• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of a handrail (presence and position) on treadmill gait and balance in stroke patients during gait training. Methods: 39 patients with stroke (male 31, female 8) participated in this study. The training groups were classified into a no-handrail group (NHG), front handrail group (FHG), and bilateral handrail group (BHG). Each group comprised 13 subjects. The subjects were trained to walk in a straight path 30 minutes per day for 8 weeks. The Good Balance System was used to measure static balance and dynamic balance. To measure walking ability, timed up and go (TUG) was also assessed. Results: The NHG showed no significant differences in static balance, dynamic balance, and TUG. The FHG was significantly different in their medial-lateral speed of static balance, dynamic balance, and TUG. The BHG was significantly different in their static balance, dynamic balance, and TUG. Conclusion: These findings consider the effects of holding handrails concomitantly with changes in postural stability. We conclude that for training stroke patients, treadmill walking while holding handrails improves balance and gait more than treadmill walking without holding handrails. The resulting changes in muscle activity patterns may facilitate the transfer to a gait pattern. The results of this study suggest methods for training treadmill walking in stroke patients.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.68-75
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• 2007

Reductions in strength and range of motion in older persons have been associated with decreased functional mobility and risk of falls. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of intensive dynamic balance exercise (DBE) during 8 weeks on onset time of medial gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscle contraction after perturbation in older women. Thirty subjects were randomly assigned into DBE group or control group. The DBE group participated in 50 minutes 3 days a week for 8 weeks. Surface electromyography (EMG) activity was recorded from the medial gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscles of left side. Outcome data were collected both groups at the pre-exercise and post-exercise. Independent t-test and paired t-test were used to determine the statistical difference. Results showed that the passive range of motion and functional reach test were significantly increased in the DBE group than the control group at the post-exercise (p<.05). The onset time of both muscles and discrepancy of onset time significantly reduced in the DBE group than the control group at the post-exercise (p<.05). The onset time of both muscles were significantly reduced in the post-exercise than the pre-exercise in the DBE group (p<.05). The discrepancy of onset time in the DBE group was significantly reduced in the post-exercise than the pre-exercise (p<.05). These findings suggest that intensive dynamic balance exercise for the eight weeks was effective in improving the postural control with older persons.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.148-159
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• 2012

Objectives: This study investigated the correlation among Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke (PASS), Timed "Up and Go" Test (TUG) and gait (velocity, cadence, step-length, stride-length and single-limb support). Methods: The 70 subjects were assessed on trunk control measured with the use of the PASS, dynamic balance (TUG) and gait function (by GAITRite). The data were analyzed using Pearson product correlation. Results: The PASS total scores were significantly correlated with PASS-M, PASS-C, and PASS-T (r =.80 ~ .88 p<.01). All items of the PASS were significantly correlated with TUG (r = -.63 ~ -.81 p<.01), velocity (r = .44~.58 p<.01), cadence (r =.38 ~.51. p<.01), affected side step length (r = .44 ~.56 p<.01) and affected side stride length (r = .45 ~.59 p<.01). But affected side single-limb support was lowly correlated with PASS-M, PASS-C, PASS-T and PASS-total (r = .25~.36 p<.05). Conclusions: Measures of trunk control were significantly related with values of dynamic balance and gait. Based on these results, trunk control is an essential core component of balance and gait. Trunk control training programs after stroke should be developed and emphasized.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.96-111
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• 2022

Background: This study aims to evaluate the effect of core stabilization exercise on the dynamic balance and horizontal rotation of the trunk in young adult men. Through this study, it is expected that various core stabilization exercises will prevent and treat musculoskeletal disease. Design: Randomized Controlled Trial. Methods: The study subjects were recruited from young adult men in their 20s and 30s living in Seoul, and after the randomized controlled trial, it was divided into an experimental group training core stabilization exercise(n=15) and a control group(n=15). The evaluation methods of this study were modified Star Excursion Balance Test(mSEBT), Functional Reach Test(FRT), and Trunk Rotation Test(TRT). The experimental group performed three sets of crunches and deadbug exercises twice a week for eight weeks, and the control group did not perform any exercises similar to core stabilization exercise during the experimental period. Results: The result of the experiment, the experimental group showed significant improvement in mSEBT(p<.05), FRT(p<.05) and TRT(p<.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, core stabilization exercises improved dynamic balance and horizontal rotation of the trunk. As a result of this study, core stabilization exercise can prevent and treat musculoskeletal diseases even in healthy people.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.49-58
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• 2006

Purpose: This study was done to investigate the effects of **the Thera-band exercise program on the lower extremities muscle strength and balance in rural female farmers. Method: The participants were 19 rural women age of 40 or over who were living in the area within the jurisdiction of a public health center in North Chung Province and who agreed to participate in the study. The Thera-band exercise program was implemented for 10 weeks from Jan 17. to Mar 31. 2005. Total time was 60 minutes, 5 times a week. Paired t-test was used to analyze the data using the SPSS program. Result: The results of study showed that thigh muscle strength(t= 6.718, p <.001) and the dynamic balance(t=4.934, p <.001) decreased significantly. Ankle muscle strength(t=-6.739, pp <.001) and static balance (t=-2.395, p=.025) increased significantly. Conclusion: The results suggest that the Thera-band exercise program could be effective in improving thigh muscle strength, ankle muscle strength, the static balance, and the dynamic balance of rural female farmers. Further study is needed to compare strength and balance before and after the exercise program and to use a control group for comparison. Also it is needed to do more study on the appropriate length of time that the intervention should be given in order to achieve maximum results.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.235-246
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• 2011

Purpose: The aim of this study is to compare and assess the effects of lumbar stabilization exercise on the balance ability of young college studets with low back pain after having performed spinal stabilization exercise by using 3-dimensional air-balance system and gym ball. Methods: The subjects of this study were 34 low back patients in their early twenties. They were divided into two groups: 3-dimensional lumbar stabilization exercise group(N=17) and gym ball lumbar stabilization exercise group(N=17). The period of the intervention was for five weeks. VAS(Visual Analogue Scale) for pain test, ODI(Oswestry Disability Index) for ADL limitation test, Tetrax system for static balance test, and Air-balance system 3D for dynamic balance test were used as evaluation tools for this study. Results: Pain showed significant decrease in both groups after having performed the experiment, but ADL limitation of the groups did not show any remarkable difference between before and after the experiment. Dynamic balance ability in the 8-directional angle comparison test significantly increased in all directions except for the backward, left-backward, and right-backward directions. As for dynamic balance ability in the 8-directional postural test, 3D exercise group showed statistically significant reduction in every direction while gym ball exercise group did not(p<.05). However, when it comes to static balance ability in the weight distribution and stability test, there was not significantly change between pre and post test in both groups. Conclusion: This study shows 3-dimensional lumbar stabilization exercise is more effective in the lumbar stabilization of coordinated movement than gym ball exercise, which may imply that 3D air-balance system can be used for the therapeutic treatment of body imbalance for patients with low back pain.

• 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.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.1-19
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• 2002

The purpose of this study is to identify influence that eye movement have an effect on postural control and balance performance by plegia side of the impaired patients of central nervous system. Subjects are patients with the impairment of central nervous system and experimental and control groups are forty people and thirty people seperatively, Total subjects were selected to seventy persons, but twelve persons of experimental group quit during the experimental periods and eight persons of control group did not measure after exercise. Therefore, twenty eight persons of experimental group and twenty two persons of control group were selected in this study and experimental group peformed eye movement for eight weeks according to the exercise program of this study. The measurement of dependent variable is right static balance, left static balance, bilateral static balance, and bilateral dynamic balance before exercise and after eighth week of exercise, examiner again measured and analyzed the results. The results were as follows: 1. As the result of comparing balance performance ability after test of the experimental and control group with right hemiplegia and control group, all of static balance performance ability of right side (p < 0.01), static balance performance ability of left side (p < 0.01), static balance performance ability of bilateral side(p < 0.01), dynamic balance performance ability of bilateral side(p < 0.05) of experimental group were statistically greater improved than those of the control group. 2. As the result of comparing balance performance ability after test of the experimental and control group with left hemiplegia and control group, all of static balance performance ability of right side (p < 0.01), static balance performance ability of left side (p < 0.01), static balance performance ability of bilateral side(p < 0.05), dynamic balance performance ability of bilateral side(p < 0.05) of experimental group were statistically greater improved than those of the control group.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.172-178
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• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this study was to show the temporary effects of performing jumping lunges on a sand surface on static balance and dynamic balance. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Twenty healthy subjects volunteered in the study and was randomly assigned into either the sand group (n=10) or the control group (n=10). The subjects in the sand group performed jumping lunges on a sand surface and the subjects in the control group performed jumping lunges on a firm surface. The intervention was performed for 3 sets of 8 repetitions by both groups. To measure static balance, the force plate was employed to measure the center of pressure (CoP) area, and the CoP velocity during one-legged standing. Anterior, postero-medial, postero-lateral movements was assessed using the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) to measure dynamic balance. Results: After the intervention, the sand group showed statistically significant improvements on all variables (CoP area, CoP velocity) in static balance (p<0.05). There were statistically significant changes in CoP area and CoP velocities between the two groups (p<0.05). In the sand group, there were significant improvements in the postero-medial and postero-lateral directions (p<0.05) except for anterior direction on dynamic balance. In the control group, there was a significant improvement in the postero-lateral and anterior directions (p<0.05). In comparison of the two groups, there was no statistically significant improvement in all variables. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that performing jumping lunges on a sand surface was effective in improving static and dynamic balance temporarily.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.1756-1762
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• 2019

Background: Functional ankle instability (FAI) indicating a decrease in muscle strength, proprioception, neuromuscular control, balance and postural control function. Objective: To investigate the effect of jumping exercise on the supporting surface on the ankle muscle thickness, proprioceptive sensation, and balance in adults with FAI. Design: Randomized Controlled Trial. Methods: Twenty young people with FAI were randomly assigned to the unstable supporting surface jump group (N=10) and the stable supporting surface jump group (N=10). The intervention was conducted three times a week for eight weeks, and for 30 minutes per session. Trampoline was used as an unstable support surface and the stable support surface was carried out on a regular floor. The thickness of the tibialis anterior muscle and medial gastrocnemius muscle was measured by ultrasonography, and the proprioception of dorsiflexion and plantarflexion was measured using an electrogoniometer. The dynamic balance was also measured with a balance meter. Results: The the muscle thickness of the medial gastrocnemius muscle was significantly higher in the stable supporting surface jump group than in the unstable supporting surface jump group (p<.05). Furthermore, the plantar flexion proprioception and dynamic balance were significantly improved in the unstable supporting surface jump group than in the stable supporting surface jump group in the intergroup comparison (p<.05). Conclusions: The conclusion has been reached in this study that the jumping exercise on the unstable supporting surface could be a more effective in improving FAI than the regular surface.