• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.54-59
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• 2017

Background: Light touch cue is a sensory input that could potentially help in the control of posture. The immediate stimulatory effect of light touch cues using a cane during gait is associated with postural stability. This strategy can help post-stroke individuals regain their ability to perform the sit-to-stand (STS) transfer safely. Objects: The effects of light grip on postural control during the STS transfer in post-stroke subjects were investigated. Methods: Eleven participants (6 men, 5 women) with hemiplegia due to stroke were recruited in the study. The subjects with hemiparesis performed STS transfer in three randomly assigned conditions (1) without a cane (2) light grip with a cane (3) strong grip with a cane. Results: The difference in weight-bearing distribution between the left and right feet, when the subjects were instructed to stand up, was $52.73{\pm}2.13%$ without a cane, $42.75{\pm}3.26%$ with a strong grip, and $43.00{\pm}2.55%$ with a light grip (p<.05). The rate of rise in force indicates the peak power provided by subjects during their STS transfers. The rate of rise in force was statistically significantly lower without a cane than that with a light grip or a strong grip (p<.05). The subjects' centers of pressure sway on the mediolateral side during STS transfers statistically significantly declined with a light grip or a strong grip when compared to those without a cane (p<.05). Conclusion: When the subjects with hemiparesis used a cane during STS transfers, their duration, center of pressure sway, and difference in weight-bearing distribution were all reduced. The subjects also exhibited similar results during STS transfers with a cane gripped lightly. This result may provide guidelines for the use of assistive devices when patients with hemiparesis practice STS transfers in clinical settings.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.321-326
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• 2019

Background: Performing cognitive tasks and muscular fatigue have been shown to increase muscle activity of the lower extremity during quiet standing. A common intervention to reduce muscular fatigue is to provide a softer shoe-surface interface. However, little is known regarding how muscle activity is affected by softer shoe-surface interfaces during static standing. The purpose of this study was to assess lower extremity muscular activity during erect standing on three different standing surfaces, before and after an acute workload and during cognitive tasks. Methods: Surface electromyography was collected on ankle dorsiflexors and plantarflexors, and knee flexors and extensors of fifteen male participants. Dependent electromyography variables of mean, peak, root mean square, and cocontraction index were calculated and analyzed with a $2{\times}2{\times}3$ within-subject repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: Pre-workload muscle activity did not differ between surfaces and cognitive task conditions. However, greater muscle activity during post-workload balance assessment was found, specifically during the cognitive task. Cognitive task errors did not differ between surface and workload. Conclusions: The cognitive task after workload increased lower extremity muscular activity compared to quite standing, irrespective of the surface condition, suggesting an increased demand was placed on the postural control system as the result of both fatigue and cognitive task.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.194-201
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• 2023

Background: Falls are a common and serious problem in the elderly population. Muscle strength and balance are important factors in the prevention of falls. The Y-balance test (YBT) is used to assess dynamic postural control and shows excellent test-retest reliability. However, no studies have examined the relationship between lower-limb strength and YBT scores in elderly women. Objects: This study aimed to examine the relationship between lower-limb strength and YBT scores in elderly women. Methods: Thirty community-dwelling elderly women participated in the study. Lower-limb strength including hip flexor, hip extensor, hip abductor (HAB), hip adductor (HAD), knee flexor, knee extensor, ankle dorsiflexor, and ankle plantar flexor (PF) muscles was examined using a smart KEMA strength sensor (KOREATECH Inc.), and the YBT was used to assess dynamic balance. Relationship between lower-limb strength and YBT was demonstrated using a Pearson's correlation coefficient. Results: HAB strength (r = 0.388, p < 0.05), HAD strength (r = 0.362, p < 0.05), and ankle PF strength (r = 0.391, p < 0.05) positively correlated with the YBT-anterior direction distance. Ankle PF strength was positively correlated with the YBT-posteromedial direction distance (r = 0.396, p < 0.05) and composite score (r = 0.376, p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that HAB, HAD, and ankle PF strengths should be considered for dynamic postural control in elderly women.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.254-259
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• 2018

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of therapeutic climbing training on postural alignment and balance of normal adults and to suggest possibilities for clinical intervention. The study investigated 30 normal adults who were randomly assigned to either a training group or a control group (n= 15 each). The training group performed climbing training on the climbing wall three times a week for 6 weeks for a total of 40 minutes, while the control group did not perform any training. Biorecue was used to evaluate balance ability, while formetric was used for evaluation of postural alignment. The results showed that there was a significant difference in body slope between the groups in posture alignment (p<.05), as well as in balance ability (p<.05) and time and group interaction (p<.05). In this study, climbing training affected the posture alignment of normal adults, increased the left and right torso tilt and positively affected balance ability. Therefore, these findings confirm that training using climbing is valuable for rehabilitation and clinical application intervention of the general public and patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.372-377
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of applying clam exercise on improving trunk control and balance ability in stroke patients. Based on this, we tried to provide clinical information. Methods: In this study, 18 patients with chronic stroke were recruited from a rehabilitation hospital. The patients were divided into two groups: a clam exercise group (9 patients) and a control group (9 patients). After 30 minutes of neuro-development therapy, they performed clam exercise or bridge exercise for 3 weeks, 5 times a week for 30 minutes. A trunk impairment scale (TIS) and a postural assessment scale for stroke patients-trunk control (PASS-TC) were performed to evaluate the subjects' ability to control trunk before and after intervention. Balance ability was measured by Balancia before and after intervention. Results: After the training periods, area 95% COP and weight distribution of the affected side were significantly different from the clam exercise group compared to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, in can be seen that the clam exercise is effective in improving the balance ability compared to the bridge exercise. Maintaining the standing posture requires muscle strength of the hip abduction and extension, which is the result of the clam exercise selectively strengthening these muscles. Therefore, if you want to provide intervention to improve the balance of stroke patients, it is recommended to perform a clam exercise.

• 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.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.51-60
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• 2006

Purpose: This study was to compare the effect of center of pressure(COP) displacement and muscle activation onset during expected and unexpected sudden limb loading in subjects with low back pain and healthy control subjects. Most studies of COP displacement and muscle activation onset on postural task focused on sudden trunk loading or gross limb movements. Investigation of the COP displacement and muscle activation onset during expected and unexpected sudden upper limb loading deserves similar attention. Methods: For this study, 14 subjects with low back pain and 12 healthy control subjects are participated. Force plate and surface EMG measures were used to determine COP displacement and muscle activation onset under expected and unexpected sudden upper limb loading. Results: COP displacement and muscle activation onset under unexpected sudden upper limb loading were similar in subjects with low back pain and healthy control subjects. However, COP displacement and muscle activation onset under expected sudden upper limb loading were shortened in healthy control subject but not among the subjects with low back pain. Conclusion: The results provide evidence for impaired feed-forward control in subjects with low back pain.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.529-535
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to test that the exercise adaptive training enhance behavioral outcome significantly after focal brain ischemia in rats. After occlusion of middle cerebral artery in rats, they were housed in individual standard cages fur 24 hours. The control group was sacrificed 24 hours after ischemic event. The experimental group I was housed in standard cages for 7days. The experimental group ll was housed in enriched environment and had got exercise adaptive training fur 7days. The rats were examined five motor behavioral tests. In motor behavioral tests :postural reflex test, limb placement test, beam-walking test, rotarod test, horizontal wire test. The outcomes of control group and group I were significantly lower than the group II. The conclusion was that exercise adaptive training induced functional repair.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.826-832
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• 2016

A two-wheeled balancing mobile robot (TWBMR) has the characteristics of both nonlinear and underactuated system. In this paper, the disturbances acting on a TWBMR are classified into body disturbance and wheel disturbance. Additionally, we describe a nonlinear disturbance observer, which is suitable as a single input multi-output (SIMO) system for the longitudinal motion of TWBMR. Finally, we propose a reasonable disturbance compensation technique that combines the indirect reference input of equilibrium point and the direct torque compensation input. Simulations and experimental results show that the proposed disturbance compensation method is an effective way to achieve robust postural stability, specifically on inclined terrains.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.459-466
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to analyze of obstacle gait using spatio-temporal and foot pressure variables in children with autism. Fifteen children with autism and fifteen age-matched controls participated in the study. Spatio-temporal and foot pressure variables was investigated using GAITRite pressure sensor system. Each footprint was divided into 12 equal trapezoids and after that the hindfoot, midfoot and forefoot analysis was developed. Independent t-test was applied to compare the gait variables between the groups. The results showed that the autism group were significantly decreased in velocity, cadence, cycle and swing time compared to the control group. The autism group were significantly increased in step width and toe out angle compared to the control group. The autism group were significantly increased at midfoot and forefoot of lateral part of footprint and forefoot of medial part of footprint in the peak time compared to the control group. The autism group were significantly increased at midfoot and hindfoot in $P^*t$, at midfoot in active area, and at hindfoot in peak pressure compared to the control group. In conclusion, the children with autism showed abnormal obstacle gait characteristics due to muscle hypotonia, muscle rigidity, akinesia, bradykinesia and postural control impairments.