• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.19-30
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of foot orthotics on the overall comfort and muscle activity during running. The subjects were 10 members from the joggers' club which consisted of 2 women and 8 men. These individuals ran on the treadmill by 4.0m/s speed with and without the custom foot orthotics. The data concerning the overall comfort was collected by a questionairre that examined the overall comfort, heel cushioning, forefoot cushioning, medio-lateral control, arch height, heel cup fit, shoe heel width, forefoot width, and shoe length The MegaWin ver. 2.1(Mega Electronics lid, Ma. Finland) was used to gain electromyography signals of the muscle activity; Tibialis anterior, medial gastronemius, lateral gastronemius, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, biceps femoris, and rectus femoris were measured. The results of the study were as follows. 1. During running the overall comfort was higher for the foot arthotic condition than the nonorthotic condition. Among the inquiries the overall comfort showed the biggest difference comparing the two conditions. and the shoe heel width showed the highest score for contort. 2 The muscle activity of the biceps femoris, and vastus lateralis in the stance period decreased. due to the foot orthotics. The muscle activity of the vastus medialis in the swing period also decreased and the muscle activity tibialis anterior in the stance and swing stance decreased as well During running, orthotics showed positive result in foot comfort. The foot comfort related to decreased stress, muscle activity, and foot arch strain. Overall comfort and the adequate decrease of muscle activity were associated with injury prevention and the best method to prevent injury semms to be the maintenance of foot comfort.

• Clinical Pain
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.70-79
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• 2020

Objective: We evaluated the efficacy of a newly-developed spinal orthoses (V-LSO) by comparing the stabilizing effect, abdominal pressure, and comfort of 3 different semirigid LSOs (classic LSO, V-LSO, and Cybertech^®) during various body movements. Method: Thirty healthy volunteers (23~47 years, 24 males, 6 females) were selected. A dual inclinometer measured the range of motion (ROM) while the participants performed flexion/extension and lateral flexion of the lumbar spine with 3 LSOs. The LSO's pressure on the abdominal surface was measured using 9 pressure sensors while lying, sitting, standing, flexion/extension, lateral flexion, axial rotation, and lifting a box. Comfort and subjective immobilization were analyzed by a questionnaire. Results: V-LSO had a statistically significant effect on flexion over Cybertech^®. No significant differences were noted during extension and lateral flexion between the 3 LSOs. The abdominal pressure showed no significant differences while supine. While sitting, standing, and lifting a box, the mean abdominal pressure for V-LSO were significantly higher than those for Cybertech^®. During lumbar flexion, the mean abdominal pressures for classic LSO and V-LSO were significantly higher than that of Cybertech^®. For extension, lateral flexion and axial rotation, the abdominal pressure for V-LSO was significantly higher than those of classic LSO and Cybertech^®. In the subjective analysis, V-LSO and Cybertech^® scored best for comfort. Conclusion: The V-LSO and Cybertech^® were more comfortable than the classic LSO, and hence, may have improved compliance with decreased discomfort. V-LSO may be superior to the other LSOs in restricting lumbar movement and increasing intraabdominal pressure.

• CELLMED
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.10.1-10.3
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• 2015

Arthritis is a major cause of joint pain, stiffness, and subsequent disability which adversely affects quality of life. Seriously, it can lead to long term social and psychological effects including loss of independence, depression, and anxiety. Arthritis is usually treated with joint replacement surgery or medications. However, the artificial joint is temporary and pharmacological measures have side effects, such as addiction or hypersensitivity. Thus, orthotics has been developed to improve arthritis as a nonpharmacological measure. The increased regional load across compartments of articular cartilage is an important factor in the cause of the arthritis. Mubal$^{(R)}$, a clinical shoe insole, has a sliding function to help people to walk straight and realign the body balance. The slide of Mubal$^{(R)}$ reduces the knee joint loading in patients with arthritis. In addition, pumping function of Mubal$^{(R)}$ can mitigate arthritis by stretching the squashed nerves from lumbar to cervical vertebral and actively circulating blood of pelvic limb. In addition, Mubal$^{(R)}$ could help to stimulate the growth plate. Therefore, Mubal$^{(R)}$ can be used for the child with short stature as well as patients with arthritis.

• International Journal of Control, Automation, and Systems
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.152-158
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• 2005

Commercial lower limb prostheses or orthotics help patients achieve a normal life. However, patients who use such aids need prolonged training to achieve a normal gait, and their fatigability increases. To improve patient comfort, this study proposed a method of predicting gait angle using neural networks and EMG signals. Experimental results using our method show that the absolute average error of the estimated gait angles is $0.25^{\circ}$. This performance data used reference input from a controller for the lower limb orthotic or prosthesis controllers while the patients were walking.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.99-107
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of foot orthotic on postural sway. Subjects were 15 patients(7 men and 8 women) who prescribed foot orthotic at B hospital and L rehabilitation medicine clinic in Seoul. Postural sway during a single limb stance was measured using the CMS 10 Measuring System when subjects positioned on the balance trainer under two treatment conditions(orthotic and nonorthotic). RCSP(resting calcaneal stance position) while subjects were standing on the glass plate was measured using the angle finder after subjects were positioned in prone to divide equally lower leg and calcaneus using the goniometer. The result was as follows. There were significant difference between postural sway of orthotic and nonorthotic conditions(t=4.888, 4.589, p<0.001), and the leg of the small RCSP within a subject has the small postural sway index($x^2=26.000$, p<0.001). In conclusion, foot orthotics provide structural support for detecting and controlling postural sway in patients prescribed foot orthotics.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.157-165
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• 2007

Currently, there are two major problems in professional engineer(PE) licensure system in Korea to be accredited internationally. One is a incompleteness of system connecting the licensure and the accredited engineering education program and the other one is a insufficient working experience condition required for achieving PE license. Therefore, these two problems are setbacks hindering Korea's PE license accredited internationally. In this study, international tendency stream on mutual accreditation of PE license are reviewed first, and the PE licensure system of the major countries are compared and analyzed. Based on the results, requirements improvement plan are suggested and the gradual implementation method are suggested also.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.119-124
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• 2014

Objective: The use of chemicals for building prosthetic sockets present the possibility of being hazardous and unsafe due to off-gassing. The purpose of the present study was to investigate if freshly made materials used in prosthetic sockets causes off-gassing that would penetrate the skin and cause damage to the kidneys or blood. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: In this research, the off-gassing effects during the initial curing process of styrene monomer, vinyl ester resin, epoxy methacrylate resin, benzene-1, 3-dimethaneamine, trimethylhexanedlamine, and paratertiarybutylphenol were analyzed. Acid detection strips were placed inside newly fabricated mock-prosthetic sockets and left overnight in a closed environment to find out if acid was present in the invisible fumes. The plastic was worn by 9 subjects and urinalysis was made after 48 hours to test for any kidney or blood toxicity of the resins. Results: After wearing the plastic cuff for 48 hours, the ratio of protein to creatinine in the urine was raised to an abnormal level in five out of nine subjects. Four out of the nine subjects showed normal protein to creatinine ratios after wearing the device. The results showed that damage to the kidney occurred from wearing the resins after curing in half of the subjects. Conclusions: It is very important to conduct patient intakes which includes the assessment of renal function. Off-gassing in vented chambers may be needed to protect both prosthetists and patients.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.953-954
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• 2009

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2008.06a
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• pp.887-888
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• 2008

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.51-57
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• 2009

The goal of this study is to propose the effective method of investigating the injurious factors and make improvement plans that prevents the workers against musculoskeletal disorders at plastic product companies and the same business field with similar working conditions and process. A questionnaire are adopted to analyze the symptoms of workers' musculoskeletal disorders, and ergonomic assessment methods such as RULA, OWAS are performed to find out harmful factors of workplace and working posture. Based on the result of the evaluation, to enhance the working environment, improvement of worktable, working space, tools, and outfit was suggested, and induction of mechanical system was also suggested. It can be concluded that the method and process described in this paper could be helpful for diagnosing the musculoskeletal disorders risk factors and making improvement plans to the plastic product companies and the same business field with similar working conditions and process.