• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.89-96
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• 2019

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate biomechanical comparisons of kettlebell two-arm swings after different somatosensory interventions on joint ranges of motion (ROM) and muscle activations. Method: Fourteen kettelbell novices (age: $22.92{\pm}3.23yrs$, mass: $75.75{\pm}9.94kg$, height: $172.03{\pm}5.49cm$), consisting of male college students, participated in this study and performed two-arm kettlebell swings in different conditions. Three different somatosensory interventions were the applications of heavy mass kettlebell (20 kg), taping on gluteus muscles, and unstable mat condition. All subjects performed pre-intervention swings and post-intervention swings, respectively. Statistical analysis were performed on results of joint kinematics and electromyographies of major muscles. Results: Results showed significant increases in ROM of hip and decreases in ROM of shoulder after unstable mat trials. In addition, the application of unstable mat during kettlebell swings induced higher muscle activations in gluteus maximus muscle during only upward phase of two-arm kettlebell swings. Conclusion: For beginner, the application of unstable surface would increase in hip joint ranges of motion with enhancement of gluteus muscles.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2019

Objective: The purpose of this study was to confirm that the cross-country ski sprint course in PyeongChang, where the 2018 Winter Olympics course was to utilize wearable devices equipped with inertial measurement unit (IMU), global positioning system (GPS) and heart rates sensor. Method: For the data collection, two national level cross-country (XC) skiers performed classic technique on the entire sprint course. We analyzed cycle characteristics, range of motion on double poling (DP) technique, average velocity, and displacement of 3 points according to the terrain. Results: The absolute cycle time gradually decreased during starting, middle and finish sections. While the length of the DP increased and the heart rates tended to increase for men skier. In addition, the results indicated that range of motion of knee joint during starting and finish section decreased more than middle section. The errors of latitude and longitude data collected through GPS were within 3 m from 3 points. Conclusion: Through the first case study in Korea, which analyzed the location and condition of XC skiers in the entire sprint course in real time, confirmed that feedback was available in the field using various wearable sensors.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.9-13
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• 2019

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare gait patterns of elementary school male students in higher grades according to their character styles. Method: 4 extroverted character male subjects (height: $141.35{\pm}7.75cm$, weight: $43.65{\pm}5.80kg$) and 4 introverted character male subjects (height: $145.38{\pm}8.94cm$, weight: $42.15{\pm}10.71kg$) participated in this study. Results: As for walk styles of elementary school male students in higher grades according to their character patterns, there was not significant differences in gait cycle, stride width, stride length and walking speed. According to examination of average ratio of maximum vertical ground reaction force according to their characters divided by weight, elementary school male students in higher grades with extroverted character showed 114.69% of weight and students with introverted character showed 122.82% of weight, which exhibited that students with introverted character had larger ratio as much as 8.13% than students with extroverted character. The statistical significance level was 0.000 showing significant difference. Conclusion: Our results indicated that male students in higher grades with introverted character press ground hard and walk with strong steps. On the other hand, male students with extroverted character walk with light steps.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2019

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of aqua-noodles on the practice of underwater walking in patients with hemiplegia. Method: After an oral explanation and signing an IRB approved consent form 10 participants ($66.8{\pm}10.75yr$, $165.3{\pm}8.79cm$, $73.6{\pm}46kg$) agreed to participate in this study. Each of the participants was required to walk with the aqua noodles and without the aqua-noodles in a swimming pool. Each participant was asked to walk a distance of 5 m a total of 10 times, 5 with and 5 without the aqua-noodles. The depth of the swimming pool was at 1.3 m, approximately chest height. The following variables were calculated for analysis; height of the knee (m), knee joint ROM ($^{\circ}$), ankle joint ROM ($^{\circ}$), knee joint maximum angular velocity ($^{\circ}/sec$), and ankle joint maximum angular velocity ($^{\circ}/sec$). Results: First, there was a significant increase in time (s) for the maximum knee height to reach as well as the maximum knee height (m) increased when the participant used the aqua-noodles. Second, there was a statistically significant decrease in stride length when the aqua-noodles were used. Conclusion: This study helps to verify that the effect of underwater walking exercise can provide a suitable walking exercise environment. The results of this study provide systematic scientific information about how walking in water can be used for the rehabilitation of patients and the elderly.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.199-204
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to present a new idea of methodology to evaluate Poomsae performance using inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors in terms of signal processing techniques. Method: Ten collegian Taekwondo athletes, consisting of five Poomsae elite athletes (age: 21.4 ± 0.9 years, height: 168.4 ± 11.3 cm, weight: 65.0 ± 10.6 kg, experience: 12 ± 0.7 years) and five breaking demonstration athletes (age: 21.0 ± 0.0 years, height: 168.4 ± 4.7 cm, weight: 63.8 ± 8.2 kg, experience: 13.0 ± 2.1 years), voluntarily participated in this study. They performed three different black belt Poomsae such as Goryeo, Geumgang, and Taebaek Poomsae repeatedly twice. Repeated measured motion data on the wrist and ankle were calculated by the methods of cosine similarity and Euclidean distance. Results: The Poomsse athletes showed superior performance in terms of temporal consistency at Goryeo and Taebaek Poomsae, cosine similarity at Geumgang and Taebaek Poomsae, and Euclidian distance at Geumgang Poomsae. Conclusion: IMU sensor would be a useful tool for monitoring and evaluating within-subject temporal variability of Taekwondo Poomsae motions. As well it distinguished spatiotemporal characteristics among three different Poomsae.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.126-132
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate how three gaze directions (bottom, normal, up) affects the coordination and stability of the lower limb during drop landing. Method: 20 female adults (age: 21.1±1.1 yrs, height: 165.7±6.2 cm, weight: 59.4±5.9 kg) participated in this study. Participants performed single-leg drop landing task on a 30 cm height and 20 cm horizontal distance away from the force plate. Kinetic and kinematic data were obtained using 8 motion capture cameras and 1 force plates and leg stiffness, loading rate, DPSI were calculated. All statistical analyses were computed by using SPSS 25.0 program. One-way repeated ANOVA was used to compared the differences between the variables in the direction of gaze. To locate the differences, Bonferroni post hoc was applied if significance was observed. Results: The hip flexion angle and ankle plantar flexion angle were significantly smaller when the gaze direction was up. In the kinetic variables, when the gaze direction was up, the loading rate and DPSI were significantly higher than those of other gaze directions. Conclusion: Our results indicated that decreased hip and ankle flexion angles, increased loading rate and DPSI when the gaze direction was up. This suggests that the difference in visual information can increase the risk of injury to the lower limb during landing.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.113-118
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate differences of landing strategy between people with or without chronic ankle instability (CAI) during double-leg drop landing. Method: 34 male adults participated in this study (CAI = 16, Normal = 18). Participants performed double-leg drop landing task on a 30 cm height and 20 cm horizontal distance away from the force plate. Lower Extremities Kinetic and Kinematic data were obtained using 8 motion capture cameras and 2 force plates and loading rate was calculated. Independent samples t-test were used to identify differences between groups. Results: Compared with normal group, CAI group exhibits significantly less hip internal rotation angle (CAI = 1.52±8.12, Normal = 10.63±8.44, p = 0.003), greater knee valgus angle (CAI = -6.78±5.03, Normal = -12.38 ±6.78, p = 0.011), greater ankle eversion moment (CAI = 0.0001±0.02, Normal = -0.03±0.05, p = 0.043), greater loading Rate (CAI = 32.65±15.52, Normal = 18.43±10.87, p = 0.003) on their affected limb during maximum vertical Ground Reaction Force moment. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that CAI group exhibits compensatory movement to avoid ankle inversion during double-leg drop landing compared with normal group. Further study about how changed kinetic and kinematic affect shock absorption ability and injury risk in participants with CAI is needed.

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

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.64-71
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• 2021

Objective: This study investigated the different in isokinetic peak strength of the knee joint, and kinetics and kinematics in drop landing pattern of lower limb between the patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) patients and normal. Method: 30 adult females were divided into the PFPS (age: 23.13±2.77 yrs; height: 160.97±3.79 cm, weight: 51.19±4.86 kg) and normal group (age: 22.80±2.54 yrs, height: 164.40±5.77 cm, weight: 56.14±8.16 kg), with 15 subjects in each group. To examine the knee isokinetic peak strength, kinematics and kinetics in peak vertical ground reaction force during drop landing. Results: The knee peak torque (Nm) and relative strength (%) were significantly weaker PFPS group than normal group. In addition, PFPS group had significantly greater hip flexion angle (°) than normal group. Moreover, normal group had significantly greater moment of hip abduction, hip internal rotation, and left ankle eversion than PFPS group, and PFPS group had significantly greater moment of knee internal rotation. Finally, there was significant differences between the groups at anteroposterior center of pressure. Conclusion: The PFPS patients had weakened knee strength, and which can result in an unstable landing pattern and cause of more stress in the knee joints despite to effort of reduce vertical ground reaction force.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2021

Objective: The objective of the present study was to analyze the relationship between strength of the lower extremity's joints and their local dynamic stability (LDS) of gait in elderly women. Method: Forty-five elderly women participated in this study. Average age, height, mass, and preference walking speed were 73.5±3.7 years, 153.8±4.8 cm, 56.7±6.4 kg, and 1.2±0.1 m/s, respectively. They were tested torque peak of the knee and ankle joints with a Human Norm and while they were walking on a treadmill at their preference speed for a long while, kinematic data were obtained using six 3-D motion capture cameras. LDS of the lower extremity's joints were calculated in maximum Lyapunov Exponent (LyE). Correlation coefficients between torque of the joints and LyE were obtained using Spearman rank. Level of significance was set at p<.05. Results: Knee flexion torque and its LDS was negatively associated with adduction-abduction and flexion-extension movement (p<.05). In addition, ratio of the knee flexion torque to extension and LDS was negatively related to internal-external rotation. Conclusion: In conclusion, knee flexion strength should preferentially be strengthened to increase LDS of the lower extremity's joints for preventing from small perturbations during walking in elderly women.