• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.39-48
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• 2011

Korea is rapidly becoming an aging society. This study aims to examine the existing conditions of outdoor living environments to assist a healthy lifestyle for senior citizens and to determine the most influential factor in a senior-friendly outdoor space as well as to suggest improvements in existing conditions focused on the prospective senior population. This study relied on two methods: a descriptive method of researching publications and related scholastic writings and an empirical study that included a survey of present conditions and interviews with the prospective seniors and senior citizens in Daejeon. Conditions of outdoor living environments for seniors were found to be more than adequate in general. But some factors evaluated as low must be carefully tailored for seniors. First, the study showed that seniors evaluated as highest the 'use of a walkway' for a stroll and stayed outside for 1~2 hours at a time. Many vehicles parked in walkways were the most inconvenient factors in going for a walk. Second, the study showed that the evaluation of outdoor space was about average and 'sociality' was evaluated as the lowest. Third, the study showed that men evaluated lower than women 4 items: 'use and convenience of a wheelchair', 'night lighting', 'discrimination of signage at nighttime' and 'trees'. Respondents above the age of 66 are more uncomfortable with items such as 'slippery walking surface', 'stair handrail', 'discrimination of signage at nighttime' and 'direction of apartment complex' while respondents above the age of 80 are more uncomfortable with items of 'slippery walking surface', 'stair handrail' and 'discrimination of signage at nighttime'. Fourth, the evaluation by existing housing patterns was statistically significant in 20 of 22 evaluated items. This means that residents in apartment complex evaluated as high these items in general. In this study, existing outdoor living environments for the elderly did not display any immediately serious issues in the overall evaluation items. Assuming, however, that the aging population will quickly increase in the next ten years, items which are evaluated as low in descriptive statistics and items which give inconvenience to the elderly above the age of 80 in particular will need to be the first areas to be improved.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.49-58
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• 2017

PURPOSE: To summarize the evaluation tools of balance [Berg Balance Scale (BBS), timed up and Go (TUG), forward reaching test (FRT)], gait [6 m walking Test (6MWT)], and strength [Chair Stand Test (CST)] for patients with dementia. METHODS: The following databases were searched: Pub MED, Cochrane, Sciences Direct, and Web of Sciences. The inclusion criteria were as follows: 1) repeated measurement design, 2) subjects with dementia, 3) use of testing tools such as the BBS, TUG, FRT, 6MWT, and CST, 4) report the reliability. One reviewer performed the quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy study and two evaluators performed data extraction independently. RESULTS: Six articles and one letter were included. The interrater reliability of 6MWT, TUG, and CST, were acceptable (ICC>.90). However, FRT had unacceptable reliability. In test-retest reliability, only BBS has acceptable reliability (ICC>.90). Others had various reliabilities. The risk of interrater reliability bias was low in all studies. However, the risk of bias of intrarater reliability was low in five studies and moderate in two studies. CONCLUSION: The interrater reliability of the 6MWT, TUG, and CST were acceptable. However, in test-retest reliability, only BBS has acceptable reliability. Therefore, we suggest the use of BBS to test the balance of dementia patients. In addition, the study of tool reliability according to the subtype of dementia is needed in the future.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.123-130
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• 2015

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the reliability of 3D-inertia measurement unit (IMU) based shoes in gait analysis. This was done with respect to the results of the optical motion capturing system and to collect reference gait data of healthy subjects with this device. Methods : The Smart Balance$^{(R)}$ system of 3D-IMU based shoes and Osprey$^{(R)}$ motion capturing cameras were used to collect motion data simultaneously. Forty four healthy subjects consisting of individuals in 20s (N=20), 40s (N=13), and 60s (N=11) participated in this study voluntarily. They performed natural walking on a treadmill for one minute at 4 different target speeds (3, 4, 5, 6 km/h), respectively. Results : Cadence (ICC=.998), step length (ICC=.970), stance phase (ICC=.845), and double-support phase (ICC=.684) from 3D-IMU based shoes were in agreement with results of optical motion system. Gait data of healthy subjects according to different treadmill speeds and ages were matched to previous literature showing increased cadence and reduced step length for elderly subjects. Conclusion : Conclusively, 3D-IMU based shoes in gait analysis were a satisfactory alternative option in measuring linear gait parameters.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.551-559
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• 2009

This study aims to find out negative factors against public safety in urban parks. Longitudinal data between 1994 and 2008 were analyzed to suggest management implication for high quality security and safety in urban park. Results are summarized as follows. Firstly, investigation of visitor to the park at night reveals that visitors who were elderly, walking out, and family group increased, and that most visitors took a stroll for one hour around 8:00pm. Olympic park (e.g. leisure facility 66.7%), Hyo-won park (e.g. vacant lot 23.8%), Jang-an park (e.g. near hedge 30.1%), and Mae-tan park (e.g. leisure facility 20.8%) were revealed as latent places of serious criminals. Secondly, both in 1994 and in 2008, principal factors of public safety were summarized as fear for violence(X1) and fear for closed space(X3). These factors took 3.22 followed by 3.07 respectively in the overall mean of public safety of parks. Thirdly, overall mean of public safety takes 2.22 in 1994 and 2.96 in 2008, which shows uncertainty of effective management of facilities with a viewpoint of visitors. All parks shows negative trend in public safety, in short.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.139-151
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• 2016

Purpose: The study was conducted to examine the effects of motivational interviewing intervention on exercise performance and maintenance, exercise and pain self-efficacy, functional status, and quality of life in the patients with total knee replacement. Methods: This study used a nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design. A total of 100 patients with total knee replacement (33 patients in motivational interviewing group (MG), 33 patients in exercise group (EG), 34 patients in comparison group (CG)) were participated in this study. MG and EG had 7 scheduled sessions for 4 weeks. Data were analyzed with repeated measures ANOVAs by using IBM SPSS Statistics 20. Results: MG showed better exercise maintenance, higher exercise and pain self-efficacy, higher muscle strength, and mental component of quality of life than the other groups. MG and EG showed better knee flexion, less knee extension, longer walking distance for 6 minutes, and better functioning than CG. Conclusion: The results showed that motivational interviewing intervention is an effective intervention for elderly patients with total knee replacement. Future study examining long term effects of motivation interviewing intervention is necessary.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.261-266
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• 2010

Human body is hard to be in perfect balance during walking. Most of time the trunk is supported by one leg and the center of mass(COM) falls to the contralateral side. Thus, dynamic variables such as the velocity of the COM should be considered when gait stability is evaluated. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the extrapolated center of mass(XCom) which utilized the COM position and its velocity, is appropriate to evaluate gait stability. Ten healthy adults participated in this study and performed 3 different types of gaits(normal(NG), hands on waists(HWG), and hands on shoulders(HSG)) onto 4 different types of obstacle(obstacle height: 0%, 30%, 40% and 50% of leg length). Medio-lateral Com-CoP and XCom-CoP inclination angle were calculated during support phase. For all condition, greater M-L XCoM-CoP inclination angles were found(p<.05) compared with those of matched obstacle height CoM-CoP. Especially, M-L XCoM-CoP inclination angle at 50% height revealed the best condition for monitoring dynamic stability. Significantly increased in M-L XCoM-CoP inclination angle was found(p<.05) as obstacle height increased on NG and HWG.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.31-35
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• 2012

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of kinematic variables by analysis of a gait in older. Methods : This study selected nine in older adults with osteoarthritis. The Kinematic variables during walk were compared analyzed using motion analysis. Results : The findings of this study are as follows. Stance time showed significant difference within-subject groups and interaction within-subjects and time. The swing and stride time showed a no significant interaction within-subjects and time. Swing time showed a no significant difference according to time and within-subjects. Stride time showed a significant difference according to time. But, stride time showed a no significant difference according to within-subjects. Conclusion : These findings of this study indicate that when the patients with total knee arthroplasty decreased stability. Therefore, stance and stride time showed increase when walking, because to decrease the weight bearing that is delivered to knee. And swing time showed decrease.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.5-10
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• 2006

Alcohol has extensive effects on sleep and daytime sleepiness. Alcohol has a sleep inducing effect and the effect of increased non-REM sleep and suppressed REM sleep during the first half portion of night sleep, but alcohol induces the effect of decreased non-REM sleep and increased light sleep and frequent awakenings and REM rebound during the second half portion of night sleep. Alcohol provokes chronobiological change such as the changes of amplitude or the phase shifts of hormones or core body temperature. The sleep disruption resulting from alcohol drinking may lead to daytime fatigue and sleepiness. The elderly are at particular in the increased risk of alcohol-related sleep disorders because they achieve higher levels of alcohol in the blood and brain than do younger adults after consuming an equivalent dose. Bedtime alcohol consumption among older adults may lead to unsteadiness if walking is attempted during the night, with increased risk of falls and injuries. Continued alcohol use for sleep induction often induces aggravation of insomnia, alcoholism or sleep related breathing disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea. Alcohol should not be used as substitution of sleep pill because of the dependence and tolerance for sleep inducing effect, and the sleep disruption produced by alcohol withdrawal.

• Journal of The Korean Digital Architecture Interior Association
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.39-48
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• 2012

Generally, rural housing in Korea have had target of people who are in good physical health rather than the disabled. Therefore, it is difficult to offer high quality residential environment for the elderly and the disabled. The purpose of this study is to present the remodeling of rural house for the disabled. this study divides the a rural house into 7 sectors : a passage to entrance, an entrance hall, a livingroom, a bedroom, a bathroom, a kitchen, and etc. this study propose the following renovation plan that rural housing to be barrier free space. First, in passage to entrance of the house, people with disabilities should not experience difficulties in walking, so installing ramps to remove the stepped slope grade without slip so that the floor finish should be. Second, install grab handle on the wall inside the housing so that the disabled can lean on the handle. Third, placing the furniture in the bedroom that wheelchair can be rotated, and make to lower the height of the switchs. Forth, install a non-slip floor tile to prevent accidents in the bathroom.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.67-82
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• 2008

Purpose: The objective of this study were to examine the determinants of self-rated health, specially focused on the effect of functional capacity of community dwelling sedentary older adults on self-rated health. Method: The data has been collected from 654 community-dwelling sedentary older adults (mean age: 75 years) during the period from April to June in 2007. The data were collected by the in-person interview and direct measurement of functional capacity. The data were analyzed using chi-square test and multiple regression analysis with the SPSS 9.1 program. Result: The elderly rated their health as very good (3%), good (28%), fair (38%), poor (29%0, and very poor (2%). The higher average daily walk minutes ($\beta$=0.12, p<.01), number of chair stand ($\beta$=0.10, p<.05), scores of self-efficacy ($\beta$=0.16, p<.001) and the lower number of disease ($\beta$=-0.44, p<.001) show better self-rated health. Conclusion: Self-rated health is the most commonly used indicators in social epidemiology and geriatric research because it has been known as the good predictor of mortality and reflects health related disability. The finding suggested that daily walking habits, lower body strength, physical self-efficacy should be considered to improve the senior's self-perception of health. The community-based intervention associate increase these factors should be considered.