• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.95-101
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the training and detraining effects of a 8-week water exercise on lower extremities coordination during obstacle gait in the female elderly. Eight elderly participants (age: $76.58{\pm}4.97$ yrs, height: $148.88{\pm}7.19$ cm, body mass: $56.62{\pm}6.82$ kg, and leg length: $82.36{\pm}2.98$ cm), who stayed at the Seoul K welfare center, were recruited for this study. All participants had no history of orthopedic abnormality within the past 1 year and completed the aquatic exercise program which lasted for 8 weeks. To identify the training and detraining effect of 8 weeks of water exercise, a 3-D motion analysis with 7 infrared cameras and one force plate sampling frequency set at 100 Hz and 1,000 Hz, respectively, was performed. A two-way ANOVA was performed to find training and detraining effects among diferent obstacle heights. In this study significant level was set at .05. Significant training effects of LTS (lead foot thigh and shank) coordination in all obstacle height were found (p<.05). It is also found that the training effect of LTS remained 37%, 58%, and 25% in obstacle height of 30%, 40%, and 50%, respectively. Lead foot showed the greater detraining effect of coordination compared with trail foot, and SF (shank and foot) coordination revealed better detraining effects of coordination compare with TS (thigh and shank) in both feet. Based on the findings, a 8 week water exercise give an positive effects to the elderly in terms of segment cooperation which potentially helps reducing their accident falls. The magnitude of detraining may also help the elderly to find the retraining moment.

• Journal of IKEEE
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.883-892
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• 2019

This study is the method which is adapted to control ankle joint movement for resolving the problem of gait imbalance in intervals where gait environments are changed and slope walking, as applying terrain-adaptive technique to intelligent above-knee prosthesis. In this development of above-knee prosthesis, to classify the gait modes is essential. For distinguishing the stance phases and the swing phase depending on roads, a machine learning which combines decision tree and random forest from knee angle data and inertial sensor data, is proposed and adapted. By using this method, the ankle movement state of the prosthesis is controlled. This study verifies whether the problem is resolved through butterfly diagram.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.77-83
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• 2021

Background: Although symmetry of spatio-temporal parameter and center of pressure (COP) shift during walking is associated with knee adduction moment, research on clinical association with knee osteoarthritis (OA)-related knee pain and functional scores is lacking. Objects: The aims were 1) to compare symmetry of gait parameters and COP-shift in patients with unilateral knee OA and pain and matched controls, and 2) to investigate the relationship between symmetry of gait parameters and COP-shift, and clinical measures. Methods: Female subjects (n = 16) had with unilateral radiological knee OA and pain. Healthy controls (n = 15) were age-matched to OA group. Symmetry of foot rotation, step length, stance and swing phase, lateral symmetry of COP and anterior/posterior symmetry of COP during walking was assessed. To assess the clinical variables, pain intensity, pain duration and function using Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Survey (KOOS) subscales were collected. We compared symmetry between groups using Mann-Whitney U-test or independent t-test. Relationships between clinical measures and symmetry index measured using Spearman's correlation test. Statistical significance was set at α = 0.05. Results: Knee OA group showed significantly greater values of only lateral symmetry of COP (p < 0.01) than healthy group. Values of lateral symmetry of COP had moderate or strong correlation significantly with the intensity of knee pain, pain duration, and scores of all KOOS subscales (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Patients with unilateral knee OA and pain showed more asymmetry of lateral COP-shift during walking compared with matched healthy controls. In addition, larger asymmetry of lateral COP-shift has the moderate or strong association with worse of knee pain, worse in KOOS scores and longer duration of knee pain. Asymmetry of lateral COP-shift during walking may be one of the characteristics of unilateral knee OA as the compensatory strategy response to unilateral OA of the knee.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.11-19
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• 2016

Background: In the stroke patients with the characteristics of hemiplegic gait, turning direction of the affected and unaffected side influences turning time. Therefore, it is important to investigate the walking response to turning directions in stroke patients. Objects: This study aimed to measure the walking time while turning direction in hemiplegic patients depending on balance ability measured by Berg Balance Scale. Methods: A group of forty-five subjects with stroke (Berg Balance Scale score${\geq}46$ were twenty-eight, Berg Balance Scale score${\leq}45$ were seventeen) were enrolled in this study. Subjects were asked to perform the Timed Up and Go test. Testing indications included two directions for turning in each subject. These indications were for turning toward the affected and unaffected side in stroke patients. The duration of total analysis duration, sit to stand phase, stand to sit phase, mid-turning phase, and end turning phase were recorded. The obtained data were analyzed by using paired t-test and Wilcoxon signed rank test in the group that are below and above 45 points of Berg Balance Scale score. The significance level was set at ${\alpha}=.05$. Results: There were significant increase time in the analysis duration and end turning phase duration while subjects were turned the unaffected side in stroke patients that presented a Berg Balance Scale score${\leq}45$ (p<.05). However, the comparison between the affected side and the unaffected side in the stroke patients with Berg Balance Scale score${\geq}46$, revealed no significant differences of the measured parameters. Conclusion: This finding should be suggested in the specific definition of turning direction for evaluation with Timed Up and Go test in the Berg Balance Scale score${\leq}45$, and other intervention for hemiplegic patients need to be suggested the direction of turning during walking training program.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.184-192
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• 2003

This study were investigated the effects to the starting-time of the applied aquatic exercise to the functional healing phase on the Achilles tendon injured rats. The Spraque-Dawley female rats weights($246{\pm}18g$) were assigned to the four groups(24 rats), all experimental groups were able to walling training for 20 min. on the rolling bar motor before injured, one group; control group and three groups; aquatic exercise groups, The aquatic groups were derived into the first day, fourth day and seventh day groups after injuring Achilles tendon according to the levels of aquatic exercise. This studied were investigated the effects of functional healing after appling the aquatic exercising after first day, fourth day and seven days after injured Achilles tendon by the method of rolling bar-motor(Jc-35L-H/GEAR MOTOR, DC, 12V-20RPM, TAIWAN)R.O.C. and to the phase of healing phase to the Achilles tendon. After injuring Achilles tendon, the starting-times of walling on the rolling bar motor were showed from 10th day in the first day aquatic groups, after injuring, from the eight day of fourth day and seventh day aquatic groups, but those, of the all aquatic groups were not significantly showed from the ninth day after injured in the control group. There were showed healing phase without adherence like normal tissue from the fourth day group after injured to the control group. The results stewed that aquatic exercising were effected the healing phase to the injured Achilles tendon to apply exercise, after being the late period of inflammation.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.250-261
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• 2021

Background: Complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS-I) consists of disorders caused by spontaneous pain or induced by some stimulus. The objective was to verify the effects of photobiomodulation (PBM) using 830 nm wavelength light at the affected paw and involved spinal cord segments during the warm or acute phase. Methods: Fifty-six mice were randomized into seven groups. Group (G) 1 was the placebo group; G2 and G3 were treated with PBM on the paw in the warm and acute phase, respectively; G4 and G5 treated with PBM on involved spinal cord segments in the warm and acute phase, respectively; G6 and G7 treated with PBM on paw and involved spinal cord segments in the warm and acute phase, respectively. Edema degree, thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia, skin temperature, and functional quality of gait (Sciatic Static Index [SSI] and Sciatic Functional Index [SFI]) were evaluated. Results: Edema was lower in G3 and G7, and these were the only groups to return to baseline values at the end of treatment. For thermal hyperalgesia only G3 and G5 returned to baseline values. Regarding mechanical hyperalgesia, the groups did not show significant differences. Thermography showed increased temperature in all groups on the seventh day. In SSI and SFI assessment, G3 and G7 showed lower values when compared to G1, respectively. Conclusions: PBM irradiation in the acute phase and in the affected paw showed better results in reducing edema, thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia, and in improving gait quality, demonstrating efficacy in treatment of CRPS-I symptoms.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.77-84
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• 2015

Objective : The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of lower limb muscle activity on postural stability and ground type in elderly women subjects. Method : Forty two subjects participated in the experiment (high group - age: $74.29{\pm}4.13yr$, height: $152.44{\pm}5.54cm$, weight: $57.43{\pm}6.16kg$, BMI: $24.77{\pm}2.99$, low group - age: $77.67{\pm}5.16yr$, height: $151.40{\pm}3.93cm$, weight: $60.92{\pm}6.40kg$, BMI: $26.59{\pm}2.57$). Wireless EMG with eight channels was used. Ground types were classified as flat and cushion. Results : In the double-support phase, left and right rectus femoris, left biceps femoris, left and right tibialis anterior, and left gastrocnemius did not show a significant difference in postural stability according to ground type. However right biceps femoris and gastrocnemius showed higher muscle activity in the elderly women group with lower postural stability. In the single-support phase, left and right rectus femoris, right biceps femoris, and left and right tibialis anterior did not show a significant difference in postural stability according to ground type. In addition, left biceps femoris had higher muscle activity in the elderly women group with lower postural stability. Left gastrocnemius had higher muscle activity in the elderly women group with higher postural stability and right gastrocnemius had higher muscle activity in the elderly women group on cushion ground. Conclusion : In a dynamic postural stability and cushion ground, biceps femoris and gastrocnemius muscle activity were high. As a result, biceps femoris and gastrocnemius muscle strengthening exercise on cushion ground could be beneficial in the prevention of falling.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.77-95
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• 2003

Many factors affect foot and ankle biomechanics during walking, including gait speed and anthropometric characteristics. However, speed has not been taken into account in foot kinematics and kinetics during walking. This study examined the effect of walking speed on foot joint motion and peak plantar pressure during the walking phase. Eighty healthy subjects (40 men, 40 women) were recruited. Maximal dorsiflexion and excursion were measured at the first metatarsophalangeal joints during walking phase at three different cadences (80, 100, and 120 step/min) using a three dimensional motion analysis system (CMS70P). At the same time, peak plantar pressure was investigated using pressure distribution platforms (MatScan system) under the hallux heads of the first, second, and third metatarsal bones and heel. Maximal dorsiflexion and excursion and excursion at the ankle joint decreased significantly with increasing walking speed. Peak plantar pressure increased significantly under the heads of the first of the first, second, and third metatarsal bones, and heel with increasing walking speed: three was no change under the hallux. There were no significant changes in maximal dorsiflexion or excursion at the first metatarsophalangeal joint. The results show that walking speed should be considered when comparing gait parameters. The results also suggest that slow walking speeds may decrease forefoot peak plantar pressure in patients with peripheral neuropathy who have a high risk of skin breakdown under the forefoot.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.165-175
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• 2008

An ankle-foot orthosis(AFO) is a brace for persons with gait disabilities to support or replace the function of ankle joint. Ankle-foot orthoses(AFO's) are usually prescribed to alleviate the drop-foot by constraining the excessive plantar flexion. The shape and the strength of the AFO are often based on 'trial and error' due to a lack of knowledge of the stress distribution in the AFO. In this study, an improved stress-freezing method was proposed to measure the stress distribution characteristics in the AFO. As a result, a photoelastic material with low freezing temperature was developed to measure the stresses under a person's direct contact loading condition. The three-dimensional stress-1rozen photoelastic models of AFO's for five stages of stance phase such as heel contact, foot flat, mid stance, heel off, and toe off were produced. The results of photoelastic analysis revealed that the stresses developed in the AFO were varied considerably from tensile to compressive or vice versa, during walking. At the posterior part of ankle joint in the AFO, the maximum compressive stress of 1.81MPa was observed in the mid stance, and the maximum tensile stress of 0.74MPa was observed during heel contact. The overall stress levels in the AFO's were low in the toe off phase. The results suggested that the posterior part of ankle joint might be the most fragile part in the AFO.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.1021-1028
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• 2011

The objective of this paper is to optimize the design parameters of a novel mechanism for a robotic knee orthosis. The feature of the proposed knee othosis is to drive a knee joint with independent actuation during swing and stance phases, which can allow an actuator with fast rotation to control swing motions and an actuator with high torque to control stance motions, respectively. The quadriceps device operates in five-bar links with 2-DOF motions during swing phase and is changed to six-bar links during stance phase by the contact motion to the patella device. The hamstring device operates in a slider-crank mechanism for entire gait cycle. The suggested kinematic model will allow a robotic knee orthosis to use compact and light actuators with full support during walking. However, the proposed orthosis must use additional linkages than a simple four-bar mechanism. To maximize the benefit of reducing the actuators power by using the developed kinematic design, it is necessary to minimize total weight of the device, while keeping necessary actuator performances of torques and angular velocities for support. In this paper, we use a SGA (Simple Genetic Algorithm) to minimize sum of total link lengths and motor power by reducing the weight of the novel knee orthosis. To find feasible parameters, kinematic constraints of the hamstring and quadriceps mechanisms have been applied to the algorithm. The proposed optimization scheme could reduce sum of total link lengths to half of the initial value. The proposed optimization scheme can be applied to reduce total weight of general multi-linkages while keeping necessary actuator specifications.