• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.384-390
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• 2022

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the side-step tasks based circular training program (STCT) on balance and gait characteristics in stroke patients. Design: A randomized controlled trial Methods: Twenty-four stroke patients were randomly divided into two groups of twelve patients each. One group was applied with the STCT whereas the other group was treated with conservative physiotherapy (CP). The ability of gait was measured in 10m walking test and stride length on both side using BTS G-WALK (BTS Bioengineering S.p.A, Italy) and the ability of balance was measured in Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Timed Up and Go Test (TUG). Results: The STCT group was significant differences in the balance parameters of BBS and TUG (p<0.05) and showed significant differences in gait variables in 10m walking speed, stride length of affected and non-affected side after the experiment before and after the experiment (p<0.05). In addition, the STCT group showed a significant difference in BBS compared to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study confirmed that the side-step tasks based circular training program (STCT) improves balance and walking ability in stroke patients. STCT is expected to be used as a useful intervention method for stroke rehabilitation.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.250-260
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• 2024

Objective: This study aimed to explore the effects of balance training using fully immersive VR devices on the balance and walking abilities of stroke patients. Design: Randomized controlled trial Methods: This study involved 54 stroke patients divided into three groups: VRT(VR and traditional physical therapy), VR(VR only), and TPT(traditional physical therapy only). Interventions were administered twice daily for 30 minutes over eight weeks. Outcome measures included the Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go Test, 10-meter walk test, gait analysis, and Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale. Results: The VRT and VR groups showed significant effects on spatiotemporal variables and confidence compared to the TPT group (p<0.05). Specifically, the VR group demonstrated superior effects in TUG, 10MWT, velocity, stride length, single-leg support, and ABC compared to the other two groups (p<0.05). Conclusions: Fully immersive VR balance training had a positive impact on balance, walking, and confidence in chronic stroke patients. Traditional physical therapy alone showed limited effectiveness, highlighting the potential of VR-based interventions in stroke rehabilitation. These findings underscore the importance of integrating VR technology into clinical practice to enhance outcomes for stroke survivors.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.204-211
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• 2019

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of progressive speed increase during underwater gait training on stroke patients' balance, gait, and endurance, as well as to compare the effects of underwater gait training and land gait training. Methods: Subjects were randomly allocated into three groups. Underwater gait training group (n=10), land gait training group (n=9) and control group (n=9). The groups performed their respective programs as well as conventional physical therapy 3 times/week for 8 weeks. The patients were assessed before and after the experiment in terms of the Berg balance scale, characteristics of gait, and 6-minute walking test. Results: The beneficial effect perceived in the speed increase underwater gait training (UGT) group was significantly greater than in the groups who were trained with speed increase land gait training (LGT) group, and the control group regarding the following aspects: the Berg balance scale, the affected step length, the affected stride length, and the 6-minute walking test (p<0.05). The LGT group showed a more significant effect on the Berg balance scale, the affected step length, the affected stride length, and the 6-minute walking test (p<0.05), compared to the control group. Furthermore, the UGT group showed a significantly greater effect on the gait speed when compared to the control groupb (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study shows that progressive UGT is effective in improving balance, gait, and endurance in stroke patients. Therefore, we believe that progressive UGT may be used as a method for general physical therapy in patients with stroke.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.222-229
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• 2020

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of treadmill exercise on the posture and walking speed of chronic stroke survivors with an ankle-foot orthosis. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Twenty-four chronic persons with chronic stroke admitted to Bobath Memorial Hospital in Seongnam city were divided into two groups by random blind method. Treadmill exercise with an elastic ankle-foot orthosis was performed in the experimental group and treadmill exercise was performed in the control group. The experiment was carried out for 6 weeks, and the experiment was carried out three times a week for 20 minutes per session. To measure the effect, static balance was measured using the MTD system before and after training, and the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) was used to measure functional balance. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the 2 groups in the BBS measurement results for confirming the functional balance (p<0.05). Also, there was a significant difference between the 2 groups in single limb support time, step time and step length (p<0.05). Conclusions: In this study, it was found that treadmill exercise with an elastic ankle-foot orthosis in persons with chronic stroke was effective in maintaining functional balance, walking ability, step length, and step time. Therefore, it is necessary to use a flexible ankle-foot orthosis with proper treadmill exercise as a method of improving balance and walking speed of chronic stroke survivors.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.1318-1332
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of walk training on leg strength, flexibility, postural stability, balance and gait in home bound elderly women. Eighteen elderly women of the experimental group aged between 70 and 90 years image who have normal vision, hearing and Romberg test. They participated in the 12 week walk training. The subjects of the experimental group practiced walk training 3 times a week for during 12 weeks. During the 40 minute workout, the subjects practiced 5 minutes of warming-up exercises, 30 minutes of conditioning exercises and 10 minutes of a cool-down exercise. The intensity for the conditioning phase was determined by subject' heart rates, which ranged from 60% to 70% of age-adjusted maximum heart rates. The body composition, leg strength, flexibility, postural stability, balance and gait were measured prior to and after the experimental treatment. The body fat, lean body mass, leg strength (ankle dorsiflexor, plantarflexor, inversor and eversir, knee flexor, extensior), flexibility (range of motion of ankle dorsiflexion, plantarflexion, inversion and eversion), and postural stability of the experimental group were significantly greater than those of the control group. Duration of standing on the right foot and that of standing on the left foot of the experimental group was greater than that of the control group. Total balance scores of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group. Among 13 items for balance, the scores of experimental group in balance with eyes closes, turning balance, sternal nudge, neck turning, one leg standing balance and back extension were higher than those of the control group. Total scores of gait of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group following the walking training. Scores of experimental group in step height, step length and walk stance while walking among 9 items for gait were significantly higher than those of the control group. The results suggest that walk training can improve physical fitness for prevention in home bound elderly women.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.49-56
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• 2020

PURPOSE: This study examined the difference in muscle activity of the trunk and legs during flat walking with or without an abdominal drawing-in maneuver. METHODS: This study was conducted on 15 healthy males and eight females who were attending D University in Busan. This experiment was conducted after 15 minutes of abdominal drawing-in training using a pressure biofeedback unit before the experiment, and the difference in the muscle activity of the trunk and legs during flat walking with or without an abdominal drawing-in technique was investigated. Surface electromyography was used, and the electrode attachment site was the right sternocleidomastoid muscle, splenius capitis muscle, rectus abdominis muscle, external abdominal oblique muscle, transverse abdominis muscle, erector spinae muscle, vastus medialis muscle, and vastus lateralis muscle (TM DTS, Noraxon, USA). The data were analyzed statistically using a paired t-test on SPSS version 18.0 (IBM). RESULTS: The muscle activity of the rectus abdominis muscle, external abdominal oblique muscle, transverse abdominis muscle, vastus medialis muscle were increased significantly and maintained more than walking without maintaining an abdominal drawing-in maneuver (p < .05). Moreover, muscle activity of the erector spinae muscle was decreased significantly and maintained more than walking without maintaining an abdominal drawing-in maneuver (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Maintaining an abdominal drawing-in maneuver during flat walking is more effective during walking training.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.127-134
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• 2015

Purpose: The current study seeks to examine the effect of coordinative pattern exercises of the upper and lower extremities using harnesses and walking rails on the walking and balance abilities of chronic stroke patients, and to develop effective programs and training methods to improve the functions of such patients. Methods: Subjects included 16 patients with hemiplegia caused by stroke. The subjects were randomly divided into an experimental group (n=8), on which coordinative pattern exercises of the upper and lower extremities were conducted, and a comparison group (n=8) that received typical exercise therapy. The experimental group underwent 30 minutes of typical exercise therapy and 30 minutes of coordinative pattern exercises of the upper and lower extremities, while the comparison group underwent typical exercise therapy for 30 minutes twice a day, five days per week for a six-week period. To evaluate walking ability, 10-m walking tests (10MWT) and 6-m walking tests (6MWT) were conducted. To assess balance ability, timed up and go tests (TUG) were performed. Results: After the intervention, significant (p<0.05) differences were seen in the 10MWT, 6MWT, and TUG in both the experimental and comparison groups. As for the 10MWT, the experimental group showed more significant improvement than the comparison group (p<0.05). In terms of the 6MWT, no significant differences were found between the groups, while the experimental group showed more significant differences than the comparison group in the TUG (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results from the current research indicate that training programs that apply coordinative pattern exercises of the upper and lower extremities with harnesses are extremely effective for improving the walking and balance abilities of chronic stroke patients.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.105-113
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of non-invasive transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on muscle activity, including 10 m WT, TUG, and BBS, in hemiplegic stroke patients. Methods: This study was conducted on 42 inpatients diagnosed with hemiplegia due to stroke at hospital B in Daejeon for more than 6 months. Walking training was conducted for six weeks, five times a week for 30 minutes, with a general walking group (14 people), tDCS walking group (14 people), and tDCS (sham) walking group (14 people). Results: As a result of the study, the change in the muscle activity before and after tDCS intervention was significantly increased in the tibialis anterior muscle in the CG group. In the EG group, the erector spine (lumbar), rectus femoris, and tibialis anterior muscles significantly increased. In the SEG group, significant increases were observed in the rectus femoris and tibialis anterior muscles. Significant differences were found in the rectus femoris and tibialis anterior muscles in the comparison between groups after intervention according to tDCS application. Also, 10 m WT, TUG, and BBS were significantly increased in the CG, EG, and SEG groups after intervention, and there were significant differences in 10 m WT, TUG, and BBS in comparison between groups after intervention according to tDCS application. Conclusion: As a result, tDCS is an effective in improving the walking ability of stroke patients, and in particular, it effectively increases the muscle activity of the rectus femoris and tibialis anterior muscles, which act directly on walking, and also improves the speed and stability of walking. It is considered being an effective method to increase the gait of stroke patients by combining it with the existing gait training.

• 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.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.2440-2443
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• 2005

We propose a new early rehabilitation training system for postural control using a tilting bed and a force plate. The conventional rehabilitation systems for postural control cannot be applied to the patients lying in bed because the rehabilitation training using those systems is possible only when the patient can stand up by himself or herself. Moreover, there has not existed any device that could provide the sense of balance or the sensation of walking to the patients in bed. By using a tilting bed, a visual display, and a force plate, we have developed a new rehabilitation training system for balance control of the patients in bed providing sense of balance and the sensation of walking to the patient. Through the experiments with real people, we verified the effectiveness of the new early rehabilitation training system. The results showed that this system is an effective system for the early rehabilitation training and that our system might be useful as clinical equipment.