• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.73-79
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• 2015

PURPOSE: This study aims to examine the impact of the location of a walker-aid pocket that is attached to the walker while walking. METHODS: The research subjects included 10 male adults and 10 elderly people. The subjects used a two-wheeled walker for the walking analysis, and a firm velcro-type pocket that can be attached to the walker aid was used for weight loading. The size of the external loads was set at 2kg, which corresponds to approximately 2.5% of the mean body weight of the subjects. The pocket was attached to the left, center, and right sides of the walker aid. Stride length, stride, step width, and time were investigated according to the location change. RESULTS: No statistical differences were observed in all the walking factors among the adults and elderly people regardless of the changes in the location of the walker pocket. In cases of no weight and the 2kg walker pocket, stride length and strides were longer for the adults, while the step width was greater and walking time was longer for the elderly people. CONCLUSION: The weight of the walker pocket turn out to retard walking speed, although the location of the walker pocket is not affect walking with the walker-aid.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.1243-1248
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• 2011

The purposes of this study were to develop a dynamic model of a human and to investigate the effect of a walker on an elderly subject's motions, such as sit-to-stand (STS) motion and normal gait, by using this model. A human model consisting of 15 segments and 14 joints was developed, embedded in $RecurDyn^{TM}$, and connected through a Simulink$^{(R)}$ interface with collected motion data. The model was validated by comparisons between joint kinematic results from inverse dynamics (Matlab$^{(R)}$-based in-house program) and from $RecurDyn^{TM}$ simulation during walking. The results indicate that the elderly walker induced a longer movement time in walking, such that the speed of joint flexion/extension was slower than that during a normal gait. The results showed that the muscle activities of parts of the ankle and hamstring were altered by use of the elderly walker. The technique used in this study could be very helpful in applications to biomechanical fields.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.823-826
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• 2010

In this study, the control method of assistive robot was developed for the elderly. The control method of gait-assistant-robot was proposed considering the change of COP (Center of Pelves), BOS (Base of Support) and comparative analysis of the moving velocity for the elderly. We analyzed the movement of COP of the body and its velocity of the elderly equipped with manual walker and gait-assistant-robot. As a result, change in COP was greater from left to right than from anterior to posterior; also, the average velocity of the movement of COP and manual walker for manual walker gait was 0.7(m/s). Therefore, it is necessary to concern more on the left-right balance and synchronization of the velocity of COP.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.161-168
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• 2020

This study is designed to develop a walker to assist the elderly in safe, independent walking. To this end, problems were identified through analysis of the walker for the elderly and user observations were used to identify problems and needs. The product analysis showed that most elderly walkers tend to prioritize their functions. In addition, user observations showed that most users had positive perceptions about the function, but that structural aspects, such as operation methods and stability, had negative consequences. A total of five design guidelines were derived based on the problems and needs derived. The design guidelines were designed to focus on improving structural problems rather than functional parts, and to orientate safety over functional priorities. Five design guidelines derived from this study could be used as basic data for the manufacture of walkers that reflect the views and needs of the elderly in the future in the manufacture and design of walkers for the elderly.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.394-405
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to clarify the concept of the frail elderly and to obtain theoretical evidence. The research method was conducted using the basic principles for conceptual analysis of Walker and Avant(2005). As a Result of a review of the literature about how to utilize the concept of a frail elderly, frail elderly might be in the intermediate state of health and disease. They can be defined as physically vulnerable in the sarcopenia, inflammation, insulin resistance, and preceding advanced disease, lead to hospitalization, falls, disability, and death. The attributes were physiological, psychological, and socio-environmental and economic factors, so they had multidimensional factors. They were required the assist daily living of another person. Also, their attributes had decreased the amount of recovery time and degree, and exhaustion. The attributes of frail elderly consisted of these facts: dynamic process, multidimensional factors, dependency, vulnerability. The frail elderly was a dynamic process that involves the possibility of change to health and disease, and include physical, mental, cognitive, and social environmental factors. In addition, the frail elderly was difficulty in daily life, physical vulnerability and difficulty in adaption. In conclusion, frail elderly as defined by the results of this study will contribute to the foundation of health care systems, including community visiting nursing to understand the level of frail elderly and systemic management to do not go into long term care.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.1147-1148
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• 2012

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2013.05a
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• pp.1427-1428
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• 2013

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2011.06a
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• pp.1437-1438
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• 2011

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2010.05a
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• pp.1423-1424
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• 2010

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2008.06a
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• pp.235-236
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• 2008