• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.379-385
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare kinematics on lower limbs between stair walking with high heel and barefoot in healthy adult women. Methods: 18 healthy adult women were recruited in this study. The subjects performed stair ascent and descent with high heels and barefoot. The experiment was conducted in random order and repeated three times for each stair walking with high heels and barefoot. The movements of lower limb joints were measured and analyzed using a three-dimensional analysis system. Results: The ankle, knee, and hip flexion angles on the sagittal plane exhibited statistically significant differences between stair ascent and descent with high heels and barefoot. The pelvic forward tilt angles showed statistically significant differences only during stair ascent. The ankle inversion, hip abduction and pelvic lateral tilt angles on the frontal plane showed statistically significant differences between stair walking with high heels and barefoot. On the transverse plane, the hip rotation angles showed statistically significant differences between the high-heeled and barefoot gait during stair ascent and descent. However, the pelvic rotation angles showed no statistically significant differences. Conclusion: Therefore, wearing high-heeled shoes during stair walking in daily life is considered to influence lower limb kinematics due to the high heel, and thus poses the risks of pain, and low stability and joint damage caused by changes in the movement of lower limb joints.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2013.05a
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• pp.1451-1452
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• 2013

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.74-81
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare kinematics and kinetics on the knee joint between stair gait with unstable shoes and barefoot in healthy adult women. Methods: Seventeen healthy adult women were recruited for this study. The subjects performed stair ascent and descent with unstable shoes and barefoot. The experiment was repeated three times for each stair gait with unstable shoes and barefoot. Measurement and analysis of the movements of the knee joint were performed using a three-dimensional analysis system. Results: Statistically significant differences in the knee muscle force of semimembranosus, biceps femoris-long head, biceps femoris-short head and sartorius, patellar ligament, medial gastrocnemius, and lateral gastrocnemius were observed between unstable shoes and barefoot gait during stair ascent. Statistically significant differences in the knee muscle force of sartorius, rectus femoris, medial gastrocnemius, and lateral gastrocnemius were observed between unstable shoes and barefoot gait during stair descent. Statistically significant differences in the knee flexor moment of semitendinosus, biceps femoris-long head, biceps femoris-short head, sartorius, rectus femoris, vastus intermedialis, medial gastrocnemius, and lateral gastrocnemius were observed between unstable shoes and barefoot gait during stair ascent. Conclusion: Therefore, wearing unstable shoes during stair gait in daily life is considered to influence knee joint kinematics and kinetics due to the unstable shoes, and thus suggest the possibility that reducing the risks of pain, and knee osteoarthritis, stabilizing the knee joint caused by changes in the loading of the knee joint.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.55-64
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• 2013

The first purpose was to identify the plantar pressure distributions (peak pressure, pressure integral time, and contact area) during level walking, and stair ascent and descent in asymptomatic flexible flatfoot (AFF). The second purpose was to investigate whether peak pressure data during level walking could be used to predict peak pressure during stair walking by identifying correlations between the peak pressures of level walking and stair walking. Twenty young adult subjects (8 males and 12 females, age $21.0{\pm}1.7$ years) with AFF were recruited. A distance greater than 10 mm in a navicular drop test was defined as flexible flatfoot. Each subject performed at least 10 steps during level walking, and stair ascent and descent. The plantar pressure distribution was measured in nine foot regions using a pressure measurement system. A two-way repeated analysis of variance was conducted to examine the differences in the three dependent variables with two within-subject factors (activity type and foot region). Linear regression analysis was conducted to predict peak pressure during stair walking using the peak pressure in the metatarsal regions during level walking. Significant interaction effects were observed between activity type and foot region for peak pressure (F=9.508, p<.001), pressure time integral (F=5.912, p=.003), and contact area (F=15.510, p<.001). The regression equations predicting peak pressure during stair walking accounted for variance in the range of 25.7% and 65.8%. The findings indicate that plantar pressures in AFF were influenced by both activity type and foot region. Furthermore the findings suggest that peak pressure data during level walking could be used to predict the peak pressure data during stair walking. These data collected for AFF can be useful for evaluating gait patterns and for predicting pressure data of flexible flatfoot subjects who have difficulty performing activities such as stair walking. Further studies should investigate plantar pressure distribution during various functional activities in symptomatic flexible flatfoot, and consider other predictors for regression analysis.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.12-22
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of taping on knee joint for patellofemoral compressive force (PCF) during stair descent for elderly women. Ten healthy elderly women voluntarily participated in this study. A three-dimensional motion analysis system and force plates were used to analyze the movements of the joints for the lower extremities. The results were as follows: There were no significant differences for the maximum PCF, maximum quadriceps contraction force and maximum knee extension moment (p>.05) but, there was a pattern decreasing all values with the taping during stair descent. There were significant differences for the knee and ankle angle on the event of maximum PCF (p<.05) and there was a pattern decreasing all values with the taping during stair descent. Therefore, taping on the knee would be effective to relieve the pain like patellofemoral pain syndrome in the knee joint.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.208-214
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• 2022

Background: Pronated foot posture (PFP) contributes to excessive dynamic knee valgus (DKV). Although foot orthoses such as medial arch support (MAS) are widely and easily used in clinical practice and sports, few studies have investigated the effect of MAS on the improvement of DKV during stair descent in individuals with a PFP. Moreover, no studies reported the degree of improvement in DKV according to the severity of PFP when MAS was applied. Objects: This study aimed to examine the immediate effect of MAS on DKV during stair descent and determine the correlation between navicular drop distance and changes in DKV when MAS is applied. Methods: Twenty individuals with a PFP (15 males and five females) participated in this study. The navicular drop test was used to measure PFP severity. The frontal plane projection angle (FPPA) was calculated under two conditions, with and without MAS application, using 2-dimensional video analysis. Results: During stair descent, the FPPA with MAS (173.1° ± 4.7°) was significantly greater than that without MAS (164.8° ± 5.8°) (p < 0.05). There was also a significant correlation between the navicular drop distance and improvement in the FPPA when MAS was applied (r = 0.453, p = 0.045). Conclusion: MAS application can affect the decrease in DKV during stair descent. In addition, MAS application should be considered to improve the knee alignment for individuals with greater navicular drop distance.

• The Journal of the Institute of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.109-116
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• 2023

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of gender and load carriage difference on the lower extremity kinetics during stair descent. Ten healthy males and 10 healthy females were recruited (n=20). In the Maximum resultant velocity, it showed more velocity was decreased with difference by the change of gender (males>females) and load carriage (30%, 20%, 10%> 10%). And, resultant velocity showed interaction between gender and a load (load>gender). Main effect by gender during stair descent showed leg length was decreased in females than that of males at initial contact phase. Also, main effect by gender during stair descent showed more hip, knee flexed and plantar flexion of ankle joint in females than that of males. In the kinetics variables, main effect by gender during stair descent showed more higher reaction force of medial-lateral direction, and leg stiffness in males than that of females. We found that females successfully accommodated a load during stair descent by decreasing the range of motion of the hip joint angle and resultant velocity of movement. Males, on the other hand, require greater medial-lateral, vertical reaction force, and leg stiffness to accommodate a load, and control of momentum.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.93-104
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate lower-limb joint torque of the two groups as it changed by somatosensory stimulation during the descent down three stairs of different heights and to describe the difference between the two groups, which are young people group and elderly people group. Subjects of each groups climbed down a stair at four stimulation conditions, which are non-stimulation, tibialis anterior tendon stimulation, achilles tendon stimulation, tibialis anterior - achilles tendon stimulation. Motion capture data were collected using 3D optoelectric motion tracking system that utilizes active infrared LEDs, near infrared sensor and force plate. The obtained motion capture data was used to build 3D computer simulation model. The results show that lower-limb joint torque of the two groups changed with somatosensory stimulation as they descended the stairs and the joint torque of the two groups differed from each other.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.267-275
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of balance ability improvement exercise program which applied to the elderly people for increasing balance, stability and range of motion. Ten elderly people and ten university students were recruited as the subjects. Kinematic data were collected by seven real-time infrared cameras while subjects walk stair descent as a pre-test. Korean folk dance exercise program was applied to the elderly for 12 weeks. Same experiment on stair descent walk was performed as post-test. Results indicated that CM movement and selected joint angle patterns of elderly group after treatment changed to the similar patterns of young group. However, ankle joint angle and vertical GRF of elderly group after treatment also increased compared to those of the elderly group before treatment. This might be explained by the fact that elderly used a different walking strategy which maximize support base for increasing stability. Overall, these results indicated that the exercise treatment may affect to adapt and improve the gait pattern of stair descent of elderly people.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.181-187
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• 2017

Objective: The aim of the study was to compare & analyze on the variations of ground reaction force during ascending and descending of bus stair. Method: Simulated wooden stair of bus (raiser: 37.66 cm, width: 109 cm, tread: 29 cm) and GRF system (AMTI-OR-7/ AMTI., USA) was set up within experimental room. Adult female (n=8) performed ascending & descending of simulated bus stair, and variables analyzed consisted of TT (transfer-time), PVF (peak vertical force), LR (loading rate), DR (decay rate), CV (coefficient of variation) and AI (asymmetry index). Sample data from GRF cut off at 1,000 Hz. Results: TT showed shortest variation at phase 1 during descending, but longest variation at phase 1 during ascending of stair. PVF19 (Fz2, 100%) showed large pattern during descending than that of ascending, but rather showed small pattern during ascending of stair in case of PVF2 (Fz4). LR showed larger pattern during descending than that of ascending, but rather during ascending of stair in case of DR. Variation of CV (%) did not show difference between LR and DR, but showed higher possible occurrence of variation during descending of stair. Also AI (%) showed higher index during ascending than that of descending of stair. Conclusion: Because introduction of lowered bus stair has various realistic problems, if lined up at designated bus stopage exactly, rather can solve problems of inconvenience, reduce impulsive force and secure a stability of COG during ascending & descending of stair.