• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.671-681
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• 2011

Objective: The purpose of this study is to compare the workload level at each lower limbs posture and suggest the ergonomic workstation guideline for working period by evaluating the imbalanced lower limbs postures from the physiological and psychophysical points of view. Background: Many workers like welders are working in various imbalanced lower limbs postures either due to the narrow working conditions or other environmental conditions. Method: Ten male subjects participated in this experiment. Subjects were asked to maintain 3 different lower limbs postures(standing, squatting and bending) with 3 different working conditions(balanced floor with no scaffold, imbalanced floor with 10cm height of scaffold, and imbalanced floor with 20cm height of scaffold). EMG data for the 4 muscle groups(Retus Femoris, Vastus Lateralis, Tibialis Anterior, Gastrocnemius) from each lower limbs posture were collected for 20 seconds every 2 minutes during the 8 minutes sustaining task. Subjects were also asked to report their discomfort ratings of body parts such as waist, upper legs, lower legs, and ankle. Results: The ANOVA results showed that the EMG root mean square(RMS) values and the discomfort ratings(CR-10 Rating Scale) were significantly affected by lower limbs postures and working time(p<0.05). The correlation was analyzed between the EMG data and the discomfort ratings. Also, prediction models for the discomfort rating for each posture were developed using physical condition, working time, and scaffold height. Conclusion: We strongly recommend that one should not work more than 6 minutes in a standing or squatting postures and should not work more than 4 minutes in a bending posture. Application: The results of this study could be used to design and assess working environments and methods. Furthermore, these results could be used to suggest ergonomic guidelines for the lower limbs postures such as squatting and bending in the working fields in order to prevent fatigue and pain in the lower limbs body.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.258-263
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• 2007

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of number of the lower scaffold limbs on tree growth, light penetration, fruit yield, and fruit quality in slender spindle in 6-year-old 'Fuji'/M.9 apple trees. With regard to the growth by the numbers of the lower scaffold limbs, the width of the tree was wide and the growth of new shoots was increased when the number of the lower scaffold limbs was five. Compare with other treatments, five lower scaffold limbs showed high light-interception on the upper (150 cm above the ground) and middle (100 cm above the ground) canopy. There was no difference in the total number of the flower buds of the spurs according to the number of scaffold limbs, but the number and cross section area of flower bud on the lower canopy (120 cm above the ground) were increased where the number of the lower scaffold limbs was five. Fruit yield was highest in the treated with five lower scaffold limbs and fruit weight tended to increase where the number of the lower scaffold limbs was five or eight. With regard to fruit quality, there showed no difference in fruit shape index, firmness, acid content, Hunter L and b value according to the location of canopy and the number of the lower scaffold limbs, but the content of soluble solids was highest treated with five lower scaffold limbs. Hunter a value indicating fruit color was found to be highest treated with five lower scaffold limbs whose light interception was highest.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.55-68
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• 2007

Object: to evaluate the effects of two different treatments-joint mobilization and therapeutic exercise on difference for length of lower limbs. Method: The subjects were participated twenty six who has difference for length of lower limbs more 10mm. All subjects randomly assigned to Joint mobilization group(n=13) and therapeutic exercise group. Joint mobilization group received joint mobilization for 2 minutes, Therapeutic exercise group received for 15 minutes per day and 3 times a week during 4 week period. Tape measure method was used to measure the difference for length of lower limbs. Biodex was used to measure the muscle power of lower limbs(Knee flexion, extension). Finger to floor test was used to measure the mobility of spinal column. All measurement of each subjects were measured at pre-experiment, after 2weeks and post-experiment. Result: The result of this study were summarized as follows : 1. Both treatment decreased difference for length of lower limbs while joint mobilization more decreased difference for length of lower limbs than therapeutic exercise. 2. Both treatment increased mobility of spinal column while joint mobilization more increased mobility of spinal column than therapeutic exercise. 3. Joint mobilization increased muscle power while therapeutic exercise decreased muscle power. Conclusion: in a group-wise comparison joint mobilization is more effective than therapeutic exercise.

• Journal of Oriental Medical Thermology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2011

Purpose : This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of herb medicine on climacteric woman with numbness of lower limbs by using Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging(DITI). Methods : The patient was 56-year-old female who was suffering from numbness, cold hypersensitivity of lower limbs and hot flush. We treated her using herb medicine, acupuncture and moxibustion. The progress of symptoms were evaluated by DITI, and then we compared DITI before treatment and after treatment. Results : After treatment, visual analog scale of numbness and cold hypersensitivity of lower limbs were decreased and frequency of hot flush was also decreased. The temperature of forehead got lower than that before treatment and the temperature of LR3 and ST32 got higher than those before treatment on DITI. Conclusion : This result suggest that DITI can be used for assessment after treatment on climacteric symptoms with numbness of lower limbs.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.85-91
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• 2017

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare muscle activation of the trunk and lower limbs of subjects wearing high-heeled or flat shoes while crossing over obstacles of different heights. METHODS: Twenty subjects participated in this study. While wearing high-heeled shoes (7 cm) or flat shoes (0 cm), the subjects were asked to cross over obstacles of different heights (10%, 20%, and 30% of their lower-limb length). Muscle activation of the trunk and lower limbs with the supported side while crossing over obstacles of different heights was measured using the electromyogram (Noraxon, DTS, Germany). Two-way repeated ANOVA was used to compare the muscle activation between high-heel shoes and flat shoes while crossing over obstacles of different heights. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS ver. 21, and p-values less than .05 were used to identify significant differences. RESULTS: As an obstacle's height increased, muscle activation of the trunk and lower limbs with the supported side was increased while wearing either type of shoe, and it was generally higher while wearing high-heeled shoes. However, tibialis anterior muscle activity while wearing high-heeled shoes was lower than while wearing flat shoes. CONCLUSION: This study showed that muscle activation of the trunk and lower limbs was higher when subjects wore high-heeled shoes than when they wore flat shoes while crossing over obstacles of different heights. Therefore, high-heeled shoes can easily cause high muscle fatigue of the trunk and lower limbs, and the TA muscle may weaken in persons who wear high-heeled shoes.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.131-140
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• 2015

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to analyze the coordination of the trunk tilting angle and bilateral lower limbs according to the stirrups length during trot in equestrian. Methods : Participants selected as subject were consisted of adult male(n=7, mean age: $45.00{\pm}3.78yrs$, mean height: $172.50{\pm}2.44cm$, mean body mass: $76.95{\pm}4.40kg$, mean, mean leg length: $97.30{\pm}2.60cm$). They were divided into 3-types of stirrups lengths(67 cm, 72 cm, 77 cm) during trot. The variables analyzed were consisted of the trunk front-rear angle, lower limb joint(Right Left hip, knee, ankle), overall movement index(OMI) of the lower limbs(thigh, shank, foot) and asymmetry index(AI%) during trot. Results : The average angle in hip and knee joint showed more extended posture according to the increase of stirrups lengths and ankle angle showed more plantarflexion posture according to increase of stirrups length during 1 stride in trot. Also, average angle showed more extended posture in right hip and ankle joint than that of left. The angle of knee joint didn't show significant difference statistically between right and left. Also asymmetric index in average angle of hip, knee and ankle joint didn't show significant difference statistically in between lower limbs, but hip joint showed higher asymmetric index in stirrup length of 77 cm and ankle joint showed higher asymmetric index in stirrup length of 67 cm than that of the others respectively. The FR angle in trunk of horse-rider showed relative backward leaning motions at stirrup length of 67 cm and 77 cm than that of stirrup length of 72 cm during stance and swing phase. OMI in thigh, shank, and foot limbs didn't show significant difference statistically according to the stirrups length of right and left lower limbs, but left lower limbs showed higher index than that of right lower limb. Stirrup length of 72 cm in shank and foot limbs showed higher index than that of stirrup length of 67 cm and 77 cm. But stirrup length of 72 cm showed higher asymmetric index than that of stirrups length of 67 cm and 77 cm. Conclusions : When considering the above, 72 cm(ratio of lower limb 74.04%) stirrup lengths could be useful in posture correction and stabilization than 67cm(ratio of lower limb 68.69%) and 77 cm(ratio of lower limb 79.18%) stirrup lengths during trot in horse back riding.

• Journal of Oriental Medical Thermology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.69-75
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• 2008

Purpose: We investigated the effect of far-infrared radiating products on cold hypersensitivity of lower limbs using CST. Methods: 7 patients with cold hypersensitivity of lower limbs were investigated in this study. Exclusive criteria was skin diseases, spinal nervous disease and external wounds. They were asked to answer the VAS of cold hypersensitivity at baseline and after 3 weeks. We measured temperature of lower limbs with Spectrum 9000 MB (Dorex Inc, USA). We performed cold stress test (CST) by 3 thermographic observation using DITI : 1st was taken after 15 minutes resting at $25^{\circ}C$, the 2nd was immediately taken after 1 minute soak in $20^{\circ}C$ water, the 3rd was taken at 15 minutes after soak. We performed 3 times of CST : 1st CST was perfomed at baseline, 2nd CST was perfomred after 1 week and just observation, 3rd CST was performed after 1 week using far-infrared radiating products (lasner, UMT, Korea). Results: After using products, temperature of foot incresed more than thigh area, but there was no significance. There was no statistical difference of VAS, change of temperature and CST between before and after using far-infrared radiating products. Conclusion: There was no statistical effect of far-infrared radiating products on change of temperature of lower limbs.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.2444-2447
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to analyze the gait motion of the aged with a lower limbs orthosis. The gait motion was analyzed with and without lower limbs orthosis using APAS 3D Motion Analysis System. The pattern of lower limbs motion was tracked based on four targets attached to the body of the subject. The targets were positioned at hip, knee, ankle, and foot. The parameters measured were the displacement, the velocity, and the acceleration of the four targets. The improvement in the measured values on the displacement and the velocity of the four targets were small with the orthosis due to inconvenience of wearing it, but the increase in the acceleration was large due to the elastic force of the rubber actuator. Especially, the increase of the acceleration of foot with lower limbs orthosis seems to help the gait motion of the elderly.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2004.10a
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• pp.944-947
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to identify the characteristics of muscular power by COP(center of pressure) training according to the angle variation of tilting bed. We changed the angles of tilting bed(up-down direction 0$^{\circ}$, 15$^{\circ}$, 30$^{\circ}$, 45$^{\circ}$ and right-left direction -15$^{\circ}$, 0$^{\circ}$, +15$^{\circ}$) for the correlation between angles and muscular power. And we measured EMG(electormyography) of lower limbs muscle(rectus femoris, biceps femoris, and gastrocnemius, tibialisa anterior) during COP training. COP training was divided by the COP trace training(in all direction) and sine wave trace training(vertical and horizontal direction). As the result, we obtained the improvement effect of COP training and we showed that electromyography(EMG) variations of lower limbs muscle on the angle variations of tilting bed were investigated.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.784-787
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• 2012

Wei symptom(痿證) is symptom that reveals muscle relaxation without contraction an muscle relaxation occurs in the lower or upper limbs, in severe case, leads to death. The symptoms of Wei symptom are weakness, atropy of muscle, gait disturbance, etc. We studied to evaluate the oriental medical treatment on a patient with Wei symptom. We applied various methods of oriental medical treatment including herb medicine, acupunture, moxibustion, herb acupunture. The clinical symptoms that were both lower limbs weakness, gait disturbance, etc. were improved after the methods of oriental medical treatment. The results suggest that oriental medicare is an effective treatment for Wei symptom, but more extensive research is needed.