• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.9 no.12
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• pp.674-682
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of aquatic gait training on plantar foot pressure, foot kinesiology and gait speed in right hemiplegic patients. The subject were 20 stroke patients who elapsed from 12 month to 24 month after stroke(aquatic gait training group(n=10), land gait training group(n=10)). This study measured plantar foot pressure, toe out angle, subtalar joint angle, gait speed from data of gate on 2m long measuring apparatus for RS-scan system(RS scan Ltd. German). This experiment performed in twice, before and after the aquatic gait training and land gait training. Collected data were statistically analyzed by SPSS Ver. 12.0 using descriptive statistics, paired t-test. Aquatic gait training group had more variety pressure area on their foot such as T1(Toe 1), HM(Heel medial), and HL(Heel lateral). But motion of subtalar joint flexibility and toe out angle decreased considerably and gate speed also increased. According to the result, aquatic gait training is considered as more effective way in foot stability and normal gait pattern than land gait training.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.243-251
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the effects of aquatic and land dual-task training on balance, gait, and depression in chronic stroke patients. Methods: A total of 24 patients diagnosed with chronic stroke were the subjects. They were assigned to either the experimental group (n = 12) or the control group (n = 12). The experimental group performed aquatic dual-task training, while the control group performed land dual-task training. The aquatic and land dual-task training sessions were conducted once a day for 30 min, 5 days per week, for 6 weeks. Balance was measured using the Berg balance scale. Gait was measured using the Timed Up and Go Test. The Beck's Depression Inventory was used to measure depression. Results: Both the experimental and control groups showed significant differences in balance, gait, and depression after the intervention (p < 0.05) in the within-group comparisons. It was found that the experimental group showed more significant differences in balance, gait, and depression than the control group (p < 0.05) when the two groups were compared. Conclusion: It can be concluded that aquatic dual-task training effectively improved the balance ability, gait ability, and chronic stroke patients' depression based on these results.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.67-72
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare to aquatic treadmill and anti-gravity treadmill gait training to improve balance and gait abilities in stroke patients. Methods: All subjects were randomly divided into three groups where nine subjects were in the aquatic treadmill group, eight subjects in the anti-gravity treadmill group, and ten subjects in the control group. Subjects in the aquatic treadmill group and the anti-gravity treadmill group received gait training during 30 minutes, with 3 sessions per week for 4 weeks, and subjects in all groups received conventional physical therapy during 30 minutes, with 5 sessions per week for 4 weeks. All subjects were assessed with the Berg balance scale (BBS), timed up and go test (TUG) and 10-meter walk test (10MWT) pre and post intervention. Results: Results showed that BBS, TUG and 10MWT scores significantly improved post-intervention (p<0.05), and the control group also had significantly improved in all areas pre-post intervention (p<0.05). In addition, it has been confirmed that aquatic treadmill group and anti-gravity treadmill group had significantly improved in BBS, TUG and 10MWT scores compared with the control group (p<0.05). However, no significant difference was found in the comparison between the aquatic treadmill and the anti-gravity treadmill group. Conclusion: Finding of this study suggested that aquatic treadmill and anti-gravity treadmill improves balance and gait abilities in stroke patients.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.129-137
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of a 12-week aquatic exercise on obstacle gait in older women. Originally, 20 healthy female elderly participated this study but 12 of them completed the program. All participants were trained in the aquatic exercise program by an authorized trainer. They had come to the authors' lab three times during training period(0, 6, 12 weeks) and performed obstacle gait with three different height(0, 30, and 50% of leg length). After performed 3-Dimensional motion analysis following results were found. (1) For the CV, MVHC, TC, HC, statistically significances were shown in obstacle height. Although significant training effects were not shown, all variables showed typical patterns and it was considered as efficient motion to overcome the height obstacles. (2) The anterior-posterior and vertical GRF of support leg during support phase were revealed in height effect but in training one. However, differences between Peak 1 and Peak 2 in vertical GRF increased as training period increased. (3) Knee and hip resultant joint moments were affected by training but ankle resultant moments remained unchanged.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.35-41
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• 2019

Background: Obstacle training affects lower limb muscle activity, balance, reducing the risk of falls, and making gait more stable. Objects: This study aimed to investigate the effects of aquatic and ground obstacle training on balance and muscle activity in patients with chronic stroke. Methods: The study subjects included 30 patients with stroke, who were divided into aquatic ($n_1=15$) and ground ($n_2=15$) groups. Groups underwent obstacle training three times per week, 30 min per session, for six weeks that went as follows: walking over sites with the paralyzed leg, stepping onto and down from a box step, and walking over obstacles with the non-paralyzed leg. Results: The experimental results were obtained by comparing muscle activity. Activity of the rectus femoris, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior, and gastrocnemius were significantly increased in the aquatic group (p<.05). Activity of the biceps femoris and tibialis anterior were significantly increased in the ground group (p<.05); however, the rectus femoris and gastrocnemius were not significantly different. In the comparison of maximal distance regarding the limits of stability, it was significantly increased on the non-affected side, affected side, and anterior and posterior distance in the aquatic group (p<.05). It was significantly increased in the non-affected side and anterior and posterior distance the ground group (p<.05); however, maximal distance on the affected side distance was not significantly different. Conclusion: Gait training with aquatic and ground obstacles is effective for improving balance and gait ability of patients with stroke. However, it was more effective for the aquatic group than for the ground group.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.236-241
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• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the effects of aquatic proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern exercise on the balance, gait ability, and depression in patients with chronic stroke. Methods: Thirty patients with chronic stroke were assigned randomly to an experimental (n=15) or control (n=15) group. The experimental group performed aquatic proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern exercise. The control group performed ground proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern exercise. Training was conducted once a day for 30 minutes, five days per week for six weeks. The balance ability was measured using the Berg balance scale. The gait ability was measured using the 10 Meter walk test. Depression was measured using the Beck depression inventory. Results: As a result of a comparison within groups, the experimental and control group showed a significant difference for balance, gait ability, and depression after the experiment (p<0.05). In a comparison between the two groups, the experimental group, in which aquatic proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern exercise was applied, showed more significant changes in balance, gait ability, and depression than the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Based on these results, aquatic proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern exercise effectively improved the balance, gait ability and depression in patients with chronic stroke.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.29-35
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of study was to measure stroke patients' ability to balance and their degrees of clinical function and to examine the effect of the aquatic exercise method using tasks related to these features. Methods: Twenty stroke patients were randomly assigned to an aquatic task exercise group and a land task exercise group. Both groups used the same exercise method for 60 minutes each session, three times a week for 12 weeks at the same time point and with the same amount of exercise. Results: Before and after the exercise, static balance was measured using balance measuring instruments locomotive faculties, muscular strength, and dynamic balance were assessed through the Berg balance and 10 m gait tests. Finally, gait abilities were measured, and the data obtained were analyzed to generate the results. Conclusion: Both groups showed significant improvement, but the aquatic exercise group showed slightly more significant results in static balance, Berg balance, and upright walking tests. It is thought that the improvement of stroke patients' balance and gait ability can be triggered through the application of aquatic exercise programs in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.89-98
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• 2018

PURPOSE: While underwater, patients with hemiplegia experience unwanted limb flotation on their paretic side due to low muscle mass and high body fat. However, only a limited number of studies support the effectiveness of this practice. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine how the balance and walking abilities of patients with hemiplegia due to stroke were affected by wearing an aquatic cuff on their ankles during underwater treadmill walking. METHODS: Twenty stroke patients were divided into an experimental group comprised of 20 patients who would wear an aquatic cuff and a control group comprised of 10 patients without an aquatic cuff. Both groups underwent a six-week intervention for 30 minutes a day three times a week. To evaluate the groups' balance and walking abilities before and after the intervention, the 10 m walking test, timed up go test, Berg Balance Scale, functional reaching test, and the GAITRite system were used. RESULTS: The results of the 10 m walking test, timed up go test, differences between the left and right gait cycles, and functional reaching test showed statistically significant differences in the rates of change between the two groups (p<.05). CONCLUSION: The study results suggest that underwater treadmill training in stroke patients can be more effective when they wear an aquatic cuff on their ankles compared to wearing no aquatic cuff.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.95-101
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the training and detraining effects of a 8-week water exercise on lower extremities coordination during obstacle gait in the female elderly. Eight elderly participants (age: $76.58{\pm}4.97$ yrs, height: $148.88{\pm}7.19$ cm, body mass: $56.62{\pm}6.82$ kg, and leg length: $82.36{\pm}2.98$ cm), who stayed at the Seoul K welfare center, were recruited for this study. All participants had no history of orthopedic abnormality within the past 1 year and completed the aquatic exercise program which lasted for 8 weeks. To identify the training and detraining effect of 8 weeks of water exercise, a 3-D motion analysis with 7 infrared cameras and one force plate sampling frequency set at 100 Hz and 1,000 Hz, respectively, was performed. A two-way ANOVA was performed to find training and detraining effects among diferent obstacle heights. In this study significant level was set at .05. Significant training effects of LTS (lead foot thigh and shank) coordination in all obstacle height were found (p<.05). It is also found that the training effect of LTS remained 37%, 58%, and 25% in obstacle height of 30%, 40%, and 50%, respectively. Lead foot showed the greater detraining effect of coordination compared with trail foot, and SF (shank and foot) coordination revealed better detraining effects of coordination compare with TS (thigh and shank) in both feet. Based on the findings, a 8 week water exercise give an positive effects to the elderly in terms of segment cooperation which potentially helps reducing their accident falls. The magnitude of detraining may also help the elderly to find the retraining moment.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.184-192
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• 2003

This study were investigated the effects to the starting-time of the applied aquatic exercise to the functional healing phase on the Achilles tendon injured rats. The Spraque-Dawley female rats weights($246{\pm}18g$) were assigned to the four groups(24 rats), all experimental groups were able to walling training for 20 min. on the rolling bar motor before injured, one group; control group and three groups; aquatic exercise groups, The aquatic groups were derived into the first day, fourth day and seventh day groups after injuring Achilles tendon according to the levels of aquatic exercise. This studied were investigated the effects of functional healing after appling the aquatic exercising after first day, fourth day and seven days after injured Achilles tendon by the method of rolling bar-motor(Jc-35L-H/GEAR MOTOR, DC, 12V-20RPM, TAIWAN)R.O.C. and to the phase of healing phase to the Achilles tendon. After injuring Achilles tendon, the starting-times of walling on the rolling bar motor were showed from 10th day in the first day aquatic groups, after injuring, from the eight day of fourth day and seventh day aquatic groups, but those, of the all aquatic groups were not significantly showed from the ninth day after injured in the control group. There were showed healing phase without adherence like normal tissue from the fourth day group after injured to the control group. The results stewed that aquatic exercising were effected the healing phase to the injured Achilles tendon to apply exercise, after being the late period of inflammation.