• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.141-145
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• 2019

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare walking conditions (straight line and curved path) on walking patterns in persons who had experienced hemiplegic stroke and to determine whether if they adapt their walking pattern and performances according to changes in environmental conditions. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Forty-four hemiplegic stroke survivors participated in this study. This study measured walking performance in three different walking conditions, such as straight walking, the more-affected leg in the inner curve walking, and less-affected leg in the inner curve walking conditions, and a 2-dimentional gait analysis system was used as a primary measurement. This study also measured secondary clinical factors including the Timed Up-and-Go Test, the Trunk Impairment Scale, and the Dynamic Gait Index. Results: After analyzing, cadence and step length of the less-affected side, stride length in the more-affected side, and stride length in less-affected side were significantly different among the three different walking conditions in this study (p<0.05), but other temporospatial parameters were not significant. Cadence was the largest in the straight walking condition. Step length in the less-affected side, stride length in the more-affected side, and stride length in less-affected side were also the longest in the straight walking condition. Conclusions: The results of the study suggest that hemiplegic stroke survivors show walking adaptability according to changes in walking demands and conditions, and moreover, cadence and step and stride lengths were significantly different between straight and curved walking conditions.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.19-29
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• 2019

Purpose: This study was an investigation of the effects of the bridge exercise with the sensory feedback of combined abdominal drawing-in on transverse abdominal and balance in patients with stroke. Methods: Forty subjects were randomly assigned into two groups. Subjects in the bridge exercise group (BG, n = 20) or feedback drawing-in bridge exercise group (FDBG, n = 20) were studied for 30 minutes each, twice daily, for four weeks. Outcomes were measured using affected weight distribution (AWD), anterior limit of stability (ALOS), posterior limit of stability (PLOS), timed up-and-go test (TUG), the Berg balance scale (BBS), and transverse abdominis thickness (TRA) before and after the four-week intervention period. Results: There were significant effects in the FDBG pre-intervention and post-intervention in AWD, ALOS, PLOS, TUG, BBS, and TRA. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the bridge exercise with sensory feedback combined with abdominal drawing-in could be beneficial for patients with stroke in terms of transverse abdominal and balance.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.181-188
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• 2022

Objective: The purpose of this study to investigate the correlations among the motor function, balance, and gait velocity and the strength that could explain the variation of gait velocity of chronic stroke survivors. Design: This was a cross-sectional cohort study. Methods: Thirty hemiplegic stroke survivors hospitalized in an inpatient rehabilitation center were participated. The muscle tone of ankle plantarflexor and muscle strength of ankle dorsiflexor were measured respectively with modified Ashworth scale (MAS) and hand-held dynamometer. And the motor recovery and function with Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA), balance with Berg balance scale (BBS) and timed up and go (TUG) test were measured. Gait velocity was measured with GAITRite. The correlation among motor function, muscle tone, muscle strength, balance, and gait were analyzed. In addition, the strength of the relationship between the response (gait velocity) and the explanatory variables was analyzed. Results: The gait velocity had positive correlations with FMA, muscle strength, and BBS, and negative correlation with MAS and TUG. Regression analysis showed that TUG (𝛽=-0.829) was a major explanatory variable for gait velocity. Conclusions: Our results suggest that gait velocity had correlations with muscle strength, MAS, FMA, BBS, and TUG. The tests and measurements affecting the variation of gait velocity the greatest were TUG, followed by FMA, BBS, muscle strength, and MAS. This study shows that TUG would be a possible assessment tool to determine the variation of gait velocity in stroke rehabilitation.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.242-247
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• 2022

Purpose: This study investigates the effect of 60° semi-squat exercises according to three different types of support surfaces. The effects were examined on joint position sense and balancing ability using stable and unstable surfaces in patients afflicted with post-stroke hemiplegia. Methods: Subjects were instructed to perform three sets of 60° semi-squat exercises according to the characteristics of the support surface conditions. The three ground states were bilateral stable surface (BSS), nonaffected side unstable surface (NUS), and bilateral unstable surface (BUS). The joint position sense, characteristics of body sway, and dynamic balance were analyzed according to floor conditions before and after the experiment. A balance-pad (50 cm W×41 cm L×6 cm H; Alcan Airex AG, Sins, Switzerland) was used for the unstable floor. Results: The 60° semi-squat exercises applied to hemiplegic patients showed the highest statistical significance in joint position sense in the NUS group, and Timed Up and Go test (TUG) in the BUS group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Functional training using an unstable surface can be applied as a meaningful intervention method for improving the balance and joint position sense of stroke patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.348-353
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• 2020

Purpose: This study examined the comparison of effects of non-surgical continuous and intermittent traction on pain, balance and physical function in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Methods: A total of 30 knee osteoarthritis patients were recruited and randomized to a continuous traction group (n=10), an intermittent traction group (n=10), and a control group (n=10). The continuous traction group and intermittent traction group received a non-surgical continuous and intermittent knee joint traction workout five times a week, for 4 weeks. All subjects were assessed with the numeric rating scale (NRS), timed up and go test (TUGT), and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) before and after the 4-week treatment. Results: As a result of comparison within groups, the continuous traction group, intermittent traction group, and control group showed a significant difference for NRS, TUGT, and WOMAC after the experiment (p<0.05). According to the comparison of the three groups, the continuous traction group showed a more effectively significant difference than the intermittent traction group and the control group in the balance and physical functions before and after the experiment (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that non-surgical continuous traction treatment was effective in improving pain, balance ability, and physical function in knee osteoarthritis patients.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.243-251
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the effects of aquatic and land dual-task training on balance, gait, and depression in chronic stroke patients. Methods: A total of 24 patients diagnosed with chronic stroke were the subjects. They were assigned to either the experimental group (n = 12) or the control group (n = 12). The experimental group performed aquatic dual-task training, while the control group performed land dual-task training. The aquatic and land dual-task training sessions were conducted once a day for 30 min, 5 days per week, for 6 weeks. Balance was measured using the Berg balance scale. Gait was measured using the Timed Up and Go Test. The Beck's Depression Inventory was used to measure depression. Results: Both the experimental and control groups showed significant differences in balance, gait, and depression after the intervention (p < 0.05) in the within-group comparisons. It was found that the experimental group showed more significant differences in balance, gait, and depression than the control group (p < 0.05) when the two groups were compared. Conclusion: It can be concluded that aquatic dual-task training effectively improved the balance ability, gait ability, and chronic stroke patients' depression based on these results.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.213-219
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• 2023

Purpose: In this study, based on the error augmentation, we performed walking training with increased rhythmic auditory stimulation speed on the affected side (IRAS) and walking training with decreased rhythmic auditory stimulation speed on the unaffected side (DRAS). The purpose of this study was to verify whether motor learning was effective in improving balance ability. Methods: Twenty-eight subjects with chronic stroke were recruited from a rehabilitation center. The subjects were divided into three groups: an IRAS group (10 subjects), a DRAS group (9 subjects), and control group (9 subjects). They received 30minutes of neuro-developmental therapy and walking training for 30minutes, five times a week for three weeks. Static and functional balance ability were measured before and after the training period. Static balance was measured by balancia software. Functional balance was measured by the timed up and go test (TUG) and the berg balance scale (BBS). Results: After the training periods, the IRAS group showed a significant improvement in TUG, BBS, area 95% COP, and weight distribution on the affected side when compared to both the DRAS group and control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it is possible to consider error augmentation methods of motor learning if rhythmic auditory stimulation is applied to stroke patients in clinical practice. If the affected side is shorter than the unaffected side, the affected side should be adjusted to the increased rhythmic auditory stimulation speed, which is considered to be an effective intervention to improve balance ability.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.413-418
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was performed to examine the effect of action observation training on sit to-walk times in chronic stroke patients. Methods: Twelve stroke patients were randomly allocated to two groups, as follows: an action observation training (AOT) group and a scenery picture observation (SPO) group. The AOT group was engaged in video observation for 2 minutes 30 seconds with 12 ADL functional activities related to the sit-to-walk task: physical training was carried out in two repetitions lasting 2 minutes 30 seconds. The landscape imagery control group observed landscape picture for 2 minutes 30 seconds and then carried out the same physical training. The intervention involved a total of 12 sessions over 4 weeks, and each session lasted 30 minutes. The pre and post-tests measured the timed up and go test (TUG), Sit to stand test (STS), and Dynamic gait index (DGI). The Wilcoxon signed ranks test was used to compare pre-test and post-test result, and the Mann-Whitney U test was employed for comparison between groups. Results: The TUG time was significantly different between the AOT group and the SPO group. According to the findings, the experimental group's TUG was significantly decreased (p<0.05). In comparison of the two groups, there was no significant in STS or DGI between the AOT group and SPO group. Conclusion: This study showed that the intervention can be used to decrease TUG time. Our research suggests that action observation training has a positive effect on sit-to-walk times in patients with chronic stroke.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.185-194
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to prove the effects of the PNF patterns combined with whole-body vibration (PWBV) training on muscle strength, balance, walking speed, and endurance in stroke patients. Methods: Sixteen subjects were randomly assigned to the PWBV group (n=8) and the whole-body vibration (WBV) group (n=8). The PWBV group performed PNF pattern exercises using sprinter combined with WBV, while the WBV group performed using squatting for 30 minutes. Both groups performed therapeutic interventions five days per week over a period of four weeks. The manual muscle test, timed up and go test (TUG), 10-meter walk test (10MWT), and six-minute walk test (6MWT) were used to assess the muscle strength, balance, and gait of the participants. The SPSS Ver. 19.0 statistical program was used for data processing. Statistical analysis included a pared t-test to compare the pre- and post-intervention, and an independent t-test was used to compare groups. The significance level was set as 0.05. Results: The PWBV group and WBV group showed significant improvements in the TUG, 10MWT, and 6MWT (P<0.05). Significant differences between the PWBV and WBV groups were found (P<0.05). Conclusion: The PWBV improved muscle strength, balance, gait speed, and endurance in stroke patients. Thus, PWBV may be suggested as a therapeutic intervention in patients with stroke hemiplegia.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.446-452
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• 2012

This study aims to examine the effects of taping of the ankle joint on the static and dynamic balance and gait ability of stroke patients. Twenty-six stroke patients receiving physical therapy at a hospital located in Gyeonggi-do were divided equally into a group that had taping in physical therapy and an ordinary physical therapy group. They exercised for 30 minutes each, 3 times per week for 8 weeks from June to August 2011. Romberg's eye open and eye closed tests, limits of stability(LOS), forward and back test, timed up and go test(TUG) and 10-meter gait velocity test were performed to evaluate static balance, dynamic balance, and gait ability, respectively, prior to and 8 weeks after the intervention. Differences within each group in relation to the lapse of time were compared by a paired t-test. Differences between the two groups were compared by an independent t-test. Regarding comparison of differences within each group, all tests resulted in significant changes in both groups after the intervention (p<.05). Comparison of differences between the two groups showed that taping in the physical therapy group had significantly better test results than the ordinary physical therapy group in all measured items(p<.05). The after effects of ankle taping on stroke patients are more efficient and effective than ordinary physical therapy alone in improving balance and gait ability.