• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.77-84
• /
• 2015

Objective : The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of lower limb muscle activity on postural stability and ground type in elderly women subjects. Method : Forty two subjects participated in the experiment (high group - age: $74.29{\pm}4.13yr$, height: $152.44{\pm}5.54cm$, weight: $57.43{\pm}6.16kg$, BMI: $24.77{\pm}2.99$, low group - age: $77.67{\pm}5.16yr$, height: $151.40{\pm}3.93cm$, weight: $60.92{\pm}6.40kg$, BMI: $26.59{\pm}2.57$). Wireless EMG with eight channels was used. Ground types were classified as flat and cushion. Results : In the double-support phase, left and right rectus femoris, left biceps femoris, left and right tibialis anterior, and left gastrocnemius did not show a significant difference in postural stability according to ground type. However right biceps femoris and gastrocnemius showed higher muscle activity in the elderly women group with lower postural stability. In the single-support phase, left and right rectus femoris, right biceps femoris, and left and right tibialis anterior did not show a significant difference in postural stability according to ground type. In addition, left biceps femoris had higher muscle activity in the elderly women group with lower postural stability. Left gastrocnemius had higher muscle activity in the elderly women group with higher postural stability and right gastrocnemius had higher muscle activity in the elderly women group on cushion ground. Conclusion : In a dynamic postural stability and cushion ground, biceps femoris and gastrocnemius muscle activity were high. As a result, biceps femoris and gastrocnemius muscle strengthening exercise on cushion ground could be beneficial in the prevention of falling.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.195-205
• /
• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stability techniques on walking speed, trunk stability, and balance in stroke patients. Methods: Ten stroke patients volunteered to participate in the study, and each of subjects was randomly assigned to either the stability technique (ST) group (n=5) or to the treadmill (TM) group (n=5). Each therapeutic exercise program was provided for 30 minutes a day, 5 days per week for 4 weeks. The ST group performed a PNF pattern combined with stabilizing reversal and rhythmic stabilization of the PNF stability technique. Walking speed (measured using a 10-meter walking test), trunk stability (TIS), and balance (BBS, FRT) were evaluated before and after training. All data were analyzed using SPSS version 18.0. The significance level for statistical inspection was set at 0.05. Results: Both groups showed improvements on the 10-meter walking test, the trunk impairment scale, the Berg balance scale, and the functional reaching test. Conclusion: PNF stability techniques are effective for improving trunk stability, balance, and walking speed in stroke patients. For stroke patients, PNF stability techniques are very useful and effective, including in clinical practice.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.309-315
• /
• 2011

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of asymmetric muscle force in lower extremity on dynamic balance during walking. Sixteen elementary students(age: 12.3${\pm}$0.7 yrs, height: 149.4${\pm}$9.7 cm, weight 40.6${\pm}$7.8 kg) who have no musculoskeletal disorder were recruited as the subjects. Temporal parameters, M-L inclination angle of XCoM-CoP, M-L and A-P CoP, loading rate, and decay rate were determined for each trial. For each dependent variable, a independent-sample t-test was performed to test if significant difference existed between each conditions(p<.05). The displacement of antero-posterior COP during RTO-LHC1 in SG was siginificantly smaller than corresponding value in AG. In contrast, the displacement of medio-lateral COP during RTO-LHC1 in SG was greater than those of AG. It seems that imbalance of muscle force may result in increasing the medio-lateral stance in order to minimize the instability. We found that the asymmetric muscle force in the lower extremity may be a reason for the awkward control of impact force.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.67-74
• /
• 2017

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of action observation with observation type on the limits of stability and dynamic gait ability in stroke patients. METHODS: The 20 stroke patients who participated in this study were randomly divided into two experimental groups who underwent training three times a week for 4 weeks. Their balance was tested as the limit of stability with Biorescue. Their Dynamic gait ability was tested with the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) before the intervention, and after 4 weeks. Independent and paired t-tests were used to analyze the results. RESULTS: The results confirmed the limit of stability on the moving areas of the paralyzed and non-paralyzed sides. The limit of stability and dynamic gait index measurements confirmed that the moving area showed a significant difference after the intervention in the whole movement observation group (p<.05), but the partial movement observation group showed no significant difference (p>.05). A significant difference was also noted for the comparison between the both groups after the interventions (p<.05). The functional walking ability showed a significant difference when compared to the ability before the intervention, as determined by the changes in scores obtained for the dynamic gait index (p<.05). CONCLUSION: Interventions utilizing whole movement confirm that training improves stability and functional walking ability in stroke patients with disabilities in balance and walking ability.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.19 no.7
• /
• pp.258-264
• /
• 2018

This paper presents application of a differential search (DS) meta-heuristic optimization algorithm for optimal operation of a micro grid system. The DS algorithm simulates the Brownian-like random-walk movement used by an organism to migrate. The micro grid system consists of a wind turbine, a diesel generator, a fuel cell, and a photovoltaic system. The wind turbine generator is modeled by considering the characteristics of variable output. Optimization is aimed at minimizing the cost function of the system, including fuel costs and maximizing fuel efficiency to generate electric power. The simulation was applied to a micro grid system only. This study applies the DS algorithm with excellence and efficiency in terms of coding simplicity, fast convergence speed, and accuracy in the optimal operation of micro grids based on renewable energy resources, and we compared its optimum value to other algorithms to prove its superiority.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
• /
• v.17 no.7
• /
• pp.67-76
• /
• 2012

This paper proposes an efficient method that helps a visually impaired person to detect a pavement borderline. A pedestrian is equipped with a camera so that the front view of a natural scene is captured. Our approach analyzes the captured image and detects the borderline of a pavement in a very robust manner. Our approach performs the task in two steps. In a first step, our approach detects a vanishing point and vanishing lines by applying an edge operator. The edge operator is designed to take a threshold value adaptively so that it can handle a dynamic environment robustly. The second step is to determine the borderlines of a pavement based on vanishing lines detected in the first step. It analyzes the vanishing lines to form VRays that confines the pavement only. The VRays segments out the pavement region in a radial manner. We compared our approach against Canny edge detector. Experimental results show that our approach detects borderlines of a pavement very accurately in various situations.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
• /
• v.45 no.3
• /
• pp.20-31
• /
• 2008

In this paper, we propose a single view-based technique for the estimation of human height and position. Conventional techniques for the estimation of 3D geometric information are based on the estimation of geometric cues such as vanishing point and vanishing line. The proposed technique, however, back-projects the image of moving object directly, and estimates the position and the height of the object in 3D space where its coordinate system is designated by a marker. Then, geometric errors are corrected by using geometric constraints provided by the marker. Unlike most of the conventional techniques, the proposed method offers a framework for simultaneous acquisition of height and position of an individual resident in the image. The accuracy and the robustness of our technique is verified on the experimental results of several real video sequences from outdoor environments.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
• /
• v.7 no.6
• /
• pp.181-186
• /
• 2017

In recent years, robots have been actively used for children's creativity learning and play, but most robots have a stereotyped form and have a high dependency on the program, making it difficult to learn creativity and play. In order to compensate for these drawbacks, We have created a robot that can easily and reliably combine each other. The robot can memorize the desired operation and execute the memorized operation by using one button. Also, in case multiple modules are combined, pressing the button once on any module makes it possible to easily adjust the operation of all the combined modules. In order to verify the actual operation, two, three, and five modules are combined to demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed structure and algorithm by implementing a gobbling motion and a walking robot. It is required to study intelligent modular robots that can control over the Internet by supplementing the wireless connection method.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.373-380
• /
• 2010

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of balance training on gait stability. The study population included 17 male high school students who were divided into 3 groups, each of which underwent one of the following types of balance-training programs for 8 weeks: 1 foot standing on cushion foam, trunk muscle training, and inverted body position training. 0, 4, and 8 weeks, the following experiment was performed: The participants were asked to close their eyes and take 17 steps; the stability of forward and sideward movement was determined, and the direction linearity was measured. The results revealed that all the training programs caused a decrease in stride deviation and an increase in the and the stride length, thereby improving the stability of forward movement. All the programs decreased the variation in step width and were thus also effective in improving the stability of sideward movement. The inverted body position training program was considered very effective because the cross point appeared on post hoc graphic analysis after 4 weeks, and the deviation length for 10 m was low, i.e., below 4 cm. All the programs were effective with respect to direction linearity because they decreased the deviation in direction widths. The results indicate that whole-body neurocontrol training is more effective than simple muscle training and local focused balance training, although this neurocontrol training-in the form of inverted body position training-required a longer training period than did the other programs.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.79-88
• /
• 2019

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the peak torques of the knee and ankle joint and local stability of the lower extremity's joints, and muscle activation patterns of the lower extremity's muscles between fallers and non-fallers in the elderly women during walking. Method: Four elderly women (age: $74.5{\pm}5.2yrs.$; height: $152.1{\pm}5.6cm$; mass: $55.3{\pm}5.4kg$; preference walking speed: $1.19{\pm}0.06m/s$) who experienced falls within six months since experiment had been conducted (falls group) and thirty-six subjects ($74.2{\pm}3.09yrs.$; height: $153.6{\pm}4.9cm$; mass: $56.7{\pm}6.4kg$; preference walking speed: $1.24{\pm}0.10m/s$) who had no experience in falls (non-falls group) within this periods participated in this study. They were measured torque peaks of the knee and ankle joint using a Human Norm and while they were walking on a treadmill at their natural pace, kinematic variables and EMG signals were collected with using a 3-D motion capture system and a wireless EMG system, respectively. Lyapunov Exponent (LyE) was determined to observe the dynamic local stability of the lower extremity's joints, and muscles activation and their co-contraction index were also analysed from EMG signals. Hypotheses between falls and non-falls group were tested using paired t-test and Mann-Whitey. Level of significance was set at p<.05. Results: Local dynamic stability in the adduction-abduction movement of the knee joint was significantly lower in falling group than non-falling group (p<.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, muscles which act on the abduction-adduction movement of the knee joint need to be strengthened to prevent from potential falls during walking. However, a small number of samples for fallers make it difficult to generalize the results of this study.