• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제25권5호
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• pp.239-245
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• 2013

Purpose: Osteoarthritis occurs in many different joints of the body, causing pain, stiffness, and decreased function. The knee is the most frequently affected joint of the lower limb. The aim of this study was to investigate the differences of biomechanics between independent gait and anterior walker dependent gait of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. Methods: Lower limb joint kinematics and kinetics were evaluated in 15 patients with knee osteoarthritis when walking independently and when walking with an anterior walker. Participants were evaluated in a gait laboratory, with self-selected gait speed and natural arm swing. Results: When walking with a dependent anterior walker, participants walked significantly faster (p<0.01), using a longer stride length (p<0.01), compared to independent gait. When walking with a dependent anterior walker, participants exhibited significantly greater knee flexion/extension motion (p<0.01) and lower knee flexion moment (p<0.05) compared to independent gait. When walking with a dependent anterior walker, participants showed significantly greater peak ankle motion (p<0.01), ankle dorsiflexion/plantarflexion moments (p<0.01), and ankle power generation (p<0.05) compared to independent gait. Conclusion: These biomechanical properties of gait, observed when participants walked with a dependent anterior walker, may be a compensatory response to impaired knee function to allow sufficient power generation for propulsion. Therefore, rehabilitative strategies for patients with osteoarthritis of the knee are needed in order to improve not only knee function but also hip and ankle function.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.43-48
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• 2014

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the influences on gait features during mobile phone use while ramp walking. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Thirty-three healthy adult subjects performed four walking conditions on an outside ramp with a 5 m length, 1.5 m width, and a $5^{\circ}$ angle. All participants were touch screen mobile phone users. Four walking conditions were used: 1) ramp ascent, 2) ramp descent, 3) texting during ramp ascent, and 4) texting during ramp descent. In conditions 3) and 4), subjects texted the words of "Aegukga"-the song of patriotism-while walking. Upon the signal of start, the subjects walked the ramp during texting. Gait parameters were measured at the length of 3 m excluding 1 m of the start and end of the total length. Each situation was repeated three times for each subject, and mean values were calculated. For gait examination, a gait analyzer was used (OptoGait). Results: Subjects ranged in age from 23 to 38 years (mean age, 27.73). Eighty-three percent of subjects in our study had experienced an accident during mobile phone use. Texting on a mobile phone while walking significantly decreased ramp gait, speed, cadence, stride length, step length, and single support (p<0.05) and significantly increased stride time, step time, gait cycle, and double support (p<0.05). There was a significant difference in cadence, step length, stride time, step time, and single support during ramp ascent and descent (p<0.05). Conclusions: Texting on a mobile phone while walking significantly decreased gait quality.

• 동의신경정신과학회지
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.225-233
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• 2020

Objectives: This study aimed to reveal the gait characteristics of each Sasang constitution by examining the differences in gait analysis indicators using a 3-axis accelerometer. Methods: Ninety-one participants were classified through the TS-QSCD (Two-Step Questionnaire for Sasang Constitution Diagnosis) method and gait analysis was performed using a 3-Axis Accelerometer (G-WALK. BTS Bioengineering, Italy). Gait analysis in returning to the 6-meter turnaround point and 6-minute walking test were performed. The differences in the gait analysis index values were analyzed between each constitution. Results: The gait analysis of 91 subjects (37 Taeumin, 37 Soyangin, and 17 Soeumin), showed that the percent stride length/height in the Soyangin subjects was significantly higher than that of the Taeeumin and Soeuminin subjects in the spatiotemporal walking variables (p<0.05). Stride length also showed the widest tendency in the Soyangin subjects (p=0.05). In the kinesiological analysis, the range of pelvic obliquity angles in the Soeumin subjects was significantly wider than that of the Taeumin and Soyangin subjects (p<0.05). In the six-minute walking test, the Soyangin subjects walked the farthest at 309.41±35.23 m (p=0.064). Conclusions: In a comparison of the gait characteristics for each Sasang constitution using a three-dimensional accelerometer, the stride width of the Soyangin subjects was the widest compared to the Taeeumin, and Soeumin subjects, and Soyangin's walking speed showed a faster tendency than that of the Taeeumin and Soeumin subjects.

• 한국의류산업학회지
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• 제19권5호
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• pp.602-607
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• 2017

This study was undertaken to compare the gait characteristics between the Korean elderly and young adults, we measured the plantar pressure and contact time of gait with barefoot along a walkway at their preferred walking speed. The results indicate that older people exhibited significantly less plantar pressure than young adult in all 3 regions (FF, MF and RF) and significantly less time % on the initial contact phase (ICP), forefoot push-off phase (FFPOP) and significantly more % forefoot contact phase (FFCP) and foot flat phase (FFP). The converted plantar pressure value to percentage, it showed more pressure in forefoot (FF) in the elderly person than the young adults. It could be explained that the forward shifting in plantar pressure are associated with a more flexed posture of elderly such as actual stabilizing fearrelated adaptations. Longer total foot contact time in the elderly means that the old people show the decreased gait velocity. In other words, lower velocity was found to be associated with pre-existing fear of falling. With longer contact time and slower stepping movement, the elderly become more unstable. With these findings, it could be confirmed that there were significant changes in foot characteristics which contribute to alter the plantar pressure and contact time during gait with advancing age. Further research is required to establish possible links to risk of falling and development of footwear in the elderly adults.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.41-48
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• 2009

Purpose: The examine the Reliability and Validity of the modified Emory Functional Ambulation Profile (mEFAP), Tinetti. Gait (TG), Timed Up & Go Tes t (TUG), Comfortable Gait Speed (CGS), Berg Balance Scale (BBS) in assessing gait function and balance in elderly person. Methods: The 45 community-dwelling subjects were participated in this study. Reliability was determined by intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC$_{3,1}$), Bland and Altman method (Standard Error of Measurement (SEM), Smallest Real Difference (SRD)). Results: Validity was examined by correlation the mEFAP, TG, TUG, CGS, BBS. The intra-rater reliability were High (ICC$_{3,1}$ : mEFAP=0.95, TG=0.96, TUG=0.94, CGS=0.96, BBS=0.92) and Absolute reliability were excellent (SEM: mEFAP=1.90, TG=0.21, TUG=0.28 CGS=0.25, BBS=0.52), (SRD: mEFAP=5.26, TG=0.58, TUG=0.77, CGS=0.69, BBS=1.44). There were significant correlations between assessment tool (r=.0.58$\sim$0.78, p<0.01) indicating good validity. Our results provide strong evidence that the assessment tool has good reliability, validity for assessing elderly person undergoing rehabilitation. Conclusion: The gait assessment tool is a useful scale for measuring walking function and recovery in elderly person.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.13-16
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• 2005

Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of the intensive functional electrical stimulation(FES) on the improvement of the gait pattern of the chronic hemiplegic patients. Method: Six hemiplegic patients, who could walk independently but have equinovarus deformity during the gait cycle, participated in this study. The affected peroneus longus and tibialis anterior muscles of all subjects were stimulated for 2 weeks period (20 minutes duration, 6 times/day). We measured the activities (mean voltage) of those muscles during the walking, using dynamic EMG. Results: After treatment, there were significant improvements in the strength of peroneus longus and tibialis anterior muscles and the gait speed, but there was no interval change of the spasticity of plantar flexor. The mean voltages of two muscles are significantly increased in all the patients (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results showed that the intensive FES on affected peroneus longus and tibialis anterior muscles in chronic hemiplegic patients could be useful for the improvement of functional gait.

• 로봇학회논문지
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.8-19
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• 2013

One of the important issues for structural and electrical specifications in developing a robot is to determine lengths of links and motor specifications, which need to be appropriate to the purpose of robot. These issues become more critical for a gait rehabilitation robot, since a patient wears the robot. Prior to developing an entire gait rehabilitation robot, designing of a 1DOF assistive knee joint of the robot is considered in this paper. Human gait motions were used to determine an allowable range of knee joint that was rotated with a linear type actuator (ball-screw type) and links. The lengths of each link were determined by using an optimization process, minimizing the stroke of actuator and the total energy (kinetic and potential energy). Kinetic analysis was performed in order to determine maximum rotational speed and maximum torque of the motor for tracking gait trajectory properly. The prototype of 1 DOF assistive knee joint was built and examined with a impedance controller.

• PNF and Movement
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.41-50
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• 2017

Purpose: This study aimed to determine how inclined-treadmill walking training with rhythmic auditory stimulation affects balance and gait in stroke patients. Methods: Ten chronic stroke patients, admitted to B hospital in Gangwon-do between August and October 2015, were trained 5 times per week for 4 weeks; each session lasted 30 minutes. To assess balance and gait before and after the training, the timed up and go (TUG) test, Berg balance scale (BBS), six minute walking test (6MWT), and three-dimensional spatiotemporal gait ability were used to measure the relevant variables. The data were analyzed using the paired t-test, and the statistical significance level was 0.05. Results: There were significant differences in the TUG, BBS, 6MWT, gait speed, cadence, single limb support (SLS), and symmetric index (SI) before and after training (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results showed that the inclined-treadmill walking training with rhythmic auditory stimulation was effective at improving the balance and walking ability of stroke patients. Hearing training, using one of the basic procedures of proprioceptive neuromuscular stimulation, is considered to be an important aspect.

• PNF and Movement
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.47-56
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• 2019

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of neck pattern of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on balance and walking ability in patients with chronic stroke. Methods: Fourteen participants with chronic stroke were randomly assigned to vestibular rehabilitation and then divided into two groups: the neck pattern group or treadmill group. Each group underwent 20 sessions (20 minutes/day, five days/week, for four weeks). Patients were assessed with the Berg balance scale (BBS) and gait parameters (gait speed, cadence, step length, and double-limb support period) using a GAITRite system. Results: Vestibular rehabilitation for the neck pattern group and the treadmill group showed significant intragroup improvement on the BBS and in terms of gait speed, cadence, step length, and double-limb support period (p < 0.05). Vestibular rehabilitation was more effective for the neck pattern group than for the treadmill group in terms of the BBS (p = 0.00; 95% CI, 1.49-5.94), gait speed (p = 0.01; 95% CI, 0.05-0.16), cadence (p = 0.02; 95% CI, 0.54-4.99), and step length (p = 0.00, 95% CI, 1.55-4.62). Conclusion: This study used the neck pattern of PNF for vestibular rehabilitation in patients with chronic stroke. The results showed significant improvement in the patients' balance and walking ability. Therefore, the neck pattern of PNF for vestibular stimulation may be more effective than treadmill training to improve balance and walking ability in patients with chronic stroke.

• 대한의용생체공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한의용생체공학회 1998년도 추계학술대회
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• pp.88-89
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• 1998

In this paper, a transfemoral prosthesis with a microprocessor controlled pneumatic knee developed at KOREC is presented. The resistance of the knee is changed automatically via a microprocessor as the amputee's gait speed changes, so that the prosthetic side of the amputee can follow the sound limb. Gait analysis has been conducted to evaluate the performance of the developed prosthesis and the improvement of the gait pattern including the gait symmetry was observed.