• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.112-117
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a task-specific obstacle crossing rehabilitation program on functional gait ability in patients with cerebellar ataxia. Overall, we sought to provide ataxia-specific locomotor rehabilitation guidelines for use in clinical practice based on quantitative evidence using relevant analysis of gait kinematics including valid clinical tests. Methods: Patients with cerebellar disease (n=13) participated in obstacle crossing training focusing on maintenance of dynamic balance and posture, stable transferring of body weight, and production of coordinated limb movements for 8 weeks, 2 times per week, 90 minutes per session. Throughout the training of body weight transfer, the instructions emphasized conscious perception and control of the center of body stability, trunk and limb alignment, and stepping kinematics during the practice of each walking phase. Results: According to the results, compared with pre-training data, foot clearance, pre-&post-obstacle distance, delay time, and total obstacle crossing time were increased after intervention. In addition, body COM measures indicated that body sway and movement variability, therefore posture stability during obstacle crossing, showed improvement after training. Based on these results, body sway was reduced and stepping pattern became more consistent during obstacle crossing gait after participation in patients with cerebellar ataxia. Conclusion: Findings of this study suggest that task-relevant obstacle crossing training may have a beneficial effect on recovery of functional gait ability in patients with cerebellar disease.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.133-137
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• 2015

This study was conducted to determine the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) integrated mirror therapy on the gait of post-stroke patients. Thirty patients who were six months post-stroke were assigned to either the experimental group (n = 15) or the control group (n = 15). Stroke patients in the experimental group underwent rTMS and mirror therapy for the lower limbs, while those in the control group underwent rTMS and sham therapy. Participants in both groups received therapy five days per week for four weeks. A significant difference in post-training gains for the single support phase, step length, stride length and velocity was observed between the experimental group and the control group (p < 0.05). The experimental group showed a significant increment in the single support phase, step length, stride length, swing phase, velocity, cadence, double support phase and step width as compared to pre-intervention (p < 0.05). The control group showed a significant increment in step length, velocity, cadence and step width compared to preintervention (p < 0.05). Further investigation of the availability and feasibility of rTMS integrated mirror therapy for post-stroke patients as a therapeutic approach for gait rehabilitation is warranted.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.346-353
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to verify the energy efficiency of the integrated system combining human and a lower extremity exoskeleton robot when it is applied to the proposed gait pattern. Energy efficient gait pattern of the lower limb was proposed through leg function distribution during stance phase and the dynamic-manipulability ellipsoid (DME). To verify the feasibility and effect of the redefined gait trajectory, simulations and experiments were conducted under the conditions of walking on level ground and ascending and descending from a staircase. Experiments to calculate the metabolic cost of the human body with or without the assistance of the exoskeleton were conducted. The energy consumption of the lower extremity exoskeleton was assessed, with the aim of improving the efficiency of the integrated system.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.1780-1783
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• 2005

In this paper ZMP was considered in order to get a walking stability, so the gait in the stable domain was realized through putting the stability margin in the sole domain of a foot. It is assumed that the robot's legs have 12 joints to operate a open-loop drive and there was no external disturbance under walking phases, additionally, the robot is walking on the flat plane. It was observed that the robot's walking trajectory, locus of COM and ZMP after imposing the motion to each joint. For realizing the simulation considering ZMP and movement of mass center, it was checked if it is stable for the constraint robot model to walk in stability and the feasibility was estimated about its dynamic gait. Eventually it was shown that a constraint gait algorithm is able to realize. To verify the proper walking process, ZMP(Zero Moment Point) theory is applied and the simulation has been done by ADAMS.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers P
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.83-88
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• 2006

This paper proposes a method that minimizes the consumed energy by searching the optimal locations of the mass centers of the biped robot's links using Genetic Algorithm. This paper presents a learning controller for repetitive gait control of the biped robot. The learning control scheme consists of a feedforward learning nile and linear feedback control input for stabilization of learning system. The feasibility of learning control to the biped robotic motion is shown via computer simulation and experimental results with 24 DOF biped walking robot.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.193-197
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study was to assess the feasibility of a proposed study "To investigate the effects of applying a vibration stimulation to the paretic and non-paretic sides on balance and gait in stroke patients" before proceeding with the main study. Methods: A total of 30 patients who had suffered a stroke and who met the selection criteria participated in this study. However, only 14 patients completed the study. The study subjects were randomly assigned to vibration stimulation on either both sides (B group) or the paralyzed side (P group). The interventions were applied for six weeks. The patients were assessed using the Berg balance scale (BBS), Timed up and go (TUG), 10-meter walk (10 MW), and 6-minute walk (6 MW) tests. Results: There was a significant difference before and after the application of vibration stimulation in the BBS, TUG, 10MW, and 6 MW tests in the B group (p<0.05). Similarly, there was also a significant difference observed in the 10 MW and 6 MW tests in the P group (p<0.05). The difference between the two groups was not significant in the BBS, TUG, 10 MW, and 6 MW tests (p>0.05). Conclusion: This pilot study suggests that it would be feasible to conduct a large-scale randomized controlled trial (RCT) to examine the effects of applying a vibration stimulation to the paretic and non-paretic sides, on the balance and gait in stroke patients.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SP
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.97-107
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• 2009

In image-based gait recognition systems, physical factors, such as the camera angle and the lens distortion, and environmental factors such as illumination determines the performance of recognition. In this paper we present a robust gait recognition method by compensating various types of image distortions. The proposed method is compared with existing gait recognition algorithm with consideration of both physical and environmental distortion factors in the input image. More specifically, we first present an efficient compensation algorithm of image distortion by using the projective transform, and test the feasibility of the proposed algorithm by comparing the recognition performances with and without the compensation process. Proposed method gives universal gait data which is invariant to both distance and environment. Gained data improved gait recognition rate about 41.5% in indoor image and about 55.5% in outdoor image. Proposed method can be used effectively in database(DB) construction, searching and tracking of specific objects.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.63-70
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• 2016

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to conduct an Otago exercise program with stroke patients in a clinical setting and ascertain its effects on balance and walking ability. METHODS: The participating subjects were 45 people who had been diagnosed with stroke. They were assigned to two groups (Otago exercise; OE, n=22; balance exercise; BE, n=23), and the exercises were conducted for three sessions per week for eight weeks. The main balance outcomes were evaluated using the timed up and go test (TUG) and the four step square test (FSST), while walking ability was evaluated using the 10 m walk test (10MWT), direction change ability was measured using the figure 8 of walk test (F8WT), and the decrease of fear was evaluated using the modified falls efficacy scale (MFES). RESULTS: In the analysis results, the Otago exercise group showed significant increases in TUG, FSST, 10MWT, and F8WT within the both groups. There were significant differences in all variables between the OE group and the BE group at the post-intervention evaluation, but there was no significant difference between the groups with respect to the 10MWT. This study showed that conducting Otago exercise in stroke patients increased the main outcomes for TUG, FSST, F8WT scores, but not for 10MWT. CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrated that Otago exercise would be useful to improve balance and gait for stroke patients who want to improve their abilities and activities of daily living.

• Journal of the Korean Burn Society
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.31-36
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• 2020

Purpose: Scar contracture influence the outcome of burn patients significantly. This study aims to investigate the feasibility of robot-assisted training for the lower extremity rehabilitation of burn patients. Methods: This pilot study was conducted on 7 burn patients for 8 weeks between January 2019 and November 2019. Two of 7 patients withdrew from this study because one had skin abrasion on the legs which thigh fastening devices were applied on and the other was not participate in the assessment at 4 weeks after training. Final 5 patients received gait training with SUBAR^® and numeric rating scale (NRS), 6-minutes walking test, and range of motion in flexion and extension of knee and ankle joint were evaluated before training, 4 weeks and 12 weeks after training. Results: The subjects had a mean age of 51.8±98 years, mean total burn surface area of 30.8±13.7%, mean duration from injury to 1^st assessment of 102.8±39.3 days. Anyone of 5 patients did not have musculoskeletal or cardiovascular side effects such as increased or decreased blood pressure or dizziness. The significant improvement in NRS, gait speed, and range of motion in knee extension and ankle plantarflexion after robotic training (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Robot-assisted training could be feasible for the rehabilitation of burn patients and it could improve muscle strength and range of motion in lower extremities, and gait function.

• Design Convergence Study
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.243-253
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• 2016

In this study, crutch and crutch gait for the handicapped in the lower extremity were discussed, and the study was conducted as a part of long-term research that suggests a practical solution for a crutch design. Three axillary crutches were evaluated in the study by a set of design guidelines for crutches delivered from the advanced research. In this comparative study with axillary crutch design variations, 31 healthy subjects were participated and three crutches were evaluated by ten guidelines. The result showed that Mobilegs-ultra and In-motion Pro were significantly greater than KM Crutch. However, no statistically significant difference was found between Mobilegs-ultra and In-motion Pro. While analyzing with guidelines, Mobilegs-ultra and In-motion Pro were significantly greater than KM Crutch for 6-guideline, but no significant difference was found among three crutches for the guidelines related with Lightweight and Economical feasibility and marketability. The result of the study is expected to be used for a solid foundation to evaluate for the reasonableness of the guidelines with comprehensive analysis for crutch gait evaluation in the further study.