• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.191-197
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• 2011

Lifting chair is a typical assistive product to aid for standing up and sitting down for persons with disability. It is particularly useful for the elderly persons whose muscular system is weakened by degenerative joint disease. This paper describes biomechanical assessments of lifting chair with hip-up function. In experiments we measured 3D motion and electromyographic(EMG) signal on the femoral muscle when subject performs the standing motion on the predetermined seat height. Based on assessment of the standing motion, we select the hip-up angle as 15 degrees to cover the relative femoral angle when EMG peak value is appeared. Using an implemented prototype lifting chair with hip-up function we perform standing experiments with five subjects. The experimental results show that the lifting and hip-up functions are effective to assist for standing up motion with less muscle force.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2010.05a
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• pp.945-946
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• 2010

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.226-232
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• 2015

The aging of Korea is rapidly advancing in an unprecedented rate in the world. Indoor and outdoor safety accidents involving the elderly frequently occur, with elderly population increasing. Because the physical strength of elderly is decreased, it is necessary to develop devices that aid the everyday life of the elderly to prevent safety accidents. Among many activities, the motions of standing from and sitting on a chair require much physical strength from particular body parts, which causes an overload for particular body parts. To the elderly the repeating motion of standing from and sitting down on a chair is burdensome, because they do not have enough physical strength compare to young persons. As a result the elderly could be injured or falling during standing or sitting. Therefore, the development of a lift chair that considers the problems mentioned above is necessary to prevent the safety accidents of the elderly. The study designed a non-motorized lift chair that comfortably aids the standing and sitting down motion for the use of the elderly by reflecting the anthropometric data of the Korean elderly over 65 years old. Also the design was implemented to smoothly aid the standing motion by considering the knee angle of the elderly when standing. Because the regained strength to stand from a chair is depend on the knee angle. Unlike existing lift devices, this device utilizes a tilting mechanism that does not use electric power so that the product could be composed inexpensively than existing chairs released in the market.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.87 no.6
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• pp.575-583
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• 2023

The postoperative period for a carrier of total hip prosthesis (THP), especially in the first months, remains the most difficult period for a patient after each operation, even if traumatologist surgeons want the relief and success of their operations. In this investigation, selected three of the daily activities for a wearer of total hip replacement (THR), such as sitting in a chair, lifting a chair, and going downstairs, and was performed a numerical simulation by finite elements based on experimental data by Bergmann (Bergmann 2001) in terms of effort for each activity. Different stresses have been extracted, and a detailed comparison between two activities with different induced stresses such as normal, tensile, and compressive shear stresses.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.357-363
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• 2011

Objective: The aim of this study is to set the design direction of the lift chair's tilting seat for development. Background: Great attention has been shown to the development of senior friendly product, because of increasing elderly population rapidly in Korea. Therefore, we need to study on sit-to-stand(STS) motion of elderly systematically for developing lift chair that is one of senior friendly products. Method: In this study, we analyzed joint moment(knee, hip) and muscle activity (Erector spinae, Rectus femoris, Vastus lateralis) on STS motion of elderly(female, 60~70: 7) and young people(female, 20~30: 7) using 3 dimension motion capture camera, force plate, wireless EMG. Results: The results of muscle activity showed a similar trend but the results of joint moment were a lot of differences between the young and the elderly. Conclusion: The results of knee joint moment suggest the angle(10~30deg)-adjustable seat that can be better than to find the optimal seat's angle. Application: The method and results of this study are expected to develop senior friendly product and verification as well as be available to various application.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.26 no.1 s.41
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• pp.20-36
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• 1993

Work-related low back pain is one of the major factors that cause the loss of working power especially in actively working age, therefore controlling the work-related low back pain is one of the major issues in the field of industrial safety and health. This study was performed for detecting the risk factors and proposing the efficient control program of the work-related low back pain. The subjects were male workers employed at the manufacturing industry in Pusan with longer than 6 months' working duration. The data was collected by self-reported questionnaire and interview from May 1 to October 31,1992. The contents of questionnaire were as follows:. the experience of low back pain within the recent one month, general characteristics(age, marital status, education level, religion, regular exercise), physical characteristics(height, weight), employment status(working duration, daily working hours, rest during work, satis(action fur the job), type of work and working environments(posture, forward bending, lifting and movement, satisfaction for table and chair). The result was analyzed for 608 entire respondents by case-control comparative method. The number of cases was 152 with a history of work-related low back pain, so the relative frequency of self-reported work-related low back pain was 25.0%, and the number of controls was 344 without any history of low back pain. As a result, two characteristics of the employment status(working duration, satisfaction fur the job) and all characteristics of type of work and working environments showed a statistical significance between the case and control groups(p<0.01). The Oddb ratios of these variables for Work-related low back pain were calculated. They were 7.88 for the satisfaction fur chair, 7.86 for lifting and movement,3.31 for satisfaction for table, and 2.22 fur bending forward(p<0.01). And for the multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed that unsatisfaction for table was independent risk factor for Work-related low back pain. In summary, though this study was based upon the self-reported questionnaire and the subjective complaints, the satisfaction for chair, lifting and movement, satisfaction for table, and bending forward concerned with the type of work and working environments were considered as the main factors causing the work-related low back pain, and the work-related low back pain may be preventable by the ergonomic control of these factors.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.55-64
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• 1998

In order to investigate and compare the health risk factors of nurses in the operating room(OR nurse) and ward (WARD nurse), the questionnaire survey for subjective symptoms was carried out on 553 nurses(132 OR nurses and 421 WARD nurses) who were employed at seven hospital. The self-administered questionnaries were composed of low back pain, subjective fatigue symptoms, musculo-skeletal symptoms, psychological stress and reproductive function. The results were as follows : 1. In the type of working posture and working environment, there were significant difference between two groups for working posture, waist form, height of working table, satisfaction of chair, lifting & carring. 2. Job satisfaction, duration of work, height of working table, satisfaction of chair, lifting & carring were significantly associated the low back pain. 3. In the complaints of subjective fatigue symptoms, the total mean score was higher in OR nurse than WARD nurse, but there was not significant. The items that the mean score of OR nurse was significantly higher than WARD nurse were 'head feels muddled', 'apt to forget', 'feel choky'. 4. In the complaints of musculo-skeletal syrrptoms, the total mean score was higher in OR nurse than WARD nurse, but there was not significant. The item that the mean score of OR nurse was significantly higher WARD nurse was 'wrist discomfort or pain'. 5. The comparison of spontatenous abortion in married nurses who had the experience of pregnancy were significantly associated the stress risk group. 6. In all of OR and Ward nurses, the job satisfaction is associated with subjective fatigue symptoms, musculo-skeletal symptoms, and stress. In conclusion, it suggested that working posture, working environment, stress, and job satisfaction were health risk factors of nurses working in the operating room. Further prospective intervention studies should be conducted to educate right working posture, improve of working environment, decrease of stress, and increase of job satisfaction.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.289-297
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• 1997

Work-related low back pain(below LBP) is one of the major cause of morbidity, disability, limitation of activity and economic loss. Therefore the work-related LBP is one of the major issue in the field of industrial safety and health. This study was performed for detecting the risk factors and proposing the effective control programs of work-related LBP. The subjects were male workers employed at the welding and metal factory. The data was collected by self-reported questionnaire, interview and checking abdomen muscular and grasping power for two days on October, 1993. The contents of questionnaire were as follow: the experience of LBP, general characteristics, physical characteristics, employment status, type of work and working environment. The number of cases was 104 with a history of work-related LBP, so the prevalence of work-related LBP was 35.0%, and the number of controls was 140 without any history of LBP. As a result, marital status, educational level, abdomen muscular power, tenure, category of job, satisfaction of job, working posture, satisfaction for table and chair and lifting materials showed a statistical significance between the case and control groups. 284 Lifting jobs were quantified by NIOSH lifting equation method and ergonomic computer modelling methods. There were no significant differences in the action limit and disc compression force between group with LBP and without LBP. But in the lifting frequency and cumulative disc compression force there were significant differences. Therefore work-related LBP should be prevented by the ergonomic and environmental control.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.239-248
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the elderly physical fitness test for elderly people living in urban areas and to evaluate the physical fitness level according to gender and age groups. Methods: The subjects were 180 elderly people aged 65 and over living in urban areas. The elderly people were classified into early old age, middle old age, and advanced old age groups. Five items of the physical fitness test for the elderly (arm curl, chair stand, 2 min step test, back scratch, and chair sit and reach). Results: In analyzing the average of each item by gender and age, a significant difference was found in the results of each item as age increased in all sports, but no difference was observed according to gender except dumbbell lifting. Conclusion: Although the physical fitness level of all ages decreased from early age to late age, the difference in physical fitness according to gender was not significant except the arm curl test. The results of this study can be used as basic data for a new "age-specific exercise program" for the elderly.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.123-149
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• 1991

This study has been attempted to be helpful for the back rehabilization of Korean workers by analyzing the general, occupational, social aspects of low back pain and to identify possible risk factors for back pain in White and Blue collar workers. The primary data were collected from 380 workers in Seoul city by means of a Questionnaire with random which was distributed from March 10 to 31, 1990. For the test of statistical significance, chi-square analysis was used to compare the back pain characteristics between above two groups. The results were as follows : 1. The incidence of low back pain in all walkers studied was $79.7\%$. The incidence of Blue collar with low back pain $(87.2\%)$ was higher than that of White collars $(75.0\%)$. 2. With regard to the relationship of back pain to the occupational characteristics, statistically significant differences were observed between workers with and without back pain concerning the job factors on work-time, job satisfaction, mental stress, chair fittness, work posture, work rotation, weight lifting, monotonous repetitive movements, vibration, and heavy noise (p<0.05). 3. With regard to the relationship of back pain to the social characteristics, there were no differences with respect to having car, personality types, drinking habits, and leisure-time activities. However, significant differences were showed between no pain and pain groups for the using bed, sleeping posture, traffic time amount, walking health state, smoking habits, and physical exercise (p<0.05). 4. The comparative analysis of back pain related to work factors showed highly significant differences with respect to mental stress, chair fittness, work posture, trunk rotation, weight lifting, monotonous repetitive work in White collar group (p<0.01) ; and job satisfaction, mental stress, trunk rotation, weight lifting, monotonus repetitive work, exposure to vibration and heavy noise in Blue collar group(p<0.01). 5. The comparative analysis of social factors in two groups showed differences with respect to the using bed, sleeping posture, walking amount, health state, physical exercise, smoking habits in White cellar group (p<0.05) ; and walking amount, traffic time amount, health state, smoking habits, physical exercise in Blue cellar group (p<0.05). 6. In regard to the general aspects of back pain between two groups, there were differences concerning etiolgy of back pain, counselling partners, treatment types, and sick-leaves(p<0.05), except pain duration, and awareness of back pain.