The study aimed to compare the effect of the treadmill walking training combined with obstacle-crossing (TWT-OC) and treadmill walking training (TWT) on the walking function of patients with chronic stroke. 29 subjects volunteered to participate in this study; they were randomly assigned to either TWT-OC group (15 subjects) or TWT group (14 subjects). Subjects from the TWT-OC group underwent a treadmill walking combined with obstacles-crossing for 30 minutes daily, three days a week for four weeks, whereas subjects from the TWT group received only a treadmill walking. The 10 m walk test (10MWT), 6-min walk test (6MWT), berg balance scale (BBS), timed up and go test (TUG), activities-specific balance confidence-Korean version (ABC-K), and walking ability questionnaire (WAQ) were measured before and after the 4-week training. The TWT-OC group showed significantly better functional mobility of walking and balance measured by 6MWT (p<.01), BBS (p<.01), and TUG scores (p<.05) when compared with those of the TWT group. Further, within-group comparison showed significant improvement in all variables (p<.01) except for 10MWT. These findings suggest that the TWT-OC and TWT may be helpful for improving the walking function of patients with chronic stroke, and the TWT-OC has probably more favorable outcomes for chronic stroke, however, further trials with wider range of subjects are warranted for generalization and clinical relevance.

The aim of the current study was to assess the effectiveness of backward gait training on the treadmill in patients with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (CP). Twelve patients with spastic diplegic CP participated in the study. An 8-week course of backward gait training was administered to the subjects for 3 days per week. Pre-intervention and post-intervention assessments of temporal-spatial gait parameters, the symmetry of the bilateral lower extremity weight bearing, and gross motor function were analyzed using motion analysis system, force plate, and Gross Motor Function Measurement (GMFM). There were significant improvements (p<.05) in the measures of both step length and right stance phase time. Joint kinematics showed increase in right hip abduction in initial contact and terminal swing, right hip external rotation and knee flexion in mid-swing, left ankle dorsiflexion in initial contact and terminal swing (p<.05). The symmetry of the bilateral lower extremity weight bearing and GMFM also significantly increased (p<.05). These findings indicate that backward gait training using a treadmill is beneficial for patients with spastic diplegic CP.

The purpose of this study was an determine whether elastic band on treadmill training might effect the chest expansion and pulmonary function of the 20's men. 40 subjects with experimental group(male: 20) and control group(male: 20) was participated in experiment. During four weeks, each group participated thirty minutes for three times per week. Subjects were assessed using pre-value and postvalue measurement chest length(chest length for resting, chest expansion) and pulmonary function(forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume at one second, FEV1/FVC, peak expiratory flow, vital capacity, tidal volume, expiratory reserve volume, inspiratory reserve volume) by the CardioTouch 3000S(BIONET, USA). These findings suggest that experimental group can be used to improve chest expansion, pulmonary function than control group. In comparison of both groups, post-test was more improved in experimental group. In conclusion, experimental group helped improving function of pulmonary volume and respiratory muscle, and thus it indicates that the functions will be more improved through the continued respiratory exercise program.

Peripheral nerve injuries are very common in clinics and often result in severe functional deficits. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of treadmill running and electro-acupuncture on nerve regeneration and functional recovery of muscle activity following sciatic nerve crush injury in a rat model. A comparative study was conducted over 30 days on 60 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats grouped into sham control (C), electro-acupuncture (EA), treadmill (T), and treadmill plus electro-acupuncture (TEA). The left sciatic nerve was crushed for 30 sec using a hemostatic forceps and functional activity was evaluated with sciatic functional tests, nerve conduct velocity, muscle weight, and histology at 10, 20, and 30 days after injury. Muscle weight was significantly (P<0.05) increased between days 10 and 30 in the TEA group. In histology, the degree of damage was scored as C > TEA > T > EA, although necrosis and fibrosis of muscle was observed only in the TEA group. The EA and TEA groups showed rapid recovery with better myelinated axons on day 10. These results suggest that application of the TEA method with balanced exercise is a useful treatment option for peripheral nerve injury regeneration and muscle activity.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of treadmill walking in underwater and overground which affects gait and physical function of people who have had a stroke. Twenty people after a stroke who have become hemiplegic over 6 months were participated. Participants were divided into two groups: underwater treadmill group(UTG) and overground treadmill group(OTG). The intervention was done 4 times per weeks for 6 weeks and 1 session lasted for 30 minutes. Gait and physical function elements were measured at baseline, at the middle(3 weeks) and at the end of the intervention(6 weeks). For the elements of gait, walking velocity, affected stance phase, affected weight bearing were assessed. For the elements of physical function, Short Form 8(SF-8) health survey was used. The result of this study showed that both groups improved similarly in walking velocity. However participants in UTG improved more than those in OTG in affected stance phase(p<.05), affected weight bearing( p<.05) and emotional aspect(p<.001). Based on the results of this study, it can be suggested that treadmill walking both in underwater and on the ground can be effective in improving hemiplegic gait and physical function of people who have had a stroke. The result also suggest that the underwater treadmill exercise can be more effective than overground treadmill in restoration of gait in people after stroke.

This study is intended to examine the motor skill learning and treadmill exercise on motor performance and synaptic plasticity in the cerebellar injured rats by harmaline. Experiment groups were divided into four groups and assigned 15 rats to each group. GroupⅠ was a normal control group(induced by saline); GroupⅡ was a experimental control group(cerebellar injured by harmaline); GroupⅢ was a group of motor skill learning after cerebellar injured by harmaline; GroupⅣ was a group of treadmill exercise after cerebellar injured by harmaline. In motor performance test, the outcome of groupⅡ was significantly lower than the groupⅢ, Ⅳ(especially groupⅢ)(p<.001). In histological finding, the experimental groups were destroy of dendrities and nucleus of cerebellar neurons. GroupⅢ, Ⅳ were decreased in degeneration of cerebellar neurons(especially groupⅢ). In immunohistochemistric response of synaptophysin in cerebellar cortex, experimental groups were decreased than groupⅠ. GroupⅢ's expression of synaptophysin was more increased than groupⅡ, Ⅳ. In electron microscopy finding, the experimental groups were degenerated of Purkinje cell. These result suggest that improved motor performance by motor skill learning after harmaline induced is associated with dynamically altered expression of synaptophysin in cerebellar cortex and that is related with synaptic plasticity.

This study was designed to investigate the effects of treadmill exercise of low-intensity and moderate- intensity on the functional recovery and histological change in spinal cord injury (SCI) rats. SCI was induced by the spinal cord impactor dropped after laminectomy. Experimental groups were divided into the Group I (normal control), Group II (non-treatment after SCI induction), Group III (low-intensity treadmill exercise after SCI induction), Group IV (moderate-intensity treadmill exercise after SCI induction). After operation, rats were tested at modified Tarlov scale at 2 days with divided into 4 groups, and motor behavior test (BBB locomotor rating scale, Grid walk test) was examined at 3, 7, 14, and 21 days. For the observation of damage change and size of the organized surface in spinal cord, histopathological studies were performed at 21 days by H & E, and BDNF(brain-derived neutrophic factor) & Trk-b immunohistochemistry studies were performed at 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 days. According to the results, treadmill exercise can play a role in facilitating recovery of locomotion following spinal cord injury. Specially, moderate-intensity treadmill exercise after SCI induction was most improvement in functional recovery and histological change.

The purpose of this study was to determine the therapeutic effect of slope changes of the treadmill with body weight-supported training on gait characteristics in patients with hemiplegia. The volunteered subjects were divided into 3 groups based upon slope changes: control group (0° incline), 7° group (7° incline), 12° group (12° incline), They were trained the body weight-supported treadmill training (BWSTT) for 8 weeks. All subjects were supported up to 40% of their body weight on the treadmill training and the support was gradually decreased to 0~10% as the subjects were adapted to the training. There were significant improvements of walking velocity, step length of the affected side, the asymmetry ratio of step length in 7° group (57.80 cm/s, 67.25 cm, .14), 12° group (71.00 cm/s, 71.00 cm, .11) than control group (40.62 cm/s, 55.00 cm, .74) (p<.05): there were no differences between group 7° and 12° group in the all outcomes (p>.05). Both 7° group and 12° group scored higher than the control group in those outcomes and finally the effects of slopes changes of the treadmill were effective on gait characteristics of patients. But it s till remains undetermined what degree on the treadmill might be better to train the hemipareric patients. Therefore, more studies are required to look into minutely the changes of slopes of the treadmill influencing on gait characteristics.

The purpose of this study was to assess the test-retest reliability of heart rate (HR) and velocity measurements during peak effort and free treadmill walking tests in older patients with gait-impaired chronic hemiparetic stroke and control group. Twenty-two adults (13 men, 9 women; mean age, 73.7±5.2 yrs) with chronic hemiparetic stroke are the experimental group. Nineteen elderly people (5 men, 14 women; mean age, 72.3±3.5 yrs) were recruited as control group. Patients had mild to moderate chronic hemiparetic gait deficits, making handrail support necessary during treadmill walking. Free and peak effort treadmill walking tests were measured and then repeated at least two days later. Reliability was calculated from HR and walking velocity during free and peak effort treadmill walking test. Among the people who had strokes, HR [ICC(2,1)=.85, r=.86] and velocity [ICC(2,1)=.93, r=.93] were good parameters during free testing. Maximal testing generated good results for HR [ICC(2,1)=.81, r=.82] and velocity [ICC(2,1)=.96, r=.96] with the chronic hemiparetic stroke. In elderly people, HR [ICC(2,1)=.59, r=.62] and velocity [ICC(2,1)=.77, r=.76] were moderately reliable during free testing. Maximal testing produced moderate parameters for HR [ICC(2,1)=.74, r=.74] and velocity [ICC(2,1)=.66, r=.66] in the elderly. This study provides that free and maximal treadmill testing produce highly reliable HR and velocity measurements in adults with chronic hemiplegia using minimal handrail support.

This study was designed to examine the effects of electroacupuncture and treadmill exercise on the improvement of muscle atrophy and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) expression in an ischemic stroke model induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion. This study selected 120 Sprangue-Dawley rats, divided them into six groups, and assigned 5 rats to each group. Experiments were conducted for 1, 3 days and 1, 8 weeks, respectively. In each group, changes in weight of muscle and relative muscle of tibialis anterior muscle, histologic observations, and BDNF expression were observed and analyzed. For the changes in muscle weight of unaffected and affected sides of tibialis anterior, muscle atrophy was expressed in an affected side 3 days after ischemic stroke was induced. There was a statistically significant difference in Group VI 1 and 8 weeks after ischemic stroke was induced, compared to Group II (p<.05). For the changes in relative muscle weight of unaffected and affected sides of tibial anterior muscle, there was significant decrease in each group 3 days after ischemic stroke was induced, compared to Group I, while there was a statistically significant increase in Group VI 1 week after ischemic stroke was induced, compared to Group II (p<.05). For neurologic exercise behavior test, Group VI generally had the highest score, compared to other groups. The results of the behavior test suggests that 8 weeks after ischemic stroke was induced, Group VI improved in degeneration and inflammation of muscle fiber and decreased in destruction of nerve cells and cerebral infarction, thus indicating a similar state of muscle fiber and brain tissue in Group I. In immunohistochemical observations, Group 1 week showed increase in BDNF. Based on these results, electroacupuncture and treadmill exercise may improve muscle atrophy and change in BDNF expression of ischemic stroke rats and contribute to the improvement of exercise function.

To compare the effects of forward walking and backward walking on surface electromyographic analysis of quadriceps muscles at treadmill grades of 0%, 5% and 10%, subjects were randomized to eleven athletics (5 females, 6 males), with a mean age of 17.8 years, and a SD of 4.66 years. The values of the surface electromyographic (SEMG) activity of the rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL) and vastus medialis oblique (VMO) were measured during forward walking and backward walking on a treadmill at grades of 0, 5 and 10%. The subjects walked for approximately 10 seconds at 4.0 km/h. The data were analyzed by repeated measuring of the two-way ANOVA and analyzed by a paired t-test between forward walking and backward walking. The SEMG activity levels of the RF, VL and VMO were the highest when both the forward walking and backward walking increased incrementally for treadmill grades of 0% to 10%, but the VMO/VL ratio had no significant changes. The SEMG activity levels of the RF, VL and VMO were significantly different between directions. However, SEMG activity levels of the RF, VL, VMO and VMO/VL ratio did not show significant difference among the treadmill grades. No statistically significant interactions were detected between the direction of walking and treadmill grade. Backward walking on the treadmill at 4 km/h and grades of 0%, 5%, 10% elicited a greater SEMG activity on the quadriceps muscles than did forward walking under the same conditions. The results suggest that the quadriceps may be effectively activated by performance at treadmill grades of 10%. This investigation confirms that backward walking up an incline may place additional muscular demands on individuals.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of applied insole types to lower extremities muscle fatigue during treadmill exercise. The control group and each different insole type group consisted of ten healthy male subjects. In the control group and each different insole type (soft type; 10 shore, semi-rigid type; 33 shore, rigid type; 50 shore) treadmill exercise was performed in twenty-five minutes. The electromyography (EMG) signals of four muscle (tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius medialis, rectus femoris, biceps femoris) were recording at sampling rate of 1024 Hz during treadmill exercise. The localized muscle fatigue (LMF) can be investigated using power spectral analysis. When did data analysis that excepted initial five minutes. The raw EMG signals was processed using the fast Fourier Transformation (FFT) and the median power frequency value was determined in initial ten second period and in last ten second period. Fatigue index was calculated and collected data were statistically analyzed by SPSS version 10.0 two-way using analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures () was used to determine the main effect and interaction. Post hoc was performed with least significant difference. A level of significance was .05. Muscles fatigue index were significantly decreased in insole types (p<.05) and not significantly different in muscle (p>.05). Post hoc analysis shows that fatigue index in soft insole type, semi-rigid insole type and rigid insole type were lower than that control group (p=.028, p=.146, p=.095). There were no interaction between insole type and muscles (p>.05). The finding of this study can be used as a fundamental data when insole is applied and insole can be used to decreased of a fatigue during the dynamic exercise.

Body weight support treadmill training is a new and promising therapy in gait rehabilitation of patients with hemiplegia. The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of body weight support treadmill training on gait and standing balance in patients with hemiplegia. Eighteen patients with hemiplegia participated in the study. A 10 m-timed walk test, measurements of step length and standing balance score were administered. Intervention consisted of body weight support treadmill training five times a week for 2 weeks. The data were analyzed by paired t-test. Body weight support treadmill training scoring of standing balance, step length and 10 m-timed walk test showed a definite improvement. Body weight support treadmill training offers the advantages of task-oriented training with numerous repetitions of a supervised gait pattern. The outcomes suggest that patients with hemiplegia can improve their gait ability and standing balance through body weight support treadmill training.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the treatment effect of three interventions on the disuse atrophy of rat hindlimb after two weeks suspension. Forty-eight 11~12 weeks old female Sprague-Dawley white rats were divided into four intervention groups: 1) suspension only (S; n=10), 2) intensive weight bearing treadmill (IWBT; n=10), 3) electrical stimulation (ES; n=9), 4) 2)+3) (ES/IWBT; n=9). Another 10 rats received no intervention or hindlimb suspension and served as controls (C). After the interventions, 1) the cross-sectional area (CSA), 2) the ratio of white muscle fiber composition (WMFC), 3) isometric tetanic tension (ITT), and 4) muscle weights (MWs) were measured from the four calf muscle specimens. The results were as follows: 1. In all intervention groups, the CSAs of medial and lateral gastrocnemius (MG LG), soleus (SOL), and flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) decreased when compared to the control (C) group (p<.05). The CSA increased in FDS and LG for the IWBT group, in SOL for the ES/IWBT group compared to the S only group (p<.05). 2. The ratios of WMFC in MG, LG, SOL, and FDS increased compared to the C group for all interventions (p<.05). The ratios of WMFC decreased in SOL and LG for the IWBT group, in SOL for the ES/IWBT group compared to the S only group, and decreased in SOL for the ES/IWBT group compared to the IWBT group (p<.05). 3. The ITT in the MG, LG, SOL, and FDS decreased compared to the C group for all interventions (p<.05). The ITT increased in MG LG/FDS, SOL, and the whole calf muscles (WCMs) in the IWBT, ES and ES/IWBT groups compared to the S only group (p<.05). 4. The MWs in MG LG/FDS, SOL, WCMs decreased compared to the C group for all interventions (p<.05). The MWs increased in MG LG/FDS and WCMs for the IWBT group, in SOL for the ES group, and in SOL for the ES/IWBT group compared to the S only group (p<.05). 5. In atrophied muscles, the IWBT group showed the best recovery and the ES/IWBT and ES groups followed in decreasing order. The most susceptible muscle to disuse atrophy was the SOL. But conversely, it showed the best recovery in the ES/IWBT group. After two weeks of hindlimb suspension, the calf muscles of rats atrophied and their isometric tension decreased. These changes were best reversed by hindlimb-focused treadmill activity. The next best results were achieved by electrical stimulation combined with the treadmill followed by only electrical stimulation. These findings indicate that full weight bearing treadmill activity alone or in combination with electrical stimulation are effective treatments for non-weight bearing induced muscle atrophy. Further study of the effect of different intensities of electrical stimulation and variations in the duration period of full weight bearing treadmill activity on disuse atrophy is recommended.

This study addresses the effects of treadmill training on hyperextended knee and cadence in patients with hemiplegia. A single subject research design with multiple baselines across individuals was used for the study. Two patients with hemiplegia participated in the experiment. The experiment consisted of interventions where the patients were asked to ambulate for 15 minutes at a comfortable walking speed on the treadmill with 11% slope grade and were allowed to rest for 10 minutes. Patients, then, were asked to ambulated 20 meters at walkway. The number of occurrences of knee hyperextension and the total number of steps were recorded. The results showed that the occurrence of knee hyperextension decreased by approximately 30% after the first session of the treadmill training and continued to gradually decrease during the following sets of treadmill training. Meanwhile, there was a slight increase in the cadence to a negligible extent. These results suggest that the gait training on the sloped treadmill may be helpful for correcting the knee hyperextension in patients with hemiplegia.

The purposes of this study were to assess variation of body sway prior to and after submaximal treadmill exercise; to determine the time course of the effects of a fatiguing performed on a treadmill on body sway; and to compare position sense prior to and after exercise in order to assess any variance in proprioception caused by submaximal treadmill exercise. The subjects were twenty-four healthy men in their twenties. They stood barefoot on the Kinesthetic Ability Training Balance Platform to measure body sway. Control trials were performed with eyes alternately open and closed. In the eyes open condition, they were asked to look at a target placed at eye level 1 m in front them. A total of 10 trials, each lasting 20 seconds, were performed. After this series of trials, position sense was measured. Subjects then exercised on the treadmill until 85% of each person's maximal heart rate was reached. The first series of postural sway measurements began immediately after this exercise. The second identical series of postural sway trials was performed at approximately 10 minutes after exercise. The third series was performed approximately 20 minutes after exercise. This allowed approximately 5 minutes of rest between each experimental series. Position sense was measured at approximately 15 and 25 minutes after exercise. The results were as follows: 1) There was a significant increase in body sway after submaximal treadmill exercise compared to pre-exercise values under both visual conditions (p<.05). 2) After submaximal treadmill exercise, under the eyes open condition, the mean value of body sway was significantly increased after both the first and second series (p<.05). Under the eyes closed condition, the mean value of body sway increased significantly after the first series but decreased significantly after the third series (p<.05). 3) Position sense, measured repeatedly after submaximal treadmill exercise, did not change significantly with respect to pre-exercise values (p>.05). These results suggest that fatigue induced by submaximal treadmill exercise produced an increase in body sway in young healthy subjects with or without visual input, but the increase appeared to be lasting less than 15 minutes. No significant change in position sense suggested that proprioception was unaffected by submaximal treadmill exercise-induced fatigue.