• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.406-413
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of taping technique applied to knee instability. Design: Cross sectional study. Methods: Twenty-six participants with knee instabilityparticipated in this study. They were randomly assigned to the Kinesio taping (KT) group (n=13) and the dynamic taping (DT) group (n=13). Both groups applied knee stabilization taping techniques. In order to compare the effects of each taping technique, the change in the landing error scoring system (LESS) and lower extremity joint angle wasrecorded before and after the intervention. Results: Both groups significantly decreased in the change before and after the LESS (p<0.05). At the joint angle of the lower extremities, KT group significantly reduced the valgus angle at the max knee flexion (p<0.05). In DT group knee joint flexion and hip joint flexion angles were significantly increased at foot contact (p<0.05). In max knee flexion, the knee joint flexion angle was significantly increased (p<0.05). In foot contact, max knee flexion, the knee joint valgus angle was significantly increased (p<0.05). DT group showed more significant changes in knee joint flexion angle at foot contact and hip joint flexion angle at max knee flexion. Conclusions: Dynamic taping is a clinically applicable intervention method for lowering the risk of non-contact injury in participants with knee instability and for knee stability during rehabilitation exercises.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.7-13
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate correlations among objective measurements of spasticity in patients with brain lesions. Thirty-two stroke and traumatic brain injury subjects participated in the study. Spasticity was quantified using the knee first flexion angle, relaxation index obtained from a pendulum drop test, and the amplitude of a knee tendon reflex test. Pearson's product correlation coefficient was used to examine relationships among these measurements of spasticity. There was a significant positive correlation between the relaxation index and knee first flexion angle in patients with brain lesions (r=.895, p<.01). There was also significant negative correlation between the amplitude of knee tendon reflex and relaxation index (r=-.612, p<.01), and between amplitude and knee first flexion angle (r=-.537, p<.01). Thus, it is possible to use the knee first flexion angle as an objective measure of spasticity, rather than relaxation index, which is more complicated to obtain. Further studies are needed to explore the effects of functional improvement and long-lasting carryover effects of spasticity using a simple objective measure such as the knee first flexion angle from a pendulum test.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.1-6
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• 2004

The kinematics involved in different landing strategies may be related to the occurrence of trauma. Several sources suggest that the angle of knee extension on touchdown and impact with the ground determines the magnitude of the impact force and, indirectly, knee loading. This study compared the initial knee angle and maximum knee flexion angle at the instant of impact on drop-landings between healthy men and women. In this study, 60 participants (30 males, 30 females) dropped from a height of 43 cm. A digital camera and video motion analysis software were used to analyze the kinematic data. When landing, there was significant difference between the two groups ($15.67{\pm}6.05^{\circ}$ in male, $24.10{\pm}6.34^{\circ}$ in female) in the mean knee flexion angle. The range of knee flexion on landing ($44.06{\pm}10.97^{\circ}$ in male, $36.96{\pm}9.99^{\circ}$ in female) also differed significantly (p<.05). The greater knee flexion that was observed in the male subjects would be expected to decrease their risk of injury. Women land with smaller range of knee flexion than men and this might increase the likelihood of a knee injury.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.125-132
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• 2017

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of targeted knee flexion angle on biomechanical factors of knee joint between upward and downward phases during the forward lunge. Method: Eight elderly subjects (age: $22.23{\pm}1.51years$, weight: $69{\pm}6.63kg$, height: $174.88{\pm}6.85cm$) participated in this study. All reflective marker data and ground reaction force during a forward lunge were collected. The knee joint movement and reaction force and joint moment at maximum knee flexion angle were compared by repeated measures one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) (p<.05). The peak knee joint reaction force and joint moment between upward and downward phases were compared by repeated measures two-way ANOVA (p<.05). Results: The anterior and vertical knee joint movements, reaction force, and extensor moment of $80^{\circ}$ targeted knee flexion condition at maximum knee flexion angle was greater than both $90^{\circ}$ and $100^{\circ}$ conditions (p<.05). The $80^{\circ}$ knee flexed angle condition had greater peak joint reaction force and extensor moment compared with both $90^{\circ}$ and $100^{\circ}$ conditions between upward and downward phases during the forward lunge. Conclusion: As the targeted knee joint flexion angle increases, knee joint movement and kinetic variables become greater during the forward lunge exercise.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.33-41
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• 2019

Purpose : The muscle strength of iliopsoas (IL) was measured commonly in sitting position with hip and knee flexed 90°. However, there is no study to determine the muscle strength of IL in various test positions. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the muscle strength of IL and muscle activity of rectus femoris (RF) according to test position and knee flexion angle. Methods : Twenty healthy subjects were participated for this study. The muscle strength of IL and muscle activity of RF were measured by hand-held dynamometer and surface electromyography during maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) of IL, respectively. The muscle strength of IL and muscle activity of RF was measured in 4 conditions as follows; 1) knee flexion angles 90 ° in supine, 2) 130 ° in supine position, 3) 90 ° in sitting, 4) 130 ° in sitting. Each condition were performed randomly by three repetitions. Results : The muscle strength of the IL was the main effect on the test position and knee flexion angle (p<.05), and the muscle activity of RF was the main effect only on the knee flexion angle (p<.05). There was also no interaction between the factors (p>.05). In supine position, the muscle strength of IL in knee flexion 130 ° was significantly less than that in knee flexion 90 ° (p<.0125). In knee flexion 90 °, the muscle strength of IL in supine position was significantly greater than that in sitting position (p<.0125). The muscle activity of RF in knee flexion 130 ° was significantly less than that in knee flexion 90 ° in supine and sitting positions (p<.0125). Conclusion : When the muscle strength of IL was measured in clinic and sports fields, the supine position with knee flexion 130 ° was recommended to prevent the muscle activation of RF and to maintain the trunk stability.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.268-276
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• 2010

This study was to investigate the knee joint flexion angle and the foot pressure during climbing with different slope. The 24 healthy subjects were participated. And foot pressure was investigated using Parotec system. The knee joint flexion angle were filmed to using a video camera on each slope($0^{\circ},\;3^{\circ},\;6{\circ},\;9^{\circ}$). And knee joint angle was investigated by Dartfish. The data were analyzed ANOVAs. In conclusion, there was significantly different that knee joint flexion angle related on each slope angle. In foot pressure, there was significantly different in lateral heel area(1 cell), medial midfoot area(9 cell), medial forefoot area(15, 16 cell) of left foot, and in lateral heel area(3 cell) of right foot. There was significantly different of foot pressure in lateral and medial heel when knee joint flexion angle is between $10^{\circ}$ and $20^{\circ}$. There was change of gait cycle according to walking slop angle increasing, and the initial contact phase was shorter, the foot pressure in lateral heel was lower.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.163-176
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• 2014

Objectives To investigate the relationship of forward head posture to heart rate variability and standing posture (pelvic tilt, knee flexion, calcaneal eversion). Methods In the present study, thirty two subjects were recruited by convenience sampling. The forward head posture was measured via the craniovertebral (CV) angle. The pelvic tilt angle, the knee flexion angle, the calcaneal eversion angle, and the heart rate variability were measured. The correlations of forward head posture to heart rate variability and standing posture (pelvic tilt, knee flexion, calcaneal eversion) were analyzed. Results In the present results, there was a significant negative correlation between X-ray CV angle and other regions except the headache. There was a weak positive correlation between Posture CV angle and SDNN. Significant positive correlation was found between KFA and difference between Lt. & Rt. CEA. Significant weak negative correlation was found between SDNN and difference between Lt. & Rt. CEA. Conclusions Biomechanical associated with physical pain and heart rate variability, and it is related to the forward head posture changes and also suggest that clinical care is needed for this.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.359-368
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• 2001

A new knee-ankle-foot-orthosis(KAFO) which uses an automatically-controlled electromechanical wrap spring clutch for the knee joint was developed in the present study. It was found that the output voltage from the foot switches of the developed KAFO was proportionally increased with respect to the applied load. The output voltage from the infrared sensor also decreased as the knee flexion angle increased. The knee joint system for the new KAFO weighs only 780g lighter than any other commercially available developed system. In addition, the solenoid reduces the reaction time for the automatic control of the knee joint. The static torque of the clutch was measured for three persons, and it satisfied the normal knee extension moment during the pre-swing. Three-dimensional gait analyses for three different gait patterns (normal gait, locked-knee gait, controlled-knee gait) from five normal subjects were conducted. Controlled-knee gait showed the maximum knee flexion angle of 40.56$\pm9.55^{\circ}$ and the maximum knee flexion moment of 0.20$\pm$0.07Nm/kg at similar periods in the normal gait. Our KAFO system satisfies both stability during stance phase and free knee flexion during the swing phase at the proper period during the gait cycle. Therefore, our KAFO system would be very useful in various low extremity orthotic applications.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.497-503
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• 2013

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the change of triceps surae activation during heel raise test in standing among knee flexion angles($0^{\circ}C$, $30^{\circ}C$, $45^{\circ}C$, $60^{\circ}C$). METHODS: Twenty healthy individuals performed unilateral plantarflexion in standing with $0^{\circ}C$, $30^{\circ}C$, $45^{\circ}C$, $60^{\circ}C$ knee flexion. Activity of medial gastrocnemius(MG), lateral gastrocnemius(LG), soleus(Sol) was recorded with surface electromyography(EMG). RESULT: The muscle activations induced the four different positions were compared and results showed that was significant difference MG and LG while the angle increase from $0^{\circ}C$ to $30^{\circ}C$, $45^{\circ}C$, $60^{\circ}C$ but Sol did not show significant differences in every angle. CONCLUSION: This study suggest that $30^{\circ}C$ knee flexion is required to induce a significant mechanical disadvantage of gastrocnemius.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.93-101
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• 2006

This study examined whether there is a transfer effect to other joint angles and the angular specificity of muscle fatigue after 6 weeks of isometric training of the vastus medialis. Twenty subjects were randomly assigned to 30° and 90° knee flexion groups and were trained at 80% maximal voluntary isometric contraction(MVIC) three times a week for 6 weeks. The pre-and post-training values of the 80% holding time(endurance time) of MVIC, the Fatigue Index(FI), and the MVIC at 30°, 60°, and 90° were compared. After isometric training for 6 weeks, in the 30° knee flexion group, FI decreased significantly(p<0.05) only at 30°, which was the training angle; there was no change at other angles. By contrast, in the 90° knee flexion group, FI decreased significantly(p<0.05) at both the trained angle and at the other angles, indicating a transfer effect of training. MVIC did not increase significantly(p<0.05) at any trained angle in either the 30° or 90° knee flexion groups after 6 weeks of isometric training, neither did the 80% holding time of MVIC differ significantly compared with pre-training in either group. These findings suggest that training at 90° of knee flexion is more effective than training at 30° of knee flexion for obtaining a training transfer effect on muscle fatigue in the vastus medialis.