• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.52-61
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• 2023

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate effects of ankle elastic and non-elastic taping on postural balance and gait ability in subject with stroke. Design: Cross-sectional study Methods: Twenty-seven subjects with stroke participated in this study. The subjects performed to stand quietly for 30s on the balance platform and walking test with three different ankle taping conditions. The sway length, sway area and sway velocity of center of gravity (COG) displacement was measured to assess the postural balance and the timed up and go test, 10m walking test, 6 minutes walking test was measured to assess the gait ability. Repeated measured ANOVA was used to compare the postural balance parameters and gait ability according to three different ankle taping conditions. Results: Postural balance with non-elastic ankle taping was significantly improved compared to no ankle taping and elastic ankle taping condition(p<0.05). On the other hand, gait ability with elastic ankle taping was significantly increased compared to no ankle taping and non-elastic ankle taping condition(p<0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that an elastic ankle taping could effect to improve the gait ability, whereas a non-elastic ankle taping could effect to improve the postural balance in subject with stroke.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2017

Background: The multiple hop test is an active performance test that has been commonly used to assess individuals with functional ankle instability. Previous studies have suggested that insufficiency of dynamic postural stability and passive stability during dynamic activities can have an influence on performance in the multiple hop test. However, no study has investigated the effects of dynamic postural stability training and ankle bracing on multiple hop test performance in individuals with functional ankle instability. Objects: The purpose of this study was to compare the immediate effects of dynamic postural stability training versus ankle bracing in the performance of the multiple hop test for participants with functional ankle instability. Methods: Twenty-nine participants with functional ankle instability who scored below 24 in the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool were selected. The participants were randomly divided into two groups: a dynamic postural stability training group (n1=14) and an ankle bracing control group ($n_2=15$). The multiple hop tests were performed before and after applying each intervention. Dynamic postural stability training was performed using visual-feedback-based balance-training equipment; participants in this group were asked to perform a heel raise in a standing position while watching the centering of their forefoot pressure to prevent excessive ankle inversion. Ankle bracing was applied in the control group. Results: When comparing the pre- and post-intervention period for both groups, both methods significantly improved the results of the multiple hop test (p<.05). However, no significant differences were shown between the dynamic postural stability training and ankle bracing groups (p>.05). Conclusion: Both dynamic postural stability training and ankle bracing showed significant improvement (2.85 seconds and 2.05 seconds, respectively) in test performance. Further study is needed to determine the long-term effects of dynamic postural stability training and to determine whether insufficient dynamic postural stability is a causative factor for functional ankle instability.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2017

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to evaluate effects of taping therapy on recovery of behavioral symptoms and neural excitability of the lumbar spinal cord in rat model for ankle sprain. Methods : Adult Sprague-Dawley rats was used and divided into 3 experimental groups: normal group(n=6), ankle sprain(n=6), and ankle sprain with taping treatment(n=6). In order to induce ankle sprain the right ankle joint was injured with 4~5 repetitive over-flexions and over-extensions manually. The severity of joint pain was evaluated by measuring foot weight bearing force ratio(FWBRF) of the hind limb and the injury-induced edema formation by diameter of the joint following ankle sprain. The changes of neural excitability in the lumbar spinal cord was tested by observation of cFos protein expression, a metabolic marker for neural excitation. Results : Severity of ankle injury induced in this experiment coincided with Grade 1 ankle sprain. Compared with ankle sprain group, ankle sprain＋taping showed a significant reductions of joint pain as well as of edema formation at the ankle joint following ankle sprain. There was significant upregulation of cFos-immunoreactive neurons in the lumbar spinal cord 24 hours after ankle sprain. In contrast, taping therapy resulted in significant inhibition of cFos-immunoreactive neurons in the lumbar spinal cord. Conclusions : Collectively, these results suggest that taping therapy may be an alternative therapeutic intervention for symptom recovery of the mild ankle sprain.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.189-194
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical and radiologic results of arthrodesis between anterior approach and transfibular approach arthrodesis in ankle arthritis. Materials and Methods: There were 61 cases of ankle arthritis treated by anterior or transfibular ankle arthrodesis in our hospital from April 2008 to March 2012. We investigated 29 cases (27 patients) who underwent ankle arthrodesis with an anterior approach (15 cases) and transfibular approach (14 cases), and were followed for over two years. Clinically, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score, pain visual analogue scale (VAS), and subjective satisfaction degrees were evaluated. In addition, ankle coronal and sagittal alignments were evaluated using plain radiographs at 6 and 24 months, postoperatively. Results: Clinically, preoperative mean AOFAS score and VAS was 41.3 and 6.4, and were changed to 58.9 and 3.3 postoperatively in the anterior approach group. In the transfibular approach group, preoperative mean AOFAS score was 36.6 and VAS was 7.1, and they were changed to 54.9 and 3.4 postoperatively. However, no significant differences in the clinical results were observed between the two groups (p=0.297). Duration of attaining union was 8.1 weeks in the anterior approach group and 10.4 weeks in the transfibular approach group. Complications were delayed union in one case, nonunion in three cases, cancellous screw breakage in three cases, and complex regional reflex syndrome in one case. Conclusion: After transfibular ankle arthrodesis as treatment of ankle osteoarthritis, the tendency for valgus angulation of the ankle at the final follow-up was observed and 6.5 mm cancellous screw breakage occurred frequently. Therefore, in order to achieve better stability, it is necessary to use 6.5 mm cannulated screws rather than 6.5 mm cancellous screws for ankle arthrodesis.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.73-79
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• 2022

Purpose : Kinesio taping applied to the ankle varies, and if the overall ankle is taped as much as possible, several effects, including balance, can be expected, but clinically the cost reduction for intervention is very important. Therefore, this study attempted to find out the optimal way to the effect and cost of kinesio taping on ankle dynamic balance. Methods : The subject of this study was 24 university students in their 20s (male: 13, female: 11), who received sufficient explanation of the purpose and method of the study. The Cumberland ankle instability tool (CAIT) questionnaire was used for the degree of ankle instability of the study subjects. If the subject's CAIT score was 28 points or more, it was classified as a stable ankle, and if the score was 24 points or less, it was classified as functional ankle instability (FAI). In this study, Biodex Balance System^® measurement equipment was used to calculate the dynamic balance of study participants. The application of kinesio taping was performed by one physical therapist to attach in the same way, and a method of wrapping the ankle joint was applied in the eight-shaped bandage. Results : The results are as follows in before and after taping of the stable ankle and FAI group. There was no significant difference in the overall, anterior-posterior, and medial-lateral stability index. The comparison is as follows between groups for the differences (post-pre value) in before and after the application of kinesio taping. There were no significant differences between groups in all the overall, anterior-posterior, and medial-lateral stability index. Conclusion : In this study, no significant difference in kinesio taping was found in the dynamic balance of stable ankle and FAI (overall, anterior-posterior, and medial-lateral). It is necessary to continue to study ways to find the maximum effect while minimally attaching them to the application method of ankle kinesio taping.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.915-918
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of Ankle exercise on balance ability of stroke patients. Participants' balance ability were measured prior to the training and they conducted ankle exercise. As for ankle exercises, ankle stretching training and ankle muscle strengthening training were performed for 10 minutes respectively. They did warm up exercise for 5 minutes and then ankle exercise for 20 minutes. And then they did cooldown exercise for 5 minutes. Their balance ability was measured after 9 weeks. According to the results of analyzing the change of balance ability that timed up and go and Berg balance scale score significantly improved but in the control group it did not significantly decrease. In comparison between the groups, Berg balance scale score significantly improved in the ankle exercise group compared to the control group. Ankle exercise performed by stroke patients are considered to be effective in improving balance ability.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.102-106
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• 2011

Recently, development and improvement in joint replacement therapy, the need for arthrodesis has been decreasing. However, result of joint replacement is not always satisfactory, and most cases are rather indicative to ankle arthrodesis than ankle replacement. Often, ankle arthrodesis can be more beneficial salvage method to treat cases with failure in joint replacement therapy, talar avascular necrosis with massive bone defect, talus fracture with severe comminution and bone defect and ankle dislocation. In cases with large bone defect that need to be treated with ankle arthrodesis using internal fixation, it is difficult to fill the defect with conventional auto-iliac bone or all-bone graft. Thus, we make a report on our experience in treating 2 cases with ankle arthrodesis using auto-fibular bone graft and plate fixation.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2018

Ankle arthrodesis is a common and standard treatment for patients with end-stage ankle arthritis. The surgical goals of ankle arthrodesis are to obtain bony union between the tibia and talus with adequate alignment, and provide a pain-free plantigrade foot for weightbearing activities. To achieve successful fusion, the surgeon should closely examine the patient's factors before surgery, particularly the following: adjacent arthritis and deformity, infection, avascular necrosis of talus, Charcot arthropathy, and rheumatoid arthritis. Recently, ankle arthroplasty has been reported to provide satisfactory clinical results. On the other hand, long-term follow-up results are still lacking, and considering the various complications of arthroplasty, ankle arthrodesis is still the primary surgical treatment for advanced arthritis of the ankle joint.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.157-162
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• 2022

Total ankle arthroplasty has become a viable motion-preserving alternative to ankle arthrodesis, especially in the last two decades. Recent improvements have been achieved in the strength of implant design and surgical technique. Nevertheless, addressing preoperative deformities is essential for successful outcomes of total ankle arthroplasty. Residual malalignment can produce instability and edge loading, causing acceleration of polyethylene wear, followed by osteolysis and an increased risk of revision surgery. Therefore, the accompanying deformities and their correction techniques need to be comprehensively elucidated and understood. In this article, we provide a review of the application of total ankle arthroplasty in arthritis with coronal plane varus and valgus deformities.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.88-91
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• 2006

Purpose: To evaluate the effect on clinical course of heterotopic ossification of distal tibiofibular syndesmosis after ankle fractures. Materials and Methods: From June 2001 to May 2004, we found nine cases of heterotopic ossification of distal tibiofibular syndesmosis after ankle fractures. There were 8 male patients and 1 female patient; their mean age was 42 years old. There were 6 Weber type B and 2 Weber type C fractures, and there is 1 case with posterior malleolus fracture only. Among them, 8 ankle fractures were operated. Follow up period was averaged for 14 months. We were able to review radiographs at initial injury and to review clinical menifestation and radiographs at last follow up. We used an ankle-hindfoot scoring system of AOFAS which combined symptom, function and alignment with maximum score of 100 point. Results: In all cases ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion were not significantly different from that of the contralateral side. The patients who had developed heterotopic ossification in distal tibiofibular syndesmosis had a similar functional score. The mean ankle-hind foot score was 94 points. Conclusion: We concluded that the heterotopic ossification of distal tibiafibular syndesmosis after ankle fractures had little effect on clinical course and range of motion of ankle joint.