• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.43-50
• /
• 2010

The representative study of Patellofemoral Joint Merchant method can show the view for inspection of the sulcus angle, congruence angle and diagnose whether there are the vertical fractures and recognize the degree of dislocation and patella subluxation. However, anatomical correlation about the degree of knee joint curvature changes during position adjustment and distortion of the image reduces reproducibility. In order to resolve these problems, Merchant method needs to use assisting device which reduces the occurrence of repeat projection and effectively to increase unification of examination and the consistency of the image. However, there are disadvantages for patients who take other examinations. For example, they have to change the position for every examination and it might cause the patient's discomfort and increase of examination time. In this study, we newly devised commercial assisting device which improves the reproducibility of the images and reduces inconvenience of patients movement. Further research should be taken to obtain a image without patient's movement and to reduce the time of the examination than existing method.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
• /
• v.23 no.4 s.181
• /
• pp.75-82
• /
• 2006

In this paper, we propose an optimal trajectory for biped robots to move up-and-down stairs using a genetic algorithm and a computed-torque control for biped robots to be dynamically stable. First, a Real-Coded Genetic Algorithm (RCGA) which of operators are composed of reproduction, crossover and mutation is used to minimize the total energy. Constraints are divided into equalities and inequalities: Equality constraints consist of a position condition at the start and end of a step period and repeatability conditions related to each joint angle and angular velocity. Inequality constraints include collision avoidance conditions of a swing leg at the face and edge of a stair, knee joint conditions with respect to the avoidance of the kinematic singularity, and the zero moment point condition with respect to the stability into the going direction. In order to approximate a gait, each joint angle trajectory is defined as a 4-th order polynomial of which coefficients are chromosomes. The effectiveness of the proposed optimal trajectory is shown in computer simulations with a 6-dof biped robot that consists of seven links in the sagittal plane. The trajectory is more efficient than that generated by the modified GCIPM. And various trajectories generated by the proposed GA method are analyzed in a viewpoint of the consumption energy: walking on even ground, ascending stairs, and descending stairs.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.249-258
• /
• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the different patterns of the lower limb between elderly and adult females to reduce the rate of falls. Ten old females(age: $73.1{\pm}2.69yrs$, height: $151.9{\pm}4.82cm$, mass: $57.36{\pm}5.36$) and ten adult females(age: $28\pm}4.76$ yrs, height: $160.6{\pm}6.83cm$, mass: $53.9{\pm}8.44$) were participated in this experiment. The gait motions were captured with Qualisys system and variables were calculated with Visual-3D. The following results were found. The elderly female group showed bigger inclination angle between COM and COP than the adult female group so that the dynamic stability was reduced in walking for the compensation with a bigger stride width. The elderly female group ensure for the necessary forward movement of COM in order to replace the decreased function of ankle and knee joint. If the distance between COM and COP is closer and the energy reduction of a specific joint is reduced, they could prevent the elderly female's falling rate by strengthening of muscles which were related the extension of ankle joint.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.175-183
• /
• 2005

This study investigates the kinetic characteristics of the Driggs motion in horse vaulting by stages through the three-dimensional video analysis of YTY and TABARA who won a high score and a low score respectively from the Driggs motion in horse vaulting during the Daegu Universiade 2003, which involves putting one's hands on the horse vaulting rotating sideways, stretching and rotating backward in the air, and twisting 900 degrees, so as to help develop the techniques of Korean gymnastic athletes. From the analyses of the duration of body center, horizontality, vertical position and horizontality, vertical speed and angle factors for each of four phases from the contact of the board to the takeoff from the horse vaulting. I arrived at the following conclusions: 1. It was found that the motion of bending oneself forward while rapidly stretching the knee joint when taking off from the board increases the horizontal speed of body center and shortens the time of the first jump. 2. It was found that S1 who won a high score shortened the time of the contact and takeoff from the horse vaulting and enlarged the shoulder joint angle for full blocking motion. It was also found that horizontal speed decreased while vertical speed increased when you rapidly stretch the right elbow joint while taking off from the horse vaulting. 3. It was found that horizontal distance was shortened to increase the height and time of staying in the air during the second jump.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.259-274
• /
• 2005

The purpose of this study was to compare the kinematic and kinetic parameters of lower extremity joints between novice and experienced sports aerobic dancers during two heights of depth jumps. Four male dancers were participated in this study and they performed 40cm and 60cm height depth jump three times, respectively. Four ProReflex MCU cameras (100frame/sec) and a Kistler force plate (1000Hz) were used for data collection. The results indicated that the duration of contact phase of experienced group was shorter than that of novice group regardless of jump height. For minimum angle of hip, knee, and ankle joints, the novice group had tendency to decrease the angle but the experienced group had increased the joint angle with jump height. There was no difference of total ground reaction force between the groups but the reaction force had tendency to increase with jump height. Thus, this study implied that repetition of jump and landing may induce joint related injury and further study such as. EMG analysis of lower extremity can be needed to verify the relationship between injury and ground reaction force.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.11-19
• /
• 2005

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is often attributed to malalignment and maltracking of patella within the patellofemoral joint. Most exercise for PFPS has focused on selectively strengthening the vastus medialis oblique muscle (VMO). This study was designed to identify the effect of medial, lateral wedge and difference of Quadriceps angle (Q-angle) on vastus medialis oblique/vastus lateralis muscle (VL) activity ratios. The subjects were twenty young adult males who had not experienced any knee injury. They were asked to perform isometric contraction exercises in three postures using medial and lateral wedge. The EMG activity of the VL and VMO were recorded in three postures by surface electrodes and normalized by %MVC values derived from seated, isometric knee extensions. The normalized EMG activity levels (%MVC) of the VL and VMO for the three postures of the lower extremities were compared using 2-way repeated measures ANOVA with 1 between-subject factor (group), and 1 within-subject factor (wedge). Results of repeated measures of ANOVA's revealed that the medial wedge isometric contraction exercise produced significantly greater EMG activity of VMO/VL ratios in Group I (Q-angle $18^{\circ}$ or less) (p<.05). But, the medial wedge isometric contraction exercise was no significant difference of VMO/VL ratios in Group II (Q-angle $19^{\circ}$ or more) (p>.05). These results have important implications for selective VMO muscle strengthening exercises in PFPS patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.35-45
• /
• 2008

This study was performed to compare the kinematics among three different safety shoes(type 1: ergonomically designed and high quality shoes, 2: curved and cushioned safety shoes, and 3: regular safety shoes) and to find the effect of insole during walking. Ten healthy subjects were recruited for this study. The range of motion of knee and ankle joint, angle of rear foot and angle of heel contact were measured using a three dimensional motion analysis system. In the second peak, the angle of heel contact showed statistically significant difference between safety shoes and insole, however, there was no statistical significance among three different safety shoes. The angle of ankle increased significantly at initial contact, first peak, the second peak and the toe off phase compared with type 1 and 2 safety shoes, and the angle of ankle showed statistically significant difference between with and without applying the insole. During the first peak, the second peak and the toe off phase, the angle of knee was statistical significance between safety shoes and insole. In heel contact, the angles of Achilles' tendon showed statistically significant difference between safety shoes and insole. The rear foot angles showed statistically significant difference between safety shoes and insole during heel contact and early heel contact. These results suggest that the type 1 safety shoes were superior to others in the statistics, and applying insole could be a possible method to prevent fatigue of lower extremity and musculoskeletal disorders. Further studies are needed to find the effect of ergonomically designed safety shoes and insole on practical value in prevention of musculoskeletal disorder, fatigue and satisfaction of workers.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.23 no.5
• /
• pp.49-56
• /
• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the kinematic characteristics and muscle activities during the following two conditions: transition from half-kneel to standing on the affected leg and non-affected leg. Methods: Twenty-one hemiplegic patients participated in the study. A motion analysis system was used to record the range of motion and angle velocity of the hip, knee and ankle from the half-kneel to the standing position. Electromyography was used to record the activity of 4 muscles. Results: The statistical analysis showed that the minimum ROM of the hip joint was less on the affected leg during transition from half-kneel to standing. However, the minimum ROM of the knee and ankle joints was less on the non-affected leg during transition from half-kneel to standing. The angle velocity of the knee and ankle joints was less during transition from half kneeling to standing on the non-affected leg. Muscle activity of the rectus femoris and tibialis anterior was less while moving from half-kneel to the standing position on the affected leg. Conclusion: These results show that greater active ROM of the knee and ankle was required on the affected leg for transition from half-kneel to the standing position than for normal gait. Muscle activity of the rectus femoris and tibialis anterior is normally required for movement from the half-kneel to the standing position during normal gait. Further studies are needed to investigate the antigravity movement in healthy subjects and hemiplegic patients in order to completely understand the normal and abnormal movement from the half-kneel to the standing position.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.203-212
• /
• 2008

The purpose of this study is to propose appropriate model for 3 staged Didimsae movement to Jajinmori rhythm and to provide information for ideal foot step movements. For the locational change of body center, the height of body center is lowered at the moment of forward step and during forward intersection of the feet, forward direction linear motion is converted to vertical motion to maintain stability. Speed change of body center reduces flow of body on step forward moment and controls rapid forward movement for stabled movement and position when preventing fast forward horizontal direction movement of centroid speed while knee joint and foot joint are vertically risen for heel bone contacts the ground. For angle changes of joints, in order to prevent hyperextension of lower leg, hip joint is extended and knee joint is curved to secure stability of movement for smooth curves and extension. When centroid of foot joint is moved from top of the feet to whole foot sole and when left foot makes dorsal curve, stabled movement is accomplished.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
• /
• v.21 no.11
• /
• pp.209-218
• /
• 2004

The purpose of this paper is to suggest a practical and simple method for the identification of the joint mechanical properties and to apply it to human knee joints. The passive moment at a joint was modeled by three mechanical parts, that is, a gravity term, a linear damper term and a nonlinear spring term. Passive pendulum tests were performed in 5 fat and 5 thin men. The data of pendulum test were used to identify the mechanical properties of joints through sequential quadratic programming (SQP) with random initial values. The identification was successful where the normalized root-mean-squared (RMS) errors between the simulated and experimental joint angle trajectories were less than 10％. The parameter values of mechanical properties obtained in this study agreed with literature. The inertia, gravity and the damping constant were greater at fat men, which indicates more resistance to body movement and more energy consumption fer fat men. The suggested method is noninvasive and requires simple setup and short measurement time. It is expected to be useful in the evaluation of joint pathologies.