• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.470-478
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• 2021

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) balance exercise on the ability to balance and walk in patients with hemiplegia caused by stroke. Design: A randomized controlled trial Methods: Following baseline measurements, patients (n=24) with hemiplegia caused by stroke were randomized into two groups: the PNF balance group (n=12) that received PNF balance exercise and the balance group (n=12) that received general balance exercise. Each group joined the intervention for 30 minutes, 5 times per week for 6 weeks. Both groups performed the Timed Up and Go test (TUG) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) for balance, as well as the 10-meter walking test (10MWT) and 6-minute walk test (6MWT) for walking. The data were collected both before and after the intervention. The paired t-test was used to compare the post-intervention changes compared with pre-intervention data. An independent t-test was used to analyze the differences in the dependent variables between the two groups. Results: After the 6-week intervention, both groups showed significant improvements in balance (TUG, BBS) and walking (10MWT, 6MWT) parameters (p<0.05). The patients in the PNF balance group showed greater improvements in balance (TUG, BBS) and walking (10MWT, 6MWT) than those in the balance group (p<0.05). Conclusions: PNF balance exercise shows improvements in balance and walking parameters in patients with hemiplegia caused by stroke.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2012

Purpose : We investigated the effects of the combined use of FES and over ground walking with partial body-weight support (PBWS) on walking function and balance control in people with chronic strokes. Methods : Twenty-seven people who were ambulatory after chronic strokes were evaluated. The exercise's intervention consisted of the combined use of FES and over ground walking with PBWS and general exercise groups. The FES + PBWS group and general exercise group consisted on a-20-minute session per day, 3 times a week during a 4 week period. The evaluation was carried out before, after, and two weeks after the exercise intervention. Outcome measures were a 6 Minute Walk Test, 6-Meter walk Test, Timed Up and Go Test, and a Balance Test, measured before and after the exercise interventions at a-2 week follow up. Results : The endurance was significantly increased in both the FES+PBWS group and general exercise group (p<0.05). Significant increase on the gait velocity was observed in both the FES+PBWS group and general exercise group (p<0.05). The TUG was significantly different in both the FES + PBWS group and general exercise group (p<0.05). However there were no differences in both the between-group & interaction. The stability index was significantly different in both the FES + PBWS group and general exercise group (p<0.05). Conclusion : In conclusion, the combined use of FES and over ground walking with PBWS led to an improvement in walking function and balance control. Thus, it is possible to combine the use of FES and over ground walking with PBWS for physical therapy intervention to improve walking function and balance control. It is suggested to apply this intervention in the clinical field.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.675-682
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• 2014

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of auditory biofeedback training and kicking training on walking times in patients with hemiplegia to determine if the effects of such training would be maintained even after stopping the intervention. Thirty hemiplegia patients were selected and randomly assigned to a control group of 10 patients to receive general exercise treatment; an auditory biofeedback training group of 10 patients to receive auditory biofeedback training, along with general exercise; and a kicking training group to receive kicking training, along with general exercise. All the patients received their respective training 12 times in total, three times per week for four weeks. In addition, all those in the control and experimental groups received the same general exercise treatment 12 times in total, three times per week for four weeks, and underwent follow-up tests thereafter. The patients' 10m walking times were measured using a stopwatch. The significance was analyzed using repeated-ANOVAs. In cases where there were interactions between measuring times and groups, in each group were examined using repeated-ANOVAs. In cases where there were differences, post-hoc tests were conducted using repeated of contrast test. The 10m walking times of the control and experimental groups were significant differences in 10m walking times were shown between measurement times(p<.05), and significant differences in the interactions between measuring times and groups were shown between the groups(p <.05). However, no significant differences in 10m walking times were shown between the groups(p>.05). The auditory biofeedback training group showed significant decreases in walking times four weeks after the beginning of the intervention(p<.05) and significant increases eight weeks after the beginning of the intervention(p<.05). The kicking training group showed significant decreases in walking time four weeks after the beginning of the intervention(p<.05) and maintained the walking times without showing any significant differences eight weeks after the beginning of the intervention(p>.05). The walking speeds of only the kicking training group were maintained until eight weeks after the beginning of the intervention.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.21-31
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• 2017

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify whether backward walking exercise was more effective than conventional physical therapy for balance and gait in hemiplegic stroke patients. METHODS: Eighteen patients with chronic stroke were randomly assigned to the experimental (n=9) or control (n=9) group. The experimental and control group performed backward walking exercise and conventional physical therapy, respectively, for 8 weeks. Stability Index (SI) and Weight Distribution Index (WDI) during standing were assessed using the Tetrax Balance System. The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and Korean version of the Berg Balance Scale (K-BBS) were used to evaluate balance and fall risk. Walking speed, stride length, and step length on the affected side were measured using the 10-Meter Walk and ink foot printing tests. Wilcoxon signed-rank and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for within- and between- group comparisons, respectively. RESULTS: The experimental group showed significantly higher changes in SI (p<.01), WDI (p<.01), TUG (p<.001), and BBS score (p<.001) following intervention compared with the control group. The experimental group also showed significantly greater improvements in walking speed (p<.01), stride length (p<.001), and step length on the affected side (p<.001) after intervention compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: Backward walking exercise is an effective intervention to improve balance and gait in hemiplegic stroke patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.137-145
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of various bridge exercises on walking ability. Method: The subjects were 30 stroke patients. They were divided into a bridge exercise group on a stable support surface (Group I), a bridge exercise group on an unstable support surface (Group II), and a bridge exercise group combined with whole body vibrations (Group III). 10 subjects were randomly assigned into each group. The subjects of this study had 30 minutes of nervous system physical therapy including gait training and strength training. In addition, each group underwent a 30 minutes session five times a week for eight weeks. Before intervention, LUKOtronic was used to measure step width and step length, time was measured with a 10 m walking test, and time and number of steps were measured with the figure 8 walking test. After the intervention, remeasured and analysis was performed for each group. Results: As a result of comparing and analyzing the change of walking ability between groups, there was a statistically significant difference. As a result of the post hoc analysis according to the change of walking ability among groups, the change of walking ability was larger in Group III than in Group I and Group II. Conclusion: Based on these results, it is confirmed that the bridge exercise combined with whole body vibration was more effective for walking ability. Based on these findings, this study proposes an effective program for elite athletes as well as stroke patients.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.660-667
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 12-week brisk walking and brisk walking plus diet program on C-Reactive Protein(CRP) in middle-aged obese hypertriglycemic($triglyceride{\geq}150mg/d{\ell}$) Korean women. Method: The subjects were 16 obese ($BMI{\geq}25$) hypertriglycemic middle-aged women (7 for brisk walking group, 9 for brisk walking plus diet group) who participated in a health promotion program at one public health center. Initially the brisk walking intervention consisted of walking for 20 minutes/day at an intensity of 40 to 50% of heart rate reserve(HRR) for 3 days/week and progressed to 50 minutes/day, 60 to 70% of their HRR, and 6 days/week. The diet intervention consisted of 60 minutes of group education and 20 to 30 minutes of individual counseling with a nutritionist every week. Data were analyzed with SPSS PC program. Results: There was no significant reduction in CRP levels in both brisk walking (Z=-1.70, p=0.088) and brisk walking plus diet group(Z=-0.31, p=0.752). In brisk walking only group, CRP levels were increased after the intervention. Conclusion: Brisk walking could increase the level of CRP when it is in the course of progression and diet could decrease the acute phase inflammatory response.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.771-780
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of exercise intervention, including dumbbell(weight lifting), walking, and yoga, on the body composition, physiologic factors, body image, and perceived health in the community-dwelling women. Method: This study utilized pretest-posttest design with three types of exercise interventions. The types of exercise intervention included dumbbell, walking, and yoga. Results: A total of 136 subjects were included: 49 for dumbbell, 67 for walking, and 20 for yoga. As measures of body composition, BMI, body weight, and body fat rate were significantly improved only after dumbbell intervention(p<.01). Systolic blood pressures were significantly decreased in the groups of dumbbell and walking. Diastolic blood pressure was significantly declined only in the walking group. Vital capacities and body image were improved in all groups(p<.01). However, total cholesterol levels were not improved in all groups(p>.05) and none of the measures for perceived health state were not significantly changed in all groups(p>.05). Conclusion: From the findings of this study, it was demonstrated that the effects of exercise interventions were differentiated by their types and variables to be affected. Therefore, future studies that apply the tailored exercise intervention to each age-categorical group are needed.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 2017

Purpose: This study examined the effects of upper- and lower-limb coordinated exercise with proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on stroke patients' recovery of their balancing and walking abilities. Methods: This study was conducted with 30 patients aged at least 60 years and diagnosed with stroke. The patients were randomly assigned to either a PNF upper- and lower-limb coordinated exercise group of 15 patients or an aero-step balance exercise group of 15 patients. To test the subjects' balancing and walking abilities, balancing ability tests and 10-m walking speed tests were conducted before and after the interventions. The patients performed their respective exercises for 30 minutes per session, three times per week for four weeks. The PNF exercise group performed six stages of exercise consisting of a combination of PNF patterns such as sprinting, skating, and striking. The six stages (right striking, right skating, right sprinting, left striking, left skating, and left sprinting) were performed continuously with a rest period of 1 min. after training for 4 min. The exercises for the aero-step balance group consisted of balancing in a two-leg standing position, weight shifting in a two-leg standing position, one-leg standing, squat exercises, marching in place, and squatting on an aero step. Results: The PNF exercise group showed significant improvements in their balancing ability evaluations compared to the aero-step balance group and also showed significant improvements in their 10-m walking speed tests. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, PNF upper- and lower-limb coordinated exercise resulted in clinical improvements of stroke patients' balancing and walking abilities. Therefore, this type of exercise is recommended as a clinical intervention for the recovery of stroke patients' lower-limb function. Future studies should be conducted with longer intervention periods and more subjects to generalize the study results.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.536-546
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether walking exercise improved physical function in elderly people using meta-analysis. Methods: Medical and nursing literature databases were searched to identify the studies on the effectiveness of walking exercise on physical function. In the databases, there were 16 articles reporting 21 interventions. Overall effect sizes for three outcome variables, elders' physical function in lower limb muscle endurance, whole body endurance and upper body flexibility, were calculated. Effects of study characteristics on outcome variables were analyzed. Results: The meta-analysis showed that walking exercise generally had positive effects on CST (chair stand test), 6MW (6 min walking), and SRT (standing or sitting reach test) with overall weighted effect sizes of 1.06, 0.41 and 0.29 respectively. This study also showed that the chronic disease status of the elders, intervention methods, and type of residence had different effects on CST, 6MW and SRT. Conclusion: The results indicate that walking exercise improves physical function in elders. Walking exercise which can be done at any time and any location is indeed a very effective exercise for elderly people.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.266-278
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of reinforced walking exercise on dyspnea-fatigue symptoms, daily activities, walking ability and health related quality of life (HRQoL) in heart failure patients. Methods: This study used a randomized controlled trial design. The participants (experimental group=16, control group=25) were recruited from a university hospital in Kyeong-nam area. Data were collected from March to September, 2015. The reinforced walking exercise included goal setting and feedback (telephone and text message) provided for 12 weeks. Dyspnea-Fatigue Index, Korean Activity Scale/Index (KASI), six-minute walking distance (6MWD) and HRQoL were measured. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, Fisher's exact test, $x^2$ test, and Kolmogrove-Smirnov test. Results: Prior to the intervention there were no differences in the research variables between two groups. The exercise compliance in the experimental group was 100% (walking for 50 minutes per day, 5 times per week). The experimental group had improved dyspnea-fatigue symptoms (t=8.63, p<.001), daily activities (t=-4.92, p<.001), longer 6MWD (t=-5.66, p<.001), and increased HRQoL (t=-9.05, p<.001) compared to the control group. Conclusion: The reinforced walking exercise could be a cost-effective intervention in heart failure patient, which could enhance patients' outcomes, such as improving dyspnea-fatigue symptoms, daily activities, walking ability, and quality of life.