• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• 제56권5호
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• pp.990-992
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to develop a practical gait-event detection system which is necessary for the FES (functional electrical stimulation) control of locomotion in paralyzed patients. The system is comprised of a sensor board and an event recognition algorithm. We focused on the practicality improvement of the system through 1) using accelerometer to get the angle of shank and dispensing with the foot-switches having limitation in indoor or barefoot usage and 2) using a rule-base instead of threshold to determine the heel-off/heel-strike events corresponding the stimulation on/off timing. The sensor signals are transmitted through RF communication and gait-events was detected using the peaks in shank angle. The system could detect two critical gait-events in all five paralyzed patients. The standard deviation of the gait events time from the peaks were smaller when 1.5Hz cutoff frequency was used in the derivation of the shank angle from the acceleration signals.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.204-211
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• 2019

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of progressive speed increase during underwater gait training on stroke patients' balance, gait, and endurance, as well as to compare the effects of underwater gait training and land gait training. Methods: Subjects were randomly allocated into three groups. Underwater gait training group (n=10), land gait training group (n=9) and control group (n=9). The groups performed their respective programs as well as conventional physical therapy 3 times/week for 8 weeks. The patients were assessed before and after the experiment in terms of the Berg balance scale, characteristics of gait, and 6-minute walking test. Results: The beneficial effect perceived in the speed increase underwater gait training (UGT) group was significantly greater than in the groups who were trained with speed increase land gait training (LGT) group, and the control group regarding the following aspects: the Berg balance scale, the affected step length, the affected stride length, and the 6-minute walking test (p<0.05). The LGT group showed a more significant effect on the Berg balance scale, the affected step length, the affected stride length, and the 6-minute walking test (p<0.05), compared to the control group. Furthermore, the UGT group showed a significantly greater effect on the gait speed when compared to the control groupb (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study shows that progressive UGT is effective in improving balance, gait, and endurance in stroke patients. Therefore, we believe that progressive UGT may be used as a method for general physical therapy in patients with stroke.

• PNF and Movement
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.67-74
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to prove the effects of coordinative locomotion training (CLT) on walking speed, walking endurance, and balance for incomplete spinal cord injury patients. Methods: Ten subjects were randomly assigned to the CLT group (n = 5) and the treadmill (TM) group (n = 5). The CLT group performed PNF pattern exercise using the motions of the sprinter and skater for 30 minutes, while the TM group performed using a treadmill for 30 minutes. Both groups performed these therapeutic interventions for five days per week, for a period of four weeks. A 10 meter walking test, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and 6 meter walking test were used for the assessment of gait speed, balance, and gait endurance. The SPSS Ver. 18.0 statistical program was used for data processing. A Wilcoxon signed rank test was used for the comparison of pre- and post-intervention performance and a Mann-Whitney test was used for comparison between the groups. The significance level for the statistical inspection was set at 0.05. Results: Both groups showed significant improvements in the 10 meter walking test, Berg Balance Scale, and 6 meter walking test (P < 0.05). Conclusion: CLT had an effect on the improvement of walking speed, walking endurance, and the balance of incomplete spinal cord injury patients. Thus, we suggest that CLT is a therapeutic intervention for incomplete spinal cord injury patients.

• Proceeding of EDISON Challenge
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• 제5회(2016년)
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• pp.455-462
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• 2016

Recently, followed by rapid growth of robotics field, multi-linkage mechanism which can even pass by rough road is getting lots of attention. In this paper, I focused on Jansen mechanism. It's a kinematics object which is named after Dutch artist Theo jansen. Jansen mechanism embraces structure and mechanism which creates locomotion with the combination of the power and simple structure. Theo jansen suggests a 'Holy number'. It's an ideal ratio of leg components length. However, if there's desired gait locomotion, you have to adjust the ratio and the length. But even slight change of the length could cause a big change at the end-point. To solve this problem, I suggest a reverse engineering method to get a ratio of each links by nonlinear optimization with pre-set desired trajectory. First, we converted a movement of the joint of Jansen mechanism to vectors by kinematics analysis of multi-linkage structure. And we showed the trajectory at the end-point. After that, we set desired trajectory which we found most ideal. Then we got the length of the leg components which draws a trajectory as same as trajectory we set, using Multi-objective genetic algorithm toolbox in MATLAB. Result is verified by Edison designer and mSketch. And we analyzed if it could pass through the obstruction which is set dynamically.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• 제63권3호
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• pp.389-394
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• 2014

Two evolutionary gait generation methods for Cartesian and Joint coordinates space are compared to develop a fast locomotion for quadruped robots. GA(Genetic Algorithm) based approaches seek to optimize a pre-selected set of parameters for the locus of paw and initial position in cartesian coordinates space. GP(Genetic Programming) based technique generate few joint trajectories using symbolic regression in joint coordinates space as a form of polynomials. Optimization for two proposed methods are executed using Webots simulation for the quadruped robot which is built by Bioloid. Furthermore, simulation results for two proposed methods are analysed in terms of different coordinate spaces.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• 제3권2호
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• pp.113-119
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• 2008

Purpose : In this case report, we demonstrated the improvement of gait ability on the child who has mental retardation with incomplete gait pattern. Methods : The subject was a 4 years old boy with mental retardation. We applied the Bobath approach to the subject. Treatments included to facilitate trunk alignment and stability, and to train weight bearing and shifting, to facilitate pelvis posterior-anterior movement, and to train walk especially stance phase and assist up-down stairs locomotion in environment similar to actual daily life. It was performed 24 sessions for 12 weeks. Results : With this treatment, he could accomplish dynamic standing stability and he could independent walk at the out door after 12 weeks. In gross motor function measure(GMFM), total motor function was improved to 85.6% from 75.7%. Conclusion : The gait ability of child with mental retardation was improved by using the bobath approach.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.1-13
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• 2003

The purpose of the study was to determine if there was a difference in the Functional Ambulation Performance score of senior adults with or without a history of falls during walking at a preferred velocity. Twelve subjects with a history of falling (mean age=73.8) and eight subjects with no history of falling (mean age=70.4) participated in the study. Temporal and spatial parameters of gait were analyzed using the computerized GAITRite system. The GAITRite system integrates specific components of locomotion to provide a single, numerical representation of gait, the Functional Ambulation Performance score. The Functional Ambulation Performance score is a Quantitative means of assessing gait based on specific temporal and spatial parameters. Statistical analysis of the two groups demonstrated a significant decrease in Functional Ambulation Performance score for those with a history of falls. They had lower values for step/extremity ratios, mean normalized velocity, and greater values for step times, percent in double support. These results indicate that the GAITRite system can be useful in detecting footfall patterns and selected time and distance measurements of persons with a history of falls and the Functional Ambulation Performance score can be used as indicators of gait performance for senior adults with a history of falls.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• 제19권10호
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• pp.1919-1931
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• 2005

Human joint motion can be kinematically described in three planes, typically the frontal, sagittal, and transverse, and related to experimentally measured data. The selection of reference systems is a prerequisite for accurate kinematic analysis and resulting development of the equations of motion. Moreover, the development of analysis techniques for the minimization of errors, due to skin movement or body deformation, during experiments involving human locomotion is a critically important step, without which accurate results in this type of experiment are an impossibility. The traditional kinematic analysis method is the Angular-based method (ABM), which utilizes the Euler angle or the Bryant angle. However, this analysis method tends to increase cumulative errors due to skin movement. Therefore, the objective of this study was to propose a new kinematic analysis method, Position-based method (PBM), which directly applies position displacement data to represent locomotion. The PBM presented here was designed to minimize cumulative errors via considerations of angle changes and translational motion between markers occurring due to skin movements. In order to verify the efficacy and accuracy of the developed PBM, the mean value of joint dislocation at the knee during one gait cycle and the pattern of three dimensional translation motion of the tibiofemoral joint at the knee, in both flexion and extension, were accessed via ABM and via new method, PBM, with a Local Reference system (LRS) and Segmental Reference system (SRS), and then the data were compared between the two techniques. Our results indicate that the proposed PBM resulted in improved accuracy in terms of motion analysis, as compared to ABM, with the LRS and SRS.

• Journal of KIISE:Computing Practices and Letters
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• 제12권6호
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• pp.358-366
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• 2006

This paper describes a novel navigation algorithm using a locomotion interface with two 6-DOF programmable foot platforms. When a human walks on the locomotion interface (LI), the walking motions of the human are recognized by several sensors. Then, the sensed information is used by the LI for generation of infinite surfaces for continuous walking and the virtual environments for scene update according to motions of the human walking. The suggested novel navigation system can induce user's real walking and generate realistic visual feedback during navigation. A novel navigation algorithm is suggested to allow natural navigation in virtual environments by utilizing conditions of normal gait analysis. For realistic visual feedback, the virtual environment is designed with three components; 3D object modeler for buildings and terrains, scene manager and communication manager component. From experiments, the subjects were satisfied with the reality of the suggested navigation algorithm using the locomotion interface. Therefore, the suggested navigation system can allow a user to explore into various virtual terrains with real walking and realistic visual feedback.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• 제58권1호
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• pp.203-209
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to develop a minimally constraint joint angle measurement system for the feedback control of FES (functional electrical stimulation) locomotion. Feedback control is desirable for the efficient FES locomotion, however, the simple on-off control schemes are mainly used in clinic because the currently available angle measurement systems are heavily constraint or cosmetically poor. We designed a new angle measurement system consisting of a magnet and magnetic sensors located below and above the ankle joint, respectively, in the rear side of ipsilateral leg. Two magnetic sensors are arranged so that the sensing axes are perpendicular each other. Multiple positions of sensors attachment on the shank part of the ankle joint model and also human ankle joint were selected and the accuracy of the measured angle at each position was investigated. The reference ankle joint angle was measured by potentiometer and motion capture system. The ankle joint angle was determined from the fitting curve of the reference angle and magnetic flux density relationship. The errors of the measured angle were calculated at each sensor position for the ankle range of motion (ROM) $-20{\sim}15$ degrees (dorsiflexion as positive) which covers the ankle ROM of both stroke patients and normal subjects during locomotion. The error was the smallest with the sensor at the position 1 which was the nearest position to the ankle joint. In case of human experiment, the RMS (root mean square) errors were $0.51{\pm}1.78(0.31{\sim}0.64)$ degrees and the maximum errors were $1.19{\pm}0.46(0.68{\sim}1.58)$ degrees. The proposed system is less constraint and cosmetically better than the existing angle measurement system because the wires are not needed.