• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.763-769
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• 2016

Objective: To confirm the immediate gait improvement in a post-stroke gait disturbance patient equipped with a weighted vest. Methods: We selected a patient who was able to walk without another’s help or with tools. The selected patient had an unstable gait because she had only started an independent gait within the past week, so we thought that a weighted vest could be very helpful for her. We first collected gait parameters using a treadmill gait analysis system while the patient walked on the treadmill without the weighted vest. After a 10-minute break, gait parameters were collected again while the patient walked on the treadmill while wearing the weighted vest. The gait parameters we collected included step length (cm), stance phase (%), swing phase (%), SW/ST, and gait line length (mm). For objective evaluation of gait improvement, we calculated the ratio of gait parameters of the right and left limbs. Results: The gait of the post-stroke patient was more symmetrical when wearing the weighted vest than without the weighted vest. Without the weighted vest, her step length ratio was 0.78, stance phase ratio was 0.88, swing phase ratio was 1.50, SW/ST ratio was 1.70, and gait line length ratio was 0.91. With the weighted vest, her step length ratio was 0.88, stance phase ratio was 0.90, swing phase ratio was 1.38, SW/ST ratio was 1.54, and gait line length ratio was 0.98. No side effects were observed due to the weighted vest.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Sensory Integration
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2010

Purpose : The purpose of the study is to find out the effect of wearing a weighted vest for sensory modulation disorder children. Methods : The participant of the study was an elementary school student, male, aged 7. The ABA single case study was used to design the study which was performed for 14 sessions. During the mediation period(B), the participant received the study cognitive education wearing weighted vest weighing 1.3kg. Results : Abnormal behaviors such as suddenly standing up from the chair, shaking body front and back, and left and right, sucking his thumb and putting the back of his hand to his mouth showed tendency to decrease gradually. Discussion : The participant's abnormal behaviors decreased as the sessions went by, which means the sensory integration therapy can improve the behavior of the child suffering the sensory modulation disorder. The design of the study had certain limitation to explain the influence a weighted vest to sustain the effect of the sensory integration therapy. New study design is needed for the extended studies to prove the lasting effect of a weighted vest for the sensory integration therapy and to suggest protocols incorporating wearing know-hows, proper wearing time, and the weight of a weighted vest.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.109-119
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• 2016

Purpose : The purpose of this research is to find clinical effects of functional resistance training using weighted vest on gross motor and balance abilities of children with dyskinetic cerebral palsy. Methods : This study selects 3 subjects for 8~12 years old who were diagnosed with children with dyskinetic cerebral palsy. The Design is ABA design of single-subject research design. Baseline(A) and TypeII Baseline(A : 12weeks) phases were received with NDT treatment, Intervention(B : 12weeks) phase provided with 40 minute functional resistance training using weighted vest in a session twice a week. In order to analyze the measure results of gross motor function and performance, balance abilities in children dyskinetic cerebral palsy during baseline, intervention and typeII baseline phase. Result : A statistically significant differences in the total GMFM including walking/running/jumping during baseline, intervention, typeII baseline, but no significant differences in the lying/rolling, sitting, crawling/kneeling and standing. A statistically significant differences in the total GMPM including dissociated movement, coordination, weight shift, stability during baseline, intervention, typeII baseline, but no significant differences in the body alignment domains. A statistically significant differences in the length and surface area ellipse of center of pressure during baseline, intervention, typeII baseline. Conclusion : The intervention method to facilitate multi-joint and closed kinematic chain movement equipped weighted vest applied functional resistance training on children with dyskinetic cerebral palsy effectively improve on gross motor function and performance, balance abilities.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Sensory Integration
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.46-65
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• 2017

Objective : The purpose of this research is to find clinical effects of application of weighted vest during task-oriented training focused on gross motor performance and balance abilities of children with spastic diplegia. Methods : 34 subjects were divided by simple random sampling into two groups; experimental group (male : 9, female : 8, average age : 8.12) and placebo group (male : 9, female : 9, average age : 7.53). Both two groups underwent to 40 minute intervention, twice a week for 12 weeks. The intervention was task-oriented training focused on facilitating closed kinematic chain and multi-joint functional movement pattern. During the training, the experimental group received loaded-resistance weighted vest and placebo group also received weighted vest but without loaded-resistance. Participants in both groups underwent 8 to 10 reps of the task-oriented training and there were 3 minutes break time between tasks. There were pre-test of gross motor performance and balance abilities, and two times of post-tests were performed upon 6 weeks and 12 weeks after the intervention completed. And in final, an additional follow-up test was performed 12 weeks after the evaluation was finished in order to find any difference between the two groups over time. Results : There was significant difference in Gross Motor Performance Measure (GMPM) between two groups. It is found that average score of the experimental group increased more than the placebo group after 6 weeks and 12 weeks intervention (p<.05). There was significant difference in Pediatric Berg's Balance Scale (PBS) between two groups. It is found that average score of the experimental group increased more than the placebo group after 6 weeks and 12 weeks intervention (p<.05). Conclusion : Based on the results in this study, it is proposed that application of weighted vest into task-oriented training to facilitating closed kinematic chain and multi-joint movement can improve gross motor performance and balance abilities of children with cerebral palsy.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.119-127
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• 2023

Objective: This study aimed to compare the activity of the trunk and leg muscles while performing fente (in fencing) wearing weighted and waterbag vests. Method: The electromyography test was used to measure and analyze the activation of the trunk and leg muscles. Eight active fencers from B University (age: 19.5 ± 0.66 years, height: 179.75 ± 5.93 cm, weight: 72 ± 6.32 kg) were selected for this study. Results: According to the EMG analysis results of the 4 muscles measured in this study, left-right differences were observed for rectus abdominis and external oblique abdominis, but left-right differences between the groups were not significant. The gluteus medius muscle was not significantly different from the adductor muscle, but there were significant differences between the groups. Conclusion: The electromyographic analysis of the four muscles measured in this study revealed no significant difference between the left and right recti abdominis and external obliques depending on the vests. However, significant differences were observed between the left and right gluteus medius and adductor longus. Our results can be interpreted as the effects of the inherent movements involved in the fente. Furthermore, our results indicate that the weight transfer while wearing a waterbag vest, which provides an unstable environment, increased the activity of leg muscles.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.144-153
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• 2016

This study examined the recent study trends through a systematic review of the effect of sensory integration intervention and the objective reason to show the areas where sensory integration intervention is effective. The databases, Medline and EMBASE, were searched for "Occupational therapy", "Sensory integration therapy", "Sensory processing", "Weighted vest", and "Wilbarger protocol". For the analysis studies, 14 studies on the effects of sensory integration intervention from 2010 to 2015 were analyzed and organized according to the principle of PICO. According to the result, there were 4 studies each of evidence levels I and e V, which was the largest number of studies (28.6%). The result from frequency analysis of the measurement used for measuring the effects of intervention showed that GAS and VABS-II were used in the 4 studies (11.8%). 71.4% of children with autism spectrum were the major subject group in the analysis studies and sensory integration intervention had an effect on the motor performance, sensory processing, behavior, learning-related education, and occupation performance area. This study result will be useful for establishing sensory integration as an interventional program in occupational therapy practice. In further studies, it will be important to verify the intervention effect of sensory integration in another rehabilitation area.