• PNF and Movement
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.95-102
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of arm flexion patterns of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation on muscle activation in the contralateral lower extremity. Open kinematic chain and closed kinematic chain positions were used. Methods: This study used an electromyogram (MP150, Biopac Systems, USA) to measure muscle activation in 20 healthy male students. Comparative analysis was completed on muscle activation of the vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior, and gastrocnemius of the contralateral lower extremity. Open kinematic chain and closed kinematic chain positions were used with a unilateral arm flexion-abduction-external rotation pattern. Paired t-tests using the SPSS 12.0 for Windows analyzed the data produced by the electromyogram. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in muscle activation in the biceps femoris, gastrocnemius, and tibialis anterior when the open kinematic chain and closed kinematic chain positions were compared (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The biceps femoris, gastrocnemius, and tibialis anterior muscles showed greater muscle activation in the closed kinematic chain position when compared to the open kinematic chain position.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.13-21
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• 2011

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of closed kinematic chain exercise and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation exercise on the static dynamic balance performance of hemiplegic patients in order to suggest them therapeutic intervention methods. Methods : The subjects of this study were 18 hemiplegic patients grouped into 2 subgroups according to the exercise program. one group of closed kinematic chain exercise carried out sit to stand, Hooklying with pelvic lift(bridging) and stair-up & down by a hemiplegic leg. The other group of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation exercise carried out leg flexion-extension pattern in supine position, leg flexion pattern in standing and stabilizing reversal exercise in stating position. Each exercise was carried out over 3 sets of 10reps. Results : The results of this study were summarized as follows: 1. For both groups, there were statistically significant changes in the static balance (FICSIT-4) performance after exercise program (p<.05). 2. For both groups, there were statistically significant changes in the dynamic balance (FSST, TUG, FRT) performance after exercise program (p<.05). 3. In the comparison between both groups, there was no statistically significant difference in the static dynamic balance performance (FICSIT-4, FSST, TUGT, ER) after exercise program. Conclusion : As the results of the study shows closed kinematic chain exercise and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation exercise affect the improvement of hemiplegic patients'' static dynamic balance performance, it is supposed that these exercises could be therapeutic exercise program in clinical situations.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.237-246
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of forward-and-backward shift trunk exercise using a proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) diagonal pattern in a closed kinematic chain exercise on the upper limb function and activity of daily living (ADL) in a stroke patient. Methods: One subject participated in this study. The study used a reversal A-B-A' design, where A and A' were the baseline period (no intervention), and B was the intervention period. The intervention was a forward-and-backward trunk shift exercise, using a PNF diagonal pattern on both a stand-on-hand position and a quadruped position of closed kinematic chain exercises, for 20 min per day for 2 weeks. The range of motion (ROM) of the shoulder joint was measured and a Fugl-Meyer assessment of upper extremity (FMA-UE) and a functional independence measure (FIM) were performed to measure upper limb function and activity of daily living (ADL). Results: ROMs of shoulder joint (flexion, extension, abduction, and external rotation) increased in the intervention phase. The FMA-UE score increased (from 28 to 36) in the intervention phase. The FIM score increased (from 20 to 25) in the intervention phase. These increases were maintained after intervention (Baseline II). Conclusion: These results suggest that forward-and-backward shift trunk exercises using a PNF diagonal pattern in a closed kinematic chain exercise have a positive effect on stroke patients' upper limb function and ADL ability.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.22 no.11 s.176
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• pp.72-81
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• 2005

A new spherical-type 3-degree-of-freedom parallel mechanism consisting of a two degree-of-freedom parallel module and a serial module is proposed. Two alternative designs for the serial sub-chain are suggested and compared. The first design employs RU joint arrangement for the serial sub chain structure. The second design incorporates a gear chain to drive the distal revolute joint of the serial sub-chain from the base platform of the mechanism. This modification significantly improves kinematic characteristics of the mechanism within its workspace. Firstly, the closed-form solutions of both the forward and the reverse position analysis are derived. Secondly, the first-order kinematic model with respect to three inputs which are located at the base is derived. Thirdly, it is confirmed through simulation that the modified mechanism has much more improved isotropic characteristic throughout the workspace of the mechanism. Lastly, the proposed mechanism is implemented to verify the results from this analysis.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.22 no.8 s.173
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• pp.118-127
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• 2005

A spatial 3 degrees-of-freedom mechanism employing Stewart Platform structure is proposed: the mechanism maintains the 3- RRPS structure of Stewart Platform but has an additional passive PRR serial sub-chain at the center area of the mechanism in order to constrain the output motion of the mechanism within the output motion space of the added PRR serial subchain. The forward and reverse position analyses of the mechanism are performed. Then the mechanism having both the forward and the reverse closed-form solutions is suggested and its closed form solutions are derived. It is confirmed, through the kinematic analysis of those two proposed mechanisms via kinematic isotropic index, that both the proposed mechanisms have fairly good kinematic characteristics compared to the existing spatial 3-DOF mechanisms in literature.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.93-100
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• 2009

Purpose：The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of self-controlled knowledge of result (KR) versus the yoked KR on learning of knee joint proprioception. Methods：Forty volunteer subjects (20 men and 20 women) were randomly assigned to each four groups: 1) self-controlled KR in open kinematic chain, 2) yoked KR in open kinematic chain, 3) self controlled KR in close kinematic chain, and 4) yoked KR in close kinematic chain. The difference between the angle of position and reproduction angle was determined as a proprioception error and measured using an angle reproduction test. The subjects in self-controlled groups were provided with feedback whenever they requested it, whereas the subjects in yoked groups were not provided with feedback. The data were analyzed using a one-way ANOVA. Results：The proprioception errors in close kinematic chain groups decreased significantly compared with those in close kinematic chain groups(p<.05). The proprioception errors in the self-controlled group decreased significantly compared with those in yoked groups during acquisition and retention test(p<.05). Conclusion：Self-controlled knowledge of result during open kinematic chain movement is considered to be a good method on motor learning.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.423-433
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• 2021

Purpose: Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) is a method for promoting functional movements by facilitating neuromuscular responses through the stimulation of proprioceptors in the body using spiral and diagonal patterns. Irradiation, a basic principle of PNF, is a phenomenon in which the muscle activity of a body part caused by resistance is increased or spread into muscles in other parts via their connected muscles. Resistance training can be divided by body alignment into closed and open chain exercises. Methods: In this study, 19 healthy men in their 20s and 30s were selected as subjects. They performed PNF hip flexion, abduction, and internal rotation motions on their dominant side in an open chain exercise posture in which the nondominant sole was away from the wall, and in a closed chain exercise posture in which the sole was fixed to the wall. The nondominant leg's muscle activity was measured while resistance was maintained with applied pressure at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of the maximum muscle strength in the last range of motions. A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted for a comparative analysis of the contralateral leg's muscle activity according to the chain exercise postures and the intensity of resistance intensity during PNF hip flexion, abduction, and internal rotation. In addition, an independent sample T-test was conducted for a comparative analysis of each chain exercise posture according to the intensity of resistance. A one-way ANOVA and a Scheffe post-hoc test were also performed to analyze the contralateral leg's muscle activity according to the intensity of resistance in the closed and open chain exercise postures. Results: Results of the two-way ANOVA found that the gluteus medius and the biceps femoris had statistically significant differences in both the chain exercise postures and resistance intensity (p<0.05), and that the vastus medialis and the gastrocnemius did not exhibit statistically significant differences in the chain exercise postures (p>0.05) but showed statistically significant differences in resistance intensity (p<0.05). As a result of the independent sample T-test, the application of the PNF hip flexion-abduction-internal rotation pattern led to a statistically significant difference in the contralateral gluteus medius during the closed chain exercise posture (p<0.05). According to the results of the one-way ANOVA and the Scheffe post-analysis, statistically significant differences were observed in the gluteus medius at 50%, biceps femoris at 75%, vastus medialis at 100%, and gastrocnemius at 100% during the closed chain exercise posture based on a resistance intensity of 0% (p<0.05). In the open chain exercise posture, statistically significant differences were found in the gluteus medius at 50%, biceps femoris at 50%, and vastus medialis at 75% based on the resistance intensity of 0% (p<0.05). In the same posture, there was no significant difference in the gastrocnemius's resistance intensity (p>0.05). Conclusion: When the PNF leg pattern is applied, each muscle requires effective chain exercise postures and resistance intensity to generate the contralateral leg muscle's irradiation.