• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.143-149
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• 2018

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the influence of landing foot orientations on biomechanics of knee joint in order to identify vulnerable positions to non-contact knee injuries during single-legged landing. Method: Seventeen men (age: $20.5{\pm}1.1 years$, height: $175.2{\pm}6.4cm$, weight: $68.8{\pm}5.8kg$) performed single-leg drop landings repeatedly with three different landing foot orientations. They were defined as toe-in (TI) $30^{\circ}$ adduction, neutral (N, neutral), and toe-out (TO) $30^{\circ}$ abduction positions. Results: The downward phase time of TI was significantly shorter than those of N and TO. The flexion and valgus angle of N was greater than those of TI and TO at the moment of foot contact. At the instance of maximum knee flexion, N showed the largest flexion angle, and TO position had the largest varus and external rotation angles. Regarding ground reaction force (GRF) at the moment of foot contact, TO showed the forward GRF, while others showed the backward GRF. TI indicated significantly larger mediolateral GRF than others. As for the maximum knee joint force and joint moment, the main effect of different foot positions was not significant. Conclusion: TI and TO might be vulnerable positions to knee injuries because both conditions might induce combined loadings to knee joint. TI had the highest mediolateral GRF with a shortest foot contact time, and TO had induced a large external rotation angle during downward phase and the peak forward GRF at the moment of foot contact. Conclusively, N is the preferred landing foot orientation to prevent non-contact knee injuries.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.263-274
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• 2019

Purpose: This article was conducted to determine the immediate effects of unilateral contract-relax (CR) stretching on contralateral knee extension range and to compare both sides of the knee extension range between experimental and control groups. Methods: This study recruited 16 adult males and females with straight leg raising abilities below $90^{\circ}$. The subjects were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group comprising 8 subjects each. The experimental group performed direct CR stretching on the right hamstring muscles with straight hip extension adduction, and the control group performed indirect CR stretching on the right hamstring muscles with straight hip flexion abduction. Each group performed CR stretching 4 times with 4 repetitions comprising 10 sec of contraction and a 10 sec break between repetitions. Before and after the CR stretching exercises, the subjects' passive knee extensions were measured at the hip in a $90^{\circ}$ flexed position. The subjects' peak force on the right leg and peak pressure on the left leg during each CR stretching exercise were also measured. Results: After doing CR stretching 4 times, each group showed a significantly increased passive knee extension range on both sides, and there was no difference in the passive knee extension ranges between the groups. The peak force on the right leg was significantly higher in the experimental group than the control group. There was no difference in peak pressure between the groups. Conclusion: After applying unilateral CR stretching, the study subjects experienced a significantly increased passive knee extension range on the contralateral side. For patients who find it difficult to apply stretching techniques to knee joints directly, the use of the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation technique of CR stretching may be useful in improving the range of the knee joint on the contralateral side without direct treatment.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.495-502
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigating the effect of taping knee by testing the difference on kinetic variables of lower extremity when speed skating athletes jump on one leg. The results were as follows. The height of jumping after taping was higher, but the vertical height was not different according to taping. On take-off(TO), the horizontal and anterior-posterior maximum impulse force were decreased while the vertical maximum impact force was increased after taping. On landing(LD), the anterior-posterior maximum impulse force was decreased but the horizontal and vertical maximum impulse force were increased. TO, the impulse showed low after taping and the impulse dropped largely LD. The knee's moment of extension, eversion were reduced after tapping TO. LD, the flection moment of knee was decreased, but the inversion moment was increased after tapping. This study implies that the knee tapping helps injury prevention and performance enhancement, sports medicine convergence are needed.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.130-139
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• 2023

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the effects and characteristics of the height of the treatment table on the force and time of ground reaction (GR) and contact hand (CH) generated from the therapist's feet to generate thrust during spinal manipulation (SM). Design: A cross-sectional survey study Methods: Thirty-six healthy subjects were recruited. SM was performed on the ilium using a knee-high table, where the therapist felt it was easy to control the subject's posture and body shape and comfortable to generate force, as well as a relatively high thigh-high table. The force and time generated by the therapist's GR and CH were simultaneously measured through a force plate. Results: As a result, there was a significant difference in peak force and rundown force at the therapist's GR according to the table height (p < 0.05). In the therapist's CH, there was a significant difference between PreMin (preload minimum) force and peak force (p < 0.05), and there was a significant difference between the time from PreMin to peak and the time of the entire section (p < 0.05). Conclusions: As a result, the generation of increased CH force and faster thrust duration were confirmed by mobilizing the reduced GR force of the therapist to generate thrust than the relatively high table on the knee-high table.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.304-310
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the change in the kinematics and kinetics of the knee joint depending on high-heeled shoes during sit-to-stand (SitTS) task. Methods: Nineteen healthy females participated in this study. The subjects performed the SitTS task wearing high-heeled shoes and barefoot. The experiment was repeated three times for each task with foot conditions. The kinematics and kinetics of the knee joint were measured and analyzed using a 3D motion analysis system. Results: The result of this study showed kinematic and kinetics differences in knee joints during the SitTS task based on high-heeled shoes. Significant differences in knee flexion angle were observed during SitTS. The knee extensor force showed statistically significant differences during SitTS tasks. At the initial of SitTS, the knee flexor and extensor moment showed significant differences. The knee extensor moment showed statistically significant differences at the terminal of SitTS. At the maximum of SitTS, the knee extensor moment showed statistically significant differences. Conclusion: Therefore, wearing high-heeled shoes during SitTS movements in daily life is considered to influence knee joint kinematics and kinetics due to the HH, suggesting the possibility of increased risk of patellofemoral pain, and knee osteoarthritis caused by changes in loading of the knee joint.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.315-325
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• 2022

Background: Firefighters are required to carry self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), which increases the risk of musculoskeletal disorders. This study assessed the newly recruited firefighters' internal forces and potential musculoskeletal disorders when carrying SCBA. The effects of SCBA strap lengths were also evaluated. Methods: Kinematic parameters of twelve male subjects running in a control condition with no SCBA equipped and three varying-strapped SCBAs were measured using 3D inertial motion capture. Subsequently, motion data and predicted ground reaction force were inputted for subject-specific musculoskeletal modeling to estimate joint and muscle forces. Results: The knee was exposed to the highest internal force when carrying SCBA, followed by the rectus femoris and hip, while the shoulder had the lowest force compared to the no-SCBA condition. Our model also revealed that adjusting SCBA straps length was an efficient strategy to influence the force that occurred at the lumbar spine, hip, and knee regions. Grey relation analysis indicated that the deviation of the center of mass, step length, and knee flexion-extension angle could be used as the predictor of musculoskeletal disorders. Conclusion: The finding suggested that the training of the newly recruits focuses on the coordinated movement of muscle and joints in the lower limb. The strap lengths around 98-105 cm were also recommended. The findings are expected to provide injury interventions to enhance the occupational health and safety of the newly recruited firefighters.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.64 no.1
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• pp.136-142
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• 2015

In the paper, a design method of knee and pelvis joint in the biped robot is proposed for shock absorption and gravity compensation. Similarly to the human's body, the knee joints of the biped robot support most body weight and get a shock from the landing motion of the foot on the floor. The torque of joint motor is also increased sharply to keep the balance of the robot. Knee and pelvis joints with the spring are designed to compensate the gravity force and reduce the contact shock of the robot. To verify the efficiency of the proposed design method, we develope a biped robot with the joint mechanism using springs. At first, we experiment with the developed robot on the static motions such as the bent-knee posture both without load and with load on the flat ground, and the balance posture on the incline plane. The current of knee joint is measured to analyze the impact force and energy consumption of the joint motors. Also, we observe the motor current of knee and pelvis joints for the walking motion of the biped robot. The current responses of joint motors show that the proposed method has an effect on shock reduction and gravity compensation, and improve the energy efficiency of walking motions for the biped robot.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.22-37
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• 1999

It was recently reported that exercise-induced fatigue is related to joint position sense although some controversy remains. The purposes of this study were to examine the effect on the accuracy of reproducing the knee angles after a fatiguing isokinetic quadriceps exercise at four different levels (10%, 30%, 50%, and 70% of maximal force) and to find the optimal exercise level without causing knee joint proprioception impairment. Forty healthy women, ages 19 to 27, were randomly assigned to four experimental groups. Before and after the exercise, accuracy of positioning with respect to auditory feedback for specific angles was estimated by calculating the mean errors between specific angles and reproduction angles. Fatigue was measured by EMG signals displayed by a frequency spectrum analysis during the quadriceps exercise. Results showed that there was no significant difference in accuracy of the knee joint positioning sense following the exercises in group 1, group 2, and group 3 (10%, 30%, and 50% of maximal force, respectively); the exception being group 4 (70%). Fatigue level was significantly increased in group 4 but there were no significant increases of fatigue level in group 1, group 2, or group 3. The results concluded that the optimal exercise level to acquire the therapeutic exercise effectiveness without position sense impairment was at 50% of maximal force. Further studies using large sample size and patient groups with poor knee joint proprioception would be needed to confirm this conclusion and to clarify the possibility of clinical applications.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of Tai-Chi exercise (TCE) and resistance exercise (RE) when used as part of a community-based exercise program on improvement of physical function in elderly women with knee arthritis. Methods: Forty-seven women with knee arthritis participated in this study. They were assigned to one of two groups: the TCE group (n=22) or the RE group (n=25). Tai-Chi exercise and resistance exercise sessions were held for 1 hour per session, twice per week, for 8 consecutive weeks. At pre-treatment and post-treatment, subjects were tested using the following measurements: one-legged stand test (sec), a functional reach test (cm), a test of the strength of the knee extensor and flexor muscles, determination of the pathway of center of foot pressure and vertical ground reaction force for stance phase at pre and post treatment time points. An independent t-test and a ${\chi}^2$ were used to determine the significance of differences between group means using SPSS 12.0. Results: After 8 weeks of participation in the exercise programs, there were significant improvements for both groups in joint pain, difficulty of performing activity, muscle strength of knee extensor and flexor. Also, vertical ground reaction force increased at the loading response phase for both groups. The RE group was significantly different from TC group on the eyes-closed one-legged stand test (sec). Conclusion: Tai-Chi exercise and resistance exercise programs improve physical functioning and reduce pain and locomotion difficulties.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.113-127
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• 2004

Objectives : The usage of acupuncture has gained popularity as an alternative method of treatment for certain chronic pain conditions. However, the efficacy of acupuncture in various diseases has not been fully established and the underlying mechanism is not clearly understood. In the present study, the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) applied to foot samli$(ST_{36})$ on the carrageenan-induced knee arthritic pain was examined. Methods : A common source of persistent pain in humans is the knee arthritis. Knee arthritis was induced by injection of 2 % carrageenan $50\;{\mu}l$ into the knee joint cavity. When rats developed pain behaviors, EA was applied for 30 min. under enflurane anesthesia with repeated train stimuli at the intensity of 10X of muscle twitch threshold. The weight bearing force of the hind limb was measured for an indicator of pain level after each manipulation. Results : The average weight borne by the hind limb during normal gait was 55% of total body weight, which was reduced to less than 10% after knee arthritis. EA improved the weight bearing of the arthritic hind limb significantly for the duration of 4 hr. EA applied to $ST_{36}$ point produced a significant improvement of stepping force of the arthritic foot lasting for at least 4 h. However, $GB_{31}$ point did not produce any significant increase of weight bearing force. The analgesic effect was specific to the acupuncture point since the analgesic effect on the knee arthritis model could not be mimicked by EA applied to a nearby point, $GB_{31}$. The relations between EA-induced analgesia and endogenous nitric oxide(NO) and inducible NO synthase(iNOS)/neuronal NOS was also examined. Results were turned out that both NO production and nNOS/iNOS protein expression which is increased by arthritis were suppressed by EA stimulation applied to $ST_{36}$ point. Conclusions : The data suggest 1) that EA produces a potent analgesic effect on the rat model of chronic knee arthritis pain in a point specific manner and 2) that EA-induced analgesia modulate endogenous NO through the suppression of nNOS/iNOS protein expression.