Earticle

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of balance using ankle strategy during adjusted balance training and muscle training in normal young female adults. Methods: There were eighteen participants. All subjects were randomly assigned to three groups, the control group (n=6), the adjusted balance training group (n=6) and the muscle training group (n=6). Subjects were assessed for each subject by a pretest and a posttest at 1 week, 2 weeks, and 3 weeks, measuring the anterior-posterior limit of stability, trace length and EMG data for the tibialis anterior and lateral gastrocnemius. Results: The anterior-posterior limit of stability significantly increased in the training group (p<0.05). The trace length significantly decreased in the training group (p<0.05). The muscle activity of the tibialis anterior and lateral gastrocnemius also significantly decreased in the training group (p<0.05). Conclusion: We confirmed that both the balance training group and the muscle training group significantly increased the anterior-posterior limit of stability and decreased trace length and muscle activity. Further studies are needed to analyze the long-term effects on subjects resulting from these changes.

Purpose: The corticospinal tract (CST) is known to be an important pyramidal tract for walking and motor function. However, very little is known about the functional role of the CST in the recovery of motor function. In the current study, we investigated the relation between the CST and motor function in chronic hemiparetic stroke patients. Methods: Fifty-four patients and 20 normal subjects were recruited. The Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) was used in measurement of the walking ability. We classified patients into three groups according to the ability to walk independently: group A, patients who could not walk independently (FAC: 0-2); group B, patients who could walk independently (FAC: 3); and group C, patd walk functionally (stairs and uneven surfaces, FAC 4-5). The Motricity Index (MI) was used to measure the motor function of the affected upper and lower extremities (maximum score: 100). The fractional anisotropy (FA) value, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value, and fiber volume of the CST were used for the diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters. Results: In terms of the CST of the unaffected hemisphere, the FA value of group A was significantly lower than that of normal controls (p <0.05). The fiber volume of group C was significantly higher than that of normal controls (p <0.05). In contrast, the ADC values of all patient groups and the control group did not show any difference (p >0.05). In terms of lower MI and total MI, significant differences were observed between all patient groups (p <0.05). In addition, significant differences in terms of the upper MI scores were observed between groups A and C and between groups B and C (p <0.05); however, no significant difference was observed between groups A and B (p>0.05). Conclusion: The increased fiber volume of the CST in the unaffected hemisphere appears to be related to functional walking ability in chronic stroke patients. This result would be useful for elucidation of the neural recovery mechanism of walking and the investigation of new modalities for the recovery of walking following a stroke with CST injury.

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to see the effect of walking when training for chronic stroke patients, Affected side vision impairment induced gait training with rhythmic auditory stimulation in parallel. Methods: This study was the general walking training group, the training group was divided damage induced affected side view, affected side view damage induced by rhythm auditory stimulation training three groups. Intervention period was 4 weeks. 5 times per week, per 30 min entered arbitration. Affected Side vision impairment induced induction training was conducted by installing a red cones, rhythmic auditory stimulation was applied to a regular rhythm training using a smartphone application (Metronome). Paired t-test was performed to see the difference between each group and before the intervention. One-way ANOVA was used to find out the significance probability between each group. Statistical significance was set at 0.05 probability. Results: Regular walking group, rather than affected side vision guided walking group could see increases in the FGA and DGI (P<0.05). And vision impairment induced affected side view and rhythmic auditory stimulation induction training this group than in the combination group walking group obtained higher scores on the FGA, DGI score(P<0.05). Conclusion: If you want to enforce certain rhythmic auditory stimulation of the visual field and side damage induced during gait training for stroke patients will be able to expect a better effect.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of early ankle exercise with functional electrical stimulation(FES) on spasticity, strength and active range of motion of ankle in patients with stroke. Methods: This study included 21 patients with stroke, who were performed early ankle exercise combined FES. The exercise program comprised 5 sessions of 30 minutes per week for 4 weeks. The spasticity, strength and active range of motion of ankle were evaluated before and after training. The spasticity was measured by modified ashworth scale(MAS), strength of ankle was measured by hand-held dynamometer and active range of motion of ankle dorsi-flexion was measured by goniometer. All data were analyzed using SPSS 18.0. Results: Significant differences were observed the subjects for strength of ankle and active range of motion. The results of the study were as follow: strength of ankle was significantly increased subjects(p<.001) and active range of motion was significantly increased subjects(p<.001). Conclusion: Ankle is very important part of body in stroke patients. early ankle exercise with FES is effective for improvement of strength of ankle and active range of motion in patients with stroke. ealry ankle exercise with FES about stroke patient is very useful and effective. It is effective in clinical practice.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to show the effects of voluntary change of weight bearing on the vastus medialis oblique and the vastus lateralis ratio during squat exercise. Methods: Twenty-four healthy adults were recruited for this study. The subjects performed squat exercise with median weight bearing, lateral weight bearing and non-changed weight bearing. The muscle activities of the vastus medialis oblique and the vastus lateralis were measured during the squat for all three conditions. The measured data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA to investigate the effect of muscle activation on the each condition. The statistical analyses were performed using SPSS ver. 17.0, and a p-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant for all cases. A post-hoc test was performed using Tukey’s test. Results: The study showed that the vastus medialis oblique and the vastus lateralis ratio significantly changed according to the voluntary change of weight bearing during a squat. The vastus medialis oblique and the vastus lateralis ratio significantly decreased under the condition of voluntary lateral weight bearing. Conclusion: We suggest squat exercise on median weight bearing to increase the vastus medialis oblique and the vastus lateralis ratio. If your patient has.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of arm⋅leg flexion patterns of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation on the muscle activation of the contralateral lower extremity. Methods: In this study, Electromyogram MP150(Biopac system, USA) was applied to 20 healthy male subjects. Unilateral arm flexion- abduction- external rotation pattern and Unilateral leg flexion- adduction- external rotation with knee flexion pattern were applied within mid range of the supine position for measurement. The muscle activation of vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius(medialis) muscle of the contralateral lower extremity were compared and analyzed during the applications. Results: The results of this study were summarized as follows: There was a statistically significant difference in the muscle activation of vastus lateralis and biceps femoris between the arm and leg patterns(P<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in the muscle activation of gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior between the arm and leg patterns(P<0.05). Conclusion: contralateral vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscles show the higher muscle activation in the leg pattern than one in the arm pattern.

Purpose: The purpose of this current study is to compare the effectiveness of respiratory circulation function and tidal volume according to two different types of practice methods, in terms of breathing training program and abdominis muscle strengthening using a swiss ball. Methods: The subjects were consist 18 college students, were randomly and evenly assigned to either breathing training program group (BTG) or swiss-ball exercise group (SEG). Exercise program was applied for 60 minutes, 3 times a week, for 6 weeks. Before, after 3 weeks and after 6 weeks of exercises, the subjects were tested using the bruce protocol . The significance of differences between the BTG and the SEG was evaluated by analysis of two-way repeated measures ANOVA. Results: There was an increase in respiratory circulation function after both of exercise. Especially, there was significant difference between the before and after 6 weeks in the BTG. Also, change of respiratory circulation function in BTG was significantly greater than SEG. Tidal volume was no significant differences between the before and after 6 weeks in both groups. In addition, there was significant difference between BTG and SEG. Conclusion: These results suggest that direct breathing training program were more useful to improve of respiratory circulation function.

Purpose: The objective of this case report is to examine the impact of physical therapy using the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) concept for a patient with shoulder impingement syndrome. Methods: The patient is a 35-year-old female who has felt pain in the right shoulder for one month. The physical examination evaluated sensory integration, pain, joint integration and mobility, posture, reflex integration, range of motion, muscular strength, analysis of movement, and shoulder function. Comprehensive physical therapy was given to the patient, including stretching, mobilization, strengthening, posture correction, coordination improvement, daily activities, and sports exercises. The therapy was given 5 times a week for the first 5 weeks, then 3 times a week for the next 5 weeks. In all, the intervention lasted for 10 weeks. Results: The patient’s senses, posture, and muscular strength all improved to a normal level. The degree of pain fell from 3/10 to 0/10 for activities taking place below shoulder height, and from 8/10 to 1/10 for activities above the head. Additionally, joint integration, motility, range of motion, and movements also improved. The disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) for functional evaluation improved from 27.5 to 10.3. Conclusion: Physical therapy using the PNF concept is effective in improving the body structure, function, activity, and participation of patients with motor disorders of the shoulder impingement syndrome.