• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.605-611
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• 2011

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of seat heights for optimizing the ingress/egress performance in the elderly people. Background: Recently elderly users have been increasing in number and the ease of ingress/egress of the vehicle becomes an important issue. Method: Seven elderly subjects participated in this study(age: 71.7${\pm}$3.6yr, height: 167.7${\pm}$5.4cm, weight: 68.1${\pm}$11.5kg). Each subject performed the sitting and rising task from comfortable seated position on the chair under the following conditions: (1) with a lumbar support and (2) without a lumbar support. We measured EMG activities of seven muscles(tibialis anterior, soleus, gastrocnemius, vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, biceps femoris and erector supinae) and ranges of motion in lower limb during sitting and standing from three different heights (400mm, 500mm and 600mm from ground) of slide-up seat. Results: Muscle activities and angular movements of hip and knee joints during standing-up and sitting-down with a high seat height(600mm) were reduced mean 30.4% in extensor muscles, 57.11% in flexor muscle, 18.74% in erector muscle and 31.0% in joints compared with a low seat height(400mm). Conclusion: Muscle activities and joint movements in hip and knee were reduced when rising/sitting from a high seat height(600mm) compared with a low seat height(400mm). Application: This study can be used to design vehicle that are easy to get in and out of by older peoples with or without impairments.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.467-477
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• 2013

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of backward pedaling ergometer training on ankle ROM, lower extremities strength, foot pressure in hemiplegia. METHODS: The subjects consisted of control group(n=10) and experimental group(n=10), subjects were trained 5 times a week for 2 weeks each group. Control group were trained forward, experimental group were trained backward pedaling with physical therapy in both groups. Each group measured ankle joint ROM with DUALER IQ and ankle and knee joint flexor and extensor muscle strength by Manual Muscle Test System and foot pressure by Gait view system. RESULTS: The result of this study between pre and post test that experimental group had statistically significantly differences in ankle joint range of motion and lower extremities strength. But foot pressure had not statistically significant differences. There was not significantly difference of variation between groups. CONCLUSION: Therefore these results mean that backward and forward pedaling ergometer training effected an improvement of lower extremities function in hemiplegia.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.47-54
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was to investigate the effects of lumbar stabilization exercise and lower extremity strengthening program on pain, lower extremity muscle in patients with chronic low back pain. Method: The subject were randomly divided two groups. 15 people who were conducted lower extremity exercises and lumbar stabilization exercises called the combined exercise group and other(15 people) who were only conducted lower extremity exercise group. The assessment tools were the pain level and the led muscle power. Exercise was conducted for eight weeks. Result: Pain of the combined exercise group showed significant differences in the change in pain level(p<.05). The leg muscle power showed significant differences within group which hip flexor, extensor muscles and abductor muscles. there were significant differences within combined exercise group (p<.05). But the knee joint in each group showed a significant difference within group (p<.05). Conclusion: This study suggest that the lumbar stabilization exercises and lower extremity exercises showed more efficient results in the pain levels and leg muscles power than only the lower extremity exercise for patients with lumbar instability.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.11-20
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• 2008

Purpose : This study was to comparison of EMG of an stable exercise group and unstable exercise group on patients who have had anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction(ACL reconstruction). Methods : The subjects of the study were patients who had no less than 4 weeks after ACL reconstruction and could stand on one leg, and they divided into a control group with 9 patients doing closed kinetic chain exercises on the stable floor and an experimental group with 10 patients doing closed kinetic chain exercises on the unstable floor and in order to compare degrees of the muscle activity of the thigh extensor and flexor was tested each before the exercise, in 3 weeks and 6 weeks after doing exercises by using surface electromyography (Surface EMG). The patients made 3 sets of exercises (10 times per set), each of which consisted of exercises using elastic bands and the squat. Results : There was statistic significance about the vastus medialis muscle. Conclusion : It is thought that the closed-chain exercise could be an exercise program through which patients could enhance the muscle activity of the vastus medialis muscle optionally among the quadriceps muscle and the hamstring muscles which should weaken after ACL reconstruction.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.1483-1490
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• 2004

Community-based centres were surveyed to determine the frequency of and risk factors for falls among elderly Koreans. We examined fall-related risk factors, including physiological and physical health, psychosocial functions, self-reported physical capacity and activity, vision, and the use of medication, among 351 elderly people aged 65 years or older, with ambulatory. Forty-two per cent of elderly Korean subjects reported at least one episode of falling in the previous 12 months, $38\%$ of whom had consequences that required either the attention of a physician or hospitalization. Factors significantly associated with an increased risk of falling were a restricted activity during the previous five years (adjusted OR 1.3), use of alternative therapy (adjusted OR 2.7), low knee flexor and extensor-muscle strength (adjusted OR 1.21 and 1.20), and poor balance with closed eyes (adjusted OR 8.32). We conclude that falls among older persons living in the community are common in Korea and that indicator of bad health and frailty or variables directly related to neuromuscular impairment are significant predictors of the risk of falling.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.74-82
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• 2003

The purpose of this study is to provide guideline of muscle strengthening exercise for preparing ambulation by presenting suitable ratio of muscle power of agonist & antagonist, and that of concentric & eccentric contraction on behalf of amputee's normal ambulation training and it's strenthening as well. 7 Subjects who have femur amputee for experimental group were able to ambulate naturally without inconvenience and 20 adult subjects of comparison group for comparison were considered to be free from disturbance of ambulation. The method of study was to measure the muscle power of hip pint, was to figure out the ratio of agonist & antagonist, concentric contraction & eccentric contraction, and was to find out mean and standard deviation of each measurement. Every numerical value of comparison was tested by Mann-whitney and comparison group's comparison between left & right value was done with t-test. Results are as followings : 1) Extension force was stronger than flexor force and had no remarkable difference(p<0.05) 2) For normal adults, adduction farce was stronger than abduction force and for amputees, abduction force was stronger while adduction force was the same as the normal without showing remarkable difference(p<0.05) According the result above, I make an assumption that maintaining a proper ratio of muscle power on strengthening exercise for amputee's ambulation training & rehabilitation and finally bring out an improvement of transfer and ambulation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.1070-1073
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• 2002

The biomechanical interaction between the stump and the prosthetic socket is critically important to achieve close-to-normal ambulation. Many investigators suggested that the pressure changes during gait of transfemoral amputees are closely related to the prosthetic alignment, the socket shape, the stump size, and the residual muscle activity. The effects of the prosthetic alignment, the socket shape, and the stump size on the interface pressure were investigated previously. However, there is no report how the residual muscle activities in the transfemoral stump affect the socket interface pressure characteristics during gait. Since designs of socket fur lower limb amputees need to consider the socket interface pressure characteristics, the interface pressure patterns by the residual muscle activities during gait should be investigated. In this study, myoelectric signals (MES) and socket interface pressure in residual limb of transfemoral amputees were measured during the stance and swing phases of gait. For the purpose, specially designed quadrilateral sockets that MES electrodes could be instrumented were fabricated. A total of two transfemoral amputees were participated in the experiments. The measured temporal MES amplitude and interface pressure in knee flexor (biceps femoris) and extensor (rectus femoris) had significant correlations (P ＜ 0.05). Based on the test results, It was suggested that the residual muscle activity of transfemoral amputees stump is an important factor affecting socket pressure changes during walk.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.595-609
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• 2016

Objective: The purpose of this study was to develop and validate the guidelines for Medic Work Table (MWT) based on the anthropometric data of medical technologists. Background: Users' anthropometric data such as sitting height, sitting elbow height, knee height, and so on are significant factors for designing comfortable and useful furniture. Thus, many guidelines for different types of desks and chairs based on the users' anthropometric data have been suggested to many researchers. However, few researches have been conducted to provide design guidelines for MWT for blood collecting task. Medical technologists often use their upper extremities to perform blood collecting task with high repetitions. These repeated motions could be a critical factor in the prevalence rate of Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs). Therefore, a study on ergonomic design of MWT would be essential in preventing the WMSDs and improving the quality of the working environment of medical technologists. Method: This study suggested design guidelines for ergonomic MWT by focusing on the heights of the upper side and underside, depths of the inside and outside, and width of MWT through anthropometric studies and literature reviews. Afterwards, a new MWT was made using the suggested design guidelines for this study. Five healthy medical technologists participated to evaluate the original MWT and new MWT. All participants took part in the range of motion (ROM) test, electromyography (EMG) muscle activity test, and usability test to validate the suggested guidelines in this study. EMG signals of related muscles (Flexor Carpi Ulnaris, Extensor Carpi Ulnaris, Deltoid Anterior, and Biceps Branchii) were recorded through the surface electromyography system from both the original MWT and the new MWT. The ROM test of the shoulder and elbow flexion was also assessed using motion sensors. Results: The newly designed MWT showed decreased ROMs of the shoulder and elbow up to 22% and 18% compared to the original MWT. The muscle activities in the new MWT also showed a decrease of 13% in Anterior Deltoid, 6% in Biceps Brachii, 5% in Flexor Carpi Ulnaris, and 8% in Extensor Carpi Ulnaris muscle groups, compared to the original MWT. In the usability test, the satisfaction score of the new MWT was also 56.1% higher than that of the original MWT. Conclusion: This study suggested guidelines for designing MWT and validating the guidelines through qualitative and quantitative analyses. The results of motion analysis, muscle activity, and usability tests demonstrated that the newly designed MWT may lead to less physical stress, less awkward posture, and better physical user interface. Application: The recommended guidelines of the MWT would be helpful information for designing an ergonomic MWT that reduces physical loads and improves the performance of many medical technologists.

• 한국노년학
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.259-273
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• 2009

Purpose: This research was conducted to determine the effects of a multifactorial fall prevention program applying HSEP(Home Support Exercise Program) on physical balance and gait, leg strength, fear of falling and falls efficacy of the community-dwelling elderly. Method: The design of this study was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. There were 20 subjects in the experimental group and 21 in the control group. The fall prevention program consists of HSEP and fall related education. The intervention was performed for once a week in the senior citizen center and twice a week at home for 8 weeks. Results: There were significant differences in physical balance and gait, leg strength(hip extensor, hip flexor, knee flexor, ankle plantarflexor, ankle dorsiflexor) and falls efficacy between the experimental group and control group. Conclusion : The fall prevention program applying HSEP used in this study was very effective in increasing physical balance and gait, leg strength and falls efficacy. Finally this study would recommended that a fall prevention program applying HSEP should be extended to community facilities such as elderly welfare center and nursing home.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.299-305
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a task-related circuit training in improving the function of lower extremity and quality of life in patient with hemiplegia. A total 25 paients with hemiplegia selected, the volunteers were randomly divided into a task-related circuit training group of 13 people and a treadmill training group of 12 people. The two groups received treadmill training for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week for 8 weeks. The experimental group was additionally received the task related circuit training for 30 minutes. The assessment comprised of testing the patient's strength, walking, balance ability(strength of knee, balance ability, 10m walking test) and making use of the stroke impact scale. Post treatment, compared to the treadmill training group, task-related circuit training group showed significantly increased strength of knee extensor, flexor and balance ability, stoke impact scale(p<.05). The findings of this study suggest that a task-related circuit training can improve function of lower extremity and quality of life in patient of hemiplegia. Further studies with a greater sample size and a various intervention are needed to generalize the findings of the present study.