• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.63-71
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• 2005

A laboratory study was performed to evaluate the effects of an aid(i.e. stick) on joint loadings. Six healthy young participants were recruited from Virginia Tech student population. Each participant has performed three normal walking and three stick walking trials. Normalized and integrated, ground reaction forces(GRFs) and joint moments were measured at ankle, knee, and hip joints from kinematic and kinetic data. The result suggests that stick walking significantly reduces vertical ground reaction force and joint moments at ankle and knee compared to normal walking.

• Clinical Pain
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.31-35
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• 2019

Plantar heel pain is a common clinical problem in foot and ankle clinics. Typically, several conditions such as plantar fasciitis, fat pad atrophy, and calcaneal fracture may lead to plantar heel pain. However, subcalcaneal bursitis occurred between plantar fascia and plantar fat pad has rarely been described as a cause of plantar heel pain. To our knowledge, subcalcaneal bursitis has been reported only once, but there was no mention of preceding factors. We firstly present a case of subcalcaneal bursitis occurred after excessive walking exercise known as "Nordic walking" and successfully managed with conservative treatments that relieve impact on plantar heel.

• Journal of Communications and Networks
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.86-94
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• 2011

In recent years, there has been a rise in epidemiological evidence suggesting the health benefits of a physically active lifestyle. However, it is not always easy for individuals to personally recognize the optimal conditions for exercise and physical activity. Wearable acceleration-based pedometers have become widely used in estimating the amount of physical activity, and to a limited extent, providing information regarding exercise intensity, but they have never been used to assess adaptation to exercise. In order to realize simultaneous activity monitoring for multiple users exercising outdoors, we developed a prototype wireless local area network (WLAN) based system. In our system, a WLAN is deployed outside, and a user wearing a smart phone and monitoring device exercises freely within the coverage area of the wireless network. By doing so, the developed system is able to monitor the activity of each user andmeasures various parameters including those related to exercise adaptation. In a demonstration experiment, the developed system was evaluated and used to monitor users enjoying a Nordic walk, after which users were immediately able to receive their exercise report. In this paper, we discuss the requirements and issues in developing an activity monitoring system and report the findings we obtained through the demonstration experiment.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.1785-1790
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• 2019

Background: Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) causes neurological symptoms by compression of the dura mater and nerve roots. Due to the changed in proprioception inputs that can result in abnormal postural pattern, delayed reaction time, and changed in deep tendon reflex. Objective: To investigate the effects of lumbar stabilization exercises on motor neuron excitability and neurological symptoms in patients with LDH. Design: Randomized Controlled Trial (single blind) Methods: Thirty patients with LDH were recruited; they were randomly divided into the balance center stabilization resistance exercise group (n=15) and the Nordic walking group (n=15). Each group underwent their corresponding 20-minute intervention once a day, four times a week, for four weeks. Participants' motor neuron excitability and low back pain were assessed before and after the four-week intervention. Results: There were significant differences in all variables within each group (p<.05). There were significant differences between the experimental and control groups in the changes of upper motor neuron excitability and pain (p<.05), but not in the changes of lower motor neuron excitability and Korean Oswestry Disability Index. Conclusion: Lumbar stabilization exercises utilizing concurrent contraction of deep and superficial muscles improved low back function in patients with LDH by lowering upper motor neuron excitability than compared to exercises actively moving the limbs. Lumbar stabilization exercises without pain have a positive impact on improving motor neuron excitability.