• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.1004-1016
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• 2021

This study aims to derive the design requirements for functional clothing worn with military wearable robots using a survey of people with military experience. Specifically, 982 adult males with military and muscular exercise experience were surveyed for their demands for the clothing worn with wearable robots during military activities. The study showed that it is necessary to develop functional clothing worn inside robots suitable for frequent movements of soldiers to improve their comfort level of wearable robots. The surveyed soldiers indicated that they preferred the top and bottom clothing with high-pressure levels because the upper body felt fatigued during transportation, while both the upper and lower body got exhausted during marches. The survey of design requirements revealed that the participants preferred a top with long sleeves and a bottom with ankle-length leggings in color similar to current military uniforms. We conclude that it is important to design functional clothing worn inside wearable robots in different forms depending on frequent movements, e.g., with differentiated pressures and material placements.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2022.06a
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• pp.465-472
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• 2022

Manual material handling is the one of the leading causes for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and lower back discomfort. According to a study, construction formworkers suffer greater rates of muscular injuries and related illness due to manual activities. However, there is still a paucity of information on MSD, preventive posture issues, and corresponding solutions for construction aluminum formworkers. As a result, MSD and disregard of worker health and safety continue to exist at construction sites. Although preventive measures and strategies have been studied in previous research, we believe it is imperative to shed light on this problem through this study. This study aims to 1) implement a simple and cost-effective elevated bench to reduce MSDs, and 2) determine the rapid upper limbs assessment (RULA) and Ovako working posture analyzing system (OWAS) action catagory of workers in different postures to assess their MSD conditions and obtain an optimal position and posture using the Jack human modeling software and simulation tool. The study findings reveal a considerable reduction in MSD discomfort and which posture is acceptable in post-intervention instances.Thus results provide inexpensive and simple ergonomic interventions with favorable RULA and OWAS ratings that can be applied at construction sites. This study demonstrates workstation ergonomic intervention cases that can aid in understanding the urgency of applying existing research strategies into practice.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.115-121
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• 1974

In order to evaluate the health hazard due to exposure to organophosphorus insecticides, we measured the blood cholinesterase activity ana urinary para-nitrophenol among 56 exposed subjects. They are orchard workers, rice plant workers and smithion factory workers. The clinical symptoms were also checked by physicians. We also measured the blood cholinesterase activity and urinary para-nitrophenol excretion of 20 urban people and 15 rural people who had never been exposed to organophosphorus insecticides in order to compare them according to age, sex and geographical differences. And these results were also compared with those of exposed groups. The results obtained were as follows. 1. The normal plasma cholinesterase activity and cell cholinestrase activity were $0.861{\pm}0.148\;{\Delta}pH/hr$ and $0.822{\pm}0.154\;{\Delta}pH/hr$. And normal para-nitrophenol in urine was $1.21{\pm}0.52mg/liter$. 2. No significant difference was existed in blood cholinesterase activities and urinary para-nitrophenol excre tion according to sex, age and geographical difference. 3. The plasma cholinesterase activity and cell cholinesterase activity of orchard workers, rice plant workers and smithion factory workers were $0.682{\pm}0.189\;{\Delta}pH/hr,\;0.775{\pm}0.160\;{\Delta}pH/hr,\;0.754{\pm}0.123\;{\Delta}pH/hr,\;and\;0.691{\pm}0.082\;{\Delta}pH/hr,\;0.756{\pm}0.117\;{\Delta}pH/hr,\;0.739{\pm}0.117\;{\Delta}pH/hr$. And significant decreses in blood cholinesterase activities were existed among orchard workers and smithion factory workers compared with control group. 4, The urinary para-nitrophenol excretions of orchard workers, rice plant workers and smithion factory workers were $1.33{\pm}0.66mg/liter,\;1.19{\pm}0.88mg/liter\;and\;1.37{\pm}0.67mg/liter$ and there were no significant difference between exposed groups and control group. 5. The clinical symptoms complained during and after organophosphorus insecticides exposure were frequently ranked by headache (67.7%) and vertigo (64.5%) and muscular ataxia and weakness (51.6%).

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.259-266
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• 2005

The function of the masseter and anterior temporal muscles was assessed by electromyography in 30 patients with mandibular prognathism (20 patients with facial asymmetry and 10 patients without facial asymmetry) before orthognathic surgery and 4weeks afterwards. Electromyogram(EMG) recordings were made during resting, clenching and swallowing. We compared with right-left difference of this recording and asymmetry index before and after orthognathic surgery. The result of this study was as follows. 1. There was no significant right-left difference in muscle activities of masticatory muscles both asymmetric groups and controls and many variable change after orthognathic surgery.(P>0.05) 2. The mean electric activity of the masticatory muscles was found to have decreased during more clenching than resting, but there was no statistically significant difference because of individual difference of measuring values.(P>0.05) 3. The asymmetry index of masticatory muscles in asymmetric groups was significantly greater during clenching compared with controls.(P<0.05) In conclusion, no right-left difference of muscle activities was found in patients with facial asymmetry before orthognathic surgery and 4weeks afterwards. Not only muscular functioning but also many other factors, such as occlusion, temporomandibular joint disorder and trauma, probably affect facial asymmetry and will be analyzed in future studies. And we will need long term follow-up after orthognathic surgery.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.65-70
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• 2016

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the electromyography (EMG) activity for the middle deltoid (MD) and upper trapezius (UT) muscles in various shoulder abduction angles in patients with adhesive capsulitis (AC). METHODS: A total of 15 subjects participated in the study: 6 without AC (control group) and 9 with AC (AC group). The muscle activities of the UT and MD were measured using EMG during maximal static shoulder abductions in both groups. Each subject performed three repetitions of horizontal abduction at $0^{\circ}$, $30^{\circ}$, $60^{\circ}$, and $90^{\circ}$ of the shoulder abduction angle in a sitting position. The measurement data from the middle 3-seconds of the 5-second periods were used. The mean value of three separate sets of measurements was used in the data analysis. For each muscle, independent t-tests were performed to determine group differences. A measured repeated-measures ANOVA was performed using Bonferroni's post-hoc test. RESULTS: The muscle activity of the UT was significantly greater in the AC group; than in the control group (p<.05). The muscle activity of the MD was significantly lower in the AC group; than in the control group (p<.05). The greatest level of muscle activity for both the MD and UT was demonstrated at the $0-60^{\circ}$ and $0-90^{\circ}$ of shoulder abduction angles in the AC group. CONCLUSION: These findings showed that low muscle activation of the MD may contribute to hyperactivity of the UT during shoulder abduction in AC patients.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.141-148
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• 2007

Falls associated with tripping over an obstacle can be dangerous, yet little is known about the strategies used for stepping over obstacles in older Parkinson disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate the lower extremity muscle activity on the obstacle gait according to obstacle height in older Parkinson diseases. The obstacle gait of 7 older Parkinson disease was examined during a 5.0 m approach to, and while stepping over, obstacles of 0, 25, 52, and 152mm. Seven pairs of surface electrodes(Noraxon MyoResearch, USA) were attached to the right-hand side of the body to monitor the adductor longus(AL), gluteus medius(GME), gluteus maximus(GMA), biceps femoris(BF), rectus femoris(RF), gastrocnemius(GA), tibialis anterior(TA). Electromyography data were filtered using a 10Hz to 350 Hz Butterworth band-pass digital filter and normalized to the maximum value in the analyzed phases. A one-way ANOVA for repeated measures was employed for selected electromyography variables to analyze the differences of the height of four obstacles. The results showed significant differences between 0.0mm and 25, 52, and 152mm obstacle height in TA and GA activities during the second phase(swing phase). But the more increase obstacle height, the more not increase the muscle activities. This means that the Parkinson disease stepping over obstacle inefficiency. To prevent and reduce the frequency of falls, elderly Parkinson disease maintained and improved their balance, muscular strength, neuromuscular control and mobility.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.206-219
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• 2010

To establish the fundament for EBM of Traditional Korean Medicine, the papers on Sagunja-tang(Sijunzi-tang) frequently used in medical institutions of Traditional Korean Medicine were analyzed through researching domestic and international papers. The papers were classified by the registration of domestic or international journals, the year of publishment, experimental fields and the kinds of studies on biological activities. Of total 228 papers on Sagunja-tang(Sijunzi-tang), 121 volumes were selected according to creteria. 47 volumes were published in domestic journals, 71 in Chinese journal, 2 in Japanese journal, and 1 in Taiwan journal. The papers on instrumental analyses were preceeded by HPLC, MS, GC with standard compounds of herbal medicine in Sagunja-tang(Sijunzi-tang). The papers on biological activities of Sagunja-tang(Sijunzi-tang) showed improvement of gastrointestinal activity and blood circulation, immunoactivity, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, anti-fatigue, anti-stress, pharmacokinetics, hepatic protection, radioprotection, muscular activity, hematopoiesis and nontoxical effect. Further studies including gastrointestinal disorder, immune related disease, cancer, oxidative injury and pharmacokinetic study need to be preceeded to establish the fundament for EBM of Sagunja-tang(Sijunzi-tang).

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.207-214
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• 2020

Background: Prolonged sitting at work can lead to adverse health outcomes. The health risk of office workers is an increasing concern for the society and industry, with prolonged sitting work becoming more prevalent. Objective: This study aimed to explore the variation in muscle activities during prolonged sitting work and found out when and how to take a break to mitigate the risk of muscle symptoms. Methods: A preliminary survey was conducted to find out the prevalence of muscle discomfort in sedentary work. Firstly, a 2-h sedentary computer work was designed based on the preliminary study to investigate the variation in muscle activities. Twenty-four participants took part in the electromyography (EMG) measurement study. The EMG variations in the trapezius muscle and latissimus dorsi were investigated. Then the intervention time was determined based on the EMG measurement study. Secondly, 48 participants were divided into six groups to compare the effectiveness of every break type (passive break, active break of changing their posture, and stand and stretch their body with 5 or 10 mins). Finally, data consisting of EMG amplitudes and spectra and subjective assessment of discomfort were analyzed. Results: In the EMG experiment, results from the joint analysis of the spectral and amplitude method showed muscle fatigue after about 40 mins of sedentary work. In the intervention experiment, the results showed that standing and stretching for 5 mins was the most effective break type, and this type of break could keep the muscles' state at a recovery level for about 30-45 mins. Conclusions: This study offers the possibility of being applied to office workers and provides preliminary data support and theoretical exploration for a follow-up early muscle fatigue detection system.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.39-45
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• 2019

PURPOSE: We investigated the most effective way to activate the posterior oblique sling muscles by performing prone hip extension exercises. METHODS: An electromyography system was used to measure the activation of the posterior oblique sling muscles (latissimus dorsi, gluteus maximus, multifidus, and biceps femoris) in three different prone hip extension exercises of in 12 healthy individuals (6 men and 6 women): 1) prone hip extension, 2) prone hip extension with internal rotation and extension of the arm, and 3) prone hip extension with internal rotation and extension of the arm with a 1-Ib dumbbell. RESULTS: The overall muscular activation of the posterior oblique sling muscles was more increased when performing 1) prone hip extension with internal rotation and 2) prone hip extension with internal rotation and extension of the arm with a 1-Ib dumbbell as compared with that during prone hip extension except for the biceps femoris activation. There was a statistically significant difference in the activities of the contralateral multifidi among all three exercises; of the ipsilateral multifidi in PHE1) prone hip extension alone, PHE2) prone hip extension with internal rotation and extension of the arm and PHE3) prone hip extension with internal rotation and extension of the arm with 1-Ib dumbbell; and of the ipsilateral gluteus maximus among all the prone hip extension exercises. There was no significant difference in the activity of the biceps femoris among the three exercises. CONCLUSION: Prone hip extension with internal rotation and with internal rotation and extension of the arm with 1-Ib dumbbell can activate the posterior oblique sling muscles and so prevent back pain in healthy people.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.65 no.3
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• pp.142-149
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• 2022

Background: Individuals with Down syndrome present with several impairments such as hypotonia, ligament laxity, decreased muscle strength, insufficient muscular cocontraction, inadequate postural control, and disturbed proprioception. These factors are responsible for the developmental challenges faced by children with Down syndrome. These individuals also present with balance dysfunctions. Purpose: This systematic review aims to describe the motor dysfunction and balance impairments in children and adolescents with Down syndrome. Methods: We searched the Scopus, ScienceDirect, MEDLINE, Wiley, and EBSCO databases for observational studies evaluating the motor abilities and balance performance in individuals with Down syndrome. The review was registered on PROSPERO. Results: A total of 1,096 articles were retrieved; after careful screening and scrutinizing against the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 10 articles were included in the review. Overall, the children and adolescents with Down syndrome showed delays and dysfunction in performing various activities such as sitting, pulling to stand, standing, and walking. They also presented with compensatory mechanisms to maintain their equilibrium in static and dynamic activities. Conclusion: The motor development of children with Down syndrome is significantly delayed due to structural differences in the brain. These individuals have inefficient compensatory strategies like increasing step width, increasing frequency of mediolateral center of pressure displacement, decreasing anteroposterior displacement, increasing trunk stiffness, and increasing posterior trunk displacement to maintain equilibrium. Down syndrome presents with interindividual variations; therefore, a thorough evaluation is required before a structured intervention is developed to improve motor and balance dysfunction.