• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.258-265
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• 2010

The purposes of this study was to determine the effects of limited hyperextension at knee joint using Limited Motion Knee Brace on balance and walking in patients with hemiplegia. The subjects of this study were 20 post-stroke hemiplegic patients admitted. Subjects were randomly assigned to either experimental group (Limited Motion Knee Brace group) or control group (manual restriction group). Both groups received traditional physical therapy intervention. The effects of each therapeutic method were evaluated by measurements of gait ability assesment, Berg balance scale (BBS), 10-meter walk speed (10MWS), Timed Up & Go (TUG) Test. The results of this research were as followings: (1) After treatment, there were significant BBS scores differences in both experimental and control group compared with pre-treatment(p<0.05). (2) After treatment, there were significant TUG test scores differences in both experimental and control group compared with pre-treatment (p<0.05). (3) After treatment, there were significant 10MWS differences in both experimental and control group compared with pre-treatment (p<0.05). (4) There were significant BBS scores differences in third and fourth week between experimental and control group (p<0.05). It was concluded that Limited Motion Knee Brace was effective for improving balance and for reducing fatigue for experimental group. Therefore, further studies are required to investigate the effect of knee orthosis for improving balance and walking in patients with hemiplegia.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.1-10
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• 2016

Background: Many studies regarding task-oriented training have recently demonstrated functional improvement in patients with post-stroke hemiparesis. The task-oriented approach is very diverse, and chronic stroke patients must have access to a sustained systematic treatment program to enhance their walking ability. Objectives: This study aimed to compare the effects of the task-oriented circuit training and treadmill training on walking function and quality of life in patients with chronic stroke. Methods: Fourteen patients with chronic stroke volunteered for this study. The subjects were randomly divided into a task-oriented circuit training group and a treadmill training group with 7 patients in each. Each training regimen was performed for 30 min a day and 3 days a week for 4 weeks. Assessment tools included the Timed Up-and-Go Test (TUGT), 10-m Walk Test, 6-min Walk Test (6MWT), and the Stroke Impact Scale (SIS). Results: The change in results of the TUGT, 6MWT, and SIS measured prior to and following the training regimens appeared to be significantly different between the two groups (p<.05). In addition, after the intervention, significant differences were found for all parameters in the task-oriented circuit training group and for the TUGT, 6MWT, and SIS in the treadmill training group (p<.05). Conclusion: The findings suggest that task-related circuit training and treadmill training may be helpful to improve walking function and quality of life of patients with post-stroke hemiparesis. Additionally, a task-related circuit training program may achieve more favorable outcomes than a treadmill program.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2014

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify the effects of the lower trunk stabilization exercise using neurodevelopmental technique (NDT) on muscle activity in lumbar region and balance in the patients with hemiplegia. Methods: Fifteen participants were allocated in two groups: NDT group (n=8) or control group (n=7). NDT group performed NDT exercise program, while control group conducted walking exercise. Both interventions were given for 30 minutes a day, 3 times a week, for 5 weeks. To measure the muscle activity in rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO) and internal oblique (IO), electromyography (EMG) was used. And, Timed-Up and Go (TUG) test and Berg-Balance Scale (BBS) were performed to assess balance before and after intervention. Results: NDT group showed a significant improvement of muscle activity in RA and EO, while control group did not show significant changes in three muscles. Also, there was a significant difference in muscle activity of RA and EO between two groups. In BBS and TUG test, participants in two groups showed significant improvements after intervention. Especially, significant difference was observed in TUG test between two groups (p<.05). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that NDT exercise is an effective intervention to improve the muscle activity in trunk region and to increase balance in patients with stroke. Thus, we suggested that NDT exercise program would be a treatment intervention in stroke rehabilitation.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.20-28
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of visual cue deprivation during sideways treadmill training in individuals with stroke. Twenty-eight stroke patients were divided into two groups, and each group participated in a sideways treadmill training session for 20 minutes, three times per week for 4 weeks. The eyes close group (15 subjects) performed this treadmill training with visual cue deprivation, while the eyes open group (13 subjects) performed it without visual cue deprivation. Gait function was measured in both groups before and after the training sessions with the Biodex Gait Trainer 2, which determined walking speed, distance, step length, and time on each foot. Balance was measured before and after each training period in both groups using the Five-Times Sit-to-Stand Test (FTSST), the Timed Up and Go test (TUG), and the seven-item Berg Balance Scale-3P (7-item BBS-3P). The eyes close group showed significantly improved gait function, walking speed, distance, step length, and time on each foot after training (p<.05). The eyes close group showed improved balance ability, FTSST, TUG, and 7-item BBS-3P test after training (p<.05). The findings indicated that sideways treadmill training with visual cue deprivation positively affects gait ability of stroke patients. Therefore, sideways treadmill training with visual cue deprivation may be useful for the recovery of gait ability of stroke patients.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.170-176
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• 2016

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of ball kicking dual task gait training with the addition of a cognitive task with general treadmill gait training (TGT) on gait speed, gait endurance, functional gait, balance and balance confidence in patients with chronic hemiparetic stroke. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Fourteen stroke patients who volunteered to participate in this study were randomly divided into two groups with seven patients in each group: ball kicking dual task training (DTT) group and TGT group. The DTT group received ball kicking DTT with cognitive tasks consisted of three stages and the TGT group received TGT using normal walking speed, respectively, for 30 minutes per day 3 days per week for 4 weeks. Outcome assessments were made with the 10-meter walking test (10MWT), 6-minute walking test (6MWT), functional gait assessment (FGA), Berg balance scale (BBS), timed up and go test (TUG), and the activities-specific balance confidence (ABC) scale. Results: The DTT group showed more significant improvement in the 10MWT, 6MWT, FGA, BBS, TUG, and ABC than the TGT group (p<0.05). In addition, within groups comparison showed significant improvement in all variables (p<0.05). Conclusions: The findings suggest that both ball kicking dual task gait training and TGT improve gait performance and balance in patients with chronic hemiparetic stroke. However, ball kicking dual task gait training results showed more favorable outcomes than TGT for chronic hemiparetic stoke patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.879-883
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• 2015

Conventional gait rehabilitation requires at least three therapists in a traditional rehabilitation training program. Several robots have been developed to reduce human burden and increase rehabilitation efficacy. In this study, we present a lower-limb wearable robot (WA-H) for gait rehabilitation of hemiplegia patients, and propose a protocol of 12 weeks gait rehabilitation training program using WA-H. To identify the efficacy of the robot and protocols, we conducted a clinical study with two actual hemiplegia patients and observed a chronological change of ambulation ability through four assessments. We discovered the progression of results by 6 minute walking test, TUGT (Timed Up and Go Test), SPPB (Short Physical Performance Battery), BBS (Berg Balance Test), and Fugl-Meyer score. The torques generated in the normal side and paralyzed side of the patient became similar, indicating rehabilitation. The result also showed the walking of the paralysis patient improved and imbalance motion had considerable improved performance.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2020

Background: The aim of this study was to conduct an Otago exercise program with total knee replacement patient (TKR) in a clinical setting and ascertain its effects on balance, walking ability and falls efficacy. Methods: The participating subjects were 30 people who had been diagnosed with TKR. They were assigned to two groups (Exp; Otago exercise and general physical therapy, n=15; Con; balance exercise and general physical therapy, n=15), and the exercises were conducted for three sessions per week for four weeks. The main balance outcomes were evaluated using the timed up and go test (TUG), while walking ability was evaluated using the 10m walk test (10MWT), direction change ability was measured using the figure 8 of walk test (F8WT), and the decrease of fear was evaluated using the modified falls efficacy scale (MFES). Results: In the analysis results, the Exp group showed significant increases in TUG, 10MWT, and F8WT within the both groups. There were significant differences in all variables between the Exp group and the Con group at the post-intervention evaluation, but there was no significant difference between the groups with respect to the TUG. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that Otago exercise would be useful to improve balance and walking for TKR patients who want to improve their abilities and activities of daily living.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.811-820
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• 2020

Objective: The aim of this study was to report the effectiveness of traditional Korean medicine treatment of a gait disturbance in a patient with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus induced by secondary Parkinsonism. Methods: The patient was treated with Korean herbal medicine (Yukmijihwang-tang-gami), acupuncture, moxibustion, and rehabilitation exercise. The gait of the patient was evaluated by the 10 m Walk Test, Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, 360° turning test, Functional Ambulatory Category (FAC), and GAITRite. Results: After 20 days of traditional Korean medicine treatment, we observed improvement in the symptoms of the gait disturbance. Conclusion: Traditional Korean medicine treatment might be effective in the treatment of gait disturbance in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus induced by secondary Parkinsonism.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.365-371
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• 2014

Purpose: The aim of this study is to examine the effects of training in vestibular sensory stimulation on balance and gait of stroke patients. Methods: Twenty patients were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n=10) or the control group (n=10). Patients in the experimental group received rotational stimulation training, vertical-horizontal stimulation training, gait training on a flat surface with vestibular sensory stimulation, and gait training on soft ground with vestibular sensory stimulation. Patients in the control group received general treadmill gait training. The intervention was applied four times per week, 25 minutes each time, for a period of four weeks. We measured Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Biodex Balance System, Timed up to Go (TUG) test and Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) to evaluate balance and gait ability. Results: BBS differed significantly in both groups between before and after the intervention (p<0.05) and changes in BBS after the intervention differed between the two groups (p<0.05). According to the Biodex Balance System test result, only the experimental group showed significant changes in balance in the conditions of static eyes open (SEC), dynamic eyes open (DEO), and dynamic eyes closed (DEC) (p<0.05). TUG test results differed significantly between prior to and after the training in both the experimental group and the control group (p<0.05) and changes in TUG after the intervention differed significantly between the two groups (p<0.05). DGI results showed significant change after the intervention in the experimental group only (P<0.05). Conclusion: Training in vestibular sensory stimulation was effective in improving static-dynamic balance and gait ability of stroke patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.435-443
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• 2010

Purpose : The goal of this study was to identify the effects of treadmill walking training (TW) and ergometer bicycle training (EB) on gait and balance in stroke patients. Methods : The subjects consisted of 42 stroke patients. They were randomly divided to two groups: TW(n=20) and EB(n=22). Each group trained along with the conventional physical therapy, three times a week for six weeks. The ability of gait was assessed by the 10m walk test and Timed Up and Go test(TUG). The ability of balance was assessed by Berg Balance Scale(BBS) and Balance Performance Monitor(BPM). Results : There was no significant difference between the 10m walking test and TUG groups, but there was a statistical difference between before and after the training for all groups. The result of BBS that assessed balance showed a significant reduction between before and after the training for all groups, but there was no difference between the two groups. While the two groups showed no difference in the BPM assessment, only the EB showed a significant improvement of before and after the training in each group. Conclusion : The outcomes suggest that stroke patients can improve their gait and balance performance through the TW and EB trainings. Although dynamic mean balance showed significance from EB, no significant difference was found between two groups. Even though it cannot be determined through this study which training group is more effective among the above mentioned two, it could be suggested that each training is effective to gait ability and the ability of balance of stroke patients.