• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.29-37
• /
• 2012

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to establish intra-rater, inter-rater, test-retest reliability, and concurrent validity of figure-of-8 walk test in people with stroke. Methods : The subjects of this study were 17 patients who were diagnosed with a stroke. Subjects were tested twice by the same raters, with 1 day between tests. Subjects were assessed by two physical therapists. Test-retest reliability was calculated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). The concurrent validity was demonstrated by spearman correlation of F8WT with 10m walking test (10MWT), timed up and go test (TUG), Berg balance scale (BBS), dynamic gait index (DGI) and four square step test (FSST). Results : Intra-rater, inter-rater, test- retest of F8WT time, showed high reliability. Intra-rater, inter-rater, test-retest of F8WT steps demonstrated high reliability. Intra-rater, inter-rater, test-retest of F8WT total smoothness score showed below moderate reliability. There was a significant positive correlation of F8WT time with 10MWT, TUG, FSST. There was a significant negative correlation of F8WT time with DGI, BBS. There was a significant positive correlation of F8WT steps with 10MWT, TUG, FSST. There was a significant negative correlation of F8WT steps with DGI. There was a significant positive correlation of F8WT test total smoothness score with BBS. Conclusion : The time, and number of steps in F8WT show high inter, intra-rater, test-retest reliability. The F8WT smoothness shows below moderate reliability. The F8WT shows high concurrent validity with other comparable balance, and walking tests. The F8WT is a valid and reliable measure for assessing walking function in patients with a stroke.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.24 no.5
• /
• pp.325-333
• /
• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the concurrent validity between Figure-of-8 Walking Test (F8W), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Four Squared Step Test (FSST), and Timed UP and GO Test (TUG) in patients with stroke. Methods: Forty two participants (26 men, 16 women, $55.0{\pm}11.72$) with at least three months post stroke who were able to walk at least 10 m without walking aid participated in this study. Assessment of concurrent validity between the F8W (time and steps) and BBS was performed using Spearman rank order correlation and between the F8W (time and steps), FSST and TUG assessed using Pearson correlation. Results: The time of the F8W showed correlation with BBS (r=-0.46, p<0.01), FSST (r=0.64, p<0.01), and TUG (r=0.81, p<0.01), and steps of the F8W showed correlation with BBS (r=-0.43, p<0.01), FSST (r=0.47, p<0.01), and TUG (r=0.51, p<0.01). Conclusion: The F8W is a valid measure of balance and walking skill among patients with stroke and may provide complementary information with regard to dynamic balance and functional walking for the real life of stroke patients.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.18 no.5
• /
• pp.467-474
• /
• 2017

To investigate the intra-rater absolute reliabilities and validity of the Figure of-Eight Walk test (F8WT) in patients with chronic stroke. A total of 36 subjects with chronic stroke participated in this study. The inter-rater reliability of F8WT was calculated using intra-class correlation coefficients($ICC_{2,1}$). Moreover, we used the standard error measurement (SEM) and the small real difference (SRD) to examine the absolute reliability indices. The validity was demonstrated by a spearman correlation of F8WT with Postural Assessment Scale for Storke(PASS) and Trunk Impairment Scale(TIS). The inter-rater reliability of F8WT was excellent; ICC2,1=0.95(0.91~0.97), acceptable SEM=1.02, and SRD=2.82. F8WT were also found to be significantly associated with PASS(r=-0.82) and TIS(r=-0.85). Therefore, F8WT is a reliable measurement tool and is correlated well with stroke-impairments, such as postural and trunk control. F8WT will be a useful tool in evaluating the walking performance of subjects with chronic stroke.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.287-301
• /
• 2021

Purpose: Gait training for stroke patients focuses on adjusting to new environments to facilitate outdoor walking. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify the effects of various ground obstacle walking combined with treadmill walking on the gait parameters and functional gait ability of chronic stroke patients. Methods: Twenty-four chronic stroke patients were divided into two groups: an experimental group (n = 12) and a control group (n = 12). The experimental group received a combined gait training using various ground obstacle walking and treadmill walking (VGOW) five times/week for four weeks. The control group received traditional treadmill training (TW) five times/week for four weeks. Patients were evaluated using the figure-8 walk test (F8WT) and the Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) before and after each intervention. Results: The ANCOVA results showed that both treatments significantly influenced F8WT steps, F8WT time, and FGA score. The paired t-test results showed a significant improvement in F8WT steps, F8WT time, and FGA score in the experimental group compared to those in the control group. Conclusion: Combined gait training using various ground obstacle walking and treadmill walking can improve gait ability in chronic stroke patients.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.49-53
• /
• 2018

Objective: This study was performed to examine differences in the association between straight and curved walking abilities of inpatients in the subacute phase and walking independence level. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Subjects were divided into an independent group and a supervised group (n=10 each) by walking independence level within the ward decided by physical therapists. Inclusion criteria comprised the ability to ambulate independently within the ward, regardless of the use of walking aids. Straight walking abilities (walking velocity, stride length, and cadence) were evaluated using the 5-meter walk test. Curved walking abilities were evaluated using the Figure-of-8 Walk Test (F8W) and the 3-meter zigzag walk test (3ZW). Differences in associations between straight and curved walking abilities of inpatients were examined by calculating correlation coefficients between straight and curved walking abilities. Results: Age, walking velocity, stride length, F8W and 3ZW varied markedly between independent and supervised groups. In the independent group, F8W and 3ZW correlated significantly with walking velocity and cadence (p<0.05). In the supervised group, F8W correlated significantly with walking velocity and stride length (p<0.05), but 3ZW did not correlate significantly with straight walking abilities. Conclusions: The association between straight and curved walking abilities varied between inpatients who could ambulate independently and inpatients requiring supervision for ambulating. These differences may depend on skill on straight and curved walking abilities. There is a possibility that curved walking exercise is necessary for supervised group.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.398-402
• /
• 2014

Purpose: This study was carried out in order to verify actual applicability of mental practice in the clinical field by applying it to Parkinson disease patients. Methods: : The number of subjects was three and they were aged between 65 and 69. One year or longer period has passed since they were diagnosed with Parkinson disease. The baseline A consisted of three sessions. After the baseline period, the researcher applied mental practice to the subjects once per day, for 20 minutes per each time, for 10 sessions. The no-intervention withdrawal phase was composed of three sessions. Outcome measures 10 meter walking test(10MWT), timed up and go (TUG) test, 8-figure walk test (8FWT). Results: All results indicated that 10 MWT, TUG, F8WT was improved when compared mental practice(B) to pre base line(A). base line(A) after mental practice intervention(B) was also sustained. Conclusion: As a result of the mental practice, we can know that it helps straight gait, dynamic balance, curved gait to improve.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.25-35
• /
• 2020

Background: There are many situations where walking in an actual community needs to change direction along with walking on a straight path, and this situation needs to be reflected in assessing walking ability of the community. Therefore, in this study, we tried to determine whether the assessments can distinguish the level of walking in the community. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: Fifty-two survivors with chronic stroke have participated in the study. According to the evaluation result of 10mWT, the subjects of 0.8m/s and above were classified as the group who could walk in the community (n=22), and the subjects of 0.4m/s~0.8m/s were classified into the group who could not walk in the community (n=30). Modified Rivermead Mobility Index, Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke, Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Berg Balance Scale, 10-meter Walk Test (10mWT) were used to evaluate the motor skills. Furthermore, Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale was used to evaluate psychological factors, and Timed Up & Go Test (TUG), Figure-of-Eight Walk Test (F8WT), Four Square Step Test (FSST), Step Test (ST) were applied to evaluate dynamic balance and mobility. Results: As a result for distinguishing walking levels in the community, TUG was 14.25 seconds, F8WT was 13.34 seconds, FST was 19.43 seconds, and ST of affected side and non-affected side were 6.5 points and 7.5 points, respectively. TUG (AUC=0.923), F8WT (AUC=0.905), and FST (AUC=0.941) were highly accurate, but the ST of affected side and non-affected side (AUC=0.806, 0.705) showed the accuracy of the median degree, respectively. Conclusion: To distinguish walking levels in the community of survivors with chronic stroke, TUG and FSST have been found to be the best assessment tool, and in particular, FSST could be very valuable in clinical use as the most important assessment tool to distinguish walking levels in the community.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.29 no.5
• /
• pp.246-254
• /
• 2017

Purpose: Previous studies have reported that action observation training has beneficial effects on enhancing the motor task, such as balance and gait functions. On the other hand, there have been few studies combined with action observation training and auditory feedback. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of action observation training with auditory feedback on the gait function in stroke patients with hemiparesis Methods: A total of 24 inpatients with post-stroke hemiparesis were assigned randomly to either an experimental group 1 (EG 1, n=8), experiment group 2 (EG 2, n=8), control group (CG, n=8, EG 1). The EG 2 and CG watched video clip demonstrating three functional walking tasks with auditory feedback, without auditory feedback, and showing a landscape image, respectively. The exercise program consisted of 30 minutes, five times a week, for four weeks. The participants were measured to 10MWT (10 m walk test), 6MWT (6 minutes walking distance test), TUG (timed up and go test), DGI (dynamic gait index), time and steps of F8WT (figure-of-8 walk test). Results: In the intra-group comparison after the intervention, EG 1 and EG 2 showed a significantly different gait function (10MWT, 6MWT, DGI, TUG, F8WT) (p<0.05). In the inter-group comparison after intervention, EG 1 showed significant improvements in the entire gait parameters and EG 2 only showed significant improvement in DGI and TUG compared to CG (p<0.05). Conclusion: These findings show that action observation training with auditory feedback may be used beneficially for improving the gait function of stroke patients with hemiparesis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.63-70
• /
• 2016

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to conduct an Otago exercise program with stroke patients in a clinical setting and ascertain its effects on balance and walking ability. METHODS: The participating subjects were 45 people who had been diagnosed with stroke. They were assigned to two groups (Otago exercise; OE, n=22; balance exercise; BE, n=23), and the exercises were conducted for three sessions per week for eight weeks. The main balance outcomes were evaluated using the timed up and go test (TUG) and the four step square test (FSST), while walking ability was evaluated using the 10 m walk test (10MWT), direction change ability was measured using the figure 8 of walk test (F8WT), and the decrease of fear was evaluated using the modified falls efficacy scale (MFES). RESULTS: In the analysis results, the Otago exercise group showed significant increases in TUG, FSST, 10MWT, and F8WT within the both groups. There were significant differences in all variables between the OE group and the BE group at the post-intervention evaluation, but there was no significant difference between the groups with respect to the 10MWT. This study showed that conducting Otago exercise in stroke patients increased the main outcomes for TUG, FSST, F8WT scores, but not for 10MWT. CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrated that Otago exercise would be useful to improve balance and gait for stroke patients who want to improve their abilities and activities of daily living.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.356-366
• /
• 2021

Objective: This study aimed to compare gait ability through gait evaluations in indoor and outdoor environments according to the general characteristics and walking ability of stroke patients. Design: Crossed-sectional study. Methods: The subjects of this study were 57 hospitalized stroke patients.The study subjects were asked to select an indoor environment and an outdoor environment in random order, and the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT), Figure-Eight Walk Test (F8WT) and the Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) were used to assess each environment. Results: The TUG, 10MWT, F8WT time and number of steps, and FGA showed a significant decrease in gait ability in the outdoor environment compared to the indoor environment (p<0.05). Although the TUG, 10MWT, and the time required for the F8WT were statistically higher in the outdoor compared to the indoor environment at points 2, 3, and 4, but not 5 of the functional ambulatory category (FAC), significant increases in the number of steps of the F8WT were found in the outdoor compared to the indoor environment for only points 2 and 3 of the FAC (p<0.05). In the FAC 3 and 4, there was a statistically significant decrease in the outdoor compared to the indoor environment only in the FGA (p<0.05). Conclusions: Therefore, it has been shown that the gait ability of stroke patients is reduced in the outdoor environment compared to the gait ability in the indoor environment.