• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.396-408
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• 2017

In Korea, the number of elderly has been increasing rapidly. So it is also expected that the economic activity and the trip frequency of the elderly will increase. On the other hand, elderly related accidents such as falls during walking are steadily increasing and the satisfaction about pedestrian environment of elderly is very low. In this paper, we found one of the reasons for these dissatisfaction in pedestrian facility, which is not considering the walking ability (about 75% of non-elderly person) of the elderly. So, we analyze the kinematic walking characteristics of the elderly with the motion analysis system, when the elderly use stairs. As a result of analysis of various walking variables, the current standard for stairway height in Korean law (18cm) requires excessive force to elderly so it was difficult for elderly to keep the balance of the body in ascending and descending walk of stairs. In this paper, we propose the stair design criteria through the cluster analysis of walking parameters reflecting the gait characteristics of the elderly. This change is not a big for non-elderly person, but it can promote more socioeconomic activities for the elderly.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.397-405
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• 2016

Objective: Pilates is a low/mid-intensity exercise that can be easily performed by elderly individuals as it is an individual body-oriented exercise. It is also a cardio workout that can be performed anywhere to develop strength and flexibility. Therefore, we investigated the effects of 8 week Pilates program on the balancing ability of elderly individuals. Method: The research participants were selected from elderly residents in B city. Ten individuals voluntarily signed an agreement to undergo free measurements as well as to participate in the workout program. (Height: $157.1{\pm}11.9cm$, Weight: $61.7{\pm}8.0kg$). The Pilates exercise was performed 60 minutes a day, three times a week for a total of eight weeks. The measurement variables used to test balance were the vestibular test, 5 m habitual and maximum walk test and 3 m tandem walk test. A series of paired t-test were conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics 23.0 to analyze all the research data collected in order to determine the balance ability of the participants before and after the Pilates program. Additionally, the statistically significant level for all analysis was set to ${\alpha}=.05$. Results: In the vestibular test, some meaningful changes were observed in the length envelope area (ENV) while standing on one foot, but there were no significant differences in the ENV, rectangle(REC), root mean square, and total length. Results also revealed that statistically significant differences existed in the 5 m habitual and maximum walk test, as well as the 3 m tandem walk test. Conclusion: To summarize the findings, the 8 week Pilates program employed in this study significantly improved the dynamic balance of the elderly participants. Thus, elderly individuals that frequent perform Pilates are expected to enjoy positive benefits such as increased balance and fewer falling accidents.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.59-66
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• 2018

The utilized coefficient of friction (UCOF) as a ratio of the shear force to the normal force on the ground during walking is used to identify the point at which slip is likely to occur. Shoe walking will change the utilized coefficient of friction by shoe design such as sole thickness and hardness, heel shape, and outsole pattern. In this study, subjects are 21 adults (10 female, 11 male, age: $25.2{\pm}2.3yrs$, height: $165.6{\pm}7.2cm$), analysis variables were walking speed, GRF, when the UCOF is maximal, and Tangent of CoP-CoM angle, and correlation analysis with the utilized friction coefficient (UCOF). As a result, First, for the shod walking the time point which UCOF is maximum about heel strike was faster and the magnitude was larger than for barefoot walking. Second, the correlation between the tangent of CoP-CoM and UCOF of right foot was higher at the left heel striking point (UCOF2_h) which occurred in the post propulsion phase than at the right heel striking point (UCOF1_h). This suggests that the right foot UCOF is related to the braking phase of left foot( which is the propulsion phase of right foot) rather than the braking phase of right foot.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.787-797
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to confirm the reduction of pain and symptom relief of Parkinson's disease by vertically stimulating the spine through the application of a mechanical bed capable of thermal and massage stimulation. For this purpose, after confirming the segmental motion of the spine due to the use of a medical combination stimulation bed for Parkinson's disease patients, VAS, ODI, gait ability, and spiral drawing tests were performed, and the relationship between the variables was identified. In the 10-day visual analog scale and evaluation of low back pain dysfunction, the average trend of decreasing after bed use was confirmed. For walking ability, a decrease in the moving time and an increase in the moving distance were observed. In the spiral drawing test, the mean test time after using bed was significantly lower than before. As a result, it suggested the possibility of using it as an auxiliary method for recovery and pain relief of Parkinson's disease patients due to spinal segmental movement with mechanical heating and massage. However, this study is a preliminary study, and there is a small number of subjects, so additional research is needed that considers the number and condition of future subjects in detail.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.34-43
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• 2020

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to assess changes in blood glucose level, blood pressure, and arterial stiffness after a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in elderly women aged over 65 years with hypertension and either normal glycemic control, impaired fasting glucose tolerance, or diabetes mellitus. We also wished to investigate the relationship between stages of diabetes and physical fitness. [Methods] A total of 24 elderly women with hypertension were assigned to a control group (CON; n=7), impaired fasting glucose group (IFG; n=9), and diabetes mellitus group (DM; n=8). In each group, blood glucose level, brachial ankle pulse wave velocity (PWV), and blood pressure were measured at baseline as well as 60 and 120 minutes after a 75 g OGTT. Physical fitness factors such as hand grip strength, balance test, 4 m gait speed test, chair stand test, short physical performance battery, and 6-minute walking test were subsequently assessed. [Results] In all three groups, blood glucose levels were significantly increased at 60 and 120 minutes after a 75 g OGTT. In the DM group, blood glucose levels were significantly higher before and after a 75 g OGTT than in the CON group. In the CON group, PWV was significantly increased at 60 minutes after a 75 g OGTT; however, there were no changes in other groups after glucose ingestion. In the CON group, systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly decreased at 60 and 120 minutes after a 75 g OGTT compared to baseline. However, there was no change in blood pressure after ingestion in the DM group. The IFG group had greater grip strength than the CON group; however, there were no differences in other variables between the groups. [Conclusion] After a 75 g OGTT, elderly women with hypertension and diabetes maintain higher blood glucose levels compared to those with hypertension alone. Unlike elderly women with hypertension alone, those with hypertension and diabetes did not show changes in arterial stiffness and blood pressure after a 75 g OGTT. Therefore, elderly women with hypertension and diabetes may not be able to control their blood vessels following a 75 g OGTT due to impaired vascular endothelial function. Moreover, there was no association between diabetes stage and physical fitness in elderly women with hypertension.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.25-42
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• 2023

Objective : The purpose of this study was to identify the characteristics of a single-subject research study and qualitative levels in which occupational therapy interventions were performed on children with cerebral palsy. Methods : This study targeted papers, published in Research Information Sharing Service (RISS), National Digital Science Library (NDSL), Koreanstudies Information Service System (KISS), and E-article from May 20 to 29, 2022. The search terms were 'cerebral palsy' AND 'single subject research design' OR 'individual subject study'. Eleven papers, were finally selected and analyzed. Results : Most of the studies were medium in methodological quality, and the subjects were pre-school age and spastic hemiplegia. Among the single-subject designs, intervention-removal designs were the most common, and among them, ABA designs were the most common. Interventions included assistive devices, constraint-induced therapy, neurodevelopmental therapy, and sensory integration therapy were 2, and upper extremity exercise, interactive metronome, and CO-OP were 1. Dependent variables were measured with 2 to 4 measurement tools, Significant improvements were found in postural control ability, gait and balance, hand function, and upper extremity function. Conclusion : This study confirmed that it is helpful to apply cerebral palsy occupational therapy by presenting the characteristics of cerebral palsy, intervention sessions and effects, measurement tools and methodological quality levels.