• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.134-139
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• 2017

Objective: Dual-task interference is defined as decrements in performance observed when people attempt to perform two tasks concurrently, such as a verbal task and walking. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes of gait ability according to the dual task interference in chronic stroke survivors. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Ten chronic stroke survivors (9 male, 1 female; mean age, 55.30 years; mini mental state examination, 19.60; onset duration, 56.90 months) recruited from the local community participated in this study. Gait ability (velocity, paretic side step, and stride time and length) under the single- and dual-task conditions at a self-selected comfortable walking speed was measured using the motion analysis system. In the dual task conditions, subjects performed three types of cognitive tasks (controlled oral word association test, auditory clock test, and counting backwards) while walking on the track. Results: For velocity, step and stride length, there was a significant decrease in the dual-task walking condition compared to the single walking condition (p<0.05). In particular, higher reduction of walking ability was observed when applying the counting backward task. Conclusions: Our results revealed that the addition of cognitive tasks while walking may lead to decrements of gait ability in stroke survivors. In particular, the difficulty level was the highest for the calculating task. We believe that these results provide basic information for improvements in gait ability and may be useful in gait training to prevent falls after a stroke incident.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.47-55
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• 2010

Purpose : The purpose of present study was to determine effects of a task-oriented circuit training(TOCT) for lower limb on walking ability after stroke. Methods : Twenty one chronic stroke patients participated. Participants were randomly divided into either TOCT group or control group(11 experimental, 10 control). All of participants were in-patients at local rehabilitation centre and had been receiving a traditional rehabilitation program, five days a week. TOCT group have additionally undergone for four weeks, three days a week, the TOCT program but control group was not received any additional program except the traditional rehabilitation program. The 10 m walking test (10MWT), the 2 min walking test (2MWT), the step test (ST) and the figure-8 walking test (F8WT) to measure a walking ability were carried out twice before and after training. Results : After participation in the program, subjects of TOCT demonstrated a significant improvement in the scores of the 10MWT, 2MWT, the ST, the F8WT. The control group had no change on the any tests. After the training, the results to improve significantly in TOCT group compared to post-test of control group were the time of 10MWT and the time and the step of curved walking of F8WT. Conclusion : The present study suggests that the TOCT program may become a useful strategy for enhancing walking ability in the rehabilitation of stroke patients.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.1495-1499
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• 2003

There is some equipment that helps user to exercise and to walk. But almost all equipments require some physical strength of their muscles. So we developed a system that could assist walking action of the people with lower-limb disability. The system called as walking stand adopted the balancing mechanism which assures the stable walking, and the 4 link-based mechanism that had 2 degrees of freedom on each leg. The walking stand uses four motors and has two sets of the special link-structure to simulate the human walking mechanism. With our system, even serious disabled with lower-limb disability may enjoy walking rehabilitation. And by adjusting the power, it can be used as the walking assistant mechanism instead of conventional wheelchairs. Experiments showed that our walking stand is applicable to the rehabilitation and also to the mobile device in our daily life for those people who do not have enough physical ability to walk by themselves.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.933-938
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• 2010

In this paper, we propose the organization of a sensor system and user's intent detection algorithm for walking assist rehabilitation robots. The main purpose of walking assist rehabilitation robots is assisting SCI patients to walk in normal environment. To use walking assist rehabilitation robot in normal environment, it is needed to consider various factors about user's safety and detection of user's intent and so on. For these purposes, we have analyzed the use case of rehabilitation robots and organized the system of sensors for walking assist rehabilitation robots and finally, we have developed the algorithm which is used to detect user's intent for those. We applied our proposal method in the rehabilitation robot, ROBIN, and verified their effectiveness by normal, not patient.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.109-117
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• 2016

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between walking ability of lumbar spinal stenosis patients and the cross-sectional area (CSA) of lumbar paraspinal muscles. Methods This study was carried out on 62 lumbar spinal stenosis patients who had limited walking abilities because of neurogenic claudication (NC). All patients received more than 2 weeks of complex treatment at Mokhuri Neck&Back Hospital. CSA of lumbar paraspinal muscles was measured from axial T2-weighted MRI and divided by CSA of adjacent vertebral body to avoid influence of body statues (RCSA-Relative CSA). Pain Free Walking Distance and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) was measured before and after treatment. Results The Pain Free Walking Distance had significantly increased in patients who had bigger RCSA of psoas muscle (r=0.313, p<0.05). Conclusions The psoas muscle can be a predictive factor for restoring walking ability of lumbar spinal stenosis patients who have limitations walking.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.91-99
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• 2024

Purpose: Backward walking has shown positive effects on gait recovery in rehabilitation patients. It is increasingly used as an aerobic training method in rehabilitation populations, inducing more sensory and motor stimulation than forward walking. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of visual stimulation during backward walking. Methods: Twenty-seven healthy adults with a visual acuity of 0.8 or higher participated in the study. To compare the effects of visual stimulation during various walking conditions among healthy individuals, the participants randomly selected cards numbered one to six and walked a distance of 10 meters. Walking ability was measured using Optogait. Results: Statistically significant differences were observed in speed, stride, and percentages of single support and contact phase during backward walking. Within eyes-closed conditions during backward walking, significant differences were found in percentages of single support, terminal stance, and contact phase. Moreover, the percentage of terminal swing significantly differed during backward walking with head turn conditions. Conclusion: Gait parameters such as speed, stride, and percentages of single support and contact phase were higher during backward walking than forward walking. These results indicate that backward walking involves multiple sensory systems and varying conditions.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1996 no.05
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• pp.339-342
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• 1996

Vertical ground reaction forces on a treadmill were measured at different walking speeds using two tandem force plates. Comparing vertical ground reaction forces in treadmill walking with those in ground free walking, treadmill walking overestimated the first and second peak forces. With the increase of the walking speed, this phenomenon becomes more significant. In treadmill running, the first peak force reached 210-280% of the body weight. However, the instrumented treadmill showed a great potential to investigate the kinetics for multiple foot-strike measurements.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.21-27
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to examine, in stroke patients, differences between backward walking training applied on a treadmill and the same training applied on the ground. Methods: Twenty seven stroke patients were divided into a treadmill backward walking group of 14 patients and a ground backward walking group of 13 subjects. Each group performed their respective training method for 8 weeks (15 min per day, 4 days a week). Walking ability was measured using a 10 m MWS (Maximal Walking Speed) test and the GAITRite system to examine changes in walking. Cadence, stridelength, step time, step length and symmetry index of the less affected side were measured to examine changes in stance phase of the lower extremity of the more affected side. Results: 10 m MWS, cadence, stride length, step time and step length of the less affected side significantly increased and symmetry index significantly decreased after training in both groups. The treadmill backward walking group experienced a significantly greater increase in step time and step length and a significantly greater decrease in symmetry index than the ground backward walking group. Conclusion: The two walking training methods were effective for improving stability in stance phase of the lower extremity of the more affected side, but the treadmill method was more effective. The present study is meaningful in that it analyzed the effects of backward walking training methods on walking and the differences of the training methods to provide information necessary for effective treatment of stroke patients.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.2-10
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• 2020

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the effect of curved walking training on balance confidence and fall efficacy in early stroke patients. Methods: The study included 16 early stroke patients who were randomly allocated to a curved walking training group (experimental group, N=8) and a straight walking training group (control group, N=8). Both groups performed the exercise 5 times a week for 3 weeks. Outcomes were assessed using the Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale, Fall Efficacy Scale (FES), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. Results: After 3 weeks of training, both groups showed significantly improved ABC, FES, BBS, and TUG (p<.05 in both groups). However, the ABC, FES, BBS, and TUG scores in the experimental group were significantly better than those in the control group (p<.05). Conclusion: These findings indicate that curved walking training may be effective at improving balance confidence and decreasing fall risk in early stroke patients. Therefore, curved walking training can be used as a recommended walking method in early stroke patients.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.77-88
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• 2019

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to show the effectiveness of Chuna Manual Therapy applied to a osteoporosis patient with gait disturbance due to lower limb fracture surgery. Method : We focused on Chuna therapy accompanied with acupuncture, herbal medicine, moxibustion, cupping treatment and rehabilitation exercise. This case was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Pain Free Walking Distance (PFWD), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Modified Barthel Index (MBI). Result : This patient showed improvement on the VAS from 6 to 3, PFWD from 0 m to 2000 m using a walker and 50 m by self-walking, BBS from 2 to 28, and MBI from 56 to 89. Moreover the walking state improved from gait disturbance to self-walking. Conclusion : This study suggests that Chuna therapy could be used to improve gait disturbance in patients with osteoporosis and lower limb fracture surgery.