The purpose of this study was to compare spatio-temporal parameters during walking between patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and a control group matched for age, height, and weight. Thirty-three subjects were included in this study. Fifteen normal subjects (age, 63.3±5.8 yrs; height, 164.1±8.7 cm; weight, 60.7±17.5 kg) and eighteen patients (age, 64.0±7.7 yrs; height, 164.7±7.3 cm; weight, 63.6±7.7 kg) participated in the study. The Vicon 512 Motion analysis system was used for gait analysis in each group during walking, with and without an obstacle. The measured spatio-temporal parameters were cadence, walking speed, stride time, step time, single limb support time, double limb support time, stride length, and step length. Results in stride length and step length, when walking without an obstacle, showed a significantly greater decrease in the patient group compared to the control group. During walking with an obstacle, the patient group showed a significantly greater decrease in the step length as compared to the control group. For the control group, there were significant decreases in parameters of cadence and walking speed and increases in parameters of stride time, step time, and single limb support time when walking with an obstacle. The patient group had lower cadence and walking speed and higher stride time, step time, and single limb support time during walking with an obstacle than in walking without an obstacle. These results suggest that patients with Parkinson's disease who walk over an obstacle can decrease cadence, stride length, and step length. Further study is needed, performed with more obstacles and combined with other external cues, such as visual or acoustic guides.

The purpose of this study was to compare the static balance in a sitting position between a group with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and a normal aged-matched group. Forty-nine subjects were included in this study. Thirty-one healthy subjects and eighteen AIS subjects were participated. Each group was tested with the Lumbar Trunk Muscle Endurance Test (LTMET) and Balance Performance Monitor (BPM). The parameters for static balance were sway area, sway path, mean balance, maximum velocity, anterior-posterior angle, and left-right angle of each group with eyes opened and closed. Results from the LTMET showed significantly more increase in the normal group than in the AIS group in the flexor and extensor endurance. The BPM tested showed significantly difference beteen the groups in parameters of sitting balance such as maximum velocity and anterior-posterior sway angle. For the AIS subjects, there were no significant differences in all parameters of sitting balance between eyes opened and eyes closed. In comparisons of the groups with eyes opened there were no significant differences in all parameters of sitting balance. In comparisons of the groups with eyes closed there were significant differences in the sway area, maximum velocity, anterior-posterior sway angle and left-right sway angle. These results suggest that the AIS group relies much more on proprioception than on vision, and develops compensatory passive postures of the spine. Further study is needed to measure many AIS patients with morphologic and electromyographic data for clinical application.

The purpose of this study was to compare the static balance of standing position between adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and a normal group that were aged-matched. There were forty subjects included in this study. Twenty-seven healthy subjects (age, 13.9±1.2 yrs; height, 161.9±7.5 ㎝; weight, 52.2±7.7 ㎏) and thirteen AIS subjects (age, 14.2±2.2 yrs; height, 161.5±8.7 ㎝; weight, 48.1±8.1 ㎏) were participated in the study. The thirteen subjects in the AIS group had a major Cobb angle between 20.1° and 49°. Each group was tested with the Balance Performance Monitor (BPM). The parameters for static balance were sway area, sway path, max velocity, mean balance, anterior-posterior angle, and left-right angle of each group with their eyes opened and again with their eyes closed. Both sides of the forward reach test and the lateral reach test were also performed on each group. Results from the BPM tested showed significantly increases in all parameters of static balance with those patients with AIS under the conditions where eyes were opened and closed. In the right and left forward reach test, there was no significant difference between normal and AIS groups. However, in the lateral reach test with right and left direction, there were significant differences between normal and AIS groups. For the normal subjects, there were significant differences in the parameters with sway path and anterior-posterior sway angle between the eyes opened and closed. However, there were no significant differences in the all parameters between eyes opened and closed for the AIS subjects. These results suggest that, balance programs could be used in the rehabilitation setting for intervention of AIS and evaluation of AIS. Further study is needed to measure many patients with AIS and other functional balance scales for clinical application.