• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.115-124
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• 2017

This study was to develop the balance insole system for detecting and improving the muscle imbalance of left and right side in lower limbs. We were to verify the validation of balance insole system by analyzing the strategy of muscular activities and foot pressure according to sound feedback. We developed the balance insole based FSR sensor modules for estimating the muscle imbalance using detecting foot pressure. The insole system was FPCB have 8-spot FSR sensor with sensitivity range of 64-level. The participants were twenty peoples who have muscle strength differences in left and right legs over 20%. We measured the muscular activity and foot pressure of left and right side of lower limbs in various gait environment for verifying the improvement effect of muscle imbalance according to sound feedback. They performed gait in slope at 0, 5, 10, 15% and velocity at 3, 4, 5km/h. The result showed that the level of muscle imbalance reduced within 30% for sound feedback of balance insole system contrast to high level of muscle imbalance at 169.9~246.8% during normal gait for increasing slope and velocity. This study found the validation of balance insole system with sound feedback stimulus. Also, we thought that it is necessary to research on the sensitivity of foot area, detection of muscle imbalance and processing algorithm of correction threshold spot.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.191-200
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to analyze the foot-pressure distribution of trekking boots for assessing their functionality. Subjects participated in this study included 10 university male students who had no injury experience in lower limbs and a normal gait pattern. The size of all subjects was 270mm. Five models of trekking boots, most popular in Korea (A, B, C, D & E company), were selected for the test. Using the PEDAR-X system and PEDAR-X insoles, 5 different walking stages were analyzed for the foot-pressure distribution: (a) straight gait; (b) $45^{\circ}$ turn gait; (c) $25^{\circ}$ uphill gait; and (d) $25^{\circ}$ downhill gait. Results of the foot-pressure distribution and functionality on each stage were as follow; 1. Straight gait - In case of Max ground reaction force, mean plantar pressure and Max plantar pressure, there was not a distinct tendency; however, products manufactured by E and A company showed relatively lower pressure distribution. 2. $45^{\circ}$ turn gait - In Max ground reaction force, mean plantar pressure and Max plantar pressure, there wasn't a distinct tendency; however, products manufactured by E and A company showed relatively lower pressure distribution. Results also revealed that the products manufactured by E and A company were superior to those by other companies in terms of functionality. 3. $25^{\circ}$ uphill gait - In Max ground reaction force, mean plantar pressure and Max plantar pressure, there wasn't a distinct tendency; however, products manufactured by E and C company showed relatively lower pressure distribution. Results also revealed that the products manufactured by E and C company were superior to those by other companies in terms of functionality. 4. $25^{\circ}$ downhill gait - In Max ground reaction force, Mean plantar pressure and Max plantar pressure, there wasn't a distinct tendency; however, products manufactured by E company showed relatively lower pressure distribution. Results also revealed that the products manufactured by E company were superior to those by other companies in terms of functionality. Overall, five pairs of trekking shoes selected in this study showed the excellent performance in several conditions. The findings above may provide us with the important criteria for choosing trekking boots.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.65-75
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of regular Nordic walking exercise on the physical indicators and subjective happiness of middle-aged rural residents. Methods: A pretest and posttest design with a non-equivalent control group was conducted. The participants of experimental and control group were each 21 subjects from 40 to 64 years old. The Nordic walking exercise program consisted of 24 sessions which were focused on group exercise, and was conducted three times a week for eight weeks. Results: The experimental group showed significant decreases in body mass index (p=.042), body fat (p<.001), and abdominal fat (p=.026). The experimental group showed significant increases in muscle mass of right lower limb (p=.009) and left lower limb (p=.016) but was not statistically significant in right, left upper limbs and body. On the other hand, the control group showed significant decreases in muscle mass of right upper limb (p=.034), left upper limb (p=.038), and body (p=.034). There were no significant differences in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and subjective happiness between the experimental and the control group. Conclusion: The Nordic walking exercise should be actively encouraged to improve health of the middle-aged in rural area.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.725-728
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• 2008

An elbow orthosis with a pneumatic rubber actuator has been developed to assist and enhance upper limbs movements and has been examined for the effectiveness. The effectiveness of the elbow orthosis was examined by comparing muscular activities during alternate dumbbell curl motion wearing and not wearing the orthosis. The subjects participated in the experiment were younger adults in their twenties. The subjects were instructed to perform dumbbell curl motion in a sitting position wearing and not wearing orthosis in turn and a dynamometer was used to measure elbow joint torque outputs in an isokinetic mode. Orthosis was controlled using contractile muscle force that is measured from force sensor through cDAQ-9172 board. The air pressure of the pneumatic actuator was 0.3MPa the most suitable air pressure. For the analysis of muscular activities, Electromyography of the subjects was measured during alternate dumbbell curl motion. The experiment results showed that the muscular activities wearing the elbow orthosis were reduced. With this, we confirmed the effectiveness of the developed elbow orthosis.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to analyze of the GRF (ground reaction force) parameters according to the change of positions and weights of bag during downward stairs between dominant and non-dominant in upper & lower limbs. To perform this study, participants were selected 9 healthy women (age: $21.40{\pm}0.94yrs$, height: $166.50{\pm}2.68cm$, body mass: $57.00{\pm}3.61kg$, BMI: $20.53{\pm}1.03kg/m^2$), divided into 2 carrying bag positions (dominant arm/R, non-dominant arm/L) and walked with 3 type of bag weights (0, 3, 5 kg) respectively. One force-plate was used to collect GRF (AMTI OR6-7) data at a sample rate of 1000 Hz. The variables analyzed were consisted of the medial-lateral GRF (Fx), anterior-posterior GRF (Fy), vertical GRF (Fz), impact loading rate and center of pressure (COPx, COPy, COP area, COPy posterior peak time) during downward stairs. 1) The Fx, Fy, Fz, COPx, and COP area of GRF were not statistically significant between dominant leg and non-dominant leg, but non-dominant leg, that is, showed the higher COPy, and showed higher impact loading rate than that dominant leg during downward stairs. 2) In bag wearing to non-dominant arm, Fx, Fz, COPx, COPy, impact loading rate and COP area showed increase tendency according to increase of bag weights. Also, against bag wearing to dominant arm, non-dominant showed different mechanism according to increase of bag weights. The Ground Reaction Force parameters showed different characteristics according to the positions and weights of bag during downward stairs between dominant and non-dominant arm.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.45-51
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• 1985

The purpose of this study is to research into the thermal condition and the weight of clothes suitable for the officers engagged in light works in an air-conditioned room in summer. The Major findings are as follows: 1. Thermal conditions of the working environment are $24.5^{\circ}C$ (Dry bulb temp.), $68\%$ (Relative humidity) and 2.6m/sec (Air Velocity). 2. Total clothing weights are 416.6 g/$m^2$ (male) and 340.9 g/$m^2$ (female). Underwear weights are 96.8g/$m^2$ (male) and 85.1g/$m^2$ (female). The latter turned out to be statistically significant in Sexual difference. 3. Means of the thermal sensation are 3.0 (comfortable; male) 2.7 ('Slightly cool' -'Comfortable'; female) and the relationship between clothing weights and thermal sensation proves to be significantly correlated in the case of female. 4. $66.7\%$ of the women and $37.1\%$ of the men feel sensation of coldness at the body's specific area and $79.5\%$ of the women and $54.3\%$ of the men reveals air-conditioning disturbance. 5. As the thermal sensation is close to 'cool-cold', sensation of coldness or air conditioning disturbance are showed up more frequently which is reversely related with weight of under-wear. It is also proved that air conditioning disturbances are influenced by sexual difference in addition to sensation of coldness and thermal sensation. 6. According to the result of experiment, we can have the idea that at condition $X_1$, the drop of limbs' skin temp. is remarkable. At condition $X_2$ skin temp. for distal limbs and mean skin temp. are raised and the falling degree is similar. At condition $X_3$, mean skin temp. and distal skin temp. are remarkably raised, and the falling degree decreases and the beats of pulse rate increase and diastoric blood pressure is lowered.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.61-74
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• 2008

Background: Purpose of this study is mat exercises and sling exercises that based on proceeding studies for exercising protocol for spinal stabilization. Methods: We analyze many other bibliographies and result of studies. Results: The vertebrae stabilization practices are formed on intra-abdominal pressure and converted into isolation of our body and limbs gradually through co-contraction training of transverse abdominis, pelvic floor muscle and diaphragm. Also, for prevention of low back pain and relapse, it is diverted to reflex muscle contraction training as well as functional integration. What is better, it should carry out with Activity of Daily Living. Conclusion: We should feel the necessity of it, more effective recognition training of local muscle for chronic low back pain patients. Besides, it is suggested that we should import measurable equipment and go hands with discipline.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.919-926
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• 2010

This paper proposes a wearable hand rehabilitation device, DULEX, for persons with functional paralysis of upper-limbs after stoke. DULEX has three degrees of freedom for rehabilitation exercises for wrist and fingers except the thumb. The main function of DULEX is to extend the range of motions of finger and wrist being contracture. DULEX is designed by using a parallel mechanism, and its parameters such as length and location of links are determined by kinematic analysis. The motion trajectory of the designed DULEX is aligned to human hand to prevent a slip. To reduce total weight of DULEX, artificial air muscles are used for actuating each joint motion. In feedback control, each joint angle is indirectly estimated from the relations of the input air pressure and the output muscle length. Experimental results show that DULEX is feasible in hand rehabilitation for stroke survivals.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.590-600
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• 2007

We performed experimental studies on the muscle activities in the lower limbs for the different movement patterns on an unstable platform. A training system for postural control using an unstable platform that we previously developed was applied for the experiments. This unstable platform provides 360 degrees of movement allowing for training of posture in various directions and provides simultaneous excitations to visual sensory, somatic sensation and vestibular organs. Compare with the stable platform, keeping body balance on the unstable platform requests more effective sensation from vision, vestibular sense and somatic sense. Especially, the somatosensory inputs from the muscle proprioceptors and muscle force are crucial. To study the muscle activities for the different movement patterns and find the best training method for improving the ability of postural control through training and improving the lower extremity muscular strength, fifteen young healthy participants went through trainings and experiments. The participants were instructed to move the center of pressure following the appointed movement pattern while standing on the unstable platform. The electromyographies of the muscles in the lower limbs were recorded and analyzed in the time and the frequency domain. Our experimental results showed the significant differences in muscle activities for the different movement patterns. Especially, the spectral energy of electromyography signals in muscle for the movement pattern in anterior-posterior direction was significantly higher than those occurred in the other patterns. The muscles in the lower leg, especially tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius were more activated compared to the others for controlling the balance of body on the unstable platform. The experimental results suggest that, through the choice of different movement pattern, the training for lower extremity strength could be performed on specific muscles in different intensity. And, the ability of postural control could be improved by the training for lower extremity strength.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.113-122
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• 2015

Objective : The purpose of this study was to analyze the foot-pressure distribution of 2D(2 dimensional form) & 3D(3 dimensional form; a customized arch-fit for posture correction) insoles for assessing their biomechanical functionality. Background : Recently there has been increased interest in both foot health and foot pain patients. Analysis of the plantar pressure was often used to solve the problems of the foot displayed by such people as rheumatoid arthritis patients. Method : Subjects who participated in this study were 17 female university students who had no previous injury experience in lower limbs and a normal gait pattern. The shoe size of all subjects was 240 mm. Two models of insoles of 2D(typical flat insole - 2 dimensional form) and 3D(special production - 3 dimensional form) were selected for the test. Using the Pedar-X system and Pedar-X insoles, 4.0 km/h of walking speed, and a compilation of 50 steps walking stages were used to analyze foot-pressure distribution. Results : Results of the foot-pressure distribution and biomechanical functionality on each insole were as follows; analyses of mean plantar pressure, maximum plantar pressure, maximum vertical GRF, and plantar pressure curve shape all showed overall low plantar pressure and GRF. Conclusion : This can be evaluated as an excellent insole for low levels on the plantar pressure and GRF. Therefore, it is possible to conclude that according to this analysis the 3D Customized Arch-fit Insole was better than 2D insole on the basis of these criteria.