• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.147-157
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• 2023

Purpose : Stroke patients exhibit considerable variations in gait patterns. Stroke patients generally show abnormal muscle tone and gait. This study was performed to evaluate the effects of treadmill gait training combined with muscle tone control technique (TM) on gait ability in patient with chronic stroke. Methods : A single-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted with 36 patient with chronic stroke. They were randomly allocated 2 groups; treadmill gait training combined with muscle tone control technique group (TM group; n=18) and conservative treatment group (CG group; n=18). The TM group received 15 minutes muscle tone control technique and 15 minute treadmill gait training. In the conservative treatment group received 30 minutes conservative physical therapy. Each group performed 30 minutes a day 3 times a week for 8 weeks. The primary outcome gait ability were measured by gait measurement system (Optogait, Microgate, Italy) and 10 m walking test (10MWT). An independent t-test was used to statistically analyze the pre-test and pos-ttest gait ability results. Results : Both groups demonstrated significant improvement of outcome in gait ability during intervention period. TM group showed significant differences in gait ability as compared to the CG groups (p<.05). TM group showed significant differences in 10MWT as compared to the CG groups (p<.05). Our results showed that TM was more effective on gait ability in patients with chronic stroke. Conclusion : Our findings of this study confirmed that the treadmill gait training combined with muscle tone control technique provided significant improvements on gait ability in patient with chronic stroke. Therefore treadmill gait training combined with muscle tone control technique may positive influenced gait ability. This study will be able to be used as an intervention data for recovering gait ability in patients with chronic stroke.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.40-48
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• 2013

■ Objectives This study was designed to investigate the effects of an ankle foot orthosis(AFO) on gait of two hemiparetic stroke patients with foot drop. ■ Methods Gait of two hemiparetic stroke patients were analyzed during walking on the treadmill without or with AFO application. The spatiotemporal and center of pressure(CoP) intersection parameters of gait analysis were measured using a treadmill gait analysis system. ■ Results The AFO had positive effects on hemiparetic gait parameters; increasing cadence, increasing step length, decreasing step time, stride time, and lateral symmetry. ■ Conclusion Hemiparetic gait was improved by ankle foot orthosis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.41-48
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• 2023

PURPOSE: Falls are caused by a decline in physical and cognitive function. A quantitative evaluation tool that can comprehensively evaluate motor and cognitive functions for elderly people with an impaired physical function. This study assessed the clinical application potential by confirming the correlation between the physical function tests, cognitive and the stepping trail-making test (S-TMT). METHODS: Fourteen community-dwelling older patients (65-75 years) were recruited. The study conducted cognitive function tests with the trail-making test (TMT-A, B), and physical function tests (6-minute walking test (6MWT), short physical performance battery (SPPB), and timed up and go (TUG)). The results of were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0. Descriptive statistics were used for the general characteristics of the study subjects, and the correlations between S-TMT, other functional tests were examined through Pearson's correlation analysis. The statistical significance was set to .05. RESULTS: S-TMT had a significant positive correlation with the TUG (r = .588^*) and trail-making test-B (TMT-B) (r = .689^*, p < .05). Furthermore, S-TMT showed a negative correlation between SPPB (r = -.397) and 6MWT (r = -.422), but it was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: S-TMT is a cognitive-gait dual-task performance evaluation tool that can be performed safely. A significant correlation was confirmed between the TUG test and the TMT-B. S-TMT is a dual-task screening tool that can evaluate both physical and cognitive functions simultaneously.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.91-99
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• 2022

Purpose : The goal of this study is to examine the effect of robot assisted gait training (RAGT) on the kinematic factors (temporospatial gait parameters, gait cycle ratio, and gait line length) of gait in stroke patients. Methods : The subjects of this study were 24 stroke patients selected by inclusion criteria. Participants were randomly allocated to two groups: robot assisted gait training (n=11) and general neurological physical therapy group (n=11). In the robot-assisted gait training group, robot-assisted gait training was mediated for 30 minutes a day in addition to general neurological physical therapy. The general neurological physical therapy group was mediated by general neurological physical therapy for 30 minutes a day in addition to general neurological physical therapy. The number of interventions was 5 times a week for 5 weeks. In order to compare the kinematic factors of walking between the two groups, gait analysis was performed before and after 5 weeks of training using the Zebris gait analysis system. Results : As a result of the gait analysis of the two groups, there were significant differences in temporospatial gait variables (step length, stride length, step width, step time, stride time), gait cycle ratio (swing phase, stance phase) and gait line length. However, there was no significant difference in the cadence (temporospatial gait parameters) in the robot assisted gait training group compared to general neurological physical therapy group. Conclusion : It is considered to be a useful treatment for stroke patients to promote the recovery of gait function in stroke patients. Based on the results of this study, continuous robot assisted gait training treatment is considered to have a positive effect on gait ability, the goal of stroke rehabilitation. In the future, additional studies should be conducted on many subjects of stroke patients, the kinematic factors of the legs according to the severity of stroke and treatment period, and the effect of gait training.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.62-72
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• 2023

Objective: Although balance training has been used as an effective ankle injury rehabilitation program to restore neuromuscular deficits in patients with chronic ankle instability, it is not effectively used in terms of motor learning. Attentional focusing can be an effective method for improving ankle kinematics to prevent recurrent ankle injuries. This study aimed to 1) evaluate the effects of attentional focus, including internal and external focus, and 2) determine a more effective focusing method for patients with chronic ankle instability to learn balance tasks. Method: Twenty-four patients with chronic ankle instability were randomly assigned to three groups (external focus, internal focus, and no feedback) and underwent four weeks of progressive balance training. The three-dimensional ankle kinematics of each patient were measured before and after training as the main outcomes. Ensemble curve analysis, discrete point analysis, and post hoc pairwise comparisons were performed to identify interactions between groups and time. Results: The results showed that (1) the external focus group was more dorsiflexed and everted than the internal focus group; (2) the external focus group was more dorsiflexed than the no feedback group; and (3) the no feedback group was more dorsiflexed than the internal focus group. Conclusion: Because dorsiflexion and eversion are ankle motions that oppose the mechanism of lateral ankle sprain, using the external focus method during balance training may be more effective in modifying these motions, thereby reducing the risk of ankle sprain.

• Hip & pelvis
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.253-258
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• 2023

Purpose: To figure out how complete control of family visits to prevent infection of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affected the activity recovery of hip fracture patients admitted to nursing hospitals. Materials and Methods: Eighty-one patients with hip surgery in the two years prior to COVID-19 pandemic were classified as Group A, and 103 patients in the next two years were designated as Group B. The subjects' walking ability was evaluated by using the modified Koval index (MKI). In order to analyze the impact of the family visit control to the subjects, each group was classified into two different groups: (1) inpatients group who admitted to nursing hospitals and (2) home-treated patients. Additionally, statistical elements were processed in consideration of other factors that may affect the results of the experiment. Results: The MKI evaluated at 6 months postoperative was 3.31±1.79 in Group A and 2.77±1.91 in Group B, and it was meaningfully low after the pandemic (P=0.04). There was significantly low among both of Group A 2.74±1.76 and Group B 1.93±1.81 after the pandemic (P=0.03) among those treated at the nursing hospital. The rate of deterioration of the MKI was 35 (43.2%) in Group A and 57 (55.3%) in Group B, which increased by 12.1% after the pandemic. Conclusion: The pandemic had a negative effect on the recovery of postoperative activities of elderly hip fracture patients who admitted to nursing hospitals when family access was completely restricted to prevent infection.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.41-51
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• 2024

Background: The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of home-based exercise program in elderly with chronic diseases on balance, activities of daily living, depression and quality of life. Design: One group pretest-posttest design Methods: The subjects consisted of 21 elderly people over the age of 65 years with chronic diseases lived in seo-gu, Gwangju. Home-based exercise program was performed twice a week, for an hour, during 6 weeks under supervision of an experienced instructor. The home-based exercise program was structured to last a total of 1 hour, consisting of 10 minutes of warm-up, 30 minutes of main exercises, and 20 minutes of concluding exercises. For the warm-up, we performed range of motion, stretching, and flexibility exercises. The main exercises comprised of strength, weight-bearing and balance exercises, and endurance exercises. The concluding exercises were tailored to the individual's home environment and needs, including task-oriented daily living training such as getting up from bed, moving to the restroom, and walking indoors. The subjects were assessed before and after the exercise program with berg balance scale(BBS), Korean-version modified barthel index(K-MBI), euro quality of life questionnaire 5-dimensional classification(EQ-5D), and geriatric depression scale short form-Korea(GDSSF-K). The collected data was analyzed using SPSS Win 18.0 program. Results: The results showed statistically significant difference in all domains of the BBS, K-MBI, EQ-5D, GDSSF-K after the exercise program. Conclusion: These results suggest that Home-based exercise program has resulted in a significant improvement on ADL, depression and quality of life in elderly with chronic diseases.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea CI
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.38-46
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• 2011

3D motion analysis system which is currently widely used for walking analysis has limitations due to both necessity of wide space for many cameras for measurement, high cost, and complicated preparation procedure, which results in low accessability in use and application for clinical diagnosis. To resolve this problem, we developed 3-dimensional wireless ambulatory measurement system based on inertial sensor which can be easily applicable for clinical diagnosis for lower extremity deformity and developed system was evaluated by applying for 10 elderly people with diabetes mellitus. Developed system was composed of wireless ambulatory measurement module that consists of inertial measurement unit (IMU) which measures the gait characteristics, microcontroller which collects and precesses the inertial data, bluetooth device which transfers the measured data to PC and Window's application for storing and processing and analyzing received data. This system will utilize not only to measure lower extremity (foot) problem conveniently in clinical medicine but also to analyze 3D motion of human in other areas as sports science, rehabilitation.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.7-25
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• 2020

Objective : The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of dual-task training on stroke patients. Methods : We searched the databases such as NDSL, RISS, PubMed, CoChrane and EMBASE for publications in the past decade. Finally, 10 papers were selected. Qualitative assessment was performed according to the traditional single-layer evidence model, and meta-analysis was performed using the Comprehensive Meta Analysis 3.0 program. Results : The quality level of each of the 10 selected papers all correspond to I and II in the traditional single-layer evidence model. The motor tasks that constitute dual-task training comprised walking or balancing tasks in 7 articles and the motor tasks related to upper extremity were selected in 3 studies. The effect sizes for ADL function and Cognitive function were 0.65 and 0.64 (medium size effect) respectively. Moreover, the effect sizes of Lower extremity and Upper extremity motor function were 0.34 and 0.22 (small size effect) respectively. The effect size of ADL function and Cognitive function were statistically significant p<0.05). Conclusion : This study confirmed that dual-ask training can be a useful intervention technique for recovering a stroke patient's ability to perform daily activities and cognitive functions. This could be used as a helpful data when selecting appropriate intervention for stroke patients in the clinical setting.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.11 no.9
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• pp.3353-3357
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of visual rhythmic stimulation in gait ability and proprioception in chronic stroke patients. Twenty-one persons after six months post stroke participated in pre and post test control. The subjects were randomly assigned to a rhythmic visual stimulation(RVS) group (n=10) and control group (n=11). Training process was practiced with exercise on thirty minutes a day, three days a week for four weeks. To find out the effect, inspected the proprioception test and gait characteristics by gait analysis. In gait characteristics, the walking speed, cadence and the TUG time were significantly different from RVS group. The proprioception were significantly different RVS and control group. This study showed that the RVS training increased better functional activity by postural adjustment and gait learning of chronic stroke patients than that of control group. And so, the RVS training of hemiplegic patients was very important to successive rehabilitation. A continuous examination of RVS training could be practical use of physical therapy with exercise.