• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.82-87
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• 2010

Purpose : This study was investigate The correlations between the Balance and the knee muscle power and the ankle muscle power. Methods : This studied selected 9cases of the healthy persons. Each measure of muscle power used Bio-dex pro-3. Balance measure was used balance-meter the ability to measure Ant-post, lateral, overall balance. Result : 1. Knee flexor and extensor causes ankles that plantar flexion strength and high correlation r= .745, r= .825 have, Ankle dorsi flexor strength and a bit of correlation r= .249, r= .221) have. 2. Ankle plantar flexor strength and overall balance and correlation was the r= .204, Ankle dorsi flexor strength and lat. balance and correlation was the r= .314. 3. Knee extensor strength and overall balance and correlation was the r=.212.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.225-233
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• 2008

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate changes of muscle strength, ROM and proprioceptive function as before & after ankle taping in soccer players. For this study fifteen sports club whose had no ankle injuries were volunteered. Methode : Fifteen healthy male in soccer players participated in this study. Biodex pro system3 was used to measure isokinetic muscle strengths at $60^{\circ}$/sec angular velocity. Performances of ankle joint were measured peak torque, total work, average power, total work. To measure proprioceptive function used goniometer. Results : 1. proprioceptive sensation error were significantly differences by before & after taping(p<.05). 2. Compare of total work of dorsi flexion plantar flexion weren't significantly differences by before & after taping(p>.05). 3. Compare of average power of dorsi flexion weren't significantly differences by before & after taping(p>.05). 4. Compare average power of plantar flexion were significantly differences by before & after taping(p<.05). 5. Compare average peak torque of dorsi flexion weren't significantly differences by before & after taping(p>.05). 6. Compare average peak torque of plantar flexion were significantly differences by before & after taping(p<.05). Conclusion : Taping can have propriocetive aberrative angular measure, power & peak torque of plantar flexion were significantly differences. But, total work of dorsi flexion plantar flexion and power & peak torque of dorsi flexion weren't significantly differences.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2011

Purpose:This study was designed to investigate difference in isokinetic muscle strength in the knee extensor muscle and characteristic differences in muscle strength between males and females through the ankle joint angles. Methods: Seventy-four subjects participated in this study. There were two groups: 36 males and 38 females. The mean age of the men was 24.58 years and women was 23.74 years. Subjects were seated on a CON-TREX LP (leg press) lean to back of chair, and there bodies were fixed by straps with the hip joint at an angle of $130^{\circ}$. After randomly fixing the ankle joint at $0^{\circ}$, $20^{\circ}$, and $40^{\circ}$ of plantar flexion (PF) in range of full extension of knee joint. We studied force max average, force max average/kg, power average, and total work through the angle of the ankle joint when the knee joint was extended from $90^{\circ}$ to $180^{\circ}$. Results: In the male group, all maximum measured value showed at the ankle joint $0^{\circ}$, all minimum measured value showed at $40^{\circ}$ PF (p<0.01). In the female group, all maximum measured value showed at the ankle joint $20^{\circ}$ PF, especially the power average increased significantly. All minimum measured value showed $40^{\circ}$ PF (p<0.01). Conclusion: There are differences between males and females in isokinetic muscle strength of the knee extensor through ankle joint angles in healthy adults. Males and Females have different characteristics of muscle strength through the ankle joint angles.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze muscle function and EMG of the trunk and the lower extremity in short and long distance athletes and in order to determine difference in peak torque per unit weight, muscle power per unit weight, endurance ratio, and %MVIC classified by muscle. For that purpose, isokinetic muscle function tests for waist, knee, and ankle joints and EMG measurements for the trunk and the lower extremity muscle with running motion were conducted for 7 short and long distance high school athletes respectively. The study over muscle function of waist, knee, and ankle joints indicates that peak torque per unit weight of short distance athletes is higher than that of long distance athletes in extension and flexion of waist joint, plantar flexion of right ankle joint, and dorsi flexion of left ankle joint. In case of the muscle power per unit weight of short distance athletes is also higher than long distance athletes in waist, knee, and ankle joints. No difference in endurance ratio of waist, knee, and ankle joints between the two groups was founded. The results of the test over EMG of the trunk and the lower extremity show that %MVIC of erector spinae, rectus femoris, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, and tibialis anterior is higher than that of long distance athletes in support phase. The above results proved to be the same in flight phase except for %MVIC of medial gastrocnemius. In other words, %MVIC of medial gastrocnemius for short distance athletes turned out to be higher than that of long distance athletes in flight phase.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.82-89
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• 2010

Ankle-foot orthosis with an artificial pneumatic muscle which is intended for the assistance of plantarfelxion torque was developed. In this study, power pattern of the device in the various pneumatics and the effectiveness of the system were investigated. The pneumatic power was provided by ankle-foot orthosis controlled by user‘s physiological signal, that is, muscular stiffness in soleus muscle. This pneumatic power can assist plantarflexion torque of ankle joint. The subjects performed maximal voluntary isokinetic plantarflexion motion on a biodexdynamometer in different pneumatics, and they completed three conditions: 1) without wearing the orthosis, 2) wearing the orthosis with artificial muscles turned off, 3) wearing the orthosis activated under muscular stiffness control. Through these experiments, we confirmed the effectiveness of the orthosis and muscular stiffness control using the analyzing isokinetic plantarflexion torque. The experimental results showed that isokinetic torques of plantarflexion motion of the ankle joints gradually increased in incremental pneumatic. The effectiveness of the orthosis was -7.26% and the effectiveness of the muscular stiffness control was 17.83% in normalized isokinetic plantarflexion torque. Subjects generated the less isokinetic torques of the ankle joints in wearing the orthosis with artificial muscles turned off, but isokinetic torques were appropriately reinforced in condition of wearing the orthosis activated under muscular stiffness control(17.83%) compared to wearing the orthosis(-7.26%). Therefore, we respect that developed powered orthosis is applied in the elderly that has weak muscular power as the rehabilitation equipment.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.41 no.8
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• pp.771-782
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• 2017

This paper describes the development of a wearable robot to assist ankle power for the elderly. Previously developed wearable robots have generally used motors and gears to assist muscle power during walking. However, the combination of motor and reduction gear is heavy and has limitations on the simultaneous control of stiffness and torque due to the friction of the gear reducer unlike human muscles. Therefore, in this study, Mckibben pneumatic muscle, which is lighter, safer, and more powerful than an electric motor with gear, was used to assist ankle joint. Antagonistic actuation using a pair of pneumatic muscles assisted the power of the soleus muscles and tibialis anterior muscles used for the pitching motion of the ankle joint, and the model parameters of the antagonistic actuator were experimentally derived using a muscle test platform. To recognize the wearer's walking intention, foot load and ankle torque were calculated by measuring the pressure and the center of pressure of the foot using force and linear displacement sensors, and the stiffness and the torque of the pneumatic muscle joint were then controlled by the calculated ankle torque and foot load. Finally, the performance of the developed ankle power assistive robot was experimentally verified by measuring EMG signals during walking experiments on a treadmill.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.445-452
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• 2001

The purpose of this study to compare the muscle performances (peak torque (PT), relative strength (RS), average power (AP), and total work (TW)) between taping group and non-taping group after 1 hour extensive exercise. Twenty healthy male subjects were evaluated in this study. Each subject was divided with taping(n=10) and non-taping group (n=10) randomly. Muscle performances were measured at 60 degree/sec and 180 degree/sec on the Cybex 770. The PT, RS, AP, and TW were measured before and after 1 hour extensive exercise. The results showed that taping group demonstrated significantly higher PT, RS, AP, and TW during ankle dorsiflexion and plantar flexion at 60 degree/sec than those of non-taping group, except for total work during ankle plantar flexion. At the 180 degree/sec, PT and RS was significantly higher during ankle dorsiflexion and plantar flexion in taping group than in non-taping group. This results suggest that lower leg taping could be useful to maintain muscle performances during sport activities.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.538-546
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• 2015

This paper describes an intelligent ankle assistive robot which provides assistive power to reduce ankle torque based on an analysis of ankle motion and muscle patterns during walking on level and sloped floors. The developed robot can assist ankle muscle power by driving an electric geared motor at the exact timing through the use of an accelerometer that detects gait phase and period, and a potentiometer to measure floor slope angle. A simple muscle assistive link mechanism is proposed to convert the motor torque into the foot assistive force. In particular, this mechanism doesn't restrain the wearer's ankle joint; hence, there is no danger of injury if the motor malfunctions. During walking, the link mechanism pushes down the top of the foot to assist the ankle torque, and it can also lift the foot by inversely driving the linkage, so this robot is useful for foot drop patients. The developed robot and control algorithm are experimentally verified through walking experiments and EMG (Electromyography) measurements.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.142-150
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• 2015

Purpose: Restoration of ankle stability through the strengthening exercise of peroneus muscles is considered an important factor for achievement of successful outcomes, in the rehabilitation program following ankle ligament injuries. However, there were few definitive data on normal muscle strength, including eversion power by peroneus muscles. This study was conducted to evaluate the muscle strength of ankle joint measured using an isokinetic dynamometer in normal Koreans. Materials and Methods: Sixty adults (120 ankles) were recruited and divided into three groups (20 in their twenties, 20 in thirties, and 20 in forties). Each group consisted of 10 males and 10 females. The selection criteria were no history of ankle injury and no evidence of instability. The peak torque, total work, and deficit ratio were measured using the Biodex$^{TM}$ (Biodex Medical Systems). Differences in muscle strength by age, gender and dominant versus non-dominant side were analyzed. Results: The peak torque of dorsiflexion was average 31.5 Nm at $30^{\circ}/s$ of angular velocity and 18.8 Nm at $90^{\circ}/s$; average 69.3 Nm ($30^{\circ}/s$) and 42.4 Nm ($90^{\circ}/s$) on plantarflexion; average 19.6 Nm ($30^{\circ}/s$) and 10.8 Nm ($90^{\circ}/s$) on inversion; average 12.9 Nm ($30^{\circ}/s$) and 8.0 Nm ($90^{\circ}/s$) on eversion. The deficit ratio of strength in women was average 61.1% of men on dorsiflexion; average 66.2% on plantarflexion; average 48.5% on inversion; average 55.4% on eversion. The deficit ratio in non-dominant foot was average 88.6% of dominant foot on dorsiflexion; average 90.1% on plantarflexion; average 85.1% on inversion; average 85.6% on eversion. Conclusion: The muscle strength of the ankle joint showed a tendency to weaken with age. There were significant differences in muscle strength by gender and dominancy. Further studies for comparison of patients with ankle instability, a comparison between before and after surgery for instability, the correlation between clinical outcomes and the recovery in muscle strength will be needed.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.55-62
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• 2005

This study examined the effect of ergonomic heel rest that was designed for drivers who have physical handicap in the low leg muscles or have to drive prolonged hours with frequent foot pedaling. An experiment was designed to test the ergonomic heel rest with traditional foot pedal. Forty subjects participated in the experiment. Electromyography(EMG) was used to monitor the muscle activity and fatigue of right leg, and Electro-goniometer was used to measure the ranges of motions of the knee and ankle. A simulator of driver's seat was built for the experiment and the heel rest was installed on it. In order to examine the low muscle activity and range of motion, subjects used the foot pedal for 15 minutes repetitively for each experimental condition. Another 15 minutes test without the heel rest was also performed for comparison. The Root Mean Square(RMS) and Mean Power Frequency(MPF) Shift were used to quantify the level of muscle activity and local muscle fatigue. In results, statistically significant decreases of muscle activity and fatigue were found in all the low leg muscles. The range of motion of the knee and ankle joint also decreased when the heel rest was used. The mechanism of the heel rest effect was discussed in this study. This type of heel rest can be applied to real driving situation after ensuring the safety, or overcoming the psychological discomfort possibly due to unfamiliarity.