• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.183-188
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to develop a stretchable joint motion sensor that is based on silver nano-particle. Through this sensor, it can be utilized as an equipment for rehabilitation and analyze joint movement. Method: In this study, precursor solution was created, after that, nozel printer (Musashi, Image master 350PC) was used to print on a circuit board. Sourcemeter (Keithley, Keithley-2450) was used in order to evaluate changes of electric resistance as the sensor stretches. In addition, the sensor was attached on center of a knee joint to 2 male adults, and performed knee flexion-extension in order to evaluate accurate analysis; 3 infrared cameras (100 Hz, Motion Master 100, Visol Inc., Korea) were also used to analyze three dimensional movement. Descriptive statistics were suggested for comparing each accuracy of measurement variables of joint motions with the sensor and 3D motions. Results: The change of electric resistance of the sensor indicated multiple of 30 times from initial value in 50% of elongation and the value of electric resistance were distinctively classified by following 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% of elongation respectively. Through using the sensor and 3D camera to analyze movement variable, it showed a resistance of 99% in a knee joint extension, whereas, it indicated about 80% in flexion phase. Conclusion: In this research, the stretchable joint motion sensor was created based on silver nanoparticle that has high conductivity. If the sensor stretches, the distance between nanoparticles recede which lead gradual disconnection of an electric circuit and to have increment of electric resistance. Through evaluating angle of knee joints with observation of sensor's electric resistance, it showed similar a result and propensity from 3D motion analysis. However, unstable electric resistance of the stretchable sensor was observed when it stretches to maximum length, or went through numerous joint movements. Therefore, the sensor need complement that requires stability when it comes to measuring motions in any condition.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.262-268
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• 2022

Background: Virtual reality (VR) programs based on motion capture camera are the most convenient and cost-effective approaches for remote rehabilitation. Assessment of physical function is critical for providing optimal VR rehabilitation training; however, direct muscle strength measurement using camera-based kinematic data is impracticable. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a method to indirectly estimate the muscle strength of users from the value obtained using a motion capture camera. Objects: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the pedaling speed converted using the VR engine from the captured foot position data in the VR environment can be used as an indirect way to evaluate knee muscle strength, and to investigate the validity and reliability of a camera-based VR program. Methods: Thirty healthy adults were included in this study. Each subject performed a 15-second maximum pedaling test in the VR and built-in speedometer modes. In the VR speedometer mode, a motion capture camera was used to detect the position of the ankle joints and automatically calculate the pedaling speed. An isokinetic dynamometer was used to assess the isometric and isokinetic peak torques of knee flexion and extension. Results: The pedaling speeds in VR and built-in speedometer modes revealed a significantly high positive correlation (r = 0.922). In addition, the intra-rater reliability of the pedaling speed in the VR speedometer mode was good (ICC [intraclass correlation coefficient] = 0.685). The results of the Pearson correlation analysis revealed a significant moderate positive correlation between the pedaling speed of the VR speedometer and the peak torque of knee isokinetic flexion (r = 0.639) and extension (r = 0.598). Conclusion: This study suggests the potential benefits of measuring the maximum pedaling speed using 3D depth camera in a VR environment as an indirect assessment of muscle strength. However, technological improvements must be followed to obtain more accurate estimation of muscle strength from the VR cycling test.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 1994

The occurrence and time course of capacitation, acrosomal loss, and hyperactivated motility require quantitative definition in order to characterize fertile human sperm. Recently the method has been developed to estimate the quality of spermatozoa by using kinematic parameters such as curvilinear velocity(VCL), average path velocity(VAP), linearity(LIN), straightness(STR), amplitude of lateral head displacement(ALH), and beat cross frequence(BCF) from Computer Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA). In this study, using the Hamilton Thorn motility analyzer HTM 2030(Hamilton Thorn Research, Beverly, MA), we attempted to identify the spermatozoa with hyperactivated motility (HA) objectively and to monitor hyperactivation of human spermatozoa during incubation in capacitating media and after treatment of calcium ionophore as compared with acrosome status. And we examined whether HA are related to the result of SPA. Semen samples obtained from 16 healthy men were prepared by swim up technique and preincubated in a capacitating media(modified BWW medium) for 5 hours and treated with calcium ionophore solution. The acrosome reaction was detected with PSA-FITC labelling of the acrosome and in vitro sperm ferilizing capacity was assessed by the zona free hamster ovum penetration assay (SPA). The incidence of hyperactivated sperm was 2.6% in fresh semen, 14.3% of the swim up population, 13.7% after 5h of incubation. Significant increase of percentage of hyperactivated sperm was observed after the incubation (p<0.05) but after treatment, no significant changes of percentage of hyperactivated sperm(l1.8%) in contrast to significant rise in the percentage of acrosome reacted cells. Correlation analysis failed to show any significant relationship between the percentage of sperm with HA and SPA score. In conclusion, although no direct correlations were found between the results of SPA and HA, hyperactivation of sperm is associated with capacitation and monitoring hyperactivated sperm will be expected as a method of evaluating the functional quality of sperm such as SPA.