• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.106-112
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• 2017

Objective: Robot assisted gait training is implemented as part of therapy for the recovery of gait patterns in recent clinical fields, and the scope of implications are continuously increasing. However clear therapy protocols of robot assisted gait training are insufficent. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of robot-assisted gait training applied with guidance force on balance and gait performance in persons with hemiparetic stroke. Design: Two group pre-test post-test design. Methods: Nineteen persons were diagnosed with hemiparesis following stroke participated in this study. The participants were randomly assigned to the unilateral guidance group or bilateral guidance group to conduct robot-assisted gait training. All participants underwent robot-assisted gait training for twelve sessions (30 min/d, 3 d/wk for 4 weeks). They were assessed with gait parameters (gait velocity, cadence, step length, stance phase, and swing phase) using Optogait. This study also measured the dynamic gait index (DGI), the Berg balance scale (BBS) score, and timed up and go (TUG). Results: After training, BBS scores were was significantly increased in the bilateral training group than in the unilateral guidance group (p<0.05). Spatiotemporal parameters were significantly changed in the bilateral training group (gait speed, swing phase ratio, and stance phase ratio) compared to the unilateral training group (p<0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that robot-assisted gait training show feasibility in facilitating improvements in balance and gait performance for subacute hemiparetic stroke patients.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.498-504
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• 2014

Objectives: This study investigated the change of foot rotation angle of gait analysis parameters according to gait improvement in post-stroke hemiplegic patients. Methods: We measured the foot rotation angle of eight post-stroke hemiplegic patients at the time of dependent and independent gait. Results: The foot rotation angle of the paralyzed side reduced closer to normal average according to gait improvement, but the non-paralyzed side not significantly. Conclusions: Improvement of foot rotation is an important thing for independent gait of post-stroke hemiplegic patients so this treatment seems worthy of being considered in clinical trials.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.185-190
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• 2020

Purpose: Gait and cognitive impairment in stroke patients exacerbate fall risk and mobility difficulties during multi-task walking. Virtual reality can provide interesting and challenging training in a community setting. This study evaluated the effect of community-based virtual reality gait training (VRGT) using a 360-degree image on the gait ability of chronic stroke patients. Methods: Forty-five chronic stroke patients who were admitted to a rehabilitation hospital participated in this study. Patients meeting the selection criteria were randomly divided into a VRGT group (n=23) and a control group (n=22). Both these groups received general rehabilitation. The VRGT group was evaluated using a 360-degree image that was recorded for 50 minutes a day, 5 days per week for a total of 6 weeks after their training. The control group received general treadmill training for the same amount of time as that of the VRGT group. The improvement in the spatiotemporal parameters of gait was evaluated using a gait analyzer system before and after training. Results: The spatiotemporal gait parameters showed significant improvements in both groups compare with the baseline measurements (p<0.05), and the VRGT group showed more improvement than the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Community-based VRGT has been shown to improve the walking ability of chronic stroke patients and is expected to be used in rehabilitation of stroke patients in the future.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2005.10b
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• pp.542-544
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• 2005

This paper describes the detection of spatio-temporal parameter using an accelerometer and footswitches to evaluate a symmetry and balance of hemiplegic patients. We detected gait data using a 3-axis accelerometer that mounted between L3 and IA intervertebral area and footswitches made by FSR-Sensor attached insole. To minimize the error of the gait parameters to be detected incorrectly in case of using only accelerometer, we enhancement the performance of detection by measuring an accelerometer and foots witches data at the same time. So, it was possible to detect more accurate gait parameters. As a result, we can confirm the symmetry and balance of hemiplegic patients. In the future. these results could be used to evaluate the walking ability in hemiplegic patients in clinical pratice.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.63-68
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• 2013

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to examine changes in spatiotemporal gait parameters(STGPs) in healthy adults before and after a immediate intervention of a Mulligan taping program(MTP). Methods : A total of 12 healthy adults(mean age, 20.82 years; age range, 19-24 years) participated in the study. performance was assessed by recording changes in the STGPs using GaitRite. comparisons of changes in the STGPs at pre-intervention and at dischange were analyzed using the Wilcox signed rank test and Mann-Whithney U test. Results : There was a significant improvement in the outcome measures of STGPs(stride length, velocity) after immediate of MTP(p<0.05). However, no significant different pre-test and post-test step width, toe angle(p>0.05). Conclusion : Participants in a MTP improves STGPs, thereby increasing the ability of healthy adults to maintain gait. MTP appears to be a safe and efficacious, noninvasive treatment modality for patients with knee joint disease.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate effect of fabric ankle-foot orthosis on spatiotemporal gait parameters, compared to a barefoot condition in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Eleven children with spastic cerebral palsy participated in this study. Spatiotemporal gait parameters were measured with the GAITRite system. Fabric ankle-foot orthosis significantly improved Timed Up and Go test time and gait velocity. There was no significant difference in cadence. The step time significantly improved in both the more and less affected foot compared to the barefoot condition. The step length of the affected foot also significantly improved, but there was no significant difference in the step length of the less affected foot. There was significant improvement in the stride length of both the affected and less affected foot, but no significant difference in single stance or double stance. The fabric ankle-foot orthosis could improve stability, and selective control of the joint and promote better walking in children with cerebral palsy. Consequently, the fabric ankle-foot orthosis might be an alternative assistive device for neurological populations as a primary role instead of the typical ankle-foot orthosis.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.183-207
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to describe and compare the temporo-spatial gait characteristics of healthy elderly people with those osteoarthritis patients. 100 patients reported knee osteoarthritis, diagnosed at the hospital or clinic located in Daegu and Kyungbuk province and 100 normal elderly subjects were participated in this study. Temporal and spatial parameters of gait were analysed for using the computerized GAITRite system. The system integrates specific components of locomotions to provide a single, numerical representation of gait, the Functional Ambulation Performance score. Differences in gait characteristics between the two groups were examined using a correlated t-test and Pearson Correlation(p<.05). Significant differences were observed between the groups for temporal parameters(step time, double support time, stance phase, mean velocity) and spatial parameters(step length, step/extremity ratio)(p<.05). Also there was difference in the functional ambulation performance score between normal elderly subjects and knee osteoarthritis patients(p<.05). Consequently, it may help detect the abnormal gait pattern indicated the main problem in degenerative knee osteoarthritis patients as well as provide data analysing the pathokinesiologic components by comparing normal elderly.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.94-102
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• 2015

Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of treadmill gait training with patellar taping on gait abilities in chronic stroke patients. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Thirty chronic stroke patients who have been diagnosed at least six months or before were recruited in Gyeongin Rehabilitation Center Hospital, located in Incheon. Patients who were enrolled in this study were randomized to experimental group (n=15) or control group (n=15). Treadmill with patella taping training group patients were applied with patellar taping when they were being trained on a treadmill. Control group patients were being trained on a treadmill without any kind of taping. Gait parameters were measured with a GAITRite$^{(R)}$ system which evaluated gait performances. Gait trainings were done for 30 min/day, 5 days/week, for 4 weeks. Results: After treadmill training, treadmill with patella taping training group showed a significant improvement in gait abilities, including velocity, cadence, paretic and non-paretic step length, and double support period (p<0.05). However, in general treadmill group, there were no significant differences in gait parameters except velocity and cadence. There was a significant difference in gait performance in the experimental group compared with the control group, except for the gait symmetry ratio (p<0.05). Conclusions: According to this result of this study, it seems that application of patellar taping in treadmill gait training for chronic stroke patients significantly improved gait abilities of these patients. Also, we can conclude that patella taping is thought to be useful in real clinical settings where there are many chronic patients who are in need of improvement in their gait abilities.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.45-54
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to describe the gait pattern and parameters of the healthy elderly over 65years of age by the GATERite system. The subjects were sorted into two groups, depending on their sex: male and female. And female subjects were sorted into three groups, depending on their age. From time parameters and space parameters of gait cycle, between groups, the following results were made. The time parameters such as cadence, velocity, step time, single support and double support were the less the male than the female. And the higher age, the lower value except 80 age group, while no statistically significant. The space parameters(step length and stride length) were the longer the male than the female, and the higher age, the lower value while no statistically signigicant. The functional ambulation profile was high correlation with time and space parameters statistically significant.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.67-73
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• 2018

Purpose: Smartphones, which are widely used worldwide to detect acceleration and position, have been used in the area of rehabilitation medicine in recent clinical research studies and tests. The aim of the present study was to determine the feasibility of using a smartphone application based on center of movement (COM) displacement to measure gait parameters in stroke patients in the clinical field of rehabilitation medicine. Methods: The study consisted of 30 stroke patients. The COM was measured using a smartphone application, Gait Analysis Pro, during a 6-m walk. Each patient performed three 6-m walking trials, and the smartphone application measured gait duration, gait speed, step length, cadence, and vertical and lateral displacement of the COM. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was conducted to determine the normality in gait parameters, and a repeated one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to determine the consistency among the three trials. A p value of 0.05 was considered statistically significant in all the tests. Results: In all the measured parameters, the smartphone application showed a normal distribution, as shown by the results of the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. There were no significant differences among the three repetitive walking trials. Conclusion: These results suggest that the smartphone application can be used for evaluating gait in stroke patients, as well as in healthy adults. However, prior to using the smartphone application in the clinical field, further research involving three-dimensional gait analysis is needed to enhance the confidence level of the findings.