• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.85-94
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• 2015

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence on the ground reaction force parameters according to wearing positions of backpack for during stair ascending and descending. Methods : Participants selected as subject were consisted of young female(n=10) and performed stairs walks(ascending and descending) with 2 types of wearing position(front of trunk[FT], rear of trunk[RT]). Passive(Fz 1) and active(Fz 2) forces of the vertical GRF were determined from time function and frequency domain. Also shear forces(Fx, Fy 1, Fy 2), dynamic postural stability index(MLSI, APSI, VSI, DPSI), loading rate and center of pressure (${\Delta}COPx$, ${\Delta}COPy$, COP area) were calculated from time function and frequency domain. Results : Fx, Fy 1, Fy 2, and Fz 1 in GRF didn't show significant differences statistically according to the wearing positions of backpack(p>.05), but stair descending showed higher forces than that of stair ascending. Particularly, Fz 2 of stair ascending showed higher forces than that of stair descending(p<.001), RT types showed higher than that of FT types(p<.05). MLSI, APSI, VSI, and DPSI of stair descending showed the increased stability index than that of stair ascending(p<.05), MLSI of RT types showed the decreased stability index than that of FT types(p<.05). Loading rate didn't show significant differences statistically according to the wearing positions of backpack(p>.05), but stair descending showed higher loading rate than that of stair ascending(p<.001). Also, ${\Delta}COPx$ in stair descending showed the increased movement than that of stair ascending(p<.05). Conclusions : A backpack of 10 kg(10 kg(ratio of body weights $17.61{\pm}1.17%$) showed significantly change GRF parameters according to wearing positions during stair ascending and descending. If possible, we suggest that the dynamic stability, in case of stairs walking with a smaller weights can be further improved.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.181-187
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• 2017

Objective: The aim of the study was to compare & analyze on the variations of ground reaction force during ascending and descending of bus stair. Method: Simulated wooden stair of bus (raiser: 37.66 cm, width: 109 cm, tread: 29 cm) and GRF system (AMTI-OR-7/ AMTI., USA) was set up within experimental room. Adult female (n=8) performed ascending & descending of simulated bus stair, and variables analyzed consisted of TT (transfer-time), PVF (peak vertical force), LR (loading rate), DR (decay rate), CV (coefficient of variation) and AI (asymmetry index). Sample data from GRF cut off at 1,000 Hz. Results: TT showed shortest variation at phase 1 during descending, but longest variation at phase 1 during ascending of stair. PVF19 (Fz2, 100%) showed large pattern during descending than that of ascending, but rather showed small pattern during ascending of stair in case of PVF2 (Fz4). LR showed larger pattern during descending than that of ascending, but rather during ascending of stair in case of DR. Variation of CV (%) did not show difference between LR and DR, but showed higher possible occurrence of variation during descending of stair. Also AI (%) showed higher index during ascending than that of descending of stair. Conclusion: Because introduction of lowered bus stair has various realistic problems, if lined up at designated bus stopage exactly, rather can solve problems of inconvenience, reduce impulsive force and secure a stability of COG during ascending & descending of stair.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.24-31
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• 2009

This study aimed to investigate the effect of differing heel heights on the electromyographic (EMG) activity in vastus medialis (VM) and vastus lateralis (VL) during stair ascending and descending activities. A total of 26 healthy women volunteered to perform stair-ascending and stair-descending tasks with 3 heel heights: barefoot, 3 cm, and 7 cm. The EMG activities of the VM and VL were recorded during the tasks. During the stair ascending and descending tasks, the EMG activities of both VM and VL significantly changed with differing the heel heights (p<.05). Moreover, the EMG activities of VM and VL during the stair ascending task were significantly higher than the corresponding values during the stair-descending task (p<.05). However, there were no significant differences between the VM:VL EMG ratios for the 3 heel heights (p>.05). The VM:VL EMG ratios between the 2 tasks differed significantly in the 7 cm high heel condition (p<.05). Despite an increase in the EMG activities in both VM and VL during stair ascending and descending tasks, there was no change in the relative EMG intensities of VM and VL, which was measured by calculating the VM:VL ratio this result indicates that no VM:VL imbalances were elicited. The relative EMG intensities of VM and VL during stair descent were lower than the corresponding values during the ascent, suggesting that VM and VL may show an imbalance in the eccentric activation during the weight-acceptance phase. This study provides useful information that will facilitate future research on how heel height affects muscle activity around the knee joint.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2012.10a
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• pp.877-878
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• 2012

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.169-178
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• 2008

The goals of this study were to provide data of 3 dimensional ground reaction force(GRF) parameters during stair ascent and descent on three different stair runs and to investigate variability and asymmetry index of them. 10 healthy adults participated in this study and performed 7 different types of gait with 10 trials each. After data analysis, following results were found. Firstly, stair run did not affect on the pattern of GRF parameters, coefficient of variation and asymmetry index. Secondly, a significant different GRF pattern was found between level walking and stair walking. Especially, ascending stair walking has only large Fz1 and small Fz3 while level walking and descending stair walking have a "M" shape connected by Fz1, Fz2 and Fz3. Thirdly, only vertical GRF parameters of stair walking revealed acceptable coefficient of variation and asymmetry index.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.161-169
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to investigate kinetic variables of the lower extremity during walking on three different stair widths in healthy adults. Ten healthy college-aged adults($23.5{\pm}3.5$) recruited for this study. Each stairs with the same height and length(l8cm and 90cm) under the Korean Constructional Law but three different widths(26cm, 31cm and 36cm) were conducted for this study. One force plate(9286AA, Kistler Co.) was put on third stairs. One-way ANOVA was performed to find the stair width effects during stair walking and the following findings ware obtained. There was significantly decreased in ankle resultant joint moment at Pull-Up phase(p<.05) and, significantly increased in knee extension moment during mid-stance phase as stair width increase(p<.05), but there was no significance in ankle resultant joint moment was found at Forward Continuance Phase in Ascending Stair Walking and There was significantly increased in ankle resultant joint moment as stair width increase during mid-stance phase(p<.05) and no significance in knee and hip resultant moments among the stair width in descending stair walking.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.323-333
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• 2015

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes of gait patterns and muscle activations with increased loads during stair walking. Also, it can be used as descriptive data about continuous stair walking in a real life setting. Method : Twelve sedentary young male adults(Age: $27.0{\pm}1.8yrs$, Weight: $65.8{\pm}9.9kg$) without any lower extremity injuries participated in this study. Participants performed stair walking up 7 floors and their ascending and descending motion on each floor was analyzed. A wireless electromyography(EMG) were attached on the Rectus Femoris(RF), Biceps Femoris(BF), Gastrocnemius(GN), Tibialis Anterior(TA) muscle to calculate integrated EMG(iEMG), median frequency(MDF) and co-contraction index(CI). Chest and left heel accelerometer signal were recorded by wireless accelerometer and those were used to calculate approximate entropy(ApEn) for analyzing gait pattern. All analyses were performed with SPSS 21.0 and for repeated measured ANOVA and Post-hoc was LSD. Results : During ascending stairs, there were a statistically significant difference in Walking time between 1-2nd and other floors(p=.000), GN iEMG between 2-3th and 6-7th(p=.043) floor, TA MDF between 1-2nd and 5-6th(p=.030), 6-7th(p=.015) floor and TA/GN CI between 2-3th and 6-7th(p=.038) floor and ApEn between 1-2nd and 6-7th(x: p=.003, y: p=.005, z: p=.006) floor. During descending stairs, there were a statistically significant difference in TA iEMG between the 6-5th and 3-2nd(p=.026) floor, and for the ApEn between the 1-2nd and 6-7th(x: p=.037, y: p=.000, z: p=.000) floor. Conclusion : Subjects showed more regular pattern and muscle activation response caused by regularity during ascending stairs. Regularity during the first part of stair-descending could be a sign of adaptation; however, complexity during the second part could be a strategy to decrease the impact.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.181-189
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• 2015

Powered prosthesis is used to assist walking of people with an amputated lower limb and/or weak leg strength. The accurate gait phase classification is indispensable in smooth movement control of the powered prosthesis. In previous gait phase classification using physical sensors, there is limitation that powered prosthesis should be simulated as same as the speed of training process. Therefore, we propose EMG signal based gait phase recognition method to classify stairs ascending and stairs descending into four steps without using physical sensors, respectively. RMS, VAR, MAV, SSC, ZC, WAMP features are extracted from EMG signal data and LDA(Linear Discriminant Analysis) classifier is used. In the training process, the AHRS sensor produces various ranges of walking steps according to the change of knee angles. The experimental results show that the average accuracies of the proposed method are about 85.6% in stairs ascending and 69.5% in stairs descending whereas those of preliminary studies are about 58.5% in stairs ascending and 35.3% in stairs descending. In addition, we can analyze the average recognition ratio of each gait step with respect to the individual muscle.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.241-248
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• 2015

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the theta on the components of ground reaction force according to the ground conditions during gait. Method : Six healthy women(mean age: 22 yrs, mean height: $166.14{\pm}2.51cm$, mean body weights: $56.61{\pm}4.58kg$) participated in this study. The medial-lateral GRF(Fx 1), anterior-posterior GRF(Fy 1, Fy 2), vertical GRF(Fz 1, Fz 2, Fz 3), and impact loading rate were determined from time function and frequency domain. Also, GRF theta were time function and forces. Results : Fx 1, Fy 1 and Fy 2 of stair descending showed significant statistically higher forces than that of level walking, and ascending. Fz 1 of stairs descending showed significant statistically higher forces than that of level walking and stairs ascending(theta $88.62^{\circ}$). Also, Fz 2 of level walking showed significant statistically higher forces than that of stairs ascending and descending(theta $65.78^{\circ}$). Fz 3 of stairs ascending showed significant statistically higher forces than that of level walking and stairs descending($65.26^{\circ}$). Impact loading rate of stairs descending showed significant statistically higher forces than that of level and ascending walking. The GRF showed similar correlation with GRF theta(r=.603) according to the ground conditions during gait. Conclusion : These results suggest that the GRF theta can be used in conjunction with a gait characteristics, prediction of loading rate and dynamic stability.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.16-21
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• 2021

Objective: To control the rate at which body weight drops, forefoot initiates floor contact with the limb relatively extended at each joint. However, when the knee joints could not extend enough with going down the stairs, the forefoot cannot be contact initially. The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences between forefoot and whole foot in initial contract on soleus and tibialis anterior for health young adults when descending stairs. Design: A cross-sectional observational study design. Methods: Fifteen healthy young adults participated in this study. To compare between forefoot and whole foot in initial contact when going down the stairs, this study measured muscle activation on soleus and tibialis anterior. This study used the paired t-test to analyze the collected data and compare the supporting conditions. Results: After analyzing, the muscle activation of soleus was not statistically significant difference as 25.16% at forefoot initial contact and 24.37% at whole foot initial contact when descending stairs (p>0.05). However, the muscle activation of tibialis anterior muscle was significantly difference was 49.19% at forefoot contact and 71.55% at whole foot contact. Conclusions: The results of this study was that the muscle activation of the tibialis anterior was a higher at whole foot contact than that at fore foot contact when descending stairs. This study suggests that the landing strategy of the initial contact is a beneficial effect at the forefoot contact to maintain the postural balance and the muscle performance effectively when descending stairs in individuals with healthy young adults.