• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.103-110
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to suggest a proper tread of stairs using kinematic factors and moments of the lower-limb joints in the stair decent with the 3 different treads with boimechanical method in ergonomics. 9 subjects (body masses; $59.41{\pm}7.49$, $64.03{\pm}6.65$, $67.26:{\pm}7.58$, heights; $160.50{\pm}6.35$ ages; $31.22{\pm}2.99$; parity; $1.67{\pm}0.71$) participated in three experiments that were divided by physiological symptoms (the early (0-15 weeks), middle (16-27 weeks) and last (18-39 weeks). and they walked at self-selected pace on 4 staircases 3 trials. As extending the pregnancy period, cadence was shorter but cycle time were longer more and more. As extending treads of stair decent during pregnancy, speed, stride lengths and cycle time were increased. As extending the treads of stair decent, hip and ankle moments increased but knee moments decreased in sagittal plane. There were increasing or decreasing of moments by means of treads. These changes may account for relation between the treads of stair and moments in pregnant women. The main changes of pregnant women were joint moments and kinematic factors during pregnancy period because pregnancy makes them physical changes. It is possible that joints have connection with compensation each other to maximize stability and to control gait motion. In conclusion, we suggest that the tread of stair is longer than 26cm tread. and exercise programs to improve muscle activity were necessary where joint moments were small.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 2002

In this study, a stress analysis is made fur an ankle foot orthosis (AFO) in the view point of structural stability. The investigated AFO is a solid and standard type. To analyze the stress distribution on the neck of AFO, the maximum AFO angular translation data is obtained by gait analysis. The material test of polypropylene is made to obtain the mechanical properties of AFO. The maximum dorsiflexion appears at the midstance in the gait analysis. The experimental angular translation at the top of AFO is about 10.3$^{\circ}$ at mid stance. Three models of AFO with different width of neck are made and analyzed with ABAQUS 6.1. The stress levels and distributions of 3 different width(W$_1$, W$_2$=0.85W$_1$, W$_3$=0.60W$_1$) AFO are investigated. As a result, the standard type(W$_1$) appears to the maximum stresses at the medial edge of cutout area surrounding ankle joint. The maximum stresses of the narrower type(W$_2$) are occured on medial edge and center of ankle. The narrowest type(W$_3$) appears to the maximum stresses at center of ankle. The maximum stresses become smaller as ankle width of AFO is narrower.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.113-121
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of forefoot rocker shoes equipped with a metatarsal bar on lower extremity muscle activity and plantar pressure distribution. Ten healthy women in the age of twenties were participated in this study as the subjects. All subjects walked on a treadmill(Gait Trainer, BIODEX, USA) wearing normal shoes and metatarsal bar shoes, during which the plantar pressure distribution and muscle activity were measured. Using Pedar-X system(Novel Gmbh, Germany), the plantar pressure was measured for six regions of the foot: forefoot, midfoot, rearfoot, 1st metatarsal, 2-3th metatarsal, and 4-5th metatarsal, and for each sub-region, 4 features such as maximum force, contact area, peak pressure, and mean pressure were analyzed based on the plantar pressure. EMG(Electromyography) activity was measured by attaching surface electrodes to the rectus femoris, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior, and gastrocnemius medial head, and magnitude of muscle contraction was analyzed in IEMG(Integrated EMG) value. The results show that the maximum force, contact area, peak pressure, and mean pressure in the midfoot all increased while maximum force, peak pressure, contact area, mean pressure in the 1st metatarsal and 2-3th metatarsal all decreased when wearing functional shoes. Also, muscle activities in the four muscles were all decreased when wearing the functional shoes. This paper suggests that forfoot rocker shoes equipped with a metatarsal bar can help disperse the high pressure and absorb the shock to the foot as well as give positive influence on gait pattern and postural stability by reducing muscle fatigue during walking.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.109-118
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of core stabilization exercise on foot pressure in the hemiplegic patients. Methods: A total of 28 subjects(n=28) who were diagnosed with hemiplegic caused by a stroke were randomly divided into bridge exercise(BX, n=14) and crunch exercise(CX, n=13) groups and each group executed the exercises 20 minutes a day, 4 times per week over an 8 week period. Foot pressure was measured on the fore, mid, and hind foot for peak pressure, and distance of center of pressure(COP). Results: The peak pressure on the mid foot for BX and CX were significantly different according to the exercise period(p<.05). Peak pressure on the hind foot of BX was significantly different according to exercise period(p<.05), however there was not in CX. The effects of each exercises period were significantly different according to pre-after 8weeks(p<.05). According to exercise period(p<.05), COP distances of BX and CX were significantly different. Conclusion: The results show that both BX and CX verified an improvement in gait ability. Especially, since we confirmed BX was attributed more to gait ability than CX. This is considered to be effective on those hemiplegic patients who need core-stabilization and gait stability.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.35-41
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• 2019

Background: Obstacle training affects lower limb muscle activity, balance, reducing the risk of falls, and making gait more stable. Objects: This study aimed to investigate the effects of aquatic and ground obstacle training on balance and muscle activity in patients with chronic stroke. Methods: The study subjects included 30 patients with stroke, who were divided into aquatic ($n_1=15$) and ground ($n_2=15$) groups. Groups underwent obstacle training three times per week, 30 min per session, for six weeks that went as follows: walking over sites with the paralyzed leg, stepping onto and down from a box step, and walking over obstacles with the non-paralyzed leg. Results: The experimental results were obtained by comparing muscle activity. Activity of the rectus femoris, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior, and gastrocnemius were significantly increased in the aquatic group (p<.05). Activity of the biceps femoris and tibialis anterior were significantly increased in the ground group (p<.05); however, the rectus femoris and gastrocnemius were not significantly different. In the comparison of maximal distance regarding the limits of stability, it was significantly increased on the non-affected side, affected side, and anterior and posterior distance in the aquatic group (p<.05). It was significantly increased in the non-affected side and anterior and posterior distance the ground group (p<.05); however, maximal distance on the affected side distance was not significantly different. Conclusion: Gait training with aquatic and ground obstacles is effective for improving balance and gait ability of patients with stroke. However, it was more effective for the aquatic group than for the ground group.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.61-73
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a 8- week Tai Chi exercise program on improving the risk factors for falls in the older adults with chronic arthritis pain. Method: Fifteen subjects were assigned for experimental group and thirteen were assigned for control group. The subjects of the experimental group participated in a 8 -week program of Tai Chi exercise. In order to evaluate the effects of Tai Chi program, pain intensity, postural stability, balance, gait, and flexibility of knees and ankles were measured before the first and after the 8th session Result: After a 8-week Tai Chi program, there were significant improvement in single-leg stance time with eyes open(left: p=.000, right: p=.003), total scores of balance(p=.004), total scores of gait(p=.005), and the angle of ankle dorsiflexion(p=.008) in the experimental group when compared to the control group. However, there was no significant difference in pain intensity between Tai Chi group and control group(p=.054). Conclusion: These results suggest that a 8-week Tai Chi exercise program can be utilized as a safe and effective nursing program to improve on improving the risk factors for falls in the older adults with osteoarthritis.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.685-694
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• 2001

In this study, a transfemoral prosthesis system of which both stance phase and swing phase are controllable has been developed for the recovery of the biomechanical function of the amputated leg. It consists of a 5 bar link mechanism, a hydraulic-rubber knee damper for stance phase control and a pneumatic cylinder controlled via a microprocessor for stance phase control. The mechanical characteristics of the knee damper which absorbs the impact energy generated at the heel contact were investigated. The characteristics of the pneumatic cylinder essential for the speed adaptation of the prosthesis during swing phase were also studied for its mechanical characteristics. The prosthesis was subject to the clinical tests, and the gait characteristics obtained were very close to those of normal subjects. The stance and swing controlled prosthesis that were developed in this study showed good stability during the stance phase and showed good controllability during the swing phase.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.345-353
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to compare and biomechanical evaluate the effects of three varying functional insoles on the kinematics of the lower extremities and foot pressure distribution during gait. For this 12 subjects participated in this study and each worn the 3 functional insoles during gait which kinematics, kinetics, electromyography and foot pressures were recorded. The function on the first insole was to absorb shock and increase the dynamic stability, the second was a gel type to absorb shock, and the third was to massage the center regions of the foot sole. the results were as follows; the first insole reduced the joints range of motion and reduced muscular fatigue, the second insole reduce the maximum, total and average foot pressures. Finally, the third insole produced larger values for the contact times and contact area.

• 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.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.963-968
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• 2010

This paper handles ZMP based control that is inspired by neural networks for humanoid robot walking on varying sloped surfaces. Humanoid robots are currently one of the most exciting research topics in the field of robotics, and maintaining stability while they are standing, walking or moving is a key concern. To ensure a steady and smooth walking gait of such robots, a feedforward type of neural network architecture, trained by the back propagation algorithm is employed. The inputs and outputs of the neural network architecture are the ZMPx and ZMPy errors of the robot, and the x, y positions of the robot, respectively. The neural network developed allows the controller to generate the desired balance of the robot positions, resulting in a steady gait for the robot as it moves around on a flat floor, and when it is descending slope. In this paper, experiments of humanoid robot walking are carried out, in which the actual position data from a prototype robot are measured in real time situations, and fed into a neural network inspired controller designed for stable bipedal walking.