• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to understand the effect of balance and gait when simultaneous application of Kinesio Taping on the lower extremities is done to improve the pattern of hemiplegic patients asymmetric lower extremity. Methods: This study was performed with 7 patients who have hemiplegia symptoms due to stoke. The taping on the paralyzed side was done on tibialis anterior, gluteus medius, gluteus maximus and psoas major and the taping on the unparalyzed side was done on the calf muscle and quadriceps. Berg Balance Scale(BBS) and Time Up and Go Test(TUG) was used to assessment the balance and gait of the patient after the kinesio taping was done on the lower extremities. The results of the test was analyzed by Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test on SPSS(Ver. 10.1). Results: When the taping was done on the paralyzed side, there was a significant improvement of balance and gait in BBS and TUG. When the taping was done on the lower extremities, it showed significant improvement of balance and gait, compared to when the taping was only done on the paralyzed side, according to BBS and TUG. Conclusion: The result of this study shows that the simultaneous taping of the lower extremities of the hemiplegic patients improves balance and gait by improving the pattern of patients lower extremities.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.459-469
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• 2012

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to examine changes caused by asymmetric bag carrying methods to carry the bag with one shoulder only to plantar pressure during walking. METHODS: Twenty three normal adults without any gait problem participated in the present study. Experimental conditions used consisted of walking without carrying any bag(condition 1), walking wearing a bag on both shouders (condition 2), and walking wearing a bag on the right shoulder(condition 3) and the weight of the bag was set to 15% of each subject's body weight. All the subjects were instructed to participate in all experiments under these three conditions and plantar pressures were measured from the subjects' right and left feet using an F-scan system while the subjects were walking under the three conditions. To analyze the measured plantar pressure, the sole was divided into seven areas (Hallux, Toe, Met1, Met23, Met45, Mid foot and Heel) and maximum plantar pressures in individual areas were measured. RESULTS: The results of measurement of plantar pressures under three walking conditions did not show significant changes in any areas of the left and right feet except for the mid foot area of the right food. The asymmetry between the left and right feet was examined and the results showed significant differences only in area Met23 under condition 2 and did not show significant differences in any other areas. CONCLUSION: On comprehensively considering the results of the present study, it could be seen that asymmetric bag carrying did not have large effects on changes in plantar pressure during walking compared to symmetric carrying. The reason for this is considered to be posture adjusting mechanisms against load positions.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.76-85
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to identify the factors determining the participation restriction of chronic stroke patients based on international classification of functioning, disability, and health (ICF) model. Sixty-eight stroke patients participated. The participants were assessed participation restriction using the Korean version of London handicap scale (K-LHS), modified Barthel index (K-MBI) to measure activities of daily living, Berg balance scale (K-BBS) to assess balance, and the center for epidemiologic studies depression (K-CES-D) to gauge depression. Also, 3 minutes walking test (3MWT), gait velocity, asymmetric posture, and family support were assessed. A stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to explore the factors determining participation restriction. There were no significant different in the K-LHS and K-MBI results by gender (p>.05). Correlations between the K-LHS and K-MBI (r=-.656), K-BBS (r=-.543), K-CES-D (r=.266), 3MWT (r=-.363), gait velocity (r=.348), and family support (r=-.389) were significant (p<.05). Also, the K-MBI and family support were the factors that determined participation restriction (p<.05) and that 40.2% of the variation in the K-LHS can be explained. Therefore, it is suggested that evaluation and intervention of patient's activity level and extent of family support is necessary to reduce participation restriction of chronic stroke patients.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.344-350
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• 2013

A recent study reporting significantly reduced symmetry in arm swing amplitude in early Parkinson's disease (PD), as measured during gait by auditory cues velocity, led to this investigation of arm swing symmetry and amplitude in PD. The subjects were 14 elderly patients diagnosed with PD. Patients were measured of three conditions performed in random order: slow, general, fast. The auditory cue velocity consisted of a metronome beat ${\pm}20%$ than the subject's general gait speed. Using a motion analysis measurement system, changes in kinematic variables were compared to arm swing analysis. PD groups showed a highly significant reduction of the arm swing amplitude on the more affected body side(MAS)(p<.05). Comparison between the auditory cues velocity, there was a significant increase arm swing amplitude in fast velocity gait than slow and general velocity gait(p<.05). We conclude that motion analysis during gait by auditory cues velocity allows reliable investigation of asymmetric arm movements in early PD patients which attenuate with ongoing disease. The measurement of limb kinematics during gait by auditory cues velocity can broaden our methodological line-up for the analysis of complex motor programs in movement disorders.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.205-215
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to investigate alterations of pregnant gait by means of 3 different treads of stairs. 9 subjects(body masses; $59.41{\pm}7.49$, $64.03{\pm}6.65$, $67.26{\pm}7.58$, heights; $160.50{\pm}6.35$ ages; $31.22{\pm}2.99$; parity; $1.67{\pm}0.71$) participated in three experiments that were divided by physiological symptoms(the early(0-15 weeks), middle(16-27 weeks) and last(18-39 weeks), and walked at self-selected pace on 4 staircases 3 trials. As extending the pregnancy period, cadence was shorter but cycle time was longer more and more and the difference of maximum and minmum moments between right and left knee joint moment was smaller. With the treads of stair decent lengthening, speed and stride lengths were increased. As extending the treads of stair decent, joint moments of both feet were particular traits, hip joint was asymmetric but joint moments of knee and ankle were symmetric. These findings may account for relation between the treads of stair and moments and suggest that women may adapt their gait to maximize stability and to control gait motion for themselves in pregnant women.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.228-233
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• 2015

Purpose: Gait is the most basic element when evaluating the quality of life with activities of daily living under ordinary life circumstances. Symmetrical use of the lower extremities requires complicated coordination of all limbs. Thus, this study examined asymmetry of muscle activity quadriceps femoris and tibialis anterior as a baseline for training during over-ground walking and stair walking of stroke patients. Methods: Subjects were 14 stroke patients included as one experimental group. Gait speed used in this study was determined by the subject. Low extremity paretic and non-paretic EMG was compared using the surface EMG system. Results: The low extremity EMG difference was statistically significant during over-ground walking and stair walking (p<0.05). The result of low extremity EMG substituted symmetry ratio formula was compared to EMG symmetry ratio in both legs during over-ground walking and stair walking. The average symmetry ratio of quadriceps femoris during over-ground walking was 0.65, and average symmetry ratio of quadriceps femoris during stair walking was 0.47, with significant difference (p<0.05). Conclusion: EMG data was higher in stair walking than over-ground walking. However, in the comparison of symmetry ratio, asymmetric EMG of quadriceps femoris was significantly increased during stair walking. These findings suggested that application of stair walking for strengthening of both legs can be positive, but the key factor is maintaining asymmetrical posture of both legs. Therefore, physical therapists should make an effort to reduce asymmetry of quadriceps femoris power during stair walking by stroke patients.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.81-87
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• 2012

The structural and biomechanical characteristics of pelvic and foot are important factors of back pain, but it is still complicated to clearly explain the relationship among them. The purpose of this study was to find out the characteristic of pelvic parameters and biomechanics of foot in patients with low back pain. Thirty-three female subjects with chronic low back pain were enrolled and ODI and VAS score were measured for back pain index. All subjects were taken the X-ray examination for major pelvic parameters and foot scan analysis for foot pressure, gait angle, fore-foot/rear-foot peak pressure ratio and asymmetric index. Statistical analysis were performed to examine the inter-relation between the measurement. As a result, it was shown the positive interrelation between back pain and F/R ratio, but others were not shown the relationship related to low back pain. And there were correlations between the lumbo-pelvic structure and biomechanics of foot in some aspects, but the causal relationship between them are still indefinable. In order to get more information about structures and biomechanics related to low back pain, subsequent researches are needed.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.94-98
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• 2013

Dystrophinopathy, caused by mutations in the DMD gene, presents with variable clinical phenotypes ranging from the severe Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) to the milder Becker muscular dystrophy(BMD) forms. DMD is a recessive X-linked form of muscular dystrophy. Two-thirds of mothers of affected males are thought to be DMD carriers. Approximately 2.5-7.8% of female DMD carriers have muscle weakness and are categorized as manifesting DMD carriers. The symptoms of female carriers of DMD range from mild muscle weakness to severe gait problems. The most commonly presented symptom is mild proximal muscle weakness, which is often asymmetric and progressive, but shows variable clinical spectrum with BMD of more severe DMD-like phenotype. Atypical presentations in manifesting carriers are myalgia or cramps without limb weakness, isolated cardiomyopathy and camptocormia. Multiplex PCR and MLPA analysis are common techniques to identify mutations in the DMD gene. Relationship between X-chromosome inactivation and clinical severity is not clear. Female carriers of DMD are not less common, and they have an important role of birth of a male DMD.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.169-178
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• 2008

The goals of this study were to provide data of 3 dimensional ground reaction force(GRF) parameters during stair ascent and descent on three different stair runs and to investigate variability and asymmetry index of them. 10 healthy adults participated in this study and performed 7 different types of gait with 10 trials each. After data analysis, following results were found. Firstly, stair run did not affect on the pattern of GRF parameters, coefficient of variation and asymmetry index. Secondly, a significant different GRF pattern was found between level walking and stair walking. Especially, ascending stair walking has only large Fz1 and small Fz3 while level walking and descending stair walking have a "M" shape connected by Fz1, Fz2 and Fz3. Thirdly, only vertical GRF parameters of stair walking revealed acceptable coefficient of variation and asymmetry index.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.58 no.9
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• pp.354-357
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• 2015

Parry-Romberg syndrome (PRS) is a rare, acquired disorder characterized by progressive unilateral facial atrophy of the skin, soft tissue, muscles, and underlying bony structures that may be preceded by cutaneous induration. It is sometimes accompanied by ipsilateral brain lesions and neurological symptoms. Here we present the case of a 10-year-old girl with right-sided PRS and recurrent monoplegic ataxia of the left leg. At 4 years of age, she presented with localized scleroderma over the right parietal region of her scalp; her face gradually became asymmetric as her right cheek atrophied. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed hemiatrophy of the face and skull base, and T2-weighted images showed increased signal in the right hemipons and hemicerebellar peduncle. Magnetic resonance angiography findings were unremarkable. She was treated with oral prednisolone, and her recurrent gait ataxia diminished within 2 months of the follow-up period. To the best of our knowledge, this is only the second case of PRS presenting with an abnormal involvement of the ipsilateral hemipons.