• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.11-20
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of rotation direction during curved walking on gait parameters in stroke patients. Methods: A group of thirty subjects with stroke (Berg Balance Scale score${\geq}41$ were fifteen, Berg Balance Scale score${\leq}40$ were fifteen) were enrolled in this study. Testing indications included two directions for rotation in each subject. These indications were for rotation toward the affected and unaffected side in stroke patients. The gait speed, affected side single support duration, affected side double support duration were recorded. The obtained data were analyzed by using paired t-test and Wilcoxon signed rank test in the group that are below and above 40 points of Berg Balance Scale score. Results: There was significant increase affected side single support duration was turned the affected side in stroke patients that presented a Berg Balance Scale score${\geq}41$ (p<.05). There were significant increase gait speed, affected side single support duration, and significant decrease affected side double support duration while subjects were turned the affected side in stroke patients that presented a Berg Balance Scale score${\leq}40$ (p<.05). Conclusion: This result may be effective to rotate in the paralyzed direction to improve the ability of the paralyzed lower limb to gain weight during gait training for stroke patients with a Berg Balance Scale score<40. Therefore, walking training program for hemiplegic patient needs to be suggested in the direction of turning for suitable balance ability.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.249-257
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the effects of additional trunk exercises on an unstable surface on the balance and walking ability of individuals with chronic stroke. Methods: Sixteen patients with chronic stroke participated in this study. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups: experimental group (n=8) and control group (n=8). All the participants underwent a typical physical therapy program for 30 min a day. Moreover, the experimental group participated in a 30 min trunk exercise program on an unstable surface, whereas the control group participated in a 30 min trunk exercise program on a stable surface. Both groups performed the exercises five times a week for three weeks. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) was used to measure changes in balance. The gait variables were measured using the GAITRite system (CIR System Inc., Clifton, NJ, USA) to examine changes in walking ability. Results: Both groups showed a significant intragroup improvement in balance, gait speed, cadence, stride length, and double support period (p<0.05). In the intergroup comparisons after the intervention, the experimental group showed significant improvements over the control group in balance, gait speed, cadence, stride length, and double support period (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study applied additional trunk exercises on an unstable surface to chronic stroke patients, and the results showed a significant improvement in the patients' balance and walking abilities. Therefore, trunk exercise on an unstable surface may be applicable as an intervention method to improve the balance and walking ability of chronic stroke patients.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.201-211
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of trunk stabilization exercises using a Reformer on trunk control, balance ability, and gait function in chronic stroke patients. Methods: The participants were 24 chronic stroke patients, randomly divided into two groups: trunk stabilization exercise using the Reformer group (TS-R, n = 12) and general trunk stabilization exercise group (GT-E, n = 12). Assessment methods included the Trunk Impairment Scale for trunk control, the AMTI force platform for static balance, the Timed Up and Go test for dynamic balance, and the Dynamic Gait Index for gait function. Assessments were conducted before and after the intervention. The intervention for the TS-R group consisted of bridging exercises using a Reformer, while the GT-E group performed bridging exercises on a mat. All interventions were performed for 17 minutes per session, five times a week, for a total of 20 sessions over four weeks. Statistical analysis was performed using repeated-measures ANOVA to analyze the interaction between groups and time. Results: The results of the repeated measures ANOVA indicated a significant interaction between the groups and time. The TS-R group showed statistically significant differences in all variables before and after the intervention. In contrast, the GT-E group did not show statistically significant differences in any variables before and after the intervention. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that trunk stabilization exercises using a reformer are effective in improving trunk control, balance ability, and gait function in chronic stroke patients.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.47-56
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• 2019

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate effects of a stim-up matt walking exercise program on balance and gait of the frail elderly. Methods: A total of 37 elderly people recruited from S city were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n=22) and control group (n=15). The stim-up matt walking exercise program was offered twice a week for 8 weeks. Data were analyzed by SPSS 21.0. Results: The dynamic balance ability Timed Up and Go test of the experimental group was significantly faster than that of the control group (t=21.72, p<.001). The static balance ability open-eye standing test (t=44.15, p<.001) and close-eye standing test (t=9.01, p=.005) also showed increase in effects of the experimental group. In the walking ability, gait cycle (t=2.48, p=.018), cadence (t=-2.21, p=.034) and gait speed (t=-2.78, p=.009), positive effects were on. However, no statistically significant differences were found in stride length and double support. At the ankle joint range left ankle plantar flexion (t=3.92, p<.001) and left ankle dorsal flexion (t=4.51, p<.001) were higher in the experimental group than in the control group, and also right ankle plantar flexion (t=2.79, p=.008) and right ankle dorsal flexion (t=2.92, p=.006) increased in the experimental group. Conclusion: The significance of this study is that the stim-up matt walking exercise program for the frail elderly proves to be useful for improving balance and walking.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2019

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a pelvic compression belt on gait abilities and balance in subacute stroke patients. Methods: Twenty two patients with subacute were recruited and randomly assigned into two group: Two group offered conventional physical therapy and occupational therapy for five day. The group was composed of twelve patients. Participants in the experimental group were given the pelvic compression belt and conventional physical therapy, conventional occupational therapy, although conventional physical therapy and occupational therapy provided in the subjects in the control group. To assess the gait ability, the GAITRITE system was used and the Balance system SD was used to test balance. All measurements were performed before and after intervention. Results: The experimental group shows a significant improvement the cadence, velocity, step length and stride length in gait (p<.05) and show significant increase in the dynamic standing balance (p<.05). However, control group shows a significant improvement the cadence, velocity, step length and stride length in gait (p<.05), but shows no significant differences in dynamic standing balance. Furthermore, there were significant differences gait velocity, dynamic standing balance between two groups (p<.05). Conclusions: The results demonstrated that the elastic pelvic belt application is effective to improve gait velocity, dynamic balance in the subacute stroke patients. Thus, the elastic pelvic belt is seemed to be one of the potential methods to facilitate the active rehabilitation program for hemiplegia patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.39-43
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• 2017

Purpose: This study was to investigate the effects of unilateral muscle fatigue in knee and ankle joints on balance and gait in healthy adults. Methods: Exercise inducing muscle fatigue in the knee joint consisted of concentric and eccentric contraction of dominant knee extensors in healthy adults by using the Leg Extension Rehap exercise machine (HUR, Finland). Exercise inducing muscle fatigue in the ankle joint was composed of voluntary contractions and forced contractions of the dominant plantar flexors in healthy adults. Exercises to induce muscle fatigue in the knee and ankle joints were performed until the subject complained of fatigue or pain, the occurrence of muscle fatigue was confirmed by electromyography. We measured static and dynamic balance using the Good Balance system and gait performance by RS-scan. Results: Static and dynamic balance ability and spatial-temporal gait decreased significantly after muscle fatigue in knee and ankle joint. Conclusion: These results show that unilateral muscle fatigue of the lower extremities affected postural control and gait. Therefore, therapists and sport trainers should minimize the risks of fall and injuries related to unilateral muscle fatigue.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.88-95
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• 2020

Background: In the present study to investigate the immediate effects of standing position of the trunk stabilization exercise on Guillain-Barre syndrome patient's balance and gait abilities were examined. Design: Case report and conducted as a single-blind. Methods: Standing position of trunk stabilization exercise was conducted for five Guillain-Barre syndrome patient's who met the selection criteria were recruited. The subjects were conducted conservative exercise and trunk stabilization exercise. Conservative exercise was implemented for thirty min, five times for 8 weeks, and trunk stabilization exercise was implemented for 15 min. The participants' balance was measured via force plate (COP), functional reach test (FRT), timed up and go test (TUG), gait was measured using the 10 m walk test, and 6 minute walk test. Results: After training, the change values of the balance and gait ability in the subjects were significantly greater than pre-test. participants showed significant improvements in COP, FRT, TUG, 10 m walk test and 6 minute walk test pre and post the training (p<0.05). Conclusions: standing position of the trunk stabilization exercise was effective on Guillain-Barre syndrome patient's balance (COP, FRT, TUG) and gait (10 m walk test and 6 minute walk test) abilities were examined.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.34-43
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of underwater treadmill gait training (UTGT) and overground treadmill gait training (OTGT) on the gait, balance ability and pulmonary function of stroke patients. Twenty subjects were recruited for this study. The subjects were randomly assigned to two groups: UTGT ($n_1$=10) and OTGT ($n_2$=10). The 10 m walk test (10 MWT), Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, center of pressure, pulmonary function of forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume after 1 sec (FEV1) and FEV1/FVC were measured before and after 4 weeks of training. Both groups undertook the gait training for 30 min a day, 3 times a week, for 4 weeks, and rating of perceived exertion of the groups were measured and compared. All the studied variables were significantly improved in both groups (p<.05) at the end of the study, except in the FEV1 of OTGT (p>.05). There was significant between-group difference in all of the variables, except in the 10 MWT (p>.05). These findings suggest that UTGT is more effective than OTGT in improving the balance and pulmonary functions of stroke patients.

• 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.

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