[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between the Berg
Balance Scale (BBS) and acceleration of postural sway in the Clinical Test of Sensory
Interaction and Balance (CTSIB) by using a triaxial accelerometer for quantitative
assessment. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-seven stroke patients participated in this
study. Balance ability was evaluated with the BBS, and postural sway was evaluated with a
triaxial accelerometer. The data were then analyzed for frequency and correlation by using
statistical software (SPSS 18.0). [Result] Acceleration in left-right and forward-backward
directions in all conditions of the CTSIB assessment showed a significant correlation with
BBS assessment. Acceleration in Signal Vector Magnitude values in condition 3 of the CTSIB
assessment showed a significant correlation with BBS assessment. [Conclusion] This study
revealed that postural sway represented balance ability as acceleration in the
quantitative measurement of kinematic analysis. This finding suggests that the triaxial
accelerometer could be used as a measurement tool in clinical conditions.
[Purpose] The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of ankle
strengthening exercises combined with motor imagery training and those of ankle
strengthening exercises alone in stroke patients. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty stroke
patients were randomly assigned to one of the following two groups: experimental group (15
patients) and control group (15 patients). The experimental group underwent motor imagery
training for 15 minutes and ankle joint strengthening exercises for 15 minutes, while the
control group underwent only ankle joint strengthening exercises for 30 minutes. Each
session and training program was implemented four times a week for 4 weeks. The timed up
and go (TUG) test score, affected-side weight bearing ratio, and affected-side front/rear
weight bearing ratio were assessed. [Results] Both groups demonstrated improvement on the
TUG test, and in the affected-side weight bearing ratios, affected-side front/rear weight
bearing ratios, and balance errors. The experimental group demonstrated greater
improvement than the control group in all variables. [Conclusion] Motor imagery training
is an effective treatment method for improving static balance ability in stroke
patients.
[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to compare the changes in trunk and shoulder
angles, and reaction forces under the two hands elicited by different hand base of support
positions during sitting pivot transfer. [Subjects and Methods] Eighteen unimpaired
subjects performed independent sitting pivot transfer. Subjects performed sitting pivot
transfer between an initial seat to a target seat by only using their hands positioned at
the same height as and lower than the seat position. Trunk and shoulder kinematics, and
reaction forces on the trailing and leading hands were calculated. Mean peak joint angles
and forces were compared between the hand positions using the pared t-test for the lift
phase of the transfer. [Results] There were significant increases in the trunk angles of
forward and lateral flexion, even though rotation decreased while transferring in the
lower hand position. Increased shoulder flexion, anterior/posterior forces and reduced
lateral forces were also shown. [Conclusion] Placing the hands of the supporting arms
lower than the seat position during sitting pivot transfer was identified as having
biomechanical advantages. Therefore, the lower hand position can be recommended as an
effective and safe method for sitting pivot transfer by patients with spinal cord injury
and can be utilized as a reference data for considering the appropriate height of aids for
a wheelchair.
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