• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.145-151
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• 2006

A large interindividual variability and some abnormally kinematic patterns at the lower extremity were the main features of the gait in children with Down syndrome. The purposes of this study were to investigate the gait asymmetry and biomechanical difference between dominant leg and non dominant leg in children with Down syndrome. Seven boys with Down Syndrome(age: $120{\pm}0.9yrs$, weight $34.4{\pm}8.4kg$, leg length: $68.7{\pm}5.0cm$) participated in this study. A 10.0 m ${\times}$ 1.3 m walkway with a firm dark surface was built and used for data collection. Three-dimensional motion analyses were performed to obtain the joint angles and range of motions. The vertical ground reaction forces(%BW) and impulses($%BW{\cdot}s$) were measured by two force plates embedded in the walkway. Asymmetry indices between the legs were computed for all variables. After decision the dominant leg and the non dominant leg with max hip abduction angle, paired samples t-test was employed for selected kinematic and ground reaction force variables to analyze the differences between the dominant leg and the non dominant leg. The max hip abduction angle during the swing phase showed most asymmetry, while the knee flexion angle at initial contact showed most symmetry in walking and running. The dominant leg showed more excessive abduction of hip in the swing phase and more flat-footed contact than the non dominant leg. Vertical peak force in running showed more larger than those of in walking, however, vertical impulse showed more small than walking due to decrease of support time. In conclusion, the foot of dominant leg contact more carefully than those of non dominant leg. And also, there are no significant difference between the dominant leg and the non dominant leg in kinematic variables and ground reaction force due to large interindividual variability.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.121-134
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of different types of rehabilitation training program on the kinetic and kinematic parameters during sit-to-stand movement(STS) in chronic stroke patients. Two groups of hemiparetic patients, experimental and control, participated in the study. The experimental group participated in a 10-week training program (three sessions/wk, $1{\sim}1.5\;hr/session$) consisting of a warm-up, aerobic exercises, lower extremity strengthening. and a cool-down. The control group participated in an aerobic exercise. Three dimensional kinematic analysis and force platform; were used to analyze the duration of STS, lower extremity angle, and weight bearing ability. The experimental group which had more strength of lower extremity displayed decrease in duration of STS. However, the control group showed increases in duration during sit-to-stand movement. The control group flexed their trunk more than the group did Therefore, it took more time to extend their trunk during STS. The duration in sit-to-stand was affected by the strength of lower extremity and the angle of trunk movement. The angles of ankle and knee joint had an influenced on duration of STS. The post experimental group performed with their feet near the front leg of the chair during sit-to-stand, therefore the duration was decreased. The repetitive sit-to-stand movements as a resistance exercise was effective to hemiparetic patients in learning mechanism of sit-to-stand. The control group showed decreased differences in the vertical ground reaction forces between paretic and non-paretic limbs. Their training program included strengthening exercise that may help improving weight bearing ability. The control group showed increases in the center of pressure in the anteroposterior and mediolateral displacement. This means that the stability of movement was low in the control group. Their training program which combined aerobic and strengthening exercises that are more effective to improve the stability of movement.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.246-260
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• 2013

This research was carried out on women in their 20s and 30s who have overweight lower body. The subjects selected for this study were women a Rohrer index of 1.6 or higher, a waist circumference 78.5cm to 83.5cm, and a lower drop of at least 18cm. The aim is to propose a prototype of bi-stretch pants meeting demands for both functionality and aesthetic appeal. Various clothing patterns ease amount of the waist and hip circumferences and crotch depths and were developed. They had different crotch widths, and center back line angles. The results showed that the best pants patterns were ease 1cm to the total hip circumference. The front hip circumference was H/4-0.5cm, and the back hip circumference was H/4+1cm. The front crotch width was H/20+1cm, the back crotch width was H/10+3cm. No additional ease was given to the total waistline. The front waist circumference was W/4+0.5cm. The back waist circumference was W/4-0.5cm. The knee circumference was set at 44cm, the pant hem width was set at 36cm, and the pant length was set at 100cm-5cm. The findings of this research can be used as basic data for stretch pants that fit the abdomen, hips, and thighs for women in their 20s and 30s with overweight lower body.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.39-49
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was done to develop a postural-stability patient transfer technique for care helpers in nursing homes and to evaluate its effectiveness. Methods: Four types of patient transfer techniques (Lifting towards the head board of the bed, turning to the lateral position, sitting upright on the bed, transferring from wheel chair to bed) were practiced in accordance with the following three methods; Care helpers habitually used transfer methods (Method 1), patient transfer methods according to care helper standard textbooks (Method 2), and a method developed by the author ensuring postural-stability (Method 3). The care helpers' muscle activity and four joint angles were measured. The collected data were analyzed using the program SPSS Statistic 21.0. To differentiate the muscle activity and joint angle, the Friedman test was executed and the post-hoc analysis was conducted using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank test. Results: Muscle activity was significantly lower during Method 3 compared to Methods 1 and 2. In addition, the joint angle was significantly lower for the knee and shoulder joint angle while performing Method 3 compared to Methods 1 and 2. Discussion: Findings indicate that using postural-stability patient transfer techniques can contribute to the prevention of musculoskeletal disease which care helpers suffer from due to physically demanding patient care in nursing homes.

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate an exercise program for elderly community-dwelling adults. The program was intended to improve joint flexibility and self-efficacy and to reduce blood pressure. Methods: A quasi-experimental, nonequivalent control group pre-post test design was used to evaluate the program. Twenty-six subjects were enrolled in the experimental group, and twenty-seven subjects were enrolled in the control group. The program was carried out between March 6 and May 4, 2006. The experimental group subjects participated in the exercise program once a week for eight weeks and received a phone call weekly to encourage self-exercise at home. Results: After program participation, the experimental group subjects showed significantly higher flexibility in the right shoulder joint and higher self-efficacy than subjects in the control group. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were also significantly lower in the experimental group subjects. However, there were no significant differences in knee joint flexibility between the two groups after the intervention. Conclusion: The eight-week exercise program was effective in decreasing blood pressure and improving joint flexibility and self-efficacy in older adults. This study suggests that this exercise program could be utilized as an effective independent nursing intervention modality in elderly persons.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.175-182
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• 2020

The calculation of the optimal trajectory of the stepped top-down robot was made using a genetic algorithm and a computational torque controller. First, the total energy efficiency was minimized using the Red-Cold Generic Algorithm (RCGA) consisting of reproductive, cross, and mutation. The reproducibility condition related to the position assembly of the start and end of the stride and the joints, angles, and angular velocities are linear constraints. Next, the unequal constraint accompanies the condition for preventing the collision of the swing leg at the corner with the outer surface of the stairs, the condition of the knee joint for preventing kinematic peculiarity, and the condition of no moment in safety in the traveling direction. Finally, the angular trajectory of each joint is defined by fourth-order polynomial whose coefficient is to approximate chromosomes. This is to approximate walking. In this study, the energy efficiency of the optimal trajectory was analyzed by computer simulation through a biped robot with seven degrees of freedom composed of seven links.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.274-282
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• 2012

The object of this study was to assess the efficacy of Polycan from Aureobasidium pullulans SM-2001, which is composed mostly of beta-1,3-1,6-glucan, on osteoarthritis (OA)-induced by anterior cruciate ligament transection and partial medial meniscectomy (ACLT&PMM). Three different dosages of Polycan (85, 42.5, and 21.25 mg/kg) were orally administered once a day for 84 days to male rats a week after ACLT&PMM surgery. Changes in the circumference and maximum extension angle of each knee, and in cartilage histopathology were assessed using Mankin scores 12 weeks after Polycan administration. In addition, cartilage proliferation was evaluated using bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). As the result of ACLT&PMM, classic OA was induced with increases in maximum extension angles, edematous knees changes, and capsule thickness, as well as decreases in chondrocyte proliferation, cartilages degenerative changes, and loss of articular cartilage. However, these changes (except for capsule thickness) were markedly inhibited in all Polycan- and diclofenac sodium-treated groups compared with OA control. Although diclofenac sodium did not influence BrdU uptake, BrdU-immunoreactive cells were increased with all dosages of Polycan, which means that Polycan treatment induced proliferation of chondrocytes in the surface articular cartilage of the tibia and femur. The results obtained in this study suggest that 84 days of continuous oral treatment of three different dosages of Polycan led to lesser degrees of articular stiffness and histological cartilage damage compared with OA controls 91 days after OA inducement, suggesting that the optimal Polycan dosage to treat OA is 42.5 mg/kg based on the present study.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.333-341
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• 2016

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the consistency of the gliding and push-off motion for single leg skating from the first to fourteenth steps. We hypothesized that: 1) there would be no difference in stroke trajectory, step rate, and cycle rate between the left and right steps of gliding; and 2) there would be a difference in the resultant velocity of toe push-off and the horizontal velocity of the center of mass after six step push-offs. Method: The study included five male 500-m speed skaters (mean height, $1.80{\pm}0.02m$; mean weight, $76.8{\pm}3.96kg$; record, $35.83{\pm}0.30sec$; 100-m record, <9.97 sec). Data were collected from the first to fourteenth steps (40 m) and recorded using five digital JVC GR-HD1KR video cameras (Victor Co., Japan) operating at a sampling frequency of 60 fields/sec and shutter speed of 1/500 sec. For each film frame, the joint positions were digitized using the KWON3D motion analyzer. Position data were filtered with low-pass Butterworth $4^{th}$ order at the cut-off frequency of 7.4 Hz. Results: The right toe of the skating trajectories at $2^{nd}$, $5^{th}$, and $7^{th}$ strokes differed from those of the left toe. The angles of the right and left knee demonstrated unbalanced patterns from the flexion and extension legs. The step and cycle rates of the right and left leg differed from the start until 20 m. The resultant velocities of the toe at the push-off phase and of the body mass center diverged before the six push-offs. Conclusion: This study's findings indicate that the toe of skating trajectory on left and right sliding after push-off should maintain a symmetrical trajectory. The resultant velocity of toe push-off and horizontal velocity from the center of body need to be separated after about six step push-offs.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.32-41
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• 2019

Background: Limitations in hip flexion caused by tight hamstrings lead to excessive lumbar flexion and low back pain. Accordingly, many studies have examined how to stretch the hamstring muscle. However, no study has focused on the effect of hamstring eccentric exercise for tight hamstrings on trunk forward bending. Objects: We compared the short-term effect of hamstring eccentric exercise (HEE) and hamstring static stretching (HSS) on trunk forward bending in individuals with tight hamstrings. Methods: Thirty individuals with tight hamstrings participated in the study. The subjects were randomly allocated to either a HEE or HSS group. To determine whether the hamstrings were tight, the active knee extension (AKE) test was performed, and the degree of hip flexion was measured. To assess trunk forward bending, subjects performed the fingertip to floor (FTF) and modified modified Schober tests, and the degree of trunk forward bending was measured using an inclinometer. We used paired t-tests to compare the values before and after exercise in each group and independent t-tests to compare the two groups on various measures Results: The FTF test results were improved significantly after the exercise in both groups, and AKE for both legs increased significantly in both groups. There was no significant difference in the hip angles, mmS test results, or degree of trunk forward bending between groups after the exercise. No test results differed significantly between the two groups at baseline or after the exercise. Both groups increased hamstring flexibility and trunk forward bending. Conclusion: HSS and the HEE groups increased hamstring flexibility and trunk forward bending. However, HEE has additional benefits, such as injury prevention and muscle strengthening.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.105-112
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• 2019

Objective: The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of wearing an ankle weight belt while performing gait in water by focusing on the effect of using ankle weights have on the gait kinematics and the muscle activities for developing optimum training strategies. Method: A total of 10 healthy male university students were recruited for the study. Each participant was instructed to perform 3 gait conditions; normal walking over ground, walking in water chest height, and walking in water chest height while using ankle weights. All walking conditions were set at control speed of $4km/h{\pm}0.05km/h$. The depth of the swimming pool was at 1.3 m, approximately chest height. The motion capture data was recorded using 6 digital cameras and the EMG was recorded using waterproof Mini Wave. From the motion capture data, the following variables were calculated for analysis; double and single support phase (s), swing phase (s), step length (%height), step rate (m/s), ankle, knee, and hip joint angles ($^{\circ}$). From the electromyography the %RVC of the lower limb muscles medial gastrocnemius, rectus femoris, erector spinae, semitendinosus, tibialis anterior, vastus lateralis oblique was calculated. Results: The results show significant differences between the gait time, and step length between the right and left leg. Additionally, the joint angular velocities and gait velocity were significantly affected by the water resistance. As expected, the use of the ankle weights increased all of the lower leg maximum muscle activities except for the lower back muscle. Conclusion: In conclusion, the ankle weights can be shown to stimulate more muscle activity during walking in chest height water and therefore, may be useful for rehabilitation purposes.