• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.310-315
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• 2010

Estimation of muscle forces is important in biomechanics, therefore many researchers have tried to build a muscle model. Recently, optimization techniques for adjusting muscle parameters, i.e. EMG-driven model, have been used to estimate muscle forces and predict joint moments. In this study, an EMG-driven model based on the previous studies has been developed and isometric and isokinetic contraction movements were evaluated to validate the developed model. One healthy male participated in this study. The dynamometer tasks were performed for maximum voluntary isometric contractions (MVIC) for ankle dorsi/plantarflexors, isokinetic contraction at both $30^{\circ}/s$ and $60^{\circ}/s$. EMGs were recorded from the tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius medialis, gastrocnemius lateralis and soleus muscles at the sampling rate of 1000 Hz. The MVIC trial was used to customize the EMG-driven model to the specific subject. Once the subject's own model was developed, the model was used to predict the ankle joint moment for the other two dynamic movements. When no optimization was applied to characterize the muscle parameters, weak correlations were observed between the model prediction and the measured joint moment with large RMS error over 100% (r = 0.468 (123%) and r = 0.060 (159%) in $30^{\circ}/s$ and $60^{\circ}/s$ dynamic movements, respectively). However, once optimization was applied to adjust the muscle parameters, the predicted joint moment was highly similar to the measured joint moment with relatively small RMS error below 40% (r = 0.955 (21%) and r = 0.819 (36%) and in $30^{\circ}/s$ and $60^{\circ}/s$ dynamic movements, respectively). We expect that our EMG-driven model will be employed in our future efforts to estimate muscle forces of the elderly.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.255-261
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• 2019

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate differences of shock attenuation strategies between double-leg and single-leg landing on sagittal plane using statistical parametric mapping. Method: Nine healthy female professional soccer players (age: 24.0±2.5 yrs, height: 164.9±3.3 cm, weight: 55.7±6.6 kg, career: 11.2±1.4 yrs) were participated in this study. The subjects performed 10 times of double-leg and single-leg landing from the box of 30 cm height onto force plates respectively. The ground reaction force, angle, moment, angular velocity, and power of the ankle, knee, and hip joint on sagittal plane was calculated from initial contact to maximum knee flexion during landing phase. Statistical parametric mapping was used to compare the biomechanical variables of double-leg and single-leg landing of the dominant leg throughout the landing phase. Each mean difference of variables was analyzed using a paired t-test and alpha level was set to 0.05. Results: For the biomechanical variables, significantly increased vertical ground reaction force, plantarflexion moment of the ankle joint, negative ankle joint power and extension moment of the hip joint were found in single-leg landing compared to double-leg landing (p<.05). In addition, the flexion angle and angular velocity of the knee and hip joint in double-leg landing were observed significantly greater than single-leg landing, respectively (p<.05). Conclusion: These findings suggested that negative joint power and plantarflexion moment of the ankle joint can contribute to shock absorption during single-leg landing and may be the factors for preventing the musculoskeletal injuries of the lower extremity by an external force.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.153-160
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• 2017

Gait analysis has been conducted in various environments, but the biomechanics during the transition from uphill walking to downhill walking have not been reported. The purpose of this study is to investigate the knee and ankle joint kinematics and kinetics during walking on a triangle-shaped slope compared with those during level walking. Kinematic and kinetic data of eighteen participants were obtained using a force plate and motion capture system. The greater peak ankle dorsiflexion angle and moment and the peak knee extension moment were observed (p<0.05) during both uphill and downhill walking on the triangle-shaped slope. In summary, uphill walking on a triangle-shaped slope, which showed a peak knee flexion of more than $50^{\circ}$ with greater peak knee extension moment, could increase the risk of patellofemoral pain syndrome. Downhill walking on a triangle-shaped slope, which involved greater ankle dorsiflexion excursion and peak ankle dorsiflexion, could cause gastrocnemius muscle strain and Achilles tendon overuse injury.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.53-67
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• 2004

This simulation study investigated the characteristics of normal gait, $30^{\circ}$ crouch gait, $30^{\circ}$ crouch/equinus gait, $45^{\circ}$ crouch gait, $45^{\circ}$ crouch/equinus gait. The knee flexion angles were restricted using a specially designed orthosis. This study was carried out in a motion analysis laboratory of the National Rehabilitation Center. Fifteen healthy male subjects were recruited for the study. The purposes of this study were (1) to compare spatiotemporal parameters, kinematics, and kinetic variables in the sagittal plane among the different gait, (2) to investigate the secondary compensatory strategy, and (3) to suggest biomechanical physical therapy treatment methods. The pattern and magnitude observed in each condition were similar to those of normal gait, except the peak knee extension moment of the unrestricted ankle motion-crouch gait. However, the speed of the $45^{\circ}$ crouch gait was half that of a normal gait. The ankle joint moment in the crouch/equinus gait showed the double-bump pattern commonly observed in children with spastic cerebral palsy, and there was no significant difference in gait speed as compared with normal gait. The peak ankle plantar-flexor moment and ankle power generated during the terminal stance in the crouch/equinus conditions were reduced as compared with normal and $45^{\circ}$ crouch gaits (p<.05). The crouch/equinus gait at the ankle joint was an effective compensatory mechanism. Since ankle plantarflexion contracture can be exacerbated secondary to the ankle compensatory strategy in the crouch/equinus gait, it is necessary to increase the range of ankle dorsiflexion and the strength of plantarflexion simultaneously to decrease the abnormal biomechanical advantages of the ankle joint.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.64-72
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to determine the differences in joint moment in the intact limb of uni-transfemoral amputees and to identify the implications of knee osteoarthritis. As an experimental method, three-dimensional gait analysis was performed on 10 uni-transfemoral amputees and 10 healthy males. Kinematics and kinetics at the hip, knee, and ankle joint were calculated. As a statistical method, independent t-tests were conducted to perform a comparison between the transfemoral amputee group and the control group. The results showed that the external knee adduction moment increased in the transfemoral amputee group (.22 Nm/kg) compared with that of the control group (.13 Nm/kg) at terminal stance (p=.008). External knee flexion moment also increased in the transfemoral amputee group (.24 Nm/kg) but this difference was not statistically significant. External hip flexion moment increased in the transfemoral amputee group (1.35 Nm/kg) compared with that of the control group (.45 Nm/kg) at initial stance, and external hip extension moment decreased in the transfemoral amputee group (-.26 Nm/kg) compared with that of the control group (-.76 Nm/kg) at terminal stance. Although external ankle plantarflexion moment of the transfemoral amputee group increased, it was not found to be statistically significant. The results suggest that the intact limb joint moment of the uni-transfemoral amputees during walking can be different from that of healthy subjects. In conclusion, it was found that there is a link between the increase of external knee adduction moment and the prevalence of knee osteoarthritis in uni-transfemoral amputees. This result is expected to provide some objective data for rehabilitation programs related to knee osteoarthritis in transfemoral amputees.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.12 no.12
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• pp.5766-5772
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• 2011

This study was to investigate the change of gait temporal parameter and ankle joint moment between patients with achilles tendinitis and healthy people. Thus, the purpose of this study is to clarify biomechanical change of gait in patients with achilles tendinitis and to find risk factor for prevention of achilles tendinitis. We recruited 20 patients with an achilles tendinitis and 20 healthy people. While subjects shuttled 5 times on 13 m distance with comfortable pace, we examined gait function marker with three-dimensional gait analysis system. All subject outstepped center of forceplate during gait and calculated ankle joint moment using software. Obtained data was analyzed using SPSS 12.0 software. In results, we confirmed that patients with achilles tendinitis showed reduction of extension moment in early initial phase and reduction of flexion moment in mid-stance on hip joint. and reduction of flexion moment in early initial phase and reduction of extension moment in late phase on knee joint. And we identified that patients with achilles tendinitis showed reduction of dorsiflexion moment in early stance phase, maximal plantarflexion moment in mid stance phase, and dorsiflexion moment in late stance phase. Thus, there are biomechanical changes on gait in patients with achilles tendinitis compared to healthy people. And, in clinical settings, they should focus on changes of gait in patients with achilles tendinitis. Further study will be undertaken for the biomechanical changes of patietns with achilles tendinitis.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.1-8
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of high heeled shoes with the total contact insert (TCI) on the frontal plane of the joints for the lower extremity during the gait. Ten healthy females voluntarily participated in this study and the height of the high heeled shoes was 7 cm. A three-dimensional motion analysis system (VICON) 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 angle value on the event of the gait cycle in the maximum eversion and inversion of the ankle joint, the varus and valgus of the knee joint, and the adduction and abduction of the hip joint (p>.05). But, there was a significant difference or the range of motion in the ankle joint (p<.05). The value of ankle and knee moment with a TCI was less than the value for no TCI. And there were significant differences for the moment value of the maximum inversion and eversion on the ankle joint and for the maximum varus and valgus on the knee joint (p<.05). Therefore, a TCI would be effective in stabilizing the joints of the lower extremities and increasing the balance of a body to reduce the injure from a fall during the gait.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.305-314
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of joint kinetics and coordination on within-individual differences in maximum vertical jump. 10 male subjects aged 20 to 30 performed six trials in maximum vertical jump and with based on jump height the good(GP) and bad(BP) performances for each subject were compared on joint kinetics of lower extremity and coordination parameters such as joint reverse and relative phase. The results showed that maximum moment, power, and work done of hip joint and maximum moment of ankle joint in GP were significantly higher than that in the BP but no significant differences for the knee joint. We could observe a significant difference in joint reverse timing between both conditions. And also the relative phase on ankle-knee and ankle-hip in GP were significantly lower than that in the BP, which means that in GP joint movements were more in-phase synchronized mode. In conclusion, mechanical outputs of hip and ankle joints had an effect on within-individual differences in vertical jump and the inter-joint coordination and coordination including sequence and timing of joint motion also might be high influential factors on the performances within individual.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2006.10c
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• pp.193-195
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• 2006

In this study, we developed an active controlled ankle-foot orthosis(AAFO) which can control the dorsiflexion/plantarflexion of the ankle joint during gait to prevent foot drop and toe drag for paralysis patients. To prevent dropping foot after heel strike, ankle joint was actively controlled to minimize forefoot collision with the ground. It was also controlled to provide toe clearance and to help push-off during late stance. The 3D gait analysis was performed on two healthy subjects equipped with the developed AAFO to compare with the normal gait and the conventional AFO gait. In the developed AAFO gait, differently from the conventional AFO gait, significant push-off was observed during pre-swing and the maximum flexion moment during pre-swing phase was similar to that of normal gait. A remarkable dorsiflexion also occurred during initial swing. These results indicated that the developed AAFO could have certain clinical benefits to prevent foot drop for paralysis patients, compared to conventional AFOs.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.227-236
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• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a 12-week combined exercise program on gait parameters in elderly women with osteoarthritis. Method: The subjects of this study were 11 elderly women (age: $67.09{\pm}2.47$, height: $157.35{\pm}4.30cm$, weight: $62.49{\pm}6.36kg$) with knee osteoarthritis. The combined exercise program of this study was divided into aerobic exercise and lower extremity strengthening exercises. The exercises were performed for 60 minutes per session, three times a week, for a total of 12 weeks. The maximum joint moments of the hip, knee, and ankle joints with walking were obtained with 8-3D cameras (MX-T20, Vicon, USA) and 2-force plate (AMTI OR6-7-400, AMTI, USA). SPSS Windows version 23.0 was used for statistical analysis. A paired t-test was used for pre-post comparison. An alpha level of .05 was utilized in all tests. Results: The maximum extension moment was significantly higher in the hip joint after P1 on the X axis. The maximum joint moment of P3 in extension was statistically significantly lower after intervention. On the Z axis, the maximum joint moment was significantly lower after the exercise intervention at P3. There was a statistically significant increase in the extension moment of the left and right knee joints in the X axis after exercise intervention. In the right ankle joint, P1 (plantar flexion moment) showed a statistically significant high moment after exercise intervention. Conclusion: These results suggest that combined exercise, including lower limb and aerobic exercise, may have a positive effect on mobility and walking moments in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.