• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.1025-1030
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of combined wedge on the range of motion in ankle and knee joint, ankle eversion moment and knee adduction moment, and center of pressure excursion of foot for genu varus among adult men during gait. This study was carried out with 10 adult men for genu varus in a motion analysis laboratory in J university. The subjects of the experiment were measured above 5cm width between the knees on contact of both medial malleolus of ankle while standing. The width of their knees in neutral position was measured without the inversion or eversion of the subtalar joint by the investigator. The subjects of the experiment were ten who were conducted randomly for standard insole, insole with $10^{\circ}$ lateral on rear foot wedge, insole at $10^{\circ}$lateral on rear foot and $5^{\circ}$ medial on fore foot wedge. Before and after intervention, changes on the range of motion in ankle and knee joint, ankle eversion moment and knee adduction moment, and center of pressure excursion were measured. In order to compare analyses among groups; repeated one-way ANOVA and $Scheff{\acute{e}}$ post hoc test were used. As a result, combined wedge group was significantly decreased compared to control wedge group in terms of knee varus angle in mid-stance(p<.05). Combined wedge group was significantly decreased compared to lateral wedge group in terms of ankle eversion moment in whole stance(p<.05). Combined wedge group was significantly decreased compared to lateral wedge group in terms of knee adduction moment in whole stance(p<.05). Combined wedge group was significantly decreased compared to lateral wedge in terms of center of pressure excursion in whole stance(p<.05). The results of this study suggest that combined wedge for genu varus decreased ankle eversion moment and knee adduction moment upon center of pressure excursion. We hypothesize that combined wedge may also be effective in the protection excessive ankle pronation.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.39-43
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• 2017

Purpose: This study was to investigate the effects of unilateral muscle fatigue in knee and ankle joints on balance and gait in healthy adults. Methods: Exercise inducing muscle fatigue in the knee joint consisted of concentric and eccentric contraction of dominant knee extensors in healthy adults by using the Leg Extension Rehap exercise machine (HUR, Finland). Exercise inducing muscle fatigue in the ankle joint was composed of voluntary contractions and forced contractions of the dominant plantar flexors in healthy adults. Exercises to induce muscle fatigue in the knee and ankle joints were performed until the subject complained of fatigue or pain, the occurrence of muscle fatigue was confirmed by electromyography. We measured static and dynamic balance using the Good Balance system and gait performance by RS-scan. Results: Static and dynamic balance ability and spatial-temporal gait decreased significantly after muscle fatigue in knee and ankle joint. Conclusion: These results show that unilateral muscle fatigue of the lower extremities affected postural control and gait. Therefore, therapists and sport trainers should minimize the risks of fall and injuries related to unilateral muscle fatigue.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.83-92
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• 2017

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the elastic band and stretching exercise program on ankle joint maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) and plantar pressure in high-heel wearing women in their 20s. METHODS: Twenty women in their twenties were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n=10) and the control group (n=10). The experimental group (n=10) performed the elastic band exercise program, while the control group (n=10) performed the stretching exercise program. Both exercise programs were performed three times a week for a total of four weeks. The BTE Primus RS was used in order to measure the ankle joint MVIC during dorsiflexion, plantar flexion, inversion, and eversion. Maximum pressure ($N/cm^2$), average pressure ($N/cm^2$) were measured using the Pedoscan. SPSS v. 21.0 software was used for all statistical analyses in this study. RESULTS: The measurement of the ankle joint's MVIC revealed that in inversion, a significant change in both feet was seen in both the experimental and control groups. In eversion, there was a significant change in both feet only in the experimental group. In terms of the rest of the results, no significant changes were visible. With regard to the plantar pressure, no significant results were seen for either foot in the comparison between or within the groups. CONCLUSION: Exercise program using elastic band and exercise program using stretching were effective on MVIC of ankle joint muscles, although it had no effect on changes of plantar pressure.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 1999.07g
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• pp.2983-2985
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• 1999

This paper presents the attitude control of the double inverted pendulum with compliant joint. The biped robot with compliant ankle joint instead of a motor have a good contact between it's sole and ground in the uneven ground. The compliant ankle joint proposed here is composed of springs and mechanical constraint. The lower link is hinged on the plate to free for rotation in the vertical plate. The upper link is connected to the lower link through a DC motor. The DC motor is used to control the posture of the pendulum by adjusting the position of the upper link. The algorithm for controlling a proposed inverted pendulum is nonlinear feedback controller. Simulation with mathematical model are conducted to show the validity of the proposed controller.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.503-509
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• 2015

In this paper, we designed and tested an ankle joint mechanism for a gait rehabilitation robot. Gait rehabilitation programs are designed to improve the natural leg motion of patients who have lost their walking capabilities by accident or disease. Strengthening the muscles of the lower-limbs and stimulation of the nervous system corresponding to walking helps patients to walk again using gait assistive devices. It is an obvious requirement that the rehabilitation system's motion should be similar to and as natural as the normal gait. However, the system being used for gait rehabilitation does not pay much attention to ankle joints, which play an important role in correct walking as the motion of the ankle should reflect the movement of the center of gravity (COG) of the body. Consequently, we have designed an ankle mechanism that ensures the safety of the patient as well as efficient gait training. Also, even patients with low leg muscle strength are able to operate the ankle joint due to the direct-drive mechanism without a reducer. This safety feature prevents any possible adverse load on the human ankle. The additional degree of freedom for the roll motion achieves a gait pattern which is similar to the normal gait and with a greater degree of comfort.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.20-30
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of ankle joint mobilization with movement (MWM) on the range of motion (ROM) in the ankle, on the muscle strength of lower extremities, and on spatiotemporal gait parameters in chronic hemiplegic patients. Fifteen subjects with chronic stroke were divided into two groups: an experimental group (8 subjects) and a control group (7 subjects). Both groups attended two or three sessions of physical therapy each week. The experimental group also attended additional MWM training sessions three times a week for five weeks. For both groups, the ROM of the ankle, the muscle strength of the lower extremities, and the spatiotemporal gait parameters in paretic limbs were evaluated before and after the training period. The results showed that the experimental group experienced more significant increases than did the control group in terms of passive (6.10%) and active (21.96%) ROM of the ankle, gait velocity (12.96%), and peak torque, of the knee flexor (81.39%), the knee extensor (24.88%), and the ankle plantar flexor (41.75%)(p<.05). These results suggest that MWM training in patients with chronic stroke may be beneficial in increasing ROM in the ankle, muscle strength in the lower extremities, and gait speed.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.40-44
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• 2019

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the changes in postural stability according to ankle fixation in healthy university students. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Thirty healthy subjects (15 males and 15 females, 20.13 years, 167.49 cm, 65.87 kg) were recruited on a voluntary basis. The BT4 system (HUR Laps Oy, Tampere, Finland) was used to measure the static (standing posture with eyes open and eyes closed) and dynamic (external perturbation and limits of stability (LOS) in the forward, backward, left, and right side) balance abilities. External perturbation was measured by the subject's postural sway velocity and area for 20 seconds after being impacted by a gym ball. Static and dynamic stabilities were measured with ankle joint fixation and non-fixation conditions. Ankle fixation was provided using Mueller tape on both ankle joints. Results: For static stability under the standing posture, there was no significant difference between standing with ankle joint fixation and non-fixation conditions. However, dynamic stability (external perturbation and LOS in the forward, backward, left, and right side) was significantly higher in the standing with the non-fixation condition compared to the standing with ankle joint fixation condition (p<0.05). Conclusions: Our results reveal that ankle joint fixation can influence dynamic stability during standing. Thus, we believe that this result provides basic information for making improvements in postural control and may be useful in balance training for fall prevention.

• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.527-539
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of ankle joint mobilization on equilibrium ability of supinated foot. Both Joint mobilization group(n=20) and control group(n=20) were measured an equilibrium ability by Balance performance monitor at pre-test, post-test in 2 weeks, post-test in 4 weeks and follow-up test in 2 weeks. The sway area, sway path length and sway maximum velocity of the joint mobilization group were significantly reduced among the experimental period (p<.05). The reduction of sway area, sway path length and sway maximum velocity were significantly different between the joint mobilization group and the control group at in 2 weeks, 4 weeks and follow-up test(p<.05). In conclusion, we were found that ankle joint mobilization could reduce sway area, sway path length and sway max velocity and improve a balance for the individuals with supinated foot.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2017

Background: To evaluate the effect of Kinesio taping applied on the ankle instability, joint range of motion and balance. Methods: The participants included in this study were male and female, 20~30 ages, who experiencing an ankle sprain or had chronic pain, did not exercise during the intervention, and did not experience severe exercise at least 3 weeks before. A total of twenty-four participants were divided into two groups: Kinesio taping applied group (n=12) and control group (n=12). The experiment was conducted for a three days. Measurements were taken for ankle joint range of motion using goniometer, and measurements were taken for balance using good balance system. Pre-test measurements were conducted on before Kinesio taping apply, and 24 hours after, 48 hours after, 72 hours after measurements were conducted. Statistical analysis was done using a independent samples t-test and repeated measure ANOVA. Results: There were significant differences to the duration of intervention in ankle joint range of motion and balance within the both group. However, there was a significant differences Kinesio taping group when comparing the groups. Conclusions: According to the results of this study, applying Kinesio taping to ankle instability is more effective on ankle joint range of motion and to recover balance.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2006.10c
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• pp.193-195
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• 2006

In this study, we developed an active controlled ankle-foot orthosis(AAFO) which can control the dorsiflexion/plantarflexion of the ankle joint during gait to prevent foot drop and toe drag for paralysis patients. To prevent dropping foot after heel strike, ankle joint was actively controlled to minimize forefoot collision with the ground. It was also controlled to provide toe clearance and to help push-off during late stance. The 3D gait analysis was performed on two healthy subjects equipped with the developed AAFO to compare with the normal gait and the conventional AFO gait. In the developed AAFO gait, differently from the conventional AFO gait, significant push-off was observed during pre-swing and the maximum flexion moment during pre-swing phase was similar to that of normal gait. A remarkable dorsiflexion also occurred during initial swing. These results indicated that the developed AAFO could have certain clinical benefits to prevent foot drop for paralysis patients, compared to conventional AFOs.