• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 2021

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of trigger finger on pain, muscle strength and function in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) patients. METHODS: A total of 60 subjects (30 carpal tunnel syndrome with trigger finger and 30 carpal tunnel syndrome without trigger finger) were assessment for pain, muscle strength (power grip, key pinch , tip to tip pinch, three jaw pinch) and function. The effect sizes of the two groups were compared, and the correlation between the trigger finger and each variable was analyzed. RESULTS: The results showed that there were significantly difference in the pain, muscle strength excluding three jaw pinch and function (p < .05). The results also showed correlation between trigger finger and pain (r = .552), muscle strength excluding three jaw pinch (power grip r = -.296, key pinch r = -.260, tip to tip pinch r = -.285), and function (r = .375). The function of carpal tunnel syndrome patients was related to pain (r = .550) and power grips (r = -.324) of muscle strength. CONCLUSION: In carpal tunnel syndrome patients with trigger finger compared to carpal tunnel syndrome, muscle weakness, pain increase, and function reduction were shown. In addition, trigger finger are correlated with muscle strength, pain and function, and muscle weakness and increased pain affect the daily living of carpal tunnel syndrome patients with triggers finger. Therefore, physical therapy interventions of carpal tunnel syndrome patients with trigger finger should be combined with treatment for muscle strength enhancement as well as pain reduction.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.333-345
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• 2022

This study developed and evaluated the motion control of 3D printed fingers applied to smart gloves. Four motions were programmed by assembling the module using the Arduino program: cylindrical grasping, spherical grasping, tip-to-tip pinch gripping, and three-jaw pinch gripping. Cap and re-entrant (RE) strip types were designed to model the finger. Two types of modeling were printed using filaments of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). The prepared samples were evaluated using three types of pens for cylidrical grasping, three types of balls for spherical grasping, and two types of cards for tip-to-tip pinch gripping and three-jaw pinch gripping. The motion control of fingers was connected using five servo motors to the number of each control board. Cylindrical and spherical grasping were moved by controlling the fingers at 180° and 150°, respectively. Pinch gripping was controlled using a tip-to-tip pinch motion controlled by the thumb at 30° and index-middle at 0° besides a three-jaw pinch motion controlled by the thumb-index finger-middle at 30°, 0°, and 0°, respectively. As a result of the functional evaluation, the TPE of 3D-printed fingers was more flexible than those of TPU. RE strip type of 3D-printed fingers was more suitable for the motion control of fingers than the 3D-printed finger.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.275-280
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• 2009

Purpose：We have investigated to analysis biomechanics for pinch strength due to elbow flexion degree. Methods：Pinch strength was measured by Electro Dynamometer(G-100) using four elbow flexion degree ($0^{\circ}$, $45^{\circ}$, $90^{\circ}$, $135^{\circ}$). Results：In experimental results, we found that pinch strengths were 5.4kg($0^{\circ}$), 4.8kg($45^{\circ}$), 5.6kg($90^{\circ}$) and 5.2kg($135^{\circ}$), respectively. The Pinch strengths got maximum at $90^{\circ}$ degree, minimum at $45^{\circ}$ degree. We have calculated F1 values using $\sum$T=0. As a result F1 values were 540N($0^{\circ}$), 480N($45^{\circ}$), 560N($90^{\circ}$) and 520N($135^{\circ}$), respectively. F1 values got maximum at $90^{\circ}$ degree, minimum at $45^{\circ}$ degree. Data curve line of $F_1$ values was increased in 45~90 section and decreased in 0~45, 90~135 sections, respectively. Conclusion：$F_1$ (Flexor digitorum superficialis and profundus) values were 10 times bigger than pinch strengths. Data curve line of $F_1$ values was similar to active length-tension curve in 45~90, 90~135 sections.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.18-27
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• 2002

Introduction : Exercise has been suggested as an important nursing strategy in which to help elderly maintain functional performance and to enhanced quality of life. Most of exercise study has been reported on fitness exercise such as walking, swimming, dance etc for health of elderly. There have been few reports about exercise on the promotion of small and fine movement of elderly. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine an effect of 6 weeks hand and finger exercise in home to improve hand muscle strength such as grip strength and finger pinch pressure. Materials and Methods Design: This pilot study was used one group pre and post-test design. Sample: Twelve elderly women above 60 years of age or older living in community were selected by convenient sampling. Procedure: Signed informed consent was obtained prior to participate in this study. The authors met elderly and taught hand and finger exercise, daily a week for 6 weeks, within 30 minutes per session. But exercise frequency and strength were not same. Instruments: Left and right grip strength were measured by Bulb Dynamometer(made in USA) and left and right pinch pressure were measured by Baseline Hydraulic Pinch Gauge(made in USA). Data analysis: Discriptive data analyses were performed on all variables. Wilcoxon matched-pairs Signed-Ranks test were used to find difference of grip strength and pinch pressure between pre and post exercise using SPSS 10.0 for Window. Results: Samples age ranged from 60 to 73, Mean age was 65.3. All were women. Ten elderly were diagnosed osteoarthritis and one had DM. After six weeks hand and finger exercise, Left and right grip strength were higher than those of before exercise(Z=-2.667, P<0.01 ; Z=-3.065, p<0.01). And left pinch pressure after hand and linger exercise were higher than that of before pinch pressure (Z=-2.315, p<0.05). But Right pinch pressure was not shown significant change(Z=-1.099, p>0.05). Conclusions: Although this study was limited by the sample size and design, the findings provide some important implications for community based exercise nursing intervention. Short term (six weeks) exercise of hand and linger is shown to be useful as nursing intervention to maintain routine daily activities such as eating, writing, grip something for elderly.

• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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• v.37 no.4 s.112
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• pp.44-51
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• 2005

Paper mills use and discharge lots of water. And so now the papermaking industry could be classified into major water consuming industry In order to analyze the process water network and to establish the mass, water balance of duplex board mill, computer aided simulation was made using water pinch method. Based on the pinch analysis results, reuse of process water, after regenerating by microfilter as much as $140\;m^3/hr$, could be suggested without significant accumulation of contaminants in process water. According to this suggestion about $3000\;m^3/day$ of recycled process water could be sub stituted by regenerated water and consequently $30\%$ of energy cost is expected to be reduced.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.75-79
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of $\alpha$-wave music and art appreciation on hand function. Methods: A total of 22 university students participated in this study (10 males and 12 females). Twelve subjects received $\alpha$-wave music and art appreciation. The other subjects received neither. All subjects were assessed for hand function (manual dexterity, power grip, pinch, lateral pinch, tactile sense) using a Purdue pegboard, dynamometer, pinch gauge, and Semmes-Weinstein monofilament wire. The data were analyzed using paired and independent t-tests. Results: The results were as follows: 1. In the experimental group, manual dexterity and tactile sense were significantly increased between pre- and post-intervention (p<0.05). Within the control group, manual dexterity and power grip were significantly increased between pre- and post-test (p<0.05). 2. With regard to dexterity and tactile sense, the experimental group experienced a significant post-intervention increase compared to the control group (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in power grip, pinch, or lateral pinch changes between the two groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study show that $\alpha$-wave music and art appreciation affect hand function with regard to manual dexterity and tactile sense.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.657-682
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• 2011

This paper presents the dynamic analysis on the joint torque of a finger for the tip pinch task. The dynamic model on finger movement was developed in order to predict the joint torques of an index finger, and the finger was assumed as a three-link planar manipulator. Analysis of the model revealed that the joint stiffness was one of the most important parameters affecting the joint torque. The stiffness of the finger joint was experimentally measured, and it was used in analyzing the finger joint torque required for performing the tip pinch task. The obtained joint torque for the tip pinch task will be used as the design requirements of the finger exoskeletal orthosis actuated by the polymer actuator whose allowable torque limit is relatively low compared to that of a mechanical actuator.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.11-21
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• 2022

PURPOSE: This study examined the changes in the handgrip strength, dexterity, and hand function according to the presence or absence of gloves and types of gloves. METHODS: Seventy-six adults in their twenties (male: 24, female: 52, mean age 21.04 years) were the subjects of this study. The handgrip strength, dexterity, and hand function were evaluated with bare hands without gloves, poly gloves, and latex gloves. The handgrip strength was measured using a dynamometer, and three pinch strength tests were performed: tip pinch, lateral pinch, and three-jaw pinch. The hand dexterity was evaluated using the Minnesota manual dexterity test, and the hand function was evaluated using the Jabson-Taylor hand function test. RESULTS: There was no difference in the grip strength depending on whether the gloves were worn. The hand grip, dexterity, and hand function showed significant differences according to the type of glove. Regarding the handgrip, dexterity, and hand function, the latex glove had the best function, and the poly glove had the lowest function. CONCLUSION: There was a difference in dexterity among the hand functions but no difference in grip strength according to the type of glove. The results suggest that the use of latex gloves in daily life be recommended.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.788-795
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• 1996

In this paper, and optimum profile of a cam being used in a VTR Deck mechanism is designed by the response surface analysis. The objective function of the design is to reduce driving torque of the pinch roller system that is used to compress video tape to the capstan motor axia. The pinch roller system that will be designed is modeled using the general purpopse mechanism analysis program DADS. The computer model is compared with the physical system for reliability. A model function to represent relationship between design variables and the objective function is estimated by the response surface analysis. Once the model function is reliably estimated the optimal design is carried out using the model function and each design variable's boundaries. To verify improvement of the pinch roller system, a prototype for the pinch rooler system is made and tested. From the test result, an optimum cam profile to resuce driving torque of the pinch roller system is verified.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.1165-1173
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• 2008

An water-reuse network design has drawn attention as a systematic method of reducing fresh water usage and increasing water-using efficiency. The final goal of an eco-industrial park(EIP) is accomplishing industrial sustainability and constructing water-reuse network can be a solution. When designing water-reuse network connecting various processes which consume water, the water pinch technology can be used frequently, since it simultaneously minimize freshwater usage and wastewater discharge. In this research water pinch technology is applied to develop an effective water-reuse network in an EIP. Three scenarios based on different reusing strategies were developed. The results show that the final water-reuse network can reduce the total fresh water usage more than 30%, while the water expenses decrease by 20%. It can be concluded that water pinch technology is an effective tool to optimize water-reuse network among different industrial facilities.