• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2006.05a
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• pp.169-170
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the smoothness of the gait pattern according to shoe, walking speed, and slope. Eleven male university students used three types(running shoes, mounting climbing boots, elevated forefoot walking shoes) of shoes at various walking speeds(1.19, 1.25, 1.33, 1.56, 1.78, 1.9, 2.0, 2.11, 2.33m/s) and gradients (0, 3, 6, 10%) on a treadmill. Three-dimensional motion analysis (Motion Analysis Corp, Santa Rosa, CA, USA) was conducted with 4 Falcon high speed cameras. The results showed that elevated forefoot walking shoes had the lowest value of normalized jerk at the heel, which means that elevated forefoot walking shoes had the smoothest walking pattern at the heel. In contrast, elevated forefoot walking shoes had greater normalized jerk at the center of mass (COM) at most walking speeds, which means that the smoothness of gait pattern at the center of mass is the lowest for the elevated forefoot walking shoes. This movement at the COM might even have a beneficial effect of activating muscles in the back and abdomen more than other shoes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.59-66
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• 2017

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of postural control training on balance and walking ability in chronic stroke patients. METHODS: Eighteen chronic stroke patients were allocated equally and randomly to an experimental group (n=9) or a control group (n=9). All participants received 60 minutes of comprehensive rehabilitation treatment, the experimental group additionally received a postural control training for 30 minutes, while the control group additionally performed a treadmill training for 30 minutes. These 30-minute training sessions were held five times per week for three weeks. Balance was assessed using Berg balance scale (BBS) and walking ability (gait speed, cadence, step length, and double limb support) was assessed using the GAITRite system. RESULTS: Improvement on all outcome measures was identified from pre-to-post intervention for both groups (p<.05). Post-intervention, there was a significant between-group difference on measured outcomes (p<.05). The experimental group exhibited greater improvement in the gait speed (p=.01; 95% CI .08-.16), cadence (p=.04; 95% CI .34-4.79), step length (p=.02; 95% CI 1.50-5.17), double limb support period (p=.04; 95% CI -2.18 to -.14), and BBS (p=.01; 95% CI 1.04-6.74) compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that postural control training may be beneficial for improving balance and walking ability of patients with chronic stroke.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.35-44
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of visual and auditory stimulation randomly applied to healthy adults on walking. Design: Randomized Controlled Trial. Methods: Twenty-six healthy students in S college were randomly divided into visual feedback group (n=13) and auditory feedback group (n=13). The visual feedback group walked using four conditions. 1) In the red screen was shown, clap twice to the right, 2) In yellow screen, clap twice to the left, 3) In green screen, clap twice over head. 4) Do not clap in purple screen. The auditory feedback group walked using four conditions. 1)in red, clap twice to the right, 2) In yellow, clap twice left, 3) In green, clap twice over your head. 4) Do not clap in purple. All subjects measured gait variables before and after the test using G-walker. Result: The visual feedback group showed a significant decrease (p<.05) in the number of steps per minute, walking speed, and step length compared with that of normal walking. The auditory feedback group showed a significant decrease (p<.05) in the number of steps per minute, walking speed, and step length than that of normal walking. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that visual and auditory stimulation applied to healthy adults may have significant effects on walking.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.43-52
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• 2024

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the impact of a 12-week combined cognitive and physical exercise program on cognitive and physical functions in older adults diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Design: A one-group pretest-posttest study. Methods: Twelve participants with MCI engaged in a weekly 60-minute session of combined cognitive and physical exercise program. Cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), while physical function was evaluated through measures of muscle strength, postural balance, and walking capabilities. Muscle strength assessments included the arm curl test, handgrip strength, and the 5 sit-to-stand test. Postural balance was evaluated using the one-leg stance test, timed up-and-go test, functional reach test, and four square step test. Walking function was analyzed through a gait analysis device. Pre- and post-intervention measurements were compared to determine the effects of the exercise program. Results: The results demonstrated significant improvements in MoCA, arm curl test, timed up-and-go test, walking speed, and cadence following the 12-week intervention (p<0.05). MoCA scores revealed enhanced cognitive performance, while measures of muscle strength, including the arm curl test, exhibited significant changes. Improvements in timed up-and-go test scores indicated enhanced mobility, accompanied by increased walking speed and cadence, as evidenced by gait analysis. Conclusions: This study suggests that a structured 12-week program incorporating both cognitive and physical exercises can lead to meaningful improvements in cognitive and physical functions among older adults with MCI.

• 전자공학회논문지 IE
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.52-59
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• 2006

Walking robot is able to move in regular or irregular terrain. It can walk that change adaptive algorithms according to the terrain. Existing papers about adaptive gaits of blind robot are based on intelligent foothold selection. However, this paper proposes a algerian that is based on the variations of stroke and period to adapt the irregular terrain. If thus adaptive algorithms is used, robot can maintain periodic gait walking and constant speed using only force sensor even in the irregular terrain without external sophisticated sensor. In this paper Quadruped robot with 2 DOF in each leg, is walk experiment with the wave gait in regular and irregular terrain. So the adaptive algorithm is proved useful through walk experiment.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.341-354
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to develop the uniaxial force plate system which is measured by the vertical force. The VGRF(vertical ground reaction force) 1.0 was composed of 2 bath digital scales, 2 indicaters, and analyzing software. This system was newly renovated to VGRF 2,0 which are 2 industrial digital scales, 2 adjustable indicators, and enforced analyzing software. Changes of the new system were as follows. First, the height of the plate was 75% lower than before. Second, sensing ability of the load cell was changed from 90 - 0.05kg to 300 - 0.1kg. Third, the speed of data processing was changed from 17 per second to 60 per second. Fourth, analyzing software was enforced to develop and calculate the data. For the test of the system, two different types(bare foot, high-heeled shoes) gait was adopted. highly skilled female walker(23yrs, height 165cm, body mass 46.8kg) participated for the experimental study. During the dynamic performance(gait analysis), the data of each load cell were very similar to the previous studies. Specifically, bare foot walking had less vertical force than high-heeled shoes. Consequently, VGRF 2.0 can sense the general dynamic movements as well as static load conditions.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.685-694
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• 2001

In this study, a transfemoral prosthesis system of which both stance phase and swing phase are controllable has been developed for the recovery of the biomechanical function of the amputated leg. It consists of a 5 bar link mechanism, a hydraulic-rubber knee damper for stance phase control and a pneumatic cylinder controlled via a microprocessor for stance phase control. The mechanical characteristics of the knee damper which absorbs the impact energy generated at the heel contact were investigated. The characteristics of the pneumatic cylinder essential for the speed adaptation of the prosthesis during swing phase were also studied for its mechanical characteristics. The prosthesis was subject to the clinical tests, and the gait characteristics obtained were very close to those of normal subjects. The stance and swing controlled prosthesis that were developed in this study showed good stability during the stance phase and showed good controllability during the swing phase.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.49-53
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the plantar pressure distribution between the affected and unaffected side in adult hemiplegia during gait with the use of a quad-cane. Methods: Thirty-four stroke patients from 34 to 83 years of age were enrolled in this study, and in random order, all patients were asked to walk at their most comfortable speed three times along a walkway with the use of quad-cane over a period of three days. Plantar pressure distribution was measured with regard to foot contact pattern and center of pressure (CoP) trajectories during the stance phase, progressing from heel-strike to toe-off. The F-scan system was used to compare the foot pressure of the affected and unaffected sides. Results: A significant reduction in the total contact area, the width of fore foot (FF) and hind foot (HF), and anterior/posterior (AP) CoP trajectory of the affected side was found. However, contact pressure of the hind foot on the affected side during walking increased when compared to that on the unaffected side. Conclusion: We demonstrated that plantar pressure distribution on the affected side of adult hemiplegia patients was generally poorer than that on the unaffected side when these patients walked with cane assistance. However, the use of a quad-cane was shown to increase contact pressure of the hind foot on the affected side because weight can be borne on the affected side during heel-strike with use of the cane.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.75-80
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of an obstacle height on the balance control of older adults while stepping over an obstacle from a position of quiet stance. Methods: Fifteen community-dwelling healthy older adults (mean age, $74.4\pm4.27$ yrs; age range, 67-82 yrs) volunteered to participate in this study. The subjects performed gait initiation (GI) and they stepped over obstacles of two different heights (10 cm and 18 cm) at a self-paced speed from a position of quiet stance. Their performance was assessed by recording the changes in the displacement of the COP in the anteroposterior (A-P) and mediolateral (M-L) directions using a force platform. Results: The M-L displacement of the COP significantly increased for an 18 cm obstacle height condition as compared to the GI and a 10 cm obstacle height condition (p<0.01). Furthermore, the M-L displacement of the COP for a 10 cm high obstacle was significantly greater for that for the GI (p<0.01). However, the mean of the A-P displacement of the COP was similar between the stepping conditions for the A-P displacement of the COP (p>0.05). Conclusion: This study suggests that the M-L COP displacement could be a better parameter to identify the dynamic balance control in older adults when negotiating obstacles.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.327-336
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to analyze muscle activities on functional insole with diet effect. Originally, ten healthy female subjects with an average age of 23.2 year(S.D=1.1), weight of 49.7 kg(S.D=4.9), height of 163.2 cm(S.D=3.5) and a shoe size of 237.5 cm(S.D=4.9) were participated in this experiment. Ten healthy females walked on a treadmill(speed=about 4.2 km/h) wearing two different insole types. Muscle activities data was collected using the EMG operating system. The surface EMG signal for tibialis anterior(TA), gastrocnemius(GA), vatus lateralis(VL) and biceps femoris(BF) were acquired at the RMS(10 Hz, 350 Hz) using Noraxon Telemyo DTS system(Noraxon inc, USA). This study processed the data using the Windows SPSS ver.17.0 to get an independent t-test, with the setting, p<.05. Analysis of muscle activity were measured and calculated during walking. The results are as follow: Functional insole wearing were increased muscle activities significantly from Tibialis anterior(TA) during total gait cycle. Normal distribution was demonstrated in total step of stances period. One foot standing position showed decreased muscle activity. Two foot standing position was demonstrated with gastrocnemius and biceps femoris. As a result of the analysis, Functional insole will inerease the diet effect in the use of four muscle groups.