• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.155-161
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• 2020

Background: The consequences of falls are often debilitating, and prevention is important. In theory, the lower the center of mass (COM), the greater postural stability during standing, and a weight belt at the waist level may help to lower the COM and improve the standing balance. Objects: We examined how the limit of stability (LOS) was affected by the lowered center of mass with the weight belt. Methods: Twenty healthy individuals participated in the LOS test. After calculating each participant's COM, a weight belt was fastened ten centimeters below the COM. Trials were acquired with five weight belt conditions: 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% of body weight. Outcome measures included reaction time, movement velocity, endpoint excursion, maximum excursion, and directional control in 4 cardinal moving directions. Results: None of our outcome variables were associated with a weight belt (p > 0.075), but all of them were associated with moving direction (p < 0.01). On average, movement velocity of the COM and maximum excursion were 31% and 18% greater, respectively, in mediolateral than anteroposterior direction (5.4°/s vs. 4.1°/s; 97.5% vs. 82.6%). Conclusion: Our results suggest that postural stability was not affected by the weight-induced lowered COM, informing the development and improvement of balance training strategies.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.241-246
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• 2012

Purpose: We investigated the effect of postural stability and balance with foot orthotics in hemiplegic patients. Methods: The subjects enrolled in this study were 16 hemiplegic patients who were examined for balance ability, weight distribution, and limits of stability with or without foot orthotics insole. Balance was measured according to a stance position by BIORESCUE: static balance open eyes (SEO), static balance close eyes (SEC), dynamic balance open eyes (DEO), dynamic balance close eyes (DEC), right and left weight distribution (RLWD), anterior and posterior weight distribution (APWD) and limit of stability (LOS). The data were analyzed with SPSS window version 18.0 (IBM Co., Armonk, NY, USA). Results: The results were of significant changes to the SEO (p<0.05), RLWD (p<0.05), APWD (p<0.05), and LOS (p<0.05). The SEC, DEO and DEC were not found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: It was found that foot orthotics affected the balance for hemiplegic patients. Therefore, it is thought to help fall prevention to measure the balance ability.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.11-19
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• 2017

Purpose : This study examined the effects of balance training using virtual reality program on sitting balance ability and activities of daily living (ADL) in stroke patients. Method : In the study, 20 patients with hemiplegia were divided into two groups: experiment group (EG) of 10 patients and control group(CG) of 10 patients. The two groups received general occupational therapy for 30 minutes, per day, at a rate of 5 times per week for 6 weeks. The EG was additionally conducted which was performed virtual reality balance training and the CG was conducted general occupational therapy balance training for 30-minutes, once a day, 3 times a week for 6 weeks. Result : The evaluations of this study included: limit of stability(LOS), modified Functional Reach Test(mFRT), and modified Barthel Index(MBI). The patients were evaluated before and after their six week training programs. Significant differences in the LOS, mFRT, MBI were found between pretest and posttest scores in both the EG and CG groups(p<.05). Also, LOS, mFRT, MBI were significant different between the groups at post-test(p<.05). Conclusion : The study findings suggest that virtual reality balance training can improve sitting balance and ADL ability in stroke patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.123-129
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of mechanical horseback riding exercise on dynamic balance in patients with cerebral infarction. Methods: The subjects of this study were 30 cerebral infarction patients. Subjects in the control group received physical therapy for 45 minutes, three times per week, and those in the experimental group received mechanical horseback riding exercise for 30 minutes, three times per week, with physical therapy for 45 minutes, three times per week, during a period of six weeks. For evaluation of dynamic balance ability, limit of stability (LOS) was measured and TUG test was performed. Results: According to the test result, LOS showed a significant increase after the exercise, and TUG showed a significant decrease after the exercise. However, no significant correlation was observed between LOS difference and TUG difference. Conclusion: Mechanical horseback riding exercise is effective for improvement of dynamic balance in patients with cerebral infarction. Mechanical horseback riding exercise is a useful indoor exercise program for clinical use for improvement of dynamic balance.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2018.05a
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• pp.576-579
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• 2018

Purpose : This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of an action-observational task oriented training on balance and gait ability of patients with chronic stroke. Method : The subjects of this study were 30 patients with chronic stroke who agreed to participate and were picked up. Participants were randomly divided into equal groups; namely, an experimental group that underwent action-observational task oriented training for at least 30 minutes/day for 6 weeks and a control group that underwent general task-oriented training. Patients' balance was assessed using the Sway Length(SL), Sway Area (SA) and Limit of Stability (LOS) test. In addition, gait ability was assessed using the 10 Meter Walking Test (10MWT). Gait time and speed taken to walk 10 metres were used to examine gait ability. Result : There were significant improvements in the subscales of the balance and gait ability test of those who participated in the action-observational task oriented training, while the control group showed no significant changes. Conclusion : Therefore, Action-observational training effectively improved the balance and gait abiltiy in patients with chronic stroke.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.12 no.7
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• pp.297-304
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• 2014

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of home based exercise program on balance recovery of stroke patients. In total, 20 participants were assigned to a control group(n=10) or exercise group(n=10) between September 2013 and December 2013. In addition to existing physiotherapy, the exercise group received home based exercise program consisting of weight transfer, training endurance, mobility, sensory retraining, lower limb exercise for 30 minutes, 2 times a week, for 8 weeks, every time for 30 minutes. Balance ability was assessed by measuring foot pressure(FP), limit of stability(LOS) and velocity sway(VS) by using Biorescue and by using the functional reaching test(FRT). To compare the improvement level of each group's balance ability, examination of independent sample T was done. Significant differences between control group and exercise group in LOS, VS of affect side and FRT were observed. This study showed that home based exercise program application was effective strategy on balance recovery in a post stroke population.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.105-111
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• 2018

Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine the effects muscle fatigue at the knee muscles on balance during standing in healthy adults. Methods Thirty healthy adults were recruited along with their written informed consent. Subjects were randomly assigned to knee extensor group (fatigue on knee extensor, KE), and knee flexor group (fatigue on knee flexor, KF). And subjects performed exercise with each muscle group until muscle fatigue was induced. They were assessed balance ability by functional reaching test (FRT), limit of stability (LOS), and postural sway (one leg standing, normal eye open (NO), normal eye close (NC), pillow with eye open (FO), and pillow with eye close (FC)) before and after fatigue. Results There were significant group differences balance performances in FRT, anterior of limit of stability, one leg standing, and the muscle fatigue of knee muscles were decreased balance performances. The balance performance was affected by visual sense and proprioception. Conclusions These results show that the muscle fatigue of knee muscles decreased balance performance. Therefore, balance exercise program should be trained without muscle fatigue.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.145-153
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• 2020

PURPOSE: This study compares the effects of HUBER rehabilitation and general rehabilitation treatment on the coordination, balance, and walking ability of stroke patients. METHODS: This study enrolled 38 randomized stroke patients, and data was collected for 6 weeks. All participants were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n = 19) or control group (n = 19). The experimental group were administered Huber rehabilitation and general rehabilitation treatment. The control group was given only general rehabilitation treatment. Both treatments were conducted for 30 minutes during each training session, 3 training sessions per week, for 6 weeks. The coordination, balance, and walking ability were evaluated before and after the intervention, to compare the intergroup and intragroup changes. RESULTS: Change in the right LOS (limit of stability) (p < .001) and forward LOS (p < .02) following intervention were significantly greater in the experimental group than in the control group, but no significant group difference was observed between left LOS (p > .1) and backward LOS (p > .2). Alterations in coordination (p < .02) and TUG (p <. 05) were significantly greater after intervention in the experimental group than in the control group. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that HUBER rehabilitation is effective in improving the coordination, balance, and walking ability in stroke patients. To strengthen and validate the results of this study, future studies related to HUBER rehabilitation are required.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.56-62
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• 2022

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of ankle joint immobilization on postural balance during quiet standing. Design: Cross-sectional study Methods: Twenty-seven healthy subject participated in this study. The subjects performed to stand quietly for 30s in eyes open on the platform with three different conditions. The sway length, sway area and sway velocity of center of gravity (COG) displacement and limit of stability (LOS) was measured using the balance platform. Repeated measured ANOVA was used to compare the postural balance parameters depending on three different ankle immobilized conditions. Results: Sway length, sway area and sway velocity of the COG displacement with bilateral ankle immobilized condition was significantly increased compared to those of the other two conditions(p<0.05). All directions of LOS with bilateral ankle immobilized condition were significantly decreased compared to those of the other two conditions. Conclusion: These findings suggest that ankle joint immobilization could be one of the factors that interfere the maintaining of the postural balance in quiet standing.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.35-44
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• 2020

Background: This study was to confirm the effect and feasibility of knee extension assist orthosis (KEAO) on balance and gait in subacute stroke patients. Design: Case study. Methods: The subjects of the study were 4 subacute stroke patients, who had an onset period of less than 6 months. The limit of stability (LOS) and berg balance scale (BBS), timed up and go test (TUG) were used to verify the dynamic balance ability, static balance ability, and gait ability pre and post and after wearing the knee extension assist orthosis (KEAO). In addition, the satisfaction survey was to confirm the feasibility of the knee extension assist orthosis (KEAO) through the to Korean quebec user evaluation of satisfaction assistive technology 2.0 (K-QUEST 2.0). Results: After the wearing on KEAO, the distance for the limit of stability decreased by mean 541.25±240.46 mm2, and the score on the berg balance scale improved by mean 5±2.71 point, and the time for the timed up and go test deceased by mean 3.75±1.71 second. The stability and durability were found to be full score, and the control, ease, effectiveness were some high score, and the size, weight, comfort were some low score in the satisfaction and feasibility. Conclusion: The knee extension assist orthosis (KEAO) produce in this study was improved the static balance ability, dynamic balance ability and gait ability of subacute stroke patients, and the satisfaction and feasibility were high in the stability, durability and effectiveness of the user.