• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.193-199
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• 2014

In this paper, we present an overview of the structure of a lab-built powered knee prosthesis and the control of it. We build a powered prosthesis prototype on the basis of previous researches and aim at obtaining the essential technology related with its control. We adopt the slider-crank mechanism with a DC motor as an actuator to manipulate the knee joint. We also build an embedded control system for the prosthesis with a 32-bit DSP controller as a main computation unit. We divide the gait phase into five stages and use a FSM (Finite State Machine) to generate a torque reference needed for each stage. We also propose to use a position-based impedance controller for driving the powered knee prosthesis stably. We perform some walking experiments at fixed speeds on a tread mill in order to show the feature of the built powered prosthesis. The experimental results show that our prosthesis has the ability to provide a functional gait that is representative of normal gait biomechanics.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1987.10a
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• pp.797-800
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• 1987

We developed a biofeedback gait training system; a 12 m measuring walkway with a training walker which moves at prescribed velocity. The walkway measures a.11 temporal and distance factors of gait. This system provides visual feedback for distance factors and auditory one for temporal at the prescribed walking velocity. Experiments were performed on normal and degenerative knee joint subjects, and this system was verified to be very useful.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.38 no.12
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• pp.1014-1021
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• 1989

The problem of controlling static gaits for a quadruped walking robot is investigated. A theoretical approach to gait study is proposed in which the static stability margins for periodic gaits are expressed in terms of the kinematic gait formula. The effects fo the stride length on static stability are analyzed and the relations between static stability and initial body configurations are examined. It is shown that the moving velocity can be increased to some extent without affecting stability margins for a given initial body configuration. Computer simulations are performed to verify the analysis.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.17-35
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• 2004

The purpose of this study is to explain developmental process of gait via angle-angle diagram to understand how coordinated relationships and control change with age. Twenty four female children, from one to five years of age were the test subjects for this study, and their results were compared to a control group consisting of twenty one adult females. The Vicon 370 CCD camera, VCR, video timer, monitor, and audio visual mixer was utilized to graph the gait cycle for all test subjects. Both coordinated Intra-limb relationships, and range of motion and timing according to quadrant were explained through the angle angle diagram. Movement in the sagittal plane showed both coordinated relationships and control earlier than movement in the coronal or transverse plane. In the sagittal plane, hip and Knee coordinated relationships developed first (from one year of age.) Coordinated relationships in the Knee and ankle and hip and ankle developed next, respectively. Both hip and ankle and knee and ankle development were inhibited by the inability of children to completely perform plantar flexion during the swing and initial double limb support phases. Children appeared to compensate for this by extending at their hip joint more than adults during the third phase, final double limb support. In many cases the angle angle diagram for children had a similar shape as adult's angle angle diagram. This shows that children can coordinate their movements at an early age. However, the magnitudes and timing of children's angle angle diagrams still varied greatly from adults, even at five years of age. This indicates that even at this age, children still do not possess full control of their movements.

• 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 Rehabilitation Science
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2014

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of Augmented Reality-based Postural Control (ARPC) training on balance and gait function in patients with stroke. Design: Single-blind randomized controlled trial. Methods: Twenty participants who experienced a stroke were enrolled in the study and randomly assigned to the ARPC (n=10) or control group (n=10). Subjects in both groups received conventional physical therapy for 60 min per session, 5 days per week, for 4 weeks. In addition, subjects in the ARPC group received ARPC training for 30 min per day, 3 days per week, for 4 weeks. The participants watched established normal postural control patterns on a head-mounted display and repeated the movements in ARPC training. Outcome measurements were assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT) before and after 4 weeks of training. Results: Of the 20 randomized participants, only 18 completed the 4-week training program. The ARPC group showed significant improvement in the BBS and 10MWT after training (p<0.05). Meanwhile, the control group did not exhibit improvement in either variable. In addition, the ARPC group showed significantly greater improvement than the control group in the 10MWT (p<0.05), whereas no significant difference was observed between the groups for the BBS. Conclusions: The results of this study confirmed the benefits of ARPC training on dynamic balance and functional gait ability. Additionally, this study may provide evidence supporting the use of an ARPC training program for improving balance and gait ability in patients after a chronic stroke.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.11 no.9
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• pp.3353-3357
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of visual rhythmic stimulation in gait ability and proprioception in chronic stroke patients. Twenty-one persons after six months post stroke participated in pre and post test control. The subjects were randomly assigned to a rhythmic visual stimulation(RVS) group (n=10) and control group (n=11). Training process was practiced with exercise on thirty minutes a day, three days a week for four weeks. To find out the effect, inspected the proprioception test and gait characteristics by gait analysis. In gait characteristics, the walking speed, cadence and the TUG time were significantly different from RVS group. The proprioception were significantly different RVS and control group. This study showed that the RVS training increased better functional activity by postural adjustment and gait learning of chronic stroke patients than that of control group. And so, the RVS training of hemiplegic patients was very important to successive rehabilitation. A continuous examination of RVS training could be practical use of physical therapy with exercise.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.4346-4352
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• 2014

This study examined the differences in the improvement of walking ability between treadmill training with fast-tempo auditory stimulation (FTAS group) and the general treadmill training (control group) in hemiplegia. The subjects were allocated randomly into both groups. Eleven patients of the FTAS group and 11 patients of the control group underwent training for 30 minutes per day for 6 weeks. Before and after intervention, the walking ability was measured by the 10m gait-evaluation and the number of steps in 20m walking. The gait velocity was improved further in the FTAS group than the control group (p<.05). This study provides evidence of the efficacy of treadmill training with FTAS in improving the gait ability when compared to the general methods in patients with chronic hemiplegia.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 2016

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to identify whether virtual reality-based exercise could improve on balance, gait and fall efficacy in patients with Parkinson's disease. Methods : Ten patients with Parkinson's disease were randomly divided into either an experimental or control group. The experimental subjects performed vertual reality-based exercise, whereas the control subjects performed conventional physical therapy for 4 weeks. The balance, gait and fall efficacy of all subjects were assessed by using the Measurement Training and Documentation (MTD) balance system, force platform system, Korean version of Berg Balance scale (K-BBS), 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT), and Korean version of Fall efficacy scale (K-FES) at pre training and post training. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to analyze change before and after intervention in intra-group. Mann Whitney U test was used to analyze changes of all variables in inter-groups. Results : Subjects in the experimental group showed significant improvements in difference of weight distribution, K-BBS scores, antero-posterior and medio-lateral sway length, ground reaction force (GRF), 6MWT, and step length following training. The changes of difference of weight distribution, K-BBS scores, AP Sway Length, GRF, 6MWT, step length and K-FES scores in the experimental group were significantly more than them of the control group. Conclusion : The result of this study suggest that virtual reality-based exercise training is an intervention to improve on balance, gait, and falls efficacy in patients with Parkinson's disease.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.47-56
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• 2019

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate effects of a stim-up matt walking exercise program on balance and gait of the frail elderly. Methods: A total of 37 elderly people recruited from S city were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n=22) and control group (n=15). The stim-up matt walking exercise program was offered twice a week for 8 weeks. Data were analyzed by SPSS 21.0. Results: The dynamic balance ability Timed Up and Go test of the experimental group was significantly faster than that of the control group (t=21.72, p<.001). The static balance ability open-eye standing test (t=44.15, p<.001) and close-eye standing test (t=9.01, p=.005) also showed increase in effects of the experimental group. In the walking ability, gait cycle (t=2.48, p=.018), cadence (t=-2.21, p=.034) and gait speed (t=-2.78, p=.009), positive effects were on. However, no statistically significant differences were found in stride length and double support. At the ankle joint range left ankle plantar flexion (t=3.92, p<.001) and left ankle dorsal flexion (t=4.51, p<.001) were higher in the experimental group than in the control group, and also right ankle plantar flexion (t=2.79, p=.008) and right ankle dorsal flexion (t=2.92, p=.006) increased in the experimental group. Conclusion: The significance of this study is that the stim-up matt walking exercise program for the frail elderly proves to be useful for improving balance and walking.