• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.317-320
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed: to confirm the balance ability of patients with spinal cord injury in the sitting state through a functional reach test using an elastic aid; and to propose a balance improvement plan. Methods: The study evaluated seven patients with spinal cord injury who could maintain a sitting posture through minimum assistance. A functional reach test was performed before and after wearing an elastic aid while sitting on a chair, and the effects before and after use of the elastic aid were compared and analyzed through a motion analyzer. Results: In the functional reach test, the forward movement distance of the hand was 97.45 mm before wearing the elastic aid, but significantly increased to 131 mm after wearing the aid (p<0.05). Corresponding forward movement distances for the shoulder were 81.26 mm and 113 mm (p<0.05 for the increase). There was no statistically significant change in lateral functional arm extension. Conclusion: It was confirmed, through a functional reach test, that trunk stability in patients with spinal cord injury increased with use of an elastic aid. In future, more efficient rehabilitation treatment programs will be possible if trunk stability in patients with spinal cord injury is improved by using elastic aids, and if various exercise treatments are also included in the rehabilitation programs.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.28-34
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• 2007

The purposes of this study were to provide the basic data and investigate the reliability of functional reach test and identify correlation of Berg balance scale (BBS) and functional reach test (FRT). The subjects were twenty healthy young adults and forty-five over 65 years old in order to compare balance ability. These data were analyzed by independent t-test and Pearson's correlation test using SPSS WIN 10.0. The results were as follows. Intrarater reliability coefficients of FRT was .976 and interrater was .942. FRT was significantly correlated with age, height, and BBS (p<.05). There were no significant differences in FRT and BBS by sex. There was significant difference in reach distance between below 74 elderly and above in FRT. FRT is very reliable test for balance and significantly correlated with BBS. Therefore, it is suggested that FRT is a clinically useful tool to substitute for BBS measuring balance ability in the elderly.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2012

Purpose : In this study, stroke patients' limits of stability and functional reach test and tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius muscle of lower extremity muscle activities to evaluate the correlation. Methods : 30 adult stroke patients to participate in this study. Limits of stability were measured using biorescue, tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius muscle of muscles activities were measured with functional reach test when there was movement. Results : Limits of stability and functional reach test (r=0.753, p<0.01), RMS value of the limits of stability and tibialis anterior muscle (r=0.706, p<0.01), RMS value of the limits of stability and gastrocnemius muscle (r=0.766, p<0.01), RMS value of the functional reach test and tibialis anterior muscle (r=0.835, p<0.01), RMS value of the functional reach test and gastrocnemius muscle (r=0.663, p<0.01), RMS value of the tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius muscle (r=0.816, p<0.01) correlations are shown as statistically significant. Conclusion : The balance and lower extremity muscle activities of stroke patients were studied, and were positively correlated with the RMS value of the limits of stability and functional reach test, tibialis anterior muscle, and gastrocnemius muscle. This study has shown that stroke patients' ankle joint muscle activity can greatly.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.51-58
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• 1999

In general, sitting balance is decreased in subjects with spinal cord injury. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the inter- and intra-rater reliability of the Functional Reach Test (FRT) which is used to measure sitting balance. The subjects of this study were 26 persons with spinal cord injury, and they were divided into three groups according to their injury level. Group I, II and III consisted of the following $C_5{\sim}C_8$ quadriplegics, $T_1{\sim}T_4$, and $T_9{\sim}T_12$ paraplegics, respectively. Subjects sat on a mat table that was set at an 80 degree inclination. During three sessions, the length subjects could reach in the FRT test was measured by three physical therapists, and compared to each other. The results showed that intraclass correlation coefficients (2,1) were above 0.97 and inter-rater difference was not statistically significant. The one-way ANOVA demonstrated that reach differed between groups with lower thoracic lesion and the other test groups. In conclusion, we think modified FRT is useful and reliable method to measure the sitting balance in subjects with spinal cord injury.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.46-54
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• 2000

The purpose of this study is to determine whether movement strategies affect functional forward reach distance in a standing position. Forty-seven healthy subjects were selected for this study: 23 men and 24 women, with an average age of 22.3. Functional forward reach distances were measured as hip strategy and squat strategy (included knee and ankle movement strategy) in a standing position, respectively. The mean values of functional forward reach distance in hip strategy, squat strategy were 33.57 cm, 29.48 cm, respectively. There was significantly difference in functional forward reach distance between hip strategy and squat strategy(p<.001). There was no difference of functional forward reach distance between male and female in hip strategy, but there was significant difference in other strategy(p<.05). These results suggest that movement strategies should be considered during functional forward reach test in standing. Further study is required to determine whether movement strategies affect functional reach distance in elderly and disabled groups.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.39-47
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• 2010

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlations between clinical balance scales and Balance Performance Monitor parameters in patient with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Methods : Twenty AIS subjects (age, $14.26{\pm}1.93yrs$; height, $160.56{\pm}7.98cm$; weight, $47.54{\pm}6.94kg$)were participated in this study. Postural sway(mean balance, sway angle, sway area, sway path, maximal sway velocity) were were evaluated by balance performance monitor. Measurements for clinical balance scales were Functional reach test (both side), the Lateral reach test (both side) and One leg standing test (both legs). Results : The results were as follows. There were positive strong correlation between major curve direction and left-right sway angle, sway path, maximal sway velocity. There were negative strong correlation between the functional reach and left-right sway angle, sway area, sway path, maximal sway velocity. And the lateral reach were also showed negative strong correlation parameters of balance performance monitor. One leg standing were negatively correlated with left-right sway angle, sway path, maximal sway velocity. Conclusion : The clinical balance scales will be useful tools for balance measurements, and basic tools for clinical setting for patient with AIS.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.41-51
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• 2019

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of combined Joint Mobilization and Functional Electrical Stimulation on Muscle Activation and Mobility of ankle joints in stroke patients and their Modified Functional Reach Test (MFRT) results. METHODS: A total of 26 patients with stroke were randomly selected for enrollment in this study. (1) Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) (2) combined Joint Mobilization and FES. An EMG system was used to measure tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius activities. Range Of Motion (ROM) of Ankle Joint and MFRT for Dynamic Balance. Pre and post intervention results were compared by paired-t-tests and differences in changes after intervention between groups were identified by the independent t-test. RESULTS: The muscle activation, ROM, and MFRT differed significantly in the experimental group (p<.05). The ROM was significantly different for the active dorsiflexion pre and post intervention in the group that received FES alone (p<.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest use of a systematic program of proactive posture control to prevent dysfunction when planning interventions for ankle joints can help stroke patients walk efficiently.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.25-30
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• 2011

Purpose : This study aims to examine the changes of muscle activity of the tibialis anterior muscle and the gastrocnemius muscle on the ground and unstable ground for functional reach test. Methods : This study chose 24 elderly men and 24 elderly women who could walk independently, reach their arm over 25 cm, show shoulder joint $90^{\circ}$ flexion, had no operations on lower limb joints, and don't take medication affecting the ability to keep balance. Muscular activity of the tibialis anterior muscle and the gastrocnemius muscle was measured using functional reach test and electromyogram. Functional reach test was conducted at a total of four sections, 0cm, 15cm, 20cm, and 25cm. Results : It was known that the gastrocnemius muscle was used more than the tibialis anterior muscle to keep balance and the elderly with good balance ability showed no great change of muscular activity on both the stable and unstable ground. Conclusion : It was found that the subjects used their gastrocnemius muscle more and lower limbs of frequently used parts to keep their balance. As the elderly have good balance ability, they showed no great change of muscular activity on both the stable and unstable ground.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.97-105
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of functional strengthening exercise on static and dynamic standing balance in a child with cerebral palsy. The subject was a 7 year old boy with diplegia whose Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) score was 80% along with G1 of the lower extremities in Modified Ashworth Scale. The subject was ambulatory with some degree of limitation and demonstrated muscle weakness and strength asymmetry in the lower extremities. A changing criterion design for a single-subject research was used for this study. The functional strengthening exercise consisted of lower extremity ergometer exercise and knee exercise with grading movement in standing position, each for 20 minutes, which lasted 18 sessions for 6 weeks. A knee extensor strength test on both extremities and standing balance test were conducted after each functional strengthening exercise. Two types of standing balance were tested: one leg stance test and functional reach test. One leg stance test was to evaluate static standing balance, and functional reach test was to evaluate dynamic standing balance. The results showed that the functional strengthening exercise had some positive effects on improvement of both static and dynamic standing balance, and there was a positive correlation between the knee strength and standing balance.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.93-98
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• 2019

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of robot arm reach training on upper extremity functional movement in chronic stroke survivors. Design: One group pretest-posttest design. Methods: Thirteen chronic stroke survivors participated in this study. Robot arm reach training was performed with a Whole Arm Manipulator (WAM) and a 120-inch projective display to provide visual and auditory feedback. During the robotic arm reach training, WAM provided gravity compensation and assist-as-needed (AAN) force according to the robot control mode. When a participant could not move the arm toward the target for more than 2 seconds, WAM provided AAN force to reach the desired targets. All patients participated in the training for 40 minutes per day, 3 times a week, for 4 weeks. Main outcome measures were the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) and Box and Block Test (BBT) to assess upper extremity functional movement. Results: After 4 weeks, significant improvement was observed in upper extremity functional movement (FMA: 42.15 to 46.23, BBT: 12.23 to 14.00, p<0.05). In the subscore analysis of the FMA upper extremity motor function domains, significant improvement was observed in upper extremity and coordination/speed units (p<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in the ARAT. Conclusions: This study showed the positive effects of robot arm reach training on upper extremity functional movement in chronic stroke survivors. In particular, we confirmed that robot arm reach training could have a positive influence by leading to improvement of motor recovery of the proximal upper extremity.