• PNF and Movement
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.37-43
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• 2009

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of core stability training at deep abdominal muscle for balance control of hemiplegic patient. Method : The subject of this study was a 47-year-old man with right hemiplegia. He was treated five times a week for three weeks with core stability training at deep abdominal muscles. Evaluation tool was used Functional reach test(FRT), timed up and go test(TUG) and one leg standing for stroke patients. Result : The FRT distance increase, TUG time decrease, one leg standing time increase core stability training at deep abdominal muscles for right hemiplegia improved was the ability for maintain balance. Posture and control of trunk stability are changing posture, and so which showed significant improve of total balance control. Conclusion : The result of this study showed that core stability training at deep abdominal muscles is an effective treatment for balance control. Therefore, it could be considered as a treatment method in the rehabilitation of stroke patient with poor postural control and imbalance, although further studies are needed.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.19-29
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• 2019

Purpose: This study was an investigation of the effects of the bridge exercise with the sensory feedback of combined abdominal drawing-in on transverse abdominal and balance in patients with stroke. Methods: Forty subjects were randomly assigned into two groups. Subjects in the bridge exercise group (BG, n = 20) or feedback drawing-in bridge exercise group (FDBG, n = 20) were studied for 30 minutes each, twice daily, for four weeks. Outcomes were measured using affected weight distribution (AWD), anterior limit of stability (ALOS), posterior limit of stability (PLOS), timed up-and-go test (TUG), the Berg balance scale (BBS), and transverse abdominis thickness (TRA) before and after the four-week intervention period. Results: There were significant effects in the FDBG pre-intervention and post-intervention in AWD, ALOS, PLOS, TUG, BBS, and TRA. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the bridge exercise with sensory feedback combined with abdominal drawing-in could be beneficial for patients with stroke in terms of transverse abdominal and balance.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.353-368
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• 2019

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of trunk exercise using less-affected extremities on gait and balance in chronic stroke patients. Methods: Thirty subjects with chronic stroke disease were divided into two groups: a trunk exercise group that used less-affected extremities (n=15) and a general trunk exercise group (n=15). All interventions were conducted 30 min a day, 6 times per week, for 3 weeks. Gait parameters were measured before and after the intervention using Zebris FDM-1.5. In addition, all subjects were evaluated using the Trunk Impairment Scale, the Berg Balance Scale, and the Functional Gait Assessment before and after the intervention. Results: Both groups showed improvements on all outcome measured pre- to post-intervention (p<0.05). The groups exhibited significant differences for TIS, BBS, FGA, gait speed, step length, and cadence at post-intervention (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that trunk exercise using less-affected extremities has therapeutic benefits on gait and balance in individuals with chronic stroke disease.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aims to compare the effects of obstacle walking training combined with cognitive tasks on balance, gait, and activities of daily living in patients with stroke. Methods: A single-subject design was used, where one stroke patient participated. Obstacle walking training combined with cognitive tasks was performed for 1 hour per day for a total of 10 times during the intervention phase. The subjects were measured five times in the baseline phase, 10 times in the intervention phase, and five times in the follow-up phase. The outcome measurements included the Berg balance scale (BBS), the 10-meter walk test (10 MWT), and the Korean modified Barthel index (K-MBI). Results: In this study, the results showed that the 10 MWT scores during the intervention period improved and that this improvement remained, even during the post-period. In addition, BBS and K-MBI values for stroke patients increased significantly after training. Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that obstacle walking training combined with cognitive task training may be helpful to improve balance, gait, and activities of daily living in stroke patients. Therefore, obstacle walking training combined with cognitive tasks is recommended for stroke patients.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.433-439
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• 2018

Purpose: Visual information is one of the most important factors for postural balance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of visual deprivation on the lower extremities and trunk muscle activity on an unstable surface during quiet standing. Methods: Fifteen healthy males from a university population participated in this study. Surface electromyography of the rectus abdominis, the erector spinalis, the vastus femoris oblique, the semitendinosis, the tibialis anterior, and the medial gastrocnemius was measured using EMG equipment (Telemyo 2400, Noraxon, USA). The participants were asked to maintain postural balance on an unstable surface (Balance pad, Airex, USA) for 30 seconds with eyes open and with eyes closed during quiet standing. The Wilcoxon test was used to compare the muscle activity of the lower extremities and the trunk between open and closed eyes on an unstable surface. Results: The muscle activity of the trunk and the lower extremities was increased more with eyes closed than with eyes open on the unstable surface during quiet standing. Conclusion: The findings from this study suggest that visual information could alter lower extremity and trunk muscle activity. Therefore, visual deprivation can be used as a method to improve postural balance.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.163-172
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• 2021

Purpose: This study investigated the correlation between physical function and forward head posture in spastic diplegia. Methods: The subjects of this study were 10 spastic diplegia patients. We took pictures of the subjects' craniovertebral angle with a digital camera to determine the degree of forward head posture and then analyzed them using the NIH image J program. The physical function test used the TCMS, the BBT, and a spirometer. The data in this study were measured using SPSS version 23.0, and the statistical significance level α was 0.05. A Pearson correlation coefficient analysis was performed to identify the correlation between the degree of the subject's head forward position and physical function. Results: When we performed the BBT and spirometer tests, the subjects' forward head postures were not correlated (p < 0.05). However, with the TCMS, there was a strong correlation between the forward position of the head and balance, with balance decreasing as the head position increased (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Spastic diplegia patients with severe forward head posture showed problems with static balance, dynamic balance, and equilibrium reaction when sitting. Intervention on the right posture and preventive activities will be needed to improve the health of spastic diplegia patients and prevent future problems with physical function.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.247-252
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• 2017

Purpose: This study sought to examine the effect of coordinative locomotor training (CLT) program on the balance and gait of stroke patients and to develop effective programs and training methods to improve the functions of such patients. Methods: Subjects included 29 patients with hemiplegia caused by stroke. The subjects were randomly divided into an experimental group (n=14) that participated in CLT program and a control group (n=15) that participated in general exercise therapy. The experimental group underwent CLT program, while the control group underwent general exercise therapy, for 30 minutes, 3 days per week for a 6-week period. timed up and go test (TUG), four square step test (FSST), figure-of-8-walk test (F8WT), and 10m walking test (10MWT) were conducted to evaluate changes in balance and gait. Results: After the intervention, significant differences (p<0.05) were seen in the TUG, FSST, F8WT, and 10MWT in both groups. The experimental group showed more significant improvement than the control group(p<0.05). Conclusion: The results from this study indicate that a CLT program is extremely effective for improving the balance and gait in stroke patients.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.189-197
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• 2019

Purpose: The aim of our study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of walking and turning plus treadmill training on the functional balance and walking ability of individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods: Twenty-four participants with Stage 1 to 3 ($2.13{\pm}0.64$) PD based on the Hoehn and Yahr scale were randomly allocated to the experimental group (EG) and control group (CG), with 12 participants in each group. The measured outcomes included the motor subscale of the unified Parkinson's disease rating scale (UPDRS-M), the Berg balance scale (BBS), the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, the 10-meter walk test (10MWT), and the 6-minute walk test (6MWT). Results: Pre-to-post intervention improvements were noted for all the outcome measures for both groups (p < 0.05). Post intervention, there was a significant improvement in the EG compared to the CG for the following measured outcomes (p < 0.05): UPDRS-M (p = 0.021; 95% CI, 0.081-6.519), BBS (p = 0.042; 95% CI, 1.375-4.541), TUG (p = 0.034; 95% CI, -3.315--0.143), 10MWT (p = 0.011; 95% CI, -2.032--0.289), and 6MWT (p = 0.002; 95% CI, 24.39-91.273). Conclusion: Our study suggests that walking and turning plus treadmill training improves balance and walking compared to treadmill training only in patients with PD.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.41-49
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• 2022

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of vibration exercise on balance control ability, gait ability, and depression in the elderly. Methods: A total of 24 elderly subjects were recruited and randomized into an experimental (n = 12) or a control (n = 12) group. The experimental group performed both a vibration and a stabilization exercise, and the control group performed a stabilization exercise alone. Balance ability was measured using the functional reach test (FRT), gait ability was measured using the timed up and go test (TUGT), and depression was measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Results: The experimental and control groups showed significant differences for all pre- and post-experiment FRT, TUGT, and CES-D measurements (p <0.05). In a comparison between the two groups, the experimental group in which vibration exercise was applied showed more significant difference in FRT, TUGT, and CES-D than the control group (p <0.05). Conclusion: This study showed vibration exercise to be effective in balance control ability, gait ability, and depression in the elderly.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.203-208
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• 2016

Purpose: This study seeks to examine the effect of a program with functional taping and CLT on the program on fall efficacy and balance of stroke patients with knee pain on the non-affected side, as well as to develop effective programs and training methods to improve the functions of such patients. Methods: The subjects included 31 patients with hemiplegia caused by stroke. The subjects were randomly divided into an experimental group (n = 15), which participated in a program for functional taping and CLT, and a control group (n = 16), which participated in general exercise therapy. The control group underwent general exercise therapy for 30 minutes, three days per week for a six-week period. VAS, FES and TUG were conducted to evaluate changes in pain degree, fall efficacy, and balance. Results: After the intervention, significant differences (p < 0.05) were seen in the VAS, FES and TUG in both groups. The experimental group showed more significant improvement than the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results from this study indicate that the CLT program is extremely effective for improving fall efficacy and balance.