• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.215-222
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of the use of the lower extremity supporter to ground reaction force(GRF) & EMG in women. Five women participated in the experiment conducted in the study(age: $46.7{\pm}3.5$ yrs, weight: $52.3{\pm}2.2$ kg, lower extremity height: $74.1{\pm}0.9$ cm, knee height: $40.7{\pm}1.4$ cm). The Ground reaction force was measured by AMTI ORG-6 and the Muscle activity of the lower extremity was measured by an 8-channel surface EMG system(Noraxon Myoresearch, USA, 1000Hz). We statistically compared muscle activity and ground reaction force with and without the lower-extremity supporter by one-way repeated ANOVA. The results were as follows. First, the use of the lower extremity supporter affects the ground reaction force along the anterior-posterior axis(Y). Second, the vertical(Z-axis) reaction force on the upper part of the lower extremity supporter increase because of the difference between the interval of vertical movement. Third, the muscle activity of the lateral gastrocnemius and rectus femoris was higher in the upper part of the lower extremity supporter. Further research for example, on a comparative analysis of joint moments, the effects of direct stressor on joints. and the relationship between muscle activity and joint movement, is necessary for a better understanding of the effects of the lower-extremity supporter.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.502-508
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• 2012

An analytical model for a human body is important to predict muscle and joint forces. Because it is difficult to estimate muscle or joint forces from a human body, the objective of this study is the development of a reliable analytical model for a human body to evaluate the lower extremity muscle and joint forces. The musculoskeletal system of the human lower extremity is modeled as a multibody system employing the Hill-type muscle model. Muscle forces are determined to minimize energy consumption, and we assume that motion is constrained in the sagittal plane. Muscle forces are calculated through an equilibrium analysis while rising from a seated position. The musculoskeletal model consists of four segments. Each segment is a rigid body and connected by frictionless revolute joints. Muscles of the lower extremity are simplified to seven muscles with those that are not related to the sagittal plane motion are ignored. Muscles that play a similar role are combined together. The results of the present study are compared with experimental results to validate the lower extremity model and the assumptions of the present study.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.79-88
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• 2019

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the peak torques of the knee and ankle joint and local stability of the lower extremity's joints, and muscle activation patterns of the lower extremity's muscles between fallers and non-fallers in the elderly women during walking. Method: Four elderly women (age: $74.5{\pm}5.2yrs.$; height: $152.1{\pm}5.6cm$; mass: $55.3{\pm}5.4kg$; preference walking speed: $1.19{\pm}0.06m/s$) who experienced falls within six months since experiment had been conducted (falls group) and thirty-six subjects ($74.2{\pm}3.09yrs.$; height: $153.6{\pm}4.9cm$; mass: $56.7{\pm}6.4kg$; preference walking speed: $1.24{\pm}0.10m/s$) who had no experience in falls (non-falls group) within this periods participated in this study. They were measured torque peaks of the knee and ankle joint using a Human Norm and while they were walking on a treadmill at their natural pace, kinematic variables and EMG signals were collected with using a 3-D motion capture system and a wireless EMG system, respectively. Lyapunov Exponent (LyE) was determined to observe the dynamic local stability of the lower extremity's joints, and muscles activation and their co-contraction index were also analysed from EMG signals. Hypotheses between falls and non-falls group were tested using paired t-test and Mann-Whitey. Level of significance was set at p<.05. Results: Local dynamic stability in the adduction-abduction movement of the knee joint was significantly lower in falling group than non-falling group (p<.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, muscles which act on the abduction-adduction movement of the knee joint need to be strengthened to prevent from potential falls during walking. However, a small number of samples for fallers make it difficult to generalize the results of this study.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 2015

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to present quantitative data and basic references to decrease the accident risk of soccer instructors. Methods : To obtain data, we conducted an investigation on how H/Q ratio affects the dynamic stability of the lower extremity at the time of drop landing. The study targeted 13 soccer players from C University who have not had any injuries or wounds in the lower extremity joints and in any other parts of their bodies over the last 6 months. By using CMIS (USA), the players were divided into two groups according to H/Q ratios higher and lower than 69%, respectively. The subjects in each group were instructed to perform a drop landing. Results : The H/Q ratio did not affect the maximal flexion angle of the knee joints at the time of drop landing. In addition the dominant group with a relatively high H/Q ratio was observed to have increased time to reduce shock and to efficiently absorb the ground reaction force during drop landing. Also, the dominant group with a relatively high H/Q ratio utilized the strong performances of the antagonistic muscles around the hamstrings and the controlled rotatory powers of the thighs that were applied to the tibias supported by the ground. Finally, H/Q ratio, load factors, and mean and maximum EMG were significantly negatively related, whereas GRFx showed a positive relationship. In fact, these factors all affected the impact of the load from the H/Q ratio to the knee joints. Conclusion : From these findings it can be concluded that unbalanced H/Q ratio can be considered as a predictor of knee joint injury at the time of drop landing.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.325-332
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• 2012

This study aimed to analyze the effects of external load between male and female on angular velocity, moment, and absorbed energy of the lower-extremity joints during drop landing. The study subjects were 9 male($mass=70.82{\pm}4.64kg$, $height=1.71{\pm}0.04m$, $age=24.5{\pm}1.84years$), 9 female($mass=50.14{\pm}4.09kg$, $height=1.61{\pm}0.03m$, $age=23.6{\pm}2.62years$), without any serious musculoskeletal, coordination, balance, or joint/ligament problems for 1 year before the study. The angular velocity, flexion/extension and abduction/adduction moments, and absorbed energy of the lower-extremity joints were compared between the men and women during drop landing under 4 different conditions of external load(0%, 8%, 16%, and 24%) by using two-way repeated ANOVA(p < .05). The women landed with a greater peak angular velocity of the ankle joint, greater peak inversion moment, and lower peak hip-extension moment than the men did, under all 4 conditions. Additionally, the landing characteristics of the women were distinct from those of the men; the women showed a greater peak knee-adduction moment and greater absorbed energy of the knee joint. These differences indicate that anterior cruciate ligament(ACL) strain was greater in the women than in the men and therefore, women may be at a higher potential risk for noncontact injuries of the ACL with an increase in external load.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.117-129
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to characterize the impact shock wave and its attenuation, and the kinematic response of the lower extremity's joints to the impact shock during downhill running in which the lower extremity's extensor acts dominantly. For this study, fifteen subjects(mean age:$27.08{\pm}4.39$; mass:$76.30{\pm}6.60$; height:$177.25{\pm}4.11$) were required to run on the 0% grade treadmill and downhill grades of 7%, and 15% in random at speed of their preference. When the participant run, acceleration at the tibia and the sacrum and kinematic data of the lower extremity were collected for 20s so as to provide at least 5 strides for analysis at each grade. Peak impact accelerations were used to calculate shock attenuation between the tibia and sacrum in time domain at each grade. Fast Fourier transformation(FFT) and power spectral density(PSD) techniques were used to analyze impact shock factors and its attenuation in the frequency domain. Joint coordinate system technique was used to compute angular displacement of the ankle and knee joint in three dimension. The conclusions were drawn as fellows: 1. Peak impact accelerations of the tibia and sacrum in downhill run were greater than that of 0% grade run, but no significant between conditions. Peak shock of PSD resembled also in pattern of peak impact acceleration. The wave of impact shock attenuation between the tibia and sacrum decreased with increasing grade, but didn't find a significant difference between grade conditions. 2. Adduction/abduction, flexion/extention, and internal/external rotation of the ankle and knee joints at support phase between grade conditions didn't make much difference. 3. At grade of 7% and 15%, there were relationship between the knee of the flexion/extension movement and peak impact acceleration during heel strike and found also it in the ankle of plantar/dorsiflexion at grade of 15%.

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

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.45-52
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• 2024

Objective: The purpose of this study was to measure the morphological characteristics of the foot and biomechanical variables of the lower extremity joints during vertical jump and investigate the relationship between foot morphology and biomechanics of vertical jump. Method: 24 men in their 20s (age: 22.42 ± 1.41 yrs, height: 173.37 ± 4.61 cm, weight: 72.02 ± 6.21 kg, foot length: 251.70 ± 8.68 mm) participated in the study. Morphological characteristics of the foot included the length of the first toe, the length of the second toe, and the horizontal length from the center of ankle joint to the achilles tendon (Plantar Flexion Moment Arm [PFMA]). Biomechanical variables were measured for plantar flexor strength of the ankle joint and peak angular velocity, moment, and power of the lower extremity joint during vertical jump. Results: There was a significant correlation between the length of the first toe and plantar flexion strength at 30°/s [r=.440, p=.016], the angular velocity of the metatarsophalangeal [MTP] joint [r=-.369, p=.038] while significant correlations between PFMA and the angular velocities of the knee joint [r=.369, p=.038] and ankle joint [r=.420, p=.021] were found. There were also significant correlations between the length of the first toe and the maximum moment of the hip joint [r=.379, p=.034], and the length of the second toe and the power of the hip joint [r=-.391, p=.029]. Finally, significant correlations between PFMA and the power of the ankle joint [r=.424, p=.019] and MTP joint [r=.367, p=.039] were found. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, the length of the toe and PFMA would be related to the function of the lower extremity joint. Therefore, this should be considered when designing the functional structure of a shoe. Furthermore, this relationship can be applied to intensive training for the plantar flexors and toe flexors to improve power in athletic performance.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.107-118
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• 2008

In this study, lower extremity joint kinematics and kinetics and lumbar lordosis were investigated for two different symmetrical lifting techniques(squat and stoop) using the three-dimensional motion analysis. Twenty-six male volunteers lifted boxes weighing 5, 10 and 15kg by both squat and stoop lifting techniques. There were not significant differences in maximum lumbar joint moments between the two techniques. The hip and ankle contributed the most part of the support moments during squat lifting, and the knee flexion moment played an important role in stoop lifting. The hip, ankle and lumbar joints generated power and only the khee joint absorbed power in the squat lifting. The knee and ankle joints absorbed power, the hip and lumbar joints generated power in the stoop lifting. The bi-articular antagonist muscles' co-contraction around the knee joint during the squat lifting and the eccentric co-contraction of the gastrocnemius and semitendinosus were found to be important for straightening up during the stoop lifting. At the time of lordotic curvature appearance in the squat lifting, there were significant correlations in all three lower extremity joint moments with the lumbar joint. Differently, only the hip moment had significant correlation with the lumbar joint in the stoop lifting. In conclusion, the knee extension which is prominent kinematics during the squat tilling was produced by the contributions of the kinetic factors from the hip and ankle joints(extensor moment and power generation) and the lumbar extension which is prominent kinematics during the stoop lifting could be produced by the contributions of the knee joint kinetic factors(flexor moment, power absorption, bi-articular muscle function).

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.53-60
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate changes in upper extremity joints and leisure satisfaction in children with brain lesions through sports stacking activities. Methods: A sports stacking program was conducted on three children with brain lesions who had upper extremity joint limitations and joint range of motion lower than the normal range. It was conducted 10 times, 1 to 2 times a week, 40 minutes each time. Upper extremity joint angles were measured using a goniometer in the order of shoulder, elbow, wrist, and fingers, and leisure satisfaction was measured using a smile evaluation. Results: As a result of measuring the upper extremity joint angles, all three children showed slight angle changes in the shoulder, elbow, and wrist areas. Differences in joint angles appeared differently for each child. Smile evaluation results were evaluated in various psychological, educational, and physical aspects. Only child A was evaluated for Smile Evaluation No. 1. Conclusion: Sports stacking activities changed the upper extremity function of children with brain lesion disorders and showed differences in psychological, physical, and educational aspects of leisure satisfaction. As this is a short-term study result, the change in upper extremity function is minimal, but if sports stacking activities are continued, it will be a rehabilitation program that can prevent upper extremity dysfunction and improve physical strength. Accordingly, continuous attention should be paid to increasing accessibility and enjoyment of daily life according to individual characteristics and level.