• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.104-110
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• 2013

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of intensive gait training with body weight support treadmill training on gait and balance in stroke disability patients. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Twenty-six stroke patients (20 men and 6 women) participated in this study. All subjects were hospitalized patients. They were randomly divided into two groups: the experimental group (body weight supported treadmill training group, n=14) and control group (treadmill group, n=12). The mean ages were 52.07 years (experimental group) and 53.83 years (control group). Subjects in both groups received conventional training 10 times/wk. Subjects in the experimental group practiced body weight supported treadmill training for 30 minutes a day, 3 day/wk. Subjects in the control group practiced treadmill training for 30 minutes. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and GAITRite were used to evaluate balance and gait parameters (step length, cadence and gait speed) before and after the intervention. Results: BBS scores in the experimental group showed significantly greater improvement ($4.33{\pm}1.54$), compared with the control group (p<0.05). Significantly greater improvement in the gait speed ($24.13{\pm}4.53$ cm/s), affected side step length ($10.40{\pm}3.42$ cm), sound side step length ($11.97{\pm}3.29$ cm), and cadence ($23.88{\pm}5.52$ step/min), compared with the control group (p<0.05). Conclusions: Intensive gait training with Body Weight Support Treadmill Training may improve gait and balance in subacute stroke.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.17-28
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• 2011

Purpose: The aim of this study was to ascertain the effects of the lower extremity muscle strengthening exercise on balance and ambulation of children with cerebral palsy. Methods: 10 subjects who participated in this research undertook the 12-week the lower extremity muscle strengthening exercise program, which consisted of a series of mat exercises and sling exercises. The statistical significances were examined by using Wilcoxon signed-rank test, a non-parametric test, for evaluating the improvement of balance and ambulation of the subjects. In order to evaluate the correlation among the variables, Pearson's correlation coefficients were also calculated. In all statistical analyses the significance level was selected as ${\alpha}$=0.05. Results: Berg balance scale(BBS) was significantly increased after the intervention(p<.05). Percentage weight bearing(PWB) was decreased after the intervention, but there was no significant difference. Time up and go test(TUG) value was significantly decreased(p<.05). Gait velocities was increased after the intervention, but there was no significance. Stride length, step lengths of the affected side and the sound side were significantly increased after the intervention(p<.05). In the correlation analyses of the measures before the intervention, TUG had significant negative correlation to BBS and gait velocity(p<.05). Stride length, step lengths of the sound side and the affected side had significant positive correlation between themselves(p<.01). In the correlation analyses of the measures after the intervention, TUG had significant negative correlation to BBS and gait velocity(p<.05). BBS revealed significant positive correlations to stride length, step lengths of the sound side and the affected side(p<.05). Stride length, step lengths of the sound side and the affected side had significant positive correlation between themselves(p<.01). Conclusion: Based upon the outcomes as above, it is likely that the muscle strength exercises have substantial effects on balance and ambulation of children with cerebral palsy. Thus various lower extremity muscle strengthening exercise programs are required to be studied and developed in order to contribute to functional improvements of children with cerebral palsy.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.193-197
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• 2016

Objective: In the present study, the effects of visual restriction and unstable base dual-task training (VUDT), stable base dual-task training (SDT), and on stroke patients' balance and concentration abilities were examined. Design: Two-group pretest-posttest design. Methods: Dual-task training was conducted for thirty persons with chronic stroke who were hospitalized or receiving physical therapy and were randomly assigned to either the VUDT group (n=15) or the SDT group (n=15). The subjects were divided into two groups of 15 participants each, the VUDT group and the SDT group. Dual-task training was administered for 30 minutes per session, three times a week for 8 weeks. The participants' balance was measured via the center of pressure migration distances, functional reach test (FRT), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and attention was measured using the trail-making test and the Stroop test. Results: In comparisons within each group, the two groups showed significant differences before and after the training (p<0.05). In the comparisons between the groups, the VUDT group showed significant improvements in center of pressure (COP), FRT, and BBS, and TMT compared to the SDT group (p<0.05). Conclusions: It would be more effective to conduct dual-task training as a rehabilitation training program under vision restriction and unstable supporting surface conditions than to conduct the test under unstable supporting plane conditions to improve balance and attention in chronic stroke patients.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.26-34
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• 2006

The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of group therapeutic exercise programs on the cognitive function, Activities of Daily Living (ADL), and balance-performing ability in older adults. Fifteen community-dwelling subjects (mean age 73.7 yrs, standard deviation 2.4) participated in this study. An 8-week group therapeutic exercise program, including strengthening and balance training, breathing and gait exercise, and recreation, consisted of activities related to daily living. The Mini-Mental State Examination-Korean (MMSE-K), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Functional Reaching Test (FRT), and Timed Up & Go (TUG) test were measured during pre-exercise and post-exercise points. The results of this study were as follows: 1. After eight weeks, the MMSE-K and MBI total score was more significantly increased for post-exercise tests than pre-exercise tests (respectively, p<.05, p<.01). 2. Of the MBI contents, personal hygiene, dressing, ambulation, and chair/bed transfers scores were significant increased for post-exercise tests. 3. Post exercise BBS, FRT, and TUG scores were higher than the pre-exercise scores. The difference was statistically significant (respectively, p<.05, p<.05, p<.01). These findings suggest that group therapeutic exercise can be used to improve the cognitive function, ADL, and balance-performing ability in elderly persons.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.49-58
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of bridging stabilization exercise on balance ability and gait performance in elderly women. The subjects of this study were thirty-one elderly women over 65 years old in HongSung-Gun Senior Citizen Welfare Hall. The subjects were randomly assigned into one of three groups (trunk stabilization exercise on the mat, whole body vibration, and Swiss ball) and participated in each exercise program three times a week for 4 weeks. Each exercise began in the bridging position. The dynamic balance and gait were measured by limit of stability area using force plate, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Timed Up and Go Test (TUG). The results were as follows: 1) The limit of stability in three groups increased significantly in anterior-posterior and medial-lateral lean after 4-weeks intervention (p<.05). 2) There were no significant differences in the limit of stability among three groups after 4-weeks intervention (p>.05). 3) The BBS and TUG in three groups increased significantly after 4-weeks intervention (p<.05). 4) There were significant differences among three groups in BBS. Post-hoc test showed that Swiss ball exercise group was significantly higher than the mat and whole body vibration groups. 5) There were no significant differences TUG among three groups after 4-weeks intervention (p>.05). In conclusion, this study suggested that 4 weeks of the bridging stabilization exercises were effective on balance and gait in all three groups. Particularly Swiss ball exercise group showed higher improvement than two other exercise groups (mat, whole body vibration group).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.587-596
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• 2010

Purpose : This study was performed to investigate the effects of somatosensory training on the spatiotemporal gait parameters and balance in patients with stroke patients. Methods : 24 stroke survivors were allocated in this study, and randomly divided into experimental(n=12) and control group(n=12), independently. Experimental group was applied somatosensory training program plus conventional physical therapy, and control group was applied only conventional physical therapy. All subjects were administered for 30 minutes per day during 8 weeks(5 times a week). Results : Spatiotemporal parameters of gait were significant difference between pre and post intervention in experimental group, except of step length asymmetry ratio(SLAR) and single support time asymmetry ratio (SSAR)(p<.05). But control group had no statistical significance(p>.05). And also there was significant difference between experimental and control group(p<.05), except of cadence and SSAR(p>.05). Balance parameters were significant difference between pre and post intervention in experimental group(p<.05). But control group had no statistical significance(p>.05). And experimental timed up and go test was significantly decreased than control group(p<.05), but berg balance scale and functional reach test were not significant difference between experimental and control group(p>.05). Conclusion : This study was suggested that somatosensory training has effectiveness on the spatiotemporal gait parameters and balance in patients with stroke survivors. So this therapeutic intervention will be effectivelyapply to the stroke survivors in the clinical setting.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.1-8
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of sit-to-stand training on unstable surfaces in individuals with stroke. Nineteen subjects with chronic stroke were divided into two groups: an experimental group (10 subjects) and a control group (9 subjects). They received 30 minutes of Neuro-developmental therapy (NDT) treatment, and sit-to-stand exercise for 15 minutes three times a week for four weeks. During the sit-to-stand training, the experimental group performed on an unstable AIREX balance pad, but the control group performed on a stable surface. Balance ability and weight-bearing distribution during quiet standing were measured before and after training period using the 7-item Berg balance scale-3P (BBS-3P) and the Five-times-sit-to-stand test (FTSST). In addition, the muscle strength of the knee extensor was evaluated before and after the training period. The results were as follows: 1) The weight-bearing distribution forward of the affected leg, increased significantly in the experimental group after the four-week intervention (p<.05), 2) The 7-item BBS-3P and FTSST increased significantly in the experimental group after the four-week intervention (p<.05), 3) The knee extensor muscle strength in both groups increased significantly after the four-week intervention (p<.05). In conclusion, the results of this study did not show that the sit-to-stand training on an unstable surface was more effective than on a stable surface. However, the results suggested that sit-to-stand training is effective in the balance training of stroke patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.96-102
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of a training program using virtual reality on the balance and lower muscular strength of Parkinson's disease patients. Methods: The study included 22 patients with Parkinson's disease who were arbitrarily classified into 2 groups: 11 patients in the experimental group and 11 patients in the control group. Balance was measured with the Berg balance scale (BBS), the functional reach test (FRT), one-leg stance test (OLST), and the timed up and go test (TUG); whereas, lower muscular strength was measured with the sit-to-stand test (STS). Ping-Pong, bowling, and tennis were selected for virtual reality training for the experimental group, and were performed for 30 minutes 3 times a week for 8 weeks. The control group did not undergo any of the virtual reality training programs. Results: A significant difference was observed in the BBS, FRT, OLST, TUG, and STS results within the experimental group that underwent the virtual reality training program. On the other hand, no significant difference was observed in the BBS, FRT, OLST, TUG, and STS values within the control groups. Conclusion: In conclusion, the virtual reality training program positively affects the balance and lower muscular strength in Parkinson's disease patients. This result indicates the possibility of application of the virtual reality training program to the management for Parkinson's disease patients, and highlights the need for the development and application of more efficient virtual reality training programs in the future.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.21-32
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify whether task-related circuit exercise program combined with sensorimotor training for 4 weeks could improve the balance and gait in stroke patients. Method: Fifteen stroke patients who had agreed with the study were randomly divided into 3 groups categorized as task-related circuit exercise program combined with sensorimotor training group (experimental group 1, n=5), task-related circuit exercise program group (experimental group 2, n=5), and control subjects performed conventional physical therapy (control group, n=5). The balance and gait were assessed by BT-4 force platform system, Berg Balance Scale, 10meter Walk Test and Smart Step at before training and after training. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to analyze change before and after intervention in intra-group. Kruskal Wallis H test, Mann-Whitney U test and Bonfferoni correction were used to analyze changes of all variables in inter-groups. Result: The experimental group 1 showed significant improvements in postural sway area, BBS scores, walking velocity and plantar pressures of affected foot, whereas the experimental group 2 showed significant improvements in BBS scores, and the control group were no significantly different in all variables following training. The changes of postural sway area and BBS scores in the experimental group 1 were significantly greater than them of the control group. The changes of postural sway area in the experimental group 1 was significantly greater than that of the experimental group 2. Conclusion: The result of this study suggest the task-related circuit exercise program combined with sensorimotor training is an effective intervention to improve balance and gait in stoke patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.59-66
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• 2017

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of postural control training on balance and walking ability in chronic stroke patients. METHODS: Eighteen chronic stroke patients were allocated equally and randomly to an experimental group (n=9) or a control group (n=9). All participants received 60 minutes of comprehensive rehabilitation treatment, the experimental group additionally received a postural control training for 30 minutes, while the control group additionally performed a treadmill training for 30 minutes. These 30-minute training sessions were held five times per week for three weeks. Balance was assessed using Berg balance scale (BBS) and walking ability (gait speed, cadence, step length, and double limb support) was assessed using the GAITRite system. RESULTS: Improvement on all outcome measures was identified from pre-to-post intervention for both groups (p<.05). Post-intervention, there was a significant between-group difference on measured outcomes (p<.05). The experimental group exhibited greater improvement in the gait speed (p=.01; 95% CI .08-.16), cadence (p=.04; 95% CI .34-4.79), step length (p=.02; 95% CI 1.50-5.17), double limb support period (p=.04; 95% CI -2.18 to -.14), and BBS (p=.01; 95% CI 1.04-6.74) compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that postural control training may be beneficial for improving balance and walking ability of patients with chronic stroke.