• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.91-101
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• 2024

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of balance exercises accompanied by ankle fixation on the healthy side on the balance control ability and gait of patients with subacute stroke. METHODS: The study was conducted on 23 patients with subacute stroke. Eleven people were assigned randomly to the experimental group who performed balance exercises with ankle fixation on the healthy side, and 12 were assigned to the control group who performed balance exercises without ankle fixation. The intervention was conducted for 30 minutes three times a week for four weeks. The Berg Balance Scale, a weight-bearing ratio measurement, was performed to evaluate the balance ability before and after intervention. The gait symmetry, walking speed, cadence, step length, and 10-meter walk test were conducted to evaluate the walking ability. RESULTS: A significant difference in the Berg Balance Scale was observed between before and after the intervention in the experimental group. A comparison of the two groups also revealed a significant difference. Significant differences in the gait symmetry, walking speed, and step length measurements were observed before and after the intervention in the experimental group, and significant differences in the gait symmetry and step length measurements were observed between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Through this study, balance exercises with the healthy side ankle fixed showed qualitative improvement in the balance and walking ability, suggesting future directions for the rehabilitation treatment of stroke patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.430-433
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a four week unilateral isokinetic exercise program applied to ankle on the one-leg stance balance performance of ipsilateral and contralateral lower-limbs. Methods: Subjects were randomly assigned to either a right ankle training program (n=12) or a control group (n=12). The training group received unilateral ankle isokinetic exercise of the dominant side for 4 weeks, whereas control group did not. Ipsilateral and contralateral one-leg balance were measured before and after intervention using the Biodex Balance System. Results: Improvements of stability scores, such as APSI, MLSI, and OSI, from pre-test to post-test were significantly different greater for the training group when the control. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest unilateral ankle strengthening exercise transfers benefit to the untrained limb by a cross-education effect, and that this type of exercise should be considered to improve one-leg standing balance of trained and untrained lower-limbs.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.181-186
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• 2022

Purpose: This study was to applied to stretching plantar flexor and invertor at the same time to observe the effect of balance and walking ability. Methods: Subjects were instructed patients with ankle limited of motion, 6 months after stroke. We classified 20 subjects into two groups (experimental group: stretching plantar flexor and invertor at the same time, control group: only stretching plantar flexor). each group included 10 subjects and applied ankle stretcher for 20 minutes, 5 times/week during 4 weeks (total 20 times). Results: Both experimental group and control group showed significant increases in static balance, however, the significantly increases in step length and gait speed was observed only in the experimental group. There was no significant increases in step length and gait speed in the control group. Conclusion: Simultaneous stretching of ankle invertor and plantar flexion is effective in improving balance and walking ability in chronic stroke patients.

• The Journal of Korean society of community based occupational therapy
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.25-32
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• 2013

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the ankle movement and the balance when the elderly conducted self-exercise with ankle movement control device through visual feedback. Method : This case-study included pre-test and post-test. The elderly women aged 80 did self-exercise for 20 minutes both morning and afternoon every day. The pre-test and post-test was conducted tracking test for evaluating ankle control movement and running time measurement of standing on one foot and Timed up-And-Go test for balance. Result : The subject improved the ankle control movement on tracking test and improved the balance in running time measurement of standing on one foot. But, Timed up-And-Go test was no change. Conclusion : The self-exercise with device of ankle movement control through visual feedback improved the ankle control movement and the balance for elderly.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.49-59
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• 2024

Purpose : Chronic ankle instability (CAI) can impair strength and balance, leading to activity limitations and restricted participation. Traditionally, ankle stabilization exercises have been applied, and more recently, the effects of hip muscle exercises have been studied. The purpose of this study was to determine the immediate effects of hip exercises (HE) and ankle stabilization exercises (ASE) on dynamic balance, performance and ankle function in subjects with CAI. We also compared the difference in effectiveness between HE and ASE. Methods : A total of 34 subjects with CAI participated, ane were randomly divided into two groups: the HE group and the ASE group. The HE group performed a program consisting of exercises above 70 % MVIC, while the ASE group performed a traditional ankle stabilization exercise program. The subjects in each group completed their respective exercise program for a total of 30 minutes once a day and were assessed before and after the intervention. Dynamic balance was assessed using the Y-balance test (YBT). Performance was assessed using the hop for distance test (HDT), and side-hop test (SHT). Ankle function was assessed using foot and ankle ability measure (FAAM) questionnaires. Results : YBT, HDT, and FAAM values increased significantly in both groups after the intervention (p<.05), and there was no significant difference between the groups. SHT values decreased significantly in both groups after the intervention (p<.05), and there was no significant difference between the groups. Conclusion : Although no significant superiority was observed between HE and ASE in this study, both exercise programs were effective in improving dynamic balance, performance, and ankle function in subjects with CAI. These findings suggest that both HE and ASE can be suitable interventions for CAI, highlighting the need for individualized treatment plans. Future research is warranted to explore the long-term effects of exercise programs on CAI subjects of different ages and occupational characteristics.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.37-46
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• 2020

Background: The present study aimed to investigate the immediate effects of Soft Tissue Mobilization (STM) before Mobilization with Movement (MWM) on ankle ROM, pennation angle, balance in stroke patients. Methods: A total of 22 subjects were randomly assigned to one of two groups: the experimental group and the control group. The experimental group received intervention STM before MWM. STM was applied for one minute, MWM was applied one set of six times, in a total 3 sets. The passive ankle joint range of motion (ROM) was measured using a goniometer, the pennation angle was measured using RUSI, and the balance was measured using Timed Up & Go Test. Results: The ROM of the ankle dorsi-flexion, muscle tissue (pennation angle) and balance were significantly increased. Conclusion: In this study, it was confirmed that the ankle dorsi-flexion ROM, pennation angle of the medial gastrocnemius muscle, and balance were significantly improved in the group where STM was performed before the MWM intervention. Therefore, the physiotherapists should consider these results in their intervention. If MWM is applied to stroke patients, applying STM first is a better intervention.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.1642-1650
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching exercise and joint mobilization on ankle joint range of motion (ROM), plantar pressure, and balance in subjects with stroke. Thirty patients (n=30) were organized into three groups, each of which received different treatments: PNF stretching (n=10), joint mobilization (n=10), and joint mobilization and PNF stretching combined (n=10). Each group received three exercise sessions per week for four weeks. The ankle ROM was measured using a goniometer, and plantar pressure and balance ability were measured using BioResque static posturography. In comparison within each group, the joint mobilization group and the joint mobilization with PNF stretching group showed significant improvements in ankle ROM, plantar pressure, and balance ability (p<.05). In comparison between the groups, a statistically significant difference was found in SECS change between the PNF stretching group, joint mobilization group and the joint mobilization with PNF stretching group. This study found demonstrates that the joint mobilization and joint mobilization with the PNF stretching methods were effective in improving ankle ROM, plantar pressure, and balance ability in stroke patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.254-258
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify the effects of dual task training on balance and functional performance in high school soccer players with functional ankle instability. Methods: Twenty high school soccer players with functional ankle instability were randomly assigned to a single task training group and a dual task training group. One participant who did not participate regularly in the training was excluded. The single task training group (n=9) received balance training on an unstable surface. The dual task training group (n=10) received balance training on an unstable surface and had to catch thrown balls during the balance training. Both groups were trained for 4 weeks, 3 days a week. The balance and functional performance of both groups was measured before and after training. Balance was measured using an anterior-posterior and medio-lateral balance. Functional performance was measured based on a figure-of-8 hop test, up-down hop test, and a single hop test. All data were analyzed by repeated two-way ANOVA tests. Results: A time by group interaction effect was not observed in the medio-lateral balance test, figure-of-8 hop test, or single hop test (p>0.05). A time by group interaction effect was observed in the anterior-posterior balance and up-down hop test (p<0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that dual task training improved balance and functional performance better than single task training for some items.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between the ankle dorsiflexion passive range of motion (DF PROM) under a non-weight bearing condition and the normalized reach distance in three directions of the Y-Balance Test (YBT). Sixty-one healthy adults (32 males and 29 females, age: $23.0{\pm}3.0$ years, height: $169.3{\pm}8.9cm$, weight: $61.9{\pm}5.4kg$) participated in this study. The ankle DF PROM was measured using a goniometer. To assess dynamic balance, all subjects performed three trials to determine the maximum lower extremity reach in the anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral directions of the YBT. The relationship between the ankle DF PROM and both the normalized reach distance in each direction and the composite score of the YBT were analyzed using the Pearson correlation. Only the normalized reach distance in the anterior direction of the YBT was significantly related to the ankle DF PROM measured under a non-weight bearing condition (r=.50, p<.001). Neither the normalized reach distances in the posterior directions nor the composite score of the YBT were significantly correlated with the ankle DF PROM measured under a non-weight bearing condition. These findings suggest that ankle DF PROM does not affect the overall dynamic balance of the lower extremity, with only the anterior dynamic balance affected among the three directions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.43-51
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• 2018

PURPOSE: Stroke patients have limited ankle range of motion and balance problems. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of Kaltenborn orthopedic manual therapy, Evjenth-hamberg stretching, and combination of both on ankle dorsiflexion range of motion and dynamic balance ability in stroke patients. METHODS: Thirty patients were placed in three groups, each of which received different treatments: Kaltenborn orthopedic manual therapy (15 mins), Evjenth-hamberg stretching (15 mins), or Kaltenborn orthopedic manual therapy with Evjenth-hamberg stretching (30 mins). Each group received three exercise sessions per week during four weeks. To determine its effectiveness of interventions an evaluation was carried out. ankle dorsiflexion range of motion was gauged using a tiltmeter application, and dynamic balance ability was measured using the Berg balance scale. RESULTS: All groups revealed significant improvements in ankle dorsiflexion range of motion, Berg Balance Scale (BBS) score before and after the intervention, and Kaltenborn orthopedic manual therapy with Evjenth-hamberg stretching group showed a significant improvement in ankle dorsiflexion range of motion and BBS score in comparison to other groups. CONCLUSION: We found out that each individual method was effective in ankle dorsiflexion range of motion, dynamic balance ability in stroke patients, and the combined method was more effective.