unstable supporting ground dual-task(UDT) group(9 patients); all of the subjects received 30-minute trainings, three times a week for a total of four weeks. A Timed-Up-and-Go(TUG) test was performed to investigate the change of walking function among the subjects, and a 10m walking test was conducted to measure their walking speed. According to the study results, all three groups showed significant differences after dual-task training; the dual-task training group under the condition of visual control and unstable supporting ground showed the most prominent change. This study confirmed that dual-task training using visual control and unstable supporting ground has a positive impact on the walking ability of patients with stroke. Through the study results, we found that implementing dual-task training under the condition of visual control and unstable supporting ground can more effectively improve the walking ability of patients with stroke, rather than performing visual control dual-task training or unstable supporting ground dual-task training only.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.59-68
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• 2014

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of aquatic exercise program on Gross motor function and lower limb control of children with spastic cerebral palsy. Method : The subjects of this study are children with spastic cerebral palsy; 2 patients who agreed with this research, were picked up. Subjects received aquatic exercise training for 6 weeks, which consists of 2 times per week, 30 min of working pattern with floating device for each session. Gross motor function and lower limb control for walking were measured GMFM and SCALE. The intervention were compared by measuring before and after. Result : In GMFM and SCALE of both subjects, the intervention has been improved after the experiment compared to their original status before the intervention. Conclusion : Therefore, the Aquatic exercise is effective in improvement of to improve the gross motor function and lower limb control in chidren with spastic cerebral palsy.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.1644-1650
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 12-week walking exercise on body composition, physical fitness, cardiovascular function, blood lipids, GH, IGF-1and leptin in obese and normal middle school girls. Participants included 12 pairs of middle school girls who were matched for sex, age and stratified by BMI (Obese Group: BMI$\geq$25.0; Normal Group: BMI<23.0). The variables of all factors were measured in all the subjects before and after the 12-week walking exercise program. The test data were analyzed by paired t-test, and t-test using the SPSS 14.0 statistics package and the alpha level of p<0.05 was set for all tests of significance. Body composition showed a significant difference in both groups, but the variables of physical fitness, cardiovascular function, blood lipids, growth hormone, and leptin did not show a significant difference in the two groups. We conclude that regular and continuous walking exercise improved body composition, physical fitness, cardiovascular function, blood lipids, and insulin factors in both groups. Consequently, these findings suggest that walking exercise will be effective for preventing obesity and improving health-related factors in the middle school girls.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.659-667
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• 2011

The study of bipedal robot is towards similar shape and function with human. In this paper, we propose a human-like walking pattern compatible to the flexible foot with toe and heel structure. The new walking pattern for a bipedal robot consists of ZMP, center of mass (CoM), and ankle trajectory and is drawn by considering human kinesiology. First, the ZMP trajectory moves forward without stopping at a point even in the single support phase. The corresponding CoM trajectory to the ZMP one is derived by solving differential equations. As well, a CoM trajectory for the vertical axis is added by following the idea of human motion. The ankle trajectory closely mimics the rotational motion of human ankles during taking off and landing on the ground. The advantages of the proposed walking pattern are demonstrated by showing improved stability, decreased ankle torque, and the longer step length capability. Specifically, it is interesting to know that the vertical CoM motion is able to compensate for the initial transient response.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.141-149
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• 2018

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine the effects walking program with dance on gait, cognition, and risk of falls of elderly with dementia in a long-term care hospital. Methods: Subjects consisted of 42 elderly with dementia in a long-term care hospital (21 elderly with dementia in an experimental group and 21 elders with dementia in a control group). Data were collected from March 14 to April 30, 2016. Subjects in the experimental group performed walking program with dance (three times a week, 30-50 minutes session, 18 sessions). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, independent t-test, paired t-test, repeated measures ANOVA with the SPSS/WIN 21.0. Results: The participants in the experimental group showed significantly increased scores of cadence (F= 8.36, p= .007) and improved scores of cognition (F= 9.95, p= .003) compared the control group. Conclusion: The findings indicate walking program with dance is recommend a regular exercise program to enhance the cadence associated with walking speed and cognitive function elderly.