• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.97-104
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• 2017

Background: South Korea is one of fastest aging countries in the world. Poor balance and falls of the elderly are main health issues. Objects: The goal of this study was to understand the association between the socioeconomical factors and the standing balance of elderly living in the rural and urban area. Methods: One hundred sixty-six elderly participants who were older than 65 and were able to walk without an assistive device were recruited in the city of Gwangju and in the rural area of Jeonnam, South Korea. All participants performed the static and dynamic standing balance tests. Static standing balance was measured with chronometer in seconds while standing on one leg. Dynamic balance was tested with the timed up and go test (TUG), measured in seconds while getting up from a chair and walking 3 meters and back to sit. The static and dynamic standing balance was analyzed using analysis of variance and the Fisher's Least Significant Difference post hoc test. Results: Male participants from both areas had no difference in one leg standing and TUG. The female elderly living in rural area took shorter in TUG than females living in urban area. Age decreased the one leg standing time in both areas while did not affect the TUG significantly. As the monthly income increased, both of one leg standing and TUG increased in urban area, while the medium monthly income showed best performance (it was not statistically significant) in both of one leg standing and TUG in rural area. Conclusion: Socioeconomical factors affects differently the standing balance of the elderly living in rural and urban South Korea. Female living alone in urban area with low monthly income demonstrated worst standing balance in this study.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.54-60
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• 2018

Objective: Persons with chronic stroke fall more often than healthy elderly individuals. The Timed Up and Go test (TUG) is used as a fall prediction tool, but only provides a result for the total measurement time. This study aimed to determine the optimal cut-off values for each of the 6 components of the TUG. Design: Retrospective study. Methods: Thirty persons with chronic stroke participated in the study. TUG evaluation was performed using a wearable miniaturized inertial sensor. Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values were calculated using the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis for the measured values in each section. Optimal values for fall risk classification were determined. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the risk of future falls based on TUG. Results: The cut-off values of the 6 sections of the TUG were determined, as follows: sit-to-stand >2.00 seconds (p<0.05), forward gait >4.68 seconds (p<0.05), mid-turn >3.82 seconds (p<0.05), return gait >4.81 seconds (p<0.05), end-turn >2.95 seconds (p<0.05), and stand-to-sit >2.13 seconds (p<0.05). The risk of falling increased by 2.278 times when the mid-turn value was >3.82 seconds (p<0.05). Conclusions: The risk of falls increased by 2.28 times when the value of the mid-turn interval exceeded 3.82 seconds. Therefore, when interpreting TUG results, the predictive accuracy for falls will be higher when the measurement time for each section is analyzed, together with the total time for TUG.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.64-71
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• 2007

The purposes of this study were to determine correlations between the Berg Balance Test (BBS), Timed -UP & Go Test, Fugl Meyer-L/E, Balance, Sensory (FM-L/E, B, S), Motor Assessment Scale-Gait (MAS-G), Comfortable maximal Gait Speed (C MGS), and the Modified Barthel Index (MBI). The subjects were 40 stroke patients of the Korea National Rehabilitation Center in Seoul. Main outcome measures were Balance control (BBS, FM-B), Gait (TUG, C MGS, MAS-G), ADL (MBI) and Motor Function of Lower Extremities (FM-L/E, S). The data were analyzed using Pearson product correlation. FM scales between other clinical and instrumental indexes and multiple stepwise regression analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors for Balance, Gait and ADL Motor Function of Lower Extremity inclinations. The results of this study were as follows: The BBS, FM-L/E, balance, sensory and MBI showed positive correlation relations, but TUG and C MGS showed negative correlations. The sensory factor of the FM-scale showed the strongest variance in predicting BBS. However the FM-balance showed the strongest variance in predicting TUG, MAS-G and C MGS. The use of both quantitative and qualitative scales was shown to be a good measuring instrument for the classification of the general clinical performance of the patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.39-45
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine correlations between the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Functional Reach Test (FRT), Timed Up & Go (TUG), Motor-Free Visual Perception Reach Test Vertical format (MVPT-V), Functional Independence Measure (FIM). Methods: The subjects used in this study were 35 stroke patients from Cheongju ST. Mary's hospital. Balance was measured by BBS, FRT. Functional mobility was measured by TUG. Visual perception was measured by MVPT-V. FIM was used to evaluate the activities of daily living. Data was analyzed using pearson product correlation. The TUG and MVPT-V index were analyzed by linear regression. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between FRT and BBS (r=0.89, p<0.01), FIM (r=0.74, p<0.05), MVPT-V (r=0.40, p<0.05), and TUG (r=-0.36, p<0.05). There was significant statistical differences between TUG and MVPT-V (r=-0.64, p<.01). However, statistically significant differences were observed between BBS and FIM (r=0.79, p<0.01). The visual close item of the MVPT-V showed the strongest variance in predicting TUG. Conclusion: The use of both quantitative and qualitive scales was shown to be a good measuring instrument for the classification of general clinical performances of stroke patients. In particular, the results suggest that the visual perception test may be able to predict functional locomotion in stroke patients.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.45-54
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• 2018

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of Action-observational training program on gait and balance of patients with hemiplegia. Method : The subjects of this study are patients with hemiplegia; 10 patients who agreed with this research, were picked up. Participants were divided randomly into equal groups: experimental group that applied to action-observation training for at least 30 minutes/day for 6 weeks and control group that underwent general task-oriented training. Gait and balance were measured 10 meter walk test(10MWT), gait speed, berg balance scale(BBS) and timed up and go(TUG). The intervention were compared by measuring before and after. Result : There were significant improvements in the subscales of the gait and balance test of those who practiced with the Action-observational training program, while the control group showed no significant changes. Conclusion : Therefore, Action-observational training program is effective in improvement of to improve the gait and balance in patients with hemiplegia.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.37-47
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• 2014

Falls are common after stroke and most frequently related to loss of balance while walking. Consequently, preventing falls is one of the goals of acute, rehabilitative, and chronic stroke care. The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence and risk factors of falls and to determine how well the Falls Efficacy Scale (FES), Timed Up and Go test (TUG), and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) could distinguish between fallers and non-fallers among stroke patients during inpatient rehabilitation. One hundred and fifteen participants with at least 3 months post-stroke and able to walk at least 3 m with or without a mono cane participated in this study. Fifty-four (47%) participants reported falling, and 15 (27.8%) had a recurrent fall. Logistic regression analysis for predicting falls showed that left hemiplegia [odds ratio (OR)=4.68] and fear of falling (OR=5.99) were strong risk factors for falls. Fallers performed worse than non-fallers on the FES, TUG, and BBS (p<.05, p<.01, respectively). In the receiver operator characteristic curve analysis, the TUG demonstrated the best discriminating ability among the three assessment tools. The cut-off score was 22 seconds on the TUG for discriminating fallers from non-fallers (sensitivity=88.9%, specificity=45.9%) and 27 seconds for discriminating recurrent fallers from single fallers and non-fallers (sensitivity=71.4%, specificity=40.2%). Results suggest that there is a need for providing fall prevention and injury minimization programs for stroke patients who record over 22 seconds on the TUG.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.91-98
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• 2013

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate characteristics of the effects of a video strength exercise on grip strength, balance, timed up and go in the frail elderly women. METHODS: Subjects were thirty frail elderly people selected by the screening tool and they were divided into exercise group and control group. The video strength exercise was carried out for three time a week for 12 weeks. Data was analyzed with independent t-test between exercise and control group and paired t-test between before and after. RESULTS: There were not significant differences between exercise and control group. However, there were significant effects between before and after in exercise group. The grip strength and one-leg stand with eyes open were significant improved and timed up and go was significant decreases. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the video strength exercise for the frail elderly was very effective on improving grip strength and one-leg stand and timed up and go.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.33-42
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• 2020

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of a whole body vibration-exercise program on the muscle strength, balance, and falling efficacy of super-aged women. METHODS: Thirty participants, who are over 75 years of age, were recruited. They were assigned randomly to an experimental group (n=15), which received whole body vibration exercise, and a control group (n=15), which received an exercise program that did not include vibration. The interventions lasted for four weeks, three times a day, and 25 minutes per session. To compare the effects of the intervention, a 30-second chair stand test (CST), Korean version of Berg balance scale (K-BBS), functional reach test (FRT), timed up and go test (TUG), and Korean version of the falls efficacy scale (K-FES) was used. RESULTS: The experimental group showed a significant increase (p.<05) before and after the intervention in the chair stand test (CST), Korean version of the Berg balance scale (K-BBS), functional reach test (FRT), timed up-and-go (TUG), and Korean version of the fall efficacy scale (K-FES). Compared to the control group, the experiment group showed a more significant increase (p.<05) in the CST, K-BBS, and FRT. CONCLUSION: A whole body vibration exercise program could be suggested as an effective intervention method for muscle and balance strengthening for super-aged women.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.178-183
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• 2020

Objective: This study conducted in order to investigate the correlations between fall experience, balance, mobility, and confidence. We examined the difference between fall experience, and Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed-Up-and-Go test (TUG), Tinetti balance assessment (Tinetti balance [TiB], Tinetti gait [TiG]), and Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale scores to see how fall experience, balance, mobility, and confidence of the persons with stroke affects their balance. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Forty-one subjects participated in this study. The BBS includes 14 items, consisting of a 5-point scale from 0 to 4, totaling up to 56 points. The Timed Up and Go-Alone (TUGA) was used to measure the average time to take a 3 m round-trip by getting up and down from a 46-cm high chair with an armrest on a flat floor. The Timed-Up-and-Go-Cognitive (TUGC) was performed by counting backwards and the Timed Up and Go-Manual (TUGM) is performed by holding a cup full of water. The total score for the TiB is 16 points, and the TiG is 12 points, making a total of 28 points. There are 16 items total for the ABC scale. Results: According to the fall experience, BBS, the TUGA and TUGC values were significantly higher in the inexperienced group compared to the experienced group (p<0.05). The number of falls was significantly correlated with BBS, TUGA, TUGC, TUGM, TiB, TiG, TiB+TiG (p<0.05). Conclusions: This study supports that falls experience is strongly related to balance, mobility, and confidence. Optimal balance training programs for fall prevention is still insufficient and must be developed.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.7-15
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• 2012

Background : The purpose of this study is to determine the effect Berg Balance Scale(BBS) evaluating frequency on the walking speed and dynamic balance control in patient with stroke. Method : sixteen patient with stroke were randomly allocated to an experimental and control group of eight patients each. For the experimental group, we performed both general physical therapy and BBS and general physical therapy only for the control group. The general physical therapy programs for the 2 group were conducted for 1 hour 1 a day, 5 times a week for 4 weeks, and BBS for the experimental group was conducted for 1 time a week. Result : A comparison of the Berg Balance Scale(BBS). Timed Up Go test(TUG) and 10 meter Walking Test(10mWT) score obtained before and after the 4-week treatment revealed statistical significant different(p<.05) for the experimental group. BBS evaluated weekly and the first day and the last day evaluated in both groups after 4 weeks of BBS assessment improved significantly were (p<.05) especially in the assessment group on a weekly basis more improvement was. BBS weekly assessment group and the first day and on the last day, a group evaluation after 4 weeks in both the change of the TUG, 10mWT was significantly improved in the evaluation group(p<.05). Conclusion : 1 time a week of the BBS assessment of with stroke patients BBS, TUG, 10mWT that can help to improve. especially on a weekly basis, more has been improved.