• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.161-170
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• 2014

PURPOSE: This study concerns the wheelchair-based rehabilitation of elderly people, investigating muscle activity and coordination of upper limbs during wheelchair-based new millennium health gymnastics with varying elbow exercise velocity. METHODS: Twelve elderly people participated in new millennium gymnastics twice per week during 12-weeks. The group was separated into 0.4, 1.0, and 1.6 Hz groups (controlled by the metronome speed). Range of motion was measured by electrogoniometer, electromyography signals used root mean square values. The data application was normalized using reference voluntary contraction (%RVC). Upper limb (wrist and elbow joint) data gathered while standing up after the "falling on hips" was investigated in terms of coordination of angle-angle plots. One-way ANOVA, paired t-test and Scheffe's post hoc comparisons, were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: There were results taken before and after the experiments. The results demonstrated a significant improvement in the triceps brachii and flexor carpi radialis of the 0.4 Hz group (p<.05). There was significant difference in the triceps brachi of the 1 Hz group. No significant differences were found in all muscles of the 1.6 Hz group. Muscle co-activation indexes of the 0.4 Hz group were larger than the others. The 0.4 Hz graph was turning point synchronized clockwise. The 1 Hz graph was out of phase with the negative slope. The 1.6 Hz graph was turning point synchronized counterclockwise, and uncontrolled factor phase was offset on angle-angle plots. CONCLUSION: It is found that improvement of muscle activity and upper limbs coordination of elderly people using wheelchair-based new millennium gymnastics is optimal with elbow exercise velocity with a frequency of 0.4 Hz.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.1-13
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• 2019

Purpose - This study deals with a strategic plan for meeting the value added criteria effectively, which is one of the methods of determining origin used in preferential trade such as FTA. Automobile products, one of the major Korean export items, were selected to give a practical use against the FTA requirements. Design/methodology - This study is based on the value-added criteria of the Korea-US and Korea-EU FTAs that apply various value-added criteria. The Korea-US FTA adopts the RVC method based on the integration, deduction and net cost methods, while the MC method is employed in the Korea-EU FTA. The methodology used in this work is an extended literature review, analysis of the value-added criteria applied to automobile products under Korea-US and Korea-EU FTA with some secondary statistics. Findings - Based on in - depth analysis of the value - added criteria requirements for automobile products stipulated in the Korea - US FTA and the Korea - EU FTA, two strategic considerations are suggested. First is 'appropriate value-added strategy' and the second is 'strategy of changing production and trade structure'. The second strategy is a bit used in Korea but this is not considered best if the first strategy is ignored or forgotten. The second one is meaningful when this becomes inevitable. Research limitations/implications - This study is primarily designed to assist Korean auto mobile industry players exporting to EU and USA but this may help to auto part or material producers in FTA counter party territories being EU or USA as the preferential tariffs are applied on a inter region basis. A further research other than auto mobiles using other major FTAs might be followed later. Originality/value - There has been so far little research on strategic factors to meet the value-added origin requirements. This study, therefore, is expected to contribute facilitating the decision of FTA origin and to improve the utilization of FTA by allowing exporting companies using value added criterion to more smoothly meet origin requirements. This will also enable the tax authorities to utilize the value-added criterion to validate effectively the origin of imports where preferential tariffs are applied.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.81-88
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• 2019

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to examine if there is any correlation between pelvic tilt angle and trunk motion and trunk extensor during trunk forward flexion and to measure trunk motion, onset time of trunk motion, and onset time of trunk extensor activation. Methods : The subjects of this study were 42 healthy adults. The subjects had no back pain due to neurological disease and no experience of back surgery. After pelvic tilt angle was measured, each trunk forward flexion was performed three times. Trunk motion and onset time of trunk motion were measured using Myomotion. Four sensors were used, with one located at the upper thoracic (below $C_7$), the lower thoracic ($T_{12}-L_1$), the sacrum ($S_1$), and at the center of the anterior femur. Onset time of trunk extensors (spinalis, longissimus, gluteus medius, gluteus maximus, biceps femoris, and gastrocnemius) activation was measured using a wireless surface EMG. The EMG amplitude was normalized by using the reference voluntary contraction (RVC). The statistical significance of the results were evaluated using Pearson's correlation test. Results : The correlation between pelvic tilt angle and lumbar motion, onset time of pelvis motion, and onset time of gluteus medius activation was statistically significant in a positive direction (p<.05). The correlation between pelvic tilt angle with pelvis motion, onset time of lumbar motion, and onset time of longissimus activation showed a statistically significant negative correlation (p<.05). Conclusion : The study results provide a significant contribution to our understanding of the lumbar load at the initial stage of trunk flexion. Therefore, it may be possible to provide basic data for evaluation and treatment, such as orthodontic treatment for alignment of the spine and back pain. In addition, it is necessary to focus on normal exercise pattern reeducation as well as pelvic correction during exercise in daily life or in industrial fields.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.105-112
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• 2019

Objective: The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of wearing an ankle weight belt while performing gait in water by focusing on the effect of using ankle weights have on the gait kinematics and the muscle activities for developing optimum training strategies. Method: A total of 10 healthy male university students were recruited for the study. Each participant was instructed to perform 3 gait conditions; normal walking over ground, walking in water chest height, and walking in water chest height while using ankle weights. All walking conditions were set at control speed of $4km/h{\pm}0.05km/h$. The depth of the swimming pool was at 1.3 m, approximately chest height. The motion capture data was recorded using 6 digital cameras and the EMG was recorded using waterproof Mini Wave. From the motion capture data, the following variables were calculated for analysis; double and single support phase (s), swing phase (s), step length (%height), step rate (m/s), ankle, knee, and hip joint angles ($^{\circ}$). From the electromyography the %RVC of the lower limb muscles medial gastrocnemius, rectus femoris, erector spinae, semitendinosus, tibialis anterior, vastus lateralis oblique was calculated. Results: The results show significant differences between the gait time, and step length between the right and left leg. Additionally, the joint angular velocities and gait velocity were significantly affected by the water resistance. As expected, the use of the ankle weights increased all of the lower leg maximum muscle activities except for the lower back muscle. Conclusion: In conclusion, the ankle weights can be shown to stimulate more muscle activity during walking in chest height water and therefore, may be useful for rehabilitation purposes.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.311-319
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• 2019

Purpose: This study was conducted to determine the structural change in knees caused by quadriceps angle and the muscle activity in lower limbs. Indirect intervention was provided by using taping for stability in the ankle joints, which affected patellofemoral pain. Methods: The subjects in this study were 20 patients with patellofemoral pain who visited ${\bigcirc}{\bigcirc}{\bigcirc} $ Hospital in Busan. The visual analogue scale measured the dynamic quadriceps angle and the degree of pain felt by the patients while walking down stairs, which was a known factor of patellofemoral pain. In addition, muscle activities in the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, tibialis anterior, peroneus longus, and biceps femoris, which affect the knees and ankles, were measured using surface electromyography. The muscle activities were converted into %RVC for this study. The data obtained in this study were analyzed with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test using the SPSS Ver. 25.0 statistical program. The significance level ${\alpha}$ was 0.05. Results: The study results showed that the pain and dynamic quadriceps angle were significantly reduced statistically when applying the calcaneus fixation taping (p<0.05). Muscle activity in the lower limbs was significantly decreased in the vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, and tibialis anterior (p<0.05). Conclusion: The summary of the study results verified that the calcaneus fixation taping reduced the pain and dynamic quadriceps angle by providing stability in the ankle joints. It also produced efficient movement due to the difference in lower-limb muscle activity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.71-77
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the level of muscle activation on the cervical erector spinae (CES), lumbar erector spinae (LES), and upper trapezius (UT) according to the sitting postures while using a smartphone in the bathroom. Method: Thirty-two healthy subjects were recruited for this study. The CES, LES, and UT were evaluated by surface electromyography according to two sitting postures while using a smartphone on the toilet seat. A paired t test was performed for the root mean square of reference voluntary contraction (%RVC) comparisons between two sitting postures, and one-way ANOVA was used to compare the three muscle activations within each posture. Results: A comparison between the two sitting postures revealed the muscle activation of both CESs in sitting posture 2 and both LESs in sitting posture 1 to be significantly higher than those of the others. In sitting posture 1, the muscle activation of both LESs was significantly higher than those of the CES and UT. In sitting posture 2, the muscle activation of both CESs was significantly higher than those of the LES and UT. Conclusion: High muscle activation of the CES and LES was observed according to the sitting postures when using smartphone in the restroom. Therefore, long time use of smartphones on a toilet seat should be avoided.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.2253-2260
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• 2020

Background: Patients with low back pain (LBP) experience misalignments in the center of pressure (COP) and muscle imbalances due to frequent onesided posture adjustments to avoid pain. Objectives: To identify the effects of Squat Exercises with Vertical Whole-Body Vibration on the Center of Pressure and Trunk Muscle Activity. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Thirty LBP patients with an imbalance in the COP were sampled and randomly assigned to an experimental group of 15 patients who under went an intervention involving squat exercises with vertical WBV and a control group of 15 patients who were treated via a walking intervention. As pretests before the interventions, the subjects' COP was identified by measuring their stability index (ST), and erector spinae, rectus abdominis, transverse abdominis, gluteus medius muscle activity was analyzed by determining the % reference voluntary contraction (%RVC) value using surface electromyography while sit to stand. After four weeks, a post test was conducted to remeasure the same variables using the same methods. Results: Statistically significant differences were found in the ST (P<.01) and trunk muscle (P<.05, P<.001) in the experimental group before and after the intervention. In terms of the differences between the left- and right-side (RL) muscle activity, only the transverse abdominis (TrA) and gluteus medius (GM) exhibited statistically significant increase (P<.05). A comparison of the groups showed statistically significant differences in the TrA with respect to muscle activity (P<.05) and in the RLTrA and RLGM in terms ofthe difference between left- and right-side muscle activity (P<.01). Conclusion: Squat exercises with vertical WBV produced effective changes in the COP of patients with LBP by reducing muscle imbalances through the delivery of a uniform force. In particular, strengthening the TrA and reducing an imbalance in the GM were determined to be important factors in improving the COP.

• The Journal of Korean society of community based occupational therapy
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.1-8
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• 2017

Objectives : This study was conducted to investigate the activity of the supra and infrahyoid muscles according to the temperature and the amount of water in healthy adults. Methods : The amount of water was set to 3 mL and 20 mL, and the temperature was subdivided into $4^{\circ}C$, $22^{\circ}C$, and $40^{\circ}C$ in order to compare the activity of the supra and infrahyoid muscles in twenty-seven healthy adults. We used the mean value of the activity of the supra and infrahyoid muscles while they were swallowing saliva in order to set the reference voluntary contraction (%RVC). Results : Muscle activity was significantly increased when they swallowed 20 mL of water rather than 3 mL in the left infrahyoid muscles at $4^{\circ}C$, $22^{\circ}C$ and $40^{\circ}C$ (p=.00; p=.00; p=.00), the right infrahyoid muscles at $22^{\circ}C$and $40^{\circ}C$ (p=.01; p=.01), the left suprahyoid muscles at $4^{\circ}C$ (p=.03). Muscle activity of the right suprahyoid muscles was significantly decreased at $40^{\circ}C$ compared to $4^{\circ}C$ and $22^{\circ}C$ when they swallowed 20 mL of water (p=.04). Conclusion : In the future, other variables such as viscosity and taste should be considered, and further studies on patients with impaired nervous system as well as healthy subjects will be needed.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.143-166
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• 2011

This paper describes the characteristics and outline of rules of origin among Korea and USA, EU, ASEAN. The main focus of this paper is to conduct comparative analysis on rules of origin. Rules of origin are used to determine the country of origin of a product for purposes of international trade. There are two common types of rules of origin depending upon application, the preferential and non-preferential rules of origin Non-preferential rules of origin are used to determine the country of origin for certain purposes. The basis for the non-preferential rules originates from the Kyoto convention which states that if a product is wholly obtained or produced completely within one country the product shall be deemed having origin in that country. For a product which has been produced in more than one country, the product shall be determined to have origin in the country where the last substantial transformation took place. To determine exactly what was the last substantial transformation, three general rules are applied : Change of tariff classification(on any level, though 4-digit level is the most common), Value added-rule.(ad-valorem), and Specific process rule. While criteria of wholly obtained or produced in one country is almost similar to those of theses area and countries, in compliance with value percentages of Substantial Transformation, sufficient working or processing, Korea-US FTA adapts 'Regional Value Content', meanwhile Korea-EU FTA adapts 'Import Content' rule. Finally, Korea-US FTA and ASEAN FTA adapt FOB price for the calculation value added, on the other hand Korea-EU FTA adapts EXW price.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.107-112
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• 2015

PURPOSE: This study investigated the effects of lower limb and trunk muscles activation on seat angle and height during sit to stand and stand to sit. METHODS: Subjects were instructed to sit and stand on different angles and heights; $0^{\circ}$(43cm), $5^{\circ}$(48cm), $10^{\circ}$(51cm) and $15^{\circ}$(58cm). Measurements were conducted from sit to stand and stand to sit for external oblique, transversus abdominis, rectus femoris, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius muscle activation by surface EMG. The muscle activation was measured three times for five seconds in each posture, and the %RVC value was calculated after the exclusion of one second before and after this measurement. This calculation standardized the data from each participant so it could be comparatively analyzed. RESULTS: The external oblique, tibialis anterior, and erector spinae muscles showed significant difference in $10^{\circ}$(51cm), $15^{\circ}$(58cm) and $0^{\circ}$(43cm), rectus femoris, in $15^{\circ}$(58cm) and $0^{\circ}$(43cm)(p<.05) during sit to stand. The external oblique, tibialis anterior, and rectus femoris muscles showed significant difference in $0^{\circ}$(43cm) and $15^{\circ}$(58cm), erector spinae and vastus medialis muscles showed significant difference in $10^{\circ}$(51cm), $15^{\circ}$(58cm) and $0^{\circ}$(43cm)(P<.05) during stand to sit. CONCLUSION: The present study findings indicate that the toilet seat angle and height could affect muscle activities of the lower limb and trunk.