• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.259-268
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• 2022

Objective: The purpose of this study was to measure the immediate effect of hip hinge exercise stretching on hamstring flexibility, pelvic tilting angle, proprioception, and dynamic balance in individual with tightness of the hamstring. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Methods: A total of 35 healthy young adults (27 males, 8 females) volunteered for this study and randomly divided into three groups (Hip hinge exercise stretching group, passive stretching group, and PNF stretching group). The hamstring flexibility, pelvic tilting angle, knee joint proprioception, dynamic balance was conducted for 3 times. In order to evaluate the hamstring flexibility, the active knee extension test was performed. Forward bending test was performed to examine pelvic tilting angle.The proprioception was tested by the joint position sense test and dynamic balance was evaluated by Y balance test. Results: The hamstring flexibility, pelvic tilting angle and dynamic balance were significantly improved between three groups before and after intervention (p<0.05). Dynamic balance was significantly difference between the three groups in the posterolateral direction (p<0.05). Conclusions: This study result showed that hip hinge exercise stretching was the most effective method for increasing hamstring flexibility, pelvic tilting angle and dynamic balance. In addition, it is necessary to study whether hamstring stretching is effective in low back pain patient with hamstrings tightness.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.105-112
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• 2019

Objective: The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of wearing an ankle weight belt while performing gait in water by focusing on the effect of using ankle weights have on the gait kinematics and the muscle activities for developing optimum training strategies. Method: A total of 10 healthy male university students were recruited for the study. Each participant was instructed to perform 3 gait conditions; normal walking over ground, walking in water chest height, and walking in water chest height while using ankle weights. All walking conditions were set at control speed of $4km/h{\pm}0.05km/h$. The depth of the swimming pool was at 1.3 m, approximately chest height. The motion capture data was recorded using 6 digital cameras and the EMG was recorded using waterproof Mini Wave. From the motion capture data, the following variables were calculated for analysis; double and single support phase (s), swing phase (s), step length (%height), step rate (m/s), ankle, knee, and hip joint angles ($^{\circ}$). From the electromyography the %RVC of the lower limb muscles medial gastrocnemius, rectus femoris, erector spinae, semitendinosus, tibialis anterior, vastus lateralis oblique was calculated. Results: The results show significant differences between the gait time, and step length between the right and left leg. Additionally, the joint angular velocities and gait velocity were significantly affected by the water resistance. As expected, the use of the ankle weights increased all of the lower leg maximum muscle activities except for the lower back muscle. Conclusion: In conclusion, the ankle weights can be shown to stimulate more muscle activity during walking in chest height water and therefore, may be useful for rehabilitation purposes.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.691-698
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• 2021

Background The reverse sural artery (RSA) flap is widely used for lower extremity reconstruction. However, patients sometimes suffer from donor site complications such as scar contracture and paresthesia, resulting in dissatisfaction with the aesthetic outcomes. This study investigated the characteristics of donor site morbidity associated with RSA flaps and described our experiences of dealing with complications by performing resurfacing surgery using thoracodorsal artery perforator (TDAP) flaps. Methods From April 2008 to August 2018, a total of 11 patients underwent contracture release and resurfacing surgery using TDAP flaps due to donor morbidity associated with RSA flaps. All affected donor sites were covered with a skin graft, the most common of which was a meshed split-thickness skin graft (six cases). Results Eight of the 11 patients (72.7%) suffered from pain and discomfort due to scar contracture, and seven (63.6%) complained of a depression scar. The donor sites were located 6.3±4.1 cm below the knee joint, and their average size was 140.1 cm². After resurfacing using TDAP flaps, significant improvements were found in the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) scores and the active and passive ranges of motion (AROM and PROM) of the knee joint. The LEFS scores increased from 45.1 to 56.7 postoperatively (P=0.003), AROM increased from 108.2° to 118.6° (P=0.003), and PROM from 121.4° to 126.4° (P=0.021). Conclusions Planning of RSA flaps should take into account donor site morbidity. If complications occur at the donor site, resurfacing surgery using TDAP flaps achieves aesthetic and functional improvements.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.504-507
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• 2003

Force plate analysis was used to describe the effect of acupuncture on right knee osteoarthritis (OA) in a seven-year-old hound breed dog weighing 27 kg. The acupuncture treatment was performed twice a week for 3 weeks. Ground reaction forces (GRFs) and subjective clinical scores in both hind limbs were obtained prior to and 72 hours after each treatment. Right vertical peak force was increased as the dog was acupunctured. Although their sensitivity was lower than that of the GRF data, the subjective clinical scores reflected an improvement. In addition, vertical peak force of normal left hind limb was also increased during this trial. These results indicate that gait analysis may be valuable objective method in future evaluation of acupuncture for OA of the stifle joint.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.689-695
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• 2022

Background Lymphaticovenular anastomosis (LVA) is an effective, functional treatment for limb lymphedema. This study reports an alternative surgical approach to lymphedema treatment without the use of indocyanine green mapping. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 29 consecutive lymphedema patients who underwent LVAs from January 2015 to December 2020, whereby incisions were made along the anatomy of the superficial venous systems in both upper and lower extremities around the joint areas. The evaluation included qualitative assessments and quantitative volumetric analyses. Result The mean number of anastomoses was 3.07, and the operative time was 159.55 minutes. Symptom improvement was recorded in 86.21% of the patients, with a mean volume reduction of 32.39%. The lymphangitis episodes decreased from 55.17% before surgery to 13.79% after surgery, and the median number of lymphangitis episodes per year decreased from 1 before surgery to 0 after surgery. Conclusions The superficial venous anatomical approach is an easy way to start a lymphedema practice using LVA without other advanced surgical equipment. With this reliable technique, microsurgeons can perform LVA procedures and achieve good results.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.518-523
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• 2015

This paper proposes a gait phase classifier using a Recurrent Neural Network (RNN). Walking is a type of dynamic system, and as such it seems that the classifier made by using a general feed forward neural network structure is not appropriate. It is known that an RNN is suitable to model a dynamic system. Because the proposed RNN is simple, we use a back propagation algorithm to train the weights of the network. The input data of the RNN is the lower body's joint angles and angular velocities which are acquired by using the lower limb exoskeleton robot, ROBIN-H1. The classifier categorizes a gait cycle as two phases, swing and stance. In the experiment for performance verification, we compared the proposed method and general feed forward neural network based method and showed that the proposed method is superior.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.245-254
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• 2014

In this paper, stable and robust dynamic walking for a biped motion is proposed. To success this objective, the following structures are processed. In this paper, the proposed control method is one that adjusts actual zero moment position to move to the closest possible point in the stable area instead of following desired zero moment position. This minimizes energy consumption with the smallest joint movements. The proposed control method makes mechanical energy that drives lower limb of the bipedal robot efficient. In this paper, walking experiment is carried out with the three control structures mentioned above. The trajectory generated by off-line is illustrated by performing to walking on flat ground. experiment with an obstacle whose height is lower than that of trajectory is executed to validate dynamic motion.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.413-421
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• 2015

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate biomechanical changes of the lower limb including dynamic stability with changes in illumination (300Lx, 150Lx, and 5Lx) and slope (level and $15^{\circ}$ downhill) as risk factors for elderly falls. Method : Fifteen elderly females were selected for this study. Seven infrared cameras (Proreflex MCU 240: Qualisys, Sweden) and an instrumented treadmill (Bertec, USA) surrounded by illumination regulators and lights to change the levels of illumination were used to collect the data. A One-Way ANOVA with repeated measures using SPSS 12.0 was used to analyze statistical differences by the changes in illumination and slope. Statistical significance was set at ${\alpha}=.05$. Results : No differences in the joint movement of the lower limbs were found with changes in illumination (p>.05). The maximum plantar flexion movement of the ankle joints appeared to be greater at 5Lx compared to 300Lx during slope gait (p<.05). Additionally, maximum extension movement of the hip joints appeared to be greater at 5Lx and 150Lx compared to 300Lx during slope gait (p<.05). The maximum COM-COP angular velocity (direction to medial side of the body) of dynamic stability appeared to be smaller at 150Lx and 300Lx compared to 5Lx during level gait (p<.05). The minimum COM-COP angular velocity (direction to lateral side to the body) of dynamic stability appeared smaller at 150Lx compared to 5Lx during level gait (p<.05). Conclusion : In conclusion, elderly people use a stabilization strategy that reduces walk speed and dynamic stability as darkness increases. Therefore, the changes in illumination during gait induce the changes in gait mechanics which may increase the levels of biomechanical risk in elderly falls.

• International journal of advanced smart convergence
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.26-33
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• 2020

This study measured the downward stepping movement relative to weight change (no load, and 10%, 20%, 30% of body weight respectively of adult male (n=10) from standardized stair (rise of 0.3 m, tread of 0.29 m, width of 1 m). The 3-dimensional cinematography and ground reaction force were also utilized for analysis of leg stiffness: Peak vertical force, change in stance phase leg length, Torque of whole body, kinematic variables. The strategy heightened the leg stiffness and standardized vertical ground reaction force relative to the added weights (p<.01). Torque showed rather larger rotational force in case of no load, but less in 10% of body weight (p<.05). Similarly angle of hip joint showed most extended in no-load, but most flexed in 10% of body weight (p<.05). Inclined angle of body trunk showed largest range in posterior direction in no-load, but in vertical line nearly relative to added weights (p<.001). Thus the result of the study proved that downward stepping strategy altered from height of 30 cm, regardless of added weight, did not affect velocity and length of lower leg. But added weight contributed to more vertical impulse force and increase of rigidity of whole body than forward rotational torque under condition of altered stepping strategy. In future study, the experimental on effect of weight change and alteration of downward stepping strategy using ankle joint may provide helpful information for development of enhanced program of prevention and rehabilitation on motor performance and injury.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.395-406
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to analyze the changes in kinematic and kinetic parameters of lower extremity joint according to rehabilitation period. Fourteen collegiate male athletes(age: $22.1{\pm}1.35$ years, height: $182.46{\pm}9.45cm$, weight: $88.63{\pm}9.25kg$) and fourteen collegiate athletes on functional ankle instability(age: $21.5{\pm}1.35$ years, height: $184.45{\pm}9.42cm$, weight: $92.85{\pm}10.85kg$) with the right leg as dominant were chosen. The subjects performed drop landing. The date were collected by using VICON with 8 camera to analyze kinematic variables and force platform to analyze kinetic variables. There are two approaches of this study, one is to compare between groups, the other is to find changes of lower extremity joint after rehabilitation. In comparison to the control group, FAI group showed more increased PF & Inversion at IC and decreased full ROM when drop landing. Regarding the peak force and loading rate, it resulted in higher PVGRF and loading. FAI group used more increased knee and hip ROM because of decreased ankle ROM to absorb the shock. And it used sagittal movement to stabilize. In terms of rehabilitation period, FAI group showed that landing patterns were changed and it increased total ankle excursion and used all lower extremity joint close to normal ankle. Regarding the peak force and loading rate, FAI group decreased PVGRF and loading rate. and also showed shock absorption using increased ankle movement. And COP variable showed that proprioception training increased stability during 8 weeks. The results of this study suggest that 8 weeks rehabilitation period is worthwhile to be considered as a way to improve neuromuscular control and to prevent sports injuries.