• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.78-84
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to compare gait patterns during pregnancy. Because of the changes in hormone levels and anatomical changes such as body mass, body-mass distribution, joint laxity, and musculotendinous strength that result from pregnancy, it was possible that there would be certain gait deviations associated with these changes. Three-dimensional gait analyses were performed from a self-selected pace, and six subjects(height : $163{\pm}5.3cm$, mass : $61.3{\pm}3.80kg$, $65.3{\pm}5.14kg$, $70.2{\pm}4.98kg$) participated in the three times(the early, middle and last years). 7 cameras(Proreflex MCU-240, Qualisys) and 2 force plates (Type 9286AA, Kistler) were used to acquire raw data. The parameters were calculated and analyzed with Visual-3D and Joint moments computed using inverse dynamics. In conclusion, pregnant women's gait patterns were changed during pregnancy period because pregnancy makes them physical changes. The main changes were joint moments and kinematic factors during pregnancy period. The pregnancy transformed normal gait pattern Into toe out position. Therefore, exercise programs to improve muscle activity were necessary where joint moments were small. The development of simulator should be studied for pregnant women's tailored shoes and accessories in future.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.387-393
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to compare pregnant women's gait parameters and mechanical energies caused by changes in hormone levels and anatomical features such as body mass, body-mass distribution, joint laxity, and musculo-tendinous strength from pregnancy to postpartum. Ten subjects (height: $161{\pm}6.5cm$, mass: $62.7{\pm}10.4\;kg$, $66.4{\pm}9.3\;kg$, $68.4{\pm}7.7\;kg$, $57.2{\pm}7.7\;kg$) participated in the four times experiments (the first, middle, last term and after birth) and walked ten trials at a self-selected pace without shoes. The gait motions were captured with Qualisys system and gait parameters were calculated with Visual-3D. Pregnant women's gait velocities were decreased during the pregnancy periods, but increased after birth. Stride width and cycle time were increased during pregnancy, but decreased after birth. Thigh energy (77.4%) was greater than shank energy (19.06%) or feet (3.54%) about total energy of the lower limbs. Their feet (Left R2=0.881, Right R2=0.852) and shank (Left R2=0.318, Right R2=0.226) energies were significantly increased (positive correlation), but double limb stance time (DLST, R2=0.679) and body total energy (R2=0.138) were decreased (negative correlation) for their velocities. These differences suggest that thigh segment may be a dominant segment among lower limbs, and have something to do with gait velocities. Further studies should investigate joint power and joint work to find energy dissipation or absorption from pregnancy period to postpartum.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.103-110
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to suggest a proper tread of stairs using kinematic factors and moments of the lower-limb joints in the stair decent with the 3 different treads with boimechanical method in ergonomics. 9 subjects (body masses; $59.41{\pm}7.49$, $64.03{\pm}6.65$, $67.26:{\pm}7.58$, heights; $160.50{\pm}6.35$ ages; $31.22{\pm}2.99$; parity; $1.67{\pm}0.71$) participated in three experiments that were divided by physiological symptoms (the early (0-15 weeks), middle (16-27 weeks) and last (18-39 weeks). and they walked at self-selected pace on 4 staircases 3 trials. As extending the pregnancy period, cadence was shorter but cycle time were longer more and more. As extending treads of stair decent during pregnancy, speed, stride lengths and cycle time were increased. As extending the treads of stair decent, hip and ankle moments increased but knee moments decreased in sagittal plane. There were increasing or decreasing of moments by means of treads. These changes may account for relation between the treads of stair and moments in pregnant women. The main changes of pregnant women were joint moments and kinematic factors during pregnancy period because pregnancy makes them physical changes. It is possible that joints have connection with compensation each other to maximize stability and to control gait motion. In conclusion, we suggest that the tread of stair is longer than 26cm tread. and exercise programs to improve muscle activity were necessary where joint moments were small.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.205-215
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to investigate alterations of pregnant gait by means of 3 different treads of stairs. 9 subjects(body masses; $59.41{\pm}7.49$, $64.03{\pm}6.65$, $67.26{\pm}7.58$, heights; $160.50{\pm}6.35$ ages; $31.22{\pm}2.99$; parity; $1.67{\pm}0.71$) participated in three experiments that were divided by physiological symptoms(the early(0-15 weeks), middle(16-27 weeks) and last(18-39 weeks), and walked at self-selected pace on 4 staircases 3 trials. As extending the pregnancy period, cadence was shorter but cycle time was longer more and more and the difference of maximum and minmum moments between right and left knee joint moment was smaller. With the treads of stair decent lengthening, speed and stride lengths were increased. As extending the treads of stair decent, joint moments of both feet were particular traits, hip joint was asymmetric but joint moments of knee and ankle were symmetric. These findings may account for relation between the treads of stair and moments and suggest that women may adapt their gait to maximize stability and to control gait motion for themselves in pregnant women.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.15-30
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was analyzed the effect of kinematical and kinetical factors of lower extremity of form change in the cause of growth an unborn child during in pregnancy. Three pregnant women were selected from pregnant 24 weeks as subjects. Each subjects were required to walk with usual walking speed. Cinematographic and GRF data were collected during walking, and the kinematical and kinetical variables were calculated using Kwon3d. Based on the results of the study, the following conclusions were drawn : 1. Step width and Step length The change of form during the period of pregnancy was not statistically found significant in the step width and the step length. 2. Angle of lower extremity 1) The change of form during the period of pregnancy was not statistically found significant in the hip angle at right heel contact, mid stance, but it was statistically found significant in the hip angle at toe off on p<.05. 2) The change of form during the period of pregnancy was not statistically found significant in the knee angle at right heel contact, mid stance, but it was statistically found significant in the knee angle at toe off on p<.05. 3) The change of form during the period of pregnancy was not statistically found significant in the ankle angle at right heel contact, mid stance, but it was statistically found significant in the ankle angle at toe off on p<.05. 3. Ground reaction force 1) The change of form during the period of pregnancy was statistically found significant in medial-lateral force(Fx) on p<.001. 2) The change of form during the period of pregnancy was not statistically found significant in post-anterior force(Fy). 3) The change of form during the period of pregnancy was statistically found significant in impulse force and minimum peak of vertical reaction force on p<.001, p<.01 but it was not statistically found significant in second maximum force.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.151-158
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• 2007

tert-Butyl acetate is an organic solvent used for coatings, industrial cleaning, and surface treatment applications. This study investigated the potential adverse effects of tert-butyl acetate on pregnant dams and embryo-fetal development after maternal exposure on gestational days 6 through 19 in rats. The test chemical was administered to pregnant rats by gavage at dose levels of 0, 500, 1,000, 1,500, and 2,000 mg/kg/day. All dams were subjected to a caesarean section on day 20 of gestation and their fetuses were examined for any external, visceral, and skeletal abnormalities. At 2,000 mg/kg, treatment-related clinical signs, including piloerection, abnormal gait, decreased locomotor activity, loss of fur, reddish tear, anorexia, nasal discharge, vocalization and coma, were observed in a dose-dependent manner. All dams died between the 2nd day and 5th day of treatment due to a severe systemic toxicity. At 1,500 mg/kg, minimal maternal toxicity including an increase in the incidence of decreased locomotor activity and loss of fur, and an increase in the weights of adrenal glands and liver was observed. On the contrary, no significant adverse effect on the embryo-fetal development was detected. There were no adverse effects on either pregnant dams or embryo-fetal development at <1,000 mg/kg. These results show that a 14-day repeated oral dose of tert-butyl acetate in rats caused a minimal maternal toxicity including increases in the incidence of clinical signs and the weights of adrenal glands and liver, but no embryotoxicity and teratogenicity at 1,500 mg/kg/day. Under these experimental conditions, the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of tert-butyl acetate is estimated to be 1,000 mg/kg per day for dams and 1,500 mg/kg per day for embryo-fetal development.