PURPOSE: The prefrontal lobe, supplementary motor area, cerebellum, and basal ganglia are activated during gait. In addition, gait is controlled by nerves, such as the corticospinal tract (CST) and corticoreticular pathway (CRP). In this study, the presence of an injury to the CST and CRP was identified by diffusion tensor imaging and the characteristics of the gait pattern were investigated according to inferior cerebral artery infarction. METHODS: One patient and six control subjects of a similar age participated. A 69-year-old female patient had an injury to the left basal ganglia, insular gyrus, corona radiata, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and postcentral gyrus due to an inferior cerebral artery infarction. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data was acquired 4 weeks after the stroke. The kinematic and spatio-temporal parameters of gait were collected using a three-dimensional gait analysis system. RESULTS: On 4 weeks DTI, the CST and CRP in the affected hemisphere did not show injury to the affected and unaffected hemisphere. Gait analysis showed that the cadence of spatio-temporal parameter was decreased significantly in the patient. The angle of the knee joint was decreased significantly in the affected and unaffected sides compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: The results of diffusion tensor imaging showed that although the patient was evaluated to be capable of an independent gait, the quality and quantity of gait might be reduced. This study could help better understand the gait ability analysis of stroke patients and the abnormal gait pattern of patients with a brain injury.
Aged ; Basal Ganglia ; Brain Injuries ; Cerebellum ; Cerebral Arteries ; Diffusion Tensor Imaging ; Female ; Gait* ; Humans ; Infarction ; Knee Joint ; Motor Cortex ; Prefrontal Cortex ; Pyramidal Tracts* ; Somatosensory Cortex ; Stroke*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare to aquatic treadmill and anti-gravity treadmill gait training to improve balance and gait abilities in stroke patients. METHODS: All subjects were randomly divided into three groups where nine subjects were in the aquatic treadmill group, eight subjects in the anti-gravity treadmill group, and ten subjects in the control group. Subjects in the aquatic treadmill group and the anti-gravity treadmill group received gait training during 30 minutes, with 3 sessions per week for 4 weeks, and subjects in all groups received conventional physical therapy during 30 minutes, with 5 sessions per week for 4 weeks. All subjects were assessed with the Berg balance scale (BBS), timed up and go test (TUG) and 10-meter walk test (10MWT) pre and post intervention. RESULTS: Results showed that BBS, TUG and 10MWT scores significantly improved post-intervention (p < 0.05), and the control group also had significantly improved in all areas pre-post intervention (p < 0.05). In addition, it has been confirmed that aquatic treadmill group and anti-gravity treadmill group had significantly improved in BBS, TUG and 10MWT scores compared with the control group (p < 0.05). However, no significant difference was found in the comparison between the aquatic treadmill and the anti-gravity treadmill group. CONCLUSION: Finding of this study suggested that aquatic treadmill and anti-gravity treadmill improves balance and gait abilities in stroke patients.
Gait* ; Humans ; Rehabilitation ; Stroke*

PURPOSE: The purpose of the current study was to examine the effects of exercise-induced fatigue of the plantar flexor muscle in the dominant ankle on the plantar flexor strength and postural control function of the contra-lateral side. METHODS: Twenty-one young adults (male: 10, female: 11) volunteered to participate in this study. An exercise-induced fatigue protocol to induce fatigue was performed in the plantar flexor of the dominant ankle. For the fatigue protocol, the participants were instructed to raise their heels as high as possible in the position with one leg stance of the dominant lower limb, and the heel was then downed after holding for 1 second. The muscle strength of the contra-lateral plantar flexor was measured using a digital muscle strength test device, and the static and dynamic postural control were tested by acquiring the center of gravity velocity while performing one leg standing. A paired t-test was used to identify the differences between the pre- and post, and the data were analyzed using SPSS 12.0 software. RESULTS: Comparison of the pre- and post-test data revealed a significant difference in the plantar flexor strength and dynamic postural control after exercise-induced muscle fatigue in the dominant side. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in the static postural control. CONCLUSION: These findings have practical implications, suggesting that unilateral muscle fatigue affects the ankle muscle strength and postural ability of the contralateral side.
Ankle ; Fatigue* ; Female ; Gravitation ; Hand ; Heel ; Humans ; Leg ; Lower Extremity ; Muscle Fatigue ; Muscle Strength ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the effects of respiratory muscle training on respiratory function, balance, and activities of daily living (ADL) in patients with stroke. METHODS: The study included 21 patients with stroke, divided into the experimental group and control group. Both groups underwent traditional physical therapy once a day for 30 minutes, five times weekly for 6 weeks. The experimental group underwent additional respiratory muscle training once a day, five times a week during the study period. Maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximal expiratory pressure (MEP), Berg balance scale (BBS), and Korean-modified Barthel index (K-MBI) were measured before and after the study period. For statistical analysis, paired t-test was used to compare the difference between the pre and post values. Independent t-test was used compare the differences between groups. RESULTS: Both groups had significantly improved MIP, MEP, BBS, and K-MBI scores after the study period. The experimental group had significantly improved MIP, MEP, BBS, and K-MBI scores. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that respiratory muscle training improves respiratory function, balance, and ADL in patients with stroke.
Activities of Daily Living* ; Breathing Exercises* ; Humans ; Respiratory Muscles* ; Stroke*

PURPOSE: Most studies have reported pain in the head-neck and upper-limbs according to smartphone usage, which is related to the proprioception sense in the head and neck, but there have been few studies. Therefore, the aim of this study was identify the adverse effects of the proprioceptive sense in the head-neck according to smartphone usage. METHODS: Twenty-seven young adults (male: 9, female: 18) were enrolled in this study. The proprioceptive sense was measured through the joint reposition sense error and neural positon error in the head-neck during smartphone usage for 0, 5, and 20 minutes. The Noraxon MyoMotion system was used to record the joint position angle and neutral positon in the head-neck. One-way repeated ANOVA was used to identify the differences between the three smartphone use durations and the least-squares difference was used as a post hoc test. The data were analyzed using SPSS 18.0 software. RESULTS: The joint reposition sense error and neural positon error in the head-neck were significantly different among the 0, 5, and 20 minutes of smartphone usage (p < 0.05). In the post hoc test, the joint reposition sense error and neural positon error showed a significant difference between smartphone use for 0 minute and 5 minute, and between smartphone use for 0 minute and 20 minutes. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that smartphone use within 5 minutes can have adverse effects on the proprioceptive sense. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the appropriate use time and break time when using smart phones.
Female ; Head ; Humans ; Joints ; Neck ; Proprioception ; Smartphone* ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: To find the effect of visual feedback of head angle with using a mobile posture-aware system on craniocervical angle and neck and shoulder muscles fatigue for preventing or decreasing the forward head posture. METHODS: Twenty-four healthy young adults in Chungbuk to participate in this study. The subjects started to watch a movie clip for 10 minutes with visual feedback in 0°, 30°, and 60° of head angles. During the task, surface electromyography (EMG) was used to collect data from the upper trapezius (UT), sternocleidomasetoid muscle (SCM), cervical erecter spinae (CES) during watching the smartphone. Craniocervical angles were measured using a sagittal-view photograph of the subject in a sitting posture. A one-way repeated analysis of variance with a significant level of 0.05 used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Craniocervical angle with 0° visual feedback was significantly greater than 30°and 60°. Craniocervical angle with 30° visual feedback was significantly greater than 60°. In addition, MDF of UT muscles in 0° and 30° of visual feedback was significantly greater than 60°. CONCLUSION: We concluded that 0° visual feedback of head angle with using a mobile posture-aware system would be beneficial to prevent or decrease forward head posture during watching a smartphone. We also could recommend using of 30° visual feedback in case of caring UT muscle fatigue primarily.
Chungcheongbuk-do ; Electromyography ; Fatigue* ; Feedback, Sensory* ; Head* ; Humans ; Muscle Fatigue ; Muscles* ; Neck* ; Posture ; Shoulder* ; Smartphone* ; Superficial Back Muscles ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of knee extension exercise using blood flow restriction on the changes in the thickness and static balance ability of the tendon of the rectus femoris muscle and achilles tendon. METHODS: A total of 30 subjects was were divided into two groups of 15 subjects each. The changes in the thickness and balance of their tendons were measured by ultrasonography and balance equipment. The measurements were taken three times: before the experiment, 4 weeks after, and 8 weeks after. The results were analyzed by repeated measure ANOVA, one-way ANOVA was conducted in cases where there were time-to-group interactions in the intra-individual effects test. RESULTS: Significant differences in the thickness of the tendon of the rectus femoris muscle and Achilles tendon were found between the groups, over time, and in the time-to-group interactions (p < 0.05). The changes in balance in both feet when the supporting positions between eye-open and eye-closed states were significantly different in the time-to-group interactions (p < 0.05), but were not different between the groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Knee extension exercise using blood flow restriction leads to significant differences in the increase in tendon thickness and changes in balance, indicating that the results of this study can be utilized as basic data for future studies and for rehabilitation treatment at clinics.
Achilles Tendon ; Foot ; Knee* ; Quadriceps Muscle ; Rehabilitation ; Tendons* ; Ultrasonography

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the forced vital capacity and sway area of respiratory muscles taping with threshold inspiratory muscles training for 1 week. Methods: Nineteen stroke patients were divided into two groups: experimental group (respiratory muscles taping with threshold inspiratory muscles training, n=10) and control group (threshold inspiratory muscles training, n=9). Forced vital capacity tests were performed using a spirometer. The instrument records the forced vital capacity (FVC). COP excursion test was performed using Zebris. The instrument records the sway area. All tests were measured before and after intervention. Results: The experimental group and control group showed significant increase in FVC (p<0.05). The sway area showed a significant decrease only in the experimental group (p<0.05). The FVC and sway area was no significant difference between the two groups (p>0.05). Conclusion Threshold inspiratory muscles training is an effective intervention for improving FVC. Threshold inspiratory muscles training with respiratory taping is an effective intervention for improving FVC and sway area. Threshold inspiratory muscles training with respiratory taping can improve balance ability.

Purpose: This study examined the research trends using G-power centered on major Korean registered sites and presents the research trends of studies with a high level of evidence.Method: This study selected three research journals listed in the Korea Research Foundation among physical therapy journals in the field of physiotherapy. The selected papers were classified according to the following: 1) study type, 2) study level, and 3) quality of the study.Result: Sixty-nine articles were selected and classified according to the study type. The musculoskeletal system, central nervous system, and others comprised 73.91% (n=51), 17.39% (n=12), and 8.7% (n=6), respectively. The results were classified into 62 experimental studies, four observational analytic studies, and three descriptive studies. The experimental studies included 22 randomized controlled trials (level 2) and 40 non-randomized trials (level 3). Sixteen randomized controlled trials were classified for a qualitative evaluation, and 12 papers with a score of six or more (good) were found. Conclusion Many high-level studies were found in G-power, and the quality of the study was also good. Therefore, the effective number of samples obtained using G-power is one of the ways to enable high-quality research.

Purpose: This study examined the inter-rater reliability of cervical proprioception, dynamic balance ability, and ankle dorsiflexion range of motion using STARmat®, which is a practical clinical tool that can provide practitioners and patients with quantitative and qualitative results. Methods: Thirty healthy young subjects were enrolled in this study, and two well-trained physical therapists participated as a tester. Two testers measured the cervical joint position error at the starting position after neck flexion, extension, side bending, and rotation; three dynamic balance tests, including anterior excursion, anterior reaching with single leg balance, and posterior diagonal excursion; and ankle dorsiflexion range of motion using STARmat®. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to determine the inter-rater reliability of the tests. Results: The inter-rater reliability for the cervical proprioception ranged from moderate to good (0.66 to 0.83), particularly for flexion (0.82), extension (0.70), right side bending (0.73), left side bending (0.71), right rotation (0.83), and left rotation (0.66). For the dynamic balance, the inter-rater reliability ranged from good to excellent (0.87 to 0.91), particularly for anterior excursion (0.86), posterior diagonal excursion (0.87 to 0.89), and anterior reaching with a single leg balance (0.90 to 0.91). In addition, for the ankle dorsiflexion range of motion, the ICC for the inter-rater reliability ranged from 0.95 to 0.96. Conclusion STARmat® is a reliable tool for measuring cervical proprioception, dynamic balance tests, and ankle dorsiflexion range of motion in healthy young adults.