• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.20 no.6
• /
• pp.114-123
• /
• 2020

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of lower extremity strengthening program on balance, gait and upper limb function in patients with stroke. This study was a hospital-based with Central nerve system lesion patients, randomized controlled trial with a blinded assessor. Twenty four hemiparetic stroke patients were divided into two groups: a Lower extremity strengthening program group (LESPG)(n=12) and a Treadmill training group (TTG)(n=12). The LESPG performed a Lower extremity strengthening program on the affected side. The TTG exercised on a treadmill for 30 minutes a day. Assessment tools included the Timed Up and Go test (TUG), the Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) and the Manual Function Test (MFT). There was a significant difference in TUG, FGA, and MFT scores between the two groups in the LESPG for the balance, gait, and upper limb function than for the TTG(p<.01). Results of the present study indicated that the effect of lower extremity strengthening program for 4 weeks had an effect on balance, gait and upper limb function of hemiplegic patients after stroke.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.25-33
• /
• 2017

PURPOSE: The initiation of the trunk muscles in stroke patients is delayed because the muscles involved in reach arm are activated earlier than the trunk muscles. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of mobility, balance, and trunk control ability through selective trunk exercise (STE) in patients with chronic stroke. METHODS: A randomized pre-test and post-test control group design was initially used, with subjects randomly assigned to the STE group (n=15) and a control group (n=14). All groups underwent physical therapy based on the neuro-developmental therapy (NDT) for 30 minutes a day, five times per week for four weeks. Additionally, the STE group did the trunk exercise for 30 minutes a day, three times per week for four weeks. The timed up and go test (TUG), Berg balance scale (BBS), and trunk impairment scale (TIS) were used for assessment. RESULTS: The scores of the TUG, BBS, dynamic sitting balance subscale, and coordination subscale of TIS improved significantly in both groups but the improvement was more pronounced in the STE group (p<.05). This study showed a large effect on the scores of the TIS coordination subscale (d=.93) (p<.05), TIS dynamic balance subscale (d=.81) (p<.05), TUG (d=.75) (p<.05), and BBS (d=.73) (p<.05). CONCLUSION: The combined STE and NDT program showed improvements in measures of mobility, balance, and trunk control in chronic stroke patients. These results suggest that STE should be considered to be included in the treatment program for patients with chronic stroke.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.63 no.2
• /
• pp.440-452
• /
• 2021

The purpose of this study was to determine if an 8-week therapeutic riding (TR) program was effective in improving the walking ability of students with intellectual disabilities. Thirteen students diagnosed with intellectual disabilities participated in the TR program. TR sessions were conducted twice a week (30 min per session), with a total of 16 rides taking place over an 8-week period. A gait measurement analyzer was used to measure progress based on a turn test (6-m walking and turning test), walk test (10-m walking), and timed up and go (TUG) test. Measurements were made three times: before horse-riding (P0), after 4 weeks (8 rides) of horse-riding (P1), and after 8 weeks (16 rides) of horse-riding (P2). Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software (ver. 22.0). Descriptive statistics were generated on the general characteristics of the subjects, and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to verify the normality of the data. Because of the lack of normality, the data were analyzed using a nonparametric method and the significance level was set to 0.05. Measurements of the duration of the forward gait cycle (s) in the turn test and the forward gait speed (m/s) in the walk test indicated improved walking ability after the TR program (p < 0.001); the stride length (% height) also increased significantly (p < 0.05). The walk test revealed a significant effect of the program on the duration of the forward gait cycle (p < 0.05), while there were significant improvements on the left and right of the elaborated strides (p < 0.001). No significant improvement in TUG test performance was observed after the TR program. In this study, an 8-week TR program had positive results on gait. Therefore, further research is merited, where TR programs are likely to improve the walking ability of individuals with intellectual disabilities.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.1387-1392
• /
• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of fall injuries on the balancing abilities and ankle flexibility. Fifteen of the voluntary participants had no experience of falling in the last two years (none falling group, NFG) and 15 others experienced at least one (falling group, FG). Static balance (sway length, sway area), dynamic balance (timed up and go (TUG), and functional to reach test (FRT) were measured in each group. In comparison of static balance, sway length was not significantly different between NFG and FG in both eyes open and eyes close, however the sway area of the FG was significantly wider than that of the NFG (p<.05). In dynamic balance comparisons, TUG of FG was significantly longer than that of NFG (p <.05), however FRT and STS were no significant difference between groups. Ankle flexibility was significantly higher in NFG than in FG. This study suggests that the fall prevention program should include methods for improving ankle stability and lower extremity function.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.181-188
• /
• 2022

Objective: The purpose of this study to investigate the correlations among the motor function, balance, and gait velocity and the strength that could explain the variation of gait velocity of chronic stroke survivors. Design: This was a cross-sectional cohort study. Methods: Thirty hemiplegic stroke survivors hospitalized in an inpatient rehabilitation center were participated. The muscle tone of ankle plantarflexor and muscle strength of ankle dorsiflexor were measured respectively with modified Ashworth scale (MAS) and hand-held dynamometer. And the motor recovery and function with Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA), balance with Berg balance scale (BBS) and timed up and go (TUG) test were measured. Gait velocity was measured with GAITRite. The correlation among motor function, muscle tone, muscle strength, balance, and gait were analyzed. In addition, the strength of the relationship between the response (gait velocity) and the explanatory variables was analyzed. Results: The gait velocity had positive correlations with FMA, muscle strength, and BBS, and negative correlation with MAS and TUG. Regression analysis showed that TUG (𝛽=-0.829) was a major explanatory variable for gait velocity. Conclusions: Our results suggest that gait velocity had correlations with muscle strength, MAS, FMA, BBS, and TUG. The tests and measurements affecting the variation of gait velocity the greatest were TUG, followed by FMA, BBS, muscle strength, and MAS. This study shows that TUG would be a possible assessment tool to determine the variation of gait velocity in stroke rehabilitation.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 2018

Purpose: Myofascial release (MFR) is an effective treatment for improving muscle stiffness and balance in neurological patients. This study examined long-term effects of MFR on the balance ability of stroke patients. Methods: MFR using a tennis ball was applied to the lower extremity and sacroiliac joint of the affected side of four stroke patients. The four subjects performed the Berg balance scale (BBS) and Timed up and go (TUG) test at the beginning of an 8-week intervention, directly after the intervention, and 2 years later. Results: The BBS scores indicated a trend toward maintenance of balance (p=0.05), but there was no difference in the TUG time (p=0.47). Conclusion: MFR may be a clinically meaningful intervention to maintain balance in stroke patients over a long period. However, the sample size in this study was too small to draw general conclusions. A larger study with more participants is needed.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.41-48
• /
• 2009

Purpose: The examine the Reliability and Validity of the modified Emory Functional Ambulation Profile (mEFAP), Tinetti. Gait (TG), Timed Up & Go Tes t (TUG), Comfortable Gait Speed (CGS), Berg Balance Scale (BBS) in assessing gait function and balance in elderly person. Methods: The 45 community-dwelling subjects were participated in this study. Reliability was determined by intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC$_{3,1}$), Bland and Altman method (Standard Error of Measurement (SEM), Smallest Real Difference (SRD)). Results: Validity was examined by correlation the mEFAP, TG, TUG, CGS, BBS. The intra-rater reliability were High (ICC$_{3,1}$ : mEFAP=0.95, TG=0.96, TUG=0.94, CGS=0.96, BBS=0.92) and Absolute reliability were excellent (SEM: mEFAP=1.90, TG=0.21, TUG=0.28 CGS=0.25, BBS=0.52), (SRD: mEFAP=5.26, TG=0.58, TUG=0.77, CGS=0.69, BBS=1.44). There were significant correlations between assessment tool (r=.0.58$\sim$0.78, p<0.01) indicating good validity. Our results provide strong evidence that the assessment tool has good reliability, validity for assessing elderly person undergoing rehabilitation. Conclusion: The gait assessment tool is a useful scale for measuring walking function and recovery in elderly person.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.17 no.10
• /
• pp.562-568
• /
• 2016

This study to investigated the therapeutic effect of robot-assisted rehabilitation (Lokomat) with virtual reality (VR) on Pusher syndrome (PS) after stroke. A total of 10 patients presented with PS after stroke were recruited. The participants were divided into two groups: Lokomat (n=5) and control groups (n=5). Lokomat and conventional physical therapy (CPT) were performed together in the experimental group, and the patients in the control group were treated with CPT only twice a day. One session of intervention was carried out for 30 minutes five times per week for 4 weeks. Scale for contraversive pushing (SCP), Berg balance scale (BBS), falling index (FI), and Timed up and go test (TUG) were measured before and after the intervention. The Lokomat group produced significantly better outcomes in SCP (p=0.046), BBS (p=0.046), FI (p=0.038), and TUG (p=0.038) compared with the control group after 4 weeks of intervention. In addition, there were significant correlations between SCP and BBS (p=0.024), FI (p=0.039), and TUG (p=0.030). In conclusion, Lokomat with VR more effectively aided recovery from PS after stroke, and restoration of PS symptoms was related with improvement of balance and gait function.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2016

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Bridge exercise with abdominal drawing-in on static and dynamic balance in patients with stroke. Methods: Forty patients with stroke participated in this study. Participation was randomly assigned to the Bridge exercise group (n=20) and the Bridge exercise with abdominal drawing-in group (n=20). A bio-feedback device was used when patients performed the Bridge exercise with abdominal drawing-in. This training was performed without any motion on the patient's spine and upper belly part, and the pressure was held with the biofeedback device as 40-70 mmHg. Both groups received training 30 minutes per day, three times per week, for four weeks. Weight bearing, anterior limit of stability, and posterior limit of stability for static balance ability were measured, and Berg balance scale (BBS), Timed up and go test (TUG) for dynamic balance ability were also measured. Results: Participants showed significant differences between pre- and post-mediation in terms of weight bearing, anterior limit of stability, posterior limit of stability, Berg balance scale, and Timed up and go test (p<0.05). The Bridge exercise with abdominal drawing-in group showed a more significant increase (p<0.05). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, both exercises were effective for improving the static and dynamic balance ability. However we suggest that the Bridge exercise with abdominal drawing-in is more efficient for increasing balance ability in patients with stroke.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.25-32
• /
• 2004

The use of a gym ball is becoming more popular for dynamic balance exercises. However, little is known about the effects of the dynamic ball exercises in the elderly. The purpose of this study was to compare balance and functional mobility after dynamic balance exercises using a gym ball to reduce the risk factorfor falls. All of the 15 subjects were women between the ages of 68 and 91 (mean age=79.9 yrs, SD=5.87) at anursing home in Wonju. Seven of fifteen subjects were placed in the experimental group and the others in the control group. Three clinical tests were used to determine the degree of balance and functional mobility before beginning the exercise program, after 4 weeks of gym ball exercise, and after 8 weeks of gym ball exercise. These three tests included Timed Up & Go (TUG), Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and the Functional Independence Measure (FIM). Dynamic ball exercises training for 8 weeks (5 days per week) included side stretching, prone walking, bridging, marching and opposite arm and leg lifting. There were significant differences found before the gym ball exercise program began and after 4 weeks and then 8 weeks in the experimental group (p<.05). Significant differences between the groups were shown for TUG and BBS (p<.05). No significant difference was noted between the groups for FIM. Therefore, gym ball exercises can improve dynamic balance and may be recommended to include in a therapeutic program to help the elderly reduce their risk of a fall.