• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.301-308
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to compare core muscle activity and thickness in the abdomen (internal Oblique, IO; External Oblique, EO; Transverse Abdominis, TrA) according to walking training methods. Tests were performed on 20 healthy men who randomly assigned to two groups, divided by Nordic walking (n=10) or Power walking group (n=10). They were performed Nordic walking or Power walking training for 2 weeks that is consistent with each of the assigned groups. Results demonstrated that Nordic walking was more effective than Power walking in improving IO and EO activities. Nordic walking is believed to be useful method for a variety of therapeutic exercise as a stable balance with the stick in addition to normal gait and trunk stability.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.35-43
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to compare spatio-temporal parameters during walking between patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and a control group matched for age, height, and weight. Thirty-three subjects were included in this study. Fifteen normal subjects (age, $63.3{\pm}5.8$ yrs; height, $164.1{\pm}8.7$ cm; weight, $60.7{\pm}17.5$ kg) and eighteen patients (age, $64.0{\pm}7.7$ yrs; height, $164.7{\pm}7.3$ cm; weight, $63.6{\pm}7.7$ kg) participated in the study. The Vicon 512 Motion analysis system was used for gait analysis in each group during walking, with and without an obstacle. The measured spatio-temporal parameters were cadence, walking speed, stride time, step time, single limb support time, double limb support time, stride length, and step length. Results in stride length and step length, when walking without an obstacle, showed a significantly greater decrease in the patient group compared to the control group. During walking with an obstacle, the patient group showed a significantly greater decrease in the step length as compared to the control group. For the control group, there were significant decreases in parameters of cadence and walking speed and increases in parameters of stride time, step time, and single limb support time when walking with an obstacle. The patient group had lower cadence and walking speed and higher stride time, step time, and single limb support time during walking with an obstacle than in walking without an obstacle. These results suggest that patients with Parkinson's disease who walk over an obstacle can decrease cadence, stride length, and step length. Further study is needed, performed with more obstacles and combined with other external cues, such as visual or acoustic guides.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.95-102
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• 1999

In hemiplegic gait, walking speed is an important factor to evaluate treatment effect. The purpose of this study was to describe and compare kinematic variables during differant speed hemiplegic gaits. Six hemiplegic patients(47-69 years old) after stroke and age - matched six volunteers in good health(51-61 years old) were studied. The patients were sorted into two groups, depending on their self - speed of walking : fast speed group(3 patients, $0.74\pm0.14m/s$) and slow speed group(3 patients, $0.29\pm0.09m/s)$. The results were following. 1. In the hip joint, the fast group had lower mean value than normal but had similar pattern to normal. The slow group had continuous flexed pattern. 2. In the knee joint, the fast group had similar mean value and pattern to normal. The slow group had continuous flexed pattern. 3. In the ankle joint, the two group had dorsiflexed pattern. The fast group had similar pattern to normal. Thus, the fast group was similar gait pattern to normal.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.357-364
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• 2010

This study proposes a lower-limb exoskeleton system that is controlled by a wearer's muscle activity. This system is designed by following procedure. First, analyze the muscle activation patterns of human leg while walking. Second, select the adequate actuator to support the human walking based on calculation of required force of knee joint for step walking. Third, unit type knee and ankle orthotics are integrated with selected actuator. Finally, using this knee-assistive system (KAS) and developed muscle stiffness sensors (MSS), the muscle activity pattern of the subject is analyzed while he is walking on the stair. This study proposes an operating algorithm of KAS based on command signal of MSS which is generated by motion intent of human. A healthy and normal subject walked while wearing the developed powered-knee exoskeleton on his/her knees, and measured effectively assisted plantar flexor strength of the subject's knees and those neighboring muscles. Finally, capabilities and feasibility of the KAS are evaluated by testing the adapted motor pattern and the EMG signal variance while walking with exoskeleton. These results shows that developed exoskeleton which controlled by muscle activity could help human's walking acceptably.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.50-58
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• 2021

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of wrist and trunk weight loading using sandbags in stroke patients in order to provide the quantitative data for enhancement of gait movement. Method: Twelve stroke patients, who have been diagnosed with hemiplegia over a year ago, were participated in this study. All subjects were asked to perform normal walking [N], wrist sandbag walking [W], wrist & trunk sandbag walking [WT], and both wrist sandbag walking [B] and both wrist & trunk sandbag walking [BT], respectively. Eight infrared cameras were used to collect the raw data. Gait parameters, arm swing, shoulder-pelvic kinematics, and lower extremity joint angle were calculated to examine the differences during walking. Results: As a result, there were no significant differences in the gait parameters, shoulder-pelvis, and lower extremities joint angles, but significant differences were found in the range of motion and the anteversion in arm swing. Conclusion: Wrist and trunk weight loading using sandbags affected the movement of the upper extremities only while it did not affect the movement of the lower extremities. It implies that it can reduce the risk of falling caused by a sudden movement change in lower extremities. In addition, the wrist and trunk weight loading using sandbags can induce changes in movement of the upper extremities independently and contribute to functional rehabilitation through resistance training.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.396-401
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• 2017

In this paper, a device to analyze gait pattern was developed by using a 2-axis acceleration sensor attached to the foot. The 1st low-pass filter was adapted to limit the frequency band up to 5 Hz. An algorithm to detect the peak value exceeding the threshold voltage of an X-axis acceleration sensor and a Z-axis acceleration sensor was developed and normal and abnormal walking patterns were thus differentiated. Also, MCU and Bluetooth were combined to transfer the data to other MCUs to display on an LCD; the size of the device could then be reduced. The new algorithm and the device allowed the individual walking patterns to be easily measured at a low cost and with less restriction on activities compared to conventional multiple pressure sensors or motion camera system.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.792-795
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• 2007

To quantify irregular body motions the time series analysis was applied to the gait study. The motions obtained from gait experiment are complex to exhibit nonlinear behaviors. The purpose of this study is to measure quantitatively the characteristics of the major six joints of the body during walking. The gait experiments were carried out for eighteen young males walking on a motor driven treadmill. Joint motions were captured using eight video cameras, and then three dimensional kinematics of the neck and the upper and lower extremities were computed by KWON 3D motion analysis software. The largest Lyapunov exponent was calculated from the time series to quantify stabilities of each joint. The results provides a data set of nonlinear dynamic characteristics for six joints engaged in normal walking.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.889-895
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• 2007

Quantifying dynamic stability is important to assessment of falling risk or functional recovery for leg injured people. Human locomotion is complex and known to exhibit nonlinear dynamical behaviors. The purpose of this study is to quantify major joints of the body using chaos analysis during walking. Time series of the chaotic signals show how gait patterns change over time. The gait experiments were carried out for ten young males walking on a motorized treadmill. Joint motions were captured using eight video cameras, and then three dimensional kinematics of the neck and the upper and lower extremities were computed by KWON 3D motion analysis software. The correlation dimension and the largest Lyapunov exponent were calculated from the time series to quantify stabilities of the joints. This study presents a data set of nonlinear dynamic characteristics for eleven joints engaged in normal level walking.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.67-74
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• 2020

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the change of lower limb muscle activation according to the use of arm sling in normal subjects. Design: Cross-sectional Study Methods: Seven healthy subjects (6 males and 1 female, 25.42 years, 173.57 cm, 71.71 kg) were recruited on a voluntary basis. To measure the lower limb muscle activation during walking with and without arm sling, we used a wireless surface electromyography (sEMG) (FreeEMG1000, BTS Bioengineering, Milano, Italy). Six wireless sEMG electrodes were attached to the following three major muscle groups of the both side lower limb: rectus femoris, biceps femoris, medial gastrocnemius. All subjects wore arm sling on their right side during measurement. Results: In the stance phase, there was a significant increase in right side rectus femoris muscle activation in walking without arm sling compared to the walking with arm sling (p<.05). Additionally, In the stance phase, there was a significant increase in left side tibialis anterior muscle activation in walking without arm sling compared to the walking with arm sling (p<.05). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that there is a significant association between the arm swing restriction and lower limb muscle activation. Therefore, it seems that it can be applied as basic data for gait training with an arm slings.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.66 no.12
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• pp.1810-1814
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• 2017

This paper develops an approach to the algorithm of Gait pattern Analysis and step measurement with Multi-Pressure Sensors. The process of gait consists of 8 steps including stance and swing phase. As 3 parts of foot is supporting most of human weight, multiple pressure sensors are attached on the parts of foot: forefoot, big toe, heel. As 3 parts of foot is supporting most of human weight, multiple pressure sensors are attached on the parts of foot: forefoot, big toe, heel. normal gait proceed from heel, forefoot and big toe over time. While normal gait proceeds, values of heel, forefoot and big toe can be changed over time. So Each values of pressure sensors over time could discriminate whether it is normal or abnormal gait. Measuring Device consists of non-inverting amplifiers and low pass filter. Through timetable of values, normal gait pattern can be analyzed, because of supported weight of foot. Also, the peak value of pressure can judge whether it is walking or running. While people are running, insole of shoes is floating in the air on moment. Using this algorithm, gait analysis and step count can be measured.