RESUMO
Purpose@#This study examined whether various lower extremity exercises using a Swiss ball in the standing position could improve balance, muscle strength, gait, and fall efficacy in stroke patients. @*Methods@#Twenty-one stroke patients were randomly divided into three groups, each with seven participants. For four weeks, experimental group 1 performed various lower extremity exercises using a Swiss ball, while experimental group 2 executed the same exercises without a Swiss ball, and the control group underwent general physical therapy. The subjects’ knee extensor muscle strength, balance, gait, and fall efficacy were evaluated before and after the intervention using portable muscle strength measurement, the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), G-walk, and the Korean Falls Efficacy Scale (K-FES). @*Results@#Knee extensor strength increased significantly in all three groups after the intervention; in particular, a significant increase was seen in experimental groups 1 and 2 compared to the control group. Moreover, all three groups had significantly better BBS scores and higher cadence after the intervention; notably, experimental group 1 had better scores and increased cadence than the control group.Additionally, gait speed was significantly increased in the experimental group 1 than in the control group. The step length of the non-affected leg was also significantly higher in the same group. The K-FES score improved significantly in all three groups, but there was no significant difference between the groups. @*Conclusion@#This study suggests that lower extremity exercises with or without a Swiss ball could be effective interventions to improve muscle strength, balance, gait, and fall efficacy in stroke patients.
RESUMO
Purpose@#This study examined whether mirror therapy could improve the balance, gait, and motor function of patients with subacute stroke. @*Methods@#Thirty-three patients with subacute stroke were divided randomly into three groups: experimental group1, experimental group2, and the control group. The patients in experimental group1 performed a mirror therapy program on the unaffected side of the lower extremities, and the patients in experimental group2 performed mirror therapy on the affected side of the lower extremities. Both groups performed the exercise for 30 minutes per session, five times a week for four weeks. The control group did not receive mirror therapy. BBS, POMA, 10MWT, and the BRS were used to evaluate the balance, the quality of gait, gait speed, and the motor function before and after the intervention. @*Results@#The gait speed increased significantly in the experimental groups1 and 2 after the intervention. The control group showed no significant difference in the gait speed after the intervention. The change in gait speed before and after the intervention showed a significant difference among the groups. Experimental group1 showed a significant increase in the gait speed compared to that of the control group. @*Conclusion@#This study suggests that mirror therapy could be an effective intervention to improve the gait speed of patients with subacute stroke. On the other hand, there was no difference in the effectiveness of mirror therapy and therapeutic exercise on the balance, gait, and motor function.
RESUMO
Purpose@#This study examined whether various lower extremity exercises using a Swiss ball in the standing position could improve balance, muscle strength, gait, and fall efficacy in stroke patients. @*Methods@#Twenty-one stroke patients were randomly divided into three groups, each with seven participants. For four weeks, experimental group 1 performed various lower extremity exercises using a Swiss ball, while experimental group 2 executed the same exercises without a Swiss ball, and the control group underwent general physical therapy. The subjects’ knee extensor muscle strength, balance, gait, and fall efficacy were evaluated before and after the intervention using portable muscle strength measurement, the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), G-walk, and the Korean Falls Efficacy Scale (K-FES). @*Results@#Knee extensor strength increased significantly in all three groups after the intervention; in particular, a significant increase was seen in experimental groups 1 and 2 compared to the control group. Moreover, all three groups had significantly better BBS scores and higher cadence after the intervention; notably, experimental group 1 had better scores and increased cadence than the control group.Additionally, gait speed was significantly increased in the experimental group 1 than in the control group. The step length of the non-affected leg was also significantly higher in the same group. The K-FES score improved significantly in all three groups, but there was no significant difference between the groups. @*Conclusion@#This study suggests that lower extremity exercises with or without a Swiss ball could be effective interventions to improve muscle strength, balance, gait, and fall efficacy in stroke patients.
RESUMO
Purpose@#This study examined whether mirror therapy could improve the balance, gait, and motor function of patients with subacute stroke. @*Methods@#Thirty-three patients with subacute stroke were divided randomly into three groups: experimental group1, experimental group2, and the control group. The patients in experimental group1 performed a mirror therapy program on the unaffected side of the lower extremities, and the patients in experimental group2 performed mirror therapy on the affected side of the lower extremities. Both groups performed the exercise for 30 minutes per session, five times a week for four weeks. The control group did not receive mirror therapy. BBS, POMA, 10MWT, and the BRS were used to evaluate the balance, the quality of gait, gait speed, and the motor function before and after the intervention. @*Results@#The gait speed increased significantly in the experimental groups1 and 2 after the intervention. The control group showed no significant difference in the gait speed after the intervention. The change in gait speed before and after the intervention showed a significant difference among the groups. Experimental group1 showed a significant increase in the gait speed compared to that of the control group. @*Conclusion@#This study suggests that mirror therapy could be an effective intervention to improve the gait speed of patients with subacute stroke. On the other hand, there was no difference in the effectiveness of mirror therapy and therapeutic exercise on the balance, gait, and motor function.