• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.28-34
• /
• 2007

The purposes of this study were to provide the basic data and investigate the reliability of functional reach test and identify correlation of Berg balance scale (BBS) and functional reach test (FRT). The subjects were twenty healthy young adults and forty-five over 65 years old in order to compare balance ability. These data were analyzed by independent t-test and Pearson's correlation test using SPSS WIN 10.0. The results were as follows. Intrarater reliability coefficients of FRT was .976 and interrater was .942. FRT was significantly correlated with age, height, and BBS (p<.05). There were no significant differences in FRT and BBS by sex. There was significant difference in reach distance between below 74 elderly and above in FRT. FRT is very reliable test for balance and significantly correlated with BBS. Therefore, it is suggested that FRT is a clinically useful tool to substitute for BBS measuring balance ability in the elderly.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.6 no.3
• /
• pp.51-58
• /
• 1999

In general, sitting balance is decreased in subjects with spinal cord injury. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the inter- and intra-rater reliability of the Functional Reach Test (FRT) which is used to measure sitting balance. The subjects of this study were 26 persons with spinal cord injury, and they were divided into three groups according to their injury level. Group I, II and III consisted of the following $C_5{\sim}C_8$ quadriplegics, $T_1{\sim}T_4$, and $T_9{\sim}T_12$ paraplegics, respectively. Subjects sat on a mat table that was set at an 80 degree inclination. During three sessions, the length subjects could reach in the FRT test was measured by three physical therapists, and compared to each other. The results showed that intraclass correlation coefficients (2,1) were above 0.97 and inter-rater difference was not statistically significant. The one-way ANOVA demonstrated that reach differed between groups with lower thoracic lesion and the other test groups. In conclusion, we think modified FRT is useful and reliable method to measure the sitting balance in subjects with spinal cord injury.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.6 no.3
• /
• pp.293-301
• /
• 2011

Purpose : The purposes of this study were to investigate the age-related difference in balance ability in the elderly over 65 years and to verify the clinical usefulness of the functional reach test (FRT) for balance evaluation of the elderly through the sensory organization test (SOT). Methods : The subjects were forty-six community dwelling elderly people over 65 years old in order to verify the correlation of balance measures and to compare the balance ability. Balance was measured using the FRT and the six sub-equilibrium scores and the composite equilibrium score of the SOT. Pearson's product correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the relationships among these measurements of balance. Results : There was a significant difference in functional reach by age in the elderly (p<.01). There was a significant negative correlation between the FRT and the age of the elderly (r=-.396, p<.01). There was also significant high positive correlation between the FRT and the eye closed sway surface (EC/SS) (r=.789, p<.01), and composite equilibrium score (r=.548, p<.01) of the SOT. Conclusion : Thus, it is possible to use the FRT as a quantitative measure of balance, rather than the SOT, which is more expensive and complicated to evaluate elderly people. According to the results of this study, the use of the FRT is required clinically to objectively measure the balance of elderly people in the future.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 2008

Purpose: We studied the correlation between BBS (Berg Balance Scale), Functional Reach Test (FRT), Timed-Up & Go test (TUG), Stability Index (STI), MBI (Modified Barthel Index), and Fall History. Methods: We recruited 20 stroke patients from the Gang Dong Gu Health Care Center in Seoul, Korea. All subjects could walk with or without an assisting device. Subjects first completed a questionnaire pertaining to their fall history and Activity of Daily Living (MBI), and then were evaluated with BBS, TUG, FRT, and STI. We used the Tetrax posturography system that calculates a STI based on fluctuations in vertical ground reaction forces. The data were analyzed using a Pearson Correlation Coefficient. Results: The BBS and FRT (p<0.05) and MBI (p<0.01) showed a significant positive correlation. BBS negatively correlated with STI and TUG (p<0.01). Fall history and BBS, TUG, MBI, FR, STI did not correlate. Conclusion: The BBS helps predict weight shifting, walking, and ADL, but is not good for predicting fall risk. So, we need to study about factors that affect falling.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.39-45
• /
• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine correlations between the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Functional Reach Test (FRT), Timed Up & Go (TUG), Motor-Free Visual Perception Reach Test Vertical format (MVPT-V), Functional Independence Measure (FIM). Methods: The subjects used in this study were 35 stroke patients from Cheongju ST. Mary's hospital. Balance was measured by BBS, FRT. Functional mobility was measured by TUG. Visual perception was measured by MVPT-V. FIM was used to evaluate the activities of daily living. Data was analyzed using pearson product correlation. The TUG and MVPT-V index were analyzed by linear regression. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between FRT and BBS (r=0.89, p<0.01), FIM (r=0.74, p<0.05), MVPT-V (r=0.40, p<0.05), and TUG (r=-0.36, p<0.05). There was significant statistical differences between TUG and MVPT-V (r=-0.64, p<.01). However, statistically significant differences were observed between BBS and FIM (r=0.79, p<0.01). The visual close item of the MVPT-V showed the strongest variance in predicting TUG. Conclusion: The use of both quantitative and qualitive scales was shown to be a good measuring instrument for the classification of general clinical performances of stroke patients. In particular, the results suggest that the visual perception test may be able to predict functional locomotion in stroke patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.33-42
• /
• 2020

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of a whole body vibration-exercise program on the muscle strength, balance, and falling efficacy of super-aged women. METHODS: Thirty participants, who are over 75 years of age, were recruited. They were assigned randomly to an experimental group (n=15), which received whole body vibration exercise, and a control group (n=15), which received an exercise program that did not include vibration. The interventions lasted for four weeks, three times a day, and 25 minutes per session. To compare the effects of the intervention, a 30-second chair stand test (CST), Korean version of Berg balance scale (K-BBS), functional reach test (FRT), timed up and go test (TUG), and Korean version of the falls efficacy scale (K-FES) was used. RESULTS: The experimental group showed a significant increase (p.<05) before and after the intervention in the chair stand test (CST), Korean version of the Berg balance scale (K-BBS), functional reach test (FRT), timed up-and-go (TUG), and Korean version of the fall efficacy scale (K-FES). Compared to the control group, the experiment group showed a more significant increase (p.<05) in the CST, K-BBS, and FRT. CONCLUSION: A whole body vibration exercise program could be suggested as an effective intervention method for muscle and balance strengthening for super-aged women.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.17-21
• /
• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the correlations, if any, between SPPB (Short physical performance battery), FRT (Functional reach test), and TUG (Timed up and go test) in hospitalized frail people. Methods: Seventy frail elderly patients (male/female: 16/54) participated in this study. All subjects could walk with or without an assisting device and they had no mental problems. Subjects were scored on physical functioning using the SPPB, FRT, and TUG. The data were analyzed using Pearson Correlation Coefficients. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between (a) SPPB and (b) FRT (p<0.01) and TUG (p<0.01). SPPB and FRT scores showed a positive correlation (r = 0.38) and SPPB and TUG scores showed a negative correlation (r = -0.56). Conclusion: SPPB, FRT, TUG scores are correlated with each other. From these results, we conclude that the SPPB is a useful method for predicting walking, balance, and physical function in frail elderly people.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.294-300
• /
• 2013

The purpose of this study was to analyse the effects of yoga exercise on balance ability and gait velocity in stroke patients. Subjects were categorized in to a control group and yoga program group with 9 for each group. Yoga program was conducted for 60minute for 8weeks, three times a week. For the purposes, the study measured Stability Index(SI, postural sway) and Weight Distribution Index(WDI) using Tetrax, Functional Reach Test(FRT), Dynamic Gait index(DGI) and 10 meter walking test. At pre- and post-exercise after appling the yoga exercise, the data was analyzed. Yoga exercise group's SI and WDI were decreased, FRT and DGI were increased in comparison with control group. But 10 meter walking test was no significance. It suggests that the yoga exercise could promote recovery from balance disorder after stroke.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.15-20
• /
• 2014

Purpose: We investigate to evaluate the effects of scapular stabilization exercise on dynamic standing balance in stroke patients. Methods: Thirty hemiplegic patients participated was divided into control group and training group randomly. Control group(n=15) had only general rehabilitation training and training group (n=15) had both the general rehabilitation training and intensive scapular stabilization exercise. They were treated for 15minute/5 times/4 week. We measured PALM (palpation meter) to measure affected side's distances from spine to scapular. We measured FRT (functional reach test), FSST (four squared step test), and BPM (balance performance monitering) to evaluate dynamic standing balance. Results: Training group showed a significant difference in the distances from spine to scapular, FRT, FSST, and variables of BPM comparing control group (p<0.05). But control group was not significant difference. Conclusion: These results suggest that scapular stabilization exercises have positive effects on dynamic standing position.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.97-111
• /
• 2004

This study, adopting the pretest-post test experimental study, is designed to find out how the functional electrical stimulation makes effect on the balance of a patient with spasticity of the ankle plantarflexor muscle caused by hemiplegic after stroke. The 46 subjects for this study were randomly sampled out of the patients who were hospitalized from September 1, 2003 to November 30, 2003 in H sanitarium in Yangpyung. The patients were with spasticity of the ankle plantarflexor muscle caused by hemiplegic after stroke and able to walk without supporting implements. The purpose of the study is firstly to analyze the change of ROM, FRTof a patient with spasticity of the ankle plantarflexor muscle when the functional electrical stimulation is applied and secondly to find out how the sex, age, height, weight, part of the diagnosis, duration of pain, experience of relapse and getting hurt from a fall of a patient make effect on the change. The experimental group for the study is divided into two to compare the differences of the effect. The exercising treatment only was performed for the conrtol group, and the functional electrical stimulation to the ankle dorsiflexor muscle as well as the exercising treatment was applied to the experimental group. The ROM test was performed to check the range of motion of the ankle with a double armed universal goniometer. The test was done 3 times to take an average. FRT were performed to check the balance. The statistical test was conducted using the SPSS 10.0/PC program by means of the following methods: χ2-test and t-test for testing homogeneity between the groups; paired t-test, independent sample t-test, F-test, and two-way ANOVA for analyzing the changes before and after the treatment. The levels of statistical significance of all the data were maintained at p<.05. According to the test, ROM has more decreased in experimental group than in control group when the functional electrical stimulation was applied only to the experimental group. However, the significant statistic difference was not shown (p=.059). FRT showed remarkable differences in the experimental group compared to the control group, showing the significant statistic difference (p=.000). On the one hand, the change of ROM, FRT related with the sex, age, height, weight, part of the diagnosis, and experience relapse was a meaningless minimum value. The change of ROM related to the duration of pain and the experience of falling down was also meaningless. However, FRT showed significant statistic difference (p<.05). According to the test above, the application of functional electrical stimulation to a patient with spasticity of the ankle dorsiflexor muscle caused by hemiplegic after stroke makes significant effect on the balance of a patient, but the result has nothing with the sex, age, height, weight, part of the diagnosis, duration of pain, experience of relapse and getting hurt from a fall of a patient. However, it is regarded to give contribution to the balance improvement of a patient. Therefore, this study expects to be a valuable clinical material for a patient with spasticity.