Dae-Hyouk Bang

The effects of action observational training on walking ability in chronic stroke patients: a double-blind randomized controlled trial

Objective: To investigate the effect of action observational training on walking ability with chronic stroke patients. Design: A double-blind randomized controlled trial. Setting: Inpatient rehabilitation hospital. Participants: Thirty chronic stroke patients. Interventions: Patients in both groups underwent treadmill training for 30 minutes. The action observational training group (n = 15) watched a video of treadmill walking actions taken at various speeds before treadmill training for 10 minutes. The control group (n = 15) watched a nature video unrelated to gait training for the same amount of time. All participants received training five times a week for a period of four weeks. Main measures: Timed up and go test, 10-metre walk test, 6-minute walk test and maximal flexed knee angle in the swing phase during walking. Results: There were significant improvements in timed up and go test (–4.47 vs. –2.47 seconds), 10-m walk test (0.35 vs. 0.16 m/s), 6-minute walk test (93.13 vs. 32.53 m) and maximal flexed knee angle in the swing phase during walking (7.11 vs. 4.58 degrees) in the action observational training group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Small to huge effect sizes of 1.27, 0.57, 2.34 and 0.37 were observed for timed up and go test, 10-m walk test, 6-minute walk test, and maximal flexed knee angle in the swing phase during walking, respectively. Conclusion: These results suggest that action observational training is an effective method for improvement of the walking ability in chronic stroke patients.

Effect of Training with Whole Body Vibration on the Sitting Balance of Stroke Patients

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of task-oriented training with whole body vibration (WBV) on the sitting balance of stroke patients. [Subjects] The subjects were 30 stroke patients who were randomly divided into experimental (n1=15) and control (n2=15) groups. [Methods] Subjects in both groups received general training five times per week. Subjects in the experimental group practiced an additional task-oriented training program with WBV, which was performed for 15 minutes, five times per week, for four weeks. The center of pressure (COP) path length and average velocity were used to assess subjects static sitting balance, and the Modified Functional Reach Test (MFRT) was used to assess their dynamic sitting balance. The paired t-test was performed to test the significance of differences between before and after the intervention. The independent t-test was conducted to test the significance of differences between the groups. [Results] Following the intervention, the experimental group showed a significant change in MFRT. [Conclusion] The results of this study suggest that task-oriented training with WBV is feasible and efficacious for stroke patients.

Effects of robot-assisted gait training on spatiotemporal gait parameters and balance in patients with chronic stroke: A randomized controlled pilot trial

BACKGROUND Body weight-supported treadmill training assisted by a robotic gait orthosis is a helpful tool for restoring a symmetrical gait pattern in people with gait discrepancies. OBJECTIVE This studys aim was to compare the effects of robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) versus treadmill gait training (TGT) on spatiotemporal gait parameters, balance, and activities-specific balance confidence with stroke patients. METHODS Eighteen participants with stroke were randomly assigned to RAGT or TGT. Each group underwent twenty sessions (1 h/d, 5 d/wk for 4 weeks). Patients were assessed with gait parameters (gait speed, cadence, step length, and double limb support period) using the GAITRite, the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) score, and the activities-specific balance confidence (ABC) score before and after the intervention. RESULTS Gait speed (P = 0.003), cadence (P = 0.002), step length (P = 0.004), the BBS score (P = 0.048), and the ABC score (P = 0.017) were significantly higher in the RAGT group than in the TGT group, while the double limb support period was significantly lower in the RAGT group (P = 0.043). CONCLUSION RAGT using Lokomat may be more effective than TGT in improving waking ability, balance, and balance confidence in patients with chronic stroke.

Effect of Unstable Surface Training on Walking Ability in Stroke Patients

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of unstable surface training (UST) on walking ability in chronic stroke patients. [Subjects] The subjects were 12 stroke patients who were randomly divided into experimental (n1=6) and control (n2=6) groups. [Methods] The Subjects in both groups performed treadmill training for 30 minutes. The Subjects in the experimental group also performed UST after treadmill training, with the UST being performed for 10 minutes, five times per week, for four weeks. All subjects were evaluated with a 10-meter walk test, Timed Up and Go test and 6-minute walk test. The pared t-test was performed to test the significant differences between before and after the intervention. The independent t-test was conducted to test the significant differences between groups. [Results] Following the intervention, the experimental group showed significant differences in the Timed Up and Go test and 6-minute walk test. [Conclusion] The results of the study suggest that UST is an effective method for improvement of walking ability in chronic stroke patients.

Effect of combination of transcranial direct current stimulation and feedback training on visuospatial neglect in patients with subacute stroke: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

[Purpose] To investigate the effects of a combination of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and feedback training (FT) on subacute stroke patients with unilateral visuospatial neglect. [Subjects] The subjects were randomly assigned to a tDCS + FT group (n=6) and a FT group (n=6). [Methods] Patients in the tDCS + FT group received tDCS for 20 minutes and then received FT for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week for 3 weeks. The control group received FT for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week for 3 weeks. [Results] After the intervention, both groups showed significant improvements in the Motor-Free Visual Perception Test (MVPT), line bisection test (LBT), and modified Barthel index (MBI) over the baseline results. The comparison of the two groups after the intervention revealed that the rDCS + FT group showed more significant improvements in MVPT, LBT, and MBI. [Conclusion] The results of this study suggest that tDCS combined with FT has a positive effect on unilateral visuospatial neglect in patients with subacute stroke.

The effects of modified constraint-induced movement therapy combined with trunk restraint in subacute stroke: a double-blinded randomized controlled trial

Objective: To investigate the effects of a modified constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIMT) with trunk restraint in subacute stroke patients. Design: Double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Setting: Rehabilitation clinic. Participants: Eighteen subacute stroke patients with moderate motor impairment. Interventions: The patients were treated with either mCIMT combined with trunk restraint or mCIMT for 5 days per week for 4 weeks. The mCIMT combined with trunk restraint group participated in structured intervention sessions for use of the more affected upper-extremity in task-oriented activities with trunk restraint for 1 hour per day, and with the less affected upper-extremity restrained for 5 hours per day weeks. The mCIMT group followed the same protocol without trunk restraint. Main outcome measures: The outcome measures included the action research arm test (ARAT), the Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA), the modified Barthel index (MBI), the motor activity log (MAL) and the maximal elbow extension angle during reaching (MEEAR) were completed at baseline and post intervention. Results: The mCIMT combined with trunk restraint group exhibited more improved in the ARAT, FMA, MBI, MAL and MEEAR compared with the mCIMT group. Statistical analyses showed significantly different in ARAT (P = 0.046), FMA (P = 0.008), MBI (P = 0.001), MAL-AOU (P = 0.024), MAL-QOM (P = 0.010) and MEEAR (P = 0.001) between groups. Conclusions: These results suggest that mCIMT combined with trunk restraint is more helpful to improve upper-extremity function than mCIMT only in subacute stroke patients with moderate motor impairment.

Effects of modified constraint-induced movement therapy combined with trunk restraint in chronic stroke: A double-blinded randomized controlled pilot trial.

BACKGROUND Reducing the compensatory mechanism by restraining the unnecessary movement may be helpful in relearning the upper-limb movement. OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of a modified constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIMT) with trunk restraint (TR) in chronic stroke patients with moderate impairment. METHODS Eighteen participants with hemiparesis were randomly assigned to mCIMT + TR or mCIMT. Each group underwent 20 (1 h/d) intervention session (5 d/wk for 4 weeks). Patients were assessed with the action research arm test (ARAT), the Fugl-Meyer assessment upper extremity (FMA-UE), the modified Barthel index (MBI), and the motor activity log (MAL-AOU and MAL-QOM). RESULTS The mCIMT combined with trunk restraint group exhibited greater changes in the ARAT, FMA, MBI, and MAL (MAL-AOU and MAL-QOM) compared with the mCIMT group. Statistical analyses showed significantly different in ARAT (Z = -2.17, P = 0.03), FMA-UE (Z = -2.49, P = 0.01), MBI (Z = -2.44, P = 0.02), MAL-AOU (Z = -2.17, P = 0.03), and MAL-QOM (Z = -2.17, P = 0.03) between groups. CONCLUSION These finding suggest that mCIMT combined with trunk restraint is more helpful to improve upper-extremity function than mCIMT only in patient with chronic stroke.

Effects of body awareness training on mild visuospatial neglect in patients with acute stroke: a pilot randomized controlled trial

[Purpose] This study aimed to investigate the effects of body awareness training (BAT) on mild visuospatial neglect in patients following acute stroke. [Subjects] The subjects were 12 stroke patients randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n1=6) or control group (n2=6). [Methods] The experimental group underwent BAT for 15 minutes and then task-oriented training for 30 minutes a day, five times a week for three weeks. The control group underwent task-oriented training for 30 minutes a day, five times a week for three weeks. Assessments were made using the Motor-free Visual Perception Test (MVPT), Line Bisection Test (LBT), and modified Barthel index (MBI). [Results] Following the interventions, the experimental group showed a significant change in MVPT, LBT, and MBI scores. [Conclusion] The results of this study suggest the feasibility and suitability of BAT with task-oriented training for mild visuospatial neglect in patients with acute stroke.

Comparison of the effect of weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing positions on knee position sense in patients with chronic stroke

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the knee joint proprioception in weight-bearing (WB) and non-weight-bearing (NWB) positions and to study the difference between the methods in chronic stroke patients. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were 15 stroke patients who were randomly scheduled to perform both positions by a physical therapist not involved in the study. The subjects performed the positions (WB and NWB) based on a randomized controlled cross-sectional design. WB subjects were positioned in one-leg standing to assess the knee joint position sense. NWB subjects were instructed to sit comfortably in a chair and maintain the knees at 90° of flexion with the leg out of the plinth. [Results] The results revealed that the WB position showed a significant difference in knee position sense. The proprioception sense in the WB position was a higher than that in the NWB position. [Conclusion] The knee proprioception of chronic stroke patients differs between the weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing positions.

Effect of body awareness training on balance and walking ability in chronic stroke patients: a randomized controlled trial

[Purpose] To investigate the effects of body awareness training on balance and walking ability in chronic stroke patients. [Subjects] The subjects were randomly assigned to a body awareness training group (n=6) and a control group (n=6). [Methods] Patients in the body awareness training group received body awareness training for 20 minutes, followed by walking training for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week for 4 weeks. The control group received walking training for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week for 4 weeks. [Results] After the intervention, both groups showed significant improvements in the Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go Test, and 10 m walk test compared with baseline results. The body awareness training group showed more significant improvements in the Berg Balance Scale and Timed Up and Go Test than the control group. There was no significant difference in the 10 m walk test between the groups. [Conclusion] The results of this study suggest that body awareness training has a positive effect on balance in patients with chronic stroke.