• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.95-108
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• 2005

Objective : In the present study, the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) applied to several acupoints and non-acupoint in CFA-induced knee arthritis was examined. Methods : A common source of persistent pain in humans is arthritis. Arthritis was induced by injection of CFA $125\;{\mu}l$ into knee joint cavity under enflurane anesthesia. The rat subsequently showed swelling of the ankle and a reduced stepping force of the affected limb for the next several days. The reduced stepping force of the limb was presumably due to a painful knee. EA was applied to either of $LR_2,\;LI_4$, or non-acupoint on the contralateral forelimb for 30 min under gaseous anesthesia. After the termination of EA, behavioral tests measuring stepping force were periodically conducted during the next 4 h. Results : EA applied to $LR_2$ point produced a significant improvement of stepping force of the affected foot lasting for at least 2 h. However, neigher $LI_4$ point nor non-point produced any significant increase of weight bearing force. The improvement of stepping pressure was interpreted as an analgesic effect. The analgesic effect was specific to the acupuncture point since the analgesic effect on CFA-induced knee arthritic pain model could not be mimicked by EA applied to a point, $LI_4$ or non-acupoint. In addition, both NO production and iNOS protein expression increased by arthritis were suppressed by EA applied to $LR_2$ point. Conclusion : These data suggest that EA produces a potent analgesic effect in the rat model of CFA-induced knee arthritis. This analgesic effect is produced by applying EA to an acupoint at opposite side from the painful area in a stimulus point-specific way.

• 한방안이비인후피부과학회지
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.138-151
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• 2003

Although the use of acupuncture for pain has increased in recent years, the mechanisms of acupuncture analgesia (AA) remains obscure. The lack of suitable experimental animal models for persistent pain, which show clear AA, has been the major stumbling block in the investigation of the physiological mechanisms of AA. In the present study, we test AA in two knee arthritis model induced by injection of CFA or carrageenan as a chronic pain model. After induction of arthritis, the rat subsequently showed a reduced stepping force of the affected limb for the next several days. Electroacupuncture (EA) was applied to an acupuncture point each on the contralateral forelimb for 30 minutes under enflurane anesthesia. After the termination of EA, behavioral tests measuring stepping force were periodically conducted during the next several hours. EA produced a significant improvement of stepping force of the foot lasting for at least 2 hours when applied to LR2 In CFA model, and applied to ST36 in carrageenan model, but both points did not produce any significant effects in each other model. These data suggest that EA produce analgesic effect in knee arthritic pain and the analgesic effect is specific to the acupuncture point.

• 한국한의학연구원논문집
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• 제12권3호통권18호
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• pp.49-58
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• 2006

Although the usage of acupuncture for pain has increased in recent years, the mechanisms of acupuncture analgesia (AA) remain unclear. The lack of suitable experimental animal models for persistent pain, which show clear AA, has been the major stumbling block in the investigation of the physiological mechanisms of AA. In the present study, we test AA in two knee arthritis models induced by injection of CFA or carrageenan as persistent pain models. After induction of arthritis, the rat subsequently showed a reduced stepping force of the affected limb for the next several days. Electroacupuncture (EA) was applied to an acupuncture point each on the contralateral forelimb for 30 minutes under gaseous anesthesia. After the termination of EA, behavioral tests measuring stepping force were periodically conducted during the next several hours. EA produced a significant improvement of stepping force of the foot lasting for at least 2 hours when applied to LR2 in CFA model, and applied to ST36 in carrageenan model, but both points did not produce any significant effects in each other model. Further experiments showed that intraperitoneal pretreatment of naltrexone, a non-selective opioid antagonist, did not reduced the EA-induced improvement of stepping force in both of two models. These data suggest that EA produce analgesic effect in knee arthritic pain and the analgesic effect is specific to the acupuncture point depending on painful conditions.

• 한국의류산업학회지
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• 제19권5호
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• pp.602-607
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• 2017

This study was undertaken to compare the gait characteristics between the Korean elderly and young adults, we measured the plantar pressure and contact time of gait with barefoot along a walkway at their preferred walking speed. The results indicate that older people exhibited significantly less plantar pressure than young adult in all 3 regions (FF, MF and RF) and significantly less time % on the initial contact phase (ICP), forefoot push-off phase (FFPOP) and significantly more % forefoot contact phase (FFCP) and foot flat phase (FFP). The converted plantar pressure value to percentage, it showed more pressure in forefoot (FF) in the elderly person than the young adults. It could be explained that the forward shifting in plantar pressure are associated with a more flexed posture of elderly such as actual stabilizing fearrelated adaptations. Longer total foot contact time in the elderly means that the old people show the decreased gait velocity. In other words, lower velocity was found to be associated with pre-existing fear of falling. With longer contact time and slower stepping movement, the elderly become more unstable. With these findings, it could be confirmed that there were significant changes in foot characteristics which contribute to alter the plantar pressure and contact time during gait with advancing age. Further research is required to establish possible links to risk of falling and development of footwear in the elderly adults.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제23권6호
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• pp.15-22
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• 2011

Purpose: This research investigated falls due to obstacles that occur among elderly people by assessing changes in the values of plantar foot force, peak force, and plantar foot pressure in elderly subjects while they were stepping over obstacles of different heights. Methods: The subjects were 20 elderly people aged 70-80 years; Pressure was measured on flat ground(0 cm), and after installing obstacles of 8 cm and 12 cm using the F-scan system, which is a resistance-type pressure sensor. A one-way analysis of variance was performed to compare pressure on each part of the foot according to various heights after collecting data using the Tekscan program. The least significant difference test was used for the post-hoc analysis, A p-value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: The force value for the toe area (parts 1, and 2) and contact pressure increased significantly with the 12 cm obstacle (p<0.05). The peak force value and the peak contact pressure for part 1 increased significantly with the 12 cm obstacle (p<0.05). Conclusion: Larger changes appeared in the functions and structure of the foot while subjects walked over obstacles of different heights compared to flatland walking. This result suggests that people have safety strategies to prevent falls, and that there is a need for a more realistic approach through practice to overcome obstacles of various heights to prevent falls.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.112-117
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a task-specific obstacle crossing rehabilitation program on functional gait ability in patients with cerebellar ataxia. Overall, we sought to provide ataxia-specific locomotor rehabilitation guidelines for use in clinical practice based on quantitative evidence using relevant analysis of gait kinematics including valid clinical tests. Methods: Patients with cerebellar disease (n=13) participated in obstacle crossing training focusing on maintenance of dynamic balance and posture, stable transferring of body weight, and production of coordinated limb movements for 8 weeks, 2 times per week, 90 minutes per session. Throughout the training of body weight transfer, the instructions emphasized conscious perception and control of the center of body stability, trunk and limb alignment, and stepping kinematics during the practice of each walking phase. Results: According to the results, compared with pre-training data, foot clearance, pre-&post-obstacle distance, delay time, and total obstacle crossing time were increased after intervention. In addition, body COM measures indicated that body sway and movement variability, therefore posture stability during obstacle crossing, showed improvement after training. Based on these results, body sway was reduced and stepping pattern became more consistent during obstacle crossing gait after participation in patients with cerebellar ataxia. Conclusion: Findings of this study suggest that task-relevant obstacle crossing training may have a beneficial effect on recovery of functional gait ability in patients with cerebellar disease.

• International journal of advanced smart convergence
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.37-47
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• 2024

This study presents the results of designing a system that determines the location of a person in an indoor environment based on a single IMU sensor attached to the tip of a person's shoe in an area where GPS signals are inaccessible. By adjusting for human footfall, it is possible to accurately determine human location and trajectory by correcting errors originating from the Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) combined with advanced machine learning algorithms. Although there are various techniques to identify stepping, our study successfully recognized stepping with 98.7% accuracy using an artificial intelligence model known as Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM). Drawing upon the enhancements in our methodology, this article demonstrates a novel technique for generating a 200-meter trajectory, achieving a level of precision marked by a 2.1% error margin. Indoor pedestrian navigation systems, relying on inertial measurement units attached to the feet, have shown encouraging outcomes.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.69-82
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• 2004

Objectives : In the present study, the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) applied to hand yang meridian on the ankle sprain model was examined. Methods & Results : A common source of persistent pain in humans is the lateral ankle sprain. To model this condition, the rat's right ankle was bent repeatedly, overextending lateral ligaments, for 4 min under halothane anesthesia. The rat subsequently showed swelling of the ankle and a reduced stepping force of the affected limb for the next several days. The reduced stepping force of the limb was presumably due to a painful ankle. EA was applied to the several acupuncture point on the contralateral forelimb for 30 min under gaseous anesthesia. After the termination of EA, behavioral tests measuring stepping force were periodically conducted during the next 4 h. EA applied to SI-6 point produced a significant improvement of stepping force of the sprained foot lasting for at least 2 h. However, neigher LI-4 point nor TE-3 point produced any significant increase of weight bearing force. The improvement of stepping pressure was interpreted as an analgesic effect. The analgesic effect was specific to the acupuncture point since the analgesic effect on the ankle sprain pain model could not be mimicked by EA applied to a nearby point, LI-4 or TE-3. The analgesic effect of EA applied to SI-6 was more powerful when EA was applied by low-frequency and high-intensity stimulation. In addition, this effect need to be stimulated more than 15 min. Conclusions : These data suggest that EA produces a potent analgesic effect on the ankle sprain pain model in the rat. This analgesic effect is produced by applying EA to a Tae-Yang meridian at opposite side from the painful area in a stimulus point-specific way.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.7-21
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• 2005

Objectives : In the present study, the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) applied to SI6 and won-rak point on the ankle sprain model was examined. A common source of persistent pain in humans is the lateral ankle sprain. Methods : To model this condition, the rat's right ankle was bent repeatedly, overextending lateral ligaments, for 4 min under enflurane anesthesia. The rat subsequently showed swelling of the ankle and a reduced stepping force of the affected limb for the next several days. The reduced stepping force of the limb was presumably due to a painful ankle. EA was applied to the several acupuncture point on the contralateral forelimb for 30 min under gaseous anesthesia. After the termination of EA, behavioral tests measuring stepping force and Paw volume were Periodically conducted during the next 4 h and 18 h respectively. Results : EA applied to $SI_6$ with won-rak point produced more powerful improvement of stepping force of the sprained foot than to $SI_6$ alone lasting for at least 4 h. However, neigher $KI_4$ point nor $BL_{64}$ point produced any significant increase of weight bearing force. The improvement of stepping pressure was interpreted as an analgesic effect. The analgesic effect was specific to the acupuncture point since the analgesic effort on the ankle sprain pain model could not be mimicked by EA applied to $KI_4$ or $BL_{64}$. In addition, EA applied to $SI_6$ with won-rak combination point showed inhibitory effect on the paw edema induced by ankle sprain. Also, COX-2 protein expression increased by ankle sprain were suppressed by the EA stimulation. Conclusion : These data suggest that EA with won-rak combination point produces a more potent analgesic effect on the ankle sprain pain model in the rat and that EA with won-rak combination point induced anti-inflammatory effect through the suppression of COX-2 protein expression.

• 한국임상수의학회지
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• 제39권2호
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• pp.65-69
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• 2022

A 5 day-old Warmblood foal was presented with a quarter crack due to the dam accidentally stepping on his left hind foot. Physical examination revealed the vertical crack included the coronary band of the medial side of the left hind hoof (quarter crack) with the lower pastern avulsion wound. Different from adult horses, the foot of the 5 day-old foal lacked adequate hoof wall thickness for stainless steel wire insertion and hoof size for a reinforcing fabric to be applied. Therefore, the authors decided to stabilize the edges of the cracked wall only by the polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) composites without wiring and a reinforcing fabric application; and gluing a plastic shoe that was reshaped to protect the lower pastern and to spread pressure to other parts of the hoof when bearing weight. Disinfection and a supportive bandage were applied daily for 2 weeks. A month after the hoof crack accident, lameness had diminished. The quarter crack in this foal was treated successfully by the application of the composites three times with a reshaped gluing shoe, with approximately a month interval over the 4 months. After 4 months, it presented a successful functional recovery and needed no further treatment. When followed up 8 months after the accident, it revealed successful outcomes without hoof shape distortion and unbalanced hoof/limb growth.