• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.647-656
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of vibratory stimulus as somatosensory inputs on the postural control in human standing. To study these effects, the center of pressure(COP) was observed while subjects were standing on a stable and an unstable support with co-stimulated mechanical vibrations to flexor ankle muscles(tibialis anterior tendon, achilles tendon) and two plantar zones on both foot. The COP sway measurement was repeated twice in four conditions: (1) with visual cue and vibration, (2) without visual cue and vibration, (3) with visual cue and without vibration, (4) without visual cue and with vibration. The calculated parameters were the COP sway area and the distance, the median frequency and the spectral energy of COP sway in three intervals $0.1{\sim}0.3,\;0.3{\sim}1,\;1{\sim}3Hz$. The results showed that vibratory stimulus affect postural stability. The reduction rate of the COP sway with vibratory stimulus were higher on the unstable support because the effect of postural stability increases when afferent nervous flow is more activated by vibration on unstable support. If unclear visual or vibratory information is received, one type of information is compared with the other type of sensory information. Then the input balance between visual and vibratory information is corrected to maintain postural stability. These findings are important for the rehabilitation system of postural balance control and the use of vibratory information.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to comparison of trunk muscle activity during static standing position and standing position on therapeutic climbing wall of adult. Methods: Study subject is arbitrarily classified into 10 of experimental group and 10 control group among 20 of adult. Trunk activity measured as rectus abdominalis, external oblique, internal oblique, erector spinae. Control group maintains that center of gravity of trunk pass the front of shoulder, pelvis, knee and ankle on stable surface with putting legs apart more than shoulder width. Experimental group had static exercise on 4 by 3 meter, 90 degree of Therapeutic climbing wall. Starting position is that putting arms and legs apart more than shoulder width. In order to compare the effect of it between the groups, independent t-test was used. Results: According to the test result, significant difference between among rectus abdominalis, erector spinae the experimental groups. And external oblique, internal oblique muscle atvity is no significant difference experimental groups between among the control groups was observed. Conclusion: Trunk muscle activation is activated to standing position on the Therapeutic Climbing Wall more than static standing position.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.167-179
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• 2018

The prevalence of patients with adult spinal deformity (ASD) has been reported as high as 68%. ASD often leads to significant pain and disability. Recent emphasis has been placed on sagittal plane balance and restoring normal sagittal alignment with regards to the three dimensional deformity of ASD. Optimal sagittal alignment has been known to increase spinal biomechanical efficiency, reduce energy expenditure by maintaining a stable posture with improved load absorption, influence better bony union, and help to decelerate adjacent segment deterioration. Increasingly positive sagittal imbalance has been shown to correlate with poor functional outcome and poor self-image along with poor psychological function. Compensatory mechanisms attempt to maintain sagittal balance through pelvic rotation, alterations in lumbar lordosis as well as knee and ankle flexion at the cost of increased energy expenditure. Restoring normal spinopelvic alignment is paramount to the treatment of complex spinal deformity with sagittal imbalance. Posterior osteotomies including posterior column osteotomies, pedicle subtraction osteotomies, and posterior vertebral column resection, as well anterior column support are well known to improve sagittal alignment. Understanding of whole spinal alignment and dynamics of spinopelvic alignment is essential to restore sagittal balance while minimizing the risk of developing sagittal decompensation after surgical intervention.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.613-619
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• 2013

This study compares the gait characteristics of elderly women during barefoot walking and walking with sneakers. We measured foot angles, max foot pressure, peak plantar pressure of each plantar region, velocity of Center of Pressure(COP), and axis shifting of COP with an RS-scan system. Elderly women's foot angles were narrower when walking with sneakers than when barefoot walking. We found that the subtalar joint angle (representing ankle joint flexibility) affected walking stability. Regarding the peak plantar pressure of each foot region, pressures were high in the medial regions and the pressures greatly varied depending on the region measured during barefoot walking. The COP moved significantly faster when walking with sneakers than barefoot walking and suggests that elderly women walked faster in sneakers. Axis shifting of the COP decreased during walking with sneakers and indicated that gait balance improved when walking with sneakers. The findings of the present study can be utilized as foundational data for elderly women's gait characteristics as well as data for the production of functional footwear. Future research that focuses on various types of shoes, age groups, and gender are recommended for the development of more functional footwear for stable gaits.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.739-747
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• 1995

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the Limits of stability(LOS) in hemiplegic patients who can walking independently. The LOS was measured at stable surface, unstable surface with eye open and eye closed. In this study, 18 out-patients were evaluated who were treated at Yonsei University Medical Center Rehabilitation Hospital. In order to determine the statistical significance of results, T-test, paired t-test, and Kruskal-Wallis 1-way ANOVA were applied at 0.05 level of significance. The results were as follows: 1. The mean of lateral limits of stability was 9.89 degree. 2. The mean of anteroposterior limits of stability was 6.43 degree. 3. There was a significant difference of limits of stability between sound side and affected side(p<0.05). 4. The limits of stability was significantly decreased with eye closed(p<0.05) 5. The limits of stability was significantly decreased at unstable surface(p<0.05). 6. The limits of stability was a significant difference as spasticity degree of ankle plantar flexors(p<0.05). These results showed that the limits of stability in hemiplegic patients was more decreased than that of normal adult. In order to improve the balance in hemiplegic patients, we need to increase the limits of stability.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.61-65
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation and ratio between the calcaneal length and width for predicting the width of calcaneus. Materials and Methods: A total of 190 feet (190 patients) were included based on computed tomography scans. The length of calcaneus (CL) was measured on the line connecting the center of a circle tangent to the cortical margin in the anterior and posterior parts of the calcaneus in a sagittal plane (W1, W2). The width of the calcaneus was defined as the horizontal line of each part (W1, W2, W3) on the same axial plane. The relationship between the measurement was determined through a correlation analysis. The reliability was assessed based on intraclass correlation coefficients. Results: The CL and widths of calcaneus (W1, W2, W3) had a good positive correlation (r=0.848 [W1/CL], r=0.738 [W2/CL], r=0.769 [W3/CL]; p<0.001). The mean CL and widths ratios were 0.33 (W1/CL), 0.37 (W2/CL), and 0.37 (W3/CL). Using these ratios to estimate the widths by multiplying each ratio by the measured calcaneal length, we found a difference between the estimated calcaneal widths and the actual measured calcaneal widths values was 0.25 mm, 0.43 mm, and 0.16 mm. All measurements showed good-to-excellent inter- and intraobserver reliability. Conclusion: This study analyzed the correlation and ratio between the length and width of the calcaneus. The results will help orthopedic surgeons fixate screws in a stable manner to prevent iatrogenic injuries to the medial neurovascular structures of the calcaneus.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.1250-1258
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• 1997

This paper reports on the development of a new foot for a quadrupedal jointed-leg type walking robot. The foot has 2 toes, one at the front and the other at the rear side, for stable landing on uneven ground by point contact. The toes can move up and down independantly, guided by double-wishbone shaped parallel links which enable the lower leg to rotate with respect to a remote center on the ground surface. The motion of each toe is damped by a hydropneumatic shock absorber integrated in the foot in order to absorb the dynamic landing shock. Furthermore, the new foot can reduce the maximum hip joint drive torque by shortening the moment arm length between the hip joint and the landing force vector on the ground. Intensive experiments were carried out in this study by using a one-leg walking model to investigate the soft landing performance of the foot which could be hardly offered by conventional robot feet such as a flat plate with a gimbal type ankle joint. And it was confirmed that the hip joint torque of the leg walking on the flat surface could be reduced remarkably by using the new foot.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.27-40
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to provide basic data for improving athletic performances by analyzing the kinematic variables of the Double Backward Somersault on the Parallel Bars through the 3D motion analysis. The subjects in this study were 5 male gymnasts who were ranked as national athletes. The results are as follows. 1. A total time(Mean Time) of performance showed $2.72{\pm}0.82\;sec$. and flight time to landing after releasing was 0.87sec.(mean). In order to perform better stable flying movement, the flight time should be increased. 2. In the change of velocity of the center of mass, when the increasing ascension velocity of the upper point was high, the position in the top point was high on releasing. 3. In the position variable of the center of mass, the mean of upper-bottom position in horizontal posture was $242.1{\pm}6.5cm$, $232.8{\pm}6.4cm$ in releasing, and $265.0{\pm}5.6cm$ in the highest point. This result is explained that the position of center of mass can be raised by using elastic power when wrist raised the bar in the releasing movement. 4. The angle of shoulder joint was $271.1{\pm}14.0$. Such a big angle influences a negative effect on the releasing velocity, because trunk is not a position in the enough vertical direction. 5. The ankle of hip joint in hand-standing was $191.1{\pm}5.9$, $118.8{\pm}5.3$ in releasing, and $122.3{\pm}5.3$ in taking on. Therefore, the result suggests that trunk should be straightly raised in taking on.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.212-218
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• 2010

Korean red ginseng (KRG) has been shown to enhance endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in experimental animals; however, little is known about its pharmacological effects on vascular stiffness in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial was carried out to determine whether KRG has beneficial effects on arterial stiffness, cardiovascular risk factors such as plasma lipid profiles and blood pressure (BP), and Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) activity. Twenty patients (mean age, 62.5 years) with stable angina pectoris were given KRG (2.7 g/day) and a placebo alternatively for 10 weeks. Blood biochemical analysis and pulse wave velocity (PWV) recording were performed on day 0 and after the completion of each treatment. ROCK activity was assessed based on the level of phospho-$Thr^{853}$ in the myosin-binding subunit of myosin light chain phosphatase, determined by Western blot analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. KRG significantly decreased the systolic BP, brachial ankle PWV, and heart femoral PWV in the patients (all p<0.05), but did not significantly alter the serum lipid profiles, including triglycerides and total, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. The ROCK activity tended to decrease (p=0.068) following KRG treatment. The placebo did not significantly alter any of the variables. In conclusion, KRG decreased systolic BP and arterial stiffness, probably via the inhibition of ROCK activity, in patients with CAD, but had a neutral effect on serum lipid profiles. Our data suggest that KRG has a therapeutic effect on CAD.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.115-119
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• 2006

To investigate the effects of independent suspension technology(IST) of hiking boot on the stability and load of foot, eight participants performed medial and lateral drop landing from 33.4cm height and 85cm distance to uneven surface while wearing normal & IST hiking boots. For the stability of foot during the drop landing, the balance angle & suspension angle and rearfoot angle was analyzed using high-speed video analysis. Also kinetic analysis using the force plate and insole pressure measurement was conducted to analyze vertical & breaking ground reaction force and pressure distribution. Not only the balance angle & suspension angle but also rearfoot angle was improved with IST boots for lateral drop landing. These results indicate the IST boots may have the suspension function which keeps the foot to be stable during landing. However the IST boots did not show any effect for medial landing. This might be related to the hardness of medial part of outsole. Therefore the softer outsole of medial part could be recommended. Furthermore the impact force & breaking force and insole pressure were reduced with IST boot. These results means that IST boot has not only cushioning effect but also good grip effect. Therefore the hiking boots applied the independent suspension function may help to reduce fatigue and prevent injury such as ankle sprain in hiking on uneven surface.