• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.139-146
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• 2017

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to systematically analyze the reliability and validity of the Korean-version of the balance assessment tools. METHODS: Two reviewers of this study independently evaluated the titles of articles and abstracts of studies published until December 2016 through electronic databases (RISS, NDSL, KISS, DBpia) using the keywords "Balance or posture or postural control or postural stability", "Test or assessment or measurement or outcome measure or assessment tool or measurement tool", "Korean version", "Reliability" and "Validity". Regarding the questions considered suitable for the purpose of this study, consensus was reached after reading the full text. Selecting journals suitable for the purpose of the study, they were analyzed as data. RESULTS: The reviewers selected nine papers suitable for the purpose of this study, and Korean-version of the balance assessment tools, included the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale, Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke (PASS), Motor Assessment Scale (MAS), Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS), Falls Efficacy Scale (FES), Tinetti-Balance scale, Fullerton Advanced Balance (FAB) scale, and Function In Sitting Test (FIST). Our study showed that the reliability and validity of the Korean-version of the balance assessment tools were high. CONCLUSION: The Korean-version of the balance assessment tools with high reliability and validity would enable physical therapists to make a more accurate evaluation of balance.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.17-26
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• 2002

This study is aimed to compare the effect of visuo-perceptual biofeedback sitting balance training and conventional sitting balance training using Balance Master on stroke patients with that of program in order to analyze the effect it has on dynamic postural balance. The subjects are twenty-four stroke patients who are receiving physical therapy in Ilsan Paik Hospital and can maintain sitting posture by themselves. These patients were divided to control group and experimental group randomly. In order to compare to control and experimental group before and after the balance training, they were tested with Mann-Whitney U test and in order to compared the changes before and after the balance training, they were tested with Wilcoxon signed-ranks test. The results are as follows: we measured the ability of dynamic posture balance control with limit of stability(LOS) test and rhythmic weight shift test. There was an increasing improvement in the ability of dynamic posture balance control of the experimental group that had visuo-perceptual biofeedback sitting balance control training using the Balance Master(p<0.05, p<0.01). According to the results from above, compared to conventional sitting balance training programs, visuo-perceptual biofeedback sitting balance control training using the Balance Master is considered to be a more valuable therapy in balance control improvement and physical function improvement. It is considered that if the weak points are made up, the training with Balance Master will give help to stroke patients and to patients with balance control disabilities and will further more contribute to successful rehabilitation therapy.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.206-210
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• 2015

Background: Fatigue has a strong impact on workers' performance and safety, but expedient methods for assessing fatigue on the job are not yet available. Studies discuss posturography as an indicator of fatigue, but further evidence for its use in the workplace is needed. The purpose of the study is to examine whether posturography is a suitable indicator of fatigue in clerical workers. Methods: Thirty-six employees (${\emptyset}$ 34.8 years, standard deviation = 12.5) participated in postural tasks (eyes open, eyes closed, arm swinging, and dual task) in the morning and afternoon. Position of their center of pressure (COP) was registered using a Nintendo Wii Balance Board and commercial software. From registered COP time series, we calculated the following parameters: path length (mm), velocity (mm/s), anterior-posterior variance (mm), mediolateral variance (mm), and confidence area ($mm^2$). These parameters were reduced to two orthogonal factors in a factor analysis with varimax rotation. Results: Statistical analysis of the first factor (path length and velocity) showed a significant effect of time of day: COP moved along a shorter path at a lower velocity in the afternoon compared with that in the morning. There also was a significant effect of task, but no significant interaction. Conclusion: Data suggest that postural stability of clerical workers was comparable in the morning and afternoon, but COP movement was greater in the morning. Within the framework of dynamic systems theory, this could indicate that the postural system explored the state space in more detail, and thus was more ready to respond to unexpected perturbations in the morning.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.19 no.7
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• pp.41-51
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• 2020

This paper presents the development of a robotic system for rehabilitation of the trunk's ability to maintain postural control under different balance conditions. The system, developed with extensive input from rehabilitation and biomedical engineering experts, consists of a seat mounted on a robotic mechanism capable of moving it with four degrees of freedom (3 rotational and 1 translational). The seat surface has built in instrumentation to gauge the movements of the user's center of pressure (COP) and it can be moved either to track the movements of the COP or according to operator given commands. The system allows two types of leg support. A ground mounted footrest allows participation of legs in postural control while a seat connected footrest constrains the leg movement and limits their involvement in postural control. The design evolution over several prototypes is presented and computer aided structural analysis is used to determine the feasibility of the designed components. The system is pilot tested by a stroke patient and is determined to have potential for use as a trunk rehabilitation tool. Future works involve more detailed studies to evaluate the effects of using this system and to determine its efficacy as a rehabilitation tool.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.291-296
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• 2011

This study was designed to investigate the effects of an ankle foot orthosis(AFO) with variable ankle joint angles on balance performance in healthy adults. Eighteen healthy adults were recruited in this repeated measures design with subjects as their own controls. An AFO with four kinds of ankle joint angles(-5, 0, 5, and 10 degree) were used and balance performance was measured during single limb standing. Three trials were obtained and then averaged for data analysis. Foot pressure was measured using an F-scan system and muscle activity was measured using an MP150 system. There were significant differences in balance performance with ankle joint angles. An AFO with -5 degrees was associated with significant increases in postural sway(anterior-posterior), and in muscle activity for the medial gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior compared with other degrees of angle. Findings of this study show that angles of an AFO are related to balance performance and a joint angle of 10 degree is effective for promoting joint stability and postural control. This information can be used by clinicians to prescribe AFOs.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.412-430
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• 2003

Functional stability is dependent on integrated local and global muscle function. Movement dysfunction can present as a local and global problem, though both frequently occur together. To good understand how movement induces pain syndrome, the optimal actions and interaction of the multiple anatomic and functional systems involved in motion must be considered. Minor alterations in the precision of movement cause microtrauma and, if allowed to continue, will cause macrotrauma and pain. These alteration of the movement result in the development of compensatory movement and movement impairment. Muscle that become tight tend to pull the body segment to which they are attached, creating postural deviation. The antagonistic muscles may become weak and allow postural deviations due to lack of balanced support. Both hypertonic and inhibited muscles will cause an alteration of the distribution of pressure over the joint(s) that they cross and, thus, may not only result from muscle dysfunction, but produce joint dysfunction as well. Alteration of the shoulder posture and movement dysfunction may sometimes result in compression of neurovascular structures in the shoulder and arm. There is a clear link between reduced proprioceptive input, altered motor unit recruitment and the neurovascular compression. This report start with understanding of the impaired alignment, movement patterns and neuromuscular compression of the shoulder girdle by movement impairment to approach method of the movement dysfunction.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.37-42
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• 2023

Purpose: Compared to cities, rural areas are in a medical blind spot and face difficulties in accessing medical services due to inconvenient transportation facilities, lack of medical facilities, and the heavy burden of medical expenses. This study was carried out to identify the problems relating to the musculoskeletal system of the elderly in rural and fishing villages, which are medically vulnerable areas, and sought to present a regionally differentiated healthcare model. Methods: The study was conducted in 80 elderly people in two rural villages and two fishing villages after seeking inputs regarding medically vulnerable groups in the Gyeongnam Province. Postural balance and muscle flexibility were assessed and postural evaluation was conducted to identify musculoskeletal problems and gait stability. Strength and range of motion for each body segment were assessed for evaluating functional motion. Results: The elderly in both rural areas showed forward head posture characteristics. The strength level of the elderly in both rural areas was higher than the average, but their flexibility and balance ability were lower than the average. Conclusion: The musculoskeletal problems of the elderly in rural and fishing villages in this study did not show regional characteristics according to the area of residence. However, overall flexibility and balance ability appeared to be reduced. Therefore, a new management model connecting the region and the university is necessary in preparation for the coming era of community care.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.67-74
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• 2008

A decrease in the ability to maintain static and dynamic balance after stroke could be related to the inability to select reliable sensory information in producing relative motor action needed to maintain postural stability. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of two different types of surface conditions on the balancing ability of subjects with stroke. Eighteen hemiparetic subjects were assigned to an experimental and control group participating in a six－week rehabilitative therapeutic exercise program focusing on balance and mobility. Exercises were performed 3 to 5 times per week in a stable surface condition by the control group, and in an unstable surface condition by the experimental group. Pre－ and post test assessments involved the measurement of the static balance and dynamic balance, respectively by 7－item Berg Balance Scale－3P and by Pro－3 Balance System. Results showed that under the unstable surface condition, static balance in the experimental group showed more improvement than that of the control group.(Statistically, not very significant.) All the aspects of dynamic balance and mediolateral sway(balance) improved significantly than those of the control group. However, there were no significant differences between two groups. Overall, it can be concluded that under the unstable surface condition, the rehabilitative therapeutic exercise programs are effective in improving the dynamic balance of stroke subjects. The results suggest that the adaptation of the unstable surface in the rehabilitative therapeutic exercises could be effective for the patients with hemiplegia in balance. Further studies are needed to confirm the effectiveness of the unstable surface on improving balance and postural stability of hemiplegics.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.178-184
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• 2016

Objective: Tension-type headache is caused by hormones, foods, irritants, stress, obesity, fatigue, and neck and head trigger points-prolonged abnormal posture. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of relaxation approach on head posture, static postural stability, and headache in persons with tension-type headache. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Thirty-five persons with tension-type headache participated in this study. This study was a pretest-posttest with a control group design for a duration of 4 weeks (60 min/3 times/1 wk). The participants were randomly allocated to the relaxation approach group (n=18) and the control group with conventional rehabilitation including thermotherapy and transcutaneous electrical stimulation for the same period (n=17). Outcome measures involved forward head posture (FHP), foot pressure, neck disability index (NDI), and six-item headache impact test (HIT-6). Results: Relaxation approach and control groups improved significantly in the amount of forward head posture, neck disability index, and six-item headache impact test scores after training (p<0.05). The control group was found to be significantly different in the amount of FHP, backward foot pressure, NDI, and HIT-6 after training compared to before training (p<0.05). The relaxation approach group significantly improved in forward head posture, neck disability index, and six-item headache impact test compared with control group after training (p<0.05). Neck disability index and six-item headache impact test significantly improved after training compared with before training in the control group (p<0.05). However, the foot pressure was not significantly different between relaxation approach and control groups. Conclusions: This study suggests that treatment with relaxation approach combined with self-exercise would be effective in reducing the amount of forward head posture, neck disability and headache impacts.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.93-103
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• 2021

Purpose : This study aimed to investigate the effect of trunk postural stability maintained wearing a spiral elastic band on the upper extremity function of patients with stroke who undertook a functional activity program and to provide fundamental data useful for the application of therapeutic interventions in the clinical environment of occupational therapy. Methods : The research subjects included 16 patients with stroke who were evenly divided into an experimental group and a control group. The eight-week intervention consisted of a functional activity program aimed at improving the function of the affected-side upper extremity. The experimental group performed the functional activity program while maintaining a stable trunk posture by wearing a spiral elastic band. The control group followed the program without wearing the band. Upper extremity function was assessed before and after the intervention using a manual function test (MFT) and a motor activity log (MAL), and the effectiveness on the upper extremity function of the affected side was confirmed. Results : First, in the within-group comparison of the upper extremity function scores before and after the intervention, the experimental group showed a statistically significant difference in the MFT and MAL assessment(p<.05). The control group showed a statistically significant difference in the MAL assessment(p<.05). Second, in the between-group comparison of the change in scores after the intervention, a statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups in all assessments(p<.05). Conclusion : This study confirmed the positive effect on upper extremity function of trunk stabilization posture using a spiral elastic band. The results could be useful when implementing a task-oriented training program in the clinical environment of occupational therapy in the future, as application of the training while maintaining trunk postural stability by wearing a spiral elastic band could be more effective for improving the upper extremity function of patients with stroke.