Earticle

Purpose : In this study, stroke patients’limits of stability and functional reach test and tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius muscle of lower extremity muscle activities to evaluate the correlation. Methods : 30 adult stroke patients to participate in this study. Limits of stability were measured using biorescue, tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius muscle of muscles activities were measured with functional reach test when there was movement. Results : Limits of stability and functional reach test (r=0.753, p<0.01), RMS value of the limits of stability and tibialis anterior muscle (r=0.706, p<0.01), RMS value of the limits of stability and gastrocnemius muscle (r=0.766, p<0.01), RMS value of the functional reach test and tibialis anterior muscle (r=0.835, p<0.01), RMS value of the functional reach test and gastrocnemius muscle (r=0.663, p<0.01), RMS value of the tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius muscle (r=0.816, p<0.01) correlations are shown as statistically significant. Conclusion : The balance and lower extremity muscle activities of stroke patients were studied, and were positively correlated with the RMS value of the limits of stability and functional reach test, tibialis anterior muscle, and gastrocnemius muscle. This study has shown that stroke patients’ankle joint muscle activity can greatly

Purpose : This study was conducted to examine the effects of unstable surface training and galvanic vestibular stimulation on balance and proprioception. Methods : 4-week training was applied to 40 normal adults in their twenties (unstable surface training group 10, galvanic vestibular stimulation group 10, unstable surface training and galvanic vestibular stimulation group 10, control group 10). Balance and proprioception was measured before the experiment, after two weeks, and after four weeks. Repeated ANOVA was used for balance and proprioception analysis. Results : As a result of repeated ANOVA on balance changes in double support, a significant difference was found in open sight in interaction among groups and periods (p<0.05). As a result of repeated ANOVA on balance changes in double support, there was a significant difference in closed sight and interaction among groups and periods (p<0.05). As a result of repeated ANOVA on balance changes in proprioception, there was no statistically significant difference in interaction among groups and periods. Conclusion : In conclusion, both unstable surface training and galvanic vestibular stimulation had positive effect on balance control and proprioception improvement, and their excellence was not greatly different. Thus, it is possible to use unstable surface training and galvanic vestibular stimulation for physical therapy intervention to improve balance and proprioception. Since the results showed that simultaneous application of two methods had greater effects on difference compared with a single application, it is suggested to use this intervention in the clinical field.

We investigated the effects of the combined use of FES and over ground walking with partial body?weight support (PBWS) on walking function and balance control in people with chronic strokes. Methods : Twenty-seven people who were ambulatory after chronic strokes were evaluated. The exercise's intervention consisted of the combined use of FES and over ground walking with PBWS and general exercise groups. The FES + PBWS group and general exercise group consisted on a-20-minute session per day, 3 times a week during a 4 week period. The evaluation was carried out before, after, and two weeks after the exercise intervention. Outcome measures were a 6 Minute Walk Test, 6-Meter walk Test, Timed Up and Go Test, and a Balance Test, measured before and after the exercise interventions at a-2 week follow up. Results : The endurance was significantly increased in both the FES+PBWS group and general exercise group (p＜0.05). Significant increase on the gait velocity was observed in both the FES+PBWS group and general exercise group (p ＜0.05). The TUG was significantly different in both the FES + PBWS group and general exercise group (p＜0.05). However there were no differences in both the between-group & interaction. The stability index was significantly different in both the FES + PBWS group and general exercise group (p＜ 0.05). Conclusion : In conclusion, the combined use of FES and over ground walking with PBWS led to an improvement in walking function and balance control. Thus, it is possible to combine the use of FES and over ground walking with PBWS for physical therapy intervention to improve walking function and balance control. It is suggested to apply this intervention in the clinical field.

Purpose : The objectives of this study were to examine changes in gait parameters related to the COP and gait velocity resulting from the use of ankle foot orthosis, and to provide information for the prescription of ankle foot orthosis and gait rehabilitation training. Methods : We sampled a control group of 14 normal children of the same age as the spastic diplegia (spastic diplegia used ankle foot orthosis) and measured their COP at barefoot gait and their gait parameters at three gait velocities. Change in the COP according to the use of ankle foot orthosis measured one-way ANOVA and Gait parameters according to gait velocity used repeated measures ANOVA. Results : As a result of analyzing change in the COP it became close to that of normal children, and changes in gait parameters such as step width, stride length and stride time also became close to those of normal children. Conclusion : In conclusion, when spastic diplegia used ankle foot orthosis, their balancing ability was improved as a result of decreased change in the COP, and their changes in gait parameters also became close to those of the control group. These results show that the use of ankle foot orthosis improves spastic diplegia gait functions.

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to establish intra-rater, inter-rater, test-retest reliability, and concurrent validity of figure-of-8 walk test in people with stroke. Methods : The subjects of this study were 17 patients who were diagnosed with a stroke. Subjects were tested twice by the same raters, with 1 day between tests. Subjects were assessed by two physical therapists. Test-retest reliability was calculated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). The concurrent validity was demonstrated by spearman correlation of F8WT with 10m walking test (10MWT), timed up and go test (TUG), Berg balance scale (BBS), dynamic gait index (DGI) and four square step test (FSST). Results : Intra-rater, inter-rater, test- retest of F8WT time, showed high reliability. Intra-rater, inter-rater, test-retest of F8WT steps demonstrated high reliability. Intra-rater, inter-rater, test-retest of F8WT total smoothness score showed below moderate reliability. There was a significant positive correlation of F8WT time with 10MWT, TUG, FSST. There was a significant negative correlation of F8WT time with DGI, BBS. There was a significant positive correlation of F8WT steps with 10MWT, TUG, FSST. There was a significant negative correlation of F8WT steps with DGI. There was a significant positive correlation of F8WT test total smoothness score with BBS. Conclusion : The time, and number of steps in F8WT show high inter, intra -rater, test-retest reliability. The F8WT smoothness shows below moderate reliability. The F8WT shows high concurrent validity with other comparable balance, and walking tests. The F8WT is a valid and reliable measure for assessing walking function in patients with a stroke.

Purpose : This study purposed to analyze how dynamic stabilization exercise on an unstable surface, and static stabilization exercise on muscle strength and endurance. Methods : For this study we sampled 9 people for the unstable surface dynamic stabilization exercise group, 9 for the stable surface static stabilization exercise group, and 9 for the control group. In order to examine muscle strength and endurance, we measured changes in the maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) using a dynamometer before, 3 weeks after, and 6 weeks after the experiment. Results : First, with regard to change in muscle strength, flexion strength showed a significant change in interaction by time (p<0.05). Extension strength showed a significant change in interaction by time (p<0.05). Second, with regard to change in endurance, flexion endurance showed a significant change in interaction by time (p<0.05). Extension endurance showed a significant change in interaction by time (p<0.05). Conclusion : In conclusion, this study confirmed significant changes in interaction between the groups and by time with regard to changes in muscle strength and endurance. These results suggest the potential of surface dynamic stabilization exercise as a clinical intervention.

Purpose : This study is carried out to investigate the effect of asymmetric exercises on soccer players’vertebral abnormality and weight bearing. Methods : A total of 40 soccer players were divided into either a group of 20 players who use a unilateral foot or a group of 20 players who use both feet. 3-dimensional spine structure analyzer was used to analyze body inclination, pelvic inclination, pelvic torsion, turning of spinal segment, spinal curvature, thoracic kyphosis curvature, lumbar lordosis curvature, left/right weight distribution, and front/back weight distribution. Results : The result of the two groups showed that there were significant differences (p<0.05) for every item except turning of spinal segment and lumbar lordosis curvature. Conclusion : From this result, we can find that spinal and pelvic deformity and body weight are unilaterally supported for soccer players with asymmetric exercises.