• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.33 no.9
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• pp.761-768
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• 2016

Weight bearing is effective during rehabilitation of gait, in the elderly and disabled people. Various training devices using weight bearing function were developed along with treadmill walking; however, no device has been developed in conjunction to walking on the ground. Here, we designed a rail type frame of a gait rehabilitation system for body-weight support (BWS) function, and analyzed its mechanical safety in the static weight bearing condition of a vertical axis. Computational simulations were performed to analyze structure of the driving parts, which are connected with a rail and driving rollers and the lower plate of the BWS. Structural analyses showed the drivers and BWS were safe, when simulated at 135kg weight under static conditions. Thus, this rail type rehabilitation system can be used for gait training of the elderly and disabled.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 2021

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to find out if it helps to improve static balance ability and weight bearing rate for chronic stroke patients with poor balance in clinical intervention through a method of correcting movement errors while performing a task by vibrotactile bio-feedback providing pressure information. Methods : Fifteen chronic stroke patients (12 male and 3 female) were participated in this study. To examine the effects of vibrotactile bio-feedback and general standing without bio-feedback on static balance ability and weight distribution symmetric index in all subjects randomized with R Studio. The static balance ability and weight distribution symmetric index of the participants was evaluated using a force plate. A paired t-test was used for comparison of each conditions. Statistical significance was set at α=0.05. Results : The comparisons of static balance ability and weight distribution symmetric index in chronic stroke patients after two different condition are as follows. In the static balance ability and weight distribution symmetric index, the vibrotactile feedback providing pressure information showed a significant difference compared to none feedback (p<.001). Conclusion : The vibrotactile bio-feedback providing pressure information in real time can support an improve in static balance ability, uniform weight bearing rehabilitation in chronic stroke patients. In the future, it is hoped that a follow-up study that provides a better direction of intervention compared to various feedback interventions commonly used in clinical practice.

• Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.288-294
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• 2003

Increasing the volume of traffic on the roads causes social and economical problems such as increasing air-pollution and distribution cost. Prefabricated light weight bridge becomes a possible solution for these problems in the urban area where it is difficult to construct new one or expend the existing road. There are some merits in this kind of bridge. First, the design live and dead loads are minimized by allowing only passenger cars. Second employing prefabrication construction scheme reduces the construction time. Third, there is no need to buy land if the elevation road is placed on the top of existing one. In seismic design of bridges, base isolation has been an effective solution when the bridge has stiff piers and a heavy superstructure. The prefabricated light weight bridge has different dynamic characteristics from the ordinary bridges. In this paper, the applicability of base isolators such as lead rubber bearing and elastomeric bearing, to prefabricated light weight bridge is examined.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.101-107
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• 2013

In this paper, we were to investigate effect of correction to muscle imbalance in lower limbs according to reduction of weight bearing methods of four point of horizontal shaft using two-belt treadmill. Participants were divided to two group according to each ten peoples who have difference of muscle function in left and right legs over 20%. Experiment progressed forty minutes a day three days a week, total four weeks and we estimated the maximal peak torque and average power for testing joint torque in hip, knee and ankle. The results showed that the correction effect of muscle imbalance to the maximal muscle strength was the most effective in hip joint. Also in knee joint, correction effect of muscular reaction was the most effective too. We thought that reduction of weight bearing methods could be positive effect to correct muscle imbalance in lower limbs.

• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.31-37
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• 2013

Incident X-ray angles of weight bearing foot AP radiography which differ in each medical institution were compared. Optimal angles were derived from the study and suggested as basic data for clinical application. 19 patients with no abnormality on right foot took part in the study from June 2013 to July 2013. Weight bearing foot AP radiography in the correct position was examined with the incident X-ray angles of $10^{\circ}$, $15^{\circ}$, $20^{\circ}$, $25^{\circ}$, $30^{\circ}$, and $35^{\circ}$. All the images were evaluated subjectively by 5 radiological technologists of over 15 year work experience using Likert scale as 1 for 'very poor', 2 for 'poor', 3 for 'fair', 4 for 'good', 5 for 'very good', 6 for 'excellent', and analyzed with ANOVA and Scheffe. Image quality was the most optimal at $20^{\circ}$ as 4.53, and relatively good at $25^{\circ}$ as 4.38 and at $30^{\circ}$ as 4.18. $35^{\circ}$ and $10^{\circ}$ were relatively poor. The average points of 6 groups indicated statistically significant difference (p<.01). In the post-mortem, 3 subgroups showed no statistically significant difference, and the average point of the groups of $20^{\circ}$, $25^{\circ}$, $30^{\circ}$was evaluated relatively higher than the other 2 groups. An optimal incident X-ray angle within the range from $20^{\circ}$ to $30^{\circ}$ for weight bearing foot AP radiography could make it possible to obtain the image of high diagnostic value and would be useful for clinical application in the future.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.288-293
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of gait training using functional electrical stimulation on the improvement of hemiplegic patients' functions for balance and gait velocity. The subjects of the experiment were determined to be 10 each hemiplegic patients who had been diagnosed with stroke or brain damage six months or longer earlier assigned to an experimental group and a control group respectively. The subjects were evaluated before the experiment using Tetrax and 10M gait tests, received gait training five times a week for four weeks using functional electrical stimulation and were evaluated after the experiment in the same method as used in the evaluation before the experiment. In order to examine differences between the experimental group that received gait training using functional electrical stimulation and the control group that was treated by functional electrical stimulation and received gait training thereafter, differences between before and after the experiment were analyzed using paired sample t-tests and differences in changes after the experiment between the experimental group and the control group were analyzed using independent sample t-tests in order to compare the two groups with each other. Experimental results showed significant differences in weight bearing, balance and gait velocity between before and after the experiment in the experimental group(p<.05). In the control group, whereas weight bearing and gait velocity did not show any significant difference between before and after the experiment(p>.05), balance showed significant differences(p<.05). Weight bearing, balance and gait velocity change rates showed significant differences between the experimental group and the control group(p<.05). In conclusion, it was indicated that gait training using functional electrical stimulation is effective for enhancing stroke patients' weight bearing rates, balance abilities and gait velocity.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.103-116
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to investigate between low back pain scale and disability index owing to gait pattern. For the period of February 1 to February 29, 2004, we had conducted a questionnaire and direct interview with 100 persons lived in Daejeon. The result were as follows: 1. The stride length of experimental group. the male was $49.9{\pm}12.9cm$. the female $45.7{\pm}12.9cm$ and the width of feet, the male was $13.5{\pm}5.7cm$, the female $12.2{\pm}4.8cm$. 2. The Fick angle of all subjects was showed in external disposition, the left angle showed in asymmetry, the male was $11.0{\pm}5.7^{\circ}$, the female $8.5{\pm}1.3^{\circ}$. 3. The foot arch was similar to sex as a weight bearing and non-weight bearing, the male was $1.3{\pm}0.8cm$, the female $1.3{\pm}0.9cm$. 4. The impedimental index according to back pain grade, men was a lower than women, the male was $5.7{\pm}6.9$ and the female $7.2{\pm}5.3$. 5. The relation to difference between foot arch and disability index according to back pain grade as a weight bearing and non-weight bearing, the higher foot arch, the higher back pain grade was statistically significance(p<.05). 6. The relation between width of feet and disability index according to back pain grade, the wider width of feet, the higher back pain grade was statistically significance(p<.01). 7. The relation between stride length and disability index according to back pain grade, the wider stride length, the higher back pain grade was statistically significance(p<.05).

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.185-188
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• 2008

Purpose: Zone I fractures of the fifth metatarsal bone can generally be treated by conservative methods while both surgical and conservative methods are used for zone II fractures. However, the clinical results of conservative treatment have been rarely reported. The purpose of this study is to report the clinical results of conservative treatment for zone I and II nondisplaced fractures. Materials and Methods: Between July 2007 and August 2008, consecutive thirty seven patients (38 fractures) with zone I and II fractures of the fifth metatarsal bone were treated with tolerable weight bearing and minimum duration of immobilization based on pain on weight bearing. We evaluated the duration of immobilization, time to clinical and radiographic union, and time to pre-injury activity level. Results: Clinical and radiological union were achieved in all patients without any complications including malunion or nonunion. The mean duration of immobilization was 28.7 days. The mean 33.1 days and 48.9 days were required for clinical union and radiographic union respectively, after the initial injury. The mean time to pre-injury activity level was 4.8 months. Conclusion: Our study shows that the acute nondisplaced zone I, II fracture of fifth metatarsal bone can be treated effectively using tolerable weight bearing and minimum duration of immobilization, which is based on the pain on weight bearing.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.77-91
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• 2002

Asymmetrical stance posture, balance, and gait disturbance are common problems in hemiplegic patients. Posterior leaf springs (PLS) are frequently prescribed to correct these problems. Recently, anterior leaf springs (ALS) have also been prescribed, but only limited studies have been performed to investigate the effects of ALS. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of three conditions, i.e., wearing an ALS, wearing a PLS, and not wearing an AFO (ankle foot orthosis),: on 1) the distribution of weight bearing on the affected side, 2) standing balance, and 3) the gait patterns of hemiplegic patients. Eleven hemiplegic patients (10 men and 1 woman) participated in this study. The data were analyzed by the Friedman test. The results were as follows: 1) More weight bearing on the affected leg was observed in the ALS and PLS conditions than in the condition without an AFO. No significant difference between the ALS and PLS conditions was found. 2) There were statistically significant differences in the composite equilibrium scores (CES) among the three conditions. The CES in the PLS condition was significantly higher than in the ALS condition or the condition without an AFO. 3) Gait patterns improved significantly in the ALS and PLS conditions. No statistically significant difference between the ALS and PLS conditions was found. These results suggest that both ALS and PLS effectively improve the distribution of weight bearing on the affected side, standing balance, and gait patterns of hemiplegic patients. Further study using three-dimensional kinematic analysis and dynamic electromyography is needed to support these findings.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.183-188
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• 2014

Purpose: The accepted general management principle after ankle arthrodesis is to maintain non-weight bearing for 6 to 8 weeks. The aim of this study was to report clinical outcome of patients allowed early weight bearing after arthroscopic arthrodesis. Materials and Methods: We analyzed medical records and radiographs to determine fusion rate and complication risk of 22 sequential patients allowed to walk under short leg cast within 3 days after arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis using 2 screws from January 2008 to June 2012. The minimum follow-up period was 18 months, and the mean age of the patients was 67 years. Results: The mean visual analog scale was decreased from 8.9 points preoperatively to 2.3 points after 12 months. Complete ankle fusion was achieved in 19 patients (86.4%) at 3-month follow-up. There were 2 cases of delayed union and one case of nonunion at 12-month follow-up. There was no other complication such as wound problem, persistent swelling of the ankle. Conclusion: Bony union may not be interfered even though patients were allowed to walk under cast within a few days after arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis.