• PNF and Movement
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.317-331
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• 2017

Purpose: Balance and walking ability are important elements of functional independence for people with stroke and are major goals in rehabilitation. These abilities require trunk performance, but most chronic stroke patients reach a plateau in their rehabilitation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a self-training trunk program to improve balance and walking ability in people with stroke, and to suggest such a self-training program for integrated rehabilitation of people with stroke. Methods: The study recruited 7 people with stroke. The subjects performed trunk training for 30 min per day, 6 days per week, for 3 weeks. Participants were measured on the Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the Korean Activities-specific Balance Confidence (K-ABC) scale, the Falls Efficacy Scale (FES), the Functional Gait Assessment (FGA), the 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT) and a gait analysis to measure the training effects. Statistical analysis used the Wilcoxon signed-rank test as a non-parametric statistical test. Results: TIS was not significantly different after the self-training trunk program, but BBS (p>0.05), K-ABC, and FES were significantly improved after the training program (p<0.05). Furthermore, the 6MWT, stride/height %, and one-leg stance were significantly improved after the training program (p<0.05), but cadence, stance, and swing duration were not significantly different after the training (p>0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that a self-training trunk program should be integrated into stroke rehabilitation to improve balance and walking ability, and further research is needed to develop the program to be more effective for chronic stroke patients.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.77-85
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• 2014

Objective: In the present study, the effects of progressive body weight support treadmill forward & backward walking training (FBWT), progressive body weight support treadmill forward walking training (FWT), and progressive body weight support treadmill backward walking training (BWT), and on stroke patients' ambulatory abilities were examined. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: A total of 36 chronic stroke patients were divided into three groups with 12 subjects in each group. Each of the groups performed one of the progressive body weight supported treadmill training methods for 30 minute, six times per week for three weeks, and then received general physical therapy without any other intervention until the follow-up tests. For the assessment of the step length, total double support, cadence, gait were measured using optogait and the 10-m walk test (10MWT), 6 minutes walk test (6MWT). Results: In the within group comparisons, all the three groups showed significant differences between before and after the intervention (p<0.05). In the comparison of the three groups, there were significant differences among the three groups in stride length, double limb support stance, cadence, 10MWT, and 6MWT in the third week, and only in stride length, 10MWT, and 6MWT test in the sixth week (p<0.05). Conclusions: This study verified that progressive body weight-supported treadmill gait training positively affected the gait ability of stroke patients in an actual gait environment. It also showed that FBWT group was more effective than FWT group and BWT group training.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.676-685
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• 2003

Purpose: To investigate the abilities to act and fear of falling in home-dwelling elderly. Methods: This study interviewed 351 home-dwelling elders residing in Seoul and Gyonggi-do using a Survey of Activities and Fear of Falling in the Elderly. Results: Of the 351 subjects, 203(57.8%) had activity restrictions. The main three activities that the subjects could not perform were going out when it is slippy, reaching something overhead and walking crowded places outside. According to general characteristics, performable activities were significantly fewer in subjects perceiving that their health status was low that those perceiving that their health status was high. On a scale of 3 points for fear of falling, the average score of the subjects was 1.46. The highest score of fear of falling was 2.62 for the activity of going out when it is slippery, next 1.87 for the activity of reaching something overhead. There was a significant inverse relationship between subjects' abilities to act and fear of falling. Conclusions: The significant variables associated with fear of falling were gender(female), educational background, economic status (low-income), and experience of falls during the last one year. Thus further study is necessary, focused on the vulnerable population in order to prevent falls and to reduce fear of falling.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.1-7
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• 2012

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between physical performance, such as gait and postural control, and cognition on as assessed by clinical tools in individuals with chronic hemiparetic stroke. Methods : Twenty-six patients who had hemiparetic stroke participated in this study, and were evaluated four common clinical measurements, including the Berg balance scale (BBS), 10 meter walk test (10MWT), 6 minute walking test (6MWT), and Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA). Multiple regression analysis was used BBS score, 10MWT, and 6MWT as the dependent variables; MoCA score, post-stroke duration, age, and affected side as independent variables. Results : In the regression equation of the BBS score, the correlation coefficient (r) was 0.875, the coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.786, and the MoCA score was the most important variable for determining the BBS score. In the regression equation for the 10MWT, ther was 0.888, the R2 was 0.999, and the MoCA score was the most important variable for determining 10MWT. Finally, the r was 0.777, the R2 was 0.998, and the MoCA score was the most important variable for determining 6MWT in the regression equation of the 6MWT. Conclusion : The results show that cognitive abilities affect gait proficiencies in individuals with chronic hemiparetic stroke. Therefore, these results suggest that cognitive tests are necessary for examining and evaluating the abilities of postural control and gait performance for chronic stroke patients in research and clinical environments.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.125-131
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• 2016

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of providing visual feedback and auditory stimulation using a robotic device on balance and gait abilities in stroke patients. Design: Randomized controlled pilot trial. Methods: Fifteen subjects were randomly divided into three groups where five subjects were in the visual feedback robotic device assist gait training (VRGT) group, five subjects in the auditory stimulation robotic device assist gait training (ARGT) group, and five subjects in the control group. Subjects received visual feedback and auditory stimulation while undergoing robotic gait training for 45 minutes, three times a week for 2 weeks, and all subjects had undergone general physical therapy for 30 minutes, five times a week for 2 weeks. All subjects were assessed with the Berg balance scale (BBS), timed up and go (TUG) test, and 10-meter walking test (10MWT) pre- and post-intervention. Results: All subjects showed that BBS, TUG test, and 10MWT scores significantly improved post-intervention (p<0.05), and the control group also had significantly improved post-treatment (p<0.05). The VRGT and the ARGT showed significant improvements in BBS, TUG, and 10MWT scores compared with the control group (p<0.05). The VRGT group showed a significant improvement in BBS, TUG, and 10MWT scores compared with the control group (p<0.05). In addition, it has been confirmed that VRGT had significantly improved in BBS, TUG test, and 10MWT scores compared with the auditory stimulation and control group (p<0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study showed improved balance and gait abilities after VRGT and ARGT groups compared with general physical therapy and was found to be effective in enhancing the functional activity of persons affected with stroke.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.11-22
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• 2017

For the elderly whose path-finding capability and distance perception abilities have been weakened, the study intends to provide UI design of a wrist type walking aid device which allows the elderly to receive both visual and haptic information that induces the elderly' occasional attention by utilizing currently available haptic technology. The study asked 30 the elderly older than 65 years old, target consumers of the technology, to wear a smart watch and find a path by following the directions provided by four different UI versions of Wizard of Oz. Then, the study has conducted post-experience interview. Quantitative analyses was performed their preference level, number of misguided participants and the number of deviations incurred. Based on the data collected, the study has applied grounded theory, a qualitative research methodology, in order to grasp new understanding about the research, and has consequently reached some significant implications for further research on wrist type walking aid device for the elderly, who show self-contradictory demands.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.30 no.5C
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• pp.415-421
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• 2005

Passive RFID tag does not have its own power, so it has very poor computation abilities and it can deliver signals in very short range. From the facts, most RFID Tag security schemes assumed that the backward channel from tags to a reader is safe from eavesdropping. However, eavesdroppers near a tag can overhear message from a tag illegally. In this paper, we propose a method to protect the backward channel from eavesdropping by illegal readers. The proposed scheme can overcome the problems of conventional schemes such as randomized tree walking, which have been proposed to secure tag information in tree-walking algorithm as an anti-collision scheme for RFID tags. We showed the efficiency of our proposed method by using an analytical model, and it is also shown that the proposed method can provide the probability of eavesdropping in some standardized RFID tag system such as EPCglobal, ISO, uCode near to '0'.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.45-54
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• 2014

Fall is one of the most intimidating health conditions in elders. Comprehensive assessment is necessary to understand the individual and environmental aspects of the falls such as balancing abilities, depression, and quality of life. The purpose of this study was to compare the balancing ability, depression, and quality of life between elderly fallers and elderly non-fallers. Thirty-two community-dwelling elders (fifteen males and seventeen females between 65 and 83 years old), who have experienced fall on walking during last twelve months, were involved in the elderly fallers group. And twenty-four males and twenty-two females between 65 and 83 years old of community-dwelling elders, who have no experienced fall on walking during last twelve months, were involved in the elderly non-fallers group. Berg balance scale (BBS), timed up and go test (TUG), and functional reach test (FRT), were used to evaluate the ability of the physical balance. 'Beck depression scale in Korean' questionnaire was used to assess the depression. 'Korean version of World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument-Bref' questionnaire was used to assess the quality of life. The results were as follows: 1) Balancing abilities measured by the BBS, TUG in the elderly fallers group were meaningfully lower than that of the elderly non-fallers group (p<.05), whereas no significant difference in the FRT was found (p>.05). 2) Depression level in the elderly fallers group was significantly higher than that of the elderly non-fallers group (p<.05). 3) Quality of life in the elderly fallers group was significantly lower than that of the elderly non-fallers group, excluding environment domain (p<.05). Therefore, in order for clinical evaluation of the community-dwelling elders those with reduced balancing ability, it is necessary to evaluate and understand the fall experience, depression, and quality of life.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.315-324
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• 2014

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the correlation of weight bearing ability at the affected side with balance and gait abilities for the development of pressure biofeedback based equipment to stroke patients. METHODS: This study included 35 patients with stroke patient. The tests were conducted to determine the weight bearing ratio while pushing a step forward the affected side, static balance ability using the total length of COP(Center of pressure), sway velocity of COP, COP velocity at the X and Y axis. Functional reaching test (FRT), berg balance scale (BBS) were used to assess the dynamic balance ability and timed up and go test (TUG), 10m walk test (10mWT) were used assess the gait ability respectively. In order to determine the correlation between measured variables, bivariate correlation analysis was conducted. RESULTS: A significant correlation of the weight bearing ratio were shown with COP total length and velocity(r=-.34), Y-axis velocity(r=-.39), FRT(r=.42), BBS(r=.54), TUG (r=-.39), and 10m walking test (r=-.42). CONCLUSION: This study result showed that as patients with stroke had more weight bearing ratio at the affected side, not only their static and dynamic balance abilities increased more but also functional gait ability improved more. These results mean that, to improve stroke patients' static, dynamic balance ability and gait ability, weight bearing training with the affected side foot placed one step forward necessary for gaits are important.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.96-104
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• 2017

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the hip joint strengthening exercises using proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on the clinical symptoms and the treatment effects in balance, sit to stand, and gait abilities in patients with TBI. Design: A single case study. Methods: A 13-year-old adolescent with quadriplegia and hip joint control impairment participated in this four-week training intervention. The patient, diagnosed with TBI, wastreated with hip joint strengthening exercises using PNF. In the first week, we focused on strengthening the body, relaxing the hip flexors and activating the hip extensor muscles in order to solve the patient's physical function and body structure. From the 2nd and 4th week, we improved the motivation through the task-oriented method, and then weight-bearing training of the right lower extremity was proceeded by kicking a soccor ball with the left lower extremity. The exercises were performed for 4 weeks, 5 days a week, for 60 minutes with the exercise intensity gradually increased according to the subject's physical abilities. Results: As a result of the study, the patient demonstrated improvements in the physical examination, which were evaluated before and after intervention and included the manual muscle test, modified Ashworth scale, sensory assessment, coordination assessment, Berg balance scale, 5-time sit to stand test, and the 10 meters walk test. Conclusions: The results of this case suggest that a hip joint strengthening exercise program using PNF may improve hip control ability, balance, sit to stand and gait ability in a patient with TBI.