• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.103-109
• /
• 2015

Purpose: Abdominal breathing exercises are recommended to activate the breathing muscles and the pelvic floor muscles, as well as to increase postural alignment during exhalation. The purpose of this study was to clarify the effect of improving abdominal muscle strength on menstrual pain in women in their twenties using abdominal breathing exercises. Method: In this study, 32 female university students were included as the subjects. The subjects were divided into two groups based on the area of menstrual pain: lumbar pain (n=16) and lower abdomen pain (n=16). The abdominal breathing positions were divided into two positions, which included a hook lying position and hip and knee flexions at $90^{\circ}$ in the supine position. Exercises were used to strengthen the abdominal muscles during exhalation. Four sets of the exercises were completed three times a week over the course of eight weeks. The degree of pain was measured using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Muscle thickness was measured using an ultrasound. Result: The thickness of the transverse abdominis (TrA) and internal oblique (IO) increased in the lower abdomen pain group. However, thickness of the external oblique (EO) did not increased following abdominal breathing. No significant difference in posture was identified in the lower abdomen group. TrA thickness increased significantly in the lumbar pain group. However, thickness did not increase significantly in the lumbar pain group. In addition, the lumbar pain group experienced no significant effects on posture. IO thickness increased following hip and knee flexions at $90^{\circ}$ in the lumbar pain group. Menstrual pain decreased following intervention in both groups. There was no significant difference in the degree of pain reduction between both groups. Conclusion: As examples of alternative medicine, abdominal breathing exercises may be effective in decreasing menstrual pain.

• International Journal of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.47-53
• /
• 2021

Gait kinematics and kinetics have a similar tendency between men and women, yet it remains unclear how walking while carrying a load affects the gait mechanism. Twenty adults walked with preferred velocity on level ground of 20 m relative to change of a load carriage (no load, 15%, 30% of the body weights) aimed to observe gait mechanism. We measured gait posture using the three-dimensional image analysis and ground reaction force system during stance phase on left foot. In main effect of gender difference, men showed increased displacement of center of gravity (COG) compared to women, and it showed more extended joint angle of hip and knee in sagittal plane. In main effect of a load difference, knee joint showed more flexed postuel relative to increase of load carriage. In main effect of load difference on the kinetic variables, medial-lateral force, anterior-posterior force (1st breaking, 2nd propulsive), vertical force, center of pressure (COP) area, leg stiffness, and whole body stiffness showed more increased values relative to increase of load carriage. Also, men showed more increased COP area compared to women. Interaction showed in the 1st anterior-posterior force, and as a result of one-way variance analysis, it was found that a load main effect had a greater influence on the increase in the magnitude of the braking force than the gender. The data in this study explains that women require little kinematic alteration compared to men, while men in more stiff posture accommodate an added load compared to women during gait. Additionally, it suggests that dynamic stability is maintained by adopting different gait strategies relative to gender and load difference.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.83-93
• /
• 2023

The purpose of this study is to improve pain and injury through bicycle fitting and to propose rehabilitation methods. Pain and injuries caused by bicycles can be largely divided into knee and ankle pain, wrist, shoulder, neck, and back pain, and hip pain. The cause of these pains and injuries stems from incorrect bicycle fitting and posture. In order to improve these pain and injuries and prevent recurrence, appropriate bicycle fitting and rehabilitation exercise are needed. Pain and injury are divided into kinetic pain and pain by a fixed posture. In the case of kinetic pain, rehabilitation exercise is required along with inflammatory treatment, and pain by a fixed posture should understand the exact characteristics of the body and learn and practice bicycle posture according to the body's characteristics. Through this method, it can contribute to preventing the recurrence of bicycle pain and injuries and further creating an environment where a safe bicycle culture can be established.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.357-363
• /
• 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of different saddle heights on lower-limb joint angle and muscle activity. Six elite cyclists(age: $32.2{\pm}5.2years$, height: $171.0{\pm}3.5cm$, weight: $79.7{\pm}5.6kg$, cycle career: $13{\pm}6.2years$) participated in three min. submaximal(90 rpm) pedaling tests with the same load and cadence based on saddle heights where subject's saddle height was determined by his knee flexion angle when the pedal crank was at the 6 o'clock position. Joint angles(hip, knee, ankle joints) and the activity of lower limb muscles(biceps femoris(BF), vastus lateralis(VL), tibialis anterior(TA) and gastrocnemius medial(GM)) were compared by measuring 3D motion and electromyography(EMG) data. Results showed that there were significant differences in minimum hip & knee joint angle and range of motion of hip and knee joint between saddle heights. Onset timing and integrated EMG of only BF among 4 muscles were significantly different between saddle heights. Especially there was a negative relationship between minimum hip joint angle and onset timing of BF in most subject, which means that onset timing of BF became fast as the degree of bending of the hip joint became larger by saddle height. Optimal pedaling will be possible through increased amount of muscle activation due to the appropriate burst onset timing by proper pedaling posture with adjusted saddle height.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.595-599
• /
• 2013

The purpose of this study is to identify the bridge exercise posture for the efficient exercise by comparing the muscle activity of the lower limbs according to the changes in muscle length because of knee angle in bridge exercise. The subjects of this study were 9 randomly selected males in their 20s living in D city from those who satisfied inclusion criteria. The measured muscles were Vastus medialis oblique, Vastus lateralis, Semitendinosus, Biceps femoris, Gluteus maximus, Gluteus medius, Tensor faciae latae, and Adductor longus. Data were analyzed through paired comparison test. In the result, ST, BF, and TFL muscle activities were high when knee joint flexion angle was $90^{\circ}$ Although in most cases higher muscle activity was shown at $90^{\circ}$ than $60^{\circ}$ there was no statistical significance. Interestingly, it was lower at $90^{\circ}$ than $60^{\circ}$ in VL. In ST, BF, and TFL, it was significantly higher at $90^{\circ}$ than $60^{\circ}$ (p<.05). Conclusively, knee angles in bridge exercise may affect the muscle activity, and in particular when the activity of two joint muscles such as semimenbranosus muscle, biceps femoris muscle, and tensor fasciae latae muscle increase as the angle gets higher. Therefore, it is considered that this study will provide helpful tips to develop muscular strength enforcement program for the patients with damages in the lower limbs through bridge exercise in clinical situations.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
• /
• v.2 no.5
• /
• pp.430-436
• /
• 2000

The purpose of the study was to obtain the basic data on the self-adjusting ability of the support panty stockings. Ten healthy women in the twenties were selected as subjects and clothing pressure of 9 support panty stockings made of single covered yarn (SCY) and double covered yarn (DCY) were measured under the standard environmental condition for the study. Data was analysed statistically according to body postures, sides, and parks. The results were as follows: Clothing pressure according to body posture was order of 'sitting-on-a-chair', 'stepping-up-a-stair', and 'standing'. High clothing pressure was obtained in the parts of calf ($9.4gf/cm^2$) in 'standing' and knee (9.7 and $16.5gf/cm^2$) in both 'stepping-up-a-stair' and 'sitting-on-a-chair', respectively. The order of clothing pressure with body sides was 'front', 'side', and 'back'. The highest clothing pressure was knee ($18.8gf/cm^2$) on the front, thigh ($8.8gf/cm^2$) on the side, and calf ($6.4gf/cm^2$) on the back. Clothing pressure of DCY at abdomen and knee was a little higher than those of SCY 3. In terms of material structure variation, clothing pressure of thigh, calf and ankle with SCY was a little higher than those with DCY, while clothing pressure of abdomen and knee with DCY was a little higher than those with SCY.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.30-40
• /
• 2017

Background: Many studies have reported positive results of the various mirror training and virtual reality games in improving dynamic standing balance and posture adjustment in chronic stroke patients. However, no systematic study has been conducted to compare the effects of virtual reality games and the mirror balance training. Objects: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of Wii balance games and Mirror Self-Balancing Exercises in improving proprioception of knee joint and standing balance of people with chronic stroke. Methods: Twenty patients with chronic stroke volunteered for this study. The subjects were randomly divided into a Wii balance games group and a Mirror Self-Balancing Exercises group with 10 patients in each group. Each training was performed for 30 mins a day for 4 days. In addition to the balance training, 30 mins neuro-developmental-treatment based routine physical therapy was given to both groups. Proprioception was measured using two continuous passive motion devices, and static balance was measured using a Wii balance board. Dynamic balance assessment tools included the Berg Balance Scale, Dynamic Gait Index, and Timed Up-and-Go test. Results: All measured variables before and after the experimental results showed a significant improvement in both groups (p<.05). Only the improvement of the affected knee proprioception appeared to be significantly greater in the Wii balance game group (p<.05). However, other variables did not differ between the groups (p>.05). Conclusion: The findings suggest that both Wii balance games and Mirror Self-Balancing Exercises may be helpful for improving the proprioception of knee joint and the balance of patients with chronic stroke.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.445-453
• /
• 2014

The purpose of this study was to analyze the gait characteristics and interaction between lower extremity joints according to shoe's heel heights in young women. Participants were selected as subject consisted of young and healthy women (age: $23.71{\pm}1.49yrs$, height: $165.92{\pm}2.00cm$, body weight: $54.37{\pm}3.46kg$) and walked with 3 types of shoe's high-heel (0, 5, 9 cm). The variables analyzed consisted of the displacement of Y axis in center of mass ([COM]; (position, velocity), front rear(FR) and left right(LR) angle of trunk, lower extremity joint angle (hip, knee, ankle) and asymmetric index (AI%). The displacement of Y axis in COM position showed the greater movement according to increase of shoe's heel heights, but velocity of COM showed the decrease according to increase of shoe's heel heights during gait. The hip and knee angle didn't show significant difference statistically according to increase of shoe's heel height, but left hip and knee showed more extended posture than those of right hip and knee angle. Also ankle angle didn't show significant difference statistically, but 9 cm heel showed more plantarflexion than those of 5 cm and 0 cm. The asymmetric index (AI%) showed more asymmetric 9 cm heel than those of 0 cm and 5 cm. The FR and LR angle in trunk tilting didn't show significant difference statistically according to the increase of shoe's heel height during gait in young women.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
• /
• v.7 no.11
• /
• pp.904-911
• /
• 2001

A broomstick swinging biped acrobatic controller is designed and simulated to show capability of the system of controllers: virtual model controller is employed for the robot\`s posture balancing control while a higher level fuzzy controller modulate the one of the virtual model controller\`s parameter for the pendulum swinging motion generation. The robot is of 7 degree-of-freedom, 8-link planar bipedal robot having two slim legs and a body. Each leg consists of a hip joint, a knee joint, an ankle joint and the body has a free joint at the top in the head at which a freely rotating broomstick is attached. We assume that the goal for the acrobat robot is to maintain a body balance in the sagittal plane while swinging up the freely up the freely rotating pendulum. We also assume that the actuators in the joints are all ideal torque generators. The proposed system of controllers satisfies the goal and the simulation results are presented.

• Journal of information and communication convergence engineering
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.110-115
• /
• 2004

The prosthesis of current commercialized apparatus has considerable problems, requiring improvement. Especially, LLP(Lower Limb Prosthesis)-related problems have improved, but it cannot provide normal walking because, mainly, the gait control of the LLP does not fit with patient's gait manner. To solve this problem, HCI((Human Computer Interaction) that adapts and controls LLP postures according to patient's gait manner more effectively is studied in this research. The proposed control technique has 2 steps： 1) the multilayer neural network forecasts angles of gait of LLP by using the angle of normal side of lower limbs； and 2) the adaptive neural controller manages the postures of the LLP based on the predicted joint angles. According to the experiment data, the prediction error of hip angles was 0.32［deg.］, and the predicted error of knee angles was 0.12［deg.] for the estimated posture angles for the LLP. The performance data was obtained by applying the reference inputs of the LLP controller while walking. Accordingly, the control performance of the hip prosthesis improved by 80% due to the control postures of the LLP using the reference input when comparing with LQR controller.