• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.15-22
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• 2012

The mechanical system of wearable walking assist robot needs to be optimized for adapting with human body structure and the planned control algorithm should have a secure procedure when a incongruity situation which can cause musculoskeletal injury occurs because a wearable robot is attached to a body. The understanding of walking or musculoskeletal motions characteristics must be preceeded and analyzed for developing novel wearable walking assist robot. In this study we tried to find out the capacities of powers and torques of joint actuators to design optimized performances of system and to obtain the analysis data to figure out the characteristics of joint movements during some types of walk. The major types of walk and motion are stair climbing and descending, sit-to-stand motion, and slope walking. In this study all these motions were analyzed experimentally except slope walking.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.134-138
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• 2018

Objective: The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of functional electrical stimulation (FES) applied to the gluteus medius (Gm) and tibialis anterior (TA) during stair climbing in persons with stroke compared to FES applied to the TA only during stair climbing, and during stair climbing without FES in persons with stroke. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Twenty subjects with stroke participated in this study. Subjects were included if: 1) they were diagnosed as stroke at least 6 months before; 2) had Mini Mental State Examination- Korean score of 24 or higher; 3) were able to climb a flight of 10 stairs independently (with or without walking aid). The patients walked 10 stairs 3 times with FES applied to the Gm and TA, only TA, or no FES. There was a 1-minute rest period between each bout. The assessments were made using the Timed Up & Down Test and the Wii Balance Board. Results: Stair climbing with FES applied to the Gm and TA was significantly faster than stair climbing with FES applied to the TA only and without FES (p<0.05). Stair climbing with FES applied to the Gm and TA exhibited significantly greater sway velocity than stair climbing without FES (p<0.05). However, maximal sway distances were not significantly different between groups. Conclusions: Stair climbing with FES applied to the Gm and TA can be an important component of a rehabilitation program for improving stair climbing ability in persons with stroke.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.89-99
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• 2017

This paper describes the development of a thigh wearable robot for power assistance during stair climbing. In the wearable robot developed in this study, high-power BLDC motors and high-capacity harmonic reduction gears are used to effectively assist the thigh muscle during stair climbing. In particular, normal ground and stair are distinguished accurately by using wireless smart shoes, and the stair climbing assistance is performed by activating the actuators at an appropriate time. Impedance of the hip joint was effectively reduced by performing friction compensation of the gears, and a wearing adjustment mechanism was designed to fit the robot to the thigh by conveniently modifying the width and tilting angle of the robot using set collars. Consequently, the performance of the developed thigh wearable robot was verified through stair climbing experiments with EMG measurement.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.314-319
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• 2005

When a robot navigates in the real environment, it frequently meets various environments that can be expressed by simple geometrical shapes such as fiat floor, uneven floor, floor with obstacles, slopes, concave or convex corners, etc. Among them, the convex corner composed of two plain surfaces is the most difficult one for the robot to negotiate. In this paper, we propose a gait planning algorithm to help the robot overcome the convex environment. The trajectory of the body is derived from the maximum distance between the edge boundary of the corner and the bottom of the robot when it travels in the convex environment. Additionally, we find the relation between kinematical structure of the robot and its ability of avoiding collision. The relation is realized by considering the workspace and the best posture of the robot in the convex structure. To provide necessary information for the algorithm, we use an IR sensor attached in the leg of the robot to perceive the convex environment. The validity of the gait planning algorithm is verified through simulations and the performance is demonstrated using a quadruped walking robot, called "MRWALLSPECT III"( Multifunctional Robot for WALL inSPECTion version 3).

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.2126-2134
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• 2020

Background: Therapeutic climbing training, which originated in Germany, is a wall-hanging rock climbing-based therapy to increase the body's coordination through movement of the upper and lower limbs against gravity. However, there are no studies examining the effectiveness of therapeutic climbing training to treat balance and gait ability in patients with chronic stroke. Objectives: To investigate therapeutic climbing training program on balance and gait in patients with chronic stroke. Design: Pretest-posttest control group design. Methods: Fourteen patients with chronic hemiplegic stroke participated. Participants were randomized into the therapeutic climbing training group (TCTG, n=7) and the standard rehabilitation program group (SRPG, n=7) group. All subjects participated in the same standard rehabilitation program consisting of 60 minutes 5 times a week for 6 weeks. TCTG participated additionally in the therapeutic climbing program consisting of 30 minutes sessions 3 times a week for the same 6 weeks. Berg balance scale (BBS), Gaitview Measure, Timed up and go test (TUG) were measured. Results: In the TCTG, revealed a statistical difference in BBS between the groups; in the difference of plantar pressure ratio in the static standing position revealed a statistical difference between the groups after training; the balance ability in the one-leg standing tests increased significantly; the time in TUG decreased significantly after training in both groups; The changes in the difference of dynamic plantar pressure ratio were reduced significantly in the TCTG. Conclusion: Therapeutic climbing training contribute to improve balance and walking function in patients with chronic stroke.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.24 no.8 s.179
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• pp.2065-2073
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• 2000

In this paper, we present a wall climbing robot whose gate pattern takes after those of specialized climbing animals such as spiders. Characteristic features of the biological locomotion are partly realized in the design of the mechanism. The robot has two legs and a trunk. Each one-dof leg with suction pads is driven by a motor which employs a closed loop linkage mechanism, and the trunk with suction pads steers the whole body of the robot using a motor. By generating adequate trajectories of the leg and simultaneously alternating the suction pattern between the legs and the trunk, we can achieve the spider like motion. The proposed idea is implemented in a robot and some tests are performed to evaluate its performance.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.105-113
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this case study was to examine the effects of an intervention based on the concept of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on the weight-supporting ability, fear of falling, and stair-walking ability of stroke patients. Methods: One pretest, three intervention sessions, and one posttest were conducted. In the tests, weight-supporting ability, manual muscle strength, the fear of falling, and the time to go up and down a 'ㄱ'-shaped stair-walking machine were measured and compared. The intervention was implemented for 30 minutes per day for three days in combination with general rehabilitation. The intervention was planned and implemented based on the concept of PNF, and the goal was for the subjects, after their consent, to walk backward down the stairs. Results: After the intervention, functional improvement was seen in weight-supporting ability and the fear of falling felt when walking down the stairs. Whereas the subjects could not perform the task of walking down the stairs on the 'ㄱ'-shaped stair-walking machine in the pretest, they could perform the task in the posttest, and their stair-climbing speed was greater than before the intervention. Conclusion: This study verified that a PNF-based intervention can improve stroke patients' weight-supporting ability and stair-walking ability. Therefore, this intervention can be clinically applied to stroke patients.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.57-67
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• 2010

Background and Purpose : Many Physical therapist are inclined to communicate less effectively each other because they hardly use the standard terminology. The purposes of this case report are (1) to apply ICF-based documentation in evaluation (2) to submit the strategy of intervention process to improve the ability of walking short distance of the client who has post-stroke. Description : The client was 44-years-old man with hemiplegia who was in 1 month post-stroke problems were diagnosed while applying the ICF core set. The goals agreed with client were independently walking short distance, stairs and obstacles. To come up with the intervention strategy, hypothesis was set and 4 weeks of intervention was carried out after proposing the short goal and detailed purpose. Outcome : The client's performance in walking short distance and confidence were increased after impairment focused intervention, that are improved in walking velocity, endurance, supporting ability in lower limbs, rhythmical movement in upper limbs and the coordination of both limbs. Activities focused intervention also enhanced the ability in climbing steps and walking around obstacles. Conclusion : The decided hypothesis and goal that are to solve the problems the client faced were remarkably meaningful.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2006.05a
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• pp.169-170
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the smoothness of the gait pattern according to shoe, walking speed, and slope. Eleven male university students used three types(running shoes, mounting climbing boots, elevated forefoot walking shoes) of shoes at various walking speeds(1.19, 1.25, 1.33, 1.56, 1.78, 1.9, 2.0, 2.11, 2.33m/s) and gradients (0, 3, 6, 10%) on a treadmill. Three-dimensional motion analysis (Motion Analysis Corp, Santa Rosa, CA, USA) was conducted with 4 Falcon high speed cameras. The results showed that elevated forefoot walking shoes had the lowest value of normalized jerk at the heel, which means that elevated forefoot walking shoes had the smoothest walking pattern at the heel. In contrast, elevated forefoot walking shoes had greater normalized jerk at the center of mass (COM) at most walking speeds, which means that the smoothness of gait pattern at the center of mass is the lowest for the elevated forefoot walking shoes. This movement at the COM might even have a beneficial effect of activating muscles in the back and abdomen more than other shoes.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.15-21
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• 2024

A hiking stick is generally one of the walking aids that allow hikers to walk while relying on their own bodies when walking. A rechargeable battery must be built into the hiking stick, which is an auxiliary device, in order to perform various functions. A separate power supply is required to charge the rechargeable battery. This study is about a self-generated power supply and develops a power generation device using a screw with higher power generation efficiency than the existing method. It is differentiated from the method suggested in this study by comparing and analyzing it with the existing power generation method, and identifying problems therewith. The screw-type power generation device generates power when the climbing stick comes into contact with the ground and when it is separated from the ground. The built-in power generation device does not require a separate power supply, and it can be used by attaching the role of a mobile phone auxiliary battery and a lighting lamp, and it has the effect of being able to find it through location tracking by embedding a GPS sensor, etc., and using lighting to keep the user safe in emergency situations such as distress. The existing generator with built-in mountain climbing stick is difficult to charge due to very weak current and low practicality, but the generator developed in this research could achieve high efficiency to obtain a sufficient current, so it is possible to charge a battery and practicality.