• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.733-738
• /
• 2014

We propose a new approach called as a peak time approach for faster detection of step initiation for the lower limb exoskeleton. As faster detection of step initiation is an important criterion in evaluating the lower limb exoskeleton, many studies have investigated approaches to detect step initiation faster, including using electromyography, the center of pressure, the heel-off time and the toe-off time. In this study, we will utilize vertical ground reaction force events to detect step initiation, and compare our approach with prior approaches. Additionally, we will predict the first step's heel strike time with vertical ground reaction force events from multiple regression equations to support our approach. The lower limb exoskeleton should assist the operator's movement much faster and more reliably with our approach.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.263-269
• /
• 2001

Monoplegia is the paralysis of either the upper or lower limb. Monoplegia is commonly caused by an injury to the cerebral cortex; it is rarely caused by an injury to the internal capsule, brain stem, or spinal cord. Most cerebral cortex is derived from the occlusion of a brain cortex blood vessel due to thrombus or embolus. According to motor homunculus, lower limb monoplegia occurs from limited damage to the most upper part of the primary motor area(Brodmann's area 4, located in precentral gyrus). Clinically, lower limb monoplegia due to brain cortical infarction is commonly misunderstood as monoplegia due to spinal injury because the lesion is situated at the most upper part of precentral gyrus. We had many difficulties in finding lesion on brain CT, but we diagnosed two patients correctly by using an MRI, who have lower limb monoplegia due to brain cortical infarction oriental treatment.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.36-41
• /
• 2013

Purpose: To investigate whether the long-term use of a cane induces pain in the unaffected lower limb of stroke patients. Methods: A total of 107 stroke patients with chronic hemiparesis were recruited in this study and classified into two groups; a cane-use group (n=49) and non-cane-use group (n=58). The existence of pain in the unaffected lower limb was assessed on a visual analog scale in the hip, knee, and ankle joint, and the University of Alabama pain behaviors scale (UAB pain behavior scale) used to measure the intensity of pain. In addition, the Motricity Index (MI) was tested in the upper and lower extremities. Results: The proportion of pain in each joint of the lower limb was significantly higher in the cane-use group, compared to the non-cane-use group (p<0.05). In addition, significant differences were observed on the UAB pain behavior scale between the two groups. The lower MI score was significantly lower in the cane-use group, compared with the control group. However, no difference was observed in MI scores of the upper limb between the two groups. Conclusion: These findings reveal that long-term cane usage can induce pain in the unaffected lower limb of stroke patients. We suggest careful consideration when prescribing a cane, depending on functional ability in hemiparetic patients, and recommend continuous evaluation for pain in the affected lower limb.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Medicine & Therapy Science
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.31-37
• /
• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of closed chain lower limb exercise with abdominal breathing exercise on stroke patients and their effects on trunk control ability and balance. Method: The subjects were 40 stroke patients, 19 patients in the experimental group and 18 patients in the control group. The period was 5 weeks, 5 times a week, 30 minutes per session. The experimental group was subjected to a closed chain lower limb exercise with abdominal breathing exercise and the control group was subjected to a closed chain lower limb exercise. The posture assessment scale for stroke(PASS), trunk impairment scale(TIS) were used for trunk adjustment ability, and the balance ability was measured as center of pressure(COP) and limit of stability(LOS). Results: Results of this study showed that the PASS and TIS test significantly increased the experimental group compared to the control group. As a result of comparing the changes of pre and post intervention intervals between the two groups, the TIS test was significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group, but the LOS test was not significantly increased in the experimental group. Conclusion: Closed chain lower limb exercise with abdominal breathing exercise showed a significant improvement in the trunk control and balance ability of the stroke patients compared to the closed chain lower limb exercise without the abdominal breathing exercise.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
• /
• v.11 no.12
• /
• pp.5878-5904
• /
• 2017

This paper proposes a novel intelligent wheelchair vehicle system that enables upper limb exercises, lower limb standing exercises and rehabilitation training in a daily life. The proposed system, which can be used to prevent at least the degeneration of body movements and further atrophy of musculoskeletal system functions, considers the characteristics and mobility of the old and the disabled. Its main purpose is to help the old and the disabled perform their daily activities as much as they can, minimizing the extent of secondary disabilities. In other words, the system will provide the old and the disabled with regular and quantitative rehabilitation exercises and diagnosis using the wheelchair-based upper/lower limb rehabilitation vehicle system and then verify their effectiveness. The system comprises an electric wheelchair, a biometric module to identify individual characteristics, and an upper/lower limb rehabilitation vehicle. In this paper the design and configuration of the developed vehicle is described, and its operation method is presented. Moreover, to verify the tracking performance of the proposed system, dangerous situations according to biosignal changes occurring during the rehabilitation exercise of a non-disabled examinee are analyzed and the performance of the upper/lower limb rehabilitation exercise function depending on muscle strength is evaluated through a neural network algorithm.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.9 no.12
• /
• pp.364-375
• /
• 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 the Institute of Convergence Signal Processing
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.1-5
• /
• 2017

It is important to train lower limb muscle strength using a tilting table to recover the lower extremity function of hemiplegia patients. It is known that the foot deformity and poor posture of hemiplegia patients can reduce the effectiveness of lower limb rehabilitation training. In this study, we developed a sensor system that can measure the foot pressure distribution of the patients for the load control of the lower extremity during lower limb rehabilitation training and it can be substituted for conventional high-cost technologies.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
• /
• v.35 no.5
• /
• pp.319-341
• /
• 2016

Objective:This research analyzed the lower-limb motion in kinetic and kinematic way while walking on various terrains to develop Foot-Ground Contact Detection (FGCD) algorithm using the Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU). Background: To estimate the location of human in GPS-denied environments, it is well known that the lower-limb kinematics based on IMU sensors, and pressure insoles are very useful. IMU is mainly used to solve the lower-limb kinematics, and pressure insole are mainly used to detect the foot-ground contacts in stance phase. However, the use of multiple sensors are not desirable in most cases. Therefore, only IMU based FGCD can be an efficient method. Method: Orientation and acceleration of lower-limb of 10 participants were measured using IMU while walking on flat ground, ascending and descending slope and stairs. And the inertial information showing significant changes at the Heel strike (HS), Full contact (FC), Heel off (HO) and Toe off (TO) was analyzed. Results: The results confirm that pitch angle, rate of pitch angle of foot and shank, and acceleration in x, z directions of the foot are useful in detecting the four different contacts in five different walking terrain. Conclusion: IMU based FGCD Algorithm considering all walking terrain possible in daily life was successfully developed based on all IMU output signals showing significant changes at the four steps of stance phase. Application: The information of the contact between foot and ground can be used for solving lower-limb kinematics to estimating an individual's location and walking speed.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.59-66
• /
• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed (1) to identify asymmetry observed in electromyography (EMG) activity patterns of lower limb muscles between affected and unaffected sides of stroke patients during sit to stand (STS) movement and (2) to identify the muscles of the paretic lower limb that affected STS performance in stroke patients. Methods: This study consisted of 27 patients (15 males and 12 females) with poststroke hemiparesis. The activation of the rectus femoris (RF), tibialis anterior (TA), and gastrocnemius (GCM) of the affected side and unaffected side during STS movement were recorded using surface EMG. In addition, EMG lower limb muscle activation patterns were measured in the all section, pre-thigh off (pre-TO), and post-thigh off (post-TO) section. All measurements were obtained during five repetitions of the STS (FTSTS) movement. An independent t-test was performed to compare the affected side and unaffected side of the lower limb during the STS movement. A stepwise linear regression analysis was conducted to identify the muscles that affected STS performance. Results: Activation of both the RF and TA significantly affected the lower limb during the STS movement (p<0.05). Two muscles showed a difference on the post-TO section. The results of the stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that the RF and TA muscles of the affected lower limb were affected in FTSTS. Conclusion: These results provide a basis for reinforcement training, focusing on the RF and TA muscles of the affected side of stroke patients to improve asymmetric movement and performance in STS movement.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.21-29
• /
• 2009

Objective : This study was carried to identify the anatomical component of FTMM(Foot Taeyang Meridian Muscle) in human lower limb, and further to help the accurate application to real acupuncture. Methods : FTM at the surface of the lower limb was labelled with latex. And cadaver was stripped off to demonstrate muscles, nerves and the others and to display the internal structures of FTMM, being divided into outer, middle, and inner layer. Results : FTMM in human lower limb is composed of muscles, nerves, ligaments etc. The internal composition of the FTMM in human lower limb are as follows : 1) Muscle : Gluteus maximus. biceps femoris, semitendinosus, gastrocnemius, triceps calf, fibularis brevis tendon, superior peroneal retinacula, calcaneofibular ligament, inferior extensor retinaculum, abductor digiti minimi, sheath of flexor tendon at outer layer, biceps femoris, semimembranosus, plantaris, soleus, posterior tibialis, fibularis brevis, extensor digitorum brevis, flexor digiti minimi at middle layer, and for the last time semimembranosus, adductor magnus, plantaris, popliteus, posterior tibialis, flexor hallucis longus, dorsal calcaneocuboidal ligament at inner layer. 2) Nerve : Inferior cluneal nerve, posterior femoral cutaneous n., sural cutaneous n., proper plantar branch of lateral plantar n. at outer layer, sciatic nerve, common peroneal n., medial sural cutaneous n., tibial n. at middle layer, and for the last time tibial nerve, flexor hallucis longus branch of tibial n. at inner layer. Conclusions : This study proves comparative differences from already established studies from the viewpoint of constituent elements of FTMM in the lower limb, and also in the aspect of substantial assay method. We can guess that there are conceptional differences between terms (that is, nerves which control muscles of FTMM and those which pass near by FTMM) in human anatomy.