• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.105-111
• /
• 2018

Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine the effects muscle fatigue at the knee muscles on balance during standing in healthy adults. Methods Thirty healthy adults were recruited along with their written informed consent. Subjects were randomly assigned to knee extensor group (fatigue on knee extensor, KE), and knee flexor group (fatigue on knee flexor, KF). And subjects performed exercise with each muscle group until muscle fatigue was induced. They were assessed balance ability by functional reaching test (FRT), limit of stability (LOS), and postural sway (one leg standing, normal eye open (NO), normal eye close (NC), pillow with eye open (FO), and pillow with eye close (FC)) before and after fatigue. Results There were significant group differences balance performances in FRT, anterior of limit of stability, one leg standing, and the muscle fatigue of knee muscles were decreased balance performances. The balance performance was affected by visual sense and proprioception. Conclusions These results show that the muscle fatigue of knee muscles decreased balance performance. Therefore, balance exercise program should be trained without muscle fatigue.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.1676-1682
• /
• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the short-term effects of lumbar rotational mobilization under the single-leg standing (SLS) position. Fifteen healthy individuals were recruited, and randomized to agroup of trunk rotational exercise (TRE) and lumbar rotational mobilization (LRM). Trunk twist rotational exercise was performed to the TRE group, and mobilization was applied to the LRM group on the lumbar spine. Velocity of the center of pressure (VCOP) and center of pressure (COP) for each participant were measured through SLS. COPs were not significantly increased or decreased after treatment in both groups. VCOPs also did not change considerably except on the right side when the eye was closed. There was no significant difference between COPs and VCOPs in two groups. This study suggests that trunk rotation exercise and lumbar rotation mobilization would have similar effects on balance ability.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.49-54
• /
• 2015

Objective: Cervical stabilization exercises are frequently to improve strength and endurance of cervical muscles. The purpose of this study was to identify changes in head repositioning accuracy (HRA) and neck proprioception through cervical stabilization exercises in healthy adults. Design: One group pretest-posttest design. Methods: Thirteen participants with no previous history of neck pain or injury to the cervical spine were recruited. HRA was measured by equipment including laser pointer, helmet, eye patch and marking pens. The distance between the spot where the beam had stopped and the center of the graph paper was measured three times with the averaged value used as the head repositioning accuracy. Neck proprioception was measured by a cervical range of motion device (CROM). Subjects wore the CROM tester and were to look straight ahead while bending his/her neck. Subjects were instructed to perform extension, lateral flexion and rotation, and the values were then measured and recorded. The measurements were performed pre-intervention, and after cervical stabilization exercise. Results: There was no significant difference on HRA after intervention. In addition, there was no significant difference on neck proprioception compared with pre-intervention. Conclusions: The present study did not identify any effect on HRA and neck proprioception of cervical stabilization exercise. Further investigations are required to elucidate this in old aged participants and patients with neck pain.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.35-54
• /
• 2000

The purposes of this study were to assess variation of body sway prior to and after submaximal treadmill exercise; to determine the time course of the effects of a fatiguing performed on a treadmill on body sway; and to compare position sense prior to and after exercise in order to assess any variance in proprioception caused by submaximal treadmill exercise. The subjects were twenty-four healthy men in their twenties. They stood barefoot on the Kinesthetic Ability Training Balance Platform to measure body sway. Control trials were performed with eyes alternately open and closed. In the eyes open condition, they were asked to look at a target placed at eye level 1 m in front them. A total of 10 trials, each lasting 20 seconds, were performed. After this series of trials, position sense was measured. Subjects then exercised on the treadmill until 85% of each person's maximal heart rate was reached. The first series of postural sway measurements began immediately after this exercise. The second identical series of postural sway trials was performed at approximately 10 minutes after exercise. The third series was performed approximately 20 minutes after exercise. This allowed approximately 5 minutes of rest between each experimental series. Position sense was measured at approximately 15 and 25 minutes after exercise. The results were as follows: 1) There was a significant increase in body sway after submaximal treadmill exercise compared to pre-exercise values under both visual conditions (p<.05). 2) After submaximal treadmill exercise, under the eyes open condition, the mean value of body sway was significantly increased after both the first and second series (p<.05). Under the eyes closed condition, the mean value of body sway increased significantly after the first series but decreased significantly after the third series (p<.05). 3) Position sense, measured repeatedly after submaximal treadmill exercise, did not change significantly with respect to pre-exercise values (p>.05). These results suggest that fatigue induced by submaximal treadmill exercise produced an increase in body sway in young healthy subjects with or without visual input, but the increase appeared to be lasting less than 15 minutes. No significant change in position sense suggested that proprioception was unaffected by submaximal treadmill exercise-induced fatigue.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.155-164
• /
• 2024

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of simultaneous application of gaze stabilization exercise and cognitive training on the balance and gait ability in subacute stroke patients. METHODS: Thirty-five patients diagnosed with stroke within 3-6 months were randomly assigned, and the experimental group (n = 18) to which both gaze stabilization exercise and cognitive training were applied and the control group (n = 17) to which only gaze stabilization exercise was applied were targeted. It was performed for 30 minutes at a time, three times a week, for a total of 4 weeks. Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go test, 10Meter Walking Test, and Walking symmetry were evaluated. RESULTS: In the comparison of changes between Berg Balance Scale, Time Up and Go test, 10 Meter Walking Test, and Gait symmetry, both experimental and control groups showed significant differences before and after the intervention, and in the evaluation of Gait symmetry, significant differences between groups. CONCLUSION: As a result of this study, when gaze stabilization exercise and cognitive training were allied simultaneously, it was possible to improve the balance and gait ability of subacute stroke patients, and had a more significant effect on gait ability. In considered that training that simultaneously applies gaze stabilization exercise and cognitive training can be presented as a balance and gait rehabilitation for stroke patients on the future.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.113-121
• /
• 2022

PURPOSE: This study is examined the effects of vestibular stimulation through eye movement on balance and muscle activity. METHODS: In 42 healthy adults, no eye exercise was applied to both feet and one foot. The speed of smooth pursuit eye movement (.2 Hz, .3 Hz, and .5 Hz) and saccadic eye movement (.5 Hz and 1.1 Hz) were randomized. The measurements were taken three times for 30 seconds while standing on two feet and measured three times for 10 seconds while standing on one foot. The muscle activity measurement equipment was used to measure the electromyogram signals of the tibialis anterior, peroneus longus, gastrocnemius medialis, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, abdominal internal oblique, and erector spinae muscle. RESULTS: As a result of this study, when applying smooth pursuit eye movement on one leg, the pressure center movement increased, the muscle activity of the lower extremity increased, in the saccadic eye movement, and the center of pressure decreased. CONCLUSION: Accordingly, the smooth pursuit of eye movement, the intervention of this study, affects balance. Through this, the balance can be improved by applying eye movement to the target who needs to improve the balance ability.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.1-12
• /
• 2021

Purpose : We aimed to determine whether improvements in balance, gait, and motor function were different when the same exercise was performed, with and without mirror therapy, by patients with subacute stroke using the affected and unaffected lower limbs. Methods : Eight patients with subacute stroke were randomly divided into experimental groups 1, 2 and the control group. A mirror therapy program was performed with group 1 using the unaffected lower limb and group 2 the affected lower limb. The exercise lasted 30 min per session, five times weekly, for 4 weeks. The control group did not perform the exercises. BT-4, BBS, POMA, 10MWT, and BRS were used to evaluate balance, gait, and motor function before and after the intervention. Results : Post-intervention analysis showed that all three groups had higher BBS scores. After training, the postural sway in groups 1 and 2 decreased in the post eye opened and closed positions; that of the control group increased. The scores of two subjects in group 1 increased by 4 and 5 points in POMA, resulting in significant changes compared to those in the other groups. No group showed significant results in 10MWT. BRS improved in all subjects in group 1 from BRS 2 to 1 and in only one subject in group 2 there was no change in the control group. Conclusion : Static and dynamic balance and significant results are noted in POMA, BBS, but not gait velocity. Therefore, mirror therapy seems to show a positive change in subacute patients, but the research results are not clear and the difference between groups is unknown due to the small number of subjects. The effects of mirror therapy and exercise therapy should be compared using more subjects in future.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.557-561
• /
• 2013

The purpose of this study to identified the effect of muscle strengthening of ankle joints on postural sway. The subjects of this study were 29 healthy adults aged between 20 and 30 years(male 18, female 11). All subjects received ankle muscle strengthening exercise for 3 times, 3 sessions, 30 minutes per week over 4weeks period. The measured item of muscle strength, postural sway. Data collected from all subjects the result were as follows. The ankle strength showed significant increase(p<.05). One leg stand test with eye close increase in static balance(p<.05), left-right sway distance and anterior-posterior sway distance with eye open and close in static balance(p<.05). The result findings show that strength of the ankle joint muscles is a factor which affects postural sway and the ankle joints are important in static balance.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.214-221
• /
• 2023

Objective: This study aimed to assess the impact of using the LED light electromyographyfeedback system (EMG-light) during Pilates exercises in women to maintain consistent muscle contraction in the abdominal external oblique muscles and reduce muscle contraction in the upper trapezius muscles. This study compared Pilates training using the EMG-light with Pilates training only in healthy women for 4 weeks. Design: This study was conducted as a cross-sectional study. Methods: A total of 17 healthy women were divided into an experimental group (n=9) and a control group (n=8). Both groups performed Pilates exercises as assigned, twice per week for four weeks, with each session lasting fifty minutes. The experimental group were used the EMG-light feedback system during pilates exercise while the control group did not use EMG-light. We used cervical vertebral angle (CVA), shoulder tilt angle to evaluate neck posture and standing balance with closed eye for 30s before and after exercise. Results: The control group exhibited a significant change in CVA (p<0.05). Both groups showed significant changes in shoulder tilt, center of pressure (COP) path-length, and COP velocity during eyes-closed conditions (p<0.05). However, there were significant differences between the experimental and control groups in terms of CVA, shoulder tilt, COP path-length, and COP velocity. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that Pilates exercises had positive effects on shoulder posture and balance. The use of EMG-light provided real-time visual feedback on muscle contraction during Pilates exercise. However, the experimental group did not show significant improvements compared to the control group, which performed Pilates exercises without feedback.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
• /
• v.23 no.10
• /
• pp.37-43
• /
• 2023

The hospital situation, timing, and patient restrictions have become obstacles to an optimum therapy session. The crowdedness of the hospital might lead to a tight schedule and a shorter period of therapy. This condition might strike a post-stroke patient in a dilemma where they need regular treatment to recover their nervous system. In this work, we propose an in-house and uncomplex serious game system that can be used for physical therapy. The Kinect camera is used to capture the depth image stream of a human skeleton. Afterwards, the user might use their hand gesture to control the game. Voice recognition is deployed to ease them with play. Users must complete the given challenge to obtain a more significant outcome from this therapy system. Subjects will use their upper limb and hands to capture the 3D objects with different speeds and positions. The more substantial challenge, speed, and location will be increased and random. Each delegated entity will raise the scores. Afterwards, the scores will be further evaluated to correlate with therapy progress. Users are delighted with the system and eager to use it as their daily exercise. The experimental studies show a comparison between score and difficulty that represent characteristics of user and game. Users tend to quickly adapt to easy and medium levels, while high level requires better focus and proper synchronization between hand and eye to capture the 3D objects. The statistical analysis with a confidence rate(α:0.05) of the usability test shows that the proposed gaming is accessible, even without specialized training. It is not only for therapy but also for fitness because it can be used for body exercise. The result of the experiment is very satisfying. Most users enjoy and familiarize themselves quickly. The evaluation study demonstrates user satisfaction and perception during testing. Future work of the proposed serious game might involve haptic devices to stimulate their physical sensation.