• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.504-509
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• 2000

In this study, a transfemoral prosthesis system of which stance phase and swing phase are controlled during walking 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 and behaviour of the knee damper which absorbs the impact energy generated at the heel contact was investigated. The characteristics of the pneumatic cylinder essential for the speed adaptation of the prosthesis during swing phase was also studied for its mechanical characteristics. The prosthesis was subject to the clinical test ant the gait characteristics obtained were very close to those of normal. 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.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.43-49
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• 2006

A laboratory study was conducted to evaluate if two different age groups(young vs. old) had differences in walking velocity and heel contact velocity and, furthermore, if these gait characteristics could adversely influence initial friction demand characteristics(i.e. RCOF) and the likelihood of slip-initiation. Twenty eight(14 younger and 14 older adults) participated in the study. While wearing a safety harness, all participants walked at their preferred gait speed for approximately 20 minutes on the linear walking track(1.5m× 20m) consisting of two floor-mounted forced plates. During subsequent 20 cameras, respectively. The results indicated that older adults walked slower(i.e., slower whole body center-of-mass velocity), exhibited lower heel contact velocity, and produced lower initial friction demand characteristics (i.e. RCOF) in comparison to younger adults. However, ANCOVA indicated that the diferences in heel contact velocity between the two age groups were due to the effects of walking velocity. The bivariate analysis further suggested that walking velocity was correlated to RCOF and heel contact velocity, while heel contact velocity was not found to be correlated to RCOF. In conclusion, could be a better indicator for predicting initial friction demand characteristics(i.e. RCOF) not hel contact velocity.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.39-43
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• 2013

In this paper, we present a effective method of gait rehabilitation training using critical point of median frequency in muscle fatigue analysis using EMG. To target the five healthy volunteers, EMG signal were measured in the quadriceps femoris muscle and the tibialis anterior muscle in order to determine muscle fatigue. We performed a test targeting three adult male for 30 minutes on a treadmill at a speed of 6km/h same. EMG signal analysis in frequency and median frequency is calculated to quantification of muscle fatigue, and calculated the critical point which is saturated by muscle fatigue during 30 minutes. We set saturated point the threshold which muscle can withstand. The results of this paper, we are able to quantify the threshold of the muscle.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.209-215
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate gait factor and muscle activity depending on hiking poles-using. Eight healthy men volunteered for this experiment. Each of them performed down-hill walking with hiking poles-using and without poles at speed of 3.5km/h for 45 minutes on a treadmill. The treadmill was set 25% down-hill inclination. Kinematic data collected in 60Hz were recorded and analyzed by using 2D motion capture system to measure step time and step length so on. And the lower extremity muscle activities were simultaneously recorded in 1500Hz and assessed by using EMG. The statistical analysis was the paired t-test with repeated measures to compare between hiking poles-using and without poles. The level of statistical significance for all tests was .05. The results of this study were following : Step time was showed statistically different according to pole conditions. That is, the case of poles-using was longer than without poles in step time. Also, step length was showed statistically different between two conditions. Step length about trials with poles was longer than trials without poles. In the muscle activity, the case of all muscles was not showed statistical significance about pole conditions. However, in most muscles IEMG, there were some decreasing-trend relatively when hiking polesusing.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.83-87
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• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between heart rate (HR), self-awareness of exercise intensity (rating of perceived exertion, RPE), and 5-meter walk test (5MWT) of persons affected by stroke during backward walking according to the preferred stride frequency (PSF), PSF+3 and PSF+6 conditions. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: A total of 11 persons with stroke (9 males, 2 females) participated voluntarily. All patients underwent backward walking under the PSF, PSF+3, and PSF+6 conditions in underwater and ground environments, and each condition was performed for 5 minutes. The HR, RPE, and walking speeds were measured during walking, and the measured values from underwater and ground environments were compared. Results: The HR and RPE in the ground environment were significantly increased (p<0.05), and although the 5MWT showed an increase in speed, it was not significant. The HR and RPE in the underwater environment were also significantly increased (p<0.05), however, although the 5MWT results was increased, it was not significant. The HR and RPE were significantly increased in the PSF+6 condition (p<0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study showed that backward gait training underwater can provide an appropriate exercise intensity for stroke survivors and suggests that exercises performed in an underwater environment is more effective compared to the ground environment.

• Proceedings of the Korea Information Processing Society Conference
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• 2022.11a
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• pp.429-431
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• 2022

하지 웨어러블 로봇의 근력 보조 성능을 극대화하기 위해서는 착용자의 보행 상태를 인식하는 보행 위상 추정 기술이 필수적으로 요구된다. 본 논문에서는 착용자의 보행 속도 변화 및 착용자 간 보행 특성 차이에도 강인하게 보행 위상을 추정할 수 있는 LSTM 기반 보행 위상 강건 인식 기술을 개발하였다. 웨어러블 고관절 보조 로봇을 착용한 총 5명의 트레드밀 및 실외 overground의 보행 센서 정보를 바탕으로 학습을 수행하였다. 저속 및 고속 보행을 포함한 다양한 보행 속도에서 정밀한 보행 위상 추정이 가능한 웨어러블 센서 조합을 도출하였고, 보행 위상 인식 정밀성은 5-Fold Cross Validation 기준 RMSE 약 1.68% 수준의 결과를 얻을 수 있었다.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.496-504
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• 2023

This paper recognizes the motion intention of the wearer using a muscle stiffness sensor and proposes a control system for a wearable robot based on this. The proposed system recognizes the onset time of the motion using sensor data, determines the assistance mode, and provides assistive torque to the hip flexion/extension motion of the wearer through the generated reference trajectory according to the determined mode. The onset time of motion was detected using the CUSUM algorithm from the muscle stiffness sensor, and by comparing the detection results of the onset time with the EMG sensor and IMU, it verified its applicability as an input device for recognizing the intention of the wearer before motion. In addition, the stability of the proposed method was confirmed by comparing the results detected according to the walking speed of two subjects (1 male and 1 female). Based on these results, the assistance mode (gait assistance mode and muscle strengthening mode) was determined based on the detection results of onset time, and a reference trajectory was generated through cubic spline interpolation according to the determined assistance mode. And, the practicality of the proposed system was also confirmed by applying it to an actual wearable robot.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.18-27
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to compare the ring lock type knee-ankle-foot orthosis (KAFO) with newly developed 4-bar linkage KAFO on the gait characteristics of persons with poliomyelitis clinically. This 4-bar linkage is the stance control type KAFO which provide the stability during stance phase and knee flexion during swing phase. Two subjects participated in this study voluntarily. We provided the customized 4-bar linkage KAFO then asked the subjects to walk in level surface and stairs under the two different KAFO conditions. The characteristics of gait in the persons with poliomyelitis were evaluated using a 3D motion analysis system and force plate. Additionally 6 minute walk test for physiological cost index were conducted using pulse oximeter to measure the energy consumption. In the results of this study, the differences of 4-bar linkage KAFO compared with ring lock type KAFO are as follows: (1) Walking speed, stride length, and step length on level increased in subjects, (2) The gait symmetry was improved by generated knee flexion and decreased pelvic external rotation on level and stairs walking, (3) Decreased vertical excursion of center of mass and pelvic elevation during swing phase was decreased on level, (4) Knee extension moment, hip flexion moment, hip and knee internal rotation moment of non-braced limb were decreased on level walking, (5) Walking speed in 6-minute walk test was increased and physiological cost index was decreased. These findings indicate that 4-bar linkage KAFO compared with ring lock type KAFO is effective in enhancing pattern, endurance, and energy consumption in level surface and stairs walking.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.43-51
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• 2002

Physiological Cost Index (PCI) of walking has been widely used to predict oxygen consumption in healthy subjects or patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the predictability of physiological cost index of walking for the amount of exercise and cardiac function. Walking exercise was conducted in 67 healthy children (age 4-12) with a self-selected comfortable walking speed on the level surface. Walking speed was calculated, and heart rate was measured before and immediately after the walking. PCI was calculated for statistical analysis. The results were as follows; 1) The walking speed tends to increase and PCI of walking tends to decrease with age. There was significant difference in walking speed and PCI of walking among three age groups (p<.05). The change of walking heart rate tends to decrease with age, however, there was no significant difference among three age groups. 2) Linear regression equation between walking speed and age was 'Y (walking speed) = 2.124X (age) + 48.286' ($R^2$=.337), (p=.00). 3) The walking heart rate tends to decrease with age. Linear regression equation between walking heart rate and age was 'Y (walking heart rate) = 143.346 - 2.63X (age)' ($R^2$=.3425), (p=.00). 4) The walking heart rate decreased as body surface area (BSA) increased. Linear regression equation between walking heart rate and BSA was 'Y (walking heart rate) = 149.830 - 27.115X (BSA)' ($R^2$=.3066), (p=.00). In conclusion, these equations and PCI could be useful to quantify the variation of energy expenditure of children with pathological gait when compared with age-matched healthy children.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2019

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Graston technique for lower extremity range of motion (ROM), muscle strength, walking ability in hemiplegia patients. Methods: Twelve subjects participated in this study. The ROM of the knee extension was measured by 90-90 straight leg raise test, the hamstring and quadriceps muscle strength was collected by utilizing a handheld dynamometer. In addition walking speed was evaluated by 10 meter walking test. The group was applied intervention using a Graston instrument for one minute. After intervention, immediate effect was assessed. The significant level was set at ${\alpha}=.05$. Results: The ROM of the knee extension, quadriceps muscle strength and walking speed were significantly increased. Hamstring muscle strength was significantly reduced. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that Graston instrument technique has the effect of instantaneously flexibility the muscles, and the muscle applied with the technique has weakened, while the muscle of the opposite side has increased the muscle strength. In addition, the muscle flexibility and the walking speed have increased.