Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a representative disease, and LBP is characterized by muscle dysfunction that provides stability to the lumbar spine. This causes physical functional problems such as decreased posture control ability by reducing the muscular endurance and balance of the lumbar spine. Pelvic compression using instruments, which has been used during recent stabilization exercises, focuses on the anterior superior iliac spine of the pelvis and puts pressure on the sacroiliac joint during exercise, making the pelvis more symmetrical and stable. Currently, research has been actively conducted on the use of pelvic compression belts and non-elastic pelvic belts; however, few studies have conducted research on the application effect of pelvic compression using instruments. Objects: This study aimed to investigate whether there is a difference in trunk muscular endurance and dynamic and static balance ability levels by applying pelvic stabilization through a pelvic compression device between the LBP group and the non-LBP group. Methods: Thirty-nine subjects currently enrolled in Daejeon University were divided into 20 subjects with LBP group and 19 subjects without LBP (NLBP group), and the groups were compared with and without pelvic compression. The trunk muscular endurance test was performed with 4 movements, the dynamic balance test was performed using a Y-balance test, and the static balance test was performed using a Wii balance board. Results: There was a significant difference the LBP group and the NLBP group after pelvic compression was applied to all tests (p < 0.05). In the static and dynamic balance ability test after pelvic compression was applied, there was a significant difference in the LBP group than in the NLBP group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These results show that pelvic compression using instruments has a positive effect on both those with and without LBP and that it has a greater impact on balance ability when applied to those with LBP.

Background: Lower back pain (LBP) is a major cause of disability and a common musculoskeletal disorder encountered at some point in life. Dysfunction of the lumbar vertebrae has been associated with decreased flexibility of the hamstrings, which exhibited a strong positive correlation with LBP. Hamstring tension affects lumbar pelvic rhythm. We aimed to activate pelvic stability with compression by Active Therapeutic Movement (ATM), muscle energy technique (MET) was applied to increase the flexibility of the hamstring. Objects: In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of MET with ATM and general MET were applied to the hamstring of adults, who were in their twenties with nor without LBP, on their pelvic inclination and the length of their hamstring. Methods: A total of 32 subjects were briefed about the purpose of this study and agreed to participate voluntarily. Before the experiment, all subjects were pre-examined, and they were divided into an LBP group and a no lower back pain group accordingly. Thereafter, all subjects participated in both in a crossover manner. After at least one week, they switched to another group and participated in the same experiment. Results: The study results revealed that both groups demonstrated significant results in the modified active knee extension test (p < 0.01) and the sit and reach test (p < 0.01) performed to assess the hamstring flexibility; an interaction (p < 0.05) was noted. Moreover, a more significant difference was observed between the MET with ATM and the general MET. Although significant results were obtained for the pelvic inclination (p < 0.01), interaction was not noted. Conclusion: Conclusively, in this study, when the MET with ATM was applied to the two groups, there was a significant difference compared to the general MET for hamstring flexibility, but it was confirmed that there was no significant difference for the pelvic inclination.

Background: Passive straight leg raising (PSLR) is the common clinical test to measure of hamstring muscle length. Hip flexion angle contributes to change the lumbopelvic rotation during PSLR. Pressure biofeedback unit (PBU) is commonly used to detect lumbopelvic movement during lower limb movements. Thus, there may be the relationship between pressure of PBU and lumbopelvic motion during PSLR. Objects: The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between pressure of PBU and lumbopelvic motion during PSLR. Methods: Thirty two subjects participated in this study. A three-dimensional motion analysis system were used to measure the lumbopelvic angle during PSLR, while recording the pressure of PBU according to angle of PSLR by 10 degree increments. Pearson product moment correlations and linear regression analysis were used to describe the relationship between variables. Results: The results showed that there was a significant relationship between the lumbopelvic and angle of PSLR (Pearson’s r=.83, p<.05), between the pressure of PBU and angle of PSLR (Pearson’s r=.75, p<.05), and between lumbopelvic motion and pressure of PUB (Pearson’s r=.83, p<.05). Linear regression equation using lumbopevic angle as an independent factor was as follows: Pressure of PBU = 47.35 + (2.55 × angle of lumbopelvic motion) (R2=.69, p<.05). Conclusion: Results of the present study indicate that pressure of PBU can be used to indirectly detect the amounts of lumbobevic motion during muscle length test or stretching of hamstring.

Background: Lumbopelvic stability is highly important for exercise therapy for patients with low back pain and shoulder dysfunction. It can be attained using a pelvic compression belt. Previous studies showed that external pelvic compression (EPC) enhances form closure by reducing sacroiliac joint laxity and selectively strengthens force closure and motor control by reducing the compensatory activity of the stabilizer. In addition, when the pelvic compression belt was placed directly on the anterior superior iliac spine, the laxity of the sacroiliac cephalic joint could be significantly reduced. Objects: This study aimed to compare the effects of EPC on lumbopelvic and shoulder muscle surface electromyography (EMG) activities during push-up plus (PUP) and deadlift (DL) exercise, trunk extensor strength during DL exercise. Methods: Thirty-eight subjects (21 men and 17 women) volunteered to participate in this study. The subjects were instructed to perform PUP and DL with and without the EPC. EMG data were collect from serratus anterior (SA), pectoralis major (PM), erector spinae (ES), and multifidus (MF). Trunk extensor strength were tested in DL exercise. The data were collected during 3 repetitions of all exercise and the mean of root mean square was used for analysis. Results: The EMG activities of the SA and PM were significantly increased in PUP with pelvic compression as compared with PUP without pelvic compression (p<.05). In DL exercise, a significant improvement in trunk extensor strength was observed during DL exercise with pelvic compression (p<.05). Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that lumbopelvic stabilization reinforced with external pelvic compression may be propitious to strengthen PUP in more-active SA and PM muscles. Applying EPC can improve the trunk extensor strength during DL exercise. Our study shows that EPC was beneficial to improve the PUP and DL exercise efficiency.

Background: Improvement of lumbo-pelvic stability can reduce the compensatory action of the quadratus lumborum (QL) and selectively strengthen the gluteus medius (GM) during side-lying hip abduction (SHA). There are abdominal draw-in maneuver (ADIM) and abdominal bracing (AB) as active ways, and pelvic compression belt (PCB) as a passive way to increase of lumbo-pelvic stability. It is necessary to compare how these stabilization methods affect the selective strengthening of the GM. Objects: To investigate the effects of ADIM, AB, and PCB during SHA on the electromyography (EMG) activity of the GM, QL, external oblique (EO) and internal oblique (IO), and the GM/QL EMG activity ratio. Methods: A total of 20 healthy male adults participated in the study. The subjects performed three conditions in side-lying in random order: SHA with ADIM (SHA-ADIM), SHA with AB (SHA-AB), and SHA with PCB (SHA-PCB). To compare the differences among the three conditions, the EMG activities of the GM, QL, EO and IO, and GM/QL EMG activity ratio were analyzed using one-way repeated ANOVA. Results: The EMG activity of the QL was significantly higher in SHA-AB than in SHA-ADIM and SHA-PCB. The GM/QL activity ratio was significantly higher in SHA-PCB than in SHA-ADIM and SHA-AB. In addition, the figure for SHA-ADIM was significantly higher than that for SHA-AB. In the case of the EO, the figure for SHA-AB was significantly higher than corresponding values for the other two conditions. The figure for SHA-ADIM was significantly higher than that for SHA-PCB. The EMG activity of the IO was significantly higher in SHA-AH than in SHA-PCB. Conclusion: It can be suggested that wearing the PCB can more selectively strengthen the GM than to perform ADIM and AB during SHA. In addition, the ADIM can be recommended when there is a need to strengthen abdominal muscles during SHA.

Background: The continuous co-contraction of the trunk muscles through trunk stabilization exercises is important to patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). However, intentional abdominal muscle contraction (IAMC) for trunk stabilization has been used only for specific training in the treatment room. Objects: The purpose of this study was to provide feedback to adults with LSS to enable IAMC during activities of daily living (ADLs). Methods: The participants with spinal stenosis were divided into an experimental group of 15 adults and a control group of 16 adults. Electromyographic signals were measured while the subjects kept their both hands held up at 90°. The measured muscles were the rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), internal oblique (IO), and erector spinae (ES). Pelvic tilt was measured using a digital pelvic inclinometer. The degree of pain was measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and functional capacity was measured using the Korean version of the Oswestry disability index (KODI). Results: While the experimental group showed statistically significantly higher activities in the RA, EO, and IO after the intervention compared with the control group. Pelvic tilt was significantly decreased only in the experimental group. Both the experimental and control groups exhibited statistically significant declines in the VAS and KODI (p<.01). In terms of the levels of changes, the experimental group exhibited a statistically significant larger decline only in the VAS and the pelvic tilt when compared with the control group (p<.05). Conclusions: The subjects could stabilize their trunks, and relieve their pain and dysfunctions and reduce pelvic tilt by learning abdominal muscle contraction during ADLs.

Background:To improve lumbo-pelvic stability, passive support devices (i.e., a pelvic belt) are recommended clinically. Nevertheless, to understand the influence of passive support on lumbo-pelvic stability, it is necessary to examine the influence of a pelvic belt on the abdominal and hip abductor muscles.Objects:To examine the effects of a pelvic belt on the forces of the hip adductor and abductor muscles and activity of the abdominal muscles during isometric hip adduction and abduction.Methods:This study recruited 14 healthy men. All subjects performed isometric hip adduction and abduction with and without a pelvic belt in a neutral hip position. Load cells, wrapped with a non-elastic belt, were placed above the medial and lateral malleoli of the dominant leg to measure the muscle forces of the hip adductors and abductors, respectively. The forces of the hip adductors and abductors were measured using a load cell during isometric hip adduction and abduction, while the electromyographic activities of the bilateral rectus abdominis, internal oblique, and external oblique muscles were measured.Results:The forces generated by the hip adductors and abductors were significantly greater with the pelvic belt than without (p<.05). No significant differences in abdominal muscle activities between the two conditions were found (p>.05).Conclusion:These findings suggest that use of a pelvic belt could lead to effective strengthening exercise of hip muscles in individuals with sacroiliac joint pain.

This study investigated the effect of a load of 15% body weight on trunk, pelvis and hip joint coordination and angle variability in subjects with and without chronic low back pain (CLBP) during an anterior load carriage task. Thirty volunteers participated in the study (15 without CLBP, 15 with CLBP). All participants were asked to perform an anterior carriage task with a load of 15% body weight. The outcome measures included the means and standard deviations for measurements of three-dimensional coordination and angle variability of the trunk, pelvis and hip joint. As CLBP patient group .06, control group .70, the correlation coefficient between the groups showed a significant difference only in trunk-pelvic in the sagittal plane (p<.05). Angle variability of CLBP patient group increased significantly in the trunk in frontal plane, the pelvis in all sagittal plane, frontal plane, transverse plane, and the hip in sagittal plane, the hip in frontal plane than angle variability of control group (p<.05). This results mean that the CLBP patient group showed a disconnected coordination pattern in the trunk-pelvis in the sagittal plane, an increased pelvic angle variability in all three planes, and hip angle variability in the sagittal, and frontal planes. The CLBP patient group may have developed a compensatory movement of the pelvis and hip joint arising from the changed stability due to the abnormal coordination patterns of the trunk-pelvic in the sagittal plane. Therefore, CLBP symptoms can potentially worsen in the pelvis and adjacent hip joint in CLBP patients who perform weight-related behaviors in their daily lives. Further research is needed to determine the three-dimensional characteristics of the electromyography and neuromuscular aspects of subjects with CLBP.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the dynamic balance and activity of internal oblique muscle, multifidus muscle, gluteus maximus muscle, biceps femoris muscle during the Y balance test following the wearing of pelvic compression belt. Forty healthy adults were recruited for this test. The dynamic balance score was estimated as the following: (anterior+posteromdial+posterolateral)/(3×leg length)×100. The electromyography signals were measured through %reference voluntary contraction, which was normalized by reference voluntary contraction of Y balance test without wearing the pelvic compression belt. The paired t-test was carried out to compare the dynamic balance score and the activity of the trunk and hip extensor with and without the wearing of pelvic compression belt. The dynamic balance score of the Y balance test when wearing pelvic compression belt was significantly than when measured without wearing the pelvic compression belt (p<.05). The muscle activity of the internal oblique and the multifidus was significantly decreased when wearing pelvic compression belt (p<.05). The muscle activity of the gluteus maximus was significantly increased when wearing pelvic compression belt (p<.05). However, there was no significant difference in hamstring muscle activity, with or without wearing the belt (p>.05). In conclusion, this study shows that the wearing of pelvic compression belt affects trunk muscle and hip extensor muscle activity related to the pelvic mobility and stability and increases dynamic balance and also contributes to the stabilization of the external pelvic stabilization.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of hip external rotation angle on pelvis and lower limb muscle activity during prone hip extension. Sixteen healthy men were recruited for this study. Each subject performed an abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) in a prone position, and extended the dominant hip at three different hip external rotation angles (0°, 20°, 40°) with a 30° hip joint abduction. Activity of the gluteus maximus (G Max), gluteus medius (G Med), and hamstring (HAM) and the G Max/HAM and G Med/HAM ratios were determined with surface electromyography (EMG). The EMG signal was normalized to 100% maximum voluntary isometric contractions (MVICs) and expressed as %MVIC. Data were analyzed by one-way repeated analysis of variance (alpha level=.05) and the Bonferroni post hoc test. Significant differences in G Max and G Med muscle activity were noted among the three different hip external rotation angles. G Max muscle activity increased significantly at both 40° (p=.006) and 20° (p=.010) compared to a 0° hip external rotation angle. G Med muscle activity increased significantly at 20° (p=.013) compared to a 40° hip external rotation angle. The G Max/HAM activity ratio increased significantly at both 40° (p=.004) and 20° (p=.014) compared to a 0° hip external rotation angle. The G Med/HAM activity ratio increased significantly at 20° (p=.013) compared to a 40° hip external rotation angle. In conclusion, 40° and 20° hip external rotation angles are recommended to increase G Max activity, and 20° hip external rotation is advocated to enhance G Med muscle activity during prone hip extension with ADIM and 30° hip abduction in healthy subjects.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the pelvic compression belt (PCB) on the electromyography (EMG) activities of trunk muscles during sit-to-stand (SitTS), and stand-to-sit (StandTS) tasks. Twenty healthy subjects (7 men and 13 women) were recruited for this study. The subjects performed SitTS, and StandTS tasks, with and without a PCB. Surface EMG was used to record activity of the internal oblique (IO), external oblique (EO), rectus abdominis (RA), erector spinae (ES), and multifidus (MF) of the dominant limb. EMG activity significantly decreased in the RA (without the PCB, %maximal voluntary isometric contraction [%MVIC]; with the PCB, %MVIC), EO (without the PCB, %MVIC; with the PCB, %MVIC), MF (without the PCB, %MVIC; with the PCB, %MVIC), and ES (without the PCB, %MVIC; with the PCB, %MVIC) during the SitTS task and in the IO (without the PCB, %MVIC; with the PCB, %MVIlC), RA (without the PCB, %MVIC; with the PCB, %MVIC), EO (without the PCB, %MVIC; with the PCB, %MVIC), MF (without the PCB, %MVIC; with the PCB, %MVIC), and ES (without the PCB, %MVIC; with the PCB, %MVIC) during the StandTS task when a PCB was used (p<.05). In men the EMG activity of the MF significantly decreased during the SitTS task when a PCB was used (p<.05): in women, the EMG activity of the RA, EO, MF, and ES during the SitTS task and that of the EO, MF, and ES during the SitTS task significantly decreased when a PCB was used (p<.05). In addition, the rates of change in the EMG activity of each muscle differed significantly during the SitTS and StandTS tasks before and after the use of the PCB. However, the EMG activity did not significantly differ between the male and female subjects. These findings suggest that the PCB may contribute to the modification of activation patterns of the trunk muscles during SitTS, and StandTS tasks.

The pelvic compression belt (PCB) contributes to improving sacroiliac joint stability, and it has been used as an additional therapeutic option for patients with sacroiliac joint pain (SIJP). This study aimed to investigate whether the muscle activation patterns of the supporting leg was different between asymptomatic subjects and subjects with SIJP during one-leg standing, and how it changes with the PCB. 15 subjects with SIJP and 10 asymptomatic subjects volunteered to participate in this study. Surface electromyography (EMG) data (reaction time [RT] and muscle activation) were collected from the internal oblique, lumbar multifidius, gluteus maximus and biceps femoris muscles during one-leg standing with and without the PCB. Without the PCB condition, in the SIJP group, the biceps femoris muscle showed the fastest RT among all muscles (p<.05), whereas in the asymptomatic group, the RT of the internal oblique muscle was the most rapid (p<.05). In condition without the PCB, the biceps femoris EMG amplitudes in the SIJP group were significantly greater than that in the asymptomatic group (p<.05). After the application of the PCB, the RT of the biceps femoris muscle was significantly increased only in the SIJP group (p<.05). Moreover, the biceps femoris EMG amplitudes significantly decreased and the gluteus maximus EMG amplitudes significant increased only in the SIJP group by applying the PCB (p<.05). However, this had no such effect on the gluteus maximus and biceps femoris EMG patterns in the asymptomatic group (p>.05). Thus, this study supports the applying the PCB to patients with SIJP can be used as a helpful option to modify the activation patterns of the gluteus maximus and biceps femoris muscle.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of contralateral hip adduction (CHA) on thickness of lumbar stabilizers during hip abduction in side-lying. Twenty healthy subjects without back pain were recruited for this study. The thickness of transverse abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO) and quadratus lumborum (QL) were measured by ultrasonography. Pelvic lateral tilting motion was measured using a three-dimensional motion analysis system. Measurements were performed at rest position (RP), preferred hip abduction (PHA) and abduction with contralateral hip adduction (CHA) in side-lying at the end of expiration. During the measurements, subjects were asked to maintain steady trunk alignment without hand support. Thickness of TrA and IO was significantly greater in CHA than in PHA and RP conditions. There was no significant difference in thickness of TrA and IO between PHA and RP conditions. Medio-lateral (M-L) thickness of QL was not significant between PHA and CHA conditions. Anterio-posterior (A-P) thickness of QL in PHA and CHA significantly decreased compared to RP condition. Angle of pelvic lateral tilting was significantly decreased in CHA compared to PHA condition. In conclusion, CHA can be recommended for increasing trunk stability without compensatory pelvic motion during hip abduction exercise in side-lying.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the kinematic and kinetic changes that may occur in the pelvic and spine regions during cross-legged sitting postures. Experiments were performed on sixteen healthy subjects. Data were collected while the subject sat in 4 different sitting postures for 5 seconds: uncrossed sitting with both feet on the floor (Posture A), sitting while placing his right knee on the left knee (Posture B), sitting by placing right ankle on left knee (Posture C), and sitting by placing right ankle over the left ankle (Posture D). The order of the sitting posture was random. The sagittal plane angles (pelvic tilt, lumbar A-P curve, thoracic A-P curve) and the frontal plane angles (pelvic obliquity, lumber lateral curves, thoracic lateral curves) were obtained using VICON system with 6 cameras and analyzed with Nexus software. The pressure on each buttock was measured using Tekscan. Repeated one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the angle and pressure across the four postures. The Bonferroni's post hoc test was used to determine the differences between upright trunk sitting and cross-legged postures. In sagittal plane, cross-legged sitting postures showed significantly greater kyphotic curves in lumbar and thoracic spine when compared uncrossed sitting posture. Also, pelvic posterior tilting was greater in cross-legged postures. In frontal plane, only height of the right pelvic was significantly higher in Posture B than in Posture A. Finally, in Posture B, the pressure on the right buttock area was greater than Posture A and, in Posture C, the pressure on the left buttock area was greater than Posture A. However, all dependent variables in both planes did not demonstrate any significant difference among the three cross-legged postures (p>.05). The findings suggest that asymmetric changes in the pelvic and spine region secondary to the prolonged cross-legged sitting postures may cause lower back pain and deformities in the spine structures.

Although there have been various studies related to the body's movement from a sitting to a standing position (sit-to-stand task), there is limited information on the kinematic changes on the frontal and transverse planes. The purpose of this study was to ascertain how pelvic tilt affects kinematic changes in the frontal and transverse planes in the hip and knee joints during a sit-to-stand task. For this study, 33 healthy participants (13 female) were recruited. Each participant rose from a sitting to a standing posture at his or her preferred speed for each of three different pelvic tilt trials (anterior, posterior, and neutral), and the measured angles were analyzed using a 3-D motion analysis system. A one-way repeated measure analysis of variance was performed with Bonferroni's post hoc test. In addition, an independent t-test was carried out to determine the sex differences in hip and knee joint kinematic changes during the sit-to-stand tasks. The results were as follows: 1) The hip and knee joint angle in the frontal and transverse planes showed a significant difference between the different pelvic tilt postures during sitting in the pre-buttock lift-off phase (pre-LO) (p<.05). Compared to the posterior pelvic tilt posture, the anterior pelvic tilt posture involved significantly greater hip joint adduction and internal rotation, knee joint adduction, and reduced internal rotation of the knee joint. 2) Sex differences were found with significant differences for males in the initial and maximal angles in the frontal plane of the hip and knee joint (p<.05). Females had a significantly smaller initial abduction angle of the hip joint and a significantly greater maximal angle of the hip adduction joint. These results suggest that selecting a sit-to-stand exercise for pelvic tilt posture should be considered to control abnormal movement in the lower extremities.

The purpose of this study was to suppose basis data the influence of different chair type and pelvic control on quadriceps muscle activity and strength during knee joint extension isometric exercise in hemiplegic patients. This research were investigated in ten healthy adults and tens hemipelgic patients. Surface electromyography (EMG) and Biodex system were used to collect kinematic data and muscle activity, respectively. Independent t-test, paired t-test and one-way repeated ANOVA were used to determine a statistical significance. The results showed as follows: (1) Posterior pelvic angles in healthy group and hemiplegic group were significantly different on isokinetic equipment (p<.05). (2) Different chair type and pelvic control on quadriceps muscle activity and strength were significantly different in hemiplegic patients (p<.05). From the result of this research, posterior pelvic angle control during knee joint extension isometric exercise in hemiplegic patients on isokinetic equipment is necessary to increase quadriceps muscle strength in hemiplegic patients.

In a total hip arthroplasty, the artificial hip joint is composed of an acetabular cup and a femoral head. To minimize the wear of the joint, the bearing surface should be precisely spherical. There were concerns that the press-fitting of the acetabular cup to the pelvis may cause the deformation of the cup and accelerate the wear of the joint, but its in-vivo measurement was challenging. In this paper, 3 dimensional finite element(FE) models of a pelvis and acetabular cups of Metasul 50mm and Pinnacle 50-60mm cups were used to simulate the deformation of the acetabular cups. For Metasul cups, the change of inner radius with respect to the location and the maximum shrinkage of the inner radius were found. For the Pinnacle cups, maximum change of the outer diameter were found and compared with the literature. FE model showed that the maximum shrinkage of the inner radius of the Metasul cup was 23μm (1.0mm press-fit, Bone stiffness 17GPa case). The shrinkage occurred mainly on the anterior and posterior side of rim of the cup, and the amount was proportional to the press-fit amount. The diametric change of the Pinnacle cup was 0.16mm on average, which was in same range of the clinically reported value. In conclusion, under the normal condition the reduction of the inner radius of the Metasul cup was too small to cause the jamming or the excessive wear.

This study investigated therapeutic effects of pelvic tilt exercise (PTE) on weight bearing and body sway during sit-to-stand (STS) on 18 hemiplegic patients who had visited the Hanyang University Seoul Hospital and Injae University Sanggyebek Hospital physiotherapy rooms. The study compared the patients with 18 normal adults. The subjects were sampled out from those who could get up independently, maintain a standing posture more than 10 seconds, understand the movements of this study and have no difficulty in performing the tasks. By executing STS in a natural way with habitual movements before and after PTE, the weight bearing was measured by using Mediance II. In order to compare the difference of weight distribution, weight bearing and body sway on affected and nonaffected sides during STS before and after PTE, the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test was used. The statistical significance level was based on p<.05. The results revealed that the difference of weight distribution in the hemiplegic group was significantly decreased (p<.05), whereas there was no significant difference in the healthy group (p>.05). Weight bearing loaded on the affected side was 42.53±7.65% and 44.20±6.32%, respectively, in the hemiplegic group during STS before and after PTE. Weight bearing during STS after PTE is increased significantly, as compared with weight bearing before PTE (p<.05). Body sway in the hemiplegic group was significantly decreased (p<.05). As mentioned, PTE proved to be effective for improvement in weight bearing on the affected side during STS of hemiplegic patients.