• PNF and Movement
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.29-35
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• 2008

Purpose : To describes the important aspects of the foot and ankle movement and function used when git and balance strategy. Method : The foot and ankle was a very important roles in the lower limb movement and gait. This study summarizes the physiologic movement of knee to the PNF lower extremity patterns. Result : The ankle joint composed of the talocural joint, the subtalarl joint, transverse tarsal joint, talocalcaneonavicular joint. The onset of dorsiflexion muscle activity starts in pre swing gait patterns. First contract muscle is the extensor hallucis. Activity of tibialis anterior and extensor digitorum longus quickly follows in mid swing gait phase. During stance phase, the soleus and gastrocnemius muscle provided plantar flexor torque, which muscle reacts quickly to restrain ankle dorsiflexion, and contributes modulated control of the ankle motion in gait patterns. Conclusions : The understanding of ankle kinematics, could provide a good therapeutic approach for improving gait patterns in patients with various pathological condition.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.129-135
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• 2018

PURPOSE: The imbalance of pretibial muscles can be a factor contributing to the development of pes planus. However, no study has yet compared the muscle activity of the tibials anterior (TA) to that of the extensor digitorum longus (EDL). The purpose of this study was to determine whether there are differences in the electromyographic (EMG) TA and EDL amplitude indexes (AIs) between normal and pes planus feet. METHODS: A total of 14 subjects with normal feet and 15 subjects with bilateral pes planus participated in this study. TA and EDL muscle activities were measured using a wireless EMG system and the angles of ankle dorsiflexion and eversion of the subtalar joint were measured using a universal goniometer during active ankle dorsiflexion in the prone position. AI was calculated as follows: $\text{amplitude_{TA}-amplitude_{EDL}/(amplitude_{TA}+amplitude_{EDL})}/2{\times}100$. RESULTS: The AIs of the TA and EDL were significantly lower in pes planus feet than in normal feet (p<.05). The angle of subtalar eversion was significantly greater in pes planus feet than in normal feet during active ankle dorsiflexon (p<.05). However, there was no significant difference in the angle of ankle dorsiflexion between normal feet and pes planus feet (p>.05). CONCLUSION: This study showed that TA muscle activation was lower in pes planus feet than in normal feet, resulting from greater eversion range of motion during active ankle dorsiflexion. We suggest that the imbalance of ankle dorsiflexors must be considered in pes planus management.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.61-69
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• 2022

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effect of maitland mobilization and mobilization with movement (MWM) applied to the ankle joint on ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM), static and dynamic balance, plantar pressure, and gait ability. Methods: A total of 24 individuals were assigned to either the maitland mobilization group (n=12) or the MWM group (n=12). Dorsiflexion ROM, static and dynamic balance, plantar pressure, 10-meter walk test were measured before and 4 weeks after the intervention. Results: Both groups showed a significant difference in the evaluation after 4 weeks as the dorsiflexion ROM of the ankle increased (p<.05), and the sway length and sway area indicating static balance decreased (p<.05). Furthermore, the movement area showing dynamic balance showed a significant increase (p<.05), the plantar pressure difference between both feet significantly decreased (p<.05). In the 10-meter walk test, there was a significant difference as the time decreased (p<.05). However, no significant difference between the two groups was observed (p>.05). Conclusion: According to the results of this study where, maitland mobilization and MWM were applied to the ankle joint of hemiplegic patients for 4 weeks, we found no difference between the two groups. However, each technique was found to be effective for dorsiflexion ROM, static and dynamic balance, plantar pressure, and gait.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.47-54
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of active and passive postural perturbation on ankle dorsiflexor responses in stroke patients. The subjects consisted of 13 stroke patients. Using wireless electromyography, the patients' ankle dorsiflexor muscle responses were measured under the following conditions: active dorsiflexion (AD), active perturbation (AP), and passive perturbation (PP). Tibialis anterior muscle activity increased most significantly during PP of the affected side ($118.64{\pm}56.28$). The most significant increase for the non-affected side was in AD ($72.64{\pm}24.56$). Tibialis anterior muscle activity was compared under each condition. The affected side showed significant differences between PP and AD and between PP and AP (p<.05). The non-affected side showed not significant differences between each condition. The ratios of tibialis anterior muscle activity under AP to that under AD were 1.00 on the affected side and .75 on the non-affected side and the difference was not significant (p>.05). The ratios of tibialis anterior muscle activity under PP to that under AD were 3.30 on the affected side and 1.14 on the non-affected side and the difference was significant (p<.05). Passive perturbation improved tibialis anterior muscle activity on the affected side, and training based on this approach may have the potential to improve the ankle dorsiflexion of people with stroke.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.340-345
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• 2023

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of thoracic spine and ankle joint alignment on trunk and upper limb muscle activity during trunk forward lean exercise using a sling. Methods: 25 subjects participated in this study. All subjects performed trunk forward lean exercise using a sling under four conditions according to the alignment of the thoracic spine and ankle joints. Trials were performed 3 times in each condition. Muscle activity of the trunk and upper extremity was measured using electromyography. Results: In the dorsiflexion, the thoracic kyphosis condition showed significantly higher muscle activity in the pectoralis major, rectus abdominis, latissimus dorsi, transverse abdominis than dorsiflexion(p<0.05). In the plantar flexion, thoracic kyphosis condition showed significantly higher muscle activity in pectoralis major, transverse abdominis, latissimus dorsi muscle activity than dorsiflexion(p<0.05). Conclusions: Regardless of ankle alignment, thoracic kyphosis condition increased the activity of the pectoralis major, transverse abdominis, latissimus dorsi. Therefore, regardless of the alignment of the ankle, it is recommended to perform the trunk forward lean exercise using a sling in thoracic kyphosis.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2017.10a
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• pp.125-126
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• 2017

This paper aims to prevent re-damaging of the ankles of patients with chronic instability in ankles. For this purpose, the angles of dorsiflexion and plantarflexion of ankle will be measured. If the angle is within prescribed range and the patient does not complain of pain, it will be deemed normal.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.88-93
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• 2020

Purpose: This study examined the inter-rater reliability of cervical proprioception, dynamic balance ability, and ankle dorsiflexion range of motion using STARmat^®, which is a practical clinical tool that can provide practitioners and patients with quantitative and qualitative results. Methods: Thirty healthy young subjects were enrolled in this study, and two well-trained physical therapists participated as a tester. Two testers measured the cervical joint position error at the starting position after neck flexion, extension, side bending, and rotation; three dynamic balance tests, including anterior excursion, anterior reaching with single leg balance, and posterior diagonal excursion; and ankle dorsiflexion range of motion using STARmat^®. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to determine the inter-rater reliability of the tests. Results: The inter-rater reliability for the cervical proprioception ranged from moderate to good (0.66 to 0.83), particularly for flexion (0.82), extension (0.70), right side bending (0.73), left side bending (0.71), right rotation (0.83), and left rotation (0.66). For the dynamic balance, the inter-rater reliability ranged from good to excellent (0.87 to 0.91), particularly for anterior excursion (0.86), posterior diagonal excursion (0.87 to 0.89), and anterior reaching with a single leg balance (0.90 to 0.91). In addition, for the ankle dorsiflexion range of motion, the ICC for the inter-rater reliability ranged from 0.95 to 0.96. Conclusion: STARmat^® is a reliable tool for measuring cervical proprioception, dynamic balance tests, and ankle dorsiflexion range of motion in healthy young adults.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2006.10c
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• pp.193-195
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• 2006

In this study, we developed an active controlled ankle-foot orthosis(AAFO) which can control the dorsiflexion/plantarflexion of the ankle joint during gait to prevent foot drop and toe drag for paralysis patients. To prevent dropping foot after heel strike, ankle joint was actively controlled to minimize forefoot collision with the ground. It was also controlled to provide toe clearance and to help push-off during late stance. The 3D gait analysis was performed on two healthy subjects equipped with the developed AAFO to compare with the normal gait and the conventional AFO gait. In the developed AAFO gait, differently from the conventional AFO gait, significant push-off was observed during pre-swing and the maximum flexion moment during pre-swing phase was similar to that of normal gait. A remarkable dorsiflexion also occurred during initial swing. These results indicated that the developed AAFO could have certain clinical benefits to prevent foot drop for paralysis patients, compared to conventional AFOs.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.66-72
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• 2015

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of balance training with plantar flexor stretching on ankle dorsi flexion range of motion (ROM), balance, and gait ability in stroke patients. Design: A randomized controlled pilot trial. Methods: Thirty stroke patients volunteered to participate in this study. The subjects were randomly allocated to two groups: the experimental group (n=15) received the neurodevelopment therapy plus balance training with plantar flexor stretching for 20 minutes in one session. The control group (n=15) received the same neurodevelopment therapy plus plantar flexor static stretching for 20 minutes in one session. Both groups underwent sessions four times a week, for a total of 4 weeks. Measurements included passive range of motion (PROM), active range of motion (AROM) of ankle dorsiflexion using a goniometer, timed up and go (TUG), the functional reaching test (FRT), and the 10 m walk test (10 MWT). Results: There were significant improvements in AROM and PROM of ankle dorsiflexion, TUG, and FRT scores after the intervention in the experimental group (p<0.05). However, the control group showed no statistically significant differences except for PROM of ankle dorsiflexion. The experimental group showed a significant improvement in PROM, TUG, and FRT scores compared to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusions: Balance training with plantar flexor stretching improves ankle dorsiflexion ROM and balance ability in patients with stroke. Therefore, this therapeutic intervention will be effective for rehabilitation of stroke patients in the clinical setting.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.124-127
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• 2016

Purpose: The flexor hallucis longus stretch test can determine the shortness of the flexor hallucis longus muscle by measuring the angle of extension in the first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint at maximum ankle dorsiflexion. Less than 30 degrees of the first MTP joint at the maximal ankle dorsiflexion indicates shortness of the flexor hallucis longus muscle. The purpose of this study was to examine the intra- and inter-reliability of the flexor hallucis longus stretch test in subjects with asymmetric hallux valgus (HV) angles. Methods: Sixteen subjects with asymmetric HV angles participated in this study. In sitting position, dorsiflexion angles of the first MTP joint were measured with maximum ankle dorsiflexion on each side. ICC (3,1) and ICC (3,k) models were used, respectively, to assess the intra-reliability and inter-reliability of the flexor hallucis longus stretch test. The paired-t test was used to compare the dorsiflexion angle of the first MTP joint on the side with the smaller HV angle with that of the side with the larger HV angle. Results: The results of the study showed that both intra- and inter-reliability were more than 0.95 of the coefficient. Dorsiflexion angle of the first MTP joint was higher on the side with the smaller HV angle. Conclusion: Use of the flexor hallucis longus stretch test is acceptable in clinical settings because both intra- and inter-reliability were high in subjects with asymmetric HV angles. In addition, shortness of the flexor hallucis longus muscle is associated with HV angle. This study provides useful information for use in management of HV deformity.