Background: The rounded shoulder posture (RSP) causes the protraction, downward rotation, and anterior tilt of the scapula. Many studies reported that various interventions for the RSP could be helpful for RSP correction. However, no study has reported on the effect of an orthosis on the RSP. Objectives: To investigate the effect of an orthosis on the RSP in comparison with kinesio taping in 32 participants with RSP. Design: Quasi-experimental study. Methods: Thirty-two participants with RSP were randomly assigned into the kinesio taping group (n=15) and orthosis group (n=17). Kinesio taping was applied as follows: 1) both sides of the spine in a vertical direction from C7 to T12. 2) Both sides of the spine in an oblique direction from the coracoid process of the scapula through the acromion to the T12. Orthosis was tried on, and a pull adjustment strap was used to correct the RSP for each participant. Results: Both groups showed significant differences in the height of the acromion to the ground, forward head angle, forward shoulder angle, visual analog scale, and neck disability index within each group. However, no significant differences in all measurements were observed between the two groups. Conclusion: Orthosis for the RSP with exercise would improve the correction of the RSP as much as kinesio taping.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of the removable ankle-foot orthosis (RAFO) which was developed to improve the gait of stroke patients. The subjects of this study were five stroke patients who agreed to participate in this study by signing a written consent form. To verify gait improvement after wearing the orthosis, a Timed Up and Go test and Functional Gait Assessment were performed, and spatiotemporal gait variables such as gait speed, cadence, stride length, double limb support, and the efficient gait test of body sway angle were performed. For every variable, the differences prior to and after wearing the RAFO were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Every gait variable improved significantly after wearing the RAFO compared to prior to wearing it. The pilot study will enhance future efforts to evaluate orthotic function objectively during gait in stroke patients.

Balance control deficits have been indicated to be a primary problem among cerebral palsy (CP) patients. Fabric ankle foot orthosis (AFO) can allow more efficient balance control by facilitating proprioception. The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate effect of fabric AFO on balance, compared to a barefoot condition in children with unilateral CP. Twelve children with unilateral CP participated in this study. Their balance ability was evaluated using pediatric balance scale and bubble test. Both pediatric balance scale and bubble test showed significant improvement with the use of the fabirc AFO (p<.05). The fabric AFO could improve functional balance ability, and promote better balance among children with unilateral CP. We demonstrated that fabric AFO contributed to improving balance among children with unilateral CP, classified as Gross Motor Function Classification System level Ⅰ and Ⅱ. Consequently, fabric AFO might be an assistive device leading to the improvement of balance instead of the typical AFOs.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate effect of fabric ankle-foot orthosis on spatiotemporal gait parameters, compared to a barefoot condition in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Eleven children with spastic cerebral palsy participated in this study. Spatiotemporal gait parameters were measured with the GAITRite system. Fabric ankle-foot orthosis significantly improved Timed Up and Go test time and gait velocity. There was no significant difference in cadence. The step time significantly improved in both the more and less affected foot compared to the barefoot condition. The step length of the affected foot also significantly improved, but there was no significant difference in the step length of the less affected foot. There was significant improvement in the stride length of both the affected and less affected foot, but no significant difference in single stance or double stance. The fabric ankle-foot orthosis could improve stability, and selective control of the joint and promote better walking in children with cerebral palsy. Consequently, the fabric ankle-foot orthosis might be an alternative assistive device for neurological populations as a primary role instead of the typical ankle-foot orthosis.

The purposes of this study were to develop a new orthosis controlling ankle and knee joint motion during the gait cycle and to identify the effects of the newly designed orthosis on gait kinematics and tempospatial parameters, including coordination of the extremities in stroke patients. Fifteen individuals who had sustained a stroke, onset was 16 months, participated in this study. Before application of the measurement equipment the subjects were accustomed to walking on the ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) or stance control knee with knee flexion assisted-oil damper ankle-foot orthosis (SCKAFO) for 5 minutes. Fifteen patients were investigated for 45 days with a 3-day interval between sessions. Measurements were walking in fifteen stroke with hemiparesis on the 3D motion analysis system. Comparison of AFO and SCKAFO are gait pattern. The difference between the AFO and SCKAFO conditions was significant in the gait velocity, step length of the right affected side, stance time of both legs, step-length asymmetry ratio, single-support-time asymmetry ratio, -thigh angle and -shank angle in the mid swing (p<.001). Using a SCKAFO in stroke patients has shown similar to normal walking speeds can be attained for walking efficiency and is therefore desirable. In this study, the support time of the affected leg with the SCKAFO was longer than with the AFO and the asymmetry ratio of single support time decreased by more than with the AFO. This indicates that the SCKAFO was effective for improving gait symmetry, single-support-time symmetry. This may be due to the decrease of gait asymmetry. Thus, the newly designed SCKAFO may be useful for promoting gait performance by improving the coordination of the extremity and decreasing gait asymmetry in chronic stroke patients.

목적 : 본 연구의 목적은 연성척추보조기 착용에 따른 균형의 변화를 알아보고 작업치료중재를 위한 기초자료를 제공하기 위함이다. 연구방법 : 본 연구는 2006년 11월 20일 부터 2007년 2월 26일까지 김해시 I 대학교에서 실시하였으며 성인 남녀 25명을 대상으로 하였다. 본 연구에 사용된 실험도구는 균형능력을 측정하는 Tetrax Interactive Balance System 이며 연성척추보조기 중 요천추 코르셋을 사용하여 연구를 시행하였다. 본 연구는 Tetrax Interactive Balance System 을 충분히 습득한 세 명의 연구자에 의해 시행되었으며 산출된 자료는 SPSS 12.0 for windows를 사용하여 분석하였다. 결과 : 연성척추보조기 착용 유무에 따른 낙상지수의 변화는 유의한 차이를 보였다(P<0.05). 연성척추보조기 착용 유무에 따른 Fourier Harmony Index(KHI)) 의 변화는 유의한 차이가 없었다(P<0.05). 연성척추보조기 착용 유무에 따른 Weight Distribution Index(WDI) 의 변화는 유의한 차이가 없었다(P<0.05). 대상자의 일반적 특성과 연성척추보조기 착용 유무에 따른 낙상지수 값의 변화는 유의하지 않았다(P<0.05). 결론 : 연성척추보조기 착용 유무에 따른 낙상지수 값의 변화는 P<0.05 로 유의한 차이를 보였다. 이러한 결과는 연성척추보조기의 착용 뮤우가 균형능력의 변화에 영향을 미치며 일상생활활동과 관련된 낙상과도 밀접한 관계임을 확인할 수 있다. 따라서 본 연구는 균형과 연성척추보조기의 연관성에 관한 향후 연구를 위한 기초자료를 제공하고자 한다.

The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of spine orthosis and sit-to-stand motor strategies on ground reaction force (GRF) and lower extremity muscle activity. Twenty healthy adult men participated, and subjects randomly performed sit-to-stand motions in three different conditions: Momentum-transfer strategy (MTS); MTS with spine orthosis; and zero-momentum strategy (ZMS) with spine orthosis. GRF data, onset time, and muscle activity were determined and compared using force plate and electromyography. Data were statistically analyzed by the SPSS version 13.0. One-way repeated analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the statistical significance, and least significant difference was used as a post hoc test. The level of significance was .05. The results of this study were as follows: 1. Peak GRF and relative time to peak GRF were not significantly different in the three different conditions (p>.05). 2. Onset time of four muscles, tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius, biceps femoris and rectus femoris, in the three different conditions were significantly different (p<.05). 3. The tibialis anterior and rectus femoris muscle activity before hip-off and tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius, and rectus fermoris muscle activity after hip-off were significantly different in the three different conditions (p<.05).

본 연구는 강직성 편측 뇌성마비 환자의 보행 기시(gait initiation)의 특성을 파악하고, 동적 단하지 보조기(dynamic ankle foot orthosis : DAFO)가 이런 환자들의 보행 기시에 미치는 영향을 알아보기 위하여 실시하였다. 연구대상자는 19세 선천성 강직성 우측 뇌성마비를 가진 여자 대학생이었다. 연구대상자는 4개의 다른 보행 기시 조건에서 각 조건당 7회의 보행 기시를 하였는데, 각각의 보행 기시 조건은: 1) 보조기

임상에서 사용하는 진단 검사 장치인 전산화 단층촬영기와 자동화된 설계 소프트웨어(MediACE 3D Prog ram), 3D 프린터로 손목 보조기를 제작하고자 하였다. 전산화단층촬영기로 상지의 Dicom 파일을 획득한 후 MediACE 3D Program을 통해 손목 보조기를 디자인하여 "STL(stereolithography)"파일을 만들었고, 디자인된 손목 보조기는 3D 프린터를 이용하여 인쇄하였다. 3D 프린팅 기술로 제작된 손목보조기의 효용성 검증을 위해 뼈와 피부에 가해지는 압력 및 보조기의 스트레스 분포를 유한요소해석으로 나타내었다. 손목 보조기를 제작할 때 유한요소해석의 결과를 가지고 뼈와 피부가 압력에 의한 손상과 보조기의 파손이 자주 일어나는 부위를 보강하여 손목 보조기를 제작할 수 있을 것이라고 기대된다.

Ankle-foot orthosis with a pneumatic rubber actuator, which is intended for the assistance and the enhancement of ankle muscular activities was developed. In this study, the effectiveness of the system was investigated during plantarflexion motion of ankle joint. To find a effectiveness of the system, the subjects performed maximal voluntary isokinetic plantarflexion contraction on a Biodex-dynamometer. Plantarfexion torque of the ankle joint is assisted by subject’s soleus muscle that is generated when ankle joint do plantarflexion motion. We used the muscular stiffness signal of a soleus muscle for feedback control of ankle-foot orthosis as physiological signal. For measurement of this signal, we made the muscular stiffness force sensor. We compared a muscular stiffness force of a soleus muscle between with feedback control and without it and a maximal plantarflexion torque between not wearing a ankle-foot orthosis, without feedback control wearing it and with feedback control wearing it in each ten elderly adults. The experimental result showed that a muscular stiffness force of a soleus muscle with feedback control was reduced and plantarflexion torque of an ankle joint only wearing ankle-foot orthosis was reduced but a plantarflexion torque with feedback control was increased.The amount of a increasing with feedback control is more higher than the amount of a decreasing only wearing it. Therefore, we confirmed the effectiveness of the developed ankle-foot orthosis with feedback control.