• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.139-144
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• 2013

Various types of disease in the nervous and musculoskeletal system can change gait, and the gait analysis is very important in determining the progression of the disease. Most methods of analyzing gait are subject to high-priced equipment and spatial restrictions. This study used smart phone images and the walking track analysis program to make a comparative analysis with the existing gait analysis on the basis of the stride length measurements and the changes in the knee joint angle for walking. The test necessary to analyze gait was conducted in seven healthy men, and data about the angle of right and left knee joints and stride length were used to analyze gait. The gait analysis in this study obtained the similar results to the existing ones. The use of the methods suggested in this study will enable gait analysis to be made without high-priced equipment and spatial restrictions.

• 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.4 no.1
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• pp.32-37
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• 2015

Objective: This study was conducted to test the effects of mobile texting and gaming on gait with obstructions under different illumination levels. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Twelve healthy adults aged 20 to 36 years (mean 23.5 years) were tested under six different conditions. All participants used touchscreen smartphones. Testing conditions included: 1) Walking with an obstruction under a bright illumination level; 2) walking with an obstruction with a low level of illumination; 3) walking with an obstruction while texting under a bright illumination level; 4) walking with an obstruction while texting with a low level of illumination; 5) walking with an obstruction while gaming under a bright illumination level; and 6) walking with an obstruction while gaming with a low level of illumination. All participants were asked to text the Korean national anthem by their own phone and play Temple Run 2 using an iPhone 5. Gait variances were measured over a distance of 3 m, and the mean value after three trials was used. A gait analyzer was used to measure the data. Results: Compared to normal gait with obstruction, gait speed, step length, stride length, step time, stride time, cadence while texting and gaming showed significant differences (p<0.05). Differences between the illumination levels included gait speed, step length, stride length, and step time (p<0.05) with no significant differences in stride time and cadence. Conclusions: Dual-tasking using a smartphone under low levels of illumination lowers the quality of gait with obstructions.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.221-228
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• 2016

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in gait parameters and symmetry between walking speed by using the Froude number and preferred walking speed. Method: Fifty adults (age: $21.0{\pm}1.7years$, body weight: $71.0{\pm}9.2kg$, height: $1.75{\pm}0.07m$, leg length: $0.89{\pm}0.05m$) participated in this study. Leg length-applied walking speed was calculated by using the Froude number, defined as Fr = ${\upsilon}^2$/gL, where v is the velocity, g is the gravitational acceleration, and L is the leg length. Video data were collected by using eight infrared cameras (Oqus 300, Qualysis, Sweden) and the Qualisys Track Manager software (Qualisys, Sweden), with a 200-Hz sampling frequency during two-speed walking (preferred walking speed [PS] and leg length-applied walking speed [LS]) on a treadmill (Instrumented Treadmill, Bertec, USA). The step length, stride length, support percentage, cadence, lower joint angle, range of motion (ROM), and symmetry index were then calculated by using the Matlab R2009a software. Results: Step and stride lengths were greater in LS than in PS (p < 0.05). The right single-support percentage was greater in LS than in PS (p < 0.05). The hip joint angle at heel contact and toe-off were greater in LS than in PS (p < 0.05). The hip and knee joint ROM were greater in LS than in PS (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Based on our findings, we suggest that increased walking speed had a significant effect on step length, stride length, support percentage, and lower joint ROM.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.309-314
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• 2016

Objective: There are no guidelines for choosing appropriate gait assistive devices. The aim of this study was to evaluate gait assistive devices in patients with Parkinson's disease. Method: We evaluated 15 individuals with Parkinson's disease who did or did not use one of two different devices including canes and two-wheeled walkers. Data were collected using the GAITRite system. Results: Participants in the group using canes and two-wheeled walkers had significantly increased double support time and decreased gait velocity, normalized gait velocity, and stride length compared with those who did not. Participants who used a two-wheeled walker had significantly decreased gait velocity, normalized gait velocity, and stride length compared with those who used a cane. Furthermore, participants who used a two-wheeled walker had significantly decreased coefficients of variation for step time, stride length, and swing time compared with those who used a cane. Conclusion: Our results indicated that the two-wheeled walker offered the most consistent advantages for decreasing the risk of falling.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.207-211
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• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an 8-week SMR, stretching, and band program on lower limb alignment (distance between the knees, Q angle) and gait (gait speed, stride length, impulse, and peak pressure) in female in their 20s who have genu varum. Method: The participants, female in their 20s who had genu varum, were randomly divided into the SMR, Stretching, and Band group (SSB, n=9), Stretching and Band group (SB, n=9), and Control Group (CG, n=9). Experimental group A (SSB) performed 3 50-minute sessions of the program per week for 8 weeks while the experimental group B (SB) performed stretching and band correctional exercise in 3 40-minute sessions per week for 8 weeks. The control group had no correctional exercise program. Results: Only the SSB group showed a significant increase in gait velocity and stride length in this study. The SSB and SB group showed a significant decrease of impulse on the forefoot after exercise program suggests that SMR and elastic band exercise had a positive effect on the distribution of foot pressure. Conclusion: We concluded that 8-week genu varum correctional exercise program had beneficial effects on the gait parameters (gait velocity, stride length, impulse, peak pressure) in 20s women with genu varum.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.69-74
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• 2014

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to compare the spatio-temporal gait parameters between paretic and non-paretic limb while stepping over the different obstacle's heights in subjects with stroke. METHODS: Nine subjects with stroke were participated in this study. Subjects were asked to step over obstacles with a different height. 8 camera motion analysis system(Motion Analysis Corporation, Santa Rosa, USA) was used to measure spatio-temporal parameters. The two way repeated measurement ANOVA was used to compare spati-temporal gait parameters between paretic and non-paretic limbs while stepping over a different obstacle's height(0cm, 10cm, 20cm). RESULTS: Step width, velocity, single supoort time, and double support time were not different among obstacle's height(p>0.05) but stride length, step length, and cadence were significantly different(p>0.05). In stride length, cadence, and double support time, the interactions between obstacle's heights and limbs were not different(p>0.05) but it was significantly different in velocity, step length, and single support time(p<0.05). Velocity, stride length, cadence, and double support times were not different between paretic limb and non-paretic limb(p>0.05) but step length and single support times were significantly different between paretic limb and non-paretic limb(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These results show that there are differences with spatio-temporal gait parameters among obstacle's heights and between paretic and non-paretic limb during obstacle crossing in subjects with stroke.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.45-64
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the pelvic tilting exercise, pelvic tilting exercises with floor walking training, pelvic tilting exercises with treadmill walking training on quantitative gait function in patients with hemiplegia. Thirty patients with hemiplegia due to cerebrovascular disease participated in this study. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of pelvic tilting exercise group, pelvic tilting exercise with floor walking training group and pelvic tilting exercises with treadmill walking training group. The effects of each therapeutic method were evaluated by measurements of gait velocity, cadence, stride length, step length, base of support and foot angle using ink-foot prints. Data were analyzed statistically using paired t-test and one-way ANOVA. The results of this research are as followings : 1. After treatment, it turned out that pelvic tilting exercises with treadmill walking training has the most effect on gait velocity, cadence, stride length, step length and foot angle, which has significant difference in statistics (p<0.05). 2. Quantification of the gait velocity, cadence, both stride length and step length demonstrated a significant increase (p<0.05) after treatment in all groups when compared with values measured before treatment. The base of support and foot angle in affected side decreased significantly (p<0.05) after treatment in all groups when compared with values measured before treatment. 3. The lumbosacral angle noted a significant increase (p<0.05) after treatment in all groups, however, an ANOVA analysis did not reveal any differences between groups.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.11-18
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• 2017

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of sciatic nerve mobilization techniques on straight leg raising (SLR) and walking ability in elderly women aged over 65. METHODS: Seventy women aged over 65 were examined using SLR test and forty women were selected as subjects. They were divided into Group I (under $70^{\circ}$ of SLR test of both legs, n=20) and Group II (over $70^{\circ}$ of SLR test of both legs, n=20). Nerve mobilization was applied to both groups (three times a week for 4 weeks). SLR angle was measured using digital goniometer and walking ability was measured by step length, stride length, velocity, double support, using GAITRite System. After 4 weeks, paired t-test was used to compare the changes of SLR test and walking ability within Group I and Group II. RESULTS: In Group I, SLR test, step length, stride length and gait velocity were significantly increased but double support was significantly difference. In Group II, SLR test, step length and stride length were significantly increased but gait velocity was not significantly increased and double support was significantly decreased. CONCLUSION: This study showed that sciatic nerve mobilization techniques had positive effects on the SLR angle and walking ability in elderly women.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.3610-3617
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• 2012

This study was to evaluate the effects of an action observation to improve on gait in stroke patients. Participants were randomly allocated to two groups: experimental (n=10) and control (n=10). Both groups were trained for 60 minutes, 6 times a week during 6 weeks by neuro-development treatment. Experimental group practiced additional action observation for 3 session 10 minutes per week 6 weeks. Both groups were evaluated by gait velocity, affected step length, non affected step length, affected stride length, non affected stride length, double support time, cadence, and timed up and go to test. There were significantly increased by action observation in outcomes of the gait performance from the gait velocity, affected side step length, affected side stride length, cadence, timed up and go test. In conclusion, the action observation improves gait performance in stroke patients. The results suggest that action observation training is feasible and suitable for individuals with hemiparesis patients.