• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.133-144
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• 2023

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the effects of task-oriented treadmill training on the gait and balance ability and functional activity in 20 patients with subacute stroke. METHODS: The study subjects were twenty stroke patients, ten randomly placed in the experimental group and ten in the control group. Both the experimental and control groups received 30 minutes of traditional physical therapy and an additional 15 minutes of functional electrical stimulation therapy. The experimental group was given task-oriented treadmill training, while the control group received general treadmill training. Each session lasted for 25 minutes, three times a week, over four weeks, totaling 12 sessions. RESULTS: Both groups showed statistically significant differences in the 10-metre walk test (10MWT), timed up and go test (TUG), Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), and Modified Barthel index (MBI). However, statistically significant differences in the Functional Ambulation Categories (FAC) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) were seen only in the experimental group. There were statistically significant differences in the between-group differences value comparisons in the 10MWT, BBS, TUG, FMA, and MBI. CONCLUSION: Task-oriented treadmill training positively impacts gait, balance, and daily function in subacute stroke patients. This study highlights the benefits of training on unstable surfaces and offers valuable insights for stroke rehabilitation and gait training.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.49-58
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of bridging stabilization exercise on balance ability and gait performance in elderly women. The subjects of this study were thirty-one elderly women over 65 years old in HongSung-Gun Senior Citizen Welfare Hall. The subjects were randomly assigned into one of three groups (trunk stabilization exercise on the mat, whole body vibration, and Swiss ball) and participated in each exercise program three times a week for 4 weeks. Each exercise began in the bridging position. The dynamic balance and gait were measured by limit of stability area using force plate, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Timed Up and Go Test (TUG). The results were as follows: 1) The limit of stability in three groups increased significantly in anterior-posterior and medial-lateral lean after 4-weeks intervention (p<.05). 2) There were no significant differences in the limit of stability among three groups after 4-weeks intervention (p>.05). 3) The BBS and TUG in three groups increased significantly after 4-weeks intervention (p<.05). 4) There were significant differences among three groups in BBS. Post-hoc test showed that Swiss ball exercise group was significantly higher than the mat and whole body vibration groups. 5) There were no significant differences TUG among three groups after 4-weeks intervention (p>.05). In conclusion, this study suggested that 4 weeks of the bridging stabilization exercises were effective on balance and gait in all three groups. Particularly Swiss ball exercise group showed higher improvement than two other exercise groups (mat, whole body vibration group).

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.81-90
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• 2015

This study aimed to determine the effects of Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation (RAS) using music and a metronome on the gait of stroke patients. 13 female and 15 male volunteers were randomly allocated to two groups: namely a group to receive RAS using music and a metronome group (the experimental group; $n_1=14$) and a group to receive RAS using a metronome only (the control group; $n_2=14$). The affected side was the left side in 15 subjects and the right side in 13 subjects. The mean age of the subjects was 56.6 years, and the mean onset duration of stroke was 8.6 months. Intervention was applied for 30 minutes per session, once a day, 5 times a week for 4 weeks. To measure the patients' gait improvement, we measured gait velocity, cadence, stride length, double limb support using GAITRite, body center sway angle using an accelerometer, and Timed Up-and-Go test. Functional Gait Assessment were conducted before and after the experiment. The paired t-test was used for comparisons before and after the interventions in each group. Analysis of covariance was used for comparisons between the groups after the interventions. Statistical significance was set at ${\alpha}=.05$. Within each of the two groups, significant differences in all of the dependent variables before and after the experiment (p<.05) were observed. However, in the comparison between the two groups, the experimental group showed more significant improvements in all dependent variables than the control group (p<.05). Our results also suggest that in applying RAS in stroke patients, the combination of music and a metronome is more effective than using a metronome alone in improving patients' gait.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.122-127
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• 2017

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate if the 7-item Berg balance scale (BBS) 3-point, which is a short form of the BBS (SFBBS), has compatible psychometric properties in comparison with the original BBS, and also to study the concurrent validity using a 10-meter walk test (10mWT) and a timed up and go test (TUG), which are widely used with SFBBS in clinical settings. Methods: A total of 255 patients who had experienced stroke participated in this cross-sectional study. We used results obtained from 188 patients who completed both 10mWT and TUG. The three levels in the center of the BBS were collapsed to a single level (i.e.,0-2-4) to form the SFBBS. The concurrent validity was assessed by computing the Spearman coefficients for correlation among outcome measures and in between each outcome measure and the SFBBS. As there were four outcomes, the corrected p-value for significant correlation was 0.013 (0.05/4). Results: Spearman coefficients for correlations and evaluation instruments for concurrent validity revealed significantly high validity for both of SFBBS and BBS (r=0.944). 10mWT and TUG were -0.749 and -0.770 respectively, which are in the high margin and are statistically significant (p>0.000). Conclusion: SFBBS has sound psychometric properties for evaluating patients with stroke. Thus, we recommend the use of SFBBS in both clinical and research settings.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.833-839
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• 2015

The purpose of the present study is to provide exercises, together with music, that are helpful for elderly people's balancing ability, and to determine their effects in order to provide data for the promotion of elderly persons' health. Thirty elderly persons were randomly assigned to a balance training group(BTG) of 15 subjects, or a music and balance training group (music therapy + balance training [MTBTG]) of 15 subjects; intervention was implemented three times per week for six weeks. To measure the changes in their balancing ability before and after the experiment, the limit of stability, the "Timed Up and Go"(TUG) test, and the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) were measured. Changes in the limit of stability before and after the experiment were shown to be significant in both the BTG and the MTBTG. Changes in the limit of stability of the right side before and after the experiment showed statistically significant differences between the BTG and the MTBTG. Changes in the TUG test and the BBS before and after the experiment were shown to be statistically significant in both the BTG and the MTBTG. The application of music during balance training thus is considered to have a positive effect on elderly persons' balancing ability.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.165-170
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• 2020

Objective: To investigate the association between one-leg standing ability and postural control for chronic hemiparetic stroke. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Forty individuals who had a first diagnosis of stroke with hemiparesis before six months and over had participated in this study. To analyze the relationship between one-leg standing ability and postural control in the participants, six clinical measurement tools were used for assessment, including the Timed-Up-and-Go (TUG) test, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), 5 times sit-to-stand (5TSTS) and one-leg standing (OLS). Results: After analyzation, the OLS scores in the more-affected side showed significant positive correlations with BBS scores (r=0.469, p<0.01), DGI scores (r=0.459, p<0.01).and FMA scores (r=0.425, p<0.01). The OLS scores in the more-affected side showed significant negative correlations with TUG score (r=-0.351, p<0.05). The OLS score in the less-affected side showed significant positive correlations with BBS scores (r=0.485, p<0.01), DGI scores (r=0.488, p<0.01) and FMA score (r=0.352, p<0.05). The OLS scores in the less-affected side showed significant negative correlation with TUG scores (r=-0.392, p<0.05) and 5TSTS (r= -0.430, p<0.01). The OLS scores in the more-affected side showed significant positive correlations with the OLS scores in less-affected side (r=0.712, p<0.01). Conclusions: The results of the study suggest that the OLS time may be moderately correlated with static and dynamic postural stabilities and motor recovery following stroke. This study also suggests that the OLS test is as a simple clinical tool for predicting postural control performance for individuals with chronic hemiparetic stroke.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.55-67
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• 2021

Background: This study aimed to use the muscle energy technique (MET) with total knee replacement (TKR) during the chronic phase in a clinical setting and confirm its effects on the knee extensor strength and ROM, balance, and walking ability. Methods: A total of 20 female patients who underwent TKR 1~4 years ago were assigned to two groups (Control: Q setting exercise+general physical therapy, n=10; Exp: MET+general physical therapy, n=10). Interventions were performed three times a week for 4 weeks. The strength of the knee extensor was evaluated using an aneroid sphygmomanometer, and ROM was evaluated using degrees at the end range on active knee flexion. The main balance outcomes were evaluated using two standard scale (TSS) and timed up and go (TUG) test, whereas the walking ability was evaluated using the 10 meter walk test (10MWT). Results: Analysis showed that both groups had significant increases in strength, ROM, TSS, TUG, and 10MWT. Differences in all variables were significant between the control and Exp groups at the post-intervention evaluation (p<.05). However, no significant difference was observed in strength and TUG. Conclusion: Results of this study demonstrated that MET would help improve the strength, ROM, balance, and walking ability of patients with chronic TKR who want to enhance their abilities and performance in activities of daily living.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.11-29
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• 2021

Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of virtual reality on gait, balance, and upper extremity functions compared to other independent variables or no variables. Additionally, the possibility of virtual reality for stroke patients was discussed. Design: Meta-analysis. Methods: The search for this study was a search term that combined stroke, virtual reality, and training, and the electronic search was conducted through EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library. As a result of the search, 21 studies satisfying the selection criteria of the target study were confirmed as the final analysis target. This study consisted of 21 randomized experimental studies and 21 randomized controlled trials, and the total number of participants was 642. [Experimental group (n=314), control group (n=328); total 642]. As a result of the study, upper extremity function was assessed using a box and block test, a modified Ashworth scale, and a scale including range of motion. The balance was evaluated by the berg balance scale. Gait was a Timed Up and Go test (TUG), stride length, and gait function. Scales including a walking rate scale were evaluated. The effect size for the intervention of the analytical study was meta-analyzed with the RevMan 5.3.3 program of the Cochrane library. Results: The results of the study showed that the function of walking was statistically significant. Balance showed statistically significant results. The upper extremity function showed no statistically significant results. Conclusion: Through this rehabilitation treatment by applying virtual reality environment to the rehabilitation of stroke patients in the future can be proposed as an effective intervention method for the balance and gait function of stroke patients.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.1-13
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• 2022

Background: This research was conducted to understand balance training in trunk control, balance, and walking in stroke patients. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: The subjects included 40 stroke patients, of whom 20 undertook balance training using visual information and the other 20 undertook balance training using balance boards. Using visual feedback, the balance training group used a training program within the static balanced evaluation tool, while the balance training group trained using a balance board. All subjects underwent 20 mins of neurodevelopmental treatment, and both target groups underwent 10 mins each of balance training by using either visual feedback or a balance board. The treatment period lasted a total of 4 weeks, twice a day. Trunk control before and after training was evaluated with the Trunk Impairment Scale. Balance capability was assessed by the Berg Balance Scale, Functional Reach Test, Timed Up and Go test, and Static balance measurement tool. Walking capacity was measured using gait measuring equipment, and cadence and velocity were measured. Results: Both groups showed a significant improvement in their interstitial control, balance, and gait ability after the experiments compared to before the experiments (p<0.05). The difference between the two groups was not significant. The visual feedback balance training group showed a more substantial improvement than the balance board training group. Conclusion: In this study, we found that the balance training combined with visual feedback contributes to improving trunk control, balance, and gait in patients with hemiplegia due to stroke. In addition to this, I believe that balanced training combined with visual feedback can be used as a training method when considering patients who lack interstitial control, balance, and gait ability.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.35-45
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was done to determine whether muscle strength training programs have an impact on improving symptoms of urinary incontinence (UI) and physical function among elderly women with UI who reside in long-term care facilities. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted. Participants had to be over 65 years, score over 15 score on the mini-mental state examination, and be able to walk alone or with an assistant. Seventy residents were randomly allocated to either the training group (n=35) or control group (n=35). The program consisted of 50 minutes, twice a week for 8 weeks, and included Kegel's exercise, Thera-band training and indoor walking. Main outcomes were UI symptoms, peak vaginal pressure and physical functions measured with timed up and go test (TUG), one leg standing test (OLST), activities of daily living (ADL) and grip strength. Changes in outcome measurements were calculated from baseline to 4 weeks and to 8 weeks using repeated measures ANOVA. Results: There were significant differences in peak vaginal pressure (p<.001), TUG (p<.001), OLST (p=.012) and grip strength (p<.001) in the interaction between groups and time. Conclusion: Future studies are suggested to confirm the effect of muscle strength training in long-term care facilities where elderly women with UI reside.