• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.123-131
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• 2021

Background: Only 2% of falls in older adults result in serious injuries (i.e., hip fracture). Therefore, it is important to differentiate injurious versus non-injurious falls, which is critical to develop effective interventions for injury prevention. Objects: The purpose of this study was to a. extract the best features of surface electromyography (sEMG) for classification of injurious falls, and b. find a best model provided by data mining techniques using the extracted features. Methods: Twenty young adults self-initiated falls and landed sideways. Falling trials were consisted of three initial fall directions (forward, sideways, or backward) and three knee positions at the time of hip impact (the impacting-side knee contacted the other knee ("knee together") or the mat ("knee on mat"), or neither the other knee nor the mat was contacted by the impacting-side knee ("free knee"). Falls involved "backward initial fall direction" or "free knee" were defined as "injurious falls" as suggested from previous studies. Nine features were extracted from sEMG signals of four hip muscles during a fall, including integral of absolute value (IAV), Wilson amplitude (WAMP), zero crossing (ZC), number of turns (NT), mean of amplitude (MA), root mean square (RMS), average amplitude change (AAC), difference absolute standard deviation value (DASDV). The decision tree and support vector machine (SVM) were used to classify the injurious falls. Results: For the initial fall direction, accuracy of the best model (SVM with a DASDV) was 48%. For the knee position, accuracy of the best model (SVM with an AAC) was 49%. Furthermore, there was no model that has sensitivity and specificity of 80% or greater. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the classification model built upon the sEMG features of the four hip muscles are not effective to classify injurious falls. Future studies should consider other data mining techniques with different muscles.

• 한국체육학회지인문사회과학편
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.419-425
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• 2012

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of knee brace on anterior cruciate ligament injuries risk factors during one-legged landing of female gymnasts. Eleven female gymnasts were recruited and performed randomly one-legged drop landing in height of her's knee with (3times) and without (3times) knee brace. Kinematics and ground reaction data were collected to estimate the anterior cruciate ligament injuries risk factors. Data were analyzed with paired samples t-test. Female gymnasts with knee brace showed more reduced the distance from ankle joint center to knee joint center in sagittal plane and knee maximum joint torque than without knee brace. In conclusion, Female gymnasts with knee brace reduced anterior cruciate ligament stress.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.110-119
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• 2023

Background: Osteoarthritis is a common condition with an increasing prevalence and is a common cause of disability. Osteoarthritic pain decreases the quality of life, and simple gait training is used to alleviate it. Knee osteoarthritis limits joint motion in the sagittal and lateral directions. Although many recent studies have activated orthotic research to increase knee joint stabilization, no study has used patellar tendon straps to treat knee osteoarthritis. Objects: This study aimed to determine the effects of patellar tendon straps on kinematic, mechanical, and electromyographic activation in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods: Patients with knee osteoarthritis were selected. After creating the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), leg length difference, Q-angle, and thumb side flexion angle of the foot were measured. Kinematic, kinetic, and muscle activation data during walking before and after wearing the orthosis were viewed. Results: After wearing the patellar tendon straps, hip adduction from the terminal stance phase, knee flexion from the terminal swing phase, and ankle plantar flexion angle increased during the pre-swing and initial swing phases. The cadence of spatiotemporal parameters and velocity increased, and step time, stride time, and foot force duration decreased. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, the increase in plantar flexion after strap wearing is inferred by an increase due to neurological mechanisms, and adduction at the hip joint is inferred by an increase in adduction due to increased velocity. The increase in cadence and velocity and the decrease in gait speed and foot pressure duration may be due to joint stabilization. It can be inferred that joint stabilization is increased by wearing knee straps. Thus, wearing a patellar tendon strap during gait in patients with knee osteoarthritis influences kinematic changes in the sagittal plane of the joint.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.29 no.3A
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• pp.227-234
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• 2009

Recently, a knee brace is usually installed in connection between cross-beam and main-girder of steel box-girder bridges. The knee brace is installed as a structural stiffener and mainly aims to relieve stress at joints and to prevent main-girder from lateral deformation. However, research on the knee brace is insufficient to obviously evaluate the necessity. The stiffened effect of knee brace is determined by using finite element analyses. Stress distribution, stress level of members and deflection of the cross-beam are evaluated by parametric FE analysis for the installation of knee brace and the depth ratio of cross-beam/steel box girder. It is seen from comparison of numerical analysis results that the knee brace installed in cross-beam of steel boxgirders bridges is not efficient as a structural stiffener with respect to stress relief and stiffened effect.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.657-671
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• 2022

This study aims to develop three dimensional (3D) yoga knee protectors that provide excellent wearing comfort. Three types of pads were modeled using 3D human data: two types of 3.0-cm-wide pads separated into top and bottom with thicknesses of 0.1 cm (TPU-1: A) and 0.2 cm (TPU-2: B); and one type with three 0.2-cm-thick separated panels (TPU-S: C). Based on these models, five knee protectors were developed using 3D patterning and 3D printing. Types A, B, and C were integrated with 0.6-cm neoprene pads. Type D was fabricated with a donut-shaped 0.6-cm neoprene pad inserted, while Type E consisted of two discrete 0.6-cm neoprene pads embedded in the protector's upper and lower sides. Wearing comfort was evaluated in terms of fit, pressure, and cushioning while in a standing and kneeling position and while in motion. The findings suggest that the fabricated knee protectors were evaluated as comfortable to the individuals with knee pain, rather than those without knee pain. The individuals with knee pain preferred the soft pads made of neoprene positioned around the knee (NEO-S: E), while those without knee pain favored the cushioned pads with a pattern structure maintained by thin 3D-printed pads (TPU-1: A).

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.395-399
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• 2023

The knee arthritis patients are generally performed standing position radiography. However, patients with pain caused by degenerative diseases or injuries in the knee have difficulty maintaining a standing position. Therefore, this study aims to develop a knee joint standing weight bearing projection assist device to solve these problems when patients undergo knee radiography due to various diseases. The design of the knee joint weight-bearing radiography assist device is carried out with 3D design and drawing production to secure basic data, electric support and frame manufacture. A fixed device for maintaining the patient's knee standing weight-bearing projection, an electric digital height device, a digital protractor, and a safety device were designed. The arm support is made of PVC with a cushion to relieve the impact and make it easier to remove debris. The digital electric device can be moved up and down according to the patient's height, and a remote control is attached. The safety device is made to be adjustable in size by attaching metal hooks on both sides of the frame and to shield the scrotum. A digital protractor was attached to the side frame to set the desired knee angle. When a self-made assist device was used to perform a knee joint standing weight bearing projection, it helped maintain arm support and lower extremities position. In addition, the height could be adjusted using an assist device during standing projections, which helped the patient maintain the position.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.337-344
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• 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in the lower extremity kinematics of subjects with dynamic knee valgus after we applied non-elastic tape while they performed overhead squat. Methods: Twenty-five subjects (12 females, 13 males) with dynamic knee valgus participated in this study. Hip and knee joint kinematics and medial knee displacement were measured during overhead squat with and without hip correction taping. Results: Hip joint internal rotation, knee valgus, and medial knee displacement were significantly lower during overhead squat with hip correction taping than without hip correction taping, but there was no significant difference in hip joint flexion and abduction. Conclusion: Hip joint correction using non-elastic taping is recommended to subjects with dynamic knee valgus to improve their lower extremity movement and alignment during overhead squat.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.223-230
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• 2024

Objective: In this study, we compared the key indices of isokinetic tests for knee joint extension and flexion according to the presence or absence of pain in elite athletes with past knee and thigh injuries. Design: Crossed-sectional study Methods: This study was conducted on 33 elite athletes. The elite athletes who participated in this study were divided into a group with pain and a group without pain due to past knee and thigh injuries. The subjects in each group performed an isokinetic muscle strength test for knee joint extension and flexion. After the isokinetic muscle strength test, the main indices of the isokinetic test were compared between the pain group and the non-pain group. Results: In the comparison of the pain group and the non-pain group for 60°/s knee flexion and extension in elite athletes, there was a significant difference only in the torque max average/kg for knee extension. However, there was no statistically significant difference in all other variables. The comparison of the pain group and the non-pain group for 240°/s also showed a significant difference in the torque max average/kg for knee extension, and there was no statistically significant difference in all other variables. Conclusions: In subjects who have experienced previous knee or thigh injuries and have mild pain during strong isokinetic strength tests, torque average/kg is affected, but other strength variables are not affected. Therefore, it would be good to consider this aspect and use it as a basis for testing and training elite athletes.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.33-41
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• 2019

Purpose : The muscle strength of iliopsoas (IL) was measured commonly in sitting position with hip and knee flexed 90°. However, there is no study to determine the muscle strength of IL in various test positions. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the muscle strength of IL and muscle activity of rectus femoris (RF) according to test position and knee flexion angle. Methods : Twenty healthy subjects were participated for this study. The muscle strength of IL and muscle activity of RF were measured by hand-held dynamometer and surface electromyography during maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) of IL, respectively. The muscle strength of IL and muscle activity of RF was measured in 4 conditions as follows; 1) knee flexion angles 90 ° in supine, 2) 130 ° in supine position, 3) 90 ° in sitting, 4) 130 ° in sitting. Each condition were performed randomly by three repetitions. Results : The muscle strength of the IL was the main effect on the test position and knee flexion angle (p<.05), and the muscle activity of RF was the main effect only on the knee flexion angle (p<.05). There was also no interaction between the factors (p>.05). In supine position, the muscle strength of IL in knee flexion 130 ° was significantly less than that in knee flexion 90 ° (p<.0125). In knee flexion 90 °, the muscle strength of IL in supine position was significantly greater than that in sitting position (p<.0125). The muscle activity of RF in knee flexion 130 ° was significantly less than that in knee flexion 90 ° in supine and sitting positions (p<.0125). Conclusion : When the muscle strength of IL was measured in clinic and sports fields, the supine position with knee flexion 130 ° was recommended to prevent the muscle activation of RF and to maintain the trunk stability.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.31-41
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• 2006

The primary purpose of a TKA is to restore normal knee function Therefore, ideally, a TKA should: (a) maintain the natural leverage of the knee joint muscles to ensure generating adequate knee muscle moments to accomplish daily tasks such as rising from climbing stairs; (b) provide adequate knee joint stability. A 16-channel MyoResearch XP EMG system was used to collect the differential input surface electromyography signals VM, VL, RF, BF, ST during climbing/descending stair tests. A Peak Motion Measurement System was used to collect the kinematic and kinetic data. AKIN-COM Ill isokinetic dynamometer was used for EMG of VM, VL, RF, BF and ST during maximal voluntary contraction. I Quadriceps EMG results for the VM of the passed 1year group limb demonstrated significant less RMS EMG than that of the passed 3year group limb $60^{\circ}-15^{\circ}$ of knee flexion(p<0.05). The VL of the passed 1year group limb also demonstrated significants less RMS EMG than that of the passed 3year group limb from $60^{\circ}-45^{\circ}$ of knee flexion(p<0.05). Similar to the VM and VL, the RF of the passed 1year group limb showed less RMS EMG than that of the passed 3year group limb from $60^{\circ}-30^{\circ}$ do knee flexion(p<0.05). Hamstring EMG results for the BF of the passed 1year group limb demonstrated less RMS EMG than that of the passed 3year group limb from $75^{\circ}-15^{\circ}$ of knee flexion(p<0.05). The passed 1year group limb tended to have less ADD displacement(p<0.071) than that of the passed 3year group limb. There was no significant difference of the ABD displacement between the passed 1year group and the passed 3year group limbs(p<0.73). The passed 3year group used compensatory adaptation movement strategies to compensate for the strength deficit of passed 3year group limbs. The passed 3year group limb also increased the quadriceps muscle activation level to produce more knee extension moment to compensate for the short quadriceps moment arm. The passe 3year group limb might have an unstable knee joint in the medio-Iateral direction during the climbing/descending by showing a tendency of more ADD displacement and greater hamming co-activation EMG than the passed 1year group limbs. The TKA design was not able to help the knee joint to produce adequate knee extension moment with less quadriceps muscle effort. I think that old man needs continuous exercise for muscle strength.