• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 2011

The functional loot orthoses, when wearing shoes, are in the direct contact with bottom of foots to improve and recover the correctness of abnormal lower limb musculoskeletal imbalance and the primary role of foot and also, it can act to keep the balance and weight of body and support the weakened region, so that it is very helpful to keep body balance for the standing position. In this paper, it was researched that foot orthoses which is accommodable for the function of impact absorption including the gait stability affect on the balanced performances of body in according to the formation and the material of foot part. Taking into account the balanced performances by using the sway velocity, the estimation and comparison of the effects on the balanced performances by each formation and material for foot orthoses was evaluated into significant values(p<0.006) in only the eye-opening posture with Firm state, In this posture, the static process performed by each foot formation reveals in order of normal foot(p<0.010), flat foot(p<0.000) and hollow foot(p<0.003) and then, on the base of each formation of foot part, the result that analyze the effects of the materials of foot orthoses on the balance performance appeared showing that soft materials is more effective on the normal foot and, on the other hand, rigid materials is more effective in balancing on flat foot and hollow foot.

• The Journal of Korean society of community based occupational therapy
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2013

Objective : This study investigates the impact of the musculoskeletal disorder prevention exercise program designed on the basis of agricultural work posture on the balance ability, Oswestry Disability level, and Psychosocial stress of participants from one rural village in Chungnam area. Method : The exercise program was provided to 21 farmers with musculoskeletal symptoms living in one village in Chungnam area. Such program was performed once a week, 90 minutes per session, for a total of twelve weeks from July 10 to October 11, 2008, and was constructed in a way to increase flexibility and muscular strength, taking agricultural work posture into account. The balance ability, Oswestry Disability Index, and Psychosocial Well-being Index scores were analyzed based on the data of 13 of the farmers who participated in the program for more than eight times and in all of the pre- and post-assessments. Result : Thirteen participants were all women who were 70.55(${\pm}6.78$) years old on average. Most of them were engaged in general dry-filed farming. The parts where they mainly felt the pain were low back(69.2%) and knees(61.5%), and 46.2% responded 'not healthy' to the question on the overall health status. The static balance ability when standing on the right foot significantly increased from the average 9.27(${\pm}5.53$) seconds before intervention to 14.22(${\pm}5.47$) seconds after intervention(p<.05). The Oswestry Disability Index showed a significant change, decreasing from the average 19.84(${\pm}6.89$) seconds to 14.38(${\pm}7.58$) seconds(p<.05). However, there was no change in the Psychosocial Well-being Index. Conclusion : This exercise program that has been conducted for the female farmers who are mainly engaged in the dry-filed farming has contributed to the improvement of their static ability and reduction of their Oswestry Disability Index scores. It is expected that the studies on the effects of the differentiated exercise programs depending on work characteristics will make progress in the future.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.1-11
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of lumbar stabilization training and additional thoracic mobilization on pain, proprioception and static balance in patients with chronic low back pain. The subjects of this study were 48 chronic low back pain patients who were randomly allocated to an experimental group 1 ($n_1=16$, lumbar stabilization and thoracic mobilization, thoracic hypomobility), experimental group 2 ($n_2=16$, lumbar stabilization and thoracic mobilization, thoracic normal mobility), and a control group ($n_3=16$, lumbar stabilization, thoracic hypomobility) after a thoracic mobility test. Both experimental groups underwent lumbar stabilization training and additional thoracic mobilization. The control group underwent only lumbar stabilization training. The intervention was performed 3 times per week, 30 minutes each time, for a total of 6 weeks. Thoraco-lumbar joint reposition error was measured using an electrogoniometer and static balance ability was measured using the Tetrax posture analysis system. Subjects' pain level was measured using a 100 mm visual analogue scale. Statistical analyses were performed using a one-way analysis of variance and a paired t-test. Post-hoc testing was carried out with a Bonferroni test. The pain level was significantly lower in both experimental groups compared to the control group. Both experimental groups showed significant reductions in joint reposition error angle (flexion, extension, and side bending) compared to the control group. The static balance level was significantly lower in both experimental groups than in the control group. In summary, lumbar stabilization exercises and additional thoracic mobilization significantly improved the pain level, proprioception, and static balance in patients with chronic low back pain.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.77-91
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• 2002

Asymmetrical stance posture, balance, and gait disturbance are common problems in hemiplegic patients. Posterior leaf springs (PLS) are frequently prescribed to correct these problems. Recently, anterior leaf springs (ALS) have also been prescribed, but only limited studies have been performed to investigate the effects of ALS. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of three conditions, i.e., wearing an ALS, wearing a PLS, and not wearing an AFO (ankle foot orthosis),: on 1) the distribution of weight bearing on the affected side, 2) standing balance, and 3) the gait patterns of hemiplegic patients. Eleven hemiplegic patients (10 men and 1 woman) participated in this study. The data were analyzed by the Friedman test. The results were as follows: 1) More weight bearing on the affected leg was observed in the ALS and PLS conditions than in the condition without an AFO. No significant difference between the ALS and PLS conditions was found. 2) There were statistically significant differences in the composite equilibrium scores (CES) among the three conditions. The CES in the PLS condition was significantly higher than in the ALS condition or the condition without an AFO. 3) Gait patterns improved significantly in the ALS and PLS conditions. No statistically significant difference between the ALS and PLS conditions was found. These results suggest that both ALS and PLS effectively improve the distribution of weight bearing on the affected side, standing balance, and gait patterns of hemiplegic patients. Further study using three-dimensional kinematic analysis and dynamic electromyography is needed to support these findings.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Medicine & Therapy Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.31-37
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• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of closed chain lower limb exercise with abdominal breathing exercise on stroke patients and their effects on trunk control ability and balance. Method: The subjects were 40 stroke patients, 19 patients in the experimental group and 18 patients in the control group. The period was 5 weeks, 5 times a week, 30 minutes per session. The experimental group was subjected to a closed chain lower limb exercise with abdominal breathing exercise and the control group was subjected to a closed chain lower limb exercise. The posture assessment scale for stroke(PASS), trunk impairment scale(TIS) were used for trunk adjustment ability, and the balance ability was measured as center of pressure(COP) and limit of stability(LOS). Results: Results of this study showed that the PASS and TIS test significantly increased the experimental group compared to the control group. As a result of comparing the changes of pre and post intervention intervals between the two groups, the TIS test was significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group, but the LOS test was not significantly increased in the experimental group. Conclusion: Closed chain lower limb exercise with abdominal breathing exercise showed a significant improvement in the trunk control and balance ability of the stroke patients compared to the closed chain lower limb exercise without the abdominal breathing exercise.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.125-133
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• 2019

Objective: To compare the postural control between non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP) subgroups and healthy people during dynamic balance performance using a modified Star Excursion Balance Test (mSEBT). Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Eighteen NSCLBP subjects (9 active extension pattern [AEP], 9 flexion pattern [FP]), and 10 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. All subjects performed mSEBT on their dominant leg on a force plate. Normalized reach distance and balance parameters, including the center of pressure (COP) displacement and velocity, were recorded. Results: There were significant differences in mean reach distances in both posterolateral and posteromedial (PM) reach directions between AEP and healthy subjects (p<0.001) and between FP and healthy subjects (p<0.001). However, there were no significant differences among the three groups in the anterior reach direction. Also, the results showed no significant differences in mean COP variables (velocity and displacement) between pooled NSCLBP and healthy subjects. However, the subjects were reclassified into AEP, FP and healthy groups and the results showed a significant difference in mean COP velocity in the PM direction between AEP and FP subjects (p=0.048), and between AEP and healthy subjects (p=0.024). Conclusions: The findings in this study highlight the heterogeneity of the individuals with NSCLBP and the importance of identifying the homogenous subgroups. Individuals with AEP and FP experience deficits in dynamic postural control compared to healthy controls. In addition, the findings of this study support the concept of the Multidimensional Classification System.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.33-41
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• 2020

Purpose : Conventional Balance Measurement can only measure the center of gravity and the shaking movement of the body. As a result, it has the disadvantages of not responding to visual changes and blocking functions of variables. This study was carried out to evaluate the performance of new equipment that measures the balance of the body using changes in body segment and pressure using the acceleration sensor to compensate for the disadvantages of the existing equipment. Methods : To this end, balance ability was measured in 43 healthy male/female adults without orthopedic injuries and nervous system damage in the last 6 months. in a situation where the visual information was restricted by Virtual Reality (VR) gear, all subjects measured and evaluated the balance ability utilizing the new equipment. Balance measurement (Prime Medilab, Korea) and Wii fit (Nintendo, Japan) were used to measure the balance ability of the subjects, and the balance ability test was performed in 4 postures using each device for data acquisition. The test duration for each posture was 30 seconds. For data acquisition, the average value of three experiments measured using each equipment was analyzed, and the statistical test was performed using the independent sample and the corresponding sample t-test, and the significance level was set to α=.05. Results : As a result of measuring the balance ability using individual equipment, blocking visual information using VR gear, the average speed, maximum speed, and moving area of the COP increased equally. It was found that the obtained absolute size of the result in Wii was somewhat larger than that of BM. Conclusion : It is considered that in the future research, it is necessary to measure changes in the body's center of gravity through image analysis, etc., to make clear comparison and evaluation of the usability.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.7 no.11
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• pp.904-911
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• 2001

A broomstick swinging biped acrobatic controller is designed and simulated to show capability of the system of controllers: virtual model controller is employed for the robot\`s posture balancing control while a higher level fuzzy controller modulate the one of the virtual model controller\`s parameter for the pendulum swinging motion generation. The robot is of 7 degree-of-freedom, 8-link planar bipedal robot having two slim legs and a body. Each leg consists of a hip joint, a knee joint, an ankle joint and the body has a free joint at the top in the head at which a freely rotating broomstick is attached. We assume that the goal for the acrobat robot is to maintain a body balance in the sagittal plane while swinging up the freely up the freely rotating pendulum. We also assume that the actuators in the joints are all ideal torque generators. The proposed system of controllers satisfies the goal and the simulation results are presented.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.112-117
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a task-specific obstacle crossing rehabilitation program on functional gait ability in patients with cerebellar ataxia. Overall, we sought to provide ataxia-specific locomotor rehabilitation guidelines for use in clinical practice based on quantitative evidence using relevant analysis of gait kinematics including valid clinical tests. Methods: Patients with cerebellar disease (n=13) participated in obstacle crossing training focusing on maintenance of dynamic balance and posture, stable transferring of body weight, and production of coordinated limb movements for 8 weeks, 2 times per week, 90 minutes per session. Throughout the training of body weight transfer, the instructions emphasized conscious perception and control of the center of body stability, trunk and limb alignment, and stepping kinematics during the practice of each walking phase. Results: According to the results, compared with pre-training data, foot clearance, pre-&post-obstacle distance, delay time, and total obstacle crossing time were increased after intervention. In addition, body COM measures indicated that body sway and movement variability, therefore posture stability during obstacle crossing, showed improvement after training. Based on these results, body sway was reduced and stepping pattern became more consistent during obstacle crossing gait after participation in patients with cerebellar ataxia. Conclusion: Findings of this study suggest that task-relevant obstacle crossing training may have a beneficial effect on recovery of functional gait ability in patients with cerebellar disease.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.469-476
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• 2020

This study was conducted on college students with low back pain to find out how a backrest exercise program affects the pain and balance of students. Thirty-two students at K University in Gwangju City were randomly classified with backrests and without backrests group respectively. Each group conducted the program for lasted three times a week for a total of 30 minutes for four weeks. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was measured for pain assessment before and after arbitration, and the Korean Oswestry Disability Index (KODI) was measured for functional disability assessment. TETRAX is used to measure the weight distribution index and posture stability. According to the results of the experiment, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the Korean Oswestry Disability Index (KODI) and weight distribution index showed significant differences over time, but the posture stability was no significant difference. The results of this study show that the lower limb exercise program is effective in back pain, dysfunction and weight distribution index, and it is believed that the pain reduction is significant when performed by distal movement in the area of back pain, It can be applied effectively to reduce low back pain in college students who spend a lot of time sitting down.