• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.273-278
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of three-dimensional virtual reality horse riding simulator training using a head-mounted display on gait and balance in children with cerebral palsy. Methods: Ten children with cerebral palsy were randomly assigned to the horse riding simulator (HRS) group (n=5) or the horse riding simulator with virtual reality (HRSVR) group (n=5). To evaluate balance, center of gravity (COG) sway velocity and total sway distance of each group were assessed using the Wii balance board, and gait speed and stride length of each group were assessed using a gait analysis system. Results: Intra-group comparisons between pre- and post-intervention measures revealed that there were significant changes in all gait and balance variables such as stride length, gait velocity, COG sway velocity and COG sway distance in the HRSVR group (p<0.05). In the HRS group, there were significant changes in all variables except stride length (p<0.05). In addition, inter-group comparisons showed significant differences between the two groups in stride length, gait velocity and COG sway distance except COG sway velocity (p<0.05). Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that horse riding simulator training combined with 3D virtual reality can be a new positive therapeutic approach for improving functional performance in children with cerebral palsy.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.181-187
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• 2012

Horse riding is widely recognized as a valuable form of education, exercise and therapy. But, the injuries observed in horse riding range from very minor injuries to fatalities. In order to reduce these injuries, the effective horseback riding simulator is required. In this paper, we proposed the implementation method of horse gait and riding aids for horseback riding robot simulator HRB-1. For implementation of horse gait to robot simulator, we gathered and modified real motion data of horse. We obtained two main frequencies of each gait by frequency analysis, and then simple sinusoidal functions are acquired by genetic algorithm. In addition, we developed riding aids system including hands, leg, and seat aids. With the help of a developed robotic system, beginners can learn the skill of real horse riding without the risk of injury.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.63 no.2
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• pp.440-452
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to determine if an 8-week therapeutic riding (TR) program was effective in improving the walking ability of students with intellectual disabilities. Thirteen students diagnosed with intellectual disabilities participated in the TR program. TR sessions were conducted twice a week (30 min per session), with a total of 16 rides taking place over an 8-week period. A gait measurement analyzer was used to measure progress based on a turn test (6-m walking and turning test), walk test (10-m walking), and timed up and go (TUG) test. Measurements were made three times: before horse-riding (P0), after 4 weeks (8 rides) of horse-riding (P1), and after 8 weeks (16 rides) of horse-riding (P2). Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software (ver. 22.0). Descriptive statistics were generated on the general characteristics of the subjects, and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to verify the normality of the data. Because of the lack of normality, the data were analyzed using a nonparametric method and the significance level was set to 0.05. Measurements of the duration of the forward gait cycle (s) in the turn test and the forward gait speed (m/s) in the walk test indicated improved walking ability after the TR program (p < 0.001); the stride length (% height) also increased significantly (p < 0.05). The walk test revealed a significant effect of the program on the duration of the forward gait cycle (p < 0.05), while there were significant improvements on the left and right of the elaborated strides (p < 0.001). No significant improvement in TUG test performance was observed after the TR program. In this study, an 8-week TR program had positive results on gait. Therefore, further research is merited, where TR programs are likely to improve the walking ability of individuals with intellectual disabilities.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.344-349
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• 2022

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to determine whether sit to stand training combined with ultrasound improves the spasticity, muscle strength and gait speed in stroke patients Design: Randomized controlled study Methods: The current study included 40 stroke patients, who were randomly divided into two groups: the sit to stand training with ultrasound (USTS) group (n=20) and the sit to stand training (STS) group (n=20). All the participants underwent 30 sessions of STS training (thirty minutes, five days per week for six weeks). Additionally, the USTS group received ultrasound therapy. The present study evaluated the spasticity of ankle plantar-flexors by the composite spasticity score. The muscle strength and gait speed were evaluated using the handheld dynamometer and the 10-meter walk test, respectively. Results: The USTS group and the STS group showed significant improvements in spasticity, muscle strength and gait speed after the intervention (p<0.05). Significant improvement in the spasticity, muscle strength, and gait speed were observed in the USTS group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The results of the current study imply that sit to stand training combined with ultrasound is a beneficial and effective therapeutic modality that can be employed to improve the spasticity, muscle strength and gait speed in stroke patients.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.163-169
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to verify exercise effect of horse riding exercise according to estimate basal physical fitness and activities of daily living(ADL) function in the aged. Participants were nineteen peoples who have no impediment of activity. They performed horse riding exercise using SRider(Neipplus, Co., Korea) at sixty minutes a day. Exercise has progressed three days a week for eight weeks. We measured trunk flexion, sit up, whole body reaction, leg strength and maximal oxygen uptake as basal physical fitness. Also three meter gait, single stance with eyes opened and single stance with eyes closed as ADL function were estimated once a month. The result of legs strength and whole body reaction showed the higher significantly than before the exercise. Moreover, the result of three meter walking ability only increased significantly among the ADL function. This means that horse riding exercise might be activated continuous muscular contraction with maintained tonus of muscle. We thought that continuous movement of horse riding could be lead to isometric muscle contraction in lower limbs. Our study found that horse riding exercise could improve lower strengths and muscle reaction for exercise effect. Also we suggested that horse riding exercise could be adapted to exercise methods that could provide rehabilitation and treatment enough for the aged or disabled person.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.20-27
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• 2022

Background: The purpose of the present study was to determine whether balance training combined with light touch improves the postural sway and gait speed in stroke patients. Design: Randomized Controlled Trial Study Methods: The current study included 40 stroke patients, who were randomly divided into two groups: the balance training with light touch (LT) group (n=20) and the balance training with heavy touch (HT) group (n=20). Both groups performed balance training on a stable and unstable ground. Additionally, the LT group provided light touch stimulation, and the HT group provided heavy touch stimulation. All the participants underwent 20 sessions of STS training (thirty minutes, five days per week for four weeks). In this study, postural sway was measured using a force platform, and walking speed was measured using a 10 meter walk test. Results: The improvements in postural sway and gait speed were observed to be significantly greater in the LT group, compared to the HT group (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results of the current study imply that balance training combined with light touch is a beneficial and effective therapeutic modality that can be employed to improve the postural sway and gait speed in stroke patients.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.113-118
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• 2022

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of heel-raise-lower exercise on spasticity, strength, and gait speed after the application of tapingin patients with stroke. Design: Randomized controlled study Methods: The participants were randomly divided into the heel raise-lower exercise+taping (HREx+T) group and the heel raise-lower exercise (HREx) group, with 20 participants assigned to each group. Both groups performed heel lifting exercise 100 times a day 5 times a week for 6 weeks. HREx+T group additionally applied taping to the plantar flexor muscles. The spasticity of the ankle plantar flexors was measured using the composite spasticity score. A handheld dynamometer and a 10-m walk test were used to measure plantar flexor strength and gait speed, respectively. Results: Spasticity was significantly more improved in the HREx+T group than in the HREx group (p<0.05). Similarly, plantar flexor strength was significantly more improved in the HREx+T group than in the HREx group (p<0.05). Moreover, participants assigned to the HREx+T group showed significantly greater improvement in gait speed than those in the HREx group(p<0.05). Conclusions: Thus, heel-raise-lower training combined with taping may be used to improve the spasticity, muscle strength and gait speed in stroke patients.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.351-354
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• 2009

Diaphragmatic hernias, whether congenital or acquired (traumatic), are rarely observed in the horse. Acquired diaphragmatic hernias typically occur secondary to trauma or an increase in intraabdominal pressure due to falling, heavy exercise, or parturition. Diaphragmatic herniorrhaphy is difficult to perform in adult horses and the horses with symptomatic diaphragmatic hernias usually die. A 10- year old, 340 kg, Jeju horse (crossbred) broodmare with sudden onset of gait disorder and a moderate emaciation was examined. Findings on physical examination included conjunctivitis, dehydration, shallow breathing, dyspnea, weaken heart beat, lack of auscultatable sounds from the gastrointestinal tract, and anorexia. Rectal temperature was $38.4^{\circ}C$ and respiratory rates were moderately increased. There were slight signs of acute colic. The broodmare died one day after non-specific treatment of fluids, nutriment, antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. The cause of death was strangulation of the small intestine through a diaphragmatic hernia. The rent was about 2 cm in diameter and located in the central right part of diaphragm. Around 60 cm of small intestine was protruded into thoracic cavity through the rent. The cause of the hernia could not be ascertained. The broodmare had been pastured with many other horses, and the groom had not noticed any aggressive behavior among them. It was, however, speculated that trauma by stallion's attack may have been the cause of the diaphragmatic hernia, because the new horse may be the object of behaviors ranging from mild threats to seriously aggressive kicking, squealing, rearing, and biting.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.247-249
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• 2018

A 3-year-old black Thoroughbred colt weighing 500 kg was admitted to the Equine Hospital of Korea Racing Authority (KRA) due to the chronic gait abnormality of the hindlimbs. The history revealed that the patient had run and fallen onto the fence of the farm about at the age of 1 year old and the lameness had been worsening insidiously since the accident. The degree of lameness was 2/5 in accordance with the AAEP lameness grading system in both hindlimbs at hand walking and trot. The lameness was exacerbated at lunging clockwise and counterclockwise on both hindlimbs. The definitive diagnosis of the bilateral osteoarthritis of coxofemoral joint was established using radiography under general inhalation anesthesia. The prognosis was considered to be poor with low expectancy for racing and the colt was expelled from the racecourse eventually. The clinicians are required to consider the possibility of osteoarthritis of coxofemoral joint presented with chronic hindlimb lameness although it is rare. This is the first report on the bilateral osteoarthritis coxofemoral joint in Republic of Korea.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.400-401
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• 2016

The object of this study was to evaluate the possibility and incidence of innate pacer in Jeju raceresource. This peculiar gait occurs naturally in some foreign breeds. To author's knowledge, this is the first report of innate pacers on the Korean native horse. In order to determine the incidence of pacer in Jeju Ponies and Jeju Pony crossbreds, gait analysis and pedigree check were performed at the Let's Run Park Jeju (total 547 ponies and pony crossbred racers) in 2013. Results of this study showed that 16 (8.1%) of the 198 examined Jeju Ponies. However, 349 Jeju Pony crossbreds had no innate pacers. Of the 16 Jeju Pony pacers, 11 males (68.8%) and 5 females (31.2%) are included in the present study. In conclusion, only the Jeju Pony was innate pacers like other foreign breeds. The authors suspect that the causes of the difference of the breeds were origin of the pony and genetic differences.