• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2022.10a
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• pp.420-421
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• 2022

In this paper, we discuss the abnormalities of flexion and extension in common elbow diseases. In addition, it is linked with the healthcare system to share medical information.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.695-703
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• 2011

Objective: This study was to investigate the effects of coordinated upper-limb body postures on the subjective discomfort rating, heart rate, and muscle activities. Background: Although generally many checklists such as OWAS, RULA, and REBA were applied to evaluate various body postures, the body postures were might be overestimated or underestimated because each body part(i.e., back, shoulder, and elbow etc.) was evaluated separately, and then added all rates of individual body parts to assess an overall risk level for the body posture in these methodologies. Methods: A total of 20 participants maintained 14 postures which were combinations of back, shoulder, and elbow flexion angles and then muscle activities, subjective discomfort, and heart rates were collected every three minute during a sustained 15 minute and 0.5kg weight holding task. Four muscle groups were investigated: erector spine, anterior deltoid, upper trapezius, triceps brachii. Results: Results showed that subjective discomfort was the lowest when the angle of back and shoulder were both $0^{\circ}s$, while the body posture with $45^{\circ}$ of back angle and $45^{\circ}$ shoulder angle was rated as the most subjective discomfort posture. In general, the subjective discomfort ratings increased as back and shoulder flexion angles increased. It was noted that, however, the subjective discomfort of body posture with a $45^{\circ}$ back angle and $45^{\circ}$ shoulder flexion angle was lower than that of body posture with a $0^{\circ}$ back and $45^{\circ}$ shoulder flexion angle. The research findings of heart rates and muscle activities showed similar results for the analyses of subjective discomfort ratings. Conclusions: The possible limitations of the current ergonomics evaluation techniques which assessing a body posture with summing all body part score after individually analyzed in this study. Based on the analyses of subjective discomfort, heart rate, and muscle activities, it was recommended that a use of effects of coordinated upper-limb body postures would be considered when one evaluates work-load for various working postures. Application: These findings can be used for developing a more accurate assessment checklist for working posture as well as preventing musculoskeletal disorders of workers in workplaces.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.116-119
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• 2001

Purpose : To describe long-term clinical results and serial changes in the postoperative range of motion(ROM) after arthroscopic treatment for a limitation of motion(LOM) of the elbow. Materials and Methods : The subjects who visited chosun university hospital from December, 1996 to January 2000 were twenty-one patients ranging from 37 to 54 years of age, and the average age was 43.2 years. The chief complaints were painful limitation of motion of the elbow and average ROM showed that flexion contracture were 17 degrees and further flexion were 87 degrees. Results : The total ROM was $70^{\circ}$ preoperatively. 2 months after postoperatively the mean flexion contracute improved from $17^{\circ}\;to\;3^{\circ}$ with further flexion from $87^{\circ}\;to\;122^{\circ}$ degrees. One year after postoperatively the mean flexion contracture were $5^{\circ}$ and further flexion were $113^{\circ}$. All patients reported a decresement in pain level as well as improvement in motion. There was no complication in this series. Conclusion : Arthroscopic surgery appear to be satisfactory management modality for degenerative elbow contractures.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.237-243
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• 2016

Background: This study examined the relationship between interhandle distances and upper limb exertion during simply pushing and pulling of a cart with four swivel wheels, defined by a roll box pallet (RBP) in a Japanese industrial standard. Methods: Six healthy young male participants were asked to push and pull an RBP at a distance of 5.2 m under six conditions corresponding to different interhandle distances (40 cm, 60 cm, and 80 cm) and weights (130 kg and 250 kg). The upper limb exertion was studied by shoulder abduction and flexion, and elbow flexion, as well as surface electromyogram (EMG) in shoulder extensor, and elbow flexor and extensor. Participants were required to provide subjective evaluations on operability after each trial. Results: Subjective operability indicated that a narrower interhandle distance had a better operability for pushing. Interhandle distance was also related to upper limb exertion especially for pushing. A narrow interhandle distance caused smaller shoulder adduction but larger elbow flexion. The normalized EMG data revealed that muscular activity became smaller with a narrow interhandle distance in shoulder extensor. During the pulling task, elbow flexion was smaller at a narrow interhandle distance, although subjective operability and normalized EMG were not significantly varied. Conclusion: A wider interhandle distance, such as 80 cm, was not suitable in the forwardbackward movement of the RBP. Therefore, this study concluded that an interhandle distance of 40 cm would be suitable for pushing and pulling an RBP to protect the workers' hands against the risk of injury by installing inner handles.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2015

Background: The purpose of this study is to assess the range of shoulder motion using an indirect evaluation method without physical examinations of patients based on questionnaires regarding several specific arm postures referenced by patient's own body parts. Methods: Nine criteria of specific shoulder motion including 4 forward flexion, 2 external rotation, and 3 internal rotation were decided as reference position which can represent a certain shoulder motion. Flexion contains postures such as lifting arm to waist-height, shoulder-height, eye-height, and raising arm above head with arm touching ears. External rotation comprises grasping ears and placing hands on back of the head. Vertebral height in internal rotation is determined by calculating the samples' motions, which are holding on to trouser belts, opposite-elbow, and scapula. These postures are included in questionnaires for patients to evaluate the validity and effectiveness of this indirect method. Results: The range of flexion was $77^{\circ}$ ($60^{\circ}$ to $100^{\circ}$), $96^{\circ}$ ($87^{\circ}$ to $115^{\circ}$), $135^{\circ}$ ($115^{\circ}$ to $150^{\circ}$), and $167^{\circ}$ ($150^{\circ}$ to $175^{\circ}$) when arms go up to waist, shoulder, eye, and high vertically. Range of external rotation was $39.6^{\circ}$ ($30^{\circ}$ to $50^{\circ}$) when grasping ears and $69.2^{\circ}$ ($60^{\circ}$ to $80^{\circ}$) with the hands on the back of the head. Range of internal rotation was L4 when placing trouser belts, T12 for holding opposite elbow, and T9 for reaching scapula. The mismatch rates of flexion, external rotation, and internal rotation were 11.6%, 9.6%, and 7.8%. Conclusions: The range of shoulder motion using this method is expected to be applied to an established shoulder scoring system which included shoulder motion evaluation item.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.88-95
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• 2000

Thirty normal adults were tested to measure the electrical activity of the anterior (AD), middle (MD), and posterior portion (PD) of the deltoid muscle and sternal portion of the pectoralis major muscle (PM) during the performance of four upper extremity PNF diagonal patterns with elbow flexion angle in $0^{\circ}$, $45^{\circ}$, and $90^{\circ}$. The PNF patterns in which these muscles function optimally have been theoretically advanced by Kabat and further described by Knott and Voss. They theorize that the MD should be most active with shoulder flexion, abduction, and external rotation (D2F); the PD with shoulder extension, abduction, and internal rotation (D1E); the AD with shoulder flexion, adduction, and external rotation (D1F); and the PM with shoulder extension, adduction and internal rotation (D2E). The patterns were performed through range of motion, with an isometric contraction performed in the shortened range. When the EMG activity of AD, MD, PD and PM in its optimal patterns was measured, it does not have significant difference among fixed elbow flexion angle $0^{\circ}$, $45^{\circ}$, and $90^{\circ}$ (p>.05). In addition, suggestions were made for study of patients who exhibit imbalance of muscle strength and have muscle weakness.

• Transactions on Control, Automation and Systems Engineering
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2002

A decrease in the birthrate and aging are progressing in Japan and several countries. In that society, it is important that physically weak persons such as elderly persons are able to take care of themselves. We have been developing exoskeletal robots for human (especially for physically weak persons) motion support. In this study, the controller controls the angular position and impedance of the exoskeltal robot system using multiple fuzzy-neuro controllers based on biological signals that reflect the human subject's intention. Skin surface electromyogram (EMG) signals and the generated wrist force by the human subject during the elbow motion have been used as input information of the controller. Since the activation level of working muscles tends to vary in accordance with the flexion angle of elbow, multiple fuzzy-neuro controllers are applied in the proposed method. The multiple fuzzy-neuro controllers are moderately switched in accordance with the elbow flexion angle. Because of the adaptation ability of the fuzzy-neuro controllers, the exoskeletal robot is flexible enough to deal with biological signal such as EMG. The experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed controller.

• The Academic Congress of Korean Shoulder and Elbow Society
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.51-56
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• 2003

The trained examiner can gain considerable information from visual inspections of the elbow joint, Because much of the joint is subcutaneous, any appreciable alteration in the skeletal anatomy often is detectable. Gross soft tissue swelling or muscle atrophy is also early observed. Inspection and palpation of the medial and lateral epicondyles and the tip of the otecranon from an equilateral triangle with the elbow is flexed. Normally, the arc of flexion extension, although variable, ranges from about O to 140 degrees plus or minus 10 degrees. The posterolateral rotatory instability(PLRI) of the elbow is most common pattern of elbow instability. The lateral collateral ligament complex also includes a narrow but stout band of ligamentous tissue blending with the distal and proterior fibers of the capsule to insert distally on the crista supinatoris of the ulna. This is the lateral ulnar collateral ligament(LUCL). A clinical elbow pivot shift test confirms the PLRI. There are also two active apprehension signs.

• Journal of Korean Institute of Industrial Engineers
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.76-83
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• 2004

This study aimed to empirically investigate perceived discomfort depending upon external load, upper limb postures and their holding time. Discomfort was obtained through an experiment, in which external load, wrist flexion/extension, elbow flexion, shoulder flexion and adduction/abduction were used as experimental variables. The subjects were instructed to hold given postures for 60s and to rate their subjective discomfort scores at 5s, 20s, 40s and 60s by using the free modulus method of magnitude estimation. The results showed that while only external load and elbow flexion were statistically significant at the holding time of 5s at ${\alpha}=0.05$ or 0.10, external load and upper limb postures excluding shoulder adduction/abduction significantly affected discomfort ratings at 20s, 40s and 60s at ${\alpha}=0.01$ or 0.05. Discomfort scores were also significantly different between four posture holding times at ${\alpha}=0.01$. The effects of external load and holding time were much larger than those of upper limb postures. Based on the results of this study, it is recommended that external load and holding time as well as working postures betaken into consideration to precisely quantify postural load in industry.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.19 no.4 s.68
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• pp.123-128
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• 2004

This study investigated effect of arm posture, repetition of wrist motion and external load on perceived discomfort. The arm postures were controlled by shoulder flexion, elbow flexion, and ist motions such as flexion, extension, radial deviation and ulnar deviation. An experiment was conducted to measure discomfort scores for experimental treatments using the magnitude estimation, in which the L16 orthogonal array was adopted for reducing the size of experiment. The results showed that while the effect of the shoulder flexion, repetition of wrist motion and external load was statistically significant at $\alpha=0.05$or 0.10, that of the elbow and wrist motions was not. Discomfor ratings increased linearly as levels of wrist repetition and external load increased. This implies that the existing posture classification schemes such as OWAS, RULA, which do not properly consider effect of motion repetition and external load, may underestimate postural load. Based on the regression equation for wrist repetition and external load, isocomfort region indicating the region within which discomfort scores were expected to be the same was proposed. It is recommended that when assessing risk of postures or developing new posture classification schemes, motion repetition and external load as well as posture itself be fully taken into consideration for precisely evaluating postural stress.