• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.75-84
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• 2022

Background: This study was to investigate the effect of non-invasive transcranial direct current stimulation due to hemiplegic patients due to stroke on temporal and spatial gait ability. Design: Randomized sham controlled trial. Methods: For the study method, 42 patients with hemiplegia due to stroke were randomly assigned to 14 patients each, and the general walking group, tDCS walking group, and tDCS (sham) walking group were subjected to 5 times a week, 30 minutes a day, and 6 weeks. In the temporal gait variables of hemiplegic patients due to stroke, the effect of the gait time, gait cycle, single support, double support, swing phase, stance phase, gait speed, cadence were measured. In spatial variables, one step length and one step length were measured. Results: As a result of the study, the EG group significantly increased in the step time, gait velocity, and cadence of the paralysis side in the comparison of temporal walking variables between groups according to the application of tDCS of walking ability in hemiplegic patients due to stroke patients(p<.05). In the change in spatial walking variables between groups according to the application of tDCS, the step length and stride length of the EG group showed a significant increase. Both the comparison of temporal and spatial symmetry walking variables between groups according to tDCS application was not significant(p>.05) Conclusion: As a result, tDCS has an effective effect on the improvement of the gait ability of stroke patients. In particular, it is an effective method of physical therapy that can improve the cadence and speed of gait, which can be combined with the existing gait training to effectively increase the gait of hemiplegia due to stroke patients.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.215-223
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• 2022

Objective: This study was to resolve the limitations of the experimental environment and to solve the shortcomings of the method of measuring human gait characteristics using optical measuring instruments. Design: A cross-sectional study. Methods: Fifteen healthy adults without a history of orthopedic surgery on the lower extremities for the past 6 months were participated. They were analyzed gait variables using the smart guide and the 3D image analysis at the same time, and their results were compared. Visual-3D was used to calculate the analysis variables. Results: The reliability and validity of the data according to the two measuring instruments were found to be very high; gait speed(0.85), cycle time(0.99), stride time of both feet(0.98, 0.97) stride legnth of both feet(0.86, 0.88) stride per minute of both feet(0.99, 0.96), foot speed of both feet(0.90, 0.91), step time of both feet(0.77, 0.71), step per minute(0.72, 0.74), stance time of both feet(0.96, 0.97), swing time of both feet(0.93, 0.79), double step time(0.81), initial double step time(0.84) and terminal step time(0.76). Conclusions: In the case of the smart insole, which measures human gait variables using the pressure sensor and inertial sensor inserted in the insole, the reliability and validity of the measured data were found to be very high. It can be used as a device to replace 3D image analysis when measuring pathological gait.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.641-646
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• 2011

A low cost gait analysis system, which can measure stride length, walking speed, and ground reaction force, is proposed. A gait analysis system is used for medical evaluation of patients and rehabilitation assistance. Low cost cameras are attached to a shoe and movement of a shoe is estimated using infrared LED landmarks. Ground reaction force is measured from pressure sensors, which are installed inside a shoe. Through experiments, it is shown that the proposed system can be used to obtain stride length, walking speed, and ground reaction force.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1-8
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• 2018

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to analyze the effects of carrying weight on the gait of elderly women using a walking-assistant vehicle (WAV) as the weight increased. METHODS: A total of 30 elderly women living in the local community were included as subjects and instructed to walk 50 m using a WAV loaded with sandbags corresponding to 0%, 5%, 10%, or 15% of their mean weight. The subjects' gait was analyzed using a gait analyzer to measure stride length, step length, step width, and gait time. RESULTS: Stride and step lengths were longest when carrying 5% of their weight and shortest when carrying 15% of their mean body weight. Step width and gait time were lowest when carrying weights corresponding to 5% and highest for 15% of their mean body weight. When observing gait with a WAV, the gait time was greatly affected by weights, with carrying weight equivalent to 5% of the body weight positively affected the gait with a WAV, whereas carrying weights of >15% resulted in slower gait speed. CONCLUSION: When walking with a WAV, an appropriate carrying weight of approximately 5% of the body weight stabilizes gait, while a weight of 15% leads decreased gait efficiency. Therefore, when using a WAV during outdoor activities, elderly women should add some weight to the WAV; however, the carrying weight should be <15% of the body weight.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.64-70
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• 2023

Purpose: This study investigated the influence of attention-demanding tasks on gait and measured differences in the temporal, spatial and kinematic characteristics between young healthy adults and elderly healthy adults. Methods: We recruited 16 healthy young adults and 15 healthy elderly adults in this study. All participants performed two cognitive tasks: a subtraction dual-task (SDT) and working memory dual-task (WMDT) during gait plus one normal gait. Using the LEGSys+ system, knee and hip-joint kinematic data during stance and swing phase and spatiotemporal parameter data were assessed in this study. Results: In the elderly adult group, attention-demanding tasks with gait showed a significant decrease in hip-joint motion during the stance phase, compared to the normal gait. Step length, stride length and stride velocity of the elderly adult group were significantly decreased in WMDT gait compared to normal gait (p<0.05). In the young adult group, kinematic data did not show any significant difference. However, stride velocity and cadence during SDT and WMDT gaits were significantly decreased compared to those of normal gait (p<0.05). Conclusion: We determined that attention-demanding tasks during gait in elderly adults can induce decreased hip-joint motion during stance phase and decreased gait speed and stride length to maintain balance and prevent risk of falling. We believe that understanding the changes during gait in older ages, particularly during attention-demanding tasks, would be helpful for intervention strategies and improved risk assessment.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.53-67
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• 2004

This simulation study investigated the characteristics of normal gait, $30^{\circ}$ crouch gait, $30^{\circ}$ crouch/equinus gait, $45^{\circ}$ crouch gait, $45^{\circ}$ crouch/equinus gait. The knee flexion angles were restricted using a specially designed orthosis. This study was carried out in a motion analysis laboratory of the National Rehabilitation Center. Fifteen healthy male subjects were recruited for the study. The purposes of this study were (1) to compare spatiotemporal parameters, kinematics, and kinetic variables in the sagittal plane among the different gait, (2) to investigate the secondary compensatory strategy, and (3) to suggest biomechanical physical therapy treatment methods. The pattern and magnitude observed in each condition were similar to those of normal gait, except the peak knee extension moment of the unrestricted ankle motion-crouch gait. However, the speed of the $45^{\circ}$ crouch gait was half that of a normal gait. The ankle joint moment in the crouch/equinus gait showed the double-bump pattern commonly observed in children with spastic cerebral palsy, and there was no significant difference in gait speed as compared with normal gait. The peak ankle plantar-flexor moment and ankle power generated during the terminal stance in the crouch/equinus conditions were reduced as compared with normal and $45^{\circ}$ crouch gaits (p<.05). The crouch/equinus gait at the ankle joint was an effective compensatory mechanism. Since ankle plantarflexion contracture can be exacerbated secondary to the ankle compensatory strategy in the crouch/equinus gait, it is necessary to increase the range of ankle dorsiflexion and the strength of plantarflexion simultaneously to decrease the abnormal biomechanical advantages of the ankle joint.

• ETRI Journal
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.1029-1037
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• 2013

This paper introduces a novel and fast synthesizing method for 3D motions of quadrupedal animals that uses only a small set of motion capture data. Unlike human motions, animal motions are relatively difficult to capture. Also, it is a challenge to synthesize continuously changing animal motions in real time because animals have various gait types according to their speed. The algorithm proposed herein, however, is able to synthesize continuously varying motions with proper limb configuration by using only one single cyclic animal motion per gait type based on the biologically driven Froude number. During the synthesis process, each gait type is automatically determined by its speed parameter, and the transition motions, which have not been entered as input, are synthesized accordingly by the optimized asynchronous motion blending technique. At the start time, given the user's control input, the motion path and spinal joints for turning are adjusted first and then the motion is stitched at any speed with proper transition motions to synthesize a long stream of motions.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.32-37
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• 2015

Objective: This study was conducted to test the effects of mobile texting and gaming on gait with obstructions under different illumination levels. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Twelve healthy adults aged 20 to 36 years (mean 23.5 years) were tested under six different conditions. All participants used touchscreen smartphones. Testing conditions included: 1) Walking with an obstruction under a bright illumination level; 2) walking with an obstruction with a low level of illumination; 3) walking with an obstruction while texting under a bright illumination level; 4) walking with an obstruction while texting with a low level of illumination; 5) walking with an obstruction while gaming under a bright illumination level; and 6) walking with an obstruction while gaming with a low level of illumination. All participants were asked to text the Korean national anthem by their own phone and play Temple Run 2 using an iPhone 5. Gait variances were measured over a distance of 3 m, and the mean value after three trials was used. A gait analyzer was used to measure the data. Results: Compared to normal gait with obstruction, gait speed, step length, stride length, step time, stride time, cadence while texting and gaming showed significant differences (p<0.05). Differences between the illumination levels included gait speed, step length, stride length, and step time (p<0.05) with no significant differences in stride time and cadence. Conclusions: Dual-tasking using a smartphone under low levels of illumination lowers the quality of gait with obstructions.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.33-42
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• 2006

It is important to analyze the characteristics of normal gait in clinical and biomechanical aspects. Although gait characteristics can be varied by anthropometric, racial and cultural factors, normal gait studies have been performed mostly for Western people. The present study conducted a gait analysis for Korean young adults and compared the gait characteristics with those of Western people for the establishment of Korean normal gait data. A total of thirty-two adults in twenties(20 males and 12 females) were participated in the gait experiment and their spatio-temporal and kinematic/kinetic gait characteristics were analyzed. The comparison of the gait characteristics between Korean and Western people, revealed that the stride length and walking speed of Korean were significantly smaller than those of Western people by 0.1~0.3m and 0.15~0.40m/s respectively. And the knee abduction moment of Korean was larger than that of Western people, while the other moments(such as hip flexion/extension moments, abduction/adduction moments, and knee flexion/extension moments) were smaller than those of Western people. The ranges of joint angles between the gait studies were largely different with each other, but most of motion patterns and excursions were similar.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.39-43
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• 2013

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of treadmill gait trainig on dynamic balance and gait functions in stroke patients. Design: Randomized, double-blind, controlled pilot study. Methods: Four subjects following first stroke participated in this study. They were divided randomly into the treadmill gait trainig group (TM group) (n=2) and the control group (n=2). Subjects in both groups received general training five times per week. Subjects in the TM group practiced an additional treadmill gait trainig program that consisted of 60 minutes, three times per week, during a period of four weeks. Timed up and go test (dynamic balance) and the GAITRite test (gait function) were evaluated before and after the intervention. Results: In dynamic balance (timed up and go test), the TM group (-14.235 sec) showed a greater decrease than the control group (-13.585 sec). In gait functions, the TM group showed a greater increase in gait speed (12.8 cm/s vs. 10.15 cm/s), step-length (5.825 cm vs. 3.735 cm), and stride-length (5.005 cm vs. 1.55 cm) than the control group. Conclusions: The treadmill gait trainig improved dynamic balance and gait functions. Further research is needed in order to confirm the generalization of these findings and to identify which stroke patients might benefit from treadmill gait trainig.