• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.91-99
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the muscular activity and muscle strength for swing track of upper limbs during rowing exercise. Subject was all twenty healthy adults and they were divided into linear exercise group and elliptical exercise group in random. Subjects performed rowing exercise 3-times for a week and performed all 8-weeks. We measured realtime-surface EMG. Also we measured joint torque of elbow, ankle and lumbar in subjects using BIODEX. The result showed that when rowing exercise, elliptical track exercise had higher muscular activity in trapezius, deltoid, erector spinae, rectus femoris, biceps femoris, gastronemius than linear track exercise on more many muscle of upper and lower limbs. Also elbow joint torque and lumbar joint torque was more higher too. but linear exercise also had higher muscular activity in multifidus, tibilalis anterior than elliptical track exercise. According to this experiment, we found out that elliptical track was more efficient than linear track.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.181-190
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to analyze the muscle fatigue for lower limbs during the level and downhill running. The subjects were 6 males of twenties who have no experience to get the injury in the lower limbs and required to run on the level and downhill which was -7% grade treadmill at 8.3km/h. EMG signal was gained by ME3000P8 Measurement Unit and computed the Median Frequency(MF) with the power spectrum analysis in the Megawin software. Rectus femoris(RF), Vastus lateralis(VL), Gluteus medius(GLU), Biceps Femoris(BF), gastrocnemius medial head(GM), gastrocnemius lateral head(GL), Tibialis anterior(TA) were selected. The result of this study were as follows: The MF of RF decreased in the downhill running than level running in length of time but, the MF of VL was opposite. The MF of BF decreased in the level and downhill running, but, the MF of BF decreased much in the level than downhill running. The MF of GLU decreased much in the downhill running but, almost no change in the level running. The MF of TA decreased in the level running than downhill running. The MF of GL decreased in the level running but, the MF of GM decreased in the downhill running in length of time. This study analyzed the muscle fatigue of the lower limbs with the median frequency on the basis of an assumption that the impact force for the flexion and extension of the joint and the body mass may be much in the eccentric contraction such as the downhill running than level running. RF and GM showed the muscle fatigue in the downhill running than level running. BF and GL showed the muscle fatigue in the level running than downhill running.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.183-190
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• 2015

Objective : Walking with a Material handling is an activity frequently undertaken by agricultural workers in Korea, due to the nature of their work. This study aimed to investigate differences in biomechanical variables according to the mechanical alignment of the lower limbs when walking with a heavy load, and to use this as basic data in the design of various working environments to reduce the skeletomuscular burden on the knee joint. Method : The study subjects comprised of 22 right-foot dominant adult men and women aged between 20 and 23 years. The subjects were divided into a varus or valgus group according to the mechanical alignment of the lower limb by using radiographic findings. The subjects walked without any load and with a load of 10%, 20%, or 30% of their body weight held in front of them. The Kwon3d XP program was used to calculate biomechanical variables. Results : The flexion/extension moment of the knee joint showed a decreasing trend with increased load, irrespective of the mechanical alignment of the lower limb, while the varus group did not show normal compensatory action when supported by one leg at the point of maximum vertical ground reaction force. In addition, in terms of the time taken, subjects showed no difficulties in one-foot support time up to 20%/BW, but at 30%/BW, despite individual differences, there was an increase in single limb. The increased load resulted in a decrease in the ratio of standing phase to ensure physical stability. The valgus group showed a trend of increasing the stability of their center of mass with increasing load, through higher braking power in the early standing phase. Conclusion : In conclusion, although there was no statistical difference in biomechanical variables according to the mechanical alignment of the lower limbs, the varus group showed a more irregular walking pattern with a Material handling than the valgus group, partially proving the association between lower limb alignment and walking with a Material handling.

• Archives of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.1-8
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• 2018

Purpose: This study investigated the effect of the augmented reality (AR)-based knee joint short period exercise program and used a motion analyzer with a 3D camera to determine the range of motion and dynamic balance and further investigate the effects of therapeutic exercise on patients. Methods: This study used AR-based motion analysis and a Y-balance test to measure the range of motion (ROM) of each joint: the hip joint and the knee joint. After the measurements, an exercise program was applied to the subjects, using the knee motion program function, and the muscles of the quadriceps femoris and the hamstring were stretched or strengthened. Results: Our results showed knee joint extension at the dominant hip joint flexion position. While there was no significant difference (p>.05) at this position, there were significant differences in the non-dominant hips, unbalanced knee joint flexion, and superior knee joint flexion (p<.05). The Y-balance test using the non-dominant leg supported by the dominant legs showed that the absolute reach was $69.70{\pm}7.06cm$ before the exercise, and the absolute reach after the exercise was $77.56{\pm}6.09cm$ (p<.05). Conclusions: There was a significant difference when the movement of the lower limbs supported the superior limbs, and a significant difference was found in the ROM when the non-dominant side supported the dominant side. Therefore, the AR-based exercise program improves the balance of the human body and the range of motion of the joints, and research that aims to improve patients abilities should continue.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.93-105
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• 2016

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of corrective exercise on hip joint range of motion, lower limb alignment, radiographs of hip and knee joints, and quadriceps muscle activity in a patient with knee joint valgus deformity. METHODS: A single-subject A-B-A experimental design was used to determine the effects of therapeutic exercise. The single-subject was a 27-year-old male, who presented with knee joint valgus deformity. Corrective exercise program was performed for 40 min/day twice a week for 12-week. Range of motion (hip flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, internal rotation, and external rotation), lower limb alignment test (Q-angle, rear foot alignment, and leg length), standing anterior-posterior radiographs (neck shaft angle and knee joint space), and quadriceps muscle activity of both lower limbs were measured before (A 1), after 6 weeks (B 1) and after 12-weeks (B 2) of corrective exercise and after 6 weeks of exercise completion (A 2). RESULTS: Hip range of motion increased in all directions of both sides at B 2 and A 2 compared to at A 1. Q-angle of both side and leg length discrepancy decreased at B 2 and A 2 compared to at A 1. Neck shaft angle and knee joint space of both sides improve at B 2 and A 2 compared to at A 1. Quadriceps of both side muscle activities improved at B 2 and A 2 compared to at A 1. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that corrective exercise increases range of motion, and improves lower limb alignment and muscle activity in a patient with knee joint valgus deformity.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.63-76
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of knee joint muscle fatigue and overweight on the angular displacement and moments of the lower limb joints during landing. Written informed consent forms, which were approved by the human subject research and review committee at Dong-A University, were provided to all subjects. The subjects who participated in this study were divided into 2 groups: a normal weight group and an overweight group, consisting of 15 young women each. The knee joint muscle fatigue during landing was found to increase the dynamic stability by minimizing the movements of the coronal and horizontal planes and maintaining a more neutral position to protect the knee. The effect of body weight during landing was better in the normal weight group than in the overweight group, with the lower limbs performing their shock-absorbing function in an efficient manner through increased sagittal movement. Therefore, accumulated fatigue of knee joint muscles or overweight may be highly correlated with the increase in the incidence of injury during landing after jumping, descending stairs, and downhill walking.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.457-466
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• 2009

This study puts the purpose in providing the scientific basis of dance motion as an artistic expression by analyzing the kinematic variable and the distribution factor of power affecting the motion, which is connected to the turn, right after the arabesque motion according to the existence and non existence of using the arm in the arabesque motion of modern dance. As a result of this study, arabesque turn motion, not using the upper limbs, used more turning force of head and body than the arabesque turn motion, using the upper limbs, and arabesque turn using the upper limbs obtained the turning force, using the right shoulder. The range of the hip joint on the left and the position change of left tiptoe in the Arabesque turn motion using the upper limbs is largely ascended to the vertical axis, while, the position of tiptoe in the Arabesque turn motion, not using the upper limbs is dropped to the lower part of each event. In the replacement of body center, Arabesque turn motion using the upper limbs is moved more to the turning axis than arabesque turn motion not using the upper limbs. As a result of maximum vertical ground reaction force, Arabesque turn motion using the upper limbs appeared to be a lower value than the Arabesque turn motion not using the upper limbs.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.217-226
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• 2010

The lower limb orthosis with a pneumatic rubber actuator, which is intended for the assistance and the enhancement of muscular activities of lower limbs was developed in this study. Compared to other knee extension assistive devices being developed by other researchers, our device is designed especially for the elderly people and intended only for slight assistance so that the subjects can keep their muscular strength. For the effectiveness of system, muscular activities of major muscles in lower limbs during sit-to-stand (STS) and squat motion were measured and analyzed. Subjects were performed the STS and squat motion with and without lower limb orthosis. We made comparison muscular activities between with and without lower limb orthosis. Lower limb orthosis was controlled using muscular stiffness force feedback that is controlled by muscular activities of the measured muscle from force sensor. For analysis of muscular activities, electromyography of the subjects was measured during STS and squat motion, and these were measured using MP 150(BIOPAC Systems, Inc.). Muscles of interest were rectus femoris(RF), vastus lateralis(VL), vastus medialis(VM) and vastus intermedius(VI) muscles in lower limbs of the right side. A biodex dynamometer was used to measure the maximal concentric isokinetic strength of the knee extensors of wearing and not wearing orthosis on right side. The test were performed using the concentric isokinetic mode of test with the velocity set at 60°/s for muscles around the knee joints. The experimental result showed that muscular activities in lower limbs wearing orthosis using muscular stiffness force of a vastus medialis muscle was reduced and knee extension torque of an knee joint wearing lower limb orthosis was increased. With this, we confirmed the effectiveness of the developed lower limb orthosis.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.387-393
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to compare pregnant women's gait parameters and mechanical energies caused by changes in hormone levels and anatomical features such as body mass, body-mass distribution, joint laxity, and musculo-tendinous strength from pregnancy to postpartum. Ten subjects (height: $161{\pm}6.5cm$, mass: $62.7{\pm}10.4\;kg$, $66.4{\pm}9.3\;kg$, $68.4{\pm}7.7\;kg$, $57.2{\pm}7.7\;kg$) participated in the four times experiments (the first, middle, last term and after birth) and walked ten trials at a self-selected pace without shoes. The gait motions were captured with Qualisys system and gait parameters were calculated with Visual-3D. Pregnant women's gait velocities were decreased during the pregnancy periods, but increased after birth. Stride width and cycle time were increased during pregnancy, but decreased after birth. Thigh energy (77.4%) was greater than shank energy (19.06%) or feet (3.54%) about total energy of the lower limbs. Their feet (Left R2=0.881, Right R2=0.852) and shank (Left R2=0.318, Right R2=0.226) energies were significantly increased (positive correlation), but double limb stance time (DLST, R2=0.679) and body total energy (R2=0.138) were decreased (negative correlation) for their velocities. These differences suggest that thigh segment may be a dominant segment among lower limbs, and have something to do with gait velocities. Further studies should investigate joint power and joint work to find energy dissipation or absorption from pregnancy period to postpartum.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.9-16
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• 2017

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the spine and the flat-foot, the stability and the alignment of the posture of the neck to prevent the alignment of the ankle joint operation and the lower back flexibility of the lumbar region according to the type of treatment using active stretching of the triceps, back pain, and to see how they affect weight bearing differences. Methods: The subjects of this study were 24 chronic low back pain patients. They were randomly divided into experimental group and control group. In the experimental group, ankle joint mobilization and active scraping of triceps were performed three times a week for a total of 6 weeks. The control group was performed in the same way without articulation. The range of flexion and extension motion of the lumbar spine and pain degree and difference of weight-bearing were measured before and after the experiment. Results: The model of ankle joint mobilization and calf muscle elongation of flat foot significantly improved the range of flexion and extension motion of the vertebrae (p<.05) and the VAS and distribution of weight-bearing were decreased in both of two groups (p<.05). In other words, the exercise and mobilization help to recover of the balance of the whole musculoskeletal, the vertebrae. Conclusions: The active exercise of the triceps muscle of the lower leg in this study It affects the flexibility of the lumbar spine, the pain and the difference in the weight support of the lower extremities, when we performed ankle joint mobilization for exercise and cramping, pain and the difference in weight support between the two lower limbs.