• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
• /
• 2008.04a
• /
• pp.585-592
• /
• 2008

The aging society comes, the number of the old people expended. Technical aids allow elderly and handicapped people to live independently in their private homes as long as they wish. As a contribution to these required technological solutions, a demonstrator platform for a walking assistance robot. robot which has the capability to perform fetch and carry and various other supporting tasks. In this study, we addresses the development of a walking assistance robot system. We execute static analysis, vibration analysis and flexible dynamics to reserve stability at the design. Each motion of the robot uses a linear actuator and gears. Motion can be distinguished into 3 parts depending on the up & down, rotation, and cushion trans. In each motion, we compare the displacement of the case to be rigid with the case to be flexible. As a result, manufactured and feasibility of the walking assistance robot is validated through preliminary experiments.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.70-75
• /
• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes of static and dynamic balance control ability according to the stability of shoes in elderly woman and female university student. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Six elderly women and seven female university students were recruited for this study. The subject's static and dynamic balance were evaluated while wearing two different types of shoes (comfortable running shoe and masai walking shoe). The BT4 system was used to measure the static (postural sway area and velocity) and dynamic balance (limit of stability on forward, backward and left and right side). The measurement of static and dynamic balance control ability was performed in standing posture wearing comfortable running shoes and masai walking shoes. Results: In the static balance control ability, both female university students and elderly women showed significant increase in postural sway area and velocity when wearing unstable shoes (p<0.05) In addition, in the dynamic balance control ability, both female university students and elderly women showed significant decrease in limit of stability on forward and backward when wearing unstable shoes (p<0.05). Conclusion: In selecting shoes for the elderly, the stability of shoe should be considered for prevention of falls.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.215-221
• /
• 2020

The purpose of this study was to investigate convergence factors associated with cardiovascular disease in Korean elderly and use them as basic data for developing a customized health program for elderly. This was a secondary data analysis study using the 2017 National Health and Nutrition Survey and the study subjects included 1,617 individuals aged 65 and over. Regression analysis showed that perceived health status, walking practice and hypercholesterolemia were related to cardiovascular disease in elderly. In case of perceived health status, the incidence of cardiovascular disease was higher in 'good', 'fair', 'poor', and 'very poor' compared to 'very good'. Also, the incidence of cardiovascular disease was higher in the 'No' than in rhe 'Yes' of the walking practice, and higher in the case of elderly with the hypercholesterolemia. Based on the results, it is necessary to develop an active prevention nursing intervention program considering the underlying disease of the elderly.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.189-198
• /
• 2021

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of biomechanical variables on gait according to indoor and outdoor environmental conditions in elderly women at risk of falling. Method: 26 elderly women aged 70 years or older, and consisted of 13 elderly people with a walking speed of less 1.0 m/s and 13 people in the fall risk group as normal groups. Depending on the purpose of the study, physical examination and psychological questionnaire were prepared, and then walking was performed in an indoor/outdoor environment, and the gait pattern, muscle activity, and plantar pressure results were compared and analyzed in the elderly females through a 2 group × 2 environment 2-way repeted ANOVA analysis. Results: The gait variable showed an interaction effect the cadence. The muscle variables showed interaction effects in the rectus femoris and tibialis anterior muscles, and the interaction effects of the plantar pressure variables were confirmed in the forefoot and midfoot of the contact area, and the midfoot of the mean pressure. Conclusion: These results indicate that both groups are exposed to falls risk when gait in an outdoor environment, but the fall risk group has a higher risk of falls in both the gait pattern, muscle activity, and plantar pressure variables. The results of this study are considered to be helpful as basic data and development of exercise programs to prevent falls.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.117-126
• /
• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 12-week complex training program on foot pressure patterns of the elderly women. The training program consisted of aerobic exercise and muscular training for 12 weeks. Two stages of walking were given to the participants before and after treatment: (a) straight walking; and (b) turn at $45^{\circ}$ while walking. Data related to foot-pressure distribution(FPD) while walking were collected from each stage and analyzed. Results indicated that in both stage of walking, the mean of the foot pressure(FP) was significantly reduced after the participation in the program. Results also revealed that in all stages, the patterns of the FPD and the center of pressure(COP) were widely lower and more stable. Based on the results of this study, it was concluded that participating in a 12-week complex program bas impact on the gait patterns of the elderly women, reducing the foot pressure on their shoes.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.57-66
• /
• 2015

Purpose : The guidelines of establishing convenience facilities for the handicapped have not consistently been provided to the identical criteria in walking facilities. Thus, transportation poor had difficulties in walking environment. Method : This study aims to suggest the practical direction of guidelines of establishing tactile walking surface indicators. To do this, this study examines the problems of the current guidelines for establishing facilities, and then analyzes international criteria, with comparing criteria used in German. Therefore, findings from those analyses can provide the secure and convenient environment for walking to transportation users, in particular blind and vision-impaired people, the handicapped, the child, and the elderly and the weak. Results : For the improvement of tactile walking surface indicators, the clear criteria of establishing tactile walking surface indicators is proposed, considering the characteristics of walking environment. Then, the sample items corresponding to the various situations need to be exemplified. To provide more secure environment walking for transportation poor, the establishing criteria partially adopted ideas from Universal Design also need to be developed. Implication : The proposed detail drawing of tactile walking surface indicators need to be tested by transportation users due to high safety in walking circumstance, and also the guidelines of continuously maintaining tactile walking surface indicators also needs to be studied.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.381-386
• /
• 2010

This study examined the changes in the walking pattern during level walking under low illumination conditions. Fourteen male subjects ($22.1{\pm}2.21$ years, $174{\pm}3.74\;cm$, $68.86{\pm}10.81\;kg$) with normal vision and no disabilities were enrolled in this study. All experiments were performed on a level walkway with three conditions: normal walking (preferred & low speed) and walking with low illumination. 3D motion capturing system was used for acquisition and analysis of the walking motion data with a sampling frequency of 120Hz. The walking speed, normalized jerk(NJ) at the center of mass(COM), wrist and heel, knee and elbow joint angle, ratio of the knee joint angle to elbow joint angle and the toe clearance on stance phase were used to compare the differences in walking pattern between the two illumination conditions, The results showed that the walking speed and joint angles decreased in low illumination, whereas the NJ and toe minimum clearance increased. In low illumination, most variables were similar to effects of low speed walking, but toe clearance was different from the effects of low speed. These results can be used as primary data for examining the changes in the level walking pattern of young adults under low illumination. Further study will be needed to compare these results in young adults with those in the elderly.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
• /
• v.21 no.5
• /
• pp.458-467
• /
• 2009

Purpose: This study was object to the effects of a resistance exercise combined with relaxation therapy on blood pressure, frequency of exercise and physical fitness in elderly women. Methods: Seventy three elderly women participated in an exercise program for 12 months. The exercise program consisted of stretching, massage and resistance training using thera-bands twice a week and 50 minutes in every sessions each week. Repeated measures ANOVA were performed using SAS. Results: After the exercise program there was a significant difference in systolic blood pressure, frequency of exercise, body fat, sitting to standing, walking 2 minutes, sitting on a chair and reaching, and standing on one leg with eyes opened. After 6 months, there was a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure and significant increase in frequency of exercise, body fat, sitting to standing and standing on one leg with eyes opened. In 12 months, there was a significant increase in body fat, 2 minutes walking, and sitting in a chair and reaching. Conclusion: Resistance exercise combined with muscle relaxation therapy would have a positive effect on elderly women. We found that it was helpful for the elderly women in terms of physical fitness.

• Journal of Korea Game Society
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.145-154
• /
• 2015

The objective of this research is to evaluate the usability test of 'Paldokangsan3' which has been developed as a serious game for the elderly to improve their physical and mental health. This game machine has been installed in a silver house for one month that the elderly could play the game as they like in their convenient times. To promote their participations to practice the game, we set 3 contests with gifts for the high scores and collect their data through inspection, questionnaire and interviews by the researchers as well as in-game measurement for the play. Eight people volunteered to join the project. While the result analysis for the usability area of easiness of control, learnability of the game play, memorability and challenge didn't show the statistical confident t-value, most elderly players participated 2~3 times a day for a month even though most of them are suffering mild cognition impairment. They showed good subjective satisfactions in their interviews that we could go on the project further to expand its applications.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.841-850
• /
• 2001

This study was conducted to find out current status and characteristics, so that the result could provide basic data to establish prevention programs for hip fracture among the elderly. The data were coolected from 199 cases hospitalized in 4 university hospitals in Pusan during three years period from January, 1966 to December, 1998. The data were obtained from medical records and by using questionnaires through telephone contact or direct personal interview with the subjects or their family, and were analyzed with x2-test. The results were as follow: The mean age of elderly hip fractured cases was 75.7 years, and 61.8% were female. The average hospital stay of the cases was 30.8 days, and 73.9% survived. Femur neck fracture cases comprised 51.7% of the toral cases, while trochanteric fracture cases comprised 48.3%. The hip fracture occurred more frequently during the day, shown as 66.9%, and the most frequently due to trips(44.2%), followed by slips(322%), c1ash(14.6%), dizziness(7.5%), and 00 on. Femur neck fracture, however, occurred the most frequently due to trips(51.5%) and, on the other hand, trochanteric fracture due to slips(40.6%) and trips(36.5%). About two third of hip fracture(67.8%) occurred inside of the building. The most frequently mentioned location for hip fractures was rooms or floors(32.1%), followed by streets(24.1%), bathrooms(17.6%), stairways(13.1%), and so on. Trochanteric fracture, especially, more frequently occurred inside of the building(71.9%) as compared to femur neck fracture(64.1 %). The rate of independent indoor walking in femur neck fractured cases reduced from 88.3% to 74.8% after fracture incidences, while the rate reduced from 86.0% to 45.8% in trochanteric fracture cases. It indicated that trochanteric fractures affected the walking ability of the elderly more severely that femur neck fractures. In conclusion, hip fracture occurs as a combined result of aging characteristics, environmental factors, and health related characteristics. Future studies that investigaterisk factors of hip fracture in elderly are recommended.