• 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.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.102-108
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• 2018

Objective: To investigate whether the Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) clinically defines improvement of Berg Balance Scale (BBS) scores in people with acute stroke in response to rehabilitation. Design: Retrospective study. Methods: Seventy-three participants with acute stroke participated in the study. Balance evaluation was performed using the BBS. All patients received rehabilitation with physical therapy for 4 weeks, 5 times a week, for 2 hours and 20 minutes a day. An anchor-based approach using the clinical global impression was used to determine the MCID of the BBS. The MCID was used to define the minimum change in the BBS total score (postintervention-preintervention) that was needed to perceive at least a 3-point improvement on the global rating of change. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves was used to define the cut-off values of the optimal MCID of the BBS in order to discriminate between improvement and no improvement groups. Results: The optimal MCID cut-off point for the BBS change scores was 12.5 points for males with a sensitivity (Sn) of 0.62 and a specificity (Sp) of 0.89, and 12.5 points for females with a Sn of 0.69 and Sp of 0.85. The area under the curve of the ROC curve for all participants were 0.84 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.72; 0.95, p<0.001), and 0.89 (95% CI, 0.77; 1.00, p<0.001), respectively. Conclusions: The MCID for improvement in balance as measured by the BBS was 13.5 points, indicating that the MCID does clinically detect changes in balance abilities in persons with stroke.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.67-74
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to prove the effects of coordinative locomotion training (CLT) on walking speed, walking endurance, and balance for incomplete spinal cord injury patients. Methods: Ten subjects were randomly assigned to the CLT group (n = 5) and the treadmill (TM) group (n = 5). The CLT group performed PNF pattern exercise using the motions of the sprinter and skater for 30 minutes, while the TM group performed using a treadmill for 30 minutes. Both groups performed these therapeutic interventions for five days per week, for a period of four weeks. A 10 meter walking test, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and 6 meter walking test were used for the assessment of gait speed, balance, and gait endurance. The SPSS Ver. 18.0 statistical program was used for data processing. A Wilcoxon signed rank test was used for the comparison of pre- and post-intervention performance and a Mann-Whitney test was used for comparison between the groups. The significance level for the statistical inspection was set at 0.05. Results: Both groups showed significant improvements in the 10 meter walking test, Berg Balance Scale, and 6 meter walking test (P < 0.05). Conclusion: CLT had an effect on the improvement of walking speed, walking endurance, and the balance of incomplete spinal cord injury patients. Thus, we suggest that CLT is a therapeutic intervention for incomplete spinal cord injury patients.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.56-65
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• 2020

Purpose: Individuals affected by stroke present with changes in motor function, balance, and cognition. The purpose of this study was to the correlation between motor function, balance, and cognition in patients with stroke. Design: cross-sectional study design. Methods: 67 stroke patients in the experiment were included. For evaluation of motor function which is Manual Muscle Test, Range of Motion, Modified Ashworth Scale for spasticity, grasping power, and balance was measured using the Berg Balance Scale and Functional reach test. For evaluating Cognition which is Korean-Mini Mental State Examination. Results: The results of this study's motor function, balance, and cognition showed a significant positive correlation (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results indicated that motor function, balance, and cognition were significantly correlated with each other. Therefore, it is suggested that to improve the motor function and balance of patients with stoke, it needs to evaluate the cognition and the motor function, balance, and cognitive training should be combined.

• Clinical Pain
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.16-23
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• 2019

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of dynamic balance exercise after intra-articular injection of hyaluronic acid (HA) therapy in elderly patients with unilateral knee osteoarthritis. Method: 30 patients with unilateral knee osteoarthritis were enrolled in this study. The patients were randomly divided into two groups: dynamic balance exercise after HA injection group (group A) and only HA injection group (group B). Both groups administered intra-articular HA injection and group A patients continued 20-session exercises for 4 weeks. The assessments were measured before injection and 4 weeks after treatment using the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) for physical function, Berg balance scale (BBS), and computerized dynamic posturography using SMART Balance Master system for balance function. Results: In both groups, significant improvements in VAS, WOMAC and balance function were observed. Compared between groups, group A showed significant improvements compared to group B in WOMAC and balance function. Conclusion: It is suggested that dynamic balance exercise may result in improved balance function and physical function in elderly patients with unilateral knee osteoarthritis.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.55-60
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• 2010

Clinical measures that Quantify falling risk factors are needed for the accurate evaluation of patients and to plan an intervention strategy. The purpose of this study was to examine the test-retest and interrater reliability of the dynamic gait index (DGI) for persons with Parkinson's disease (PD). A total of 22 idiopathic PD patients were recruited from rehabilitation hospital, Korea in this study. The DGI was assessed in two sessions that were, three days apart. We also measured Berg balance test (BBT) and geriatric depression scale (GDS) for concurrent validity with DGI. Intrarater and interrater reliability (.96 and .98 respectively) for DGI were high. indicating good agreement. The DGI was showed a good positive correlation with the BBS (r=.852). but not GDS (r=-.462). Intrarater and interrater reliability of DGI were high in people with PD. The DGI could be a reliable measure to evaluate functional postural control during gait activities in the PD population, and the ability of DGI to detect real change is acceptable in research and clinical settings.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.1-6
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• 2008

Purpose: We studied the correlation between BBS (Berg Balance Scale), Functional Reach Test (FRT), Timed-Up & Go test (TUG), Stability Index (STI), MBI (Modified Barthel Index), and Fall History. Methods: We recruited 20 stroke patients from the Gang Dong Gu Health Care Center in Seoul, Korea. All subjects could walk with or without an assisting device. Subjects first completed a questionnaire pertaining to their fall history and Activity of Daily Living (MBI), and then were evaluated with BBS, TUG, FRT, and STI. We used the Tetrax posturography system that calculates a STI based on fluctuations in vertical ground reaction forces. The data were analyzed using a Pearson Correlation Coefficient. Results: The BBS and FRT (p<0.05) and MBI (p<0.01) showed a significant positive correlation. BBS negatively correlated with STI and TUG (p<0.01). Fall history and BBS, TUG, MBI, FR, STI did not correlate. Conclusion: The BBS helps predict weight shifting, walking, and ADL, but is not good for predicting fall risk. So, we need to study about factors that affect falling.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.11-18
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• 2011

The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between physical impairments and daily activities on the basis of the outcome measurements in stroke patients. Seventy-six stroke patients participated in this study. Two physical therapists evaluated 3 clinical common measurements, i.e., the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and the Functional Independence Measure (FIM). Multiple regression analysis was used, as the dependent variables were the BBS and FIM; the independent variables were post-stroke duration, FMA of Upper Extremity (FMU), and FMA of Lower Extremity (FML). In the regression equation of the BBS, the coefficient of determination ($R^2$) was .383, and the FML was found to be the most important variable for determining the BBS score. In the regression equation of the FIM, $R^2$ was .531, and the FML was found to be the most important variable for determining the FIM. These results suggest that there is a need to determine the function of activities on the basis of the physical impairments of stroke patients. More variable measurement tools on the levels of body function and structure, as well as activity limitations are required.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.17 no.1_2
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• pp.67-76
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• 2010

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of ankle strategy exercise on balance ability in the women of octogenarians. Methods: Ankle strategy exercise group(n=14), leg strengthening exercise group(n=14) were measured an balance ability by Berg Balance Scale(BBS) scores and Balance Performance Monitor(BPM) at pre-intervention and post-intervention in 6weeks. Results: This study were summarized as follows : 1. The BBS scores, sway area, sway path length, sway maximum velocity of ankle strategy exercise group and leg strengthening exercise group were significantly different among the intervention period(p<.05). 2. The improvement of BBS scores, sway area, sway path length, sway maximum velocity were significantly different between ankle strategy exercise group and leg strengthening exercise group at in 6weeks(p<.05). Conclusion: Learned from the ankle strategy exercise could improve BBS scores, sway area, sway path length, sway maximum velocity and a balance for the women of octogenarians. Ankle strategy exercise need to be applied clinically for balance ability of the women of octogenarians.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2018

Purpose: Myofascial release (MFR) is an effective treatment for improving muscle stiffness and balance in neurological patients. This study examined long-term effects of MFR on the balance ability of stroke patients. Methods: MFR using a tennis ball was applied to the lower extremity and sacroiliac joint of the affected side of four stroke patients. The four subjects performed the Berg balance scale (BBS) and Timed up and go (TUG) test at the beginning of an 8-week intervention, directly after the intervention, and 2 years later. Results: The BBS scores indicated a trend toward maintenance of balance (p=0.05), but there was no difference in the TUG time (p=0.47). Conclusion: MFR may be a clinically meaningful intervention to maintain balance in stroke patients over a long period. However, the sample size in this study was too small to draw general conclusions. A larger study with more participants is needed.