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Patients with PD exhibited significant differences in all variables of interest compared to the controls. The step length and foot clearance height as well as the TUG test during the turning phase may be helpful for measuring turning in patients with different severity levels of PD.

Background: This study aimed to examine the effect of a 12-week progressive trunk resistance and stretching exercise program on fall-related factors in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Methods: A randomized study assessed a progressive trunk resistance and stretching exercise program over a 12-week period. A total of 17 patients with PD participated and wererandomly allocated into an exercise group (n = 10) or a control group (n = 7). Participants in the exercise group completed the exercise program in 60- to 90-min sessions for three days per week. Primary and secondary outcome measures included the trunk mobility scale, functional fitness test, standing balance, and sit-to-walk test. Results: The exercise group showed improvements in functional fitness, trunk mobility, standing balance, and dynamic stability compared with the control group (all p < 0.05). The 2.44 m timed up and go test (odds ratio (OR): 0.125) and the 2 min step test (OR: 10.584) of the functional fitness test, and the first-step length (OR: 3.558) and first-toe clearance height (OR: 4.777) of the sit-to-walk test, were different between the groups following the exercise program. Conclusion: This 12-week exercise program improved fall-related factors in patients with PD and may lead to prevention of fall-related injuries.

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[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic ankle instability and induced mediolateral muscular fatigue of the ankle on competitive Taekwondo athletes during single-leg drop landing. [Subjects and Methods] Fourteen competitive taekwondo athletes with chronic ankle instability and 14 healthy adults participated, and they performed three single-leg drop landings from a 40-cm height before and after induced fatigue. Ankle angular position, peak vertical ground reaction force, loading rate, eccentric work, and contribution were calculated and analyzed. [Results] Athletes had lower ankle eversion and abduction angle than the controls did at maximum knee flexion both pre- and post-fatigue. Furthermore, athletes had lower eccentric work of the hip than the controls did post-fatigue, and they had lower eccentric work of the knee than controls at both pre- and post-fatigue. The eccentric work of the knee increased while, peak vertical ground reaction force decreased in both, athletes as well as controls post-fatigue. [Conclusion] Taekwondo athletes with chronic ankle instability who participate in a high-intensity training program are continuously exposed to potential injuries of their ankle or knee joints. Therefore, competitive taekwondo athletes with chronic ankle instability should limit their participation in regular training until they complete the rehabilitation process.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study is to investigate postural stability in such group of taekwondo athletes by measuring the center-of-pressure variables in both the injured limb and uninjured limb during a single-leg stance with eyes closed. [Subjects and Methods] The study includes eleven taekwondo athletes with repetitive ankle sprains (RASs) and eleven healthy taekwondo athletes (the controls) at the college level participating in taekwondo training sessions. For the controls, the “injured” limb was taken to be the left limb. [Results] The postural stability measured in both the anteroposterior and mediolateral directions using center-of-pressure variables was lower in the uninjured limb of the RAS group than in the control group during a single-leg stance with eyes closed. However, for the injured limb, there were no significant differences between the two groups. Furthermore, compared to the RAS group, the control group had higher stability in the injured limb than in the uninjured limb. [Conclusion] Individuals with RASs should ensure improvements in their proprioceptive and neuromuscular functions, as well as muscle strength, through an adequate period of rehabilitation to reduce the risk of re-injury.

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The purpose of this study was to investigate the club characteristics and vertical force distribution of pitch and lob shots of 20 and 30 m in female golfers from the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (age: 21.3 AE 1.7 years; height: 161.5 AE 4.4 cm; body weight: 60.3 AE 5.6 kg; career: 7.5 AE 1.7 years). Ten infrared cameras and two force plates were used to record the swing of each golfer. The test golf swings included a pitch and lob shot to target distances of 20 and 30 m. The carry distance for the 20 and 30 m shots was affected by club shaft angle, loft angle, projected ball angle, and club head speed. Pitch and lob shots were distinguished by ball position, club shaft angle, loft angle, vertical force distribution, projected ball angle, and club head speed. For the lob shot, the ball was positioned about 6 cm toward the left foot from the center of the heel marker, compared to the ball position in the pitch shot for the 20 and 30 m shots. In addition, the loft angle was 10 wider and the vertical force of the right foot was 4% greater than for the pitch shot. The projection angle of the ball for the 30 m lob shot was 57 , while that for the pitch shot was about 47. Taken together, the withinplayer between-task design and the realistic well-practiced goal-directed experimental tasks provided an opportunity to determine how individual players modify their control strategies to regulate shot distance and ball trajectory when using the same club. These findings have practical implications for coaches and for golfers aiming to improve their short game ability.