• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.160-167
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• 2020

This study analyzes the effects of changes in running velocity and slope on the biomechanical factors of the lower limb joints. For this purpose, 15 adult males in their 20s ran according to changes in running speed (2.7, 3.3 m/s) and slope ( -9°, -6°, 0°, 6°, 9°) on the treadmill, and their running characteristics (stride length, stride frequency). The range of motion of the lower limb joint and the vertical ground reaction force were greater in UR (p <.05), and the moment of the lower limb joint, braking force, thrust and load factor was large in DR (p <.05). In joint power, the ankle joint was greater in DR, and hip joint was greater in the UR (p <.05). These results show that the injuries of the ankle joint will be greater than other cases when running DR at a speed of 3.3 m/s.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.61-73
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in the center of pressure (COP), ground reaction force (GRF) and joint angles of elderly people and young people while stair-descent. The participants in this experiment were 5 elderly people and 5 young people, each of which was asked to descend stairs of three different heights (8 cm, 16 cm, and 32 cm). As they climbed down the stairs, they received vibration stimulation on the lower limb. The change of COP, GRF and joint angles were analyzed during the standing phase. COP decreased as the Achilles tendon and tibialis anterior tendon were vibrated. Vertical GRF increased as the Achilles tendon was vibrated, and the joint angle differed according to vibration stimulation conditions. These results mean that ankle joint, knee joint and hip joint were influenced by the vibrations on the lower limb as the participants descended the stairs. It was concluded that the vibration stimulation on the lower limb allowed the participants to efficiently climb down the stairs.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.24-29
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of lower limb training using a sliding rehabilitation machine on the foot motion and stability in stroke patients. Methods: Thirty participants were allocated to two groups: Training group (n=15) and Control group (n=15). Subjects in the control group received physical therapy for 30 minutes, five times per week, and those in the training group received lower limb training using a sliding rehabilitation machine for 30 minutes, five times per week, with physical therapy for 30 minutes, five times per week, during a period of six weeks. Heel rotation, hallux stiffness, foot balance, metatarsal load, toe out angle, and subtalar joint flexibility were measured by RS-scan. Results: Significant improvement of the foot motion (hallux stiffness, meta load) and the foot stability (toe out angle, subtalar joint flexibility) was observed in the training group. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that lower limb training using a sliding rehabilitation machine is an effective intervention to improve the foot motion and stability.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.1-11
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• 2021

PURPOSE: Lumbosacral orthosis (LSO) is often used to help manage low back pain because it is economical and effective. This study examined the effects of flexible and semirigid LSOs on the lower-limb joint angles in walking in patients with chronic low back pain. METHODS: The effects of the lumbosacral orthosis during gait on the sagittal, frontal, horizontal planes and the change in lower limb angle were examined in fourteen chronic low back pain patients who walked without wearing a LSO, wearing a flexible LSO, and wearing a semirigid LSO in random order for three-dimensional motion analysis. RESULTS: The flexion of the hip and knee joints decreased more significantly during walking with an LSO than without one. The genu valgum angles were reduced in the stance phase more during walking with an LSO than without one. The external rotation of the knee joints in the stance phase increased more during walking with an LSO than without one. CONCLUSION: The angles of the lower-limb joints of patients with chronic low back pain are affected by walking with an LSO, and the effects increased as the LSO stiffened.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.357-363
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of different saddle heights on lower-limb joint angle and muscle activity. Six elite cyclists(age: $32.2{\pm}5.2years$, height: $171.0{\pm}3.5cm$, weight: $79.7{\pm}5.6kg$, cycle career: $13{\pm}6.2years$) participated in three min. submaximal(90 rpm) pedaling tests with the same load and cadence based on saddle heights where subject's saddle height was determined by his knee flexion angle when the pedal crank was at the 6 o'clock position. Joint angles(hip, knee, ankle joints) and the activity of lower limb muscles(biceps femoris(BF), vastus lateralis(VL), tibialis anterior(TA) and gastrocnemius medial(GM)) were compared by measuring 3D motion and electromyography(EMG) data. Results showed that there were significant differences in minimum hip & knee joint angle and range of motion of hip and knee joint between saddle heights. Onset timing and integrated EMG of only BF among 4 muscles were significantly different between saddle heights. Especially there was a negative relationship between minimum hip joint angle and onset timing of BF in most subject, which means that onset timing of BF became fast as the degree of bending of the hip joint became larger by saddle height. Optimal pedaling will be possible through increased amount of muscle activation due to the appropriate burst onset timing by proper pedaling posture with adjusted saddle height.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.40-46
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• 2021

Purpose: This study compared the muscle activity of the lower limb according to the three types of fixed angles of the ankle joint during a lunge exercise. Methods: Twenty healthy subjects performed the lunge motion in a trial including the three types of fixed angle. The lunge motion with a neutral, 20° dorsiflexion, and 20° plantarflexion of the ankle joint were randomized and measured repeatedly. The muscle activity of the rectus femoris (RF), vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis (VL), biceps femoris (BF), and semitendinosus (ST) was measured by surface electromyography. Results: In the change in ankle joint angle, the RF, VL, BF, and ST muscle activity showed significant differences (p<0.05). In the 20° dorsiflexion position, the muscle activity of VL, BF, and ST showed a significant decrease compared to that in the neutral position (p<0.017). The muscle activity of RF and VL in the neutral position was greater than that in the 20° plantarflexion position (p<0.017). Only the muscle activity of the BF in the 20° plantarflexion position was significantly greater than the 20° dorsiflexion position (p<0.017). Conclusion: These results revealed a difference in the muscle activity of lower extremities in the proximal region according to the angle of the ankle joint during the lunge.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.1311-1312
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• 2012

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2008.06a
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• pp.231-232
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• 2008

• 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.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.57-65
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• 2024

Recently, several studies have been conducted to lower the cost of transport of human by adding external joint stiffness elements. However, it has not been clearly elucidated whether adaptation time is required for human subjects to adapt to the added external joint stiffness. In this study, carbon plates in the form of shoe midsoles were added to the metatarsophalangeal joint, and the lower limb joint torque and mechanical energy consumption were compared before and after a total of 5 sessions (2.5 weeks) of running. A total of 11 young healthy participants exhibited higher elastic energy storage in carbon plates in the fifth session compared to the first session, and lower power in the ankle joint. This suggests that a single training session may be insufficient to validate the efficiency effect of added joint stiffness, and the human body seems to increase the elastic energy stored in the assistive joint stiffness and its reutilization.