• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.77-82
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the pathway of COP and plantar foot pressure and to determine the correlation between plantar regions during the ascending and descending of a ramp. Methods: Fifteen healthy adults who had no musculoskeletal problems participated in our study. They were asked to walk on a level surface and on an ascending and descending ramp in their bare feet. Pathway of COP and plantar foot pressures were recorded using the Matscan system (Tekscan, Boston, USA). For pressure measurements, the plantar foot surface was divided into seven regions: two toe regions, three forefoot regions, a midfoot region, and a heel region. To determine whether there was a statistically significant difference between pathway of COP and plantar foot pressures during walking, we used repeated measuremes ANOVA. Results: In comparison to results for a level walking, pathway of COP while ascending a ramp had a tendency to be shifted medially in the forefoot and became longer till the big toe. Pathway of COP while descending a ramp also was shifted medially, but ended in the forefoot. Plantar foot pressure of the second and third metatarsal head and the fourth and fifth metatarsal heads was significantly decreased while descending the ramp. Conclusion: These results indicated that plantar foot pressure is changed while ascending and descending a ramp and demonstrated that ramp walking can affect the structure and function of the foot. Therefore, gait environment is associated with significant changes in foot characteristics, which contribute to altered plantar loading patterns during gait.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.10 no.8
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• pp.257-265
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different ramp inclination on the maximum plantar foot pressure and pathway of the center of pressure. Fifteen healthy adults who had no musculoskeletal disorders were participated with this study and descended the ramp with different inclination(level, $-5^{\circ}$, $-10^{\circ}$, $-15^{\circ}$). Plantar foot pressures were recorded by the Matscan system(Tekscan, Boston, USA) during level and descending ramp with barefoot. Plantar foot surface was defined as seven regions for pressure measurement; two toe regions, three forefoot regions, one midfoot region, one heel region. Repeated ANOVA was used to compare each region data of foot according to different ramp inclination. As descending ramp inclination became increased, the pressure of hallux region was significantly increased at $-15^{\circ}$ inclination and the pressure of 2-3 metatasal head region were significantly decreased at $-5^{\circ}$, $-10^{\circ}$, $-15^{\circ}$ inclination. The pathway of COP had a tendency to be shifted inside in forefoot and prolonged to great toe as the descending ramp inclination increased. The results indicated that plantar foot pressure could be changed at hallux and forefoot regions with $-5^{\circ}$ ramp inclination and these findings demonstrated that ramp inclination could affect the structure and function of foot.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.16-25
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• 2006

The aim of this study was to investigate the kinematics of young adults during descent ramp climbing at different inclinations. Twenty-three subjects descended four steps at four different inclinations (level, $-8^{\circ}$, $-16^{\circ}$, $-24^{\circ}$). The 3-D kinematics were measured by a camera-based Falcon System. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and the Student-Newman-Keuls test. The kinematics of descent ramp walking could be clearly distinguished from the kinematics of level walking. On a sagittal plane, the ankle joint was more plantar flexed at initial contact with $-16^{\circ}/-24^{\circ}$ inclination, was decreased in the toe off position with all inclinations (p<.001),and was decreased at maximum plantar flexion during the swing phase (p<.001). The knee joint was more flexed at initial contact with the $-24^{\circ}$ inclination (p<.001), was more flexed in the toe off position with all inclinations (p<.001), and was more flexed at minimum flexion during stance phase and at maximum flexion during swing phase with $-16^{\circ}$, $-24^{\circ}$ inclination (p<.001). The hip joint was more flexed in the toe off position with $-16^{\circ}$, $-24^{\circ}$ inclination and was deceased at maximum extension during stance phase with $-16^{\circ}$, $-24^{\circ}$ inclination (p<.05). In the frontal plane, the ankle joint was more everted at maximum eversion during stance phase with $-16^{\circ}/-24^{\circ}$ inclination (p<.01) and was decreased at maximum inversion during swing phase with $-16^{\circ}$, $-24^{\circ}$ inclination (p<.01). The knee joint was more increased at maximum varus during stance phase with $-16^{\circ}/-24^{\circ}$ inclination (p<.001). The hip joint was deceased at maximum adduction during stance phase with $-24^{\circ}$ inclination (p<.05). In a horizontal plane, only the knee joint was increased at maximum internal rotation during stance phase with $-24^{\circ}$ inclination (p<.05). In descent ramp walking, the different gait patterns occurred at an inclination of over $16^{\circ}$ on the descending ramp in the sagittal and frontal planes. These results suggest that there is a certain inclination angle or angular range where subjects do switch between level walking and descent ramp walking gait patterns.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.95-106
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• 2006

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the kinematics of young adults during ramp climbing at different inclinations. Methods: Twenty-three subjects ascended and descended four steps at four different inclinations(level, $8^{\circ},\;16^{\circ},\;24^{\circ}$). Temporal-spatial parameters were measured by GaitRite system(standard mat). Groups difference was analysed with on-way ANOVA and Student-Newman-Keuls test. Results: The different kinematics of ramp ascent and descent were analysed and compared to level walking patterns. In ascending ramps, step length and stride length decreased with $24^{\circ}$ inclination (p<.000). Stance duration increased with $24^{\circ}$, but swing duration decreased with $24^{\circ}$ inclination (p<.000). Step time and velocity decreased with $16^{\circ}C,\;24^{\circ}$ inclination (p<.000). Cadence decreased with all inclination($8^{\circ},\;16^{\circ},\;24^{\circ}$)(p<.000). In descending ramps, step length and stride length, velocity decreased with all inclination($8^{\circ},\;16^{\circ},\;-24^{\circ}$)(p<.000). Stance duration increased with all inclination($8^{\circ},\;-16^{\circ},\;-24^{\circ}$) and swing duration decreased with all inclination($-8^{\circ},\;-16^{\circ},\;-24^{\circ}$)(p<.000). But Step time was not differentiated with different inclinations. Cadence decreased with only. $8^{\circ}$ inclination(p<.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that there is a certain inclination angle or angular range where subjects do switch between level walking and ramp walking gait pattern. This shows their motor control strategy between level and ramp walking. Further studies are necessary to confirm and detect the ascent and descent ramp gait patterns.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.137-144
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• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the effects of the abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) on muscle activity in the trunk and legs while subjects walk on a ramp. Methods: The subjects were healthy adult males (n=15) and females (n=8) in their twenties. The subjects were asked to maintain the ADIM contraction for 15 minutes using a pressure biofeedback unit. Their muscle activity was then measured while ascending or descending the ramp with or without the ADIM contraction maintained. Activity in the sternocleidomastoid, splenius capitis, rectus abdominis, external oblique abdominal, transversus abdominis, erector spinae, vastus medialis, and vastus lateralis muscles was measured using surface electromyography (TM DTS, Noraxon, USA). A paired t-test was conducted using SPSS 18.0 (IBM) for statistical data processing. Results: Maintaining the ADIM contraction during ascension led to a significant increase (p<0.05) in muscle activity for the rectus abdominis, transversus abdominis, vastus medialis, and vastus lateralis, but a significant decrease (p<0.05) in muscle activity for the erector spinae, when compared to the same activity without the ADIM maintained. Furthermore, maintaining the ADIM contraction during descent led to a significant increase (p<0.05) in muscle activity for the rectus abdominis, external abdominal oblique, transversus abdominis, vastus medialis, and vastus lateralis, but a significant decrease (p<0.05) in muscle activity for the erector spinae, when compared to the same activity without the ADIM maintained. Conclusion: As a result of this study, it maintains the ADIM and reduces lumbar muscle activity at the waist and increases muscle activity in the legs when walking on a ramp. Therefore, maintaining the ADIM contraction during ramp walking is recommended as training to improve the function of patients' muscular skeleton.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.95-101
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• 2005

In the heart, $Na^{+}-Ca^{2+}$ exchange (NCX) is the major $Ca^{2+}$ extrusion mechanism. NCX has been considered as a relaxation mechanism, as it reduces global $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ raised during activation. However, if NCX locates in the close proximity to the ryanodine receptor, then NCX would curtail $Ca^{2+}$ before its diffusion to global $Ca^{2+}_i$ This will result in a global $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ decrease especially during its ascending phase rather than descending phase. Therefore, NCX would decrease the myocardial contractility rather than inducing relaxation in the heart. This possibility was examined in this study by comparing NCX-induced extrusion of $Ca^{2+}$ after its release from SR in the presence and absence of global $Ca^{2+}_i$ transient in the isolated single rat ventricular myocytes by using patch-clamp technique in a whole-cell configuration. Global $Ca^{2+}_i$ transient was controlled by an internal dialysis with different concentrations of BAPTA added in the pipette. During stimulation with a ramp pulse from +100 mV to -100 mV for 200 ms, global $Ca^{2+}_i$ transient was suppressed only mildly, and completely at 1 mmol/L, and 10 mmol/L BAPTA, respectively. In these situations, ryanodine-sensitive inward NCX current was compared using $100{\mu}mol/L$ ryanodine, $Na^+$ depletion, 5 mmol/L $NaCl_2$ and $1{\mu}mol/L$ nifedipine. Surprisingly, the result showed that the ryanodine-sensitive inward NCX current was well preserved after 10 mmol/L BAPTA to 91 % of that obtained after 1 mmol/L BAPTA. From this result, it is concluded that most of the NCX-induced $Ca^{2+}$ extrusion occurs before the $Ca^{2+}$ diffuses to global $Ca^{2+})i$ in the rat ventricular myocyte.