• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.23-29
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• 2007

The purpose of this study were to investigate the differences between female and male basketball players in knee neuromuscular biomechanical factors during basketball rebound jump. Twelve high school female ($17.9{\pm}0.8years$) and twelve male ($19.0{\pm}1.6years$) basketball players rebound jumped for maximal vertical height to sufficiently stress the anterior cruciate ligament. Kinematic and ground reaction data were collected and combined with inverse dynamics to estimate the knee extensor and abductor torque. The EMG data from the biceps femoris and rectus femoris was used to estimate the ratio of quadriceps muscle activity. Female athletes showed more reduced knee flexion at foot contact, more increased knee abduction, extensor and abductor knee joint torque at foot contact, and quadriceps ratio at stance phase than those of male athletes. In conclusion, Female athletes showed differences in knee neuromuscular biomechanical factors than male athletes during basketball rebound jump.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.281-286
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• 2020

Objective: This study examined the effects of dynamic tape applied to the patellofemoral joint on the knee valgus angle, muscle activity, and ground reaction force during a single leg squat (SLS) and single leg landing (SLL). Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Twenty-four subjects (11 male, 13 female) who met the inclusion criteria were screened by the knee palpation and patella compression tests. First, the knee valgus angle and muscle activity during SLS were measured. Second, the knee valgus angle and ground reaction force during SLL were measured. For the intervention, a patella joint loop using dynamic tape was used. The knee valgus angle, muscle activities in SLS and SLL after the intervention, and the ground reaction force were measured in the same way. A paired t-test was used to examine the difference between before and after the intervention. Results: The knee valgus angle showed a statistically significant improvement after dynamic taping application in SLS and SLL (p<0.05). The differences in muscle activity of the VL/VMO and ground reaction forces were not statistically significant after dynamic taping application in SLS and SLL. Conclusions: This study showed that dynamic taping applied around the patellofemoral joint was effective in improving the knee valgus angle in SLS and SLL and had a reduced risk of secondary injury during sports activity.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.76-84
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• 2021

Background: In clinical practice, active knee extension (AKE) test has been widely used to measure hamstring flexibility. During the AKE test, the knee extension is repeated six times. The first five repetitions are considered as warm-up, and the sixth is used as baseline. In order to accurately measure the subject's inherent flexibility, warm-up trials have been proposed as mentioned above; but currently, the evidence is insufficient. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Forty-three healthy adults participated in this study. The AKE was performed slowly after flexing the hip and knee joints by 90° in a supine position. The knee was extended as far as could be done without causing discomfort or pain. When reaching the end range, knee flexion was performed without stopping. As per standard protocol, the subjects performed the knee extension six times. Results: There was no significant difference between the AKE value in the first trial with those in the other five trials. During the repetitions, the average value in the group with higher flexibility tended to decrease and the Intraclass correlation coefficient gradually decreased. Conclusion: Successive repetitions of the AKE test can misrepresent an individual's inherent hamstring flexibility. In order to avoid a decrease in hamstring flexibility, it is strongly recommended that individuals with high initial hamstring flexibility avoid unnecessary repetitions of the AKE test.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.141-146
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• 2022

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of different frequency on muscle function of the thigh in patients with degenerative knee arthritis during the functional electrical stimulation (FES). Method: For this study, 16 male participants over 65 who patients with degenerative knee arthritis were recruited as research participants. In this research, isokinetic muscular function, EMG, and joint position sensation were performed after FES treatment was applied for three conditions (FES 20, FES 50, and Without FES). For each dependent variable, one-way ANOVA with repeated measures was to determine whether there were significant differences among three different conditions (p<.05). When a significant difference was found, post hoc analyses were performed by using the contrast procedure. Results: When compared to FES 50 and without FES, FES 20 causes significant increase in isometric knee extension strength. No significant differences were found in EMG values across different EMS conditions. Conclusion: The present study examined isokinetic muscular function, EMG, and joint position sensation in order to investigate the effects of different frequency muscle function of knee extensors during the functional electrical stimulation. The results of this study showed that FES with 20 Hz frequency had positive effect on knee extensor. Based on the findings of the present study, FES with lower frequency may help the performer to focus on developing strength in knee extensor muscles.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate how different knee alignments (genu varum and genu valgum) affected activations of quadriceps muscles with measurements of onset-time differences between vastus medialis and vastus lateralis during isometric contractions at both 30 and 60 degree knee flexion. Methods: Fifty-two adults (20 genu varum, 12 genu valgum, and 20 control) were enrolled in this study. Subjects with over 4cm distance between knee medial epicondyles were assigned to Genu varum, while subjects with over 4cm distance between ankles medial malleolus were considered as genu valgum group. Surface EMG was used to measure onset time of both vastus medialis and vastus lateralis during isometric contraction at 30 and 60 degree knee flexion. Results: The onset time of vastus lateralis was delayed in genu varum group, and that of vastus medialis was delayed in genu valgum group at both 30 and 60 degree knee flexions. Moreover, onset time difference at $30^{\circ}$ knee flexion between muscles was larger in genu valgum group than genu varum group. Conclusion: Subjects with genu varum or valgum activated quadriceps muscles with different orders pending on flexion degrees. Therefore, when quadriceps training program were planned to prevent pain or deformities, the findings that quadriceps were activated with different orders affected by knee alignments and joint degree at which trainings were performed, must be considered. If the selective training programs of quadriceps femoris are planned to prevent pain or deformities due to poor knee alignments, these should consider the subject's knee alignment condition.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.17-29
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• 2016

To develop baseball catcher leg guards, 3-dimensional (3D) methodologies, which are 3D human body data, reverse engineering, modeling, and printing, optimized guard design for representative positions. Optimization was based on analysis of 3D body surface data and subjective evaluation using 3D printing products. Reverse engineering was used for analysis and modeling based on data in three postures: standing, $90^{\circ}$ knee flexion, and $120^{\circ}$ knee flexion. During knee flexion, vertical skin length increased, with the thigh and knee larger in anterior area compared to the horizontal dimension. Moreover, $120^{\circ}$ knee flexion posture had a high radius of curvature in knee movement. Therefore, guard designs were based on increasing rates of skin deformation and numerical values of radius of curvature. Guards were designed with 3-part zoning at the thigh, knee, and shin. Guards 1 and 2 had thigh and knee boundaries allowing vertical skin length deformation because the shape of thigh and knee significantly affects to its performance. Guard 2 was designed with a narrower thigh and wider knee area than guard 1. The guards were manufactured as full-scale products on a 3D printer. Both guards fit better in sitting than standing position, and guard 2 received better evaluations than guard 1. Additional modifications were made and an optimized version (guard 3) was tested. Guard 3 showed the best fit. A design approach based on 3D data effectively determines best fitting leg guards, and 3D printing technology can customize guard design through immediate feedback from a customer.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.24-24
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• 2003

For the elderly, achieving a close-to-normal ambulation is important for activities of daily life. Recent researches of SE(Silver Engineering) restoring physical ability would help the elderly by developing the advanced gait assisting devices and orthoses. For the applications using the advanced technologies, the gait characteristics of the elderly must be understood. However, a few studies were performed to investigate the physiological or pathological gaits. The purpose of this study is to provide the gait analysis data and also to investigate relationships between alignment of the lower limb, foot progression angle and knee joint moments in the healthy elderly. By participating a total of 20 healthy elderly persons in this study, the following facts were found: 1) Cadence showed 114.8 steps/min, gait speed showed 1.05 m/s, time per a stride showed 1.06 sec, time per a step showed 0.53 sec, single-supporting phase was 0.41 sec, double-supporting phase was 0.24 sec, stride length was 1.04m, Step length was 0.56m; 2) The maximum knee flexion angle through swing phase showed left 46.82$^{\circ}$, right 40.19$^{\circ}$ and the maximum knee extension angle showed left -1.32$^{\circ}$, right 2.01$^{\circ}$. Knee varus showed left 26.90$^{\circ}$, right 30.93$^{\circ}$; 3) The maximum knee flexion moment showed left 0.363 Nm/kg, right 0.464 Nm/kg, The maximum knee extension moment showed left 0.389 Nm/kg, right 0.463 Nm/kg. The maximum knee adduction moment showed left 0.332 Nm/kg, right 0.379 Nm/kg. The maximum internal rotational moment showed left 0.13 Nm/kg, right 0.140 Nm/kg; 4) The subjects who had varus alignment of the lower extremity had statistically higher in knee adduction moment in mid stance phase; and 5) The subjects who had large foot progression angle had statistically lower in knee adduction moment in late stance phase.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.5
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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.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.289-293
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• 2004

In the present study, knee varus torque and mediolateral accelerations were measured using the three-dimensional motion analysis system and a linear accelerometry in odor to determine the effect of heel wedges during walking. Wedges were inclined with 10$^{\circ}$ and 15$^{\circ}$ in medial and lateral directions respectively Both knee varus torques and mediolateral accelerations showed two distinct positive peaks in loading response and preswing. Medial wedges resulted in significantly increased both knee varus torque and lateral acceleration in loading response, compared with the barefoot walking(p<0.05). On the other hand, lateral wedges decreased them in loading response(p<0.05). This became more significant for more inclined wedges. However, no significant correlations were found between knee varus torque and lateral acceleration according to the angle of heel wedges in preswing. From this study, it was found that a lateral wedge would be helpful to treat osteoarthritis, decreasing knee varus torque in loading response. In addition, lateral acceleration of the knee joint might be an alternative to determine the effect of wedges and the alignment of the knee joint during walking, instead of measuring knee torque by the three-dimensional motion analysis.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.11 no.12
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• pp.317-325
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• 2011

This study aims to develop the stance-control typed 4-bar linkage orthotic knee joint that replace the locked orthotic knee joint for the disabled with poliomyelitis and muscle weakness of lower limb. Unlike the existing stance-control orthotic knee joint, there are no needs of electric power, connecting circuit, bulky compomnets, etc, because this 4-bar linkage orthotic knee joint is controled by geometric locking. To evaluate the 4-bar linkage orthotic knee joint, a subject participated in this study who has been diagnosed with lower limb poliomyelitis and have used locked type orthotic knee joint. In the results of analysis of subject's gait using 3-dimentional motion analysis system, this 4-bar linkage orthotic knee joint provide the stability during stance phase and knee flexion during swing phase.