• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.169-175
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• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the effects of a spiral elastic band for the walking function on patients with chronic stroke. Methods: Twenty one chronic stroke patients were recruited and divided randomly into the experimental group and control group. Both groups performed mat exercises and gait training three times a week for four weeks, and gait training was applied to the experimental group with additional spinal elastic bands. Results: The results of this research were as follows. The 10MWT measurements showed that the velocities within and between the groups decreased significantly, and the results of TUG showed significant decreases in velocities after the interventions in both the control group and experimental group. On the other hand, there were no significant differences between the control and experimental group. The FRT measurements showed significantly increased stride lengths within and between the groups. The measurements of the stride length, stride velocity, cadence, and step length showed significant improvement within the groups, but there was no significant difference between the groups. The measurement of stance showed that the non-paralytic patients had a significant increase in the rates within the groups and a significant difference was observed between the groups. Conclusion: Spiral elastic bands are an effective intervention method for rehabilitation programs to enhance the walking function in the clinical field. A treatment needs to be developed for patients with walking problems due to various disorders by investigating the action mechanism of spiral elastic bands.

• 대한물리치료과학회지
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.25-34
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• 2020

Background: Gait analysis is an important measurement for health professionals to assess gait patterns related to functional limitations due to neurological or orthopedic conditions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the reliability of the newly developed portable gait analysis system (PGAS). Design: Cross-sectional design. Test-retest study. Methods: The PGAS study was based on a wearable sensor, and measurement of gait kinematic parameters, such as gait velocity, cadence, step length and stride length, and joint angle (hip, knee, and ankle) in stance and swing phases. The results were compared with a motion capture system (MCS). Twenty healthy individuals were applied to the MCS and PGAS simultaneously during gait performance. Results: The test-retest reliability of the PGAS showed good repeatability in gait parameters with mean intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) ranging from 0.840 to 0.992, and joint angles in stance and swing phase from 0.907 to 0.988. The acceptable test-retest ICC was observed for the gait parameters (0.809 to 0.961), and joint angles (0.800 to 0.977). Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that the developed PGAS showed good grades of repeatability for gait kinematic data along with acceptable ICCs compared with the results from the MCS. The gait kinematic parameters in healthy subjects can be used as standard values for adopting this PGAS.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• 제9권4호
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• pp.222-229
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• 2020

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of treadmill exercise on the posture and walking speed of chronic stroke survivors with an ankle-foot orthosis. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Twenty-four chronic persons with chronic stroke admitted to Bobath Memorial Hospital in Seongnam city were divided into two groups by random blind method. Treadmill exercise with an elastic ankle-foot orthosis was performed in the experimental group and treadmill exercise was performed in the control group. The experiment was carried out for 6 weeks, and the experiment was carried out three times a week for 20 minutes per session. To measure the effect, static balance was measured using the MTD system before and after training, and the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) was used to measure functional balance. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the 2 groups in the BBS measurement results for confirming the functional balance (p<0.05). Also, there was a significant difference between the 2 groups in single limb support time, step time and step length (p<0.05). Conclusions: In this study, it was found that treadmill exercise with an elastic ankle-foot orthosis in persons with chronic stroke was effective in maintaining functional balance, walking ability, step length, and step time. Therefore, it is necessary to use a flexible ankle-foot orthosis with proper treadmill exercise as a method of improving balance and walking speed of chronic stroke survivors.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제34권4호
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• pp.168-174
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the correlation between balance control ability and leg circumference, proprioception, range of motion (ROM), and muscle strength in young adults. Methods: The subjects of this study were 30 university students who were enrolled in D university in Gyeongbuk province. We measured the dynamic balance and static balance using the Biorescue. The muscular strengths of the hip, knee, and ankle joints were measured using a muscle contraction dynamometer. The ROM and proprioception were measured using an inclinometer. Pearson correlation analysis was used to test the correlations between balance control ability and variables. Results: Sway length was significantly correlated with knee and hip joint muscle strength, ROM, and proprioception of hip and ankle joints (p<0.05). Sway speed was significantly correlated with ROM and proprioception in hip joints (p<0.05). Limit of stability was significantly correlated with muscle strength and ROM in ankle joints, and proprioception in hip, knee, and ankle joints (p<0.05). Conclusion: The sway length was most related to hip extension and ankle joint plantar flexion in the range of motion and ankle joint plantar flexion in proprioception. Overall, balance training for young adults will be of effective help if the treatment focuses on the knee and hip joints, range of motion and the ankle and hip joints' proprioception.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• 제11권4호
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• pp.384-390
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• 2022

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the side-step tasks based circular training program (STCT) on balance and gait characteristics in stroke patients. Design: A randomized controlled trial Methods: Twenty-four stroke patients were randomly divided into two groups of twelve patients each. One group was applied with the STCT whereas the other group was treated with conservative physiotherapy (CP). The ability of gait was measured in 10m walking test and stride length on both side using BTS G-WALK (BTS Bioengineering S.p.A, Italy) and the ability of balance was measured in Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Timed Up and Go Test (TUG). Results: The STCT group was significant differences in the balance parameters of BBS and TUG (p<0.05) and showed significant differences in gait variables in 10m walking speed, stride length of affected and non-affected side after the experiment before and after the experiment (p<0.05). In addition, the STCT group showed a significant difference in BBS compared to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study confirmed that the side-step tasks based circular training program (STCT) improves balance and walking ability in stroke patients. STCT is expected to be used as a useful intervention method for stroke rehabilitation.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.621-640
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• 2017

The double-row long-short composite anti-sliding piles system is an effective way to control the landslides with high thrust. In this study, The double-row long-short composite anti-sliding piles with different load segment length (cantilever length) and different pile row spacing were studied by a series of physical tests, by which the influences of load segment length of rear-row piles as well as pile row spacing on the mechanical response of double-row long-short composite anti-sliding pile system were investigated. Based on the earth pressures in front of and behind the piles obtained during tests, then the maximum bending moments of the fore-row and the rear-row piles were calculated. By ensuring a equal maximum moments in the fore-row and the rear-row piles, the optimum lengths of the rear-row piles of double-row long-short composite system under different piles spacing were proposed. To investigate the validity of the reduced scale tests, the full-scale numerical models of the landside were finally conducted. By the comparisons between the numerical and the physical test results, it could be seen that the reduced scale tests conducted in this study are reliable. The results showed that the double-row long-short composite anti-sliding piles system is effective in the distribution of the landslide thrust to the rear-row and the fore-row piles.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제14권4호
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• pp.66-74
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• 2007

The aim of the present study was to investigate age-related differences in stepping behavior in response to sensory perturbations of postural balance. The participants for this study were 2 healthy elderly adults (mean age=76.0) and 2 younger adults (mean age=25.5). Subjects were asked to step over a 10 cm high obstacle at self-paced speed with the right limb to land on the primary target (normal step length) that is 10 cm in diameter. However, if, during movement, the light was illuminated, then the subject had to step on the secondary target (long step length). It was planned that the onset of the light would be prior to peak Fx of swing limb, between swing peak Fx and swing toe-off, and after swing toe-off. In the younger adults these secondary visual cues were provided at mean times of 240 ms (standard deviation (SD)=11), 402 ms (SD=13), and 476 ms (SD=88) following the movement onset. Corresponding mean times for the healthy elderly were 150 ms (SD=67), 352 ms (SD=39), and 562 ms (SD=115). Results showed great changes in both group and visual cue condition in Fx ground reaction forces and temporal events following the swing toe-off. Swing limb acceleration force (Fx) and stance peak Fx1 was much greater in the young adults compared to the older adults. Both young and older adults increased stance peak Fx2 in the visual cue condition compared to normal stepping. There was no difference in stance peak Fx2 between the visual cue conditions in both groups. Similarly, the time to stance peak Fx2 was much longer for the visual cue condition than for the normal stepping. It was not different between the visual cue conditions in the young adults, but in the elderly mid and late cue was much greater than early cue. In addition, time to stance peak Fx2 and swing and stance time were much longer in the older adults compared to the young adults for the visual cue conditions. These results suggest that unlike young adults, elderly adults did not flexibly modify their responses to unexpected changes in step length while stepping over obstacles.

• 대한정형도수물리치료학회지
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• 제5권1호
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• pp.39-51
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• 1999

Background and Purpose. Objective measurements of hamstring muscle length are needed to quantify baseline limitations and to document the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions. Several indirect clinical tests for measuring hamstring muscle length are available, but influence of their test procedure is not well documented. The purpose of this study were 1) to describe hamstring muscle length as reflected by use of six tests(active straight leg raising(ASLR), passive straight leg raising(PSLR), passive straight leg raising with the lower back flat(PSLRB), active knee extension(AKE), passive knee extension(PKE), hip joint angle(HJA). 2) to examine the correlation among the tests. Subjects, Sixty subjects(30 men. 30 women) ranging in age from 18 to 25 years(mean 20.2 years) and with no limitation hamstring flexibility and no neurological and orthopedical problems. Methods. All subjects performed six tests. A inclinometer was used to determine the end point of range of motion. HJA was measured using an inclinometer placed over the sacrum. PSLRB were tested PSLR with the low back flat and the opposite thigh slightly flexed and support on pillows. Results, A mean ASLR value of 85.9 degrees, PSLR value of 99.9 degrees, PSLRB value of 109.8 degrees, AKE value of 77.2 degrees PKE value of 83.1 degrees and HJA value of 73.0 degrees were obtained for all subjects. A dependent t-test showed significant difference between the angles of ASLR and PSLR(p<0.001). There was a significant difference between the angles of PSLR and PSLRB(p<0.001). There was a significant difference between the angles of AKE and PKE(p<0.001). The highest correlation was between PSLR and PSLRB(r=0.915, p<0.001). All SLR tests were significants related(p<0.001), as well as AKE and PKE(p<0.001). The lowest correlation was between PKE and HJA(r=0.171. p>0.05). Conclusion and Discussion. The results indicated that the hip flexion angles for ASLR, PSLR and PSLRB were a difference, and the knee extension angles for AKE and PKE were a difference.

• 한국농공학회지
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.29-37
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• 1983

This study was carried out not only to prepare available materials that can be utilized in basic planning of irrigation reservoirs, but also to contribute to the study on countermeasures for reasonable irrigation water development in Korea in the future, through the investigation for the structural characteristics of reservoirs and their change trend by an epoch. During this study 123 sites of sample reservoirs were analysed in their dimensions of physical constituent factors. The physical characteristics and their change trends revealed by this study are summarized as follows: 1. For the irrigation earth dam in Korea the correlation between dam volume (v) and dam height & length (H$^2$L) can be described as the formula of v=1. 434H2L~17, 300 (r=0. 933), from which embankment amount is assumed to be quickly estimated under determined dam height and length of the proposed reservoir. 2. The ratio of dam volume to dam height & length ranges approximately from 0.5 to 3 (1.7 in average), that of storage capacity to dam volume 2 to 10 (8.4 in average), that of irrigation area to full water surface area 5 to 20 (13 in average) and that of catchment area to irrigation area 2 to 5 (4 in average). Though correlation between dam volume and dam height & length is high, that between others is relatively low. 3. Average storage depth ranges approximately from 4m to l0m (6.6m in average), unit storage capacity 0. 4m to 0. 8m (0.54 in average) and shape factor of dam 5 to 20 (10.5 in average). 4. The more recently planned the reservoirs were, the less storage capacity, dam volume, full water surface and dam shape factor they have. 5. The more recently planned the reservoirs were, the larger storage depth and unit storage capacity they have.

• 대한통합의학회지
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.1-11
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• 2016

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to identify whether virtual reality-based exercise could improve on balance, gait and fall efficacy in patients with Parkinson's disease. Methods : Ten patients with Parkinson's disease were randomly divided into either an experimental or control group. The experimental subjects performed vertual reality-based exercise, whereas the control subjects performed conventional physical therapy for 4 weeks. The balance, gait and fall efficacy of all subjects were assessed by using the Measurement Training and Documentation (MTD) balance system, force platform system, Korean version of Berg Balance scale (K-BBS), 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT), and Korean version of Fall efficacy scale (K-FES) at pre training and post training. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to analyze change before and after intervention in intra-group. Mann Whitney U test was used to analyze changes of all variables in inter-groups. Results : Subjects in the experimental group showed significant improvements in difference of weight distribution, K-BBS scores, antero-posterior and medio-lateral sway length, ground reaction force (GRF), 6MWT, and step length following training. The changes of difference of weight distribution, K-BBS scores, AP Sway Length, GRF, 6MWT, step length and K-FES scores in the experimental group were significantly more than them of the control group. Conclusion : The result of this study suggest that virtual reality-based exercise training is an intervention to improve on balance, gait, and falls efficacy in patients with Parkinson's disease.