• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.2370-2374
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• 2021

Background: Masticating is an activity that is free from temporal or spatial constraints, with an advantage that it can be combined easily with other treatment methods. While several studies have reported a positive effect of the intervention of chewing using the jaw on postural stability, only a few studies were conducted on stroke patients. Objectives: To investigated the effects of masticating chewing gum on the static and dynamic balancing of stroke patients. Design: Randomized cross-over study design. Methods: Nineteen stroke patients were randomly assigned to the chewing group or control group. BT4 was used to measure the static and dynamic balancing abilities. Pre-test measurements were taken before mastication of chewing gum, and post-test measurements were taken after 2 days. The stroke patients in the chewing group were guided to sit on a chair and chew gum for 3 min, and their balancing abilities were simultaneously measured. The balancing abilities of the control group patients were measured while they sat at rest without masticating chewing gum. Results: The chewing group showed significant increases in the measures of static balance (i.e., C90 area, trace length, X mean, and Y mean). In the between-group comparison, the measures of static balance were significantly higher in the chewing group than in the control group. Conclusion: These findings suggest that masticating chewing gum enhanced the static balancing ability of stroke patients. Thus, gum chewing should be considered a viable clinical intervention to control posture in stroke patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.75-89
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• 2019

PURPOSE: This study measured the impact of a 12-week fall-prevention exercise program on balance, ambulatory ability, lower limb strength, and psychosocial characteristics in older adults diagnosed with dementia. METHODS: The participants comprised 31 older adults (9 men, 22 women) diagnosed with Alzheimer's or vascular dementia at a long-term care hospital located in Gunsan City. A fall-prevention exercise program was provided to the experimental group, while the control group was only provided with instruction and materials related to the fall-prevention exercise program. The participants were evaluated before the intervention, 6 weeks after the intervention, and 12 weeks after the intervention on static and dynamic balance abilities (using Timed Up and Go test: TUG, Tinetti-balance scale, one-leg standing test: OLS), gait (Tinetti-balance scale, 6-minute walk test: 6MWT), lower limb strength (sit to stand test; STS), and psychosocial characteristics (Short Form 36 Health Survey-Korean version, Korean Mini-Mental State Exam). RESULTS: An independent samples t-test and repeated measures analysis of variance were used for the statistical analysis. There were statistically significant improvements after the intervention (p<.05) in dynamic balance abilities (TUG and OLS using the left foot), gait (6MWT), and lower limb strength (STS) for the experimental group, but not for the control group. No difference was seen in psychosocial characteristics. CONCLUSION: Older adults with dementia who participated in the fall-prevention exercise program showed significant improvements in their static and dynamic balance abilities, lower limb strength, and ambulatory ability after the intervention.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.83-91
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was both to examine the effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) lower leg taping and treadmill training on the gait and balance abilities of patients with hemiplegia resulting from a stroke and to provide a taping method based on the PNF concept. Methods: Twenty patients with hemiplegia resulting from a stroke were randomly and equally assigned to a control group (n=10), which received treadmill training, and to an experimental group (n=10), which received PNF lower leg taping and treadmill training. The intervention was conducted five times per week for six weeks. In order to measure changes in the gait ability of the subjects, a 10-meter walking test (10MWT) and a 6-minute walking test (6MWT) were conducted, and in order to measure changes in the subjects' balance ability, a timed up and go test (TUG) was performed. In order to compare differences within each group before and after the intervention, a paired-t test was carried out, and in order to compare differences between the two groups, the analysis of covariance was utilized. All statistical significance levels were set at ${\alpha}=0.05$. Results: There were significant differences before and after the intervention within both groups in changes of 10MWT, 6MWT, and TUG (p<0.01). Regarding differences between the two groups, the experimental group underwent more effective changes than the control group in 6MWT and TUG (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study applied PNF lower leg taping and treadmill training to patients with hemiplegia resulting from a stroke, and this resulted in improvement in the subjects' gait and balance abilities. Taping and treadmill training based on the PNF concept is considered to be usefully applied as one of the programs to improve hemiplegic patients' gait and balance abilities.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 2017

Purpose: This study examined the effects of upper- and lower-limb coordinated exercise with proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on stroke patients' recovery of their balancing and walking abilities. Methods: This study was conducted with 30 patients aged at least 60 years and diagnosed with stroke. The patients were randomly assigned to either a PNF upper- and lower-limb coordinated exercise group of 15 patients or an aero-step balance exercise group of 15 patients. To test the subjects' balancing and walking abilities, balancing ability tests and 10-m walking speed tests were conducted before and after the interventions. The patients performed their respective exercises for 30 minutes per session, three times per week for four weeks. The PNF exercise group performed six stages of exercise consisting of a combination of PNF patterns such as sprinting, skating, and striking. The six stages (right striking, right skating, right sprinting, left striking, left skating, and left sprinting) were performed continuously with a rest period of 1 min. after training for 4 min. The exercises for the aero-step balance group consisted of balancing in a two-leg standing position, weight shifting in a two-leg standing position, one-leg standing, squat exercises, marching in place, and squatting on an aero step. Results: The PNF exercise group showed significant improvements in their balancing ability evaluations compared to the aero-step balance group and also showed significant improvements in their 10-m walking speed tests. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, PNF upper- and lower-limb coordinated exercise resulted in clinical improvements of stroke patients' balancing and walking abilities. Therefore, this type of exercise is recommended as a clinical intervention for the recovery of stroke patients' lower-limb function. Future studies should be conducted with longer intervention periods and more subjects to generalize the study results.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.87-93
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• 2015

Objective: Balance is a preceding task for functional activities in daily activities as well as community-dwelling activities. To learn skilled and functional activities, it is also necessary to imagine an appropriate and effective movement representation used to plan and execute the functional activities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of balance imagery of semi-tandem stance on a flat floor and balance beam on balance abilities for elderly and young adults. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Fifteen elderly and thirty-four young adults were enrolled in this study. In order to determine whether there is a change in postural control ability according to the different imagery training methods used, standing static balance measurements were performed. According to the therapist's instructions, participants were to stand in a semi-tandem position on the Good Balance System for 1 minute while imagining that they were standing on a balance beam, and while the postural control abilities was assessed. Results: Postural control was significantly different in balance ability of semi-tandem stance on a flat floor compared to on a balance beam in both geriatrics and young adults. Postural sway was more significantly decreased in young adults than older adults during balance imagery of semi-tandem stance on a flat floor as well as on balance beam (p<0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that the ability to mentally represent their actions was similar in older adults compared to young adults, although older adults showed a drop in efficiency of postural control more than young adults.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.88-95
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• 2020

Background: In the present study to investigate the immediate effects of standing position of the trunk stabilization exercise on Guillain-Barre syndrome patient's balance and gait abilities were examined. Design: Case report and conducted as a single-blind. Methods: Standing position of trunk stabilization exercise was conducted for five Guillain-Barre syndrome patient's who met the selection criteria were recruited. The subjects were conducted conservative exercise and trunk stabilization exercise. Conservative exercise was implemented for thirty min, five times for 8 weeks, and trunk stabilization exercise was implemented for 15 min. The participants' balance was measured via force plate (COP), functional reach test (FRT), timed up and go test (TUG), gait was measured using the 10 m walk test, and 6 minute walk test. Results: After training, the change values of the balance and gait ability in the subjects were significantly greater than pre-test. participants showed significant improvements in COP, FRT, TUG, 10 m walk test and 6 minute walk test pre and post the training (p<0.05). Conclusions: standing position of the trunk stabilization exercise was effective on Guillain-Barre syndrome patient's balance (COP, FRT, TUG) and gait (10 m walk test and 6 minute walk test) abilities were examined.

• 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.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.73-80
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between the visual perception ability and the static dynamic balance ability in health elderly. Method: The Motor Free Visual Perception Test-Row Score(MVPT-RS) and MVPT-Process Time(MVPT-PT) were used for evaluating the visual perception abilities. Assessment of the balance ability was taken by using Good Balance System. In the assessment using Good Balance System, X, Y coordinate speed, anterior-posterior direction, medial-lateral direction and Velocity Movement(VM) in standing posture when eye open were measured as static balance abilities. Thirty-seven healthy elderly who live in Gwangyang participated in the experiment for 2 months, from October to November 2010. Results: 1. There were statistically significant differences of MVPT-RS, MVPT-PT, NSB-X, NSB-Y, NSB-VM, OLB-X, and OLB-VM based on the gender(p<0.05). 2. The negative correlations of MVPT-RS:NSB-Y(r=-0.354), MVPT-RS:OLB-X(r=-0.4), MVPT-RS: OLB-Y(r=-0.371), but positive correlations of MVPT-PT:DTB-T showed a statistical significance(r=0.45, p<0.05). 3. The positive correlations of NSB-X:NSB-Y(r=0.54), NSB-X: NSB-VM(r=0.848), NSB-Y:NSB-VM(r=0.531), OLB-X:OLB-Y(r=0.876), OLB-X:OLB-VM(r=0.872), and OLB-Y:OLB-VM(r=0.787) showed statistical significances(p<0.05). Conclusion: These results showed that the visual perception ability was correlated with some balance ability in health elderly. Especially the perception test process time(MVPT-PT) has closely related with the DTB-T. The visual perception ability is considered as a factor on the balance ability in health elderly. Further study will focus on the development of improving program of visual perception ability as an improving method of balancing ability in health elderly.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.125-131
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• 2016

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of providing visual feedback and auditory stimulation using a robotic device on balance and gait abilities in stroke patients. Design: Randomized controlled pilot trial. Methods: Fifteen subjects were randomly divided into three groups where five subjects were in the visual feedback robotic device assist gait training (VRGT) group, five subjects in the auditory stimulation robotic device assist gait training (ARGT) group, and five subjects in the control group. Subjects received visual feedback and auditory stimulation while undergoing robotic gait training for 45 minutes, three times a week for 2 weeks, and all subjects had undergone general physical therapy for 30 minutes, five times a week for 2 weeks. All subjects were assessed with the Berg balance scale (BBS), timed up and go (TUG) test, and 10-meter walking test (10MWT) pre- and post-intervention. Results: All subjects showed that BBS, TUG test, and 10MWT scores significantly improved post-intervention (p<0.05), and the control group also had significantly improved post-treatment (p<0.05). The VRGT and the ARGT showed significant improvements in BBS, TUG, and 10MWT scores compared with the control group (p<0.05). The VRGT group showed a significant improvement in BBS, TUG, and 10MWT scores compared with the control group (p<0.05). In addition, it has been confirmed that VRGT had significantly improved in BBS, TUG test, and 10MWT scores compared with the auditory stimulation and control group (p<0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study showed improved balance and gait abilities after VRGT and ARGT groups compared with general physical therapy and was found to be effective in enhancing the functional activity of persons affected with stroke.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.315-324
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• 2014

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the correlation of weight bearing ability at the affected side with balance and gait abilities for the development of pressure biofeedback based equipment to stroke patients. METHODS: This study included 35 patients with stroke patient. The tests were conducted to determine the weight bearing ratio while pushing a step forward the affected side, static balance ability using the total length of COP(Center of pressure), sway velocity of COP, COP velocity at the X and Y axis. Functional reaching test (FRT), berg balance scale (BBS) were used to assess the dynamic balance ability and timed up and go test (TUG), 10m walk test (10mWT) were used assess the gait ability respectively. In order to determine the correlation between measured variables, bivariate correlation analysis was conducted. RESULTS: A significant correlation of the weight bearing ratio were shown with COP total length and velocity(r=-.34), Y-axis velocity(r=-.39), FRT(r=.42), BBS(r=.54), TUG (r=-.39), and 10m walking test (r=-.42). CONCLUSION: This study result showed that as patients with stroke had more weight bearing ratio at the affected side, not only their static and dynamic balance abilities increased more but also functional gait ability improved more. These results mean that, to improve stroke patients' static, dynamic balance ability and gait ability, weight bearing training with the affected side foot placed one step forward necessary for gaits are important.