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

• Journal of Computational Design and Engineering
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.250-265
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• 2016

Owing to our rapidly aging society, accessibility evaluation to enhance the ease and safety of access to indoor and outdoor environments for the elderly and disabled is increasing in importance. Accessibility must be assessed not only from the general standard aspect but also in terms of physical and cognitive friendliness for users of different ages, genders, and abilities. Meanwhile, human behavior simulation has been progressing in the areas of crowd behavior analysis and emergency evacuation planning. However, in human behavior simulation, environment models represent only "as-planned" situations. In addition, a pedestrian model cannot generate the detailed articulated movements of various people of different ages and genders in the simulation. Therefore, the final goal of this research was to develop a virtual accessibility evaluation by combining realistic human behavior simulation using a digital human model (DHM) with "as-is" environment models. To achieve this goal, we developed an algorithm for generating human-like DHM walking motions, adapting its strides, turning angles, and footprints to laser-scanned 3D as-is environments including slopes and stairs. The DHM motion was generated based only on a motion-capture (MoCap) data for flat walking. Our implementation constructed as-is 3D environment models from laser-scanned point clouds of real environments and enabled a DHM to walk autonomously in various environment models. The difference in joint angles between the DHM and MoCap data was evaluated. Demonstrations of our environment modeling and walking simulation in indoor and outdoor environments including corridors, slopes, and stairs are illustrated in this study.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.8-17
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of hip joint mobilization (HJM) on walking ability, balance ability, and the joint range of motion in stroke patients to minimize the problems of the musculoskeletal system in patients with central nervous system diseases. All volunteers were randomly assigned to the HJM group ($n_1=14$) and the general neurodevelopment therapy (NDT) group ($n_2=16$). The HJM procedure involved applying Maitland mobilization techniques (distraction, lateral gliding, inferior gliding, and anterior gliding) by grade 3 to both hip joint. The mobilization process included mobilization and NDT for 15 min/day, 3 days a week for 4 weeks. The outcome measures were evaluated, including the hip joint passive range of motion (ROM) test and femur head anterior glide test (FHAG) using prone figure four test, dynamic and static balance abilities [timed up and go (TUG) test and center of pressure (COP) analysis], and walking ability [10-meter walking test (10MWT) and 6-min walking test (6MWT)]. Both the groups showed significant post-training differences in the hip joint ROM (FHAG and degree of hip extension) and 10MWT. The post-training improvements in the TUG test were significantly greater in patients of the HJM group than in the NDT group; however, there were no post-training improvements in COP in both groups. Patients in the HJM group showed post-training improvement in the 6MWT; however, statistically significant differences were not observed. Patients in the NDT group showed post-training improvements in the 6MWT. These results suggest that HJM improves hip joint ROM, dynamic balance ability, and walking speed in stroke patients. However, further studies are required to evaluate the long-term therapeutic efficacy of HJM in stroke patients.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.418-424
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• 2019

The present study investigated the effects of the moment arm length on balance and walking when carrying a backpack. In total, 30 normal adults without orthopedic and neurological injuries were assessed. For each subject, balance and gait were measured under three conditions: 1) the no backpack condition, 2) the general backpack condition, and 3) the decreased length of moment arm backpack condition. There were significant differences in the center of the pressure area and velocity between the three conditions, whereas there was no significant difference in the center of the pressure area and velocity according to the moment arm length. There were significant differences in double limb support time and walking velocity under the three conditions, and there was a significant difference only in double limb support time according to the moment arm length. The results of the present study showed that a change in the length of the moment arm can be helpful for walking when carrying a backpack.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.543-555
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze the walking characteristics of jaywalking pedestrians, which account for a large proportion of deaths in pedestrian traffic accidents. Method: As for the analysis method, after collecting data of jaywalking pedestrians using imaging equipment, frequency analysis and statistical verification were performed on the jaywalking characteristics of elderly and non-elderly people. Result: It was found that there was a difference in the characteristics of jaywalking between the elderly and non-elders, but in the case of walking speed, insignificant results were derived. However, it was found that among the elderly, the group having difficulty walking in general had a lower walking speed than the group that did not. Conclusion: It is judged that one of the causes of jaywalking is the perception of illegal activities and insensitivity to the risk of accidents, not the age and walking ability. Therefore, in addition to safety education, it is judged that it is necessary to provide pedestrian safety information that requires the driver's attention in multiple jaywalking sections.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.151-158
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to see the effect of walking when training for chronic stroke patients, Affected side vision impairment induced gait training with rhythmic auditory stimulation in parallel. Methods: This study was the general walking training group, the training group was divided damage induced affected side view, affected side view damage induced by rhythm auditory stimulation training three groups. Intervention period was 4 weeks. 5 times per week, per 30 min entered arbitration. Affected Side vision impairment induced induction training was conducted by installing a red cones, rhythmic auditory stimulation was applied to a regular rhythm training using a smartphone application (Metronome). Paired t-test was performed to see the difference between each group and before the intervention. One-way ANOVA was used to find out the significance probability between each group. Statistical significance was set at 0.05 probability. Results: Regular walking group, rather than affected side vision guided walking group could see increases in the FGA and DGI (P<0.05). And vision impairment induced affected side view and rhythmic auditory stimulation induction training this group than in the combination group walking group obtained higher scores on the FGA, DGI score(P<0.05). Conclusion: If you want to enforce certain rhythmic auditory stimulation of the visual field and side damage induced during gait training for stroke patients will be able to expect a better effect.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.20-28
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• 2019

This study comparatively analyzes general walking shoes on the conical top foundation of the ground condition and the pressure distribution during walking with shoes that are currently under development. Two categories of footwear were used: general footwear and a footwear conical top foundation that is currently under development. Experiments were carried out on hard ground and sandy soil in 15 male twenties that satisfy the conditions of normal foot wearing 260 mm. The pressure during walking was measured using Techstorm's Wireless Insole System, and foot pressure was measured in 7 zones of the foot. Studies have shown different maximum forces, average pressures, and pressure distributions depending on the shoe and ground conditions. This study shows that shoes with general low pressure dispersion effects depending on the feet in hard ground and sand ground are different from shoes with the conical top foundation that is currently under development. It is expected that it will be useful for the development of shoes that can be worn in all hard ground and sandy ground by selecting various rubber materials through further research.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.4346-4352
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• 2014

This study examined the differences in the improvement of walking ability between treadmill training with fast-tempo auditory stimulation (FTAS group) and the general treadmill training (control group) in hemiplegia. The subjects were allocated randomly into both groups. Eleven patients of the FTAS group and 11 patients of the control group underwent training for 30 minutes per day for 6 weeks. Before and after intervention, the walking ability was measured by the 10m gait-evaluation and the number of steps in 20m walking. The gait velocity was improved further in the FTAS group than the control group (p<.05). This study provides evidence of the efficacy of treadmill training with FTAS in improving the gait ability when compared to the general methods in patients with chronic hemiplegia.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.227-238
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• 2011

Objectives : This study was to investigate the effects on using Virtual reality exercise program($Wii-Fit^{TM}$) for dynamic balance and walking ability in patients with stroke. Methods : The 22 subjects were randomly selected from the patients of the S hospital who met the study conditions. They were divided into a $Wii-Fit^{TM}$ balance game group of 12 patients and a conventional physical therapy group of 10 patients. The $Wii-Fit^{TM}$ balance game group received $Wii-Fit^{TM}$ balance game group general physiotherapy for 5 days a weeks, 30 minutes a day, for a 4 weeks and the conventional physical therapy group received general physiotherapy for the same period. The subjects were measured and compared for Brunel balance assessment, functional gait assessment, 6 minute walk test, GAITRite system before and after the program. Results : The experimental group tend to improve more than control group in shifting the weight to the affected side(p=0.040) and tap test(p<0.001). The experimental group tend to improve more than control group in FGA(p=0.016). The experimental group improved significantly more than control group in 6MWT(p=0.008). The experimental group improved significantly more than control group in gait speed, cadence, stride length. Conclusions : Virtual Reality program($Wii-Fit^{TM}$) with conventional physical therapy shows the benefits on dynamic balance and gait parameters in patients with stroke.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.173-180
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• 2007

The purpose of study was to compare plantar pressure during walking wearing the curved rear balance and normal shoes. Twelve university students(height: $177.2{\pm}4.6cm$, weight: $68.4{\pm}5.8kg$, age: $26.2{\pm}1.6yrs.$) who have no known musculoskeletal disorders were recruited as the subjects. Plantar foot pressures were evaluated using the Tekscan's pressure measurement systems while subjects walked upright position wearing the curved rear balance and normal shoes in random order at a speed of 1.3 m/s. The contacting dimension, the mean plantar pressure, and the peak plantar pressure were determined for each trial. For each dependent variable, paired t-test was performed to test if significant difference existed between shoe conditions (p<.05). As a result, the curved rear balanced shoes showed as large as 38 up to 50 % of area at the rear side of feet than the normal shoes when measuring the contact area with upright position. In the distribution of average pressure, the curved rear balanced shoes displayed fairly low pressure compared to other normal shoes in general except for one area, which is M2, and especially, the measured pressures at the both rear (M1) and middle (M5) side of feet were low and statically significant. The contact area of the curved rear balanced shoes when walking was significantly larger at the rear (M1) and fore (M6, M7) side of feet. When considering pressure distribution at walking, low pressure was detected at the rear side of feet with the curved rear balanced shoes and at the fore side of feet for other normal shoes. The results showed that the contacting dimension of the curved rear balance shoes that acts between shoes and feet was higher than the corresponding value for the normal shoes in general; therefore it would reduce the pressure to the feet by allowing the each sole of the foot on the ground evenly.