• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.20-28
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of visual cue deprivation during sideways treadmill training in individuals with stroke. Twenty-eight stroke patients were divided into two groups, and each group participated in a sideways treadmill training session for 20 minutes, three times per week for 4 weeks. The eyes close group (15 subjects) performed this treadmill training with visual cue deprivation, while the eyes open group (13 subjects) performed it without visual cue deprivation. Gait function was measured in both groups before and after the training sessions with the Biodex Gait Trainer 2, which determined walking speed, distance, step length, and time on each foot. Balance was measured before and after each training period in both groups using the Five-Times Sit-to-Stand Test (FTSST), the Timed Up and Go test (TUG), and the seven-item Berg Balance Scale-3P (7-item BBS-3P). The eyes close group showed significantly improved gait function, walking speed, distance, step length, and time on each foot after training (p<.05). The eyes close group showed improved balance ability, FTSST, TUG, and 7-item BBS-3P test after training (p<.05). The findings indicated that sideways treadmill training with visual cue deprivation positively affects gait ability of stroke patients. Therefore, sideways treadmill training with visual cue deprivation may be useful for the recovery of gait ability of stroke patients.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.53-61
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• 2018

Background: Stroke patients show abnormal walking patterns due to brain injury. In order to have the desired walking pattern, appropriate stimulation is required to activate the central pattern generator. For this reason, our study performed treadmill ambulatory training with rhythmic auditory stimulation. However we did not consider the influence of visual feedback. Objects: The purpose of this study was to compare the gait abilities in chronic stroke patients following either treadmill walking training with rhythmic auditory stimulation and visual feedback (TRASVF) or treadmill walking training with rhythmic auditory stimulation (TRAS) alone. Methods: Twenty-one stroke patients were divided into two groups: A TRASVF group (10 subjects) and a TRAS group (11 subjects). They received 30 minutes of neuro-developmental therapy (NDT) and walking training for 30 minutes, five times a week for three weeks. Temporal and spatial gait parameters were measured before and after the training period. The Biodex gait trainer treadmill system measured gait parameters. Results: After the training periods, the TRASVF group showed a significant improvement in walking speed, the step length of the affected limb, and time on each foot of the affected limb when compared to the TRAS group (p<.05). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the treadmill walking training with rhythmic auditory stimulation and visual feedback improved individual gait ability more than the treadmill walking training with rhythmic auditory stimulation alone. Therefore, visual feedback should be considered along with rhythmic auditory stimulation training.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.155-171
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to provide basic data for a form of gait by comparing and analyzing gait motions on different grades and speeds. In order to accomplish the purpose, 6 university students, whose ages between 20 - 25, were selected. They have gaited on 3Km/h, 4Km/h, 5Km/h of speed and 4 video cameras were used to film them. The speed of filming was 60 frame / seconds. The special variations of kinematics in gait were fixed with ankle joint angle, knee joint angle, hip joint angle, ankle angular velocity, knee angular velocity and hip angular velocity. In this study, the SPSS 10.0 for windows statistical package was used to operate on significant level of .05 for statistical management. From the result of this study, we have succeeded to obtain following conclusions; 1. As the speed increased, the value of ankle joint angle increased. Also the value of ankle joint angle was larger on decline than on incline. 2. As the speed increased, the value of knee joint angle was increased. 3. As the speed increased, the value of hip joint angle was decreased. 4. As the speed increased, the value of ankle angular velocity increased. And the value of ankle angular velocity became higher on decline than on incline. 5. The value of knee angular velocity showed higher on decline than on incline. 6. As the speed increased, the value of hip angular velocity was increased. Also the value of hip angular velocity became higher on incline than on decline.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2014

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of flexible derotator of femur orthosis (FDO) during treadmill gait training on the quadriceps-angle (Q-angle), lateral pelvic tilt, gait speed, and number of steps in children with cerebral palsy. METHODS: Seven children with cerebral palsy who had rotational deformity of the lower extremities participated in this study. We used single group repeated measure design. The procedure consisted of baseline phase, intervention phase, and post-intervention phase. The baseline phase consisted of stretching and strengthening exercise and treadmill gait training without FDO. The treatment phase not only included the same procedures as those for baseline, but also included FDO during treadmill gait training. Postural alignment of the lower extremities was assessed with the Q-angle, and lateral pelvic tilt using the Dartfish software program. A 10-m walk test was used to evaluate gait speed and number of steps. RESULTS: For postural alignment, there was significant differences after the application of FDO (p<.05). For gait ability, there was significant differences in all phases (p<.01). CONCLUSION: These finding suggest that the application of FDO during treadmill gait training had a positive effect on the improvement of postural alignment and gait ability in children with cerebral palsy having rotational deformity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.447-454
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• 2014

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of inclination treadmill training with dynamic stretching on the spasticity and gait of chronic stroke patients. METHODS: Twenty two subjects were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (EG, n=11) or a control group (CG, n=11). Both groups participated in a standard rehabilitation program; in addition, the EG participated in inclination treadmill training for 20 min per day, five times per week, for 4 weeks, and the CG participated in treadmill walking training for 20 min per day, five times per week, for 4 weeks. Outcome measurements, recorded before and post intervention. Walking ability was measured using the 10m walking test (10MWT) and Timed up and go (TUG) test. Spasticity of the medialis gastrocnemius was measured using a myotonometer. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed the both groups for walking ability and spasticity after the training program. The results of the study were follows: 10MWT and TUG was significantly increased in both groups (p<0.05) and it was also found to be significant between groups after intervention (p<0.05). Spasticity was significantly increased in both groups (p<0.05) and it was also found to be significant between the groups after intervention (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that inclination treadmill training improves gait ability and reduces spasticity of the medialis gastrocnemius. Inclination treadmill training may be used as an easy, effective and accessible way to improve the walking ability and decrease spasticity in stroke patients. Further studies are necessary to generalize the findings of this study.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.135-144
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• 2008

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of body weight support treadmill training (BWSTT) and parallel bar gait training(P-bar) on gait and balance ability of subacute stroke patients. The subjects were consisted of 27 patients with subacute stroke, and they were randomly devided into two groups which were BWSTT group and P-bar group. Method : The timed up and go(TUG), 10m gait speed were used to measure gait speed, Bergs balance scale(BBS) was used to measure dynamic balance ability, and balance performance monitor(BPM) was used to measure sway area, sway path, max velocity. Result : 1. The TUG and 10m gait speed of BWSTT group and P-bar group were significantly decreased (p<.05). The TUG and 10m gait speed were different significantly between BWSTT group and P-bar group(p<.05). 2. The BBS and sway area of BWSTT group and P-bar group were significantly decreased (p<.05). The BBS and sway area were not different significantly between BWSTT group and P-bar group(p>.05). 3. The sway path and max velocity of BWSTT group and P-bar group were significantly decreased (p<.05). The sway path and max velocity were not different significantly between BWSTI group and P-bar group(p>.05). Conclusion : The outcomes suggest that patient with subacute stroke can improve their gait and balance through body weight support treadmill training.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 2017

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of treadmill gait training in an adjusted position from the functional training system on the gait and balance of chronic stroke patients. METHODS: Thirty chronic stroke patients were randomly assigned to either the experimental group, who received treadmill gait training in an adjusted position, or the control group, who received regular treadmill gait training. Both groups underwent a 30-minute comprehensive rehabilitation treatment before receiving an additional 20-minute treadmill gait training. This routine was repeated five times a week for four weeks. To measure the difference before and after training in walking and balance, patients were scored on the following: 10 m walking test (10 MWT), 6 minute walking distance (6 MWD), timed up and go test (TUG), and static standing balance test (stability index). RESULTS: While post-training scores of 10 MWT, 6 MWD, TUG, and stability index for both groups increased significantly compared with pre-training (p<.05), the experimental group showed greater improvement than the control group (p<.05). The scores of the experimental group increased significantly by 9% in the 10 MWT, 11% in 6 MWD, 13% in the TUG, 8% in the stability Index (eye opened), and 10% in the stability index (eye closed). CONCLUSION: Treadmill gait training in an adjusted position from the functional training system would be a useful gait training method to improve walking and balance of chronic stroke patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.39-48
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• 2020

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of integrating transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation into treadmill gait training by applying functional electrical stimulation on the spasticity, balance, and gait ability of chronic stroke patients METHODS: Twenty participants were assigned randomly to two groups: the treadmill gait training group with applied functional electrical stimulation (FES) with integrated transcutaneous electricalstimulation (TENS) (experimental group, EG, n = 10) and the treadmill gait training group with FES (control group, CG, n = 10). Both groups received treadmill gait training with FES for 30 minutes a time, four times a week, during five weeks. The experimental group received additional TENS on their L3, L5, and S2 dermatome for 30 minutes before the interventions. The spasticity, balance, and gait ability were evaluated before and after the training to compare the intergroup and intragroup changes. RESULTS: Both groups showed significant improvements in the static, dynamic balance, and gait ability (p < .05), but did not show any significant changes in the muscle tone. The EG showed significant improvements in the static balance ability and gait cycle compared to the CG (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Treadmill gait training combined with FES with integrated TENS is an effective method for improving the static balance and gait cycle. On the other hand, the effects of treadmill gait training with FES on spasticity need to be studied further.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.101-108
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• 2020

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of treadmill walking training using the metronome on the gait pattern. METHODS: A total of 33 healthy persons were studied consisting of 17 female and 16 male in the 20-30 age group. A gait analysis program was installed on a treadmill with a built - in gait analysis sensor and laptop. After 9 minutes of treadmill walking, gait analysis was performed for 1 minute. The mean values of the differences in the step length, angle of COP, separation line standard deviation and step force of the lower legs affecting walking symmetry were calculated for treadmill walking and treadmill walking using the metronome. The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to test the normality of the collected data and a paired t-test was performed to analyze the difference in walking before and after using the metronome. RESULTS: As a result of the analysis, the mean of difference between the measured values of the bilateral lower extremity for step length, angle of COP, separation line standard deviation and step force were statistically significant before and after treadmill walking using the metronome. CONCLUSION: Therefore, the treadmill walking training using the metronome is effective in decreasing the difference in the foot width, gait angle, gait distribution, and foot pressure. Because of this, the treadmill walking training using the metronome has a significant effect on walking symmetry among the elements for correct walking, which is a means for enabling efficient and continuous walking.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.9-18
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• 2013

The study aimed to compare the effect of the treadmill walking training combined with obstacle-crossing (TWT-OC) and treadmill walking training (TWT) on the walking function of patients with chronic stroke. 29 subjects volunteered to participate in this study; they were randomly assigned to either TWT-OC group (15 subjects) or TWT group (14 subjects). Subjects from the TWT-OC group underwent a treadmill walking combined with obstacles-crossing for 30 minutes daily, three days a week for four weeks, whereas subjects from the TWT group received only a treadmill walking. The 10 m walk test (10MWT), 6-min walk test (6MWT), berg balance scale (BBS), timed up and go test (TUG), activities-specific balance confidence-Korean version (ABC-K), and walking ability questionnaire (WAQ) were measured before and after the 4-week training. The TWT-OC group showed significantly better functional mobility of walking and balance measured by 6MWT (p<.01), BBS (p<.01), and TUG scores (p<.05) when compared with those of the TWT group. Further, within-group comparison showed significant improvement in all variables (p<.01) except for 10MWT. These findings suggest that the TWT-OC and TWT may be helpful for improving the walking function of patients with chronic stroke, and the TWT-OC has probably more favorable outcomes for chronic stroke, however, further trials with wider range of subjects are warranted for generalization and clinical relevance.