• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.152-162
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• 2024

Objective: This study was conducted to analyze the effect of wearable Electromyography-controlled functional electrical stimulation (EMG-controlled FES) System on Gait Function and cardiopulmonary metabolic efficiency during walking in older adults. Design: Cross-section study Methods: Total 22 older adult participants suitable to selection criteria of this study participated in this study. The EMG-controlled FES System, which functions as a wearable physical activity assist FES system was used. All participations performed randomly assigned two conditions (Non-FES assist [NFA], FES assist [FA]) of walking. In all conditions, spatio-temporal parameters and kinematics and kinetics parameters during walking was collected via 3D motion capture system and 6 minutes walking test (6MWT) and metabolic cost during walking and stairs climbing was collected via a portable metabolic device (COSMED K5, COSMED Srl, Roma, Italy). Results: In Spatio-temporal parameters aspects, The EMG-controlled FES system significantly improved gait functions measurements of older adults with sarcopenia at walking in comparison to the NFA condition (P<0.05). Hip, knee and ankle joint range of motion increased at walking in FA condition compared to the NFA condition (P<0.05). In the FA condition, moment and ground reaction force was changed like normal gait during walking of older adults in comparison to the NFA condition (P<0.05). The EMG-controlled FES system significantly reduced net cardiopulmonary metabolic energy cost, net energy expenditure measurement at stairs climbing (P<0.05). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that EMG-controlled FES is a potentially useful gait-assist system for improving gait function by making joint range of motion and moment properly.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.spc1
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• pp.371-376
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• 2005

Relative contributions of lower extremity joints on the support moment were investigated in this study. Three-dimensional gait analyses were performed in normal walking and in unexpected step-down walking. For both gait studies, inverse dynamics were performed to obtain each joint moment of the lower extremity, which was applied to the forward dynamics simulation to determine the contributions on the support moment at different phases of walking. The forward dynamic simulation results showed that, in normal walking, the ankle plantar flexors contributed significantly during single-limb-support. However, the ankle plantar flexors, knee extensors and hip extensors worked together during double-limb-support. In unexpected step-down walking, the important contributors on the support of the body during single-limb-support were not only ankle plantar flexors but also knee extensors. This study, analyzing the relative contributions of the lower limb joint moments for the body support, would be helpful to understand different unexpected walking conditions and compensatory mechanisms for various pathological gaits.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.32-37
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• 2015

Objective: This study was conducted to test the effects of mobile texting and gaming on gait with obstructions under different illumination levels. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Twelve healthy adults aged 20 to 36 years (mean 23.5 years) were tested under six different conditions. All participants used touchscreen smartphones. Testing conditions included: 1) Walking with an obstruction under a bright illumination level; 2) walking with an obstruction with a low level of illumination; 3) walking with an obstruction while texting under a bright illumination level; 4) walking with an obstruction while texting with a low level of illumination; 5) walking with an obstruction while gaming under a bright illumination level; and 6) walking with an obstruction while gaming with a low level of illumination. All participants were asked to text the Korean national anthem by their own phone and play Temple Run 2 using an iPhone 5. Gait variances were measured over a distance of 3 m, and the mean value after three trials was used. A gait analyzer was used to measure the data. Results: Compared to normal gait with obstruction, gait speed, step length, stride length, step time, stride time, cadence while texting and gaming showed significant differences (p<0.05). Differences between the illumination levels included gait speed, step length, stride length, and step time (p<0.05) with no significant differences in stride time and cadence. Conclusions: Dual-tasking using a smartphone under low levels of illumination lowers the quality of gait with obstructions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 1996.04a
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• pp.151-155
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• 1996

In this paper, the continuous motion of a quadrupedal walking machine was studied. The motion planning which is able a walking machine body to precisely follow a three-dimensional curve was developed. A three-dimensional curve was designed based on Bezier curve and obstacle avoidance considerations. Due to the arbitrary motion direction during walking, special strategies of gaits were developed to ensure positive stability. The gait strategies were based on wave and wave-crab gait.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.39-52
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• 2016

Objective: This paper investigates gait changes according to different heel heights and speeds, and the interaction between the effects of the heel height and the speed during walking on stride parameters and joint angles. Furthermore, the relationship among heel height, speed and gait variables is investigated using linear regression. Background: Gait changes by heel height or speed have been studied respectively, but has not been reported whether there is an interaction effect between heel height and speed. It would be necessary to understand how gait changes when a person wears heels in different heights at various speeds, for example, high-heeled walking at fast speed, since it may cause unusual gait patterns and musculoskeletal disorders. Method: Ten females were asked to walk at five fixed cadences (94, 106, 118, 130 and 142 steps/min.) wearing three shoes with different heel heights (1, 5.4 and 9.8cm). Nineteen gait variables were analyzed for stride parameters and joint angles using two-way repeated measure analysis of variance and regression analysis. Results: Both heel height and speed affect movement of ankle, knee, spine and elbow joint, as well as stride length and Double/Single support time ratio. However, there is no significant interaction effect between heel height and speed. The regression result shows linear relationships of gait variables with heel height and speed. Conclusion: Heel height and speed independently affect stride parameters and joint angles without a significant interaction, so the gait variables are linearly amplified or diminished by the two factors. Application: Walking in high heels at fast speed should be careful for musculoskeletal disorders, since the amplified movement of knee and spine joint can lead to increased moment. Also, the result might give insight for animators or engineers to generate walking motion with high heels at various speeds.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.55-63
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• 2008

Background : The Purposes of this study were to understand difference between free walking and obstacle over walking through the naked eye and motion analysis device, and to review merits of obstacle walking training as item of functional assessment in clinical situations. Methods : All participants were male and performed 3 types of walking methods: free walking, obstacle over walking with low block(height=10cm, width=8cm), and obstacle over walking with high block(height=20cm, width=8cm). All walking were performed 3 trials respectively. Results : In the naked eye, initial contact with toes occurred more than heel strike in obstacle over walking, and the flexion angle of hip and knee were increased in obstacle over walking. On interpretations though motion analysis device, cadence, gait speed and weight accept were significant statistically(p<.05). Cadence and gait speed were decreased, and weight accept duration was increased in obstacle over walking. Rotation among three pelvic motions was significant statistically(p<.05), flexion among three hip motions was significant statistically(p<.05) and flexion among three ankle motions was significant statistically(p<.05). Rotation and flexion among three ankle motions was significant statistically(p<.05). Conclusion : Both the naked eye and interpretations of the device presented many difference between free walking and obstacle over walking. In overcrossing obstacles, many participants appeared walking strategy by perform initial contact with toes. Knee flexion was most significant statistically(p<.05) in obstacle over walking with 20cm block.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.687-693
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• 2011

Spring-mass models have been widely accepted to explain the basic dynamics of human gait. Researchers found that the leg stiffness increased with gait speed to increase energy efficiency. However, the difference of leg stiffness change with gait speed between the young and the elderly has not been verified yet. In this study, we calculated the lower limb stiffness of the elderly using walking model with an axial spring. Vertical stiffness was defined as the ratio of the vertical force change to the vertical displacement change. Seven young and eight elderly subjects participated to the test. The subjects walked on a 12 meter long, 1 meter wide walkway at four different gait speeds, ranging from their self-selected speed to maximum speed randomly. Kinetic and kinematic data were collected using three force plates and motion capture cameras, respectively. The vertical stiffness of the two groups increased as a function of walking speed. Maximum walking speed of the elderly was slower than that of the young, yet the walking speed correlated well with the optimal stiffness that maximizes propulsion energy in both groups. The results may imply that human may use apparent limb stiffness to optimize energy based on spring-like leg mechanics.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.17-27
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• 2007

It is essential for gait analysis to know the distance information. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of start and finish distance on the gait variable during walking. Six adolescent participated in this study. Start condition was given by six conditions.: walking forward from (1) one step, (2) three steps, (3) five steps, (4) ten steps, (5) one step after standing walk, and (6) three steps after standing walk, before contacting the force plate. Stop condition was given by four conditions. : stop after (1) one step, (2) two steps, (3) three steps, and (4) ten steps, passing force plate. Repeated measured one-way ANOVA was utilized for data analysis, and the significant level was set at .05. The largest change from the difference of gait velocity exists between the variables of ground reaction force. There were no significant differences in spatio-temporal and posture(angle) variables, as well as ground reaction force variables with walking over the three steps. There were significant differences in gait velocity, knee angle at heel contact, vertical impulse and ankle angle at toe off in short distance.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.41-50
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• 2017

Purpose: This study aimed to determine how inclined-treadmill walking training with rhythmic auditory stimulation affects balance and gait in stroke patients. Methods: Ten chronic stroke patients, admitted to B hospital in Gangwon-do between August and October 2015, were trained 5 times per week for 4 weeks; each session lasted 30 minutes. To assess balance and gait before and after the training, the timed up and go (TUG) test, Berg balance scale (BBS), six minute walking test (6MWT), and three-dimensional spatiotemporal gait ability were used to measure the relevant variables. The data were analyzed using the paired t-test, and the statistical significance level was 0.05. Results: There were significant differences in the TUG, BBS, 6MWT, gait speed, cadence, single limb support (SLS), and symmetric index (SI) before and after training (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results showed that the inclined-treadmill walking training with rhythmic auditory stimulation was effective at improving the balance and walking ability of stroke patients. Hearing training, using one of the basic procedures of proprioceptive neuromuscular stimulation, is considered to be an important aspect.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.756-768
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• 1997

In order to control a dynamic gait of quadrupedal walking robot, the equations of motion of the whole mechanism are required. In this research, the equations of motion are formulated analytically using Kane's dynamic approach. As a dynamic gait model, a trot gait has been adopted. The degree of freedom of whole mechanism could be reduced to 7 by idealizing the kinematic feature of the trot gait. Using the equations of motion formulated, the results of the redundant-joint torque analysis and the simulation of dynamic walking motion are presented.