• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.97-108
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• 2023

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of integrative Korean medicine treatment for patients who were diagnosed as acute fracture on pelvis. The patients were treated by Korean medicine as conservative management including acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, herbal medication and cupping for hospitalization periods. Numerical rating scale (NRS), EuroQol-5 dimensions (EQ-5D), Oswestry disability index (ODI), patient global impression of change (PGIC), self-walking distance and the changes of symptoms were measured to assess patients' improvement. NRS, ODI scores and EQ-5D definitely improved on 4 patients of 5 cases. NRS decreased from 6~7 to 3~5, ODI scores decreased from 62~75.11 to 40~52 and EQ-5D increased from 0.013~0.331 to 0.47~0.773. PGIC and self-walking distance were also enhanced after treatments. In conclusion, this study suggests that integrative Korean medicine could be effective treatment for acute pelvic fracture.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.16-25
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• 2011

This study aimed to evaluate factors related to the ability of ambulatory patients with cerebral palsy (CP) to walk over vertical and horizontal obstacles. Twenty patients with spastic CP who were able to walk independently for at least 10 m with or without walking devices were recruited for the study. Participants were required to walk over small obstacles (1, 4, and 8 cm in height or width; total of 6 conditions). A 'fail' was recorded when either the lower limbs or the walking device contacted the obstacle. Linear regression analyses were used to determine the effects of age, sex, walking devices, eyeglasses, subtype (hemiplegia or diplegia), ankle foot orthoses, functional level, and score of body mass index on the ability of obstacle crossing. Fifteen participants (75%) failed to adequately clear the foot or walking device over obstacles in at least 1 condition. The chance of failure in crossing vertical obstacle was affected by the use of ankle foot orthoses, eyeglasses, gender, and CP subtype (p<.05). The failure rate crossing horizontal obstacle was affected by CP subtype. These findings suggest that rehabilitation procedures should (1) consider the clinical characteristics of patients in order to prepare them to be more independent while performing daily activities, and (2) incorporate environmental conditions that patients encounter at home and in the community.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.55-64
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the strength and walking ability of chronic stroke patients following either proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) pattern training with pressure biofeedback units (feedback group) or PNF pattern training without pressure biofeedback units (control group). Methods: Eighteen participants with chronic stroke were recruited from a rehabilitation hospital. They were divided into two groups: a feedback group (n = 8) and a control group (n = 10). They all received 30 minutes of neurodevelopmental therapy and PNF training for 15 minutes five times a week for three weeks. Muscle strength and spatiotemporal gait parameters were measured. Muscle strength was measured by hand-held dynamometer; gait parameters were measured by the Biodex Gait trainer treadmill system. Results: After the training periods, the feedback group showed a significant improvement in hip abductor muscle strength, hip extensor muscle strength, step length of the unaffected limb, and step time of the affected limb (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern training with pressure biofeedback units was more effective in improving hip muscle strength and walking ability than the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern training without pressure biofeedback units. Therefore, to strengthen hip muscles and improve the walking ability of stroke patients, using pressure biofeedback units to improve trunk stability should be considered.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1-8
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• 2018

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to analyze the effects of carrying weight on the gait of elderly women using a walking-assistant vehicle (WAV) as the weight increased. METHODS: A total of 30 elderly women living in the local community were included as subjects and instructed to walk 50 m using a WAV loaded with sandbags corresponding to 0%, 5%, 10%, or 15% of their mean weight. The subjects' gait was analyzed using a gait analyzer to measure stride length, step length, step width, and gait time. RESULTS: Stride and step lengths were longest when carrying 5% of their weight and shortest when carrying 15% of their mean body weight. Step width and gait time were lowest when carrying weights corresponding to 5% and highest for 15% of their mean body weight. When observing gait with a WAV, the gait time was greatly affected by weights, with carrying weight equivalent to 5% of the body weight positively affected the gait with a WAV, whereas carrying weights of >15% resulted in slower gait speed. CONCLUSION: When walking with a WAV, an appropriate carrying weight of approximately 5% of the body weight stabilizes gait, while a weight of 15% leads decreased gait efficiency. Therefore, when using a WAV during outdoor activities, elderly women should add some weight to the WAV; however, the carrying weight should be <15% of the body weight.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.213-219
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• 2023

Purpose: In this study, based on the error augmentation, we performed walking training with increased rhythmic auditory stimulation speed on the affected side (IRAS) and walking training with decreased rhythmic auditory stimulation speed on the unaffected side (DRAS). The purpose of this study was to verify whether motor learning was effective in improving balance ability. Methods: Twenty-eight subjects with chronic stroke were recruited from a rehabilitation center. The subjects were divided into three groups: an IRAS group (10 subjects), a DRAS group (9 subjects), and control group (9 subjects). They received 30minutes of neuro-developmental therapy and walking training for 30minutes, five times a week for three weeks. Static and functional balance ability were measured before and after the training period. Static balance was measured by balancia software. Functional balance was measured by the timed up and go test (TUG) and the berg balance scale (BBS). Results: After the training periods, the IRAS group showed a significant improvement in TUG, BBS, area 95% COP, and weight distribution on the affected side when compared to both the DRAS group and control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it is possible to consider error augmentation methods of motor learning if rhythmic auditory stimulation is applied to stroke patients in clinical practice. If the affected side is shorter than the unaffected side, the affected side should be adjusted to the increased rhythmic auditory stimulation speed, which is considered to be an effective intervention to improve balance ability.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.489-498
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• 2018

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of walking exercise with blood flow restriction (BFR) on insulin resistance, adipokines and gut hormones in middle aged obese women. Eleven obese women (BMI > 25kg/m2; body fat > 30%) wore pneumatic pressure belts at both femurs and performed walking exercise consisting of walking for 2 min and resting for 1min twice per day, 3 days/wk for 4 weeks. Insulin significantly increased after exercise (p<0.05), while glucose increased slightly, but not significantly. Additionally, HOMA-IR decreased significantly after exercise (p<0.05), while adiponectin and visfatin increased, but not significantly. Finally, ghrelin (p<0.05) and GLP-1 (p<0.05) increased significantly after exercise. These results suggest that walking exercise with blood flow restriction for 4 weeks improves insulin resistance, adipokines, and gut hormones in obese middle-aged women. Therefore, high intensity walking exercise with blood flow restriction for short periods of time has more positive effects on prevention and treatment of obesity-related metabolic diseases.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.47-57
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• 2016

In this paper, we measured human body signals in order to verify a active harness system that we developed for gait and balance training. The experimental procedure was validated by tests with 20 healthy male subjects. They conducted motions of Activities of Daily Living(ADL)(Normal Walking, Stand-to-Sit, Sit-to-Stand, Stair Walking Up, and Stair Walking Down) according to body weight support rates (0%, 30%, 50% of subjects' body weight). The effectiveness of the active harness system is verified by using the results of foot pressure distribution. In normal walking, the decrease of fore-foot pressure, lateral soleus muscle and biceps femoris muscle were remarkable. The result of stand-to-sit results motion indicated that the rear-foot pressure and tibialis anterior muscle activities exceptionally decreased according to body weight support. The stair walking down show the marked drop of fore-foot pressure and rectus femoris muscle activities. The sit-to-stand and stair walking up activities were inadequate about the effect of body weight support because the velocity of body weight support system was slower than male's activity.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.934-939
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• 2011

This paper experimentally deals with the relationship between the ankle electromyogram(EMG) and walking motion in order to activate the ankle joint of a walking-assistance robot for rehabilitation. Based on the anatomical structure and motion pattern of an ankle joint, major muscles were selected for EMG measurements. Surface EMG signals were monitored for several human bodies at various stride distances and stride frequencies. Root-mean-squared magnitude of EMG signals were related with the walking conditions. It appeared that the magnitude of the ankle EMG signal was linearly proportional to the stride distance and stride frequency, and thus to the walking speed.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.2199-2205
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to find out the effects of depending on variations of speed in backward walking on lower extremities muscle. For this study, 30 members were randomly divided into three groups; groupI(n=10, forward walking: 5km/h), groupII(n=10, backward walking: 5km/h), groupIII(n=10, backward walking: 2.5km/h). This exercise was performed to 30 minutes 4 times a week for 4 weeks. This study was measured before the exercise and after 4 weeks. The result of this study are as follows. The muscle activity of rectus femoRIS was higher in backward walking group(p<.01) than in forward walking group and it was the highest at groupII(p<.001). The quadriceps muscle strength of thigh was higher in backward walking group(p<.01) than in forward walking group and it was the highest at groupII(p<.001). From these results, backward walking training was effective on muscle activity, strength of thigh muscle. Although fast speed backward walking was most effective, low speed backward walking that compare with forward walking was effective.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.1903-1906
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• 2019

Background: Foot drop is a common symptom after stroke and causes walking disorders. Therefore, its proper treatment is important for improving the walking ability of patients with foot drop. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of electrostimulation during walking on the walking ability of patients with foot drop after stroke. Design: Quasi-experial study. Methods: The study enrolled 18 patients with foot drop after stroke. All subjects were assigned to the experimental or control group. The experimental group underwent electric stimulation during walking, while the control group used ankle foot orthoses. Both groups received treatment 20 minutes a day 5 times a week for 4 weeks. Outcome measures were assessed for walking and balance ability using the 10-m walking test (10MWT), 6-min walking test (6MWT), and Timed Up and Go test (TUG) Results: After the intervention, both groups showed significant improvements in 6MWT and TUG results. However, the experimental group showed significantly better improvement on all tests than the control group. Conclusion: The foot drop stimulator effectively improved the walking and balance ability of patients with foot drop after stroke.