• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.25-31
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• 2012

The audio vision system was developed for visually impaired people and usability was verified. In this study ten normal volunteers were included in the subject group and their mean age was 28.8 years old. Male and female ratio was 7:3. The usability of audio vision system was verified by as follows. First, volunteers learned distance of obstacles and up-down discrimination. After learning of audio vision system, indoor and outdoor walking examination was performed. The test was scored by ability of up-down and lateral discrimination, distance recognition and walking without collision. Each parameter was scored by 1 to 5. The results were 93.5 +- SD(ranges, 86 to 100) of 100. In this study, we could convert visual information to auditory information by audio-vision system and verified possibility of applying to daily life for visually impaired people.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.229-238
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• 2017

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of taping therapy and inner arch support on pes planus lower extremity alignment and gait. Method: The study was conducted on 13 women in their 20s who had pes planus and no gait problems. Independent variables were the condition of wearing basic socks (S1) and the condition of wearing socks with taping therapy and inner arch support (S2). The dependent variables were resting calcaneal stance position (RCSP), plantar pressure distribution during gait, and underlying and medial longitudinal arch angle measured using radiography. Statistical analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon test with SPSS 23.0 for comparison of S1 and S2. Results: In the RCSP measurement, the angle range of S2 changed to normal. Meary's angle appeared to be less than the angle of S1, indicating alleviation of the degree of pes planus. The calcaneal pitch angle increased at S2 from that at S1. The plantar pressure distribution was divided into four areas (toe, forefoot, midfoot, and hindfoot). At S2, the maximum pressure increased in the toe and midfoot. The maximum force increased significantly in the toe and midfoot but decreased significantly in the forefoot and hindfoot. In addition, the contact area increased overall especially at the midfoot and hindfoot. Contact time decreased in the toe and forefoot, but increased in the midfoot and hindfoot. Conclusion: Taping therapy and inner arch support showed structural improvement of the pes planus. In addition, the force and pressure applied to the foot during walking are distributed evenly in the area of the sole, thus positively affecting walking.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.879-883
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• 2015

Conventional gait rehabilitation requires at least three therapists in a traditional rehabilitation training program. Several robots have been developed to reduce human burden and increase rehabilitation efficacy. In this study, we present a lower-limb wearable robot (WA-H) for gait rehabilitation of hemiplegia patients, and propose a protocol of 12 weeks gait rehabilitation training program using WA-H. To identify the efficacy of the robot and protocols, we conducted a clinical study with two actual hemiplegia patients and observed a chronological change of ambulation ability through four assessments. We discovered the progression of results by 6 minute walking test, TUGT (Timed Up and Go Test), SPPB (Short Physical Performance Battery), BBS (Berg Balance Test), and Fugl-Meyer score. The torques generated in the normal side and paralyzed side of the patient became similar, indicating rehabilitation. The result also showed the walking of the paralysis patient improved and imbalance motion had considerable improved performance.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.235-243
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to find out the effect of Growth Hormone promotin and kinetic factors on Growth Hormone Activated Shoes. The results of the present study were as follows; First, there was a significient difference between a normal shoes and the Growth Hormone activated shoes in the student's GH secretion with running test, and there was a significant interaction effect between shoes and distance. therefore it can be assumed that there is a significant effect of GH secretion in student at growth period during running with Growth Hormine Activated Shoes. Second, Within 4km walking, Growth Hormone secretion was in creased averagely in student. Third, Growth Hormone Activated Shoes make a large load for light motion as walking. For heavy motion as running, it make a large impulsion but good pressure distribution and small loading rate.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.67-73
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• 2010

The foot performs an important function in supporting the body and keeping body balance. An abnormal walking habit breaks the balance of the human body as well as the normal function of the foot. The influence of a flatfoot(pes planus) occupies a considerable portion of the various causes resulting in the wrong walking habit. But, little studies has been done by the functional foot orthotics for the flat foot. The object of this study, therefore, is to propose a new approach method to reveal the effects of the improvement of the foot function by using orthotics. The essential point of this study is to measure and analyze the change of ankle angle in the sagittal plane for flat foot subjects wearing the orthotics. Before and after wearing the functional orthotics, the gait analysis of flat foot subjects was conducted in three experimental aspects : the change of ankle angle, the change of the total Ankle ROM and the difference of left & right ankle angle in the sagittal plane. 1. The average ankle angle differences of before-and-after wearing the orthotics have declined like this; left : $2.71^{\circ}$, right: $1.91^{\circ}$ (p<0.05). 2. Total ankle ROM also showed decrease in both sides while the left side's is rather slight; left : $0.57^{\circ}$, right : $2.07^{\circ}$ (p<0.05). 3. The difference of left and right ankle angle in the sagittal plane decreased by $0.71^{\circ}$ (p<0.05). In result, it is confirmed that the functional foot orthotics have a significant effect on mechanical movement of ankle joint for flat foot. it is expected that this paper will be further studied and improved as a practical estimation method in the research on the effect of foot-orthotics.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.6246-6256
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to determine the factors affecting the Bone Mineral Density (BMD) on Premenopausal Women. This study made use of the data from the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V-2, 2011). The results are as follows. The factors with an effect on the bone mineral density (BMD) were the body mass index, age, and walking exercise. These factors explain 11.7% of the variance in the BMD. In addition, the bone density of people in their 20s was lower than those in their 50s. Walking exercise for less than 3 days showed that the BMD had decreased significantly. In conclusion, to maintain a normal BMD on premenopausal women, it is important to avoid an excessive diet and recognize the correct body image. These results suggest that education programs including the appropriate diet and lifestyle should be developed for women in their 20's.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.814-823
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• 2011

Nowadays many neurological diseases such as stroke and Parkinson diseases are continually increasing. Orthotic devices as well as exoskeletons have been widely developed for supporting movement assistance and therapy of patients. Robotic knee orthosis can compensate stiff-knee gait of the paralyzed limb and can provide patients consistent assistance at wearable environments. With keeping a robotic orthosis wearable, however, it is not easy to develop a compact and safe actuator with fast rotation and high torque for consistent supports of patients during walking. In this paper, we propose a novel kinematic model for a robotic knee orthosis to drive a knee joint with independent actuation during swing and stance phases, which can allow an actuator with fast rotation to control swing motions and an actuator with high torque to control stance motions, respectively. The suggested kinematic model is composed of a hamstring device with a slide-crank mechanism, a quadriceps device with five-bar/six-bar links, and a patella device for knee covering. The quadriceps device operates in five-bar links with 2-dof motions during swing phase and is changed to six-bar links during stance phase by the contact motion to the patella device. The hamstring device operates in a slider-crank mechanism for entire gait cycle. The kinematics and velocity/force relations are analyzed for the quadriceps and hamstring devices. Finally, the adequate actuators for the suggested kinematic model are designed based on normal gait requirements. The suggested kinematic model will allow a robotic knee orthosis to use compact and light actuators with full support during walking.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.43-50
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the change of the energy consumption when loading to leg of the 60persons who don't have past history of cardiopulmonary and neuromuscular disease, To evaluate the change or energy consumption, heart rate was measured in sitting position for 5minute, during walking for 3minute at for 4.8km on treadmill, and during resting state after walking with 1Kg loading to right ankle, and the other 1Kg loading was added to left ankle and then heart rates were measured in the The results were as follow; 1. PCI value without loading to Ankle were significantly increased compared to 1Kg, and 2Kg. (p<0.05) 2. Female Subjects showed mon increased PCI value in without leading and 2Kg loading compared to male subjects. ( p<0.05) 3. When 1Kg ana 2Ka loading to ankle significantly differences were showed between them. (p<0.05) 4. In the case of 1Kg and 2Kg loading, the difference among age groups was observed and the significant difference among PCI, PCI 1kg, PCI 2kg was showed in the only group that is less than 30 years old. 5. In every PCI condition the difference among height groups was observed and the significant difference among PCI conditions was showed in the only group that is less than 165cm. 6. The difference among weight groups in each PCI condition was not observed, but the significant differences among PCI conditions was showed in every group except the group that h from 60kg to 69kg. These results showed that energy consumption was increased according to loading on the ankle during Sate so weight of orthosis or prosthesis met be considered when choosing them and during gait training with these ones.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.61-68
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the changes of the relative impulse of the foot when carrying 5 types of schoolbag during level walking. Methods: Forty-four normal subjects were divided into 5 groups according to the method of carrying a bag: carrying no bag (condition 1), a backpack (condition 2), a shoulder bag (condition 3), a cross bag (condition 4) and a one-hand bag (condition 5). To evaluate the partial relative impulse, 7 areas were measured on the sole of a foot: the hallux, toe, 1st metatarsal head (Met1) and the 2nd & 3rd metatarsal heads (Met2/3), the 4th & 5th metatarsal heads (Met4/5), mid foot and heel. Repeated one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and independent t-tests were used to analyze the statistical data. Results: In the right foot, the relative impulses in every areas revealed no significant difference (p>0.05), however, the relative impulses at Met1, Met2/3, Met4/5 and heel were significantly different between the different conditions (p<0.05). There were significant differences on comparing the relative impulse between left and right foot within one condition, the mid foot in condition 2, as well as the hallux and Met1 in condition 3 (p<0.05). In condition 4, the toe, Met1, Met4/5 and mid foot were significantly different (p<0.05). The values at the hallux, toe and Met1 in condition 5 also were significantly different (p<0.05). Conclusion: These findings showed that the symmetrical relative impulse of the foot was present in the case of carrying a backpack, but there was an extra load on specific regions and asymmetrical relative impulses in the case of carrying a shoulder bag, a across bag and a one-hand bag. (ED note: this abstract is not clear. You need to work on it.)

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2010

Purpose : This study examines the effects of pre-eccentric exercise and stretch ing to bicepsbrachii to prevent delayed onset muscle soreness and recovery of muscular function depending on the training intensity with 28 normal adults in their twenties. Methods : The subjects were divided into a control group, a group without any previous eccentric exercise, and a stretching group. Pre-eccentric exercise group conducted exercise with the intensity of 25% of maximal voluntary contraction. Pre-eccentric exercise and stretching was applied before to induce delayed onset muscle soreness and after, 24 hour post, 48 hour post, and 72 hour post. Measurements were conducted to examine pain and muscular function changes before, immediately after, and after inducing delayed onset muscle soreness. After inducing delayed onset muscle soreness, measurements were taken at the 24th hour, 48th hour, and 72nd hour. Results : The pre-eccentric exercise group and stretching group showed a significant difference from the control group by isometric contract ion power and mechanical pain threshold as a result of measuring delayed onset muscle soreness. Conclusion : From these results, electrical stimulation using presynaptic inhibition mechanism of transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) had positive effects for walking ability on inhibition of muscle tone in lower extremity. The motor level stimulation group experienced a more significant effect than the sensory level stimulation group. Therefore, the transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) is considered to be effective on walking ability increasing through inhibition of muscle tone in lower extremity for rehabilitation of post stroke hemiplegic patients.