• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.86-95
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• 2008

The Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS) is a modified Berg's Balance Scale developed as a balance measure for school-aged children with mild to moderate motor impairments. The purpose of this study was to determine the inter-examiner reliability of the Korean version of PBS when applied to children with developmental delays. In this study, PBS was administrated to a total of 79 children with developmental delays (17 with global developmental delay, 31 with cerebral palsy, and 31 with mental retardation) in the Seoul Community Rehabilitation Center. Two pediatric trained physical therapists with longer than 13 year of clinical experience scored the children's performance blind, while replaying videotaped data. The inter-examiner reliability was statistically determined by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). The results of this study revealed that the Korean version of PBS seems to have high inter-examiner reliability when applied to children with movement disorders such as global developmental delay (ICC=.96) and cerebral palsy (ICC=.97); however, it has relatively lower inter-examiner reliability (ICC=.78) for children with developmental delay secondary to mental retardation. therefore, the results support that the Korean version of the PBS could be a useful clinical measurement to assess the balance skills for children with developmental delay who have an adequate level of cognition to enable them to fol1ow the verbal instructions to complete the test.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.133-142
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of balance using ankle strategy during adjusted balance training and muscle training in normal young female adults. Methods: There were eighteen participants. All subjects were randomly assigned to three groups, the control group (n=6), the adjusted balance training group (n=6) and the muscle training group (n=6). Subjects were assessed for each subject by a pretest and a posttest at 1 week, 2 weeks, and 3 weeks, measuring the anterior-posterior limit of stability, trace length and EMG data for the tibialis anterior and lateral gastrocnemius. Results: The anterior-posterior limit of stability significantly increased in the training group (p<0.05). The trace length significantly decreased in the training group (p<0.05). The muscle activity of the tibialis anterior and lateral gastrocnemius also significantly decreased in the training group (p<0.05). Conclusion: We confirmed that both the balance training group and the muscle training group significantly increased the anterior-posterior limit of stability and decreased trace length and muscle activity. Further studies are needed to analyze the long-term effects on subjects resulting from these changes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.425-431
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• 2013

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of visual control on gait speed and balance in patients with stroke. Static balance and gait speed were investigated with comparison and fixed direction of visual. METHODS: We included twenty-six patients with stroke. Participants were measured static balance while standing on a forceplate with one of 4 different visual direction in front, floor, non-affected side and affected side for 30 seconds. To compare of the gait speed, participants had to walk with one of fixed visual direction. And to compare of gait speed with visual dispersion, gait speed were measured with visual change in left and right, up and down direction every 5m, 2m and 1m intervals. RESULTS: The result of the static balance with fixed visual showed that the affected side and the non-affected side were shown significantly increased sway of total sway length, mediolateral distance, anteroposterior distance, average velocity(p<.05). The gait speed with fixed visual showed that affected side was significantly slower(p<.05). And the gait speed significantly increased as interval of visual dispersion decrease in the sagittal and horizontal plane(p<.05). CONCLUSION: The results from this study showed that the visual direction effected on static balance and the faster visual movement made to increase the gait speed. Therefore the rehabilitation training with visual control may be implemented for stroke patients.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2004.10a
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• pp.1160-1165
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to calculate three dimensional angular displacements, moments and joint reaction forces of the ankle joint during the waist pulling, and to assess the ankle joint reaction forces according to different perturbation modes and different levels of perturbation magnitude. Ankle joint model was assumed 3-D ball and socket joint which is capable of three rotational movements. We used 6 cameras, force plate and waist pulling system. Two different waist pulling systems were adopted for forward sway with three magnitudes each. From motion data and ground reaction forces, we could calculate 3-D angular displacements, moments and joint reaction forces during the recovery of postural balance control. From the experiment using falling mass perturbation, joint moments were larger than those from the experiment using air cylinder pulling system with milder perturbation. However, JRF were similar nevertheless the difference in joint moment. From this finding, we could conjecture that the human body employs different strategies to protect joints by decreasing joint reaction forces, like using the joint movement of flexion or extension or compensating joint reaction force with surrounding soft tissues. Therefore, biomechanical analysis of human ankle joint presented in this study is considered useful for understanding balance control and ankle injury mechanism.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2009

Purpose : The aim of this study was to determine the effect of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation(PNF) on balance ability in poststroke hemiparetic subjects. Methods : The subjects of this study were 12 patients with hemiplegia who volunteered to participate in the experiment which was carried out over the course of 4 weeks. The Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation is applied to group with three positions (sidelying, half-standing, modified plantigrade). The tests between before and after the intervention were measured by FSST (Four Square Step Test), FICSIT-4 (Frailty and Injuries: Cooperative Studies of Intervention Techniques), BBS(Berg Balance Scale). The data were analyzed using paired t-test and Wilcoxon signed rank test to determine the statistical significance. Results : The results of this study were summarized as follows: 1. After intervention, the score of BBS and FICSIT-4 significantly were increased compared with before intervention. 2. After intervention, the time of FSST were reduced significantly compared with before intervention. Conclusions : According to above results, Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation improved with balance ability of patients with hemiplegia. This study provided basic data for effects Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation on balance ability. In conclusion, Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation with other interventions is effective way to improve balance ability of patients with hemiplegia.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.191-199
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effects of ankle stretching with intrinsic muscles on ankle range of motion, static and dynamic balance, and gait speed in chronic stroke patients. Methods: The participants were 20 chronic stroke patients, divided into two groups, 10 in the ankle stretching with intrinsic muscles group and 10 in the slant board exercise group. Both groups performed their respective interventions once daily, with three sets per session, five times a week for four weeks. Ankle range of motion, dynamic and static balance, and gait speed were measured before and after the intervention. An independent t-test was used to compare the results between the two groups before and after the intervention. Results: Both groups showed significant improvements in ankle range of motion, dynamic and static balance, and gait speed after the intervention (p < .05). The ankle stretching with intrinsic muscles group showed more significant improvements in ankle range of motion, dynamic and static balance, and gait speed after the intervention compared to the slant board group (p < .05). These results suggest that ankle stretching with intrinsic muscles may be more effective than the slant board for certain outcomes. Conclusion: Ankle stretching with intrinsic muscles is effective in improving ankle range of motion, dynamic and static balance, and walking speed.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.259-266
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed to compare balance ability according to the immersion level of virtual reality-based training for the balance enhancement of the elderly. Methods: This study included 48 elderly people aged 65 years and older (male 16, female 32). According to the immersion level of applied virtual reality training, 16, 17, and 15 persons were randomly assigned to full immersion, semi-immersion, and control groups. The subjects who were assigned to the full immersion group and semi-immersion group received virtual reality training for 6 weeks at 20 min at a time, 3 times per week. The control group received no intervention. Balance ability was evaluated by measuring the stability limit and the tandem walking test before and after the intervention. Results: Results showed significant differences among the three groups in the limit of stability of all directions and the tandem walking test after the intervention. The results of the limit of stability showed a significantly higher value in the full-immersion group than in the control group, and the results of the tandem walking test showed a significantly lower value in the full-immersion and semi-immersion groups than in the control group. Conclusion: The results indicate that the head-mounted display equipment for applying full-immersion virtual training is the most effective in enhancing the balance ability of the elderly.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.2126-2134
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• 2020

Background: Therapeutic climbing training, which originated in Germany, is a wall-hanging rock climbing-based therapy to increase the body's coordination through movement of the upper and lower limbs against gravity. However, there are no studies examining the effectiveness of therapeutic climbing training to treat balance and gait ability in patients with chronic stroke. Objectives: To investigate therapeutic climbing training program on balance and gait in patients with chronic stroke. Design: Pretest-posttest control group design. Methods: Fourteen patients with chronic hemiplegic stroke participated. Participants were randomized into the therapeutic climbing training group (TCTG, n=7) and the standard rehabilitation program group (SRPG, n=7) group. All subjects participated in the same standard rehabilitation program consisting of 60 minutes 5 times a week for 6 weeks. TCTG participated additionally in the therapeutic climbing program consisting of 30 minutes sessions 3 times a week for the same 6 weeks. Berg balance scale (BBS), Gaitview Measure, Timed up and go test (TUG) were measured. Results: In the TCTG, revealed a statistical difference in BBS between the groups; in the difference of plantar pressure ratio in the static standing position revealed a statistical difference between the groups after training; the balance ability in the one-leg standing tests increased significantly; the time in TUG decreased significantly after training in both groups; The changes in the difference of dynamic plantar pressure ratio were reduced significantly in the TCTG. Conclusion: Therapeutic climbing training contribute to improve balance and walking function in patients with chronic stroke.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.383-392
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• 2020

Purpose: Balance and gait dysfunction caused by aging affect elderly individuals' independent life, which, in turn, can reduce their overall quality of life. The purpose of this study is to compare the differences in the vestibular function of healthy elderly and young adults based on the subjective visual vertical (SVV) test as well as to compare and analyze the gait ability between these two groups to study the differences and association between vestibular, dizziness, and balance ability. Methods: The subjects were 18 young and 16 elderly adults with no neurological or musculoskeletal damage. To evaluate vestibular function, a subjective visual vertical test was performed. To evaluate the gait function, the step time, step length, stride length, stance phase ratio, and swing phase ratio were measured. Balance was evaluated using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and dizziness was evaluated using a dizziness handicap inventory (DHI). Results: There were significant differences in the SVV, BBS, and DHI between the young and elderly adults (p < 0.05). The gait variables of the older adults were all significantly different (except for the swing phase ratio) than those of the young adults (p < 0.05). As the result of correlation analysis, the SVV values of the young adults showed a significant negative correlation with step length and stride length (p < 0.05), while the SVV values of the elderly adults only showed a significant positive correlation with the DHI (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The elderly appeared to show a decrease in vestibular function when compared to the young adults, and it is thought that walking and balance function declined, while dizziness increased. Moreover, it is believed that these results can be used as basic data for vestibular rehabilitation in the future.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2015

Purpose: This study aimed to examined the effects of upper and lower limb coordinated exercise of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on static and dynamic balance ability. Methods: The subjects of this study were 18 patients who had been diagnosed with a stroke and hospitalized and who had received rehabilitation treatment at D rehabilitation hospital located in J city. They were randomly and equally assigned to a PNF upper and lower limb coordinated exercise group and an ordinary central nervous system development and treatment group, and they conducted exercises for eight weeks. They carried out exercise three times per week, for 30 minutes per each time. After each four minutes of exercise, each participant was given a and rest for one minute after exercise for four minutes was given. In order to test the subjects' static and dynamic balance ability and their dynamic balance ability, frailty and injuries,: a cooperative studyies of intervention techniques (FICSIT-4) test, a four- step square test (FSST), a timed up and go test (TUG), and a TWT3M tests wasere conducted before and after the exercise. Descriptive statistics were taken for the general characteristics of the subjects, and an independent t-test was conducted both before and after the exercise in order to examine differences between the two groups before and after the exercise were conducted. The A statistical significance level was set at p= 0.05. Results: In all the tests (of FICSIT-4, FSST, TUG, and TWT3M), both the experimental group and the control group saw more improved results, but the experimental group's results were significantly higher than those of the control group, and the size of the effects was larger in the experimental group than in the control group, with statistically significant results. Conclusion: PNF upper and lower limb coordinated exercise applied to chronic stroke patients produced brought significant results in static and dynamic balance ability. PNF and is considered as an important intervention program to improve stroke patients' balance ability.