• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.33 no.5
• /
• pp.570-579
• /
• 2003

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to exam the effects of a short-term pulmonary program on lung function, exercise tolerance, and quality of life in chronic lung patients. Method: Randomized controlled pre-post test design was used. The outcome measures were forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1, % predicted), 6 min walking distance (6MWD), Borg score after 6MWD, and Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire (CRDQ). Experimental group performed the 4-week home-based pulmonary rehabilitation program composed of inspiratory muscle training, upper and lower extremity exercise, relaxation, and telephone visit. Patients in control group were only given education about self-management strategies. Thirty four patients with moderate-to-severe respiratory impairment were recruited, and 28 patients (19 in experiments, 15 in control) completed the study. Result: Significant improvements in lung function, exercise tolerance, and health related quality of life were found only in the experiment group. Conclusion: This study yielded evidence for the potential and beneficial effects of home-based pulmonary rehabilitation program in patients with moderate to severe chronic lung disease. The program could be adequately utilized for improvement of health related quality of life in chronic lung patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.126-132
• /
• 2009

This study examined the differences in spatio-temporal parameters, joint angle, ground reaction force (GRF), and joint power according to the changes of gait speed for trans-tibial amputees to investigate the features of the energy-storing foot for sports. The subjects walked at normal speed and at fast speed, wearing a single-axis type foot (Korec) and an energy-storing foot for sports (Renegade) respectively. The results showed that Renegade yielded faster gait speed as well as more symmetric gait pattern, compared to Korec. However, as gait speed was increased, there was no significant difference in kinematics, ground reaction force, and joint power between two artificial foots. This was similar to the results from previous studies regarding the energy-storing foot, where the walking velocity and gait symmetry have been improved. Nevertheless, the result of this study differed from the previous ones which reported that joint angle, joint power, and GRF increased as the gait speed increased except spatio-temporal parameters.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.1-13
• /
• 2003

The purpose of the study was to determine if there was a difference in the Functional Ambulation Performance score of senior adults with or without a history of falls during walking at a preferred velocity. Twelve subjects with a history of falling (mean age=73.8) and eight subjects with no history of falling (mean age=70.4) participated in the study. Temporal and spatial parameters of gait were analyzed using the computerized GAITRite system. The GAITRite system integrates specific components of locomotion to provide a single, numerical representation of gait, the Functional Ambulation Performance score. The Functional Ambulation Performance score is a Quantitative means of assessing gait based on specific temporal and spatial parameters. Statistical analysis of the two groups demonstrated a significant decrease in Functional Ambulation Performance score for those with a history of falls. They had lower values for step/extremity ratios, mean normalized velocity, and greater values for step times, percent in double support. These results indicate that the GAITRite system can be useful in detecting footfall patterns and selected time and distance measurements of persons with a history of falls and the Functional Ambulation Performance score can be used as indicators of gait performance for senior adults with a history of falls.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.124-127
• /
• 2015

Purpose: The emphasis on gait rehabilitation after stroke depends on training support through the lower limbs, balance of body mass over the changing base of support. However, muscle weakness, lack of control of lower limb, and poor balance can interfere with training after stroke. For this case study report, a wearable robot orthosis was applied to stroke patients in order to verify its actual applicability on balance and gait ability in the clinical field. Methods: Two stroke patients participated in the training using the wearable robot orthosis. Wearable robot orthosis provides patient-initiated active assistance contraction during training. Training includes weight shift training, standing up and sitting down, ground walking, and stair up and down Training was applied a total of 20 times, five times a week for 4 weeks, for 30 minutes a day. Gait ability was determined by Stance phase symmetry profile, Swing phase symmetry profile, and velocity using the GAITRite system. Balance ability was measured using the Biodex balance system. Results: Subjects 1, 2 showed improved gait and balance ability with mean individual improvement of 72.4% for velocity, 19.4% for stance phase symmetry profile, 9.6% for swing phase symmetry profile, and 13.6% for balance ability. Conclusion: Training utilizing a wearable robot orthosis can be useful for improvement of the gait and balance ability of stroke patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.41-47
• /
• 2008

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of gait training with the use of an electromechanical gait trainer with functional electrical stimulation (FES) for patients that had undergone subacute stroke. Methods: The study subjects included nine subacute stroke patients of the Korea National Rehabilitation Center in Seoul, Korea. Outcome was measured using the timed Up and Go test, Fugl-Meyer-L/E assesment, with determination of the comfortable maximal gait speed, composite spasticity score, functional ambulatory category and Berg balance scale. All measured scores were recorded before, during, and after rehabilitation and at an eight-week follow-up. Results: Patients who received electromechanical-assisted gait training in combination with FES after subacute stroke were more likely to achieve independent walking, functional activities, balance and gait speed. Conclusion: The outcome of our gait-training program demonstrates that it may be practical to integrate FES into electromechanical gait training without any adverse effects. However, further randomized controlled studies are needed to evaluate if patient outcome after combined training is superior to outcome after the use of electromechanical gait trainer treatment alone or conventional gait training alone.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.135-142
• /
• 2019

The objective of this study is to propose Korean Medicine treatment for recurrent limb weakness after Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) improvement by intraveinous immunoglobulin, and to report its effectiveness. Manual muscle test (MMT), Korean modified Bathel index (K-MBI), and tendon reflex were used to evaluate the patient. The patient was improved hip joint, knee joint, ankle joint MMT from grade 3-/3- to grade 5/5 and in the upper limb the patient can do big joint exercise but cannot do micromovement like writing or using cell phone. When discharge date the patient's wrist joint MMT grade is improved grade 5-/5- to grade 5/5. The K-MBI score is improved from 71 to 86 and there was a big change in walking and chair/bed transfer, there was no change in tendon reflex. This study suggests that Korean Medicine can be effective for patients who have recurrent limb weakness after GBS improvement.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.75-86
• /
• 2024

A review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using electroacupuncture (EA) to treat patients with foot drop was performed to analyze the effectiveness of EA for this condition. Relevant studies (n = 183) from 7 databases (Cochrane Library, Excerpta Medica Database, PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Korean Studies Information Service System, Research Information Sharing Service, and Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System) were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and 12 RCTs met the selection criteria. In all 12 studies, EA showed significantly positive changes. In most indicators, positive changes were observed in the EA group compared with that in the control group. Significant increases were confirmed in muscle strength-related indicators such as the Fugl-Meyer motor scale, surface electromyography, active range of motion, and gait-related indicators such as the Tinetti score, maximum walking speed, and Berg balance scale. No notable adverse events were reported. EA is suggested as an effective treatment for post-stroke foot drop; however, more RCTs are required.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2003.10a
• /
• pp.2660-2664
• /
• 2003

In this study, the concept of autonomous mobility is applied to a medical service robot. The aim of the development of the service robot is for the elderly assisting walking rehabilitation. This study aims that the service robot design parameter is proposed in ergonomic view. The walking assistant path pattern is derived from analyzing the elderly gait analysis. A lever is installed in the AMR in order to measure the pulling force and the leading force of the elderly. A lever mechanism is applied for walking assistant service of the AMR. This lever is designed for measuring the leading force of the elderly. The elderly adjusts the velocity of the robot by applying force to the lever. The action scope and the service mechanism of the robot are developed for considering and analyzing the elderly action patterns. The ergonomic design parameters, that is, dimensions, action scope and working space are determined based on the elderly moving scope. The gait information is acquired by measuring the guide lever force by load cells and working pattern by the electromyography signal.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
• /
• v.9 no.3
• /
• pp.133-139
• /
• 2014

This paper proposes a wearable and motorized crutch control system for the patients using the conventional crutches. The conventional crutches have a few disadvantages such as the inconvenience caused by the direct contact between the ground and the armpit of the patients, and unstable gait patterns. In order to resolve these problems, the motorized crutch is designed as a wearable type on an injured lower limb. In other words, the crutch makes the lower limb to be moved forward while supporting the body weight, protecting the lower limb with frames, and rotating a roller equipped on the bottom of the frames. Also the crutch is controlled using the electromyography and two force sensing resistor (FSR) sensors. The electromyography is used to extract the walking intention from the patient and the FSR sensors to classify the stance and swing phases while walking. As a result, the developed crutch makes the patients walk enabling both hands to be free, as if normal people do.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
• /
• v.14 no.5
• /
• pp.610-616
• /
• 2004

In the research of biomechanical engineering, robotics and neurophysiology, to clarify the mechanism of human bipedal walking is of major interest. It serves as a basis of developing several applications such as rehabilitation tools and humanoid robots. Nevertheless, because of complexity of the neuronal system that interacts with the body dynamics system to make walking movements, much is left unknown about the details of locomotion mechanism. Researchers were looking for the optimal model of the neuronal system by trials and errors. In this paper, we applied Genetic Programming to induce the model of the nervous system automatically and showed its effectiveness by simulating a human bipedal walking with the obtained model.