• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2010.11a
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• pp.651-652
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• 2010

• Transactions of the KSME C: Technology and Education
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.153-165
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• 2013

The established gait analysis studies have regarded leg as one single spring. If we can design a knee-ankle actuating mechanism as a primary actuator for supporting knee extension, it might be possible to revolutionary store or release elastic strain energy, which is consumed during the gait cycle, and as a result leg stiffness is expected to increase. An ankle joint actuating mechanism that stores and releases the energy in ankle joint is expected to support and solve excessive artificial leg stiffness caused by the knee actuator (primary actuator) to a reasonable extent. If unnecessary kinematic energy is released with the artificial speed reduction control designed to prevent increase in gait speed caused by increase in time passed, it naturally brings question to the effectiveness of the actuator. As opposed to the already established studies, the authors are currently developing knee-ankle two actuator system under the concept of increasing lower limb stiffness by controlling the speed of gait in relative angular velocity of the two segments. Therefore, the author is convinced that compensatory mechanism caused by knee actuating must exist only in ankle joint. Ankle joint compensatory mechanism can be solved by reverse-examining the change in metatarso-phalangeal joint (MTPJ) tilt angle (${\theta}_1=0^{\circ}$, ${\theta}_2=17^{\circ}$, ${\theta}_3=30^{\circ}$) and the effect of change in gait speed on knee activity.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.209-215
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• 2003

The goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between kinematic and kinetic characteristics of foot joints resisting ground reaction force. Passive elastic joint moment and angular displacement were obtained from the experiment using 3 cameras and force plate. The relationship between joint angle and moment was mathematically modeled by using least square method. The ranges of motion of joints ranged from 5$^{\circ}$ to 7$^{\circ}$ except metatarsophalangeal joint. In the study, we presented simple mathematical models that could relate joint angle and plantar pressure. From this model, we can got the kinematic data of joints which is not available from conventional motion analysis. Furthermore, the model can be used not only for biomechanical model which simulates gait but also for clinical evaluation.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.57-65
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• 2024

Recently, several studies have been conducted to lower the cost of transport of human by adding external joint stiffness elements. However, it has not been clearly elucidated whether adaptation time is required for human subjects to adapt to the added external joint stiffness. In this study, carbon plates in the form of shoe midsoles were added to the metatarsophalangeal joint, and the lower limb joint torque and mechanical energy consumption were compared before and after a total of 5 sessions (2.5 weeks) of running. A total of 11 young healthy participants exhibited higher elastic energy storage in carbon plates in the fifth session compared to the first session, and lower power in the ankle joint. This suggests that a single training session may be insufficient to validate the efficiency effect of added joint stiffness, and the human body seems to increase the elastic energy stored in the assistive joint stiffness and its reutilization.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.17-27
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of donning of a hard insole in patients with hallux valgus. Fourteen subjects were selected from patient with foot pain at Lee Chang-Heon Foot Clinic from August 4, 2000 to September 15, 2000. The hallux valgus angle and the first-second intermetatarsal angle were radiographically measured before and after donning the hard insole. Based on these two kinds of angles, a mild hallux valgus deformity group was characterized by the hallux valgus angle of less than 20 degrees, and a moderate hallux valgus deformity group was characterized by the hallux valgus angle of 20 to 40 degrees. After three weeks with the hard insole donned, the foot angles of the patients with hallux valgus were measured again. The data were analyzed by Wilcoxon signed ranks test, and the following results were obtained: 1) After the trial, both mild hallux valgus deformity group and moderate hallux valgus deformity group demonstrated that the hallux valgus angles were significantly decreased. 2) After the trial, mild hallux valgus deformity group demonstrated that the first-second intermetatarsal angle was significantly decreased. 3) After the trial, moderate hallux valgus deformity group demonstrated that the first-second intermetatarsal angle was not significantly decreased. The above findings revealed that according to donning hard insole, the hallux valgus angles of mild and moderate hallux valgus deformity groups and the first-second intermetatarsal angle of mild hallux valgus deformity group were significantly decreased. The results of this study have some limitation for generalization due to the limited number of subjects. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effect of hard insole on hallux valgus with more precise laboratory equipments and measurements in patients with hallux valgus.