• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.2101-2112
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• 1994

A two-dimensional biomechanical model was developed in order to calculated the lower extremity kinematics and kinetics during level walking. This model consists of three segments : the thigh, calf, and foot. Each segment was assumed to be a rigid body ; its motion to be planar in the sagittal plane. Five young males were involved in the gait experiment and their anthropometric data were measured for the calculation of segmental masses and moments of inertial. Six markers were used to obtain the kinematic data of the right lower extremity for at least three trials of walking at 1.0m/s, and simultaneously a Kistler force plate was used to obtain the foot-floor reaction data. Based on the experimental data acquired for the stance phase of the right foot, calculated vertical joint forces reached up to 0.91, 1.05, and 1.11 BW(body weight) at the hip, the knee, the ankle joints, respectively. The flexion-extension moments reached up to 69.7, 52.3, and 98.8 Nm in magnitude at the corresponding three joints. It was found that the calculated joint loadings of a subject were statistically the same for all his three trials, but not the same for all five subjects involved in the gait study.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.83-94
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to elucidate how walking speed influences on change of angles of lower extremity and ground reaction force in normal and obese people. One group with normal body weight who were experimented at a standard speed of 1.5m/s and the other obese group were experimented at two different walking speeds (standard speed of 1.5m/s and self-selected speed of 1.3m/s). We calculated angles of lower extremity and ground reaction force during stance phase through video recording and platform force measuring. When the obese group walked at the standard speed, dorsi-flexion angle of ankle got bigger and plantar-flexion angle of ankle got smaller, which were not statistically significant. There was no significant difference of knee joint angles between normal and obese group at the same speed walking but significant post hoc only for the first flexion of knee joint in obese group. $F_z1$ was bigger than $F_z3$ in vertical axis for ground reaction force in both groups at the standard speed walking and the same force value at self-selected speed in obese group. $F_y3$ was always bigger than $F_y1$ in anterior-posterior axis in both groups.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.117-129
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to characterize the impact shock wave and its attenuation, and the kinematic response of the lower extremity's joints to the impact shock during downhill running in which the lower extremity's extensor acts dominantly. For this study, fifteen subjects(mean age:$27.08{\pm}4.39$; mass:$76.30{\pm}6.60$; height:$177.25{\pm}4.11$) were required to run on the 0% grade treadmill and downhill grades of 7%, and 15% in random at speed of their preference. When the participant run, acceleration at the tibia and the sacrum and kinematic data of the lower extremity were collected for 20s so as to provide at least 5 strides for analysis at each grade. Peak impact accelerations were used to calculate shock attenuation between the tibia and sacrum in time domain at each grade. Fast Fourier transformation(FFT) and power spectral density(PSD) techniques were used to analyze impact shock factors and its attenuation in the frequency domain. Joint coordinate system technique was used to compute angular displacement of the ankle and knee joint in three dimension. The conclusions were drawn as fellows: 1. Peak impact accelerations of the tibia and sacrum in downhill run were greater than that of 0% grade run, but no significant between conditions. Peak shock of PSD resembled also in pattern of peak impact acceleration. The wave of impact shock attenuation between the tibia and sacrum decreased with increasing grade, but didn't find a significant difference between grade conditions. 2. Adduction/abduction, flexion/extention, and internal/external rotation of the ankle and knee joints at support phase between grade conditions didn't make much difference. 3. At grade of 7% and 15%, there were relationship between the knee of the flexion/extension movement and peak impact acceleration during heel strike and found also it in the ankle of plantar/dorsiflexion at grade of 15%.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.164-174
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• 2023

Objective: The aim of this study was to quantitatively analyze the impact characteristics of the lower extremity on strike pattern during running. Method: 19 young subjects (age: 26.53 ± 5.24 yrs., height: 174.89 ± 4.75 cm, weight: 70.97 ± 5.97 kg) participated in this study. All subjects performed treadmill running with fore-foot strike (FFS), mid-foot strike (MFS), and rear-foot strike (RFS) to analyze the impact characteristics in the lower extremity. Impact variables were analyzed including vertical ground reaction force, lower extremity joint moments, impact acceleration, and impact shock. Accelerometers for measuring impact acceleration and impact shock were attached to the heel, distal tibia, proximal tibia, and 50% point of the femur. Results: The peak vertical force and loading rate in passive portion were significantly higher in MFS and FFS compared to FFS. The peak plantarflexion moment at the ankle joint was significantly higher in the FFS compared to the MFS and RFS, while the peak extension moment at the knee joint was significantly higher in the RFS compared to the MFS and FFS. The resultant impact acceleration was significantly higher in FFS and MFS than in RFS at the foot and distal tibia, and MFS was significantly higher than FFS at the proximal tibia. In impact shock, FFS and MFS were significantly higher than RFS at the foot, distal tibia, and proximal tibia. Conclusion: Running with 3 strike patterns (FFS, MFS, and RFS) show different impact characteristics which may lead to an increased risk of running-related injuries (RRI). However, through the results of this study, it is possible to understand the characteristics of impact on strike patterns, and to explore preventive measures for injuries. To reduce the incidence of RRI, it is crucial to first identify one's strike pattern and then seek appropriate alternatives (such as reducing impact force and strengthening relevant muscles) on that strike pattern.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.24 no.6 s.81
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• pp.509-514
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• 2003

A mathematical model of human gait was developed to calculate the muscle forces of the lower extremity during walking. The musculoskeletal model consisted of 7 segments and 16 lower extremity muscles. The muscle forces variation during the gait calculated with optimization technique showed a good agreement with previously reported experimental results, mostly EMG variation. Moreover, the resulting joint torques matched well with those from the kinematic data and the inverse dynamics.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.295-306
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of robot-assisted gait training on the active ranges of motion, gait abilities, and biomechanical characteristics of gait in patients who underwent lower extremity surgery, and to verify the effectiveness and clinical usefulness of robot-assisted gait training. Methods: This study was conducted on 14 subjects who underwent lower extremity surgery. The subjects participated in robot-assisted gait training for 2 weeks. The active ranges of motion of the lower extremities were evaluated, and gait abilities were assessed using 10-m and 2-min walk tests. An STT Systems Inertial Measurement Unit was used to collect data on biomechanical characteristics during gait. Spatiotemporal parameters were used to measure cadence, step length, and velocity, and kinematic parameters were used to measure hip and knee joint movement during gait. Results: Significant improvements in the active ranges of motion of the hip and knee joints (flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction) and in the 10-m and 2-min walk test results were observed after robot-assisted gait training (p < 0.05). In addition, biomechanical characteristics of gait, spatiotemporal factors (cadence, step length, and velocity), and kinematic factors (gait hip flexion-extension, internal rotation-external rotation angle, and knee joint flexion-extension) were also significantly improved (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study are of clinical importance as they demonstrate that robot-assisted gait training can be used as an effective intervention method for patients who have undergone lower extremity surgery. Furthermore, the findings of this study are clinically meaningful as they expand the scope of robot-assisted gait training, which is currently mainly applied to patients with central nervous system conditions.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.311-322
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• 2015

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of landing height and knee joint muscle fatigue on the movement of the lower extremity during cutting after landing. Method : Subjects included 29 adults (age: $20.83{\pm}1.56years$, height: $172.42{\pm}9.51cm$, weight: $65.07{\pm}10.18kg$). The subjects were asked to stand on their dominant lower limb on jump stands that were 30 and 40 cm in height and jump from each stand to land with the dominant lower limb on a force plate making a side step cutting move at a $45^{\circ}$ angle with the non-dominant lower limb. The fatigue level at 30% of the knee extension peak torque using an isokinetic dynamometer. Results : The results showed that the difference of landing height increased maximum range of motion and angular velocity of hip, knee, and ankle joints in the sagittal plane, and in the angular velocity of motion of the hip joint in the sagittal plane. The maximum range of motion of the knee joint in the sagittal plane and the frontal plane decreased on landing from both heights after the fatigue exercise. The angular velocity of the hip joint in the sagittal plane, and the maximum range of motion of the hip joint in the transverse plane decreased for both landing heights after the fatigue exercise. The angular velocity of the hip joint in the frontal plane decreased for the 30 cm landing height after the fatigue exercise. On the other hand, the angular velocity and maximum range of motion of the ankle joint in the sagittal plane for both landing heights, and the angular velocity and maximum range of motion of the ankle joint in the frontal plane increased on landing from the 40 cm height after the fatigue exercise. Conclusion : Different landing heights of 30 and 40 cm and 30% fatigue of peak torque of knee extensor found a forefoot and stiff landing strategy, when cutting after landing. These results might be due to decline in the shock absorption capability of the knee joint and the movement capability related to cutting while increasing the contribution of the ankle joint, which may cause increased ankle joint injuries.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.173-180
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of combined exercise on injury risk factors of lower extremity during landing. Ten sports talented athletes participated in this study. Sports talented athletes participated in a combined exercise (sports talented exercise, coordination) for 16 weeks. A three-dimensional motion analysis was performed using eight infrared cameras (sampling rate of 100 Hz), one force plate, and electromyography system (sampling rate of 1000 Hz) during landing. Kinetic, and kinematics analysis including average impulsive force, angle of lower extremity, vertical stiffness, onset of muscle activation were calculated by Matlab2009a software. Paired t-test was performed at alpha=.05. The average impulsive force in landing phase was not statistically significant (t=-.748, p=.474). The hip joint angle was more decreased in post test compared to pre test (E1: t=2.682, p=.025, E2: t=5.609, p=.000, E3: t=2.538, p=.032). The knee joint (E1: t=-.343, p=.739, E2: t=1.319, p=.220, E3: t=.589, p=.570) and ankle joint (E1: t=.081, p=.937, E2: t=.784, p=.453, E3: t=.392, p=.704) angle were tended to decrease after combined exercise. The vertical stiffness was tended to decrease after combined exercise (t=1.972, p=.080). Onset of quadriceps femoris (t=.698, p=.503) and medial gastocnemius (t=1.858, p=.096) were tended to be faster than biceps femoris (t=-.333, p=.747) after combined exercise. Although thses findings were not statistically significant except on a hip joint angle, risk factors of lower extremity such as joint angle, vertical stiffness and onset of quadriceps femoris, medial gastrocnemius were positively changed after the combined exercise but an additional training for improved onset of biceps femoris would be required in the future.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.297-302
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was conducted in order to investigate the kinematic gait parameter of lower extremities with different gait conditions (level walking, stair, ramp) in hemiplegic patients. Methods: Ten hemiplegic patients participated in this study and kinematic data were measured using a 3D motion analysis system (LUKOtronic AS202, Lutz-kovacs-Electronics, Innsbruk, Austria). Statistical analysis was performed using one-way repeated measure of ANOVA in order to determine the difference of lower extremity angle at each gait phase with different gait conditions. Results: Affected degree of ankle joint in the heel strike phase showed significant difference between level walking and climbing stairs, and toe off phase showed significant difference between level walking and climbing stairs, ramps, and climbing stairs. Affected degree of knee joint showed no significant difference in all attempts. Affected degree of hip joint in the toe off phase showed significant difference between level walking, ramps and stairs, and climbing ramps. Swing phase showed significant difference between sides for level walking and stairs, climbing ramps. Affected ankle joint of heel strike and toe off, and affected hip joint of toe off and the maximum angle of swing phase in the angle was increased. Unaffected side of the ankle joint, knee joint, and hip joint showed a significant increase in walking phase. Conclusion: These findings indicate that compared with level walking, different results were obtained for joint angle of lower extremity when climbing stairs and ramps. In hemiplegia patient's climbing ramps, stairs, more movement was observed not only for the non-affected side but also the ankle joint of the affected side and hip joint. According to these findings of hemiplegic patients when climbing stairs or ramps, more joint motion was observed not only on the unaffected side but also on the affected side compared with flat walking.