• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.24 no.6 s.81
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• pp.495-500
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• 2003

The purpose of this investigation was to study the kinematics of joints between the foot segments based on computer graphic model during the stance? phase of walking. In the model, all joints were assumed to act as monocentric. single degree of freedom hinge joints. The motion of foot was captured by a video collection system using four cameras. The model fitted in an individual subject was simulated with this motion data. The range of motion of the first tarsometatarsal joint was $-8^{\circ}\;\~\;-13^{\circ}$, and the first metatarsophanlangeal joint was $-13^{\circ}\;\~\;-48^{\circ}$. The kinematic data of tarsometatarsal joint and metatarsophanlangeal joint were similar to the previous data. Therefore, our method based on the graphical computer model is considered useful.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2023

Objective: This study identifies the difference among the heights of a chair's backrest (High, Mid, No), the biomechanical changes chair users undergo over time, and the variables that can measure musculoskeletal disorders, eventually providing information on the appropriate type of backrest. Method: Eleven healthy subjects in their 20s and 30s who had no experience with musculoskeletal disorders or surgical operations within the last 6 months participated in this study. Computer typing tasks were randomly designated and performed according to the type of chair backrest, and evaluation was performed for Flexion-Relaxation Ratio (FRR) analysis after the computer typing tasks. This study used eight infrared cameras (sampling rate: 100 Hz) and nine-channel electromyography (sampling rate: 1,000 Hz). ANOVA with repeated measures was conducted to verify the results, with the statistical significance level being α = .05. Results: Although there was no significant difference in craniovertebral angle (CVA), this study showed time and interaction effects depending on the height of the backrest (p<.05). When working without the backrest, the head-spine angle was lower compared to the chairs with backrest, based on the computer work. As for the head angle, the higher the back of the chair was, the less the head flexion and the body angle became, whereas the body flexion became less when there was a backrest. In addition, the body flexion increased over time in all types of backrests (p<.05). The muscle activity of the upper body tended to be high in the high backrest chair. On the other hand, a lower muscle activity was found with a low backrest. Conclusion: These results show that a chair is more ergonomic when the body angle is correctly set without bending and when it is supported by a low backrest. Accordingly, this study determines that the backrest affects shoulder and neck musculoskeletal disorders during typing and that medium-height backrest chairs can help prevent musculoskeletal disorders, contrary to the expectation that high-backrest chairs are preferable.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.133-144
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• 2024

Objective: Neuromuscular training may often result in an incomplete improvement of biomechanical risk factors associated with non-contact ACL injury. This study aimed to investigate the effects of reactive neuromuscular training (RNT) on dynamic postural control of the lower extremity during single-leg drop landing (SLDL) in comparison with conventional neuromuscular training (CNT). Method: Twenty-eight recreational female athletes were randomized to a CNT group (n=15) or a RNT group (n=13). All participants performed SLDL for three-dimensional motion analysis before and after CNT and RNT. The kinematic variable was calculated from before 50 milliseconds (ms) to after 100 ms initial contact: joint angle (degree). The kinetic variable was calculated from initial contact to after 100 ms: internal net joint moment (Nm/kg). Time series curve for normalized data was represented for group means and associated 95% confidence intervals. Effect sizes using Cohen's d was also calculated. Results: In within-group differences, the CNT group showed decreased knee flexion angle (0~100% of the task) and decreased knee valgus angle (0~50% of the task) after the intervention, whereas the RNT group showed increased hip flexion angle (0~14% of the task), decreased hip adduction angle (0~100% of the task), and decreased knee valgus angle (0~100% of the task) after the intervention. In between-group differences, the RNT group exhibited more hip flexion angle (0~49, 61~91% of the task), more knee flexion angle (0~100% of the task), and less knee valgus angle (0~55% of the task) than the CNT group. Conclusion: These findings suggest that both training intervention programs modified dynamic posture of the hip and knee during SLDL. Therefore, combining a neuromuscular training program with RNT technique would be more efficient for future injury prevention efforts.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.503-517
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• 2016

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of 3 dimensional contoured pillow through analyzing contact pressure and to suggest its design guidelines through analyzing the posture of head and neck area. Background: The quality of sleep is a very important factor closely related with human's health. To improve the quality of sleep, the verification of design factors affecting the posture of the head and neck is needed, and a pillow design that can induce proper posture is required. Method: This study measured the contact pressures of the two reference groups (bead and cotton pillows) as a method to evaluate the design effectiveness of the contoured pillow. This study proposed 3-dimensional design guidelines by drawing anthropometry (head length) affecting cervical curvature angle (CCA) through the measurement of the participants' cervical curvature angles. Results: In the design effectiveness evaluation, the contact pressure of cervical region was higher than that of a reference group (cotton pillow), and contract area increased, and contract pressure decreased in the shape distributing the occipital region's body pressure. This study proposed pillow's cervical supporting height by percentile of a head length [head length (%tile) (cervical supporting height) affecting the posture of the head and neck: 14.6cm (5%tile) (6.2cm), 15.5cm (25%tile) (6.7cm), 16.4cm (50%tile) (7.1cm), and 19.3cm (75%tile) (8.9cm)]. Conclusion: This study confirmed the contoured pillow's design effectiveness maintaining cervical angle comfortable to sleep with the shape supporting the cervical vertebrae and by reducing the contact load of the occipital region. Also, this study proposed pillow design guidelines based on the 3-dimensional contoured pillow design effectiveness, through which the study laid the foundation for pillow design in a systematic method. Application: The results of this study are expected to be utilized as the basis data by which the optimum pillow type and pillow design according to main percentile can be standardized.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.38 no.10
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• pp.1147-1155
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• 2014

Biomechanical models are often used to predict muscle and joint forces in the human body. For estimation of muscle forces, the body and muscle properties have to be known. However, these properties are difficult to measure and differ from person to person. Therefore, it is necessary to predict the change in muscle forces depending on the body and muscle properties. The objective of the present study is to develop a numerical procedure for estimating the muscle forces in the human lower extremity under uncertainty of body and muscle properties during rising motion from a seated position. The human lower extremity is idealized as a multibody system in which eight Hill-type muscle force models are employed. Each model has four degrees of freedom and is constrained in the sagittal plane. The eight muscle forces are determined by minimizing the metabolic energy consumption during the rising motion. Uncertainty analysis is performed using a first-order reliability method. The one-standard-deviation range of agonistic muscle forces is calculated to be about 150-300 N.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.279-291
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• 2015

Objective: The purpose of the study is to evaluate appropriate weight for aged farmers in manually handling livestock feed in bags using ergonomic methods. Background: In the livestock industry in South Korea, despite the trend of aging of labor manpower, heavy items are still manually handled in many farms. In particular, among stockbreeding works, the handling of feed in bags weighing 25~30kg is reported as a cause of frequent injuries and musculoskeletal system diseases. However, studies on the standard for recommended weight allowed considering the physical characteristics of aged farmers older than 60 years with greatly decreased physical strength and muscle strength are insufficient. Method: To evaluate appropriate weight for handling of heavy livestock feed in bags, physical techniques for measuring recognized levels of physical work loads, the NLE (NIOSH lifting equation) a method that is an observation type technique, and an ergonomic modeling technique to predict compressive force imposed on L5/S1 were used. Subjects who participated in the experiment were organized into two groups of males/females with mean age exceeding 60 years, and lifting tasks were evaluated for nine weight levels. Results: Based on the results of psychophysical measurement, females showed a tendency of more drastic increases compared to males when weight was over 19kg. The results of estimation of regression models for the weight, 18.0 kg ($r^2=0.97$) and 15.3kg ($r^2=0.97$) were evaluated as stable load for males and females, respectively. In addition, both the observation type evaluation and ergonomic model evaluation showed stable loads in a range of 15~18kg. Conclusion: Given the results of the study, the weight of the feed in bags currently distributed to farms can become a cause of not only overexertion but also farm work related disasters such as musculoskeletal disorders and safety accidents. Providing livestock feed in bags weighing not more than 19kg for aged farmers is judged desirable, and managerial improvement for this matter is considered necessary. Application: The results of the present study can be utilized as useful data for institutional improvement of the weight of livestock feed in bags.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.25 no.5 s.52
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• pp.543-555
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• 1995

In the orthopedic therapy, the biomechanical analysis of the appliance is necessary to get a desirable orthopedic effect. The purpose of this study was to investigate the desirable direction and application position of the protraction force. The protraction force of 500g was applied to the first premolar or to the first molar. The direction of force application was paralell or $20^{\circ}$ downward to the occlusal plane respectively. The stress distribution and the displacement within the maxilla was analyzed by a 3-dimensional finite element method. The findings obtained were as follows 1. Protraction forces caused a counterclockwise rotation of the maxilla. 2. The degree of maxillary rotation was less when the force was applied $20^{\circ}$ downward direction to the occlusal plane than when applied to the parallel direction. 3. The degree of rotation of maxilla was greater when the parallel force was applied to the 1st premolar than when applied to the first molar, whereas it was greater when force is applied $20^{\circ}$ downward than at the first premolar. In conclusion, the $20^{\circ}$ downward protraction from the first premolar induced the least counterclockwise rotation of the maxilla and was thought as the desirable direction and application position of the protraction force.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.41-52
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• 2009

The surface treatment of titanium implant could bring out the biochemical bonding between bone and implant. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the biomechanical bone response of Mg-ion implanted implants with plasma source ion implantation method. Twelve New Zealand white rabbits were included in this study. Each rabbit received one control fixture (blasted with resorbable blasting media, RBM) and three types of Mg ion implanted fixtures in tibiae. The implants were left in place for 6 weeks before the rabbits were sacrificed. Removal torque value and resonance frequency analysis (ISQ) were compared. The repeated measured analysis of variance was used with $P{\leq}0.05$ as level of statistical significance. ISQ was not different among all groups. However, the ISQ was increased after 6 weeks healing. The group had lowest ISQ value showed the greatest increment. Mg-1 implants with 9.4% retained ion dose showed significantly higher removal torque value than that of the other implants. From this results, it is concluded that the Mg-1 implants has stronger bone response than control RBM surface implant.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.110-117
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• 2023

Objective: The purpose of this study was to find out kinematic and kinetic differences the lower extremity joint according to the landing type during vertical jump movement after jump landing, and to present an efficient landing method to reduce the incidence of injury in youth players. Method: Total of 24 Youth players under Korean Sport and Olympic Committee, who used either heel contact landing (HCG) or toe contact landing (TCG) participated in this study (HCG (12): CG height: 168.7 ± 9.7 cm, weight: 60.9 ± 11.6 kg, age: 14.1 ± 0.9 yrs., career: 4.3 ± 2.9 yrs., TCG height: 174.8 ± 4.9 cm, weight: 66.9 ± 9.9 kg, age 13.9 ± 0.8 yrs., career: 4.7 ± 2.0 yrs.). Participants were asked to perform jump landing consecutively followed by vertical jump. A 3-dimensional motion analysis with 19 infrared cameras and 2 force plates was performed in this study. To find out the significance between two landing styles independent t-test was performed and significance level was set at .05. Results: HCG showed a significantly higher dorsi flexion, extension and flexion angle at ankle, knee and hip joints, respectively compared with those of TCG (p<.05). Also, HCG revealed reduced RoM at ankle joint while it showed increased RoM at knee joint compared to TCG (p<.05). In addition, HGC showed greater peak force, a loading rate, and impulse than those of TCG (p<.05). Finally, greater planta flexion moment was revealed in TCG compared to HCG at ankle joint. For the knee joint HCG showed extension and flexion moment in E1 and E2, respectively, while TCG showed opposite results. Conclusion: Compared to toe contact landing, the heel contact landing is not expected to have an advantage in terms of absorbing and dispersing the impact of contact with the ground to the joint. If these movements continuously used, performance may deteriorate, including injuries, so it is believed that education on safe landing methods is needed for young athletes whose musculoskeletal growth is not fully mature.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.41-56
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• 2008

The methods of surface modification of commercial implants were various according to the manufacturer. Surface modification of implant may produce diverse physical and chemical surface characteristics resulted from the treatment method and treatment condition. As a result, the bone response might be different. Even though surface modified implants have been used clinically, most researches are focusing on the bone response of surface modified implants comparing to machined implants rather than surface modified commercial implants. This study compare and analyze bone responses of 4 surface modified commercial implants with different shapes and surfaces. Eighty surface modified commercial implants with 4 different surface characteristics were installed in the tibia of white Newzealand rabbits. Biomechanical stability tests and histomorphometric evaluation were done. The results were as follows: 1. Surface modified commercial implants showed stable osseointegration at 6 weeks after installation. 2. Histomorphometric evaluation showed that there was no significant differences in bone to implant contact among 4 different commercial titanium implants. In comparing the implants with different shape the measurement of bone growth in subcortical area would be more reliable than entire bone to implant contact length. 3. Resonance Frequency Analysis showed that there was no significant differences among 4 types of implants, even though they were significantly different in installation. 4. There was significant differences in interfacial shear strength among 4 type of implants. 5. It is difficult to observe accurate bone to implant interface using Micro-CT. However, it is possible to measure the entire contact length of the implant to the bone.