• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.396-408
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• 2017

In Korea, the number of elderly has been increasing rapidly. So it is also expected that the economic activity and the trip frequency of the elderly will increase. On the other hand, elderly related accidents such as falls during walking are steadily increasing and the satisfaction about pedestrian environment of elderly is very low. In this paper, we found one of the reasons for these dissatisfaction in pedestrian facility, which is not considering the walking ability (about 75% of non-elderly person) of the elderly. So, we analyze the kinematic walking characteristics of the elderly with the motion analysis system, when the elderly use stairs. As a result of analysis of various walking variables, the current standard for stairway height in Korean law (18cm) requires excessive force to elderly so it was difficult for elderly to keep the balance of the body in ascending and descending walk of stairs. In this paper, we propose the stair design criteria through the cluster analysis of walking parameters reflecting the gait characteristics of the elderly. This change is not a big for non-elderly person, but it can promote more socioeconomic activities for the elderly.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.5-16
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to show the effect of walking exercise on physiological index, physical fitness, self-esteem. depression. and life satisfaction in institutionalized elderly women aged over 70. Sample and Method: Data were collected from subjects who consented to participate in this program for eight weeks from the 2nd of July to the 27th of August 2005. The subjects were divided into two groups, 26 subjects in the experimental group who had walking exercise and 30 in the control group who did not have walking exercise. The intensity of the walking exercise allowed 50-65% of the maximum heartbeat. Results: The results of the experiment supported the hypothesis that the experimental group would have higher flexibility, left grip strength, sense of equilibrium, self-esteem and life satisfaction and lower depression than the control group. Conclusion: Walking exercise has the effect of decreasing diastolic blood pressure together with improvement in flexibility, left grip strength, sense of equilibrium, self-esteem, depression and life satisfaction for institutionalized elderly women aged over 70. According to the results presented above, walking exercise can be strongly recommended for improving the health of institutionalized elderly women.

• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.88-95
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• 2020

In this paper, we propose a new arm swing walking pattern-based walking safety system for safe walking of elderly pedestrians. The proposed system is a walking safety system for elderly pedestrians using haptic-based devices such as smart bands and smart watches, and arm swing-based walking patterns to solve the problem that it is difficult to recognize the fall situation of pedestrians with the existing walking patterns of lower limb movements. Use. The arm swing-based walking pattern recognizes the number of steps and the fall situation of pedestrians through the swing of the arm using the acceleration sensor of the device, and creates a database of the location of the fall situation to warn elderly pedestrians when walking near the expected fall location. It delivers a message to provide pedestrian safety to the elderly. This system is expected to improve the safe walking rights and environment of the elderly.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in walking pattern of the elderly during inclined walkway with uneven surfaces and level walking. 10 young($26.3{\pm}1.3$ years, $174.3{\pm}5.3\;cm$, $69.5{\pm}9.5\;kg$) and 13 elderly($72.4{\pm}5.2$ years, $164.5{\pm}5.4\;cm$, $66.1{\pm}9.6\;kg$) male subjects were participated in the experiment. Experiment consisted of 2 walking conditions: horizontal and inclined walkway with uneven surfaces. 3D motion capturing system were used to acquire and analyze walking motion data with sampling frequency of 120 Hz. To compare differences between conditions, kinematic variables(walking speed, stance-swing ratio, hip joint angle, knee joint angle, ankle joint angle, pelvic rotation angle) were used. Results showed that there were some changes of elderly walking pattern in inclined walkway with uneven surfaces: hip joint(adduction and rotation) and pelvic movement pattern. These changes by inclination and surface may affect gait pattern of young subjects as well as elderly subjects. However, in case of elderly it revealed more unstable gait than the young. Further study is necessary to clarify changes in walking pattern for elderly by considering various gait variables including head movement and various walkway conditions.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.1-8
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• 2018

Background: The purpose of this study is to provide basic data on physical therapy intervention by comparing the physical ability and fall efficacy and depression of elderly and hospitalized elderly. Method: This study was carried out with 22 hospitalized elderly who can live in Y-Hospital and 22 elderly people in Busan. We measured body mas index, time up & go test, function reach test, 10m walking test, bracket lifting test, fall efficacy and geriatric depression scale. The data collection period was from November to December 2017. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS Win 18.00 program. Results: There was a significant difference between the elderly and hospitalized elderly form physical ability and depression(p<.05). But Fall efficacy was no significant difference(p>.05). 10m walking with TUG, heel with fall efficacy showed quantitative correlation and 10m walking with fall efficacy, depression with fall efficacy, heel with TUG, 10m walking showed amulet correlation. There was a statistically significant difference. Conclusion: Elderly showed better results in physical ability and depression than hospitalized patients.

• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.16-27
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• 2016

This study identified the factors which affect pedestrian behavior using the tobit model with a descriptive analysis. Individual characteristics, household characteristics, zone characteristics were selected as the independent variables. Walking frequency and walking time was adopted for the variables which represent walking behavior. The results showed that the walking time models were superior than the walking frequency models. The model for education purpose had the most lowest fitness and the model for others purpose had characteristics mixed up the various purposes. Futhermore, this research found that independent variables: individual, household and zone characteristic variables affected walking activities of elderly pedestrian by purpose. The walking activity decresed when a pedestrian grew older or had a vehicle or a driver's license. The Elderly facilities promoted the walking activity of seniors. As the floor area of neighborhood and business facilities was wide, the walking activities were animated. In addition, the compacted downtown developments decreased the elderly's walking activities, so it is needed to consider those results in terms of the urban planners.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.409-418
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• 2010

Purpose: This study aimed to estimate the effects of a regular walking exercise program on metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular risk factors, and depressive symptoms among the elderly with diabetic mellitus (DM) based on the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA). Methods: This study has randomized and stratified experimental design with experimental and control groups. We developed a regular walking exercise program suitable for the elderly with DM based on the guidance of AAHPERD. The experimental group participated in the regular walking exercise program, which contains walking exercise 3 times a week and 50 minutes each time for 3 months and education on controlling diet and preventing complications once a week and 20 minutes each time for 4 weeks. Post-test was conducted after 3 months to estimate metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular risk factors, and depressive symptoms. Results: The regular walking exercise program was effective for decreasing the waist size, the level of fasting blood glucose (FBG) and triglyceride (TG), cardiovascular risk factors and the severity of depressive symptoms among the elderly with DM. Conclusion: The incidence of complications would be decreased by applying a regular walking exercise program.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.5-15
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine factors related to regular walking exercise in the elderly using KNHNES data. Method: The study subjects, a total of 1437 adults over age 65, were classified into two groups based on their type of walking exercise: regular walking exercise group or irregular walking exercise group. The study variables were measured using scale physiological function, mental health status, chronic disease and quality of life. Results: The data was analyzed by $x^2$-test, t-test, and logistic regression using the SPSS 18.0 program. The factors related to regular walking exercise were male (OR=0.628, 95%CI=0.503-0.783), subjective health state (OR=0.832, 95%CI=0.751-0.921), thoughts of suicide (OR=0.753, 95%CI=0.586-0.967), hypoHDL-cholesterolemia (OR=0.742, 95%CI=0.591-0.930), and stroke (OR=0.604, 95%CI=0.366-0.997). Conclusion: The findings indicate that regular walking exercise in the elderly is related to physiological function, mental health status, and chronic disease. Therefore, providing for the education and awareness of health promotion for the elderly will may improve the quality of life in old age.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.73-79
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• 2015

PURPOSE: This study aims to examine the impact of the location of a walker-aid pocket that is attached to the walker while walking. METHODS: The research subjects included 10 male adults and 10 elderly people. The subjects used a two-wheeled walker for the walking analysis, and a firm velcro-type pocket that can be attached to the walker aid was used for weight loading. The size of the external loads was set at 2kg, which corresponds to approximately 2.5% of the mean body weight of the subjects. The pocket was attached to the left, center, and right sides of the walker aid. Stride length, stride, step width, and time were investigated according to the location change. RESULTS: No statistical differences were observed in all the walking factors among the adults and elderly people regardless of the changes in the location of the walker pocket. In cases of no weight and the 2kg walker pocket, stride length and strides were longer for the adults, while the step width was greater and walking time was longer for the elderly people. CONCLUSION: The weight of the walker pocket turn out to retard walking speed, although the location of the walker pocket is not affect walking with the walker-aid.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2008

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the correlations between muscle strength of the ankle and balance, walking in the elderly. Methods: Thirty-nine subjects were selected from a population of female volunteers. Measurement of balance ability included evaluation of timed "up and go", functional reach, and a one leg standing test. Measurement of walking analysis included evaluation of cadence, stride length, step length, and walking speed. Maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) of the ankle muscle strength was measured by use of a dynamometer. Results: For balance, there were significant negative correlations between timed "up and go" and the MVIC of the ankle dorsiflexor. There were significant positive correlations between one leg standing with the eyes closed and the MVIC of the ankle dorsiflexor. For walking, there were significant positive correlations between cadence, walking speed and the MVIC of the ankle dorsiflexor. Conclusion: This study showed that there were close relationships between muscle strength of the ankle dorsiflexor and walking and balance in the elderly.