• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.948-956
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of a prototype KAFO (Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthosis) powered by two artificial pneumatic muscles during walking. We had previously built powered AFO (Ankle-Foot Orthosis) and KO (Knee Orthosis) and used it effectively in studies on assistance of plantaflexion and knee extension motion. Extending the previous study to a KAFO presented additional challenges related to the assistance of gait motion for rehabilitation training. Five healthy males were performed gait motion on treadmill wearing KAFO equipped with artificial pneumatic muscles to power ankle plantaflexion and knee extension. Subjects walked on treadmill at 1.5 km/h under four conditions without extensive practice: 1) without wearing KAFO, 2) wearing KAFO with artificial muscles turned off, 3) wearing KAFO powered only in plantaflexion under feedforward control, and 4) wearing KAFO powered both in plantaflexion and knee extension under feedforward control. We collected surface electromyography, foot pressure and kinematics of ankle and knee joint. The experimental result showed that a muscular strength of wearing KAFO powered plnatarfexion and knee extension under feedforward control was measured to be lower due to pneumatic assistance and foot pressure of wearing KAFO powered plnatarfexion and knee extension under feedforward control was measured to be greater due to power assistance. In the result of motion analysis, the ankle angle of powered KAFO in terminal stance phase was found a peak value toward plantaflexion and there were difference of maximum knee flexion range among condition 2, 3 and 4 in mid-swing phase. The current orthosis design provided plantaflexion torque of ankle jonit in terminal stance phase and knee extension torque of knee joint in mid-swing phase.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.41-51
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• 2015

The purposes of this study were 1) to determine the effects of low-dye taping on peak plantar pressure following treadmill walking exercise, 2) to determine whether the biomechanical effectiveness of low-dye taping in peak plantar pressure was still maintained following removal of the tape during treadmill walking, and 3) to determine the trend towards a medial-to-lateral shift in peak plantar pressure in the midfoot region before and after application of low-dye taping. Twenty subjects with flexible flatfoot were recruited using a navicular drop test. The peak plantar pressure data were recorded during five treadmill walking sessions: (1) un-taped, (2) baseline-taped, (3) after a 10-minute treadmill walking exercise, (4) after a 20-minute treadmill walking exercise, and (5) after removal of the taping. The foot was divided into six parts during the data analysis. One-way repeated measures analysis of variance was performed to investigate peak plantar pressure variations in the six foot parts in the five sessions. This study resulted in significantly increased medial forefoot peak plantar pressure compared to the un-taped condition (p=.017, post 10-minute treadmill walking exercise) and (p=.021, post 20-minute treadmill walking exercise). The peak plantar pressure in the lateral forefoot showed that there was a significant decrease after sessions of baseline-taped (p=.006) and 10-minute of treadmill walking exercise (p=.46) compared to the un-taped condition. The tape removal values were similar to the un-taped values in the five sessions. Thus, the findings of the current study may be helpful when researchers and clinicians estimate single taping effects or consider how frequently taping should be replaced for therapeutic purposes. Further studies are required to investigate the evidence in support of biomechanical effectiveness of low-dye taping in the midfoot region.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.229-238
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• 2017

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of taping therapy and inner arch support on pes planus lower extremity alignment and gait. Method: The study was conducted on 13 women in their 20s who had pes planus and no gait problems. Independent variables were the condition of wearing basic socks (S1) and the condition of wearing socks with taping therapy and inner arch support (S2). The dependent variables were resting calcaneal stance position (RCSP), plantar pressure distribution during gait, and underlying and medial longitudinal arch angle measured using radiography. Statistical analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon test with SPSS 23.0 for comparison of S1 and S2. Results: In the RCSP measurement, the angle range of S2 changed to normal. Meary's angle appeared to be less than the angle of S1, indicating alleviation of the degree of pes planus. The calcaneal pitch angle increased at S2 from that at S1. The plantar pressure distribution was divided into four areas (toe, forefoot, midfoot, and hindfoot). At S2, the maximum pressure increased in the toe and midfoot. The maximum force increased significantly in the toe and midfoot but decreased significantly in the forefoot and hindfoot. In addition, the contact area increased overall especially at the midfoot and hindfoot. Contact time decreased in the toe and forefoot, but increased in the midfoot and hindfoot. Conclusion: Taping therapy and inner arch support showed structural improvement of the pes planus. In addition, the force and pressure applied to the foot during walking are distributed evenly in the area of the sole, thus positively affecting walking.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.223-230
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to analysis the effect of form and hardness of outsoles on the motion of the lower extremity joints and on foot pressure during gait. The subjects were 15 women(mean age, $48.5{\pm}2.4$ years), who had no serious musculoskeletal, coordination, balance or joint/ligament problems within 1 year prior to the study. The pelvic tilt, joint angles at the lower extremities and the vertical ground reaction force(GRF) were compared during gait with 3 types of shoes (A, B, C) by using one-way repeated ANOVA(p<.05). During gait, the peak tilt angle and the range of motion(ROM) of the ankle and knee joints were found to be significantly different among the 3 types of shoes. The type C shoes showed a significantly lower mean second maximum vertical GRF than types A and B. The curved outsoles of type C shoes, which had a form and hardness different from those of A and B, was designed strategically for walking shoes to provide stability to the Additionally, type C induced the dispersion of eccentric pressure and made the center of pressure roll over to the center line of the foot.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.21-26
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• 2024

Purpose: Foot pressure measurement devices are used widely in clinical settings for plantar pressure assessments. Despite the availability of various devices, studies evaluating the inter-device reliability are limited. This study compared plantar pressure measurements obtained from HR Mat (Tekscan Inc.) and EMED-n50 (Novel GmbH). Materials and Methods: The study involved 38 healthy male volunteers. The participants were categorized into two groups based on the Meary's angle in standing foot lateral radiographs: those with normal feet (angles ranging from -4° to 4°) and those with mild flatfeet (angles from -8° to -15°). The static and dynamic plantar pressures of the participants were measured using HR Mat and EMED-n50. The reliability of the contact area and mean force was assessed using the interclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Furthermore, the differences in measurements between the two devices were examined, considering the presence of mild flatfoot. Results: The ICC values for the contact area and mean force ranged from 0.703 to 0.947, indicating good-to-excellent reliability across all areas. EMED-n50 tended to record higher contact areas than HR Mat. The mean force was significantly higher in the forefoot region when measured with EMED-n50, whereas, in the hindfoot region, this difference was observed only during static measurements with HR Mat. Participants with mild flatfeet exhibited significantly higher contact areas in the midfoot region for both devices, with no consistent differences in the other parameters. Conclusion: The contact area and mean force measurements of the HR Mat and EMED-n50 showed high reliability. On the other hand, EMED-n50 tended to record higher contact areas than HR Mat. In cases of mild flatfoot, an increase in contact area within the midfoot region was observed, but no consistent impact on the differences between the two devices was evident.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.327-334
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• 2024

The purpose of this study is to develop a customized foot disease analysis and management system for diabetic patients to prevent foot ulcers in diabetic foot disease patients. This system utilizes image analysis technology to measure not only foot pressure, but also ankle deformation, body balance, and foot wounds. Through various data, it is possible to accurately analyze the state of foot deformation, and based on this, the exact state of deformation of the foot of a patient with diabetic foot disease was identified and a customized insole was produced. This study was conducted to examine the satisfaction level of using an application that checks the status of diabetic foot disease wounds and to identify the degenerative status of diabetic foot disease patients and foot disease patients by wearing customized insoles and to survey the satisfaction of wearing insoles. As a result of the study, the knee angle measured for plantar pressure was -0.8 ± 1.3 degrees and ranged from a minimum of -2.4 degrees to a maximum of 1.1 degrees, and there was no significant difference in valgus knee between both lower extremities (p = 0.534). There was a significant difference in tibial angle between both lower extremities (p < 0.001). Ankle angle on the left side was 2.6 ± 2.0 degrees, ranging from a minimum of 0 degrees to a maximum of 6.3 degrees, and on the right, it was 4.5 ± 2.1 degrees, with a distribution of minimum 1.5 degrees to a maximum of 9.1 degrees. There was a significant difference in ankle angle between both lower extremities (p = 0.011). They responded that they felt an average of 4.3 points of satisfaction with the plantar pressure measurement application. Respondents responded that they felt an average of 3.9 points of satisfaction with the use of customized insoles.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.40-48
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• 2013

■ Objectives This study was designed to investigate the effects of an ankle foot orthosis(AFO) on gait of two hemiparetic stroke patients with foot drop. ■ Methods Gait of two hemiparetic stroke patients were analyzed during walking on the treadmill without or with AFO application. The spatiotemporal and center of pressure(CoP) intersection parameters of gait analysis were measured using a treadmill gait analysis system. ■ Results The AFO had positive effects on hemiparetic gait parameters; increasing cadence, increasing step length, decreasing step time, stride time, and lateral symmetry. ■ Conclusion Hemiparetic gait was improved by ankle foot orthosis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.15-24
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• 2010

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of loading position on plantar center of pressure(COP) displacement when carrying a schoolbag during walking. Methods : Forty-four normal subjects were randomly assigned to five groups according to the method of carrying a schoolbag. The carrying a schoolbag methods were classified into five conditions: no bag (condition 1), a backpack (condition 2), a shoulder bag (condition 3), a cross bag (condition 4), a one-hand bag (condition 5). COP displacement such as anteroposterior distance and mediolateral distance of COP were measured with F-scan system. The repeated one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and independent t-test were used to confirm the statistical significance. Results : In the comparison of parameters of COP displacement between conditions, anteroposterior distance and mediolateral distance in the left foot and mediolateral distance in the right foot were not significantly different(p>.05), but anteroposterior diatance in the right foot was significantly different(p>.05). Between left and right foot, at condition 1 and 5 the mediolateral distance of COP was significantly different(p<.05) but anteroposterior distance at condition 1 and 5, anteroposterior distance and mediolateral distance of COP at condition 2, 3 and 4 were not significantly different(p>.05). Conclusion : These findings showed that the various loading position by five types of carrying a schoolbag didn't have influence significantly on COP displacement on during walking because of mechanism of postural adaption.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.297-309
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• 2009

The study analyzed the mechanism of plantar foot pressure distribution during pitching wedge swinging on a flat, an up hill lie and a down hill lie to provide the fundamental information regarding biomechanical motion data by using plantar foot pressure measuring instrument. In the results, time factor spanning according to slope differences, plantar foot pressure factor and swing motion on the slope could have negative effect on the coiling of lower limbs during back swing, as well as the blocking of the lower limbs to minimize the dispersion of the weight and the release of the lower limbs after the impact during the down swing process. Moreover, since slope is one of many external factors affecting swing motion, address motion on an up hill lie limits the lower limbs movement, therefore, a relatively narrow stance is better on a down hill lie. It is estimated that a relatively wide stance would be better in order to limit the bigger activation of the lower limbs. Not only for the address motion but also during the down swing on an up hill lie it is concluded that the weight should be on the left foot in order to keep the body balance.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.771-778
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• 2009

We aimed to determine the effect of heel height on foot pressure by comparing and analyzing data on foot pressure in shoes with different heel heights. Qn the basis of a previous study, we selected 3cm and 7cm as the shoe heel heights preferred by female college students. We divided 10 female students into forefoot and hindfoot to measure vertical force, maximum pressure, and average pressure. The average pressure on the forefoot was higher and that on the hindfoot was lower in the case of 7cm high-heeled shoes. The maximum pressure on the forefoot was significantly higher in the case of the 7cm heel height (p<.05). The vertical force, maximum pressure, and average pressure on the hindfoot were also significantly higher in the case of the 7cm heel height (p<.05). The results showed that wearing 7cm high-heeled shoes exerted greater maximum pressure on the forefoot and greater vertical force, maximum pressure, and average pressure on the Hndfoot. This leads to increase in confining pressure caused by high pressure distribution over the forefoot and increase in the pressure on the hindfoot, which may cause deformation of toes and heel pain over a long period. Therefore, female college students who wish to wear high heels are recommended to wear 3cm high-heeled shoes rather than 7cm high-heeled shoes.