• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.976-986
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• 1996

BACKGROUND : Dyspnea is common among patients with cardiopulmonary disease, and "daily disability" is defined as a functional impairment resulting from exercise intolerance. The maximal oxygen uptake(VO2max) during exhausting work is not only the best single physical indicator of the capacity of a man for sustaining hard muscular work, but also the most objective method by which one can determine the physical fitness of an individual as reflected by his cardiovascular system. However, the expense, time and personnel requirements make this procedure prohibitive for testing large group. The walking test is well-known type of exercise and it cost nothing to perform and have good reproducibility. Thus we performed the walking test and investigated correlations with spirometry, ABG and exercise test. METHOD: We observed the walking test and exercise test by cycle ergometer in 37 patients who visited our hospital because of dyspnea. Arterial blood gas analysis and spiromety, dyspnea index were performed, too. RESULT : (1) The VO2max was significantly lower in patients with COPD and cardiovascular disease than asthma and dyspnea on exertion group(p<0.05). The walking test distance was also lower in former. (2) The 12 minute walking test was significantly correlated with VO2max, PaCO2, FVC(%), FEV1(%) in all patients(p<0.05), and the walking test was only conelated with VO2max in patients with COPD(p<0.05). (3) In COPD patients, the VO2max was best correlated with FEV1(%) and FVC(%) and significantly correlated with walking test. But there was no correlation between walking test and FEV1(%) & FVC(%). (4) The 6 minute walking test was well correlated with 12 minute walking test(r=0.92. p<0.01). CONCLUSION : The walking test is the simple method for assessing exercise performance in patient with cardiopulmonary disease and a reliable indicator for VO2max. And the walking test is practical method for assessing on everyday disability rather than maximal exercise capacity. The 6 minute walking test is highly correlated with 12 minute walking test and a less exhausting for the patients and a time-saving for the investigator.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2009

Recently, the interest on walking assistances in order to assist aged people has increased due to the increase of the aged. However, most walking aid systems have a weakness for a slope because they don't have power. So, they have a weak point which makes users difficult to move when they are weak in the legs. That is why the interest on walking assistances with power has increased. The use of the walking aid systems should be easy because most users are old people. Thus, we produce module to grasp walking intent of users by using various sensors such as potentiometer, FSR(Force Sensing Resistance) Sensor and Stretch Sensor and calculate the response time to the module. Firstly, the response time of handlebar which is a kind of potentiometer is 420ms and Resilience of it is 140ms. Secondly, the response time of handlebar which use FSR Sensor is 320ms and Resilience of it is 220ms. Finally, the response time of the Stretch Sensor is 160ms and Resilience of it is 140ms. The performance of Stretch Sensor is the best among the three kind of sensors.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.235-240
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• 2024

We designed this study because it is necessary to take health care from middle age for to healthy old age. The purpose of this study was to confirm the effect of middle-aged women on the walking mechanism by applying an exercise program that can achieve the maximum effect through simple exercise regardless of time and place. A total of 20 subjects were selected from middle-aged women aged 45 years or older, with 10 calf-enhancing exercise groups and 10 control groups. As a result of comparing before and after exercise in the calf-enhancing exercise group, the step length left and right, and double support, step time, and speed were improved. As a result of comparing the walking mechanisms of the calf-enhancing exercise group and the non-exercise group after exercise, the step length left and right, and step time left and right were improved. The positive effect of the walking mechanism was shown through the calf-enhancing exercise regardless of time and place. In particular, it is judged that the stride was widened, resulting in an increase in the speed of walking due to the strength of the lower extremities and the shortening of the one-foot support section, resulting in meaningful results. In future studies, it is considered desirable to present measurement data for each life cycle by evaluating all ages, such as adolescents and the elderly, and to provide it as basic data for causing social problems due to lack of normal exercise.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2020

PURPOSE: Many patients with stroke have difficulties in walking with foot-drop. Various types of ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) have been developed, but their weight needs to be reduced with the assistance of the ankle dorsiflexor. Therefore, an elastic AFO (E-AFO) was devised that not only improves the stability and flexibility of the ankle but also assists with ankle dorsiflexion while walking. This study examined the effects of an E-AFO, on the walking patterns of foot-drop patients with stroke. METHODS: Fourteen patients walked with and without an E-AFO, and the gait parameters were assessed using the GAITRite system. The spatiotemporal data on the gait patterns of stroke patients with foot-drop were compared using paired t-tests; the level of statistical significance was set to α<.05. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed in the velocity (p=.066) and affecte+d step length (p=.980), but the affected and less-affected stance (p=.022, p=.002) and swing time (p=.012, p=.005) were significantly different. The E-AFO produced a significant difference in the less-affected step length (p=.032). CONCLUSION: The E-AFO has a significant effect on the walking patterns of individuals with foot-drop and stroke. The E-AFO could be a useful assistive device for gait training in stroke patients.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.299-309
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• 2014

When biped robots make turns, the ability to walk stably and precisely along any circular path is crucial. In this context, inverse kinematics solutions are found for accurate gait realization, and new zero moment point(ZMP) equations are derived with respect to the cyclindrical coordinate system to facilitate generation of stable walking patterns. Then, appropriate steady and transitional walking patterns are both proposed in form of time functons. Subsequently, walking patterns for a path but of different speeds are generated using the functions and associated formulas, and preliminarily checked for stability based on the ZMP equations. Upon comparison of those cases, one can see how and when robots may fall down during circular walking. Finally, those patterns are put to test on the sample robot by ADAMS(R) along with the inverse kinematics solutions and a new balance control scheme compensating for insufficient stability particulary during the initial transition period. Test results show that the robot can walk along the circular path as predicted at a resonably high speed despite the distributed mass and ground contact effects, validating effectiveness of the suggested approach.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.963-968
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• 2010

This paper handles ZMP based control that is inspired by neural networks for humanoid robot walking on varying sloped surfaces. Humanoid robots are currently one of the most exciting research topics in the field of robotics, and maintaining stability while they are standing, walking or moving is a key concern. To ensure a steady and smooth walking gait of such robots, a feedforward type of neural network architecture, trained by the back propagation algorithm is employed. The inputs and outputs of the neural network architecture are the ZMPx and ZMPy errors of the robot, and the x, y positions of the robot, respectively. The neural network developed allows the controller to generate the desired balance of the robot positions, resulting in a steady gait for the robot as it moves around on a flat floor, and when it is descending slope. In this paper, experiments of humanoid robot walking are carried out, in which the actual position data from a prototype robot are measured in real time situations, and fed into a neural network inspired controller designed for stable bipedal walking.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.74-83
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• 2008

Purpose: To identify the effect of walking exercise on the body composition and physical fitness in obese college women. Method: The research design was a nonequivalent control group pretest posttest. Thirty-seven subjects were surveyed using a structured questionnaire, and measured for body composition and physical fitness. Twenty persons in the experimental group among the total sample participated in a 12-week walking program. The data were analyzed by $x^2$-test, and t-test with SPSS 10.1 program. Results: 1) BMI, body fat mass and percentage of body fat in body composition were significantly decreased in the experimental group compared to the control. However, there was no significant difference in skeletal muscle mass between the two groups. 2) Power among physical fitness was significantly increased in the experimental group. However, there was no significant difference in muscular strength (back strength), flexibility (sit and reach), muscular endurance (abdomen curl), power (standing high jump) or agility (trunk reaction time) between the two groups. Conclusion: The above results, confirmed the effectiveness of walking exercise as an effective nursing intervention in order to improve body composition.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2019

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of aqua-noodles on the practice of underwater walking in patients with hemiplegia. Method: After an oral explanation and signing an IRB approved consent form 10 participants ($66.8{\pm}10.75yr$, $165.3{\pm}8.79cm$, $73.6{\pm}46kg$) agreed to participate in this study. Each of the participants was required to walk with the aqua noodles and without the aqua-noodles in a swimming pool. Each participant was asked to walk a distance of 5 m a total of 10 times, 5 with and 5 without the aqua-noodles. The depth of the swimming pool was at 1.3 m, approximately chest height. The following variables were calculated for analysis; height of the knee (m), knee joint ROM ($^{\circ}$), ankle joint ROM ($^{\circ}$), knee joint maximum angular velocity ($^{\circ}/sec$), and ankle joint maximum angular velocity ($^{\circ}/sec$). Results: First, there was a significant increase in time (s) for the maximum knee height to reach as well as the maximum knee height (m) increased when the participant used the aqua-noodles. Second, there was a statistically significant decrease in stride length when the aqua-noodles were used. Conclusion: This study helps to verify that the effect of underwater walking exercise can provide a suitable walking exercise environment. The results of this study provide systematic scientific information about how walking in water can be used for the rehabilitation of patients and the elderly.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.37-44
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• 2021

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of functional electrical stimulation (FES) on temporal-spatial gait and the activities of daily living in hemiplegic stroke patients. METHODS: The subjects were 29 hemiplegic stroke patients (57.7 ± 10.3). The patients walked at a self-controlled speed in four states: (1) walking without FES (non-FES), (2) walking with FES on the gluteus medius in the stance phase (GM), (3) walking with FES on the common peroneal nerve and tibialis anterior in the swing phase (PT), (4) walking with both GM and PT. A GAITRite system, Timed-Functional Movements battery, and Timed UP and Go test were used to measure the variables. RESULTS: Significant improvements were observed in all variables of the GM+PT, GM, and PT states compared to the non-FES state (p < .05). There were significant improvements in the GM+PT state compared to GM and PT states (p < .05). Moreover, significant improvements were noted in the single support time on the affected side, backward walking 10ft, and side stepping 10ft on the affected side of the GM state compared to the PT state (p < .05). There were significant improvements in the stride length on the affected side and side stepping 10ft on the unaffected side of the PT state compared to the GM state (p < .05). CONCLUSION: FES is effective in improving the temporal-spatial gait and activities of daily living in hemiplegic stroke patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 2024

Purpose: This study was conducted to verify the effect of applying a pressure biofeedback unit on walking ability and knee joint function while performing knee joint extensor strengthening exercises using resistance exercise equipment in total knee replacement (TKR) patients. Methods: This study was conducted on twelve patients receiving rehabilitation treatment after being admitted to a rehabilitation hospital post-TKR. Of these, six were allocated to a feedback group with a pressure biofeedback unit, and the other 6 were allocated to a control group without a pressure biofeedback unit. The subjects performed an exercise program for 45 minutes per session, five times a week, for two weeks. Walking ability and knee joint function were evaluated and analyzed before and after exercise. Results: The feedback group showed significantly better improvements in walking speed, gait cycle, step length on the non-operation side, time on the foot on the operation side, K-WOMAC stiffness, and K-WOMAC function than the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: When strengthening the knee joint extensor muscles using resistance exercise equipment in TKR patients, the provision of a pressure biofeedback unit was found to improve walking ability and knee joint function by inducing concentric-eccentric contraction of the knee joint extensor muscles. Therefore, the study shows that exercise based on the provision of a pressure biofeedback unit should be considered when strengthening knee joint extensor muscles to improve the walking ability and knee joint function of TKR patients in clinical practice.