• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2021

Considering that the aged population increases and the mobility problem is pointed out as a factor that indisposes the quality of life, cognition, and mood, it is important to understand and evaluate the elderly's mobility. Factors that deteriorate mobility in the elderly include physical senility, various health changes including chronic diseases, polypharmacy as well as anticholinergics. Common mobility problems in old age are reduced gait speed, increased gait variability in walking length, careless walking, and frequent falls. Several studies have reported that decreased mobility and deterioration of gait can predict cognitive decline and emotional problems. Aerobic exercise, resistance exercise, and balance exercise are suggested as therapeutic interventions for mobility problems. Active correction for factors that reduce mobility in the elderly and prescribing physical activity can conserve the elderly's quality of life and help improve cognition and mood. There is a need for related research in the future.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.141-149
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• 2018

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine the effects walking program with dance on gait, cognition, and risk of falls of elderly with dementia in a long-term care hospital. Methods: Subjects consisted of 42 elderly with dementia in a long-term care hospital (21 elderly with dementia in an experimental group and 21 elders with dementia in a control group). Data were collected from March 14 to April 30, 2016. Subjects in the experimental group performed walking program with dance (three times a week, 30-50 minutes session, 18 sessions). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, independent t-test, paired t-test, repeated measures ANOVA with the SPSS/WIN 21.0. Results: The participants in the experimental group showed significantly increased scores of cadence (F= 8.36, p= .007) and improved scores of cognition (F= 9.95, p= .003) compared the control group. Conclusion: The findings indicate walking program with dance is recommend a regular exercise program to enhance the cadence associated with walking speed and cognitive function elderly.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.364-368
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• 2015

Purpose: Walking in the dual-task condition is a critical skill for hemiplegic patients to live in real-life situations. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of dual-task gait training and general gait training on gait parameters and cognitive function in patients with chronic stroke during dual-task walking. Methods: The study included 23 patients with chronic hemiparetic stroke who were randomly divided into experimental (dual-task gait training) and control (general walking training) groups. The 11 subjects in the experimental group and nine subjects in the control group received dual-task gait training (walking while handling a ball, crossing obstacles, picking up various objects, and problem solving simple cognitive tasks and general over-ground gait training, respectively, for 30 minutes per day 5 days per week for 4 weeks. Spatiotemporal parameters and cognitive tasks in the dual-task gait condition were measured. Statistical analysis of the changes between the pre- and post-intervention measurement variables was performed using ANCOVA. Results: In the gait condition under cognitive tasks, the changes pre- and post-intervention in gait velocity, stride length, double support limb, and step symmetry were significantly greater in the dual-task gait training group; however, the dual-task gait training group showed no significant improvement compared to the general gait training group in terms of the assessment of cognitive tasks. Conclusion: The findings suggest that dual-task gait training may be beneficial for walking ability in dual-task walking condition.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.363-375
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• 2015

Objective: This study aims to recognize the risk of current traffic systems and to investigate a method to decrease risk by doing exercise using an elastic-band and cognitive rehabilitation. Background: The existing traffic system usually focuses on the ordinary citizens, which may not be appropriate to the elderly. It may affect the cognition and walking speed of the elderly. This study tries to examine whether cognition and muscle training is appropriate to improve their vulnerability. Therefore this study will provide human ergonomics - based basic data in relation to the elderly to identify the risk of current signal system and to mitigate the risk. Method: A total of 30 elderly participants were divided into two groups: experimental and control groups. Experimental group (n=15) was trained to strengthen their muscles and to promote cognition, whereas control group (n=15) was not. The training was conducted twice a week for three weeks. To strengthen muscles, a yellow colored elastic-band was used, and a computer program for cognitive rehabilitation was used to develop cognition. In the experimental group, there were significant differences between pre and post exercises However, the control group didn't show any significant difference. The increase in cognition and walking speed was found in the experimental group, whereas there were no differences in the control group. Statistically there was no significant difference between the two groups. Results: The results of this study show that the exercise program using the elastic-band gave a positive effect on gait training thanks to the development of muscle power and balance. Conclusion: This study did not show any statistical difference or significant differences between the two groups, since time was restricted, we believe. Application: The results of the walking speed will help to prevent traffic collision.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.21-31
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• 2020

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a cognitive-exercise program using step on the cognitive function, gait, and depression of elderly with mild cognitive impairment. Methods : The subjects comprised 30 elderly people with mild cognitive impairment who used elderly welfare centers in the provinces A, B, and C between March 21 and June 7, 2019. They were divided into an experimental group (n=15) and a control group (n=15) before undergoing an experiment based on a pretest-posttest control group design. The lowenstein occupational therapy cognitive assessment-geriatric population was used to assess the subjects' cognitive function, while the 4-stage balance test, 30-second chair-stand test, timed up & go test, and functional reach test were employed to evaluate their gait. In addition, the beck depression inventory was used to measure their levels of depression. Results : The cognitive-exercise program using step enhanced the subjects' cognitive function and gait and reduced their levels of depression. Furthermore, statistically significant differences were found between the experimental group and the control group. Conclusion : The cognitive-exercise program using step promoted the process of sensorimotor and cognition through the learning process of various steps taking left and right steps and cognitive activities. It improves gait by activating the coordination of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems of the body and positively affecting posture control, balance, flexibility, and lower extremity muscles. It also relieved depression by performing successful step learning and cognitive activities with forward-looking (doing) that leads to pleasure and achievement. The present study confirmed the value of a cognitive-exercise program using step to treat multiple domains of functional decline in elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment. This is therefore proposed as an intervention program for this patient group.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.207-214
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• 2010

The aim of this study was to investigate upper and lower limb muscle activity using EMG(electromyogram) sensors while walking and identify normal gait pattern using FSR(force sensing resistor) sensor. Fifteen college students participated in this study and their EMG and FSR signal were measured during stopping and walking trials. EMG signals from upper(pectoralis major and trapezius) and lower limbs(rectus femoris, biceps femoris, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, semimembranosus, semitendinosus, soleus, peroneus longus, gastrocnemius medialis, and gastrocnemius lateralis) were obtained using the surface electrodes. FSR measured pressures on 8 areas of the sole of the foot during walking. EMG results showed that all muscle activities except for vastus lateralis and semimembranosus during walking had higher amplitudes than stopping. Additionally, muscle activities associated with stance and swing phase during walking were identified. Results on FSR showed that stance and swing phases were detected by FSR signals during a gait cycle. Eight gait phases－initial contact, loading response, mid stance, terminal stance, pre swing, initial swing, mid swing, and terminal swing- were classified.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.51-58
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• 2022

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between executive function and gait evaluations for the elderly, and validate the obstacle gait evaluation as a cognitive impairment test tool. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional design. 79 people aged 65 years or older were selected as subjects. The Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-KC) to evaluate overall cognitive function and the Trail Making Test (TMT) A, B to measure executive function were performed. The 4-meter walking speed test and the walking speed test while crossing over an obstacle were carried out to evaluate gait. The Spearman's correlation was used to measure the correlation between cognition and gait speed. RESULTS: There was no significant correlation between the 4 m gait speed and executive function( TMT-A (p = .056), TMT-B (p = .115)). However, there was a significant correlation between the 4 m gait speed and MMSE-KC (r = .277, p < .05). There was also a significant correlation between walking speed while crossing over an obstacle and all tests (MMSE-KC (r = .382, p < .01). TMT-A (r = -.327, p < .01), TMT-B (r = -.283, p < .05)). CONCLUSION: It was found that the gait speed while crossing over an obstacle was correlated with all cognitive function tests. Therefore, we suggest the use of the gait speed test while crossing over an obstacle rather than the simple gait test to diagnose cognitive decline.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.493-502
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• 2021

Objective: Older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are more likely to progress to dementia. Motor-cognitive training is applied as a dual-task to improve the cognitive and physical functions of older adults with MCI. The purpose of the study was to know the recent trends in motor training types and outcome measures used for motor-cognitive training in older adults with MCI. Design: Aliterature review Methods: This literature review was conducted in Pubmed, MEDLINE® and Google Scholar with the following key words: older adults, mild cognitive impairment, motor-cognitive training, cognition, and dual-task. The 7 studies were found with the search tool and all studies were randomized controlled trials. Results: In motor-cognitive training in older adults with MCI, 6 studies applied aerobic exercise. And 3 out of 6 studies also applied strengthening exercises. One study applied dual tasks without aerobic exercise. In the 6 studies, overall cognitive and executive function were used as outcome measures, and physical function was evaluated as gait performance. Memory and physical frailty were also used as measurement tools. As a result of all studies, when motor-cognitive training was applied, cognition and physical performance showed significant results. Conclusions: A recent five-year study applied mainly aerobic exercise and strength training to older adults with MCI and found it to improve cognitive and physical performance.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.119-126
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• 2013

Purpose : The neurologically impaired patients have sensory, motor, cognition, perception problems which cause reduction of body schema, balance control and postural control provoke disfunction. The purpose of this case report was to evaluate effects on gait&balance upon improvement of postural control for left hemiplegia. Methods : This study has performed single subject design from March to April 2013 for 6 weeks. The subject of this study was a 67years old female patient with left hemiplegia. Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and Functional Reach (FR) test were used as evaluation tool. The subject was treated 5 times a week for 30 minutes each. Results : The result is that the walking velocity was decreased, the ability of gait was improved than before the training. The length of FR was increased from 8.33cm to 22.67cm. Conclusion : According to the results, the treatment improves subject's ability of walking in this study.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.108-117
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• 2016

Purpose: This study aimed to prove the effects of the net-step exercise (NSE) on gait ability, depression, cognitive function and activities of daily living (ADL) in older adults. Methods: The study employed a non-equivalent control group non-synchronized design. A total of 64 community-dwelling older adults were recruited and divided equally into two groups; 32 subjects for an experimental group and 32 subjects for a control group. In the experimental group, the NSE was applied to an hour, two times per week for 4 weeks. The level of gait ability, depression, cognitive function and ADL were measured before and after NSE. The study conducted from July to August, 2016. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, $x^2$ test, Fisher's exact test, t-test, ANCOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficients using SPSS/WIN 22.0 version. Results: Gait ability, depression, cognitive function were significantly better in the experimental group than the control group. However, the difference in ADL was not significant between the two groups. Conclusion: These findings in this study showed that the NSE was an efficient intervention for older adults. Nurses could apply non-pharmacological interventions to avoid pharmacological side-effects.