• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.285-291
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• 2014

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to propose clinical criteria to differentiate patients who are able to perform the step-through-step gait pattern in chronic stroke patients. METHODS: Sixty patients with chronic stroke patients participated this study. To differentiate patients who could perform the step-through-step gait pattern, age, gender, and causes of stroke were noted, a Chedoke-McMaster (CM) damage list, Fugl-Meyer (FM) assessment scales and the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) were determined. A 10 meter gait test and Timed Up and Go (TUG) test were conducted to determine the differences in gait speed and dynamic balance between patients walking with or without canes in the step-through-step gait pattern group. RESULTS: There was no significant statistical difference in age, gender, and stroke type between all subjects. There were significant differences in the CM scale for postural and lower extremities, and FM scale for lower extremities and BBS. The dynamic balance ability and gait speed showed significant differences between the subjects in the step-through-step gait pattern with or without a cane during gait. CONCLUSION: CM and FM scales for the lower extremities and postural control, as well as BBS scales, can be used as criteria to differentiate patients who are able to perform the step-through-step gait pattern. These results can also be used to provide beneficial information to patients that are walking with canes.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.107-113
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• 2020

Purpose: This study compared the walking ability of chronic stroke patients following either treadmill training with knowledge of the result (KR group) or treadmill training with knowledge of the performance (KP group). Methods: Nineteen patients with chronic stroke were recruited from a rehabilitation hospital. The patients were divided into two groups: a KR group (10 patients) and a KP group (9 patients). They received 30 minutes of neuro-developmental therapy and treadmill training 30 minutes, five times a week for three weeks. The gait parameters were measured before and after training using the Optogait system. Results: After the training periods, the KR group showed significant improvement in gait speed, cadence, step length of the unaffected limb, stance time of the affected limb, and functional gait assessment compared to the KP group (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results showed that treadmill training with KR was more effective in improving the gait speed and cadence, step length of the unaffected limb, stance time of the affected limb, and functional gait ability than the treadmill training with KP. Therefore, to improve the walking ability of stroke patients, it is necessary to consider treadmill training with KR. If it can be combined with conventional neurological physiotherapy, it would be an effective rehabilitation for stroke patients.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.29 no.6 s.107
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• pp.487-494
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• 2004

This study was conducted to develope a fertilizer-soil incorporation band tiller for the walking cultivator. Because the mixing of soil and fertilizer in the furrow of dry-field has been done manually, several time, heavy labor and much man power were required for the job. This rotary type implement is developed to substitute this manual operation for soil-fertilizer incorporation. The results of this study are summarized as follows : 1) This implement was composed of tilling device, fertilizer application device, frame and tail wheel device. 2) The revolution of driving wheel was $11\~28\;rpm$, that of application roller was $13\~14\;rpm$ the application rate range per revolution of driving wheel was $4.43\~11.80\;g$g and the application rate range by the working speed and the opening quantity was $84.12\~557.20\;g/min$. 3) The adequate working speed was $0.20\~0.40\;m/s$ and the required minimum width of open furrow was 250 mm.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.18-27
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to compare the ring lock type knee-ankle-foot orthosis (KAFO) with newly developed 4-bar linkage KAFO on the gait characteristics of persons with poliomyelitis clinically. This 4-bar linkage is the stance control type KAFO which provide the stability during stance phase and knee flexion during swing phase. Two subjects participated in this study voluntarily. We provided the customized 4-bar linkage KAFO then asked the subjects to walk in level surface and stairs under the two different KAFO conditions. The characteristics of gait in the persons with poliomyelitis were evaluated using a 3D motion analysis system and force plate. Additionally 6 minute walk test for physiological cost index were conducted using pulse oximeter to measure the energy consumption. In the results of this study, the differences of 4-bar linkage KAFO compared with ring lock type KAFO are as follows: (1) Walking speed, stride length, and step length on level increased in subjects, (2) The gait symmetry was improved by generated knee flexion and decreased pelvic external rotation on level and stairs walking, (3) Decreased vertical excursion of center of mass and pelvic elevation during swing phase was decreased on level, (4) Knee extension moment, hip flexion moment, hip and knee internal rotation moment of non-braced limb were decreased on level walking, (5) Walking speed in 6-minute walk test was increased and physiological cost index was decreased. These findings indicate that 4-bar linkage KAFO compared with ring lock type KAFO is effective in enhancing pattern, endurance, and energy consumption in level surface and stairs walking.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.415-422
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• 2020

This study investigates the relationship between muscular strengths and gait characteristics of the elderly. Totally, 107 subjects, aged 65 to 85 years, participated in this study. Researchers measured muscle strengths (grip force, toe grip force, gluteus medius, and gluteus maximus forces) and walking characteristics (walking speed, cadence, step length, single leg support, and double legs support). Dynamometers and inertial measurement unit-based shoe systems were used for measuring muscular strength and gait characteristics, respectively. No significant difference was observed in strengths and walking characteristics between the young elders (YE, 65-74 years) and the old elders (OE, 75-85 years). For each age, muscular strength significantly correlated with some gait parameters. Forces of gluteus medius and gluteus maximus muscles showed better significant correlations between some gait parameters for all age groups, as compared to grip force and toe grip force. Regression coefficients between walking speed and grip force did not vary with age. We conclude that muscular strengths in OE better explained the gait characteristics than in YE subjects. Even though grip strength is an easily measured variable for senior fitness test, forces of gluteus medius and gluteus maximus muscles are more meaningful for understanding the walking characteristics of elderly people.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.193-201
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• 2010

Purpose : This study achieved to search the effect of the circuit exercise and conventional exercise on walking ability(walking speed, endurance, dynamic balance, speed, endurance and pedestrian crossing) in chronic stroke. Methods : Since is diagnosed by stroke, to 30 chronic stroke patients who more than 1 year past the 15 circuit exercise group, the 15 conventional exercise group random the circuit exercise group applied circuit exercise 3th 8 weeks each week after neurological treatment because assigning and the conventional exercise group executed round trip walk exercise in parallel bar 3th 8 weeks each week after neurological treatment. The data of 25 patients who complete experimental course were statistically analysed. Results : The results of this dissertation were as following : 1) There were significantly increased after experimental of 10 meter walk test, 6 minutes walk test and Timed "Up and Go" test in circuit exercise group (p<.001). 2) There were significantly increased after experimental of 2, 4 and 6 lane road crossing mobility in Walking circuit exercise group(p<.01). 3) There were significantly differences after experimental of 10 meter walk test, 6 minutes walk test and Timed "Up and Go" test change quantity between circuit exercise group and conventional exercise group(p<.05). 4) There were correlations were found between the TUG test and 2, 4 and 6 lane road (2 lane road; r=.463, p<.01., 4 lane road; r=515, p<.01., 6lane road; r=.710, p<.01), and there were correlations were found between the 10 meter walk test and 6 minutes walk test(r=.595, p<.01), TUG test(r=.662, p<.01) and 6 lane road(r=.527, p<.01). Conclusion : Even if improvement of walk function through training consists in room, transfer of actuality pedestrian crossing is no change outside the room. Because it is much variable of the weather, seasonal factor, temperature, pedestrian number, state of underneath etc. outside the room. Then, in room after direction promotion of walk function to be promotion of walk function in actuality life and need development of connectable training method consider.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.55-61
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• 2018

Purpose: This study is to compare muscle activation of leg muscles with forward and backward gait and treadmill speed. Method: The experimenter is a healthy ten male and female. They practice walking on the treadmill for 2 minutes and then walk 2km/h and 4km/h in front and back for 3 minutes. Muscle activities were recorded from the lower limb muscles (rectus femoris [RF], biceps femoris [BF], gastrucnemius [GCM]). Results: According to the study, lower extremity muscles have higher backward gait than forward gait. Conclusion: Muscle activity at the speed indicated that the muscular activity of the lower limbs was 4.0km/h, which is higher than 2.0km/h.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.227-235
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to analyze differences of 45minutes up-hill walking depending on hiking poles and steady walking time. Seven healthy men volunteered for this experiment. Each of them performed up-hill walking with hiking poles and without hiking poles at speed of 3.5km/h during 45minutes on a treadmill. The treadmill was set 25% up-hill inclination. The lower extremity 4 muscles activity including rectus femoris, tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius, biceps femoris was recorded and assessed by using EMG. And Heart rate(HR) and Rating of perceived exertion(RPE) were recorded and analyzed by 15minutes interval. The statistical analysis was two-way ANOVA with repeated measures to compare effects of hiking poles and steady walking time. The level of statistical significance for all tests was P<.05. The results of this study were following : Integrated EMG about four individual muscles doesn't have statistical significancy. However, the sum of IEMG of the four muscles was decreased some with poles than without poles(p<.0l) and IEMG about four muscles was rut different on steady walking time. Second, HR was increased significantly as time up(P<.01). RPE was decreased some with poles than without poles(P<.05) and RPE was increased significantly as time up(P<.01).

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.111-116
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• 2005

This study was designed to apply the stimulation system developed in our laboratory to investigate how the stimulation conditions affect the muscle contractile characteristics in the isometric condition as well as during the FES standing/walking. Four paraplegic and ten healthy subjects participated in this study, and their knee extensors were voluntary contracted or electrically stimulated to measure the muscle force and the fatigue index for different waveforms of the pulse train. We also investigated different combinations of the electrode positions during standing/walking. It was confirmed that continuous and high-frequency stimulation causes faster fatigue than intermittent and low-frequency stimulation. Fatigue resistance was higher around the optimal muscle length than at a stretched position in healthy subjects, whereas the opposite was observed in paralyzed subjects. The paired t-test results with the level of significance at 0.01 indicated that the sinusoidal waveform generated the largest torque among the four typical waveforms. Although statistically not very significant, the sinusoidal waveform also generated, in general, the highest fatigue resistance at an intensity level below the supramaximal stimulation. One of the paraplegic subject who participated in the standing/walking program can now stand up for 1 minute and 50 seconds with the knee extensors, and walk for about 5 minutes at the speed of 12m/sec.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.63-68
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• 2002

Foot ulceration results in substantial morbidity in patients with peripheral neuropathy. The purpose of this study was to find the relationship of plantar foot pressures during walking to plantar ulceration in patients with Hansen's disease. The subjects were recuruited from two Welfare Clinic for Hansen's disease in Wonju and Uiwang city. Ten subjects (5 females, 5 males) with plantar ulceration and a mean age of 63 years were evaluated in this study. The mean duration of Hansen's disease in these subjects was 30 years. Plantar pressures were measured during self-selected comfortable walking speed by using MatScan system. Three subjects had plantar ulceration under the first metatarsal head. Five subjects had plantar ulceration under the second and third metatarsal head. Two subjects had plantar ulcers under the fifth metatarsal head. Eight of 10 subjects had plantar ulceration at highest pressure point that measured during walking. This result suggests that the abnormal high plantar pressure could be related factor to plantar ulceration in patients with Hansen's disease. Also the foot pressure measurement may be useful to evaluate the risk of plantar ulceration in patients with Hansen's disease.