• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• v.5 no.3
• /
• pp.149-154
• /
• 2016

Objective: The arm swing is associated with gait ability in healthy young adults. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of arm swing during gait in healthy young adults. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Forty-five subjects without any orthopedic or neurological injuries participated in this study. All subjects performed all three conditions according to the arm swing type as follows: first procedure (condition 1), walking as usual without arm swing constraint; second procedure (condition 2), constraint of dominant arm swing walking as usual; third procedure (condition 3), constraint of both arm swing walking as usual. Gait parameters such as gait velocity, stride length, cadence, step time, single limb support, and double limb support were measured in all arm swing conditions performed randomly, with the mean value obtained from three measurements. A rest period of 5 minutes was given to prevent repetition of each condition and learning effect. All data was analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA to notice the changes between arm swing conditions. Results: Within walking conditions, significant difference of gait velocity, stride length, cadence, and double limb support was noticed (p<0.05), except step time and single limb support. Gait velocity and stride length were significant reduced, and in cadence and double limb support were increased (p<0.05). Condition 3 had the most significant decrease of gait ability compared with condition 1 (p<0.05). Conclusions: These finding suggested that constraint arm swing conditions reduced gait ability in healthy young adults. Also, these findings can be utilized as a reference to future studies that not only pelvic, knee and ankle, but also upper limb affect to gait ability.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.121-127
• /
• 2020

The purpose of this paper is to review the validation on the application of low frequency IMU(Inertial Measurement Unit) sensors by replacing high frequency motion analysis systems. Using an infrared-based 3D motion analysis system and IMU sensors (22 Hz) simultaneously, the gait cycle and knee flexion angle were measured. And the accuracy of each gait parameter was compared according to the statistical analysis method. The Bland-Altman plot analysis method was used to verify whether proper accuracy can be obtained when extracting gait parameters with low frequency sensors. As a result of the study, the use of the new gait assessment system was able to identify adequate accuracy in the measurement of cadence and stance phase. In addition, if the number of gait cycles is increased and the results of body anthropometric measurements are reflected in the gait analysis algorithm, is expected to improve accuracy in step length, walking speed, and range of motion measurements. The suggested gait assessment system is expected to make gait analysis more convenient. Furthermore, it will provide patients more accurate assessment and customized rehabilitation program through the quantitative data driven results.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.63 no.2
• /
• pp.440-452
• /
• 2021

The purpose of this study was to determine if an 8-week therapeutic riding (TR) program was effective in improving the walking ability of students with intellectual disabilities. Thirteen students diagnosed with intellectual disabilities participated in the TR program. TR sessions were conducted twice a week (30 min per session), with a total of 16 rides taking place over an 8-week period. A gait measurement analyzer was used to measure progress based on a turn test (6-m walking and turning test), walk test (10-m walking), and timed up and go (TUG) test. Measurements were made three times: before horse-riding (P0), after 4 weeks (8 rides) of horse-riding (P1), and after 8 weeks (16 rides) of horse-riding (P2). Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software (ver. 22.0). Descriptive statistics were generated on the general characteristics of the subjects, and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to verify the normality of the data. Because of the lack of normality, the data were analyzed using a nonparametric method and the significance level was set to 0.05. Measurements of the duration of the forward gait cycle (s) in the turn test and the forward gait speed (m/s) in the walk test indicated improved walking ability after the TR program (p < 0.001); the stride length (% height) also increased significantly (p < 0.05). The walk test revealed a significant effect of the program on the duration of the forward gait cycle (p < 0.05), while there were significant improvements on the left and right of the elaborated strides (p < 0.001). No significant improvement in TUG test performance was observed after the TR program. In this study, an 8-week TR program had positive results on gait. Therefore, further research is merited, where TR programs are likely to improve the walking ability of individuals with intellectual disabilities.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.613-619
• /
• 2013

This study compares the gait characteristics of elderly women during barefoot walking and walking with sneakers. We measured foot angles, max foot pressure, peak plantar pressure of each plantar region, velocity of Center of Pressure(COP), and axis shifting of COP with an RS-scan system. Elderly women's foot angles were narrower when walking with sneakers than when barefoot walking. We found that the subtalar joint angle (representing ankle joint flexibility) affected walking stability. Regarding the peak plantar pressure of each foot region, pressures were high in the medial regions and the pressures greatly varied depending on the region measured during barefoot walking. The COP moved significantly faster when walking with sneakers than barefoot walking and suggests that elderly women walked faster in sneakers. Axis shifting of the COP decreased during walking with sneakers and indicated that gait balance improved when walking with sneakers. The findings of the present study can be utilized as foundational data for elderly women's gait characteristics as well as data for the production of functional footwear. Future research that focuses on various types of shoes, age groups, and gender are recommended for the development of more functional footwear for stable gaits.

• Journal of information and communication convergence engineering
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.110-115
• /
• 2004

The prosthesis of current commercialized apparatus has considerable problems, requiring improvement. Especially, LLP(Lower Limb Prosthesis)-related problems have improved, but it cannot provide normal walking because, mainly, the gait control of the LLP does not fit with patient's gait manner. To solve this problem, HCI((Human Computer Interaction) that adapts and controls LLP postures according to patient's gait manner more effectively is studied in this research. The proposed control technique has 2 steps： 1) the multilayer neural network forecasts angles of gait of LLP by using the angle of normal side of lower limbs； and 2) the adaptive neural controller manages the postures of the LLP based on the predicted joint angles. According to the experiment data, the prediction error of hip angles was 0.32［deg.］, and the predicted error of knee angles was 0.12［deg.] for the estimated posture angles for the LLP. The performance data was obtained by applying the reference inputs of the LLP controller while walking. Accordingly, the control performance of the hip prosthesis improved by 80% due to the control postures of the LLP using the reference input when comparing with LQR controller.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.59-67
• /
• 2019

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to analyze the dynamic range of motion (ROM) of pelvic and translation of center of mass (COM) when wearing different shoe insole lifts according to leg length discrepancy (LLD) during free speed gait. Methods : Thirty-five healthy adults were participated in this study. Kinematic data were collected using a Vicon motion capture system. Reflective and cluster 40 markers attached to participants lower extremities and were asked to walk in a 6 m gait way under three different shoe lift conditions (without any insole, 1 cm insole, and 2 cm insole). The pelvic ROM and COM translation in three planes were sorted using a Nexus software, and a Visual3D motion analysis software was used to coordinate all kinematic data. Results : There were significantly increased maximal pelvic elevation and total pelvic range in coronal plane when wearing a standard shoe with 2 cm insole lift during gait (p<.05). When wearing a standard shoe with 2 cm insole lift, the total range of the pelvic segment were significantly different in all three motion planes (p<.05). Conclusion : Although LLD of less than 2 cm develops abnormal movement pattern of the pelvis and may cause of musculoskeletal diseases such as low back pain, hip and knee joint osteoarthritis, therefore intensive various physical therapy interventions for LLD are needed.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.50-58
• /
• 2021

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of wrist and trunk weight loading using sandbags in stroke patients in order to provide the quantitative data for enhancement of gait movement. Method: Twelve stroke patients, who have been diagnosed with hemiplegia over a year ago, were participated in this study. All subjects were asked to perform normal walking [N], wrist sandbag walking [W], wrist & trunk sandbag walking [WT], and both wrist sandbag walking [B] and both wrist & trunk sandbag walking [BT], respectively. Eight infrared cameras were used to collect the raw data. Gait parameters, arm swing, shoulder-pelvic kinematics, and lower extremity joint angle were calculated to examine the differences during walking. Results: As a result, there were no significant differences in the gait parameters, shoulder-pelvis, and lower extremities joint angles, but significant differences were found in the range of motion and the anteversion in arm swing. Conclusion: Wrist and trunk weight loading using sandbags affected the movement of the upper extremities only while it did not affect the movement of the lower extremities. It implies that it can reduce the risk of falling caused by a sudden movement change in lower extremities. In addition, the wrist and trunk weight loading using sandbags can induce changes in movement of the upper extremities independently and contribute to functional rehabilitation through resistance training.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.19-24
• /
• 2004

The purposes of this study were to analyze gait patterns of patients with chronic lumboscaral radiculopathy and to investigate gait parameters which can reflect a functional deficit in relation to the level of lumbosacral radiculopathy. The study population consisted of 25 patients of chronic lumbosacral radiculopathy and 25 healthy control subjects. Conventional physical examinations and three-dimensional gait analyses were performed on all participants. The data were analyzed using an independent sample t-test. The results were as follows: (1) In the patients' group, cadence, walking velocity, stride length and double support time were less than in the control group (p<.05). (2) In the patients' group, maximum flexion of hip, maximum flexion of loading response, maximum flexion of swing phase on the knee and maximum plantar flexion of pre-swing were less than the control group (p<.05). Using three-dimensional gait analysis, we could identify specific gait parameters to reflect a functional deficit related to the level of lumbosacral radiculopathy.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.8-13
• /
• 2014

In this paper, the gait imbalance evaluation algorithm based on temporal symmetry ratio using encoder is proposed. The device is attached to the hip joint in order to measure the angle during the normal gait. Using an angle data, the stance phase and swing phase was determined. And the value of TSR(temporal symmetry ratio) was calculated by stance phase and swing phase of gait cycle. For the comparative experiment, the conventional method of the foot pressure was measured at the same conditions. The results of statistical analysis, there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) when using encoder. The gait imbalance analysis using encoder is effective in determining the imbalance than using the existing method of pressure.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.89-98
• /
• 2013

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the aquatic exercise program on lower muscle strength, balance and gait activity on 12 weeks aquatic exercise program in the elderly women. Methods : The Subjects in this study were 20 aged 70s who were long-term residents admitted to elderly nursing home of S, Gyeongsangnam province. They performed aquatic exercise programs 60-minute sessions, 3 times a week for 12 weeks. The physical evaluation was used for measuring lower muscle strength, balance activity was used for measuring balance testing, and gait activity was used for measuring gait velocity and maximal step length evaluation. All data were analyzed by paired t-Test by SPSS(version18.0). P-values of <.05 were considered significant. Results : Lower extremity muscle strength, static dynamic balance and gait activity were significantly increased both in the exercise group and between groups. Conclusion : This study suggests that aquatic exercise program has an effect on lower extremity muscle strength, balance and gait activity of the elderly women. Therefore, it is considered as a safe and helpful self-support activity for the elderly people.