• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.69-75
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• 2014

Objective: We developed a Motor-Assisted Rowing Machine (MARM) for Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), by modification of the Concept II rowing machine, so that the seats could be operated automatically in a backward and forward direction by a motor. Design: Case report. Methods: Motor rowing consisted of a chair with inclination control, a motor system, control button, monitor, program, leg supporter, safety belt, and seat. The patients were 2 men rowing athletes with SCI, classified as American Spinal Injury Association class B, participated in the study. Level of thoracic injury ranged from T8 to T10. The subjects rowed at a self-selected stroke rate with 50 watts. Two different rowing methods (static rowing without movement of the seat, dynamic rowing using MARM) were assigned to each participant during 10 minutes; 34 reflective markers were attached to their full bodies. Kinematic data were collected using the Vicon motion analysis system. Based on the full body model provided as a default by the equipment. In the rowing exercise, the rowing motions were divided into Drive Phase and Recovery Phase. Results: The two rowing methods differ in handle range, seat range, handle and seat ratio, handle velocity, and seat velocity during static and dynamic rowing. The rowing exercise using a rowing machine developed MARM increased tendency to the range of motion in the dynamic method compared to the static method. Conclusions: The newly developed MARM could be a useful whole body exercise for people with SCI.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.19-25
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• 2014

According to recent data more than 80% of people suffer from back pain, due to an aging and a poor posture, at least once in their life time, and 7~10% of them have chronic spine illness. Researchers over the years have studied on various spinal traction devices that utilize the force of traction, and have also reported clinical test results. However, most existing devices are too complicated and too expensive. In order to solve these problems, we have developed a new device in which the frame moves up and down and at the same time tilting angle of the frame is adjusted. We have analyzed the forces applied on the body as a function of tilting angle. And the result shows that the new device has achieved the force of traction, which is known to be effective for spinal rehabilitation.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.317-320
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed: to confirm the balance ability of patients with spinal cord injury in the sitting state through a functional reach test using an elastic aid; and to propose a balance improvement plan. Methods: The study evaluated seven patients with spinal cord injury who could maintain a sitting posture through minimum assistance. A functional reach test was performed before and after wearing an elastic aid while sitting on a chair, and the effects before and after use of the elastic aid were compared and analyzed through a motion analyzer. Results: In the functional reach test, the forward movement distance of the hand was 97.45 mm before wearing the elastic aid, but significantly increased to 131 mm after wearing the aid (p<0.05). Corresponding forward movement distances for the shoulder were 81.26 mm and 113 mm (p<0.05 for the increase). There was no statistically significant change in lateral functional arm extension. Conclusion: It was confirmed, through a functional reach test, that trunk stability in patients with spinal cord injury increased with use of an elastic aid. In future, more efficient rehabilitation treatment programs will be possible if trunk stability in patients with spinal cord injury is improved by using elastic aids, and if various exercise treatments are also included in the rehabilitation programs.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.210-217
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• 2006

Many types of interspinous distraction devices (IDDs) have been recently developed as an alternative surgical treatment to laminectomy and fusion with pedicle screws for the treatment of the lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). They are intended to keep the lumbar spine in a slightly flexed posture to relieve pain caused by narrowing of the spinal canal and vertebral foramen. However, their biomechanical efficacies are not well known. In this study, we evaluated the kinematic behaviors and changes in intradiscal pressure (IDP) of the porcine lumbar spine implanted with IDD. For kinematics analysis, five porcine lumbar spines (L2-L6) were used and the IDD was inserted at L4-L5. Three markers (${\phi}{\le}0.8mm$) were attached on each vertebra to define a rigid body motion for stereophotogrammetric assessment of the spinal motion in 3-D. A moment of 7.5Nm in flexion-extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation were imparted with a compressive force of 700N. Then, IDD was implanted at L3-L4. IDPs were measured using pressure transducer under compression (700N) and additional extension moment (700N+7.5Nm). In kinematic behaviors, insertion of IDD resulted in statistically significant decrease 42.8% at the implanted level in extension. There were considerable changes in ROM at the adjacent levels, but statistically insignificant. In other motions, there were no significant changes in ROM as well regardless of levels. IDPs at the surgical level (L3-L4) under compression and extension moment decreased by 12.9% and 18.8% respectively after surgery (p<0.05). At the superiorly adjacent levels, IDPs increased by 19.4% and 12.9% under compression and extension, respectively (p<0.05). Corresponding changes at the inferiorly adjacent levels were 29.4% and 6.9%, but they were statistically insignificant (p>0.05). The magnitude of pressure changes due to IDD, both at the operated and adjacent levels, were far less than the previously reported values with conventional fusion techniques. Our experimental results demonstrated the IDDs can be very effective in limiting the extension motion that may cause narrowing of the spinal canal and vertebral foramens while maintaining kinematic behaviors and disc pressures at the adjacent levels.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.244-247
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• 2005

Although several artificial disc designs have been developed for the treatment of discogenic low back pain and used clinically, biomechanical change with its implantation seldom studied. To evaluate the effect of artificial disc implantation on the biomechanics of lumbar spinal unit, nonlinear three-dimensional finite element model of L1-L5, S1 was developed and strain and stress of vertebral body and surrounding spinal ligaments were predicted. Intact osteoligamentous L1-L5, S1 model was created with 1-mm CT scan of a volunteer and known material property of each element were applied. This model also includes the effect of local muscles which was modeled with pre-strained spring elements. The intact model was validated with reported biomechanical data. Two models implanted with artificial discs, SB Charite or Prodisc, at L4/5 via anterior approach were also developed. The implanted model predictions were compared with that of intact model. Angular motion of vertebral body, force on spinal ligaments, facet joint contact force with $2\sim12$ Nm flexion-extension moment.

• Korean Security Journal
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• no.25
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• pp.89-107
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of using cervical spinal stabilization exercise for the improvement of pain intensity, cervical range of motion, neck disability index, reposition sense, muscle tenderness with chronic neck pain in private security. For 21 patients diagnosed with chronic cervical pain and divided into cervical spinal stabilization exercise group and postural correction exercise group. Each exercise was conducted for 8 weeks. Pain and neck disability index were measured before and after exercise using the visual analogue scale(VAS) and the neck disability index(NDI). Range of motion were measured electronic goniometer, muscle tenderness of upper trapezius ad sternocleidomatoid were measured algometer, reposition sense were measured reposition panel before and after exercise. After 8 weeks of exercise, the cervical stabilization exercise group pain and neck disability were significantly decreased(p<0.05). Also there was significant difference in both group(p<0.05). In addition, range of motion, muscle tenderness reduce rate, reposition sense were significantly increase as compared to the pre-post exercise in cervical stabilization exercise group(p<0.05). But there was no significantly difference in postural correction group before and after exercise(p>0.05). And there was significantly increase more cervical stabilization exercise group than postural correction exercise group in range of motion, muscle tenderness reduce, reposition sense. In summary, cervical spinal stabilization exercise is more effective in improving cervical range of motion, muscle pain, reposition sense in private security on chronic cervical pain patients, in reducing patients' pain and disability. It is an effective treatment to aid rehabilitation in these cases.

• ETRI Journal
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.1029-1037
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• 2013

This paper introduces a novel and fast synthesizing method for 3D motions of quadrupedal animals that uses only a small set of motion capture data. Unlike human motions, animal motions are relatively difficult to capture. Also, it is a challenge to synthesize continuously changing animal motions in real time because animals have various gait types according to their speed. The algorithm proposed herein, however, is able to synthesize continuously varying motions with proper limb configuration by using only one single cyclic animal motion per gait type based on the biologically driven Froude number. During the synthesis process, each gait type is automatically determined by its speed parameter, and the transition motions, which have not been entered as input, are synthesized accordingly by the optimized asynchronous motion blending technique. At the start time, given the user's control input, the motion path and spinal joints for turning are adjusted first and then the motion is stitched at any speed with proper transition motions to synthesize a long stream of motions.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.20 no.10
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• pp.226-232
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• 2003

Difficulties in the finite element modeling of human spine are evaded by using a stiffness matrix element whose properties can be characterized from experimentally measured stiffness of functional spinal units. Relative easiness is in that inter-vertebral discs, ligaments, and soft tissues connecting vertebrae do not need to be modeled as they are. The remarkable coupling effect between distinct degrees of freedom induced by the geometric complexity can be accommodated without much effort. An idealized block model with simple geometry for vertebra is employed to assess the feasibility of this method. Analyses are performed in both levels of motion segment and spinal column, and the result is compared with that from detail model. As far as the global behavior of spine is concerned, the simplification is found not to aggravate inaccuracy only if sufficient experimental data is provided and interpreted properly.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.91-102
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• 2015

Two patients, diagnosed as cervical spinal cord injury, were hospitalized and treated by Korean medical interventions with Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES). The range of motion of the shoulder joint, manual muscle test were adopted to measure the resulting motor recovery after treatment. And the Korean version of Barthel index (K-MBI) was adopted as a method of measuring the improvement of quality of life after treatment. The range of motions and muscle strengths of the shoulder joints were improved. The activities of daily living were slightly improved in case 2, but showed no improvement in case 1. FES was effective for upper extremities rehabilitation of spinal cord injured patients. Further studies are needed to set up an Korean medical protocol for spinal cord injury rehabilitation.

• Journal of Korean Medical Ki-Gong Academy
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.99-115
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• 2019

Introduction : In patient with ankylosing spondylitis, when bone formation progresses, spinal fusion occurs and joint motion is severely limited. We performed Medical Gi-gong and Korean medical therapies in patient with advanced ankylosing spondylitis with spinal fusion. Case : 46-year-old male with extensive spinal fusion at the cervical and lumbar spine complains of back pain, hip pain, joint stiffness, eye pain, and digestive problems. HLA-B27 (+), mSASSS is 70. Medical Gi-gong was done 311 days for 340 days. Acupuncture, cupping, and manual treatment were performed once every 5.9 days for one year. BASDAI improved from 5.3 to 4.3, BASFI from 4.3 to 3.7, and BASMI from 6.8 to 5.8. mSASSS did not change. Conclusions : Patients with advanced ankylosing spondylitis were treated with Medical Gigong and Korean medical therapies to achieve a slight improvement.