• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.948-956
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of a prototype KAFO (Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthosis) powered by two artificial pneumatic muscles during walking. We had previously built powered AFO (Ankle-Foot Orthosis) and KO (Knee Orthosis) and used it effectively in studies on assistance of plantaflexion and knee extension motion. Extending the previous study to a KAFO presented additional challenges related to the assistance of gait motion for rehabilitation training. Five healthy males were performed gait motion on treadmill wearing KAFO equipped with artificial pneumatic muscles to power ankle plantaflexion and knee extension. Subjects walked on treadmill at 1.5 km/h under four conditions without extensive practice: 1) without wearing KAFO, 2) wearing KAFO with artificial muscles turned off, 3) wearing KAFO powered only in plantaflexion under feedforward control, and 4) wearing KAFO powered both in plantaflexion and knee extension under feedforward control. We collected surface electromyography, foot pressure and kinematics of ankle and knee joint. The experimental result showed that a muscular strength of wearing KAFO powered plnatarfexion and knee extension under feedforward control was measured to be lower due to pneumatic assistance and foot pressure of wearing KAFO powered plnatarfexion and knee extension under feedforward control was measured to be greater due to power assistance. In the result of motion analysis, the ankle angle of powered KAFO in terminal stance phase was found a peak value toward plantaflexion and there were difference of maximum knee flexion range among condition 2, 3 and 4 in mid-swing phase. The current orthosis design provided plantaflexion torque of ankle jonit in terminal stance phase and knee extension torque of knee joint in mid-swing phase.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.28-35
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to determine whether gender differences existed in knee valgus kinematics in college students when performing a vertical drop landing. The hypothesis of this study was that females would demonstrate greater knee valgus motion. These differences in knee valgus motion may be indicative of decreased dynamic knee joint control in females. This study compared the initial knee valgus angle and maximum knee valgus angle at the instant of impact on vertical 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 two-dimensional video motion analysis software were used to analyze the kinematic data. There was significant difference in the mean knee valgus angle at initial contact landing between the two groups (Mean=$7.88^{\circ}$, SD=$4.24^{\circ}$ in males, Mean=$12.93^{\circ}$, SD=$2.89^{\circ}$ in females). The range of knee valgus angle on landing (Mean=$3.25^{\circ}$, SD=$5.72^{\circ}$ in males, Mean=$11.44^{\circ}$, SD=$6.39^{\circ}$ in females) was differed significantly (p<.05). The maximal angle of knee valgus on landing (Mean=$10.91^{\circ}$, SD=$6.89^{\circ}$ in males, Mean=$24.25^{\circ}$, SD=$6.38^{\circ}$ in females) was also differed significantly (p<.05). The females landed with a larger range of knee valgus motion than the males and this might have increased the likelihood of a knee injury. The absence of dynamic knee joint stability may be responsible for increased rates of knee injury in females. No method for accurate and practical screening and identification of athletes at increased risk of ACL injury is currently available to target those individuals that would benefit from neuromuscular training before sports participation.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.93-107
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• 2023

This study aimed to design a knee brace with dry electrode EMS (Electrical Muscle Stimulation) for elite badminton players suffering from knee pain and assess its effectiveness in relieving pain and improving mobility. The assessment measured knee joint range of motion (ROM), Sargent jump height, and pain perception using a visual analog scale (VAS). Four experimental groups were established: stability, pain induction after 100 squats, muscle soreness induction with a regular knee brace, and muscle soreness induction with the EMS knee brace. The most suitable knee brace was selected from four samples to design the EMS knee brace. The conductive fabric was integrated into the inner surface of the knee brace to enhance EMS conductivity for the quadriceps muscles. Tensile strength tests showed that the dry electrode did not significantly affect the physical functionality of the knee brace.Regarding knee joint ROM and Sargent jump height, the EMS knee brace outperformed muscle soreness induction with a regular knee brace and wearing a standard knee brace. VAS measurements demonstrated that the EMS braces effectively alleviated pain perception in most cases. The results indicate the potential for developing EMS braces to alleviate pain and prevent injuries for athletes across various sports.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.143-148
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• 2012

Purpose: This report presents the authors' experience of twelve patients with sural artery flap for soft tissue defects around the knee joint. Materials and Methods: The patients' age ranged from 25 to 80 years; seven of the patients were male and five were female. The cause of soft-tissue defects involved wide excision for malignant soft tissue tumor, tumor prosthesis related infection, infection after total knee arthroplasty and chronic osteomyelitis. Postoperative range of motion was checked. The sensibility of flap was evaluated by Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments and two-point discrimination. Results: All flaps survived and provided satisfactory coverage of the defect. There was no complication except one delayed skin graft incorporation at donor site. Seven knee joints which had been stiff previously gained average 58 degrees of ROM postoperatively. All flaps retained sensibility and showed no significant increase in sensory thresholds comparing with contralateral side. Conclusion: Sural artery flap not only shows high survival rate and broad coverage ability, but also offers improvement in range of motion and preservation of sensation. We speculate that sural artery flap is valuable for the reconstruction of the soft tissue defects around knee joint.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.101-103
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• 2001

Objective : This study is designed to find out the effects of the Bee-Venom Acupuncture on knee joint with osteoarthritis. Methods :We are investigated that outpatients suffer from knee joint pain deciphered at the division of Acupuncture in Jaseng oriental medicine hospital from the 13, July 1999 to until 11, November 2000. We make an estimated of the score from both before or after its treatment about 70 cases of diagnostic patient with the osteoarthritis of knee joints by biochemical method and X-RAY analysis, we observed in the progress of symptoms. Results: These results found that sex. distinction with a disease caused much more female than male at the ratio of 1 to 5.36 in the proportion of males to females, jobs is mainly ranked with a housewife and approximately 82.9% of cases before our hospital have ever treated at the other clinics or hospitals. On the hand. the distribution interval of a case history is mainly followed by disease in below 6 month, interval of the period-treatment is mainly gone within 3 month and frequency of treatment is examined into 11 to 15 times, more than 16 times and below 10 times, respectively. We are estimated with the score of functional barrier from both before or after its treatment against osteoarthritis' patients and produced in the usefulness from the totally point of fields except the aid-device after its treatment. In summary, these results demonstrated that Bee Venom, Acupuncture enhanced more than 82.9% to the improvement of treatment and P<0.05 considered to be statistically significant. Conclusion: These results suggest that Bee-venom Acupuncture may be playa role in the significant usefulness and have need of actively application for the clinical trials against osteoarthritis' patients.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.35-47
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• 2001

Objective : This study is designed to find out the effects of the Bee Venom-Acupuncture on knee joint with osteoarthritis. Methods : We are investigated that outpatients suffer from knee joint pain deciphered at the division of Acupuncture in Jaseng oriental medicine hospital from the 13, July 1999 to until 11, November 2000. We make an estimated of the score from both before or after its treatment about 70 cases of diagnostic patient with the osteoarthritis of knee joints by biochemical method and X-RAY analysis, we observed in the progress of symptoms. Results : These results found that sex distinction with a disease caused much more female than male at the ratio of 1 to 5.36 in the proportion of males to females, jobs is mainly ranked with a housewife and approximately 82.9% of cases before our hospital have ever treated at the other clinics or hospitals. On the hand, the distribution interval of a case history is mainly followed by disease in below 6 month, interval of the period-treatment is mainly gone within 3 month and frequency of treatment is examined into 11 to 15 times, more than 16 times and below 10 times, respectively. We are estimated with the score of functional barrier from both before or after its treatment aganist osteoarthritis' patients and produced in the usefulness from the totally point of fields except the aid-device after its treatment. In summary, these results demonstrated that Bee Venom, Acupuncture enhanced more than 82.9% to the improvement of treatment and P<0.05 considered to be statistically significant. Conclusion : These results suggest that Bee-venom Acupuncture may be play a role in the significant usefulness and have need of actively application for the clinical trials against osteoarthritis'patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.347-354
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• 2014

PURPOSE: This study was to examine changes in muscle activity of lower extremity shoes sole form (high heels, shoes with curved out sole, house shoes). METHODS: The subjects of this study were 12 women in their twenties. They put three kinds of shoes (high heels, shoes with curved out sole, house shoes) and walked 5m. The muscles activities of lower extremity muscles (rectus femoris, vastus medialis, tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius medial part) were measured using a wireless electromyogram (EMG). Rectus femoris was attached to 1/2 position at the distance between ASIS and knee bone and vastus medials was attached to 2cm from upper inside of knee bone. Tibialis anterior was attached to 75% position above line connecting knee joint and ankle joint and gastrocnemius medial part was attached to 3 5% position above knee joint and ankle. RESULTS: It was found that there were significant differences in changes of muscles activities of lower extremity muscles (rectus femoris, vastus medialis, tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius medial part) on shoes sole forms (p<.05). All lower extremity muscles were showed high muscles activities, when high heels wear (p<.05). Wearing shoes with curved out sole was showed high muscle activity of tibialis anterior and lower muscle activity of gastrocnemius medial part compared with wearing house shoes (p<.05). CONCLUSION: Shoes sole form should be considered when patients with knee and ankle joint problems choose shoes because muscles were showed different activities according to shoes sole forms.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.61-66
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• 2018

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine the effects of taping on a home program of hip abductor exercise on pain and quadriceps muscle strength during knee joint osteoarthritis. METHODS: The subjects were 24 elderly women aged over 65 years with knee joint osteoarthritis. Twenty-four subjects were divided into two groups of 12. The intervention was conducted three times a week for six weeks. The control group underwent a home program of hip abductor exercise, while the experimental group underwent taping applied to a home program of hip abductor exercise. The measurement factors were knee joint pain and quadriceps muscle strength. Knee joint pain was measured using the VAS, while quadriceps muscle strength was measured using the 1RM method. RESULTS: Changes in pain following intervention were significantly reduced from $4.83{\pm}.72$ to $3.92{\pm}.67$ in the control group. In the experimental group, changes in pain following intervention were reduced significantly from $4.67{\pm}.78$ to $3.25{\pm}.45$. In the experimental group, the pain decreased significantly, while muscle strength increased significantly as in the control group. However, there were significant differences in pain and muscle strength between groups post intervention (p<.05). CONCLUSION: In the elderly women with knee osteoarthritis, the home program of hip abductor exercise will be a good intervention, and taping will be applied as an intervention program for better osteoarthritis.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.77-83
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• 2009

In this study, we investigated relationship of muscular activity in thigh muscle and knee joint angle from bicycle exercise. The EMG signals of 16 persons were measured from rectus femoris and vastus lateralis muscles. The experiment was performed in 5 steps according to saddle distance and 60RPM/200W loads were applied for 1 minute at each step. EMG activation of rectus femoris and vastus lateralis muscles and knee joint angle were recorded using surface EMG and motion analysis system, respectively. Experimental results of inter relationship between EMG activation of thigh muscles and knee joint angle showed high correlation from Step 1. The unified EMG activation of two muscles and knee joint angle showed negative correlation(-0.97).

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.139-155
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• 2011

Objectives : To research trends of studies on treatments of knee osteoarthritis in Korean medicine. Methods : Domestic theses, published from 2000 to 2010, mentioning the treatments of knee osteoarthritis in Korean medicine were reviewed and analyzed. This study researched 79 theses and classified again according to the fields of the treatment. Results : The results were obtained as below ; 1. Studies on pharmacoacupuncture account for 41% of the total (32cases/79cases). The target of treatments had changed from pain alleviation and anti-inflammation to cartilage-protection since 2006. 2. Herbal Drug, Bee Venom, Cervi Cornu Parvum pharmacoacupuncture, Taping Therapy and Tai-Chi Exercise program were more effective than others. Moreover research on exercise program such as Tai-Chi has been increasing. 3. Some Herbal Drug (Glycyrrhizae Radix, Angelicae Gigantis Radix, Achyrantis Radix, Paeoniae Radix, Eucommiae Cortex and so on) were mainly used to investigate the effect on cartilage protection, pain relief and anti-inflammation in laboratory test. 4. Acupuncture including individualized, local acupoints and constitution acupuncture were effective than others in pain alleviation and symptom relief. 5. Pharmacoacupuncture Bee Venom were effective in recovery of joint function and pain relief while Buthus martensii Karsch, Homnis Placenta and Cervi Cornu Parvum were effective in cartilage protection and recovery. 6. Moxibustion was efficient to reduce joint pain and partly increase ROM (range of motion) of knee joint, but was not efficient to recover the function of knee joint. Conclusions : These results indicate that research trends on knee osteoarthritis were changed from symptomatic treatment (pain alleviation and anti-inflammation) to conservative treatment (cartilage protection and recovery).