• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.259-274
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to compare the kinematic and kinetic parameters of lower extremity joints between novice and experienced sports aerobic dancers during two heights of depth jumps. Four male dancers were participated in this study and they performed 40cm and 60cm height depth jump three times, respectively. Four ProReflex MCU cameras (100frame/sec) and a Kistler force plate (1000Hz) were used for data collection. The results indicated that the duration of contact phase of experienced group was shorter than that of novice group regardless of jump height. For minimum angle of hip, knee, and ankle joints, the novice group had tendency to decrease the angle but the experienced group had increased the joint angle with jump height. There was no difference of total ground reaction force between the groups but the reaction force had tendency to increase with jump height. Thus, this study implied that repetition of jump and landing may induce joint related injury and further study such as. EMG analysis of lower extremity can be needed to verify the relationship between injury and ground reaction force.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.295-306
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of robot-assisted gait training on the active ranges of motion, gait abilities, and biomechanical characteristics of gait in patients who underwent lower extremity surgery, and to verify the effectiveness and clinical usefulness of robot-assisted gait training. Methods: This study was conducted on 14 subjects who underwent lower extremity surgery. The subjects participated in robot-assisted gait training for 2 weeks. The active ranges of motion of the lower extremities were evaluated, and gait abilities were assessed using 10-m and 2-min walk tests. An STT Systems Inertial Measurement Unit was used to collect data on biomechanical characteristics during gait. Spatiotemporal parameters were used to measure cadence, step length, and velocity, and kinematic parameters were used to measure hip and knee joint movement during gait. Results: Significant improvements in the active ranges of motion of the hip and knee joints (flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction) and in the 10-m and 2-min walk test results were observed after robot-assisted gait training (p < 0.05). In addition, biomechanical characteristics of gait, spatiotemporal factors (cadence, step length, and velocity), and kinematic factors (gait hip flexion-extension, internal rotation-external rotation angle, and knee joint flexion-extension) were also significantly improved (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study are of clinical importance as they demonstrate that robot-assisted gait training can be used as an effective intervention method for patients who have undergone lower extremity surgery. Furthermore, the findings of this study are clinically meaningful as they expand the scope of robot-assisted gait training, which is currently mainly applied to patients with central nervous system conditions.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.9 no.12
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• pp.364-375
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to offer basic data for the fall prevention by analyzing the kinematic difference between the lower limb joints and the lower extremities in elderly people's walking given the lower-limb resistance exercises. For this, three-dimensional image analysis was carried out by selecting 7 elderly women from over 70s to under 80 years old. To obtain the three-dimensional location coordinates in the lower limb joints and the lower extremities, it shot with 100Hz/s by using MCU(Qualisys, Sweden) camera. The shot image gained raw data on the location coordinates by using QTM(Qualisys, Sweden). As a result of calculating three-dimensional angle by using program of Matlab 6.5, the following conclusions were obtained. Flexion and extension in the thigh and the lower-leg extremities were indicated to be big in motion of flexion after exercising at E5. Foot segment indicated statistical difference while showing eversion at E4. Knee joints showed flexion at E4 after exercising. Ankle joints showed statistical difference while indicating motion in inversion at E3 and in eversion at E4(p<.05).

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.2221-2228
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• 2020

Background: Shoes cover the feet and ankle joints and come into contact with the ground directly during walking, and the shape of shoes is related to the muscle tone of the lower extremity muscles. However, no study has been conducted on the muscle tone of the lower extremity after wearing combat boots. Objectives: To compare and analyze the effects of walking in combat boots and in athletic shoes on muscle tone and stiffness, to identifying the effect of the characteristics of shoes on the muscle tone. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Thirty subjects were randomly divided into a combat boots group and an athletic shoes group, and interventions were implemented. Both groups walked for 30 minutes on a treadmill at 4.2 km/h. MyotonPRO was used to measure the muscle tone and stiffness of the lower extremity. The measuring sites were set to five muscles on both legs. Results: In the combat boots group, muscle tone and stiffness of the medial gastrocnemius on the dominant side, the muscle tone and stiffness of rectus femoris, and the muscle stiffness of hamstring on the non-dominant side significantly decreased after walking. In the athletic shoes group, there was no significant change in the muscle tone and stiffness. Conclusion: The results of this study can be used to inform the wearing combat boots while walking on a treadmill reduces the muscle tone and stiffness of the lower extremity compared to athletic shoes. It indicates that the restriction of joint movement occurring when wearing combat boots influences reducing muscle tone and stiffness.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.25-33
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• 2024

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the lower extremity muscle activity and knee joint load according to movement speed conditions during the barbell back squat. Method: Nine males with resistance training experience participated in this study. Participants performed the barbell back squat in three conditions (Standard, Fast, and Slow) differing movement speed. During the barbell back squat, muscle activity of the rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL), vastus medialis (VM), biceps femoris long head (BFL), semitendinosus (ST), gluteus maximus (GM), gastrocnemius (GCN), and tibialis anterior (TA) was collected using an 8 channel wireless EMG system. The peak flexion angle of the lower extremity joints and the peak resultant joint force in each direction of the knee joint were calculated using eight motion capture cameras and ground reaction force plates. This study was to used the Friedman test and the Wilcoxon signed rank test, to compare lower extremity muscle activity and peak resultant joint force at knee joint according to movement speed conditions during the barbell back squat, and the statistical significance level was set at .01. Results: In the downward phase of the barbell back squat, the RF and TA showed the higher muscle activity in the fast condition, and in the upward phase, RF, VL, VM, BFL, ST, GM, and TA showed the higher muscle activity in the fast condition. As a results, analyzing of the load on the knee joint, in the downward phase, and in the upward phase, the higher peak compressive force of the knee joint was showed in the fast condition. Conclusion: The barbell back squat with fast movement speed was more effective due to increased muscle activity of lower extremity, but one must be careful of knee joint injuries because the load on the knee joint may increase during the barbell back squat with fast movement speed.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.spc1
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• pp.371-376
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• 2005

Relative contributions of lower extremity joints on the support moment were investigated in this study. Three-dimensional gait analyses were performed in normal walking and in unexpected step-down walking. For both gait studies, inverse dynamics were performed to obtain each joint moment of the lower extremity, which was applied to the forward dynamics simulation to determine the contributions on the support moment at different phases of walking. The forward dynamic simulation results showed that, in normal walking, the ankle plantar flexors contributed significantly during single-limb-support. However, the ankle plantar flexors, knee extensors and hip extensors worked together during double-limb-support. In unexpected step-down walking, the important contributors on the support of the body during single-limb-support were not only ankle plantar flexors but also knee extensors. This study, analyzing the relative contributions of the lower limb joint moments for the body support, would be helpful to understand different unexpected walking conditions and compensatory mechanisms for various pathological gaits.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.53-62
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• 2024

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the differences in kinematic factors according to stretching treatment, myofascial release treatment, and static stretching treatment conditions during squat. Method: Twelve males with resistance training experience participated in this study. Participants performed squats without treatment (Pre-Test), and performed squats after treatment with the myofascial release technique (MRT) and static stretching (SS) on different days (post-test). Squat movements were captured using eight motion capture cameras (sampling rate: 250 Hz), and the peak joint angles of the ankle, knee, hip, and pelvis were calculated for each direction. One-way repeated ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc analyses using SPSS 27 (IBM Corp. Armonk NY, USA) were used to compare the peak joint angle of the lower extremity joints and pelvis among the normal condition (squat without treatment), MRT condition (squat after MRT treatment) and SS condition (squat after static stretching). The statistical significance level was set at .05. Results: It was observed that the maximum ankle joint flexion angle during squats was statistically reduced under conditions of myofascial release and static stretching (p<.05), in comparison to the scenario where no stretching was performed. Furthermore, static stretching was found to enhance the maximum hip flexion angle during squat (p<.05), whereas the myofascial release stretching technique resulted in the minimal posterior pelvic tilt angle (p<.05). Conclusion: Employing myofascial release stretching as a preparatory exercise proved to be more efficacious in maintaining body stability throughout the execution of high-intensity squat movements by effectively managing the posterior tilt of the pelvis, as opposed to foregoing stretching or engaging in static stretching.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.93-101
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• 2008

Wedged soles and rocker soles are widespread shoe designs used to prevent the disorders and reduce the pain of the lower extremity caused by arthritis or diabetic feet. In this study, the effect of a shoe with a laterally wedged sole and a rocker sole simultaneously was analyzed on the kinematics and kinetics of the ankle joint during normal walking. Eight male participants without a history of lower extremity disorders were recruited. Each participant performed twenty walking cycles for each of three walking conditions: bare foot, wearing normal shoes and wearing shoes with laterally wedged rocker soles. The differences between the three walking conditions were statistically investigated including spatio-temporal variables, angular displacements, joint moments and ground reaction forces. The results showed that the laterally wedged rocker sole decreased the sagittal variation of angular displacements as well as the frontal/sagittal average moment on the ankle joints compared to the flat sole. In addition, the rate of angular displacements and loading decreased during the heel contact phase.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.85-93
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• 2023

Objective: This study examined differences in joint kinematics and movement variability of lower extremity between adolescent athletes with and without lateral ankle sprain (LAS) history during drop vertical jump. Method: Fourteen adolescent athletes with LAS history and 14 controls participated in this study. The independent variable was group while dependent variables were 3D joint kinematics and movement variability of hip, knee, and ankle joint. Ensemble curve analyses were conducted to identify differences in movement strategies between two groups. Results: The LAS group showed that greater eversion during jump phase compared with the control group. Additionally, less movement variability was found in the LAS group during the pre-landing and jump phases in ankle and hip joints compared with the control group. Conclusion: The LAS group may adapt the environmental constraints by reducing the movement variability in ankle and hip joints. However, training programs focusing on recovery of ankle function should be emphasized after LAS because excessive pronation for prevention of LAS during the jump phase may result in reduced performance.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.298-302
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• 2017

With an increasing aging population and improved standards of living, more attention has been paid to health. Although walking exercise is known as an aerobic exercise, it imposes repeated and continuous impacts on the joints of the lower extremities. Therefore, when overweight gives a burden to the lower extremity or there is a joint disease, exercise limit occurs. The articular cartilage, weakened with age, also makes it difficult for the elderly to perform walking exercises. Accordingly, this study conducted a comparative analysis between regular walking using only the lower extremity and Nordic walking, which has been known as stable. For analysis, electromyography (EMG) was performed and the ground reaction force of the upper and lower extremities were measured in the same exercise. Integrated EMG (iEMG) revealed that the upper extremity muscles were more active in Nordic walking than in regular walking, where lower extremity muscles were relatively more inactive. In addition, when EMG measurements were performed at each measurement point during walking exercise, the pattern was different. Nevertheless, the result was the same as in iEMG. The load that occurs in each exercise was measured using the ground reaction force system. As a result, Nordic walking had a lower load than regular walking. Therefore, it was found that Nordic walking minimized the load on the lower extremities owing to the effect of whole-body exercise and was a safer and more efficient exercise method.