• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.363-373
• /
• 2020

The purpose of this study was to improve the gait ability and quality of life of stroke patients by combining virtual reality technology and a visual feedback gait training program with entertainment elements. Ten stroke patients with circumduction gait were selected. The visual feedback treadmill gait training program using virtual reality technology and a force plate measurement system was conducted 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, with 25 sessions in 5 weeks. To investigate the effects of this gait training program, evaluations using the joint range-of-motion test, muscle activity tests, Berg balance scale (BBS), gait analysis, and stroke-specific quality-of-life scale (SS-QOL) were performed before and after intervention. Statistically significant differences were found in the joint range of motion and muscle activity of the affected side from the initial swing phase to the mid-swing phase of the gait cycle, dynamic balance, gait function, and quality of life (p <0.05). The results of this study indicate that the gait training program improved the foot drop, muscle activity, dynamic balance, and gait ability of stroke patients with circumduction gait, thereby improving the quality of life of the patients. Therefore, we recommend the application of the visual feedback treadmill gait training program using virtual reality technology and a force plate measurement system to improve gait ability and quality of life of stroke patients with circumduction gait.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.133-140
• /
• 2017

Purpose: This study compares the effects of treadmill gait training accompanied by visual feedback and general treadmill gait training on the gait and balance ability of patients with chronic stroke. Methods: A total of 11 patients with chronic stroke were randomly divided into either the treadmill gait training accompanied by visual feedback group (six patients) or the general treadmill gait training group (five patients). The gait and balance ability of the two groups were measured before and after the interventions using the functional reach test, the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, Berg's balance test, and the Biodex balance test. The treadmill gait training accompanied by visual feedback group performed the exercise under the supervision of a therapist after first being provided with a hat and a goal that was devised for the purpose of providing visual feedback information. The interventions were applied to the respective groups for four weeks. For the statistical analysis, we conducted a Mann-Whitney test to compare the results between the two groups. Additionally, the Wilcoxon test was used to compare the results from before and after the intervention in each group. Results: The treadmill gait training accompanied by visual feedback group showed a significant difference in terms of the functional reach test after the intervention when compared to the general treadmill gait training group (p<0.05). Although there was no significant difference, the treadmill gait training accompanied by visual feedback group showed a larger improvement in the TUG test, Berg's balance test, and the Biodex balance test than the general treadmill gait training group (p>0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that treadmill gait training accompanied by visual feedback can be used as a beneficial intervention scheme for the recovery of the gait and balance ability of patients with chronic stroke.