Interactions between trunk orientation and gait kinetics are proposed to be inevitable for maintaining dynamic balance, and these interactions are unknown for walking on uneven ground. The purpose of this study was to investigate the interaction effects of posture (regular erect, 30°, 50° and 70° trunk flexion) and step category (unperturbed, perturbation, preand post-perturbation) on able-bodi...

[Purpose] This study investigated the effects of gait time and trunk acceleration ratio in old-old adult females during stair climbing. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-five older adult females who were able to walk independently volunteered for this study and were categorized into two age groups (older adults or old-old adults). Gait time and trunk acceleration ratio were measured using an accele...

Athletes are constantly searching for something that will give them a competitive edge. Performance jewelry is one of the latest products on the market designed to improve athletic performance. The most common claims are that wearing this performance jewelry will improve flexibility, balance, and strength. There is considerable marketing of these products, including testimonial evidence by high...

BACKGROUND Feldenkrais Method balance classes have been found to be effective in improving balance in recent studies, but there has been little research into possible mechanisms behind the effectiveness of these classes. Indeed, there has been little research into the content of any balance training classes. OBJECTIVES To analyse the content of a series of Feldenkrais Method balance classes t...

We aimed to review tools used to assess balance in clinical practice in children and adults with cerebral palsy (CP), to describe their content and measurement properties and to evaluate the quality of the studies that have examined these properties. CINAHL, Embase, and PubMed/MEDLINE were searched. The COnsensus-based Standards for selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) was used ...

[Purpose] This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of the balance exercises with a Swiss ball on static and dynamic balance abilities in elderly (≥65 years) subjects. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty elderly subjects with no relevant orthopedic history of a back condition were selected for trunk stabilization exercises with a Swiss ball (Thera-Band, USA). The subjects performed these t...

OBJECTIVE To determine whether weight placed on the trunk in response to directional balance loss would enhance function and stability in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). DESIGN Quasi-experimental study in which subjects served as their own controls. SETTING Research laboratory. PARTICIPANTS Subjects (N=16) age 20 to 65 years with MS recruited through the Northern California Chapter o...

195 Received September 13, 2013; revised and accepted February 14, 2014. Published online March 19, 2014; doi: 10.1620/tjem.232.195. Correspondence: Yijung Chung, P.T., Ph.D., Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health and Welfare, Sahmyook University, P.O.Box. Hwarangro 815, Nowon-gu, Seoul 139-800, Republic of Korea. e-mail: [email protected] Weight-Shift Training Improves Trunk Contr...

[Purpose] This study was aimed at investigating the preliminary therapeutic efficacy and usefulness of canoe game-based virtual reality training for stroke patients. [Subjects and Methods] Ten stroke patients were randomly assigned to an experimental group (EG; n=5) or a control group (CG; n=5). Patients in both groups participated in a conventional rehabilitation program, but those in the EG a...

[Purpose] This study examined the effects of trunk exercises performed on an unstable surface on trunk muscle activation, postural control, and gait speed in stroke patients. [Subjects] Twenty-four participants with stroke were recruited in this study and randomly distributed into experimental (n = 12) and control groups (n = 12). [Methods] Subjects in the experimental group participated in tru...