• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.64-73
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• 2011

After stroke, many people have problems with balance during movement. Balance is essential for the optimal functioning of the locomotor system and the performance of many activities of daily living. The Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) is a clinical tool for evaluating balance ability during walking. The test consists of ten tasks, seven tasks of the Dynamic Gait Index and three additional tasks. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability and internal consistency of data obtained with the Korean version of the FGA when used with people after suffering a stroke. One-hundred participants, at least three months poststroke and able to walk at least six meters with or without a walking aid, participated in the study (age range=30~83 years; $mean{\pm}SD=58.8{\pm}10.9$). Two physical therapists and two physical therapy students rated the FGA. Intrarater and interrater reliability of the FGA were assessed using kappa statistic and intraclass correlation coefficients (2,1). The internal consistency of the FGA was assessed using the Cronbach alpha. The Cronbach alpha was good (${\alpha}$=.86~.93). The intrarater (intraclass correlation coefficient=.92~.95) and interrater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient=.91, .95) of the total scores administered by the therapists and students were good, whereas the reliability for single item scores when administered by the physical therapists was moderate to good (kapa value=.42~.97). This study found that intrarater and interrater reliability for total FGA scores and internal consistency were good. Therefore, the Korean version of the FGA can be used as a reliable tool to assess the functional gait performance of patients after stroke.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.320-324
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to provide methods for assessment of functional balance through study of correlation with the weight bearing ratio, functional balance, and functional gait on patients with stroke. Methods: Thirty-nine patients with stroke participated in this study. The timed up and go test was used to measure balance and the functional ambulation category test to measure functional gait. Weight bearing was measured in the quiet standing posture and weight bearing in the quiet standing posture immediately after performing the standing-task. Results: Both timed up and go test and functional ambulation category test showed significant correlation with balance in the quiet standing posture immediately after performing the standing task. Conclusion: Measurement of balance in the quiet standing posture immediately after performing the standing-task was considered a meaningful scale for measurement of both balance function and gait function of patients with stroke.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.49-57
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• 2015

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of emphasized initial contact gait training on balance and gait ability in hemiplegia patients. METHODS: Twenty-four hemiplegic patients were randomly allocated to an experimental group or control group. All participants received 30-min neurodevelopmental treatment. Furthermore, the experimental group received initial contact-emphasized auditory feedback gait training, whereas the control group received gait training without auditory feedback. The intervention was performed 3 times per week, 20 min per each time, for a total of 6 weeks. Balance was assessed using the center of pressure path length, center of pressure velocity, and limitation of stability path length, whereas gait ability was assessed using the 10-m walking test and functional gait assessment. RESULTS: In both groups, center of pressure path length and center of pressure velocity significantly decreased after training. Compared to the control group, the experimental group showed a 10% significant improvement (p<.05). In the limitation of stability path length of both sides, the experimental group showed a significant increase compared to that before intervention. Compared to the control group, the experimental group showed a 7% significant improvement in results of the 10-m walking test and functional gait assessment (p<.05). CONCLUSION: Emphasized Initial contact gait training is considered an effective treatment for improving gait ability and balance ability in stroke patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 2009

Purpose: The examine the Reliability and Validity of the modified Emory Functional Ambulation Profile (mEFAP), Tinetti. Gait (TG), Timed Up & Go Tes t (TUG), Comfortable Gait Speed (CGS), Berg Balance Scale (BBS) in assessing gait function and balance in elderly person. Methods: The 45 community-dwelling subjects were participated in this study. Reliability was determined by intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC$_{3,1}$), Bland and Altman method (Standard Error of Measurement (SEM), Smallest Real Difference (SRD)). Results: Validity was examined by correlation the mEFAP, TG, TUG, CGS, BBS. The intra-rater reliability were High (ICC$_{3,1}$ : mEFAP=0.95, TG=0.96, TUG=0.94, CGS=0.96, BBS=0.92) and Absolute reliability were excellent (SEM: mEFAP=1.90, TG=0.21, TUG=0.28 CGS=0.25, BBS=0.52), (SRD: mEFAP=5.26, TG=0.58, TUG=0.77, CGS=0.69, BBS=1.44). There were significant correlations between assessment tool (r=.0.58$\sim$0.78, p<0.01) indicating good validity. Our results provide strong evidence that the assessment tool has good reliability, validity for assessing elderly person undergoing rehabilitation. Conclusion: The gait assessment tool is a useful scale for measuring walking function and recovery in elderly person.

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

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.114-123
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of lower extremity strengthening program on balance, gait and upper limb function in patients with stroke. This study was a hospital-based with Central nerve system lesion patients, randomized controlled trial with a blinded assessor. Twenty four hemiparetic stroke patients were divided into two groups: a Lower extremity strengthening program group (LESPG)(n=12) and a Treadmill training group (TTG)(n=12). The LESPG performed a Lower extremity strengthening program on the affected side. The TTG exercised on a treadmill for 30 minutes a day. Assessment tools included the Timed Up and Go test (TUG), the Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) and the Manual Function Test (MFT). There was a significant difference in TUG, FGA, and MFT scores between the two groups in the LESPG for the balance, gait, and upper limb function than for the TTG(p<.01). Results of the present study indicated that the effect of lower extremity strengthening program for 4 weeks had an effect on balance, gait and upper limb function of hemiplegic patients after stroke.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.91-97
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• 2015

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of the removable ankle-foot orthosis (RAFO) which was developed to improve the gait of stroke patients. The subjects of this study were five stroke patients who agreed to participate in this study by signing a written consent form. To verify gait improvement after wearing the orthosis, a Timed Up and Go test and Functional Gait Assessment were performed, and spatiotemporal gait variables such as gait speed, cadence, stride length, double limb support, and the efficient gait test of body sway angle were performed. For every variable, the differences prior to and after wearing the RAFO were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Every gait variable improved significantly after wearing the RAFO compared to prior to wearing it. The pilot study will enhance future efforts to evaluate orthotic function objectively during gait in stroke patients.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.121-125
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• 2013

Objectives : The report intended to estimate effect taken by using FCST(functional cerebrospinal technique) on the patient with one gait disturbance case. Methods : A gait disturbance one case with 2 weeks of duration was managed by the Balance Appliance on temporomandibular joint (TMJ), combined with acupuncture and herbl medicine. Results : After being treates for 2 weeks, the patint's 10mWT were improved. Assessment was made by self assessment of subjective symptoms and clinical observation. Conclusions : An impressive effect was observed and further clinical and biological research on FCST is expected.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.107-113
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• 2020

Purpose: This study compared the walking ability of chronic stroke patients following either treadmill training with knowledge of the result (KR group) or treadmill training with knowledge of the performance (KP group). Methods: Nineteen patients with chronic stroke were recruited from a rehabilitation hospital. The patients were divided into two groups: a KR group (10 patients) and a KP group (9 patients). They received 30 minutes of neuro-developmental therapy and treadmill training 30 minutes, five times a week for three weeks. The gait parameters were measured before and after training using the Optogait system. Results: After the training periods, the KR group showed significant improvement in gait speed, cadence, step length of the unaffected limb, stance time of the affected limb, and functional gait assessment compared to the KP group (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results showed that treadmill training with KR was more effective in improving the gait speed and cadence, step length of the unaffected limb, stance time of the affected limb, and functional gait ability than the treadmill training with KP. Therefore, to improve the walking ability of stroke patients, it is necessary to consider treadmill training with KR. If it can be combined with conventional neurological physiotherapy, it would be an effective rehabilitation for stroke patients.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.33-42
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• 2010

The aim of this study was to investigate correlations of the Trunk Control Test (TCT), Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke (PASS-TC), and Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS) and to compare the TCT, PASS-TC, TIS and its subscales in relation to balance, gait and functional performance ability after stroke. Sixty-two stroke patients attending a rehabilitation program participated in the study. Trunk control was measured with the use of TCT, PASS-TC, TIS balance (Berg Balance scale; BSS), gait ability (10 m walk test), functional performance ability (Tuned Up and Go Test TUG) and the mobility part of the Modified Barthel index (MBI), Fugl Meyer-Upper/Lower Extremity ($FM-U{\cdot}L/E$), The scatter-plot (correlation coefficient) was composed for the total scores of the TCT, PASS-TC, and TIS. The multiple regression analysis was performed to evaluate the impact of trunk control on balance, gait, and functional performance ability. Twenty eight participants (45.2%) and twenty participants (32.3%) obtained the maximum score on the TCT and PASS-TC respectively; no subject reached the maximum score on the Trunk Impairment Scale. There were significant correlations between the TIS and TCT (r=.38, p<.01), PASS-TC (r=.30, p<.05), TCT and PASS-TC (r=.59, p<.01). Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that the BBS score (${\beta}=.420{\sim}.832$) had slightly more power in predicting trunk control than the $FM-U{\cdot}L/E$. TIS-dynamic sitting balance, TUG and the MBI-mobility part. This study 치early indicates that trunk control is still impaired in stroke patients. Measures of trunk control were significantly related with values of balance, gait and functional performance ability. The results imply that management of trunk rehabilitation after stroke should be emphasized.