Background: Stroke is a neurological disorder characterized by an impaired static balance. A change in poor posture after stroke may worsen static balance. The balance control through an upright posture may include kinesiology taping of the middle back. Objectives: To investigated the effect of kinesiology taping of middle back on static balance in patients with stroke. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Methods: A total of 10 patients with stroke were divided into two groups. The experimental and control groups received kinesiology taping and placebo taping of the middle back, respectively. After 24 h, static balance (i.e., sway area and path length) was measured in closed eyes condition. Results: The experimental group (kinesiology taping group) showed a significant decrease in sway area and path length after the intervention. In addition, kinesiology taping group showed a significant decrease in sway area and path length compared to the control group. Conclusion: Kinesiology taping of the middle back can improve static balance in stroke patients.

The purpose of this study was to determine which spatiotemporal gait parameters obtained during hemiplegic walking could be a predictive factor for the Timed Up and Go test (TUG). Two hundreds nine subjects who had suffered a stroke were recruited for this study. They were participated in two assessments; the TUG test and gait analysis. The relationship between the TUG test and spatiotemporal parameters was analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficients. In addition, to predict the spatiotemporal gait parameters that correlated most with the TUG scores, we used multiple linear regression analyses (stepwise method). The results show that the normalized velocity was strongly correlated with the TUG performance (r=-.72, p<.001). Additionally, single support percentage (SSP), double support percentage (DSP), step time difference (STD), and step length difference (SLD) significantly were correlated with the TUG test. Normalized velocity, STD, DSP of affected side, and SSP of non-affected side explained 53%, 8%, 3%, 2%, of variance in the TUG test respectively. In conclusion, an increase in gait velocity and a decrease in STD would be effective indicators of improvement on the functional mobility in the stroke rehabilitation.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of virtual reality (VR) therapy with compensation inhibition and feedback (CIF) on upper extremity function in chronic stroke patients. Seven chronic stroke patients participated in this study, which was a randomized controlled trial with a crossover design. Self upper extremity exercise, conservative VR therapy, and VR therapy with CIF were performed for one hour per session, 5 times per week, over a 3 week period. The main outcome measures involved range of motion (ROM) including shoulder, elbow, and wrist joints, a Manual Function Test (MFT), and a Motor Activity Log (MAL). Data were calculated as posttest and pretest changes in every session and were analyzed using Friedman and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests at p<.05. The results were as follows: 1) Statistically significant increase in ROM measurements of shoulder and elbow joints were seen with VR therapy with CIF compared to VR therapy and self upper extremity exercise (p<.05), whereas no significant increasing was noted for the wrist joint (p>.05). 2) Statistically significant increase in the MFT was seen with VR therapy with CIF compared with VR therapy and self upper extremity exercise (p<.05). 3) VR therapy with CIF also resulted in statistically significant increase in both activity of use (AOU) (p<.05) and quality of movement (QOM) (p<.05) on the MAL test when compared with VR therapy and self upper extremity exercise, respectively. In conclusion, VR therapy with CIF was more effective than conservative VR therapy and self upper extremity exercise in improving the upper extremity function in hemiplegic patients with chronic stroke.

목적 : 편마비 환자의 비대칭적 체중부하와 일상생활동작과의 상관관계를 알아보고자 한다.연구방법 : 2007년 12월부터 2008년 2월까지 뇌졸중으로 인한 편마비 환자로 삼육재활병원에서 재활치료를 받고 있는 63명의 편마비 환자를 대상으로 비대칭적 체중부하의 정도를 알아보기 위해 Tetrax를 이용하여 환측 하지의 체중부하율을 측정하였고, MBI를 이용하여 일상생활동작 수행정도를 측정하여 상관관계를 알아보았다.결과 : 환측 하지의 체중부하율과 일상생활동작과의 상관관계를 분석한 결과 상관관계(r=.539)가 있음을 알 수 있었으며, MBI는 이동하기, 개인위생, 보행 항목이 상관관계가 높게 나타났다.

목적 : 가정환경에서 실시한 강제유도운동치료(Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy: CIMT)와 건측제한(Forced Used: FU)치료법이 편마비 환자의 상지기능과 일상생활활동에 어떠한 영향을 미치는 지를 알아보고자 하였다. 연구방법 : 본 연구는 개별실험 연구방법 중 실험 집단간 다중기초선설계를 사용하였다. 뇌졸중으로 편마비 진단을 받은 6인을 3집단(각 집단 2인)으로 분류하였다. CIMT는 건측제한(5시간)과 함께 환측 집중훈련(3시간)을 실시하였다. FU는 하루 중 활동이 가장 많은 5시간 동안 건측에 장갑을 착용하여 사용을 제한하였다. 기초선과 치료과정 동안에는 상자와 나무토막검사(Box and Block Test: BBT), 치료 전·후에는 울프운동기능검사(Wolf Motor Function Test: WMFT)를 사용하여 상지기능을 측정하였다. 일상생활활동은 치료 전·후에 운동·처리기술평가(Assessment of Motor and Process Skills: AMPS)와 운동활동지표(Motor Activity Log: MAL)를 사용하여 측정하였다. 결과분석은 그래프를 통한 시각적 분석과 치료 전·후 측정값의 변화를 비교하였다.결과 : WMFT와 BBT에서 모든 대상자의 수행능력이 향상 되었다. AMPS 능력치와 MAL의 환측사용빈도와 움직임 질도 모든 대상자에서 향상을 보였다. 특히 각 집단에서 CIMT 대상자들이 모두 FU 대상자보다 많이 향상되었다.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate isometric trunk extension strength in hemiplegic patients, and to compare that with normal subjects to find a correlation between trunk extension strength and the functional independent degree in hemiplegic patients. Fifteen hemiplegic male patients (mean age 55.2±10.2 years) and twenty-five healthy male subjects (mean age 54.6±10.3 years) completed isometric trunk extension. Strength was measured at 0, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 degrees of trunk flexion. The functional independent degree was assessed by Functional Independence Measure (FIM). Mean isometric trunk extension strength was 91.2 ft-lbs, 120.7 ft-lbs, 142.3 ft-lbs, 156.4 ft-lbs, 173.5 ft-lbs, 184.1 ft-lbs, and 195.3 ft-lbs in the hemiplegic patients group, and 135.6 ft-lbs, 175.6 ft-lbs, 204.4 ft-lbs, 221.9 ft-lbs, 231.2 ft-lbs, 246.8 ft-lbs, and 259.7 ft-lbs in the normal subjects group. The values of isometric trunk extension strength had a descending linear correlation pattern from trunk flexion angle to extension angle. Trunk extension strength in hemiplegic patients was significantly lower than that of normal subjects (p<.05) but did not correlate with the FIM total score (p>.05). Therefore, the isometric trunk extension strength in hemiplegic patients was lower than that of normal subjects and did not correlate with the functional independent degree.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the upper limb nerve mobilization (ULNM) on functional recovery of upper extremity in hemiplegic patients following stroke. Twenty patients who had functional impairment on upper extremity were participated. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups: Control group (n=10) received traditional physical therapy only for 4 weeks; Experimental group (n=10) received ULNM treatment along with traditional physical therapy for the same period. Upper extremity functions were assessed by manual muscle test (MMT), modified Ashworth scale (MAS), and Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) before and after the treatment. In both experimental and control group, upper extremity functions were significantly improved in MMT (p<.01) and FMA (p<.01), however only experimental group showed significant improvement in FMA after the treatment (p<.05). Moreover, experimental group showed significantly greater improvement than control group in MMT (p<.05), MAS (p<.05), and FMA (p<.05). We conclude that the upper extremity functions is a useful additional therapeutic technique for the effective treatment of upper extremity deficits in hemiplegic patients.