• PNF and Movement
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.295-306
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of robot-assisted gait training on the active ranges of motion, gait abilities, and biomechanical characteristics of gait in patients who underwent lower extremity surgery, and to verify the effectiveness and clinical usefulness of robot-assisted gait training. Methods: This study was conducted on 14 subjects who underwent lower extremity surgery. The subjects participated in robot-assisted gait training for 2 weeks. The active ranges of motion of the lower extremities were evaluated, and gait abilities were assessed using 10-m and 2-min walk tests. An STT Systems Inertial Measurement Unit was used to collect data on biomechanical characteristics during gait. Spatiotemporal parameters were used to measure cadence, step length, and velocity, and kinematic parameters were used to measure hip and knee joint movement during gait. Results: Significant improvements in the active ranges of motion of the hip and knee joints (flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction) and in the 10-m and 2-min walk test results were observed after robot-assisted gait training (p < 0.05). In addition, biomechanical characteristics of gait, spatiotemporal factors (cadence, step length, and velocity), and kinematic factors (gait hip flexion-extension, internal rotation-external rotation angle, and knee joint flexion-extension) were also significantly improved (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study are of clinical importance as they demonstrate that robot-assisted gait training can be used as an effective intervention method for patients who have undergone lower extremity surgery. Furthermore, the findings of this study are clinically meaningful as they expand the scope of robot-assisted gait training, which is currently mainly applied to patients with central nervous system conditions.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.45-52
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• 2024

Objective: The purpose of this study was to measure the morphological characteristics of the foot and biomechanical variables of the lower extremity joints during vertical jump and investigate the relationship between foot morphology and biomechanics of vertical jump. Method: 24 men in their 20s (age: 22.42 ± 1.41 yrs, height: 173.37 ± 4.61 cm, weight: 72.02 ± 6.21 kg, foot length: 251.70 ± 8.68 mm) participated in the study. Morphological characteristics of the foot included the length of the first toe, the length of the second toe, and the horizontal length from the center of ankle joint to the achilles tendon (Plantar Flexion Moment Arm [PFMA]). Biomechanical variables were measured for plantar flexor strength of the ankle joint and peak angular velocity, moment, and power of the lower extremity joint during vertical jump. Results: There was a significant correlation between the length of the first toe and plantar flexion strength at 30°/s [r=.440, p=.016], the angular velocity of the metatarsophalangeal [MTP] joint [r=-.369, p=.038] while significant correlations between PFMA and the angular velocities of the knee joint [r=.369, p=.038] and ankle joint [r=.420, p=.021] were found. There were also significant correlations between the length of the first toe and the maximum moment of the hip joint [r=.379, p=.034], and the length of the second toe and the power of the hip joint [r=-.391, p=.029]. Finally, significant correlations between PFMA and the power of the ankle joint [r=.424, p=.019] and MTP joint [r=.367, p=.039] were found. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, the length of the toe and PFMA would be related to the function of the lower extremity joint. Therefore, this should be considered when designing the functional structure of a shoe. Furthermore, this relationship can be applied to intensive training for the plantar flexors and toe flexors to improve power in athletic performance.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.232-240
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of using standing step condition on biomechanical variables during jab in boxing. For this purpose, eight orthodox type college boxers(age = 20.38±0.52 yrs, height = 172.38±5.80 cm, body mass = 63.45±8.56 kg, career = 6.00±1.07 yrs) who without injury to the musculoskeletal system participated in the experiment over the last year. In order to verify the effect of biomechanical variables using standing step during jab in boxing, the paired t-test (α = .05) statistical method was used. First, W.S(with-step) showed a greater impact force than N.S(non-step), and muscle activity was analyzed to be low. Second, it was analyzed that the pelvis and foot segments move faster because W.S affects the velocity of the anterior segment of the human body. Third, the rotational movement of the pelvis was faster in W.S. Fourth, W.S was analyzed to have greater ground reaction force in the anterior caused by the right and left foot than N.S. Through this, it was found that the use of the standing step during jab increases the ground reaction force the velocity and rotational movement of the human segment. Therefore, it was confirmed that it allowed a faster and more agile movement, and thus produces a greater impact force with relatively less muscle activity. Therefore, in order to effectively deliver a greater impact force to the opponent during the jab, it was effectively analyzed to accompany the standing step.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.241-248
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the difference in muscle strength, kinematics, and kinetics between injured and non-injured sides of the leg after Achilles Tendon Rupture surgery during walking and running. Method: The subjects (n=11; age = 30.63 ± 5.69 yrs; height = 172.00 ± 4.47 cm; mass = 77.00 ± 11.34 kg; time lapse from surgery = 29.81 ± 10.27 months) who experienced Achilles Tendon Rupture (ATR) surgery participated in this study. The walking and running trials were collected using infrared cameras (Oqus 300, Qualisys, Sweden, 100 Hz) on instrumented treadmill (Bertec, U.S.A., 1,000 Hz) and analyzed by using QTM (Qualisys Track Manager Ver. 2.15; Qualisys, U.S.A). The measured data were processed using Visual 3D (C-motion Inc., U.S.A.). The cutoff frequencies were set as 6 Hz and 12 Hz for walking and running kinematics respectively, while 100 Hz was used for force plate data. Results: In ATR group, muscle strength there were no difference between affected and unaffected sides (p> .05). In kinematic analysis, subjects showed greater ROM of knee joint flexion-extension in affected side compared to that of unaffected side during walking while smaller ROM of ankle dorsi-plantar and peak knee flexion were observed during running (p< .05). In kinetic analysis, subjects showed lower knee extension moment (running at 2.2 m/s) and positive ankle plantar-flexion power (running at 2.2 m/s, 3.3 m/s) in affected side compared to that of unaffected side (p< .05). This lower positive ankle joint power during a propulsive phase of running is related to slower ankle joint velocity in affected side of the subjects (p< .05). Conclusion: This study aimed to investigate the functional evaluation of the individuals after Achilles tendon rupture surgery through biomechanical analysis during walking and running trials. Based on the findings, greater reduction in dynamic joint function (i.e. lower positive ankle joint power) was found in the affected side of the leg compared to the unaffected side during running while there were no meaningful differences in ankle muscle strength and walking biomechanics. Therefore, before returning to daily life and sports activities, biomechanical analysis using more dynamic movements such as running and jumping trials followed by current clinical evaluations would be helpful in preventing Achilles tendon re-rupture or secondary injury.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.83-91
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• 2020

Objective: The study aimed to develop a functional performance index that evaluates the functional performance of Parkinson's patients, i.e., to integrate biomechanical measurements of walking, balance, muscle strength and tremor, and to use multiple linear regression with stepwise methods to identify the most suitable predictors for the progression of disease. Method: A total of 60 subjects were tested for sub-variables of four factors: walking, balance, isometric strength and hand tremors. Potential independet variables were extracted through correlation analysis of the sub-variables and dependent variables, Hoehn & Yahr scale. And then, a stepwise multiple regression analysis using the potential independent variables was performed to identify predictor of Hoehn & Yahr scale. Results: First, the results of the study showed that physical composition and gait had a relatively more correlated with the progression of the disease, compared to balance and hand tremor. Second, Parkinson's functional performance is characterized by dynamic pattern of walking, such as foot clearance and turning angle (TA) of walking, and a high-explained regression model is completed. Conclusion: The study emphasized the importance of walking variables and body composition in minor pathological features compared to Parkinson's patient's balancing ability and hand tremor. Specifically, it revealed that dynamic walking patterns functionally characterize patients. The results are worth considering when assessing functional performance related to the progression of the disease at the site.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.387-392
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• 2000

In cementless total hip replacement(THR), an initial stability of the femoral component is important to long term fixation of femoral stem. The initial stability has close relationship with the relative displacement of prosthesis and spongy bone at the proximal of femur. After implantation of the prosthesis. the surrounding bone is partially shielded from load carrying and starts to resort. Stress shielding is the cause of the loss of proximal bone. Assessing stress distribution of femur is important to predict stress shielding. The initial stability and the stress shielding were investigated for two loading conditions approximating a single leg stance and a stair climbing. Three types of stems were studied by the finite element method to analyze the biomechanical effects of distal filling of cementless femoral stems, Three types of stems employed are a distal filling stem, a distal flexible stem, and a distal tapered stem.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.155-162
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• 1993

The human's biomechanical structure keeps an optimal state by adapting the original biomechanical structure according to a change in the physical environment. This phenomenon is believed to be the main cause of loosening of the total hip replacement which is used widely in these days. In this study the bone density change due to artificial hip joint, which is generally believed as bone-remodeling, was investigated by the finite element method. For this, 2-D FEM models with 4 nodal point elements were constructed for intact and implanted cases. The density was calculated by comparing the relative amounts of effective stress for these two cases. In this way, calculated new density values were used in the next step as input values and this procedure repeated until convergence was obtained. Severe density change was detected at the femoral cortex of the proximal-medial side as expected. Moreover, following surprising result was found from this analysis. Titanium alloy prosthesis showed less density change compared to stainless steel prosthesis at earlier stage, however, almost same amount of the density change was detected at final stage. It was also found that other design parameters could not significantly affect its density change.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.23 no.60
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• pp.37-46
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• 2000

A biomechanical model of lower extremity in seated postures was developed to assess muscular activities of lower extremity involved in a variety of foot pedal operations. The model incorporated four rigid body segments with the twenty-four muscles to represent lower extremity This study deals with quasi-static movement to investigate dynamic movement effect in seated foot operation. It is found that optimization method which has been used for modeling the articulated body segments does not predict the forces generated from biarticular muscles and antagonistic muscles reasonably. So, the revised nonlinear optimization scheme was employed to consider the synergistic effects of biarticular muscles and the antagonistic muscle effects from the stabilization of the joint. For the model validation, three male subjects performed the experiments in which EMG activities of the nine lower extremity muscles were measured. Predicted muscle forces were compared with the corresponding EMG amplitudes and it showed no statistical difference. For the selection of optimal seated posture, a physiological meaningful criterion was developed for muscular load sharing developed. For exertion levels, the transition point of type F motor unit of each muscle is inferred by analyzing the electromyogram at the seated postures. Also, for predetermined seated foot operations exertion levels, the recruitment pattern is identified in the continuous exertion, by analyzing the electromyogram changes due to the accumulated muscle fatigue.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.168-175
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• 2021

Objective: To investigate the static and dynamic analysis of ankle joint complex between subjects with chronic ankle instability (CAI) and healthy controls. Method: A total of 38 subjects and CAI group (N=19) and healthy control (N=19) participated in this first study. Variables that were measured in this study were as follows: 1) Subtalar joint axis inclination and deviation 2) Rearfoot angle 3) Navicular drop test 4) Heel alignment view in alignment analysis. Intra Correlation Coefficient (ICC) is used for reliability. A secondary 17 subjects are recruited including 9 of CAI and healthy for gait analysis between group. Lower extremity sagittal, frontal, and transverse kinematics were measured. All data were analyzed to ensemble curve analysis. Results: 1) There were statistically significant differences in standing rearfoot, navicular drop, heel alignment view, subtalar joint (STJ) inclination and deviation. 2) Only in sagittal, meaningful difference is showed during walking in gait analysis. Conclusion: Morphological problem can affect ankle sprain in aspect of structure with no relation to compensation of neuromuscular.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.89-96
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• 2019

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate biomechanical comparisons of kettlebell two-arm swings after different somatosensory interventions on joint ranges of motion (ROM) and muscle activations. Method: Fourteen kettelbell novices (age: $22.92{\pm}3.23yrs$, mass: $75.75{\pm}9.94kg$, height: $172.03{\pm}5.49cm$), consisting of male college students, participated in this study and performed two-arm kettlebell swings in different conditions. Three different somatosensory interventions were the applications of heavy mass kettlebell (20 kg), taping on gluteus muscles, and unstable mat condition. All subjects performed pre-intervention swings and post-intervention swings, respectively. Statistical analysis were performed on results of joint kinematics and electromyographies of major muscles. Results: Results showed significant increases in ROM of hip and decreases in ROM of shoulder after unstable mat trials. In addition, the application of unstable mat during kettlebell swings induced higher muscle activations in gluteus maximus muscle during only upward phase of two-arm kettlebell swings. Conclusion: For beginner, the application of unstable surface would increase in hip joint ranges of motion with enhancement of gluteus muscles.