• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.55-64
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• 2024

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the effects of robot-assisted gait training combined with virtual reality training on balance and gait ability in stroke patients. METHODS: Thirty-one stroke patients were allocated randomly into one of two groups: robot-assisted gait training combined virtual reality training group (RGVR group; n = 16) and control group (n = 15). The RGVR group received 30 minutes of robot-assisted gait training combined with virtual reality training. Robot-assisted gait training was conducted in parallel using a virtual reality device. In the Control group, neurodevelopmental therapy was performed according to the function of chronic stroke patients. Both groups underwent training for 30 minutes, three times per week for eight weeks. The balance assessment system (BioRescue, Marseille, France), BBS, and TUG were used to evaluate the balance ability. The OptoGait (Microgate Srl, Bolzano, Italy) and 10 mWT were measured to evaluate the gait ability. The measurements were performed before and after the eight-week intervention period. RESULTS: Both groups showed significant improvement in their balance and gait ability during the intervention. RGVR showed significant differences in balance and gait ability compared to the control group groups (p < .05). These results showed that RGVR was more effective on balance and gait ability in patients with chronic stroke. CONCLUSION: RGVR can improve balance and gait ability, highlighting the benefits of RGVR. This study provides intervention data for recovering the balance and gait ability of chronic stroke patients.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 2014

Objective: To study the effects of gait training with additional weight and gait training with non-additional weight on balance ability and gait ability in patients with chronic stroke through comparative analysis. Design: Randomized controlled trials. Methods: The subjects were divided randomly into two groups: additional weight group (AWG, n=12), and non-additional weight group (NAWG, n=10). Both groups received general physical therapy for 30 min in 1 session, 5 sessions per week during 6 months. The AWG practiced gait training with additional weight of 0.1 and 0.5 kg for 20 min a day, 3 days per week for 6 months and the NAWG practiced gait training with non-additional weight for 20 min a day, 3 days per week for 6 months. Patients in both groups were instructed to walk as fast as they could along a 35 m long track (straight for 20 m and curved for 15 m). Patients walked with their hemiplegic side on the inside of the track while a physical therapist followed along to instruct patients to maintain a straight posture. Balance ability was tested with the Functional Reach Test, the Timed Up and Go test, and the Berg Balance Scale, and gait ability was tested with GAITRite. The results of balance and gait ability were analyzed before and after interventions. Results: A significant increase in FRT, TUG, BBS was seen in both groups after intervention (p<0.05). A significant increase in gait ability was seen in the AWG after intervention (p<0.05). For balance and gait ability, the results from the AWG was significantly improved compared with the NAWG (p<0.05). Conclusions: Gait training with additional weight improves balance ability and gait ability in stroke patients, this gait training method is effective and suitable for stroke patients to increase the ability of functional performance.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 2016

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of different heel heights on gait deviation and balance. Method : Participants were 16 women majoring in physical therapy in Kyungbuk college, located in Yeong-ju, North Kyungsang Province. Balance and gait patterns were measured by Good Balance and GAIT Rite. Result : Statistically significant differences were found in swing right measured by Gait-rite, and also in Analyze End, Ant-post, Med-Lat, and gait ability score(p < .05) regarding dynamic balance ability. Conclusion : There was no statistically significant difference in gait ability between those who walked barefoot and highheeled. However, balance ability was different "between them". This shows that heel height can lead to decrease in gait ability. Further research should include more participants and use a wide range of heel heights.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.124-127
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• 2015

Purpose: The emphasis on gait rehabilitation after stroke depends on training support through the lower limbs, balance of body mass over the changing base of support. However, muscle weakness, lack of control of lower limb, and poor balance can interfere with training after stroke. For this case study report, a wearable robot orthosis was applied to stroke patients in order to verify its actual applicability on balance and gait ability in the clinical field. Methods: Two stroke patients participated in the training using the wearable robot orthosis. Wearable robot orthosis provides patient-initiated active assistance contraction during training. Training includes weight shift training, standing up and sitting down, ground walking, and stair up and down Training was applied a total of 20 times, five times a week for 4 weeks, for 30 minutes a day. Gait ability was determined by Stance phase symmetry profile, Swing phase symmetry profile, and velocity using the GAITRite system. Balance ability was measured using the Biodex balance system. Results: Subjects 1, 2 showed improved gait and balance ability with mean individual improvement of 72.4% for velocity, 19.4% for stance phase symmetry profile, 9.6% for swing phase symmetry profile, and 13.6% for balance ability. Conclusion: Training utilizing a wearable robot orthosis can be useful for improvement of the gait and balance ability of stroke patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.200-205
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• 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to find out how gait training with shoulder-back assistive device affects dynamic and static balance, gait of patients with stroke and to help improve body alignment, balance, and gait ability in stroke patients. Methods: Measurements were taken of the 20 subjects before intervention without shoulder-back assistive device, after intervention with device, and follow up after an hour compared. Berg balance scale used to evaluate dynamic balance; wii balance board was used to measure static balance; and gait ability were measured by timed up and go test and 10-meter walk test. To analyze the results, a one-way repeated measures analysis of variance was implemented to compare the measurements. Results: The results showed that, after wearing the shoulder-back assistive device, the subjects' dynamic balance statistically significantly improved; no statistically significant difference was observed in static balance, although their balance ability was enhanced; and their increase in gait ability was statistically significant. Conclusion: This study proved that gait training combined with a shoulder-back assistive device positively impacted dynamic and static balance, gait of patients with stroke.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.65-73
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• 2024

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of kinesio taping of tibialis anterior combined with cognitive dual-task training on balance and gait ability in post-stroke patients. METHODS: This study was a single-blinded, randomized control design. Thirty post-stroke patients were allocated randomly to two groups: 1) kinesio taping of tibialis anterior combined with cognitive dual-task training (KTCDT group, n = 15) and cognitive dual-task training (Control group, n = 15). Both groups were given training for 30 minutes, five days a week for four weeks. The Berg balance test and timed up-and-go test were used to measure the balance ability. GaitRite was used to analyze the gait ability. RESULTS: Both groups showed significant improvements in balance and gait ability. The KTCDT group showed significantly greater improvement in balance ability after four weeks than the control group (p < .05). In addition, the KTCDT group showed significantly greater improvement in gait ability after four weeks compared to the control group (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Kinesio taping of the tibialis anterior combined with cognitive dual-task training effectively improves the balance and gait abilities in post-stroke patients.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.43-52
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• 2012

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to observe the effect of a gait training using PNF on a gait and balance ability of a person with chronic stroke. Methods : The subject was left hemiplegia due to cerebral infarction. The subject participated in PNF gait training session as well as baseline for 30 minutes a day for 4 weeks. we used the 10-meter walking test(10MWT), figure-8-of walk test(F8WT), dynamic gait index(DGI) for measuring the gait ability and four square step test(FSST), Berg balance scale(BBS) for measuring the balance ability through the whole sessions. Results : The gait ability was enhanced compared to first baseline, as measured by 10MWT(27.3%), F8WT(36.6%), DGI(8 points increased). The balance ability was improved compared to first baseline, as measured by FSST(49.1%), BBS(10 points increased). The increase was maintained in second baseline session. Conclusion : The PNF gait training program is helpful to enhance the adaptation of the gait and balance according to the various environmental demands.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.52-61
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• 2023

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate effects of ankle elastic and non-elastic taping on postural balance and gait ability in subject with stroke. Design: Cross-sectional study Methods: Twenty-seven subjects with stroke participated in this study. The subjects performed to stand quietly for 30s on the balance platform and walking test with three different ankle taping conditions. The sway length, sway area and sway velocity of center of gravity (COG) displacement was measured to assess the postural balance and the timed up and go test, 10m walking test, 6 minutes walking test was measured to assess the gait ability. Repeated measured ANOVA was used to compare the postural balance parameters and gait ability according to three different ankle taping conditions. Results: Postural balance with non-elastic ankle taping was significantly improved compared to no ankle taping and elastic ankle taping condition(p<0.05). On the other hand, gait ability with elastic ankle taping was significantly increased compared to no ankle taping and non-elastic ankle taping condition(p<0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that an elastic ankle taping could effect to improve the gait ability, whereas a non-elastic ankle taping could effect to improve the postural balance in subject with stroke.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.259-265
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• 2012

Purpose : Patients with Parkionson's disease have a temporal and spatial restriction for their's exercise treatment. The aim of this study is to verify the effectiveness of e-exercise program on balance, gait, and endurance ability in people with Parkinson's disease. Methods : Eighteen participants, with Parkinson's disease that ranged from stage to on the Hoehn & Yahr scale, were assigned to two group. Two group were divided into on-line group that exercised in home by computer video, and off-line group that exercised in clinical center. Exercise program that included 3 sections (warm-up, main exercise, cool down)-5 parts(stretch, strength, balance, gait, stretch) was used to train for participants. We used the functional reach test for balance ability, timed up and go test for gait ability, 6 minute walking test for endurance ability. Wilkoxon sign lank tests were used to assess the difference of balance, gait, and endurance ability in pre-and post test each groups. Mann-whitney tests were used to assess the difference of balance, gait, and endurance ability between groups. Results : Wilkoxon sign lank tests revealed that both group were improved the balance, gait and endurance agility by e-exercise program intervention. Mann-whitney tests showed that there were no differences between groups in the variation of balance, gait, endurance ability. Conclusion : We believe that exercise program with on-line(e-exercise program) is an effective intervention for people with Parkinson's disease and is no different than off-line exercise group in the variation of balance, gait, endurance ability.

• 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.