• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.17-28
• /
• 2003

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of treadmill gait training on the functional characteristics and the temporal-distance parameters of gait in hemiplegic patients, as compared with conventional gait training. The subjects of this study were 32 hemiplegic patients who had been admitted or were visited out-patients at Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University, from March 3 through April 25, 2003. These subjects were randomly divided into treadmill gait training group or conventional gait training group. We evaluated the gait ability, motor functions, muscle strength, spasticity, physiological cost index, and temporal-distance parameters. We analyzed the changes between pre and post training in each groups, and the difference between two groups. Temporal-distance parameters were obtained using the ink footprint method and then energy consumption using physiological cost index. The results were as follows: 1. After a six-week training, treadmill gait training group significantly improved, as. compared to pre-training, in gait ability, motor functions for the leg and trunk and gross function, muscle strength of the lower limb, gait speed, cadence, step length both on the affected and on the unaffected side, step length symmetry, and energy consumption(p<0.05). 2. After a six-week training, conventional gait training group significantly improved, as compared to pretraining, in gait ability, motor functions for the leg and trunk, muscle strength of the lower limb, spasticity the upper limb, gait speed, cadence, step length both on the affected and on the unaffected side, and energy consumption(p<0.05). 3. After a six-week training, the treadmill gait training group significantly improved, as compared to the conventional gait, training, in gait speed and step length on the unaffected side. These results show that treadmill gait training was improved gait speed and step length on the unaffected side of hemiplegic patients, as compared with conventional gait training. Further research is needed to confirm the generalization of these findings and to identify which hemiplegic patients might benefit from treadmill gait training.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.59-67
• /
• 2019

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to analyze the dynamic range of motion (ROM) of pelvic and translation of center of mass (COM) when wearing different shoe insole lifts according to leg length discrepancy (LLD) during free speed gait. Methods : Thirty-five healthy adults were participated in this study. Kinematic data were collected using a Vicon motion capture system. Reflective and cluster 40 markers attached to participants lower extremities and were asked to walk in a 6 m gait way under three different shoe lift conditions (without any insole, 1 cm insole, and 2 cm insole). The pelvic ROM and COM translation in three planes were sorted using a Nexus software, and a Visual3D motion analysis software was used to coordinate all kinematic data. Results : There were significantly increased maximal pelvic elevation and total pelvic range in coronal plane when wearing a standard shoe with 2 cm insole lift during gait (p<.05). When wearing a standard shoe with 2 cm insole lift, the total range of the pelvic segment were significantly different in all three motion planes (p<.05). Conclusion : Although LLD of less than 2 cm develops abnormal movement pattern of the pelvis and may cause of musculoskeletal diseases such as low back pain, hip and knee joint osteoarthritis, therefore intensive various physical therapy interventions for LLD are needed.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers D
• /
• v.54 no.9
• /
• pp.547-555
• /
• 2005

A fault-tolerant gait of multi-legged robots with static walking is a gait which can maintain gait stability and continue its walking against an occurrence of a leg failure. This paper proposes fault-tolerant gait planning of a quadruped robot walking over a rough planar terrain. The considered fault is a locked joint failure, which prevents a joint of a leg from moving and makes it locked in a known position. In this Paper, two-phase discontinuous gaits are presented as a new fault-tolerant gait for quadruped robots suffering from a locked joint failure. By comparing with previously developed one-phase discontinuous gaits, it is shown that the proposed gait has great advantages in gait performance such as the stride length and terrain adaptability. Based on the two-phase discontinuous gait, quasi follow-the-leader(FTL) gaits are constructed which enable a quadruped robot to traverse two-dimensional rough terrain after an occurrence of a locked joint failure. During walking, two front legs undergo the foot adjustment procedure for avoiding stepping on forbidden areas. The Proposed wait planning is verified by using computer graphics simulations.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
• /
• v.24 no.7 s.196
• /
• pp.133-138
• /
• 2007

It is important to understand the characteristics of amputee gait to develop more advanced prostheses. The aim of this study was quantitatively to analyze the stair climbing task for the above-knee amputee with a prosthesis and to predict muscle forces and joint moments at musculoskeletal joints by dynamic analysis. The three-dimensional musculoskeletal model of lower extremities was constructed by gait analysis and transformation software for one above-knee amputee and ten healthy people. The measured ground reaction forces and kinematical data of each joint by gait analysis were used as input data during inverse dynamic analysis. Lastly, dynamic analysis of above-knee amputee during stair climbing were performed using musculoskeletal models. The results showed that summed muscle farces of hip extensor of amputated leg were greater than those of sound leg but the opposite results were revealed at hip abductor and knee flexor of amputated leg. We could also find that the higher moments at hip and knee joint of sound leg were needed to overcome the flexion moment caused by body weight and amputated leg. In conclusion, dynamic analysis using musculoskeletal models may be a useful mean to predict muscle forces and joint moments for specific motion tasks related to rehacilitation therapy..

• International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.30-33
• /
• 2008

Understanding the characteristics of amputee gait is key in developing more advanced prostheses. The aim of this study was to quantitatively analyze a stair-climbing task for transfemoral amputees with a prosthesis and to predict the muscle forces and joint moments at musculoskeletal joints using a dynamic analysis. A three-dimensional musculoskeletal model of the lower extremities was constructed from a gait analysis using transformation software for two transfemoral amputees and ten healthy people. The measured ground reaction forces and kinematical data of each joint from the gait analysis were used as input data for an inverse dynamic analysis. Dynamic analyses of an transfemoral amputee climbing stairs were performed using musculoskeletal models. The results showed that the summed muscle forces of the hip extensor of an amputated leg were greater than those of a sound leg. The opposite was true at the hip abductor and knee flexor of an amputated leg. We also found that higher moments at the hip and knee joints of the sound leg were required to overcome the flexion moment caused by the body weight and amputated leg. Dynamic analyses using musculoskeletal models may be a useful means to predict muscle forces and joint moments for specific motion tasks related to rehabilitation therapy.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers D
• /
• v.54 no.3
• /
• pp.131-140
• /
• 2005

Fault-tolerant gait generation of a hexapod robot with crab walking is proposed. The considered fault is a locked joint failure, which prevents a joint of a leg from moving and makes it locked in a known position. Due to the reduced workspace of a failed leg, fault-tolerant crab walking has a limitation in the range of heading direction. In this paper, an accessible range of the crab angle is derived for a given configuration of the failed leg and, based on the principles of fault-tolerant gait planning, periodic crab gaits are proposed in which a hexapod robot realizes crab walking after a locked joint failure, having a reasonable stride length and stability margin. The proposed crab walking is then applied to path planning on uneven terrain with positive obstacles. i.e., protruded obstacles which legged robots cannot cross over but have to take a roundabout route to avoid. The robot trajectory should be generated such that the crab angle does not exceed the restricted range caused by a locked joint failure.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.142-150
• /
• 2002

This paper presents a systematic method of the zigzag gait planning for quadruped walking robots. When a robot walks with a zigzag gait, its body is allowed to move from side to side, while the body movement is restricted along a moving direction in conventional continuous gaits. The zigzag movement of the body is effective to improve the gait stability margin. To plan a zigzag gait in a systematic way, the relationship between the center of gravity(COG) and the stability margin is firstly investigated. Then, new geometrical method is introduced to plan a sequence of the body movement which guarantees a maximum stability margin as well as monotonicity along a moving direction. Finally, an optimal swing-leg sequence is chosen for a given arbitrary configuration of the robot. To verify the proposed method, computer simulations have been performed for both cases of a periodic gait and a non-periodic gait.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.83-91
• /
• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was both to examine the effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) lower leg taping and treadmill training on the gait and balance abilities of patients with hemiplegia resulting from a stroke and to provide a taping method based on the PNF concept. Methods: Twenty patients with hemiplegia resulting from a stroke were randomly and equally assigned to a control group (n=10), which received treadmill training, and to an experimental group (n=10), which received PNF lower leg taping and treadmill training. The intervention was conducted five times per week for six weeks. In order to measure changes in the gait ability of the subjects, a 10-meter walking test (10MWT) and a 6-minute walking test (6MWT) were conducted, and in order to measure changes in the subjects' balance ability, a timed up and go test (TUG) was performed. In order to compare differences within each group before and after the intervention, a paired-t test was carried out, and in order to compare differences between the two groups, the analysis of covariance was utilized. All statistical significance levels were set at ${\alpha}=0.05$. Results: There were significant differences before and after the intervention within both groups in changes of 10MWT, 6MWT, and TUG (p<0.01). Regarding differences between the two groups, the experimental group underwent more effective changes than the control group in 6MWT and TUG (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study applied PNF lower leg taping and treadmill training to patients with hemiplegia resulting from a stroke, and this resulted in improvement in the subjects' gait and balance abilities. Taping and treadmill training based on the PNF concept is considered to be usefully applied as one of the programs to improve hemiplegic patients' gait and balance abilities.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2007

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate whether therapeutic exercise has effectiveness on the balance and gait in older adults. Methods: 30 patients were participated in this study. To evaluate the effects of therapeutic exercise, patients were evaluated by using One leg stand test which was static balance test, Berge balance test, Functional reach test and Get up and go test which was dynamic balance test. Finally Gait pattern were assessed by using 3-dimensional gait analysis system. The assessment parameters were evaluated before and after treatment. And we received a consent form from all patients. The data were analyzed by paired t-test for compare pre and after therapeutic exercise. Results: One leg stand test was significantly increased after than before therapeutic exercise. Get Up and Go test was significantly decreased after than before therapeutic exercise. Functional Reach test was significantly increased after than before therapeutic exercise. Burge Balance test was significantly increased after than before therapeutic exercise. Stride length was significantly increased after than before therapeutic exercise. Cadence was significantly increased after than before therapeutic exercise. Velocity was significantly increased after than before therapeutic exercise. Conclusion: We thought that therapeutic exercise that is mat exercise has effectiveness on the balance and gait in older adults.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.147-154
• /
• 2007

This study's purpose is to investigate the effects on leg muscle activity caused by perturbation, using a trapdoor system during the support phase of gait for healthy adults (n = 6, height $177.5{\pm}5.5cm$, weight $81.0{\pm}9.5kg$, age $30.0{\pm}3.3yrs$). The trapdoor had the functional ability of causing inversion or eversion. The release time for the trapdoor was specified for two times, 0.3 and 0.5 seconds after heel contact. While altering these variables, EMG was recorded for the leg muscles (rectus femoris, biceps femoris, vastus lateralis, tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius, soleus). The following conclusions were derived. The steptime was longer for the 0.5s eversion than 0.3s inversion condition. So in order to regain stability after the perturbation the unsupporting leg reached forward rapidly. This quick reflex can be observed through the center of pressure (COP) and its rapid change in direction. The gastrocnemius was activated throughout the total experiment. There was a low amount of activity recorded in the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis and tibialis anterior except for the condition of inversion 0.3s. For most of the conditions, the highest average EMG peak values were recorded during the condition of inversion 0.3s. The iEMG patterns were similar for the conditions of inversion 0.3s and eversion 0.3s. To cope with the rapid change in these conditions, the biceps femoris was activated. During the experiment except for the condition of normal gait, the activity of the soleus and gastrocnemius was relatively high. Therefore, to prevent injury from perturbation of the lower leg strengthening of the soleus and gastrocnemius is required. Likewise to prevent injury to the thigh strengthening for the biceps femoris.