• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.181-187
• /
• 2012

Horse riding is widely recognized as a valuable form of education, exercise and therapy. But, the injuries observed in horse riding range from very minor injuries to fatalities. In order to reduce these injuries, the effective horseback riding simulator is required. In this paper, we proposed the implementation method of horse gait and riding aids for horseback riding robot simulator HRB-1. For implementation of horse gait to robot simulator, we gathered and modified real motion data of horse. We obtained two main frequencies of each gait by frequency analysis, and then simple sinusoidal functions are acquired by genetic algorithm. In addition, we developed riding aids system including hands, leg, and seat aids. With the help of a developed robotic system, beginners can learn the skill of real horse riding without the risk of injury.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.165-179
• /
• 2019

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to improve the stroke patient's gait ability by applying a closed or kinetic chain lower limb exercise Methods : The study subjects were 48 hospitalized hemiplegic patients who agreed to participate in the study. 48 subjects went through the intervention: 24 in the experimental group and 24 in the control group. One set consisted of 10 repeats of the exercise. The subjects performed three sets of the exercise once a day, 5 times a week, for 6 weeks. Results : TUG and FGA were significantly improved in the experimental group. The spatio-temporal gait variables in the experimental group all showed significant improvement. In the control group, velocity, cadence, and double limb support showed significant improvement, Trunk sway angle showed significant improvement in all three axes in both groups. Conclusion : The results of this study indicate that a more positive effect in terms of improvement of the stroke patient's gait ability will be seen for closed rather than open kinetic chain lower limb resistance exercise.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.9 no.3
• /
• pp.25-29
• /
• 2011

Purpose : We investigated the effect of anti-flexion taping at the proximal interphalangeal joints on the gait in stroke patients with clawing toe. Methods : Nineteen patients (mean age $63.26{\pm}9.16$ years) with clawing toe were studied. Gait performance was measured under two different conditions : (1) non-tape (2) application of tape. Gait velocity, step time and stride length were examined with the GAITRite system Results : Compared to the non-tape control condition, step time of the hemiparetic side increased significantly after the application of tape(p=0.03). There was no significant mean differences between the taped and control conditions for stride length of the hemiparetic side and velocity. Conclusion : Whilst the anti-flexion tape at the proximal interphalangeal joints changed the walking by providing significant step time effect, positive changes were noted in stride length of the hemiparetic side after tape application. These findings indicate that anti-flexion tape procedures do not significantly alter stride length of the hemiparetic side and velocity.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.79-86
• /
• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of reduced plantar cutaneous sensation on gait kinematics during walking with and without CAI. Method: A total of 20 subjects involved in this study and ten healthy subjects and 10 CAI subjects participated underwent ice-immersion of the plantar aspect of the feet before walking test in this study. The gait kinematics were measured before and after ice-immersion. Results: We observed a before ice-immersion on plantar cutaneous sensation, CAI subject were found to reduced ankle dorsiflexion, knee external rotation, hip adduction, and internal rotation compared to control subject. After ice-immersion, CAI subjects were found to reduce knee external rotation, hip adduction. However, no significant ankle joint kinematics. Conclusion: While walking, gait pattern differences were perceived between groups with and without plantar cutaneous sensation. The results of the study may explain the abductions in the hip angle movements in CAI patients at initial contact compared to healthy subjects in the control group when plantar cutaneous sensation was reduced. A change in proximal joint kinematics may be a conservative strategy to promote normal gait patterns in CAI patients.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
• /
• v.14 no.7
• /
• pp.672-678
• /
• 2008

This paper proposes a new rehabilitation robot with upper and lower limb connections for gait training. As humans change a walking speed, their nervous systems adapt muscle activation patterns to modify arm swing for the appropriate frequency. By analyzing this property, we can find a relation between arm swinging and lower limb motions. Thus, the lower limb motion can be controlled by the arm swing for walking speed adaptation according to a patent's intension. This paper deals with the design aspects of the suggested gait rehabilitation robot, including a trajectory planning and a control strategy. The suggested robot is mainly composed of upper limb and lower limb devices, a body support system. The lower limb device consists of a slider device and two 2-dof footpads to allow walking training at uneven and various terrains. The upper limb device consists of an arm swing handle and switches to use as a user input device for walking. The body support system will partially support a patient's weight to allow the upper limb motions. Finally, we showed simulation results for the designed trajectory and controller using a dynamic simulation tool.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.39-45
• /
• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine changes in functional assessment measures (FAMs) and spatiotemporal gait parameters (STGPs) in healthy older adults before and after a 6-week intervention of a proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) training program. Methods: Thirty healthy older adults (mean age: $73.37{\pm}1.21$ age range: 65-79) were randomly assigned either to an experimental group (participating in a 6-week intervention of PNF training) or a control group (only performing daily activities). Participants in the control group did not receive any training program. Performance was assessed by recording changes in the FAMs and STGPs using functional assessment tools and GAITRite. Results: Participants in the PNF group showed significantly improved functional assessment measures and increased stride length, cadence, velocity, and step width (p<0.05). No significant differences in FAMs and STGPs were found in the control group (p>0.05). Conclusion: Participation in a PNF training program improves FAMs and STGPs, thereby increasing the ability of healthy older adults to maintain dynamic balance during functional performance and gait. These findings support the use of PNF training programs as effective fall-prevention programs for the elderly.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.108-117
• /
• 2016

Purpose: This study aimed to prove the effects of the net-step exercise (NSE) on gait ability, depression, cognitive function and activities of daily living (ADL) in older adults. Methods: The study employed a non-equivalent control group non-synchronized design. A total of 64 community-dwelling older adults were recruited and divided equally into two groups; 32 subjects for an experimental group and 32 subjects for a control group. In the experimental group, the NSE was applied to an hour, two times per week for 4 weeks. The level of gait ability, depression, cognitive function and ADL were measured before and after NSE. The study conducted from July to August, 2016. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, $x^2$ test, Fisher's exact test, t-test, ANCOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficients using SPSS/WIN 22.0 version. Results: Gait ability, depression, cognitive function were significantly better in the experimental group than the control group. However, the difference in ADL was not significant between the two groups. Conclusion: These findings in this study showed that the NSE was an efficient intervention for older adults. Nurses could apply non-pharmacological interventions to avoid pharmacological side-effects.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.35-41
• /
• 2019

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of a vestibular stimulation training program on the walking ability of chronic stroke patients over a six month period. METHODS: Forty stroke patients were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided randomly into a control group (n=20) and experimental group (n=20). A general exercise program was applied to Group I and vestibular stimulation training was applied to Group II(30 min, three times a week for six weeks). The changes in straight walking ability, curved walking ability, and functional walking ability were measured using a 10 m walking test figure-of-eight-walking test, and dynamic gait index, respectively. The measures before and after the program were compared using a paired t-test for a comparison of each group and an independent t-test for a comparison between groups. RESULTS: The changes in each group were examined according to the measurement period. The Experimental group showed significant functional improvement in all three tests after the vestibular stimulation training program, but the control group did not show significant improvement in any of the tests after the general exercise program. A comparison of the changes between groups revealed the experimental group to show significantly higher improvement than the control group in all tests. CONCLUSION: The vestibular stimulation training program helps improve the gait function of stroke patients. Based on the results of this study, it is expected that various vestibular stimulation training programs will be developed and applied in a range of places.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.103-113
• /
• 2019

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine if virtual reality-based exercise was effective in balance, gait, and falls efficacy in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: Thirty patients with PD were assigned randomly to the experimental (n=15) or control groups (n=15). The experimental group performed virtual reality-based exercise and the control group underwent conventional physical therapy for 30minutes, five times per week for four weeks. A force platform system, the Korean version of the Berg Balance Scale (K-BBS), the six-minute walking test (6MWT), and the Korean Version of the Falls Efficacy Scale (K-FES) were used to evaluate balance, gait, and falls efficacy. Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to examine the within- and between-group differences after training, respectively. RESULTS: Changes in the K-BBS score (p<.001) and fall efficacy (p<.01), following the intervention were significantly greater in the experimental group than in the control group whereas significant group difference were not observed for the anterior-posterior and mediolateral postural sway lengths. The change in the ground reaction force (p<.001) and 6MWT values (p<.05) were significantly greater after intervention in patients in the experimental group than in the control group, whereas a significant group difference was not observed for the step and stride lengths. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that virtual reality-based exercise is an effective intervention for improving balance, gait, and fall efficacy in patients with PD.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.249-255
• /
• 2016

Objective: This purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between dimensionless leg stiffness and kinetic variables during gait performance, and its modulation with body weight. Method: The study sample consisted of 10 young women divided into 2 groups (Control, n=5 and Obese, n=5). Four camcorders (HDR-HC7/HDV 1080i, Sony Corp, Japan) and one force plate (AMTI., USA) were used to analyze the vertical ground reaction force (GRF) variables, center of pressure (COP), low limb joint angle, position of pelvis center and leg lengths during the stance phase of the gait cycle. Results: Our results revealed that the center of mass (COM) displacement velocity along the y-axis was significantly higher in the obese group than that in control subjects. Displacement in the position of the center of the pelvis center (Z-axis) was also significantly higher in the obese group than that in control subjects. In addition, the peak vertical force (PVF) and dimensionless leg stiffness were also significantly higher in the obese group. However, when normalized to the body weight, the PVF did not show a significant between-group difference. When normalized to the leg length, the PVF and stiffness were both lower in the obese group than in control subjects. Conclusion: In the context of performance, we concluded that increased dimensionless leg stiffness during the gait cycle is associated with increased velocity of COM, PVF, and the change in leg lengths (%).