• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
• /
• v.14 no.7
• /
• pp.672-678
• /
• 2008

This paper proposes a new rehabilitation robot with upper and lower limb connections for gait training. As humans change a walking speed, their nervous systems adapt muscle activation patterns to modify arm swing for the appropriate frequency. By analyzing this property, we can find a relation between arm swinging and lower limb motions. Thus, the lower limb motion can be controlled by the arm swing for walking speed adaptation according to a patent's intension. This paper deals with the design aspects of the suggested gait rehabilitation robot, including a trajectory planning and a control strategy. The suggested robot is mainly composed of upper limb and lower limb devices, a body support system. The lower limb device consists of a slider device and two 2-dof footpads to allow walking training at uneven and various terrains. The upper limb device consists of an arm swing handle and switches to use as a user input device for walking. The body support system will partially support a patient's weight to allow the upper limb motions. Finally, we showed simulation results for the designed trajectory and controller using a dynamic simulation tool.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.4 no.3
• /
• pp.183-192
• /
• 2009

Purpose：This study was conducted to investigate whether modified CIMT with Kinesio-Taping on paretic upper limb effects upper limb function in stroke patients in comparison to those receiving only modified CIMT. Methods：20 out-patients with hemiplegia were randomly assigned to either an experimental or a control group. Both groups received modified CIMT during a 10-week period. Additionally, an experimental group received modified CIMT with Kinesio-Taping on paretic upper limb and trunk. Results：In Manual function test, Grip strength, Jebsen-Taylor hand function test, MAL(Motor Activity Log) and Functional independence measure (FIM) were significantly different at all intervals of the study period(0, 3, 6, 10-week) in the experimental and control groups(p<.05). Exceptionally there was no significant difference in Jebsen-Taylor hand function test between the experimental and control groups. Conclusion：These results suggest that modified CIMT with Kinesio-taping improve the upper limb function. And also increase usage of affected upper limb and assist in daily living activity more than only modified CIMT.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.79-85
• /
• 2011

In this paper, we proposed a design of upper-limb rehabilitation device with power-assist function for stroke survivals. The designed upper-limb rehabilitation device has three degrees of freedom； it is possible to perform flexion and extension motions of wrist, index finger and the other fingers except the thumb independently. The power-assist for wrist motion is performed by a pneumatic double-acting cylinder, but the fingers are actuated by electrical linear actuators to assist motions. A prototype upper-limb rehabilitation device and its controller were implemented. The position controller showed 0.8 mm errors in the steady-state. Experimental results showed that the proposed upper-limb rehabilitation device with power-assist function is feasible.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.367-375
• /
• 2023

Most partial hand amputees experience limited wrist movement, which hinders the efficient functioning of upper limb, affecting hand-to-use coordination and the usability of the prosthetic hand. This limitation can lead to secondary musculoskeletal issues due to repetitive compensatory movement patterns. However, current partial hand prosthetic lack rotational wrist movement due to challenges in accommodating various hand shapes and limited space. In our study, we proposed a prosthetic hand with a wrist rotation module for partial hand amputees, aiming to reduce compensatory movement. To validate the proposed wrist rotation module, we conducted motion analysis during reach-to-grasp task. Furthermore, during the Jebsen-Taylor hand function test, we evaluated both the effect on upper limb movement and the usability of the prosthetic hand, comparing configurations with and without the wrist rotation module. The results showed that the prosthetic hand equipped with rotational wrist movements reduces compensatory movements and promotes efficient upper limb movement patterns. This finding highlights the value of incorporating a wrist rotation module in prosthetic hands to improve upper limb movement for partial hand amputees.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.311-320
• /
• 2010

This study aimed to examine the development and characteristics of the workers with upper limb musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders and to analyze the upper limb musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders for its relationship with the individual socio-demographic characteristics. This study investigated the effect on the limitations of physical activities using standardized surveillance tool and clinical diagnosis. Musculoskeletal symptoms and the limitations of physical activities were examined. The clinical diagnosis of musculoskeletal disorders were carried out by physical examination, radiological examination and electromyography-electroneuronography for 22 workers in kitchen hood assembly process and 50 workers in toggle process of leather product manufacturing. The proportion of workers with musculoskeletal disorders was higher and the DASH score was also statistically higher in female and aged workers with longer working hours, longer household working hours, less leisure/hobby activity and higher physical load. Physical activities component score increased in the following order: workers in normal health, workers with musculoskeletal symptoms, and workers with musculoskeletal disorders as clinically diagnosed. Score for each DASH component increased in the following order: sports/performing arts ability, social activities, specific physical functional activities, work or other regular daily activities, work ability, psychological activities, insomnia and upper limb symptoms. The overall and each component DASH scores were higher in workers with symptoms of status praesens and of more severity, and receiving medical intervention. Musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders are associated with individual socio-demographic characteristics, and DASH score for physical activities of upper limb was higher in workers with musculoskeletal disorders. Musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders have a remarkable epidemiological significance for physical activities, social activities, work or other regular daily activities, upper limb symptoms and insomnia, where work ability, sports/performing arts ability and preventive measure is needed.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.85-98
• /
• 2006

This study was performed to examine the influences of the mental practice to the hemiplegic upper limb motor function improvement. 20 minute neurologic treatment based on the neurophysiological theory, 10 minute activities of daily living training, and 10 minute mental practice 5 times a week were given in turn to the experimental group(N=11). On the other hand 20 minute neurologic treatment, and 10 minute activities of daily living training 5 times a week were given in turn to the control group(N=11). Both Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scale and Manual Function Test were used to evaluate upper limb motor recovery, upper limb motor function and movement ability. And the Motor Activity Log; Amount of Use and Motor Activity Log; Quality of Movement before training, 2 weeks after training, and 4 weeks after training were measured to assess the upper limb motor quantitatively and qualitatively each. The results are as follows. 1) Considering the interactions of the rate of change on the upper limb motor recovery, motor function, movement ability improvement, and qualitative motor improvement in ADL of experimental group and control group, the change rates of experimental group were found to be greater than those of the control group. 2) In experimental group, the higher the achievements were, the better upper motor recovery was.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.95-101
• /
• 2021

The purpose of this study was to investigate the convergence effect of focal vibration stimulation and bilateral upper limb training on the recovery of upper limb function when applied to stroke patients. For 20 stroke patients, divided into an experimental group that performed convergence intervention with focal vibration stimulation and bilateral upper limb training, and a control group who performed only bilateral upper limb training. It was conducted 20 times for 4 weeks, 30 minutes per session. Vibration stimulation was applied to the affected side of the experimental group for 30 minutes during training. Results were measured for the degree of recovery of the affected upper limb function, amount of use on the affected and unaffected sides, the quality and satisfaction in performance on use of both upper limbs. Comparisons were made within groups using a paired-sample t-test and between groups using covariance analysis. As a result of the study, the experimental group showed a significant difference in dexterity and the amount of use on the affected than the control group. The effect size was more than the small effect size in all evaluation items. Through this study, it is thought that the convergence intervention of focal vibration stimulation and bilateral upper limb trainingcan be used clinically as an effective intervention for the recovery of arm function in stroke patients.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
• /
• v.11 no.12
• /
• pp.5878-5904
• /
• 2017

This paper proposes a novel intelligent wheelchair vehicle system that enables upper limb exercises, lower limb standing exercises and rehabilitation training in a daily life. The proposed system, which can be used to prevent at least the degeneration of body movements and further atrophy of musculoskeletal system functions, considers the characteristics and mobility of the old and the disabled. Its main purpose is to help the old and the disabled perform their daily activities as much as they can, minimizing the extent of secondary disabilities. In other words, the system will provide the old and the disabled with regular and quantitative rehabilitation exercises and diagnosis using the wheelchair-based upper/lower limb rehabilitation vehicle system and then verify their effectiveness. The system comprises an electric wheelchair, a biometric module to identify individual characteristics, and an upper/lower limb rehabilitation vehicle. In this paper the design and configuration of the developed vehicle is described, and its operation method is presented. Moreover, to verify the tracking performance of the proposed system, dangerous situations according to biosignal changes occurring during the rehabilitation exercise of a non-disabled examinee are analyzed and the performance of the upper/lower limb rehabilitation exercise function depending on muscle strength is evaluated through a neural network algorithm.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.48 no.4
• /
• pp.246-251
• /
• 2015

Background: Upper limb ischemia is less common than lower limb ischemia, and relatively few cases have been reported. This paper reviews the epidemiology, etiology, and clinical characteristics of upper limb ischemia and analyzes the factors affecting functional sequelae after treatment. Methods: The records of 35 patients with acute and chronic upper limb ischemia who underwent treatment from January 2007 to December 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. Results: The median age was 55.03 years, and the number of male patients was 24 (68.6%). The most common etiology was embolism of cardiac origin, followed by thrombosis with secondary trauma, and the brachial artery was the most common location for a lesion causing obstruction. Computed tomography angiography was the first-line diagnostic tool in our center. Twenty-eight operations were performed, and conservative therapy was implemented in seven cases. Five deaths (14.3%) occurred during follow-up. Twenty patients (57.1%) complained of functional sequelae after treatment. Functional sequelae were found to be more likely in patients with a longer duration of symptoms (odds ratio, 1.251; p=0.046) and higher lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels (odds ratio, 1.001; p=0.031). Conclusion: An increased duration of symptoms and higher initial serum LDH levels were associated with the more frequent occurrence of functional sequelae. The prognosis of upper limb ischemia is associated with prompt and proper treatment and can also be predicted by initial serum LDH levels.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.106-117
• /
• 2021

This study proposes a design process for an upper limb assistive wearable soft robot that will enable the development of a clothing product for an upper limb assistive soft robot. A soft robot made of a flexible and soft material that compensates for the shortcomings of existing upper limb muscle strength assistive devices is being developed. Consequently, a clothing process of the upper limb assistive soft robot is required to increase the possibility of wearing such a device. The design process of the upper limb auxiliary soft robot is presented as follows. User analysis and required performance deduction-Soft robot design-upper limb assistive wearable soft robot prototype design and production-evaluation. After designing the clothing according to the design process, the design was revised and supplemented repeatedly according to the results of the clothing evaluation. In the post-production evaluation stage, the first and second prototypes were attached to actual subjects, and the second prototype showed better results. The developed soft robot evaluated if the functionality as a clothing function and the functionality as the utility of the device were harmonized. The convergence study utilized a process of reducing friction conducted through an understanding and cooperation between research fields. The results of this study can be used as basic data to establish the direction of prototype development in fusion research.