• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.73-84
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of 12 weeks-walking exercise with functional shoes on chronic low back pain. Methods : The subjects of this study were 18 females from thirty to sixty years old who had suffered from low back pain over 12 weeks. They wore S shoes with curved out-sole and soft material in arch of foot We asked them to walk wearing shoes for 1 hour a day over 4 days a week for 12 weeks. Improvement of the symptoms was evaluated by pain rating scale, Oswestry low-back pain disability index. We measured lumbar lordotic angle, Ferguson's angle, bone mineral density, body composition. The measurements were checked before and after exercise. Results : This study showed significant improvement in pain rating scale, oswestry low-back pain disability index, and body composition. And lumbar lordotic angle, Ferguson's angle and bone mineral density decreased. Conclusions : These results showed that walking exercise with functional shoes could decrease the symptoms of chronic low back pain. But, it's too difficult to conclude whether the efficacy was due to functional shoes or walking exercise because we didn't set the control group wearing general shoes.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.16-25
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• 2006

The aim of this study was to investigate the kinematics of young adults during descent ramp climbing at different inclinations. Twenty-three subjects descended four steps at four different inclinations (level, $-8^{\circ}$, $-16^{\circ}$, $-24^{\circ}$). The 3-D kinematics were measured by a camera-based Falcon System. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and the Student-Newman-Keuls test. The kinematics of descent ramp walking could be clearly distinguished from the kinematics of level walking. On a sagittal plane, the ankle joint was more plantar flexed at initial contact with $-16^{\circ}/-24^{\circ}$ inclination, was decreased in the toe off position with all inclinations (p<.001),and was decreased at maximum plantar flexion during the swing phase (p<.001). The knee joint was more flexed at initial contact with the $-24^{\circ}$ inclination (p<.001), was more flexed in the toe off position with all inclinations (p<.001), and was more flexed at minimum flexion during stance phase and at maximum flexion during swing phase with $-16^{\circ}$, $-24^{\circ}$ inclination (p<.001). The hip joint was more flexed in the toe off position with $-16^{\circ}$, $-24^{\circ}$ inclination and was deceased at maximum extension during stance phase with $-16^{\circ}$, $-24^{\circ}$ inclination (p<.05). In the frontal plane, the ankle joint was more everted at maximum eversion during stance phase with $-16^{\circ}/-24^{\circ}$ inclination (p<.01) and was decreased at maximum inversion during swing phase with $-16^{\circ}$, $-24^{\circ}$ inclination (p<.01). The knee joint was more increased at maximum varus during stance phase with $-16^{\circ}/-24^{\circ}$ inclination (p<.001). The hip joint was deceased at maximum adduction during stance phase with $-24^{\circ}$ inclination (p<.05). In a horizontal plane, only the knee joint was increased at maximum internal rotation during stance phase with $-24^{\circ}$ inclination (p<.05). In descent ramp walking, the different gait patterns occurred at an inclination of over $16^{\circ}$ on the descending ramp in the sagittal and frontal planes. These results suggest that there is a certain inclination angle or angular range where subjects do switch between level walking and descent ramp walking gait patterns.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.127-145
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• 1997

The purpose of this study wa9 to analyse the gait patterns of two female children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy by using the three-dimensional video motion analysis technique. Case 1 has mild spastic hemiplegia on the right side while Case 3 has moderate spastic hemiplegia on the left side. A group of 10, normal female children of the same age(7-8 years old) were selected as the control group for comparison. Time and distance variables as well as the Center of Mass displacement, and the pelvic and joint motions in three anatomical planes were analysed for this purpose. The following observations were made through the analysis : Case 1 revealed an asymmetrical gait pattern in which the step length of the unaffected side was shorter than that of the affected side, which wan a result of the effort to minimize loading on the affected leg by shortening the swing phase of the unaffected leg. Case 1 scored similar phase ratios, cadence and walking velocity to the normal group. A slight posterior tilt of the pelvis was observed throughout the gait cycle. Less hip and knee flexion than the normal group was observed, and demonstrated hyperextension of the knee in the terminal stance phase. The main problem in case 1 originated from the insufficient dorsiflexion of the affected foot during the swing phase. Therefore, Case 1 has difficulty with foot clearance in the swing phase. Usually, this is compensated for by using exessive hip abduction and medial rotation in conjuction with trunk elevation as well as increased vortical displacement of the center of mass. Case 1 revealed a foot-flat initial contact pattern. Case 2 was characterized by a consistent retraction ef the affected aide of the body througout the gait cycle, As a result, an asymmetrical gait pattern with increased stance phase ratios of the unaffected side was observed. In spite of this the step lengths of both sieds were similar. Case 2 scored lower cadence and walking speed than the normal group with lower gait stability. The main problem in Case 2 originated from an excessive plantaflexion of the affected foot which, in turn, rebutted in high hip and knee flexion. Hyperextension of the knee was observed at mid-stance, and execessive anterior tilt of the pelvis throughout the gait cycle was noticed. A gait pattern with high hip abduction and medial circumduction was maintained for the stability in the stance phase and foot clearance in the swing phase. Case 2 revealed a forefoot-contact initial contact pattern.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.99-105
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• 2018

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of craniocervical flexion exercise on deep cervical flexor thickness and gait in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. Methods : Twelve children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy were recruited for this study. All subjects performed active craniocervical flexion exercise 3times a week over the course of 6weeks. using a pressure bio feedback unit. Ultrasonography was used to assess deep cervical flexor thickness, and a 10m walking test was used to assess gait function. For the statistical analysis, a paired t-test was used to compare the differences pre- and post-value. SPSS Statistics version 20.0 was used for statistical analysis, and statistical significance was defined as a p-value less than 0.05. Result : The results of this study indicate that children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy experienced statistically significant positive changes in both deep cervical flexor thickness (p<.05). and gait(p<.05) following the intervention. Conclusion : In conclusion, craniocervical flexion exercise can positively affect deep cervical flexor thickness in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy, which in turn positively affects gait.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.127-138
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• 1998

This study was carried out tn invstigate and compare biomechanical characteristics during free speed gait in hemiplegic patients after stroke who took therapeutic exercise by analyzing kinematic and kinetic data in the sagital plane and electromyographic data. Six patients($41\~69$ years old) and age-matched six volunteers in good health(51-61 years old) wire studied. The patients were sorted into two groups, depending on their self-speed of walking : fast speed group(3 patients) and slow speed group(3 patients). The results were as fellows. : 1. In spatio-temparal parameters, affected and unaffected side of fast group showed symetry but blew group showed asymetry of single limb support, opposite foot contact and stance phase (p<0.05). Compared with normal group, patient group showed slower velocity, shoter stride length and longer double limb support (p<0.05). 2. In the pelvic anterior tilt, patient group showed lower valued than normal group. It. In the ground reaction force-vertical force, fast group showed similar double peak gragh compared with normal group, butvslow group showed lower values without double peak (p<0.05).

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.67-76
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• 1999

Going up and down the stairs is a repeated task in the activities of daily living. These activities are needed during the recovery process with impaired lower limbs. This paper presents the difference of EEI (energy expenditure index) through the slope of stairs. Twenty-one normal young adults took a part in this study (11 males, 10 females). They stepped up and down the stairs which had two different slopes for 5 minutes. Resting heart rate, walking heart rate, and moving distance were recorded. EEI was calculated from the heart rate and moving speed which was calculated by the distance of movement. Data were analyzed by repeated two-way ANOVA with SAS program and the difference of EEI through the slope of stairs was not statistically significant (p=0.9971). The results show that EEI was not affected by the slope of stairs in normal people. But distance of movement (p=0.0067) and speed (p=0.0064) had a significant difference.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2007

This study was designed to investigate the feasibility to utilize the electromyogram (EMG) for estimating the muscle torque. The muscle torque estimation plays an important role in functional electrical stimulation because electrical stimulation causes muscles to fatigue much faster than voluntary contraction, and the stimulation intensity should then be modified to keep the muscle torque within the desired range. We employed the neural network method which was trained using the major EMG parameters and the corresponding knee extensor torque measured and extracted during isometric contractions. The experimental results suggested that (1) our neural network algorithm and protocol was feasible to be adopted in a real-time feedback control of the stimulation intensity, (2) the training data needed to cover the entire range of the measured value, (3) different amplitudes and frequencies made little difference to the estimation quality, and (4) a single input to the neural network led to a better estimation rather than a combination of two or three. Since this study was done under a limited contraction condition, the results need more experiments under many different contraction conditions, such as during walking, for justification.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.7-12
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• 2011

Purpose : We studied the correlation between reference voluntary contraction (% RVC) of vastus lateralis (VL) and vastus medialis (VM), Berg balance scale (BBS), and timed-up & go (TUG) test. Methods : We recruited 30 stroke patients from a rehabilitation center at a hospital.? All subjects could walk with or without an assisting device. Subjects were evaluated with % RVC of VL and VM, BBS, and TUG. The data were analyzed using a Pearson correlation coefficient. Results : The % RVC of VL and VM and BBS (p<0.01) showed a significant positive correlation. TUG negatively correlated with % RVC of VL and VM and BBS (p<0.01). Conclusion : Lower extremity muscle activity increases balance and walking ability. We recommend the implementation of lower extremity strength exercises in the rehabilitation of stroke patient.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.135-146
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to report the effect of live leech(hirudo medicinalis) therapy with oriental medication on the patient with regional rheumatoid arthritis. The patient had resistant to DMARDs so she was in the debilitating condition and suffered from edema, pain, stiffness of joint and purpura before live leech(hirudo medicinalis) therapy. Methods : The regional rheumatoid arthritis patient had edema, pain, stiffness of joint and purpura on right foot. We treated the patient with live leech(hirudo medicinalis) therapy and oriental medicine. Results : The symptoms of regional rheumatoid arthritis was improved through live leech(hirudo medicinalis) therapy and oriental medicine. The patient maintains her condition with oriental medicine treatment after stopped all DMARDs such as MTX(methotrexate) and NSAIDs. After this treatment the patient's walking difficulty has been improved. Conclusions : This study shows that live leech(hirudo medicinalis) therapy and oriental medicine can elevate the regional rheumatoid arthritis patient's quality of life with continuous health care and treatment for major problem. For more accurate studies, further studies would be needed with more cases.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.1-7
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• 1996

Two standard methods of cane length measurements were compared to find which methods really achieve the elbow flexion of 20 degrees to 30 degrees Twenty-four patients with hemiplegia who were ambulatory participated in this study. Method I : Length of the cane measured from the floor to the top of the greater trochanter. Method II : Length of the cane measured from the floor to the distal wrist crease with the arm at the side. Using an adjustable cane, each individual was fitted according to the two methods, and elbow angle was measured after each adjustment. The elbow angle according to Method I and Method II was $46.4{\pm}20$, $44.3{\pm}12.2$, respectively. No significant difference was found in the elbow angle or the cane length between the two methods. Of the 24 participants, 5(20.8%) measured according to method I and 3(12.5%) measured according to method II showed the elbow angle between 20 degrees and 30 degrees. These low predictive rates of agreement between ideal cane length and actually achieved elbow angle showed that these two methods which have conventionally been accepted as a standard to measure ideal cane length need to be revised through further research.