목적 : 본 연구는 지역사회 만성 뇌졸중 환자를 대상으로 원격동작관찰훈련이 상지 기능과 근 활성도에 미치는 영향을 알아보고자 실시하였다. 연구방법 : 2023년 8월부터 2024년 2월까지 대전광역시 소재의 재활병원에서 외래재활을 받지 않고 다른 기관에서도 치료를 계획하지 않은 대상자 6명을 실험군으로, 병원 내에서 외래재활치료를 받는 대상자 5명을 대조군으로 선정하였다. 실험군은 원격재활을 기반으로 한 원격동작관찰훈련을 하였고, 대조군은 실험군과 동일한 과제를 수행하는 외래재활치료를 진행하였다. 치료에 대한 중재는 1일 1회 30분, 주 3회, 총 4주간 실시하였고, 치료 중재 전과 후의 상지 기능을 측정하기 위해 ARAT 평가척도(Action Research Arm Test)와 MFT 평가척도(Manual Function Test)를 사용하였고, 근 활성도를 평가하기 위해 표면 근활성도 평가척도인 sEMG (Surface Electromyography)를 사용하였다. 결과 : 두 집단 각각의 중재 전과 후 결과 상지기능과 근 활성도 일부 항목에서 유의한 차이를 보였으며(p < 0.05), 중재 후 두 집단 간에서는 상지기능과 근 활성도에서 유의한 차이를 보이지 않았다(p < 0.05). 결론 : 본 연구에서의 결과로 원격동작관찰훈련이 지역사회 만성 뇌졸중 환자에게 외래재활치료와 유사하게 기능 향상을 시킬 수 있는 중재방법이자, 접근성과 경제적인 이점이 있어 지역사회 만성 뇌졸중 환자에게는 효율적인 방법으로 제시될 수 있다.

We evaluated whether group locomotor imagery training-combined knowledge of performance (KP) lead to improvements in gait function in community dwelling individuals with chronic stroke. Ten adults who had suffered a hemiparetic stroke at least 6 months earlier participated in group locomotor imagery training-combined KP for 5 weeks, twice per week, with 2 h intensive training. Dynamic gait index scores increased significantly after the group locomotor imagery training-combined KP. However, times for the timed up-and-go test did not improve significantly after the training. Group locomotor imagery training-combined KP may be a useful option for the relearning of gait performance for community dwelling individuals with chronic hemiparetic stroke.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a weekly circuit-group exercise program on functional performance, flexibility of the trunk and lower extremities, and balance in individuals with chronic stroke who are living in a community. Thirteen community-living individuals (eleven males and two females) with chronic stroke participated in this study. The group exercise program was set up as a weekly circuit application with four stations aiming to strengthen the muscles, increase endurance, improve flexibility, and enhance functional capacity. The average duration of a session was an hour, and the sessions were conducted once a week for six months for a total of 24 sessions. Assessments for functional performance, flexibility of the trunk and lower extremities and balance were conducted four times: before treatment, after one month of treatment, after four months of treatment, and after six months of treatment. There were significant improvements in functional performance and flexibility of the trunk and lower extremities in the given time frame. No significant improvement was observed in balance ability. The findings suggest that a weekly circuit-group exercise program has some benefits in terms of managing the physical symptoms of individuals with mobility problems after stroke. Therefore, this program can be adapted and employed as a community-based rehabilitation program for such patients. Further studies with various community-based treatments will be conducted to validate these findings.

Community-based group exercise programs for people with chronic stroke are relatively uncommon in Korea. In addition, it is currently not known whether a community-based group exercise program is effective or not. The purpose of this study was to evaluate an 8 week community-based functional exercise program for its effects on balance performance and occupational performance in persons with chronic stroke. Twenty-five community-dwelling individuals with stroke participated in this program. Outcome of the program was assessed by the Berg Balance Scale and the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM). The functional exercise program lasted for eight weeks, with a 1-hour program twice per week and it consisted of mobility, stability, balance, functional strength, and gait training. The subjects were trained by one physical therapist but were under one-to-one supervision from students. The data of sixteen individuals who scored more than 24 on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) were analyzed. There was a significant effect both in terms of the COPM Performance Score & the Satisfaction Score (p=.002) and with the Berg Balance Score (p=.001). It was found that a short-term community-based exercise program could improve both performance of activities and balance. Further, all subjects reported that they were satisfied with this program.