• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.51-63
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• 2007

Diabetic foot ulcers result from abnormal mechanical loading of the foot, such as repetitive pressure applied to the plantar aspect of the foot while walking. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy causes changes in foot structure, affecting foot function and subsequently leading to increased plantar foot pressure, which is a predictive risk factor for the development of diabetic foot ulceration. To early identify the insensitive foot makes it possible to prevent diabetic foot ulceration and to protect the foot at risk from abnormal biomechanical loading. Abnormal foot pressures can be reduced using several different approaches, including callus debridement, prescription of special footwear, foot orthosis. injection of liquid silicone, Achilles tendon lengthening, and so forth. Off-loading of the diabetic wound is a key factor to successful wound healing as it is associated with reduced inflammatory and accelerated repair processes. Pressure relief can be achieved using various off-loading modalities including accommodative dressing, walking splints, ankle-foot orthosis, total contact cast, and removable and irremovable cast walkers.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2004.05a
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• pp.116-116
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• 2004

편마비 환자의 보행운동 개선을 위한 보조기구로 족부보장구(Ankle Foot Orthosis, A.F.O.)가 활용되고 있다 족부보장구는 Fig. 1에 제시한 바와 같이 보행특성상 무수히 반복되는 충격과 굽힘하중을 받는다. 따라서 족부보장구용 재료는 피로특성이 우수한 탄소섬유 강화재(Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic, 이하 CFRP)를 주로 사용한다. 그러나 CFRP의 상용재인 프리프레그(prepreg)는 강한 이방성의 단방향 섬유이므로 섬유방향과 하중작용방향의 관계에 매우 민감하다.(중략)

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 2002

In this study, a stress analysis is made fur an ankle foot orthosis (AFO) in the view point of structural stability. The investigated AFO is a solid and standard type. To analyze the stress distribution on the neck of AFO, the maximum AFO angular translation data is obtained by gait analysis. The material test of polypropylene is made to obtain the mechanical properties of AFO. The maximum dorsiflexion appears at the midstance in the gait analysis. The experimental angular translation at the top of AFO is about 10.3$^{\circ}$ at mid stance. Three models of AFO with different width of neck are made and analyzed with ABAQUS 6.1. The stress levels and distributions of 3 different width(W$_1$, W$_2$=0.85W$_1$, W$_3$=0.60W$_1$) AFO are investigated. As a result, the standard type(W$_1$) appears to the maximum stresses at the medial edge of cutout area surrounding ankle joint. The maximum stresses of the narrower type(W$_2$) are occured on medial edge and center of ankle. The narrowest type(W$_3$) appears to the maximum stresses at center of ankle. The maximum stresses become smaller as ankle width of AFO is narrower.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.131-136
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• 2007

In this study, we developed an active ankle-foot orthosis(AAFO) which can control dorsi/ plantar flexion of the ankle joint to prevent foot drop and toe drag during walking. 3D gait analyses were performed on five healthy subjects under three different gait conditions: the normal gait without AFO, the SAFO gait with the conventional plastic AFO, and the AAFO gait with the developed AFO. As a result, the developed AAFO preeminently induced the normal gait compared to the SAFO. Additionally, AAFO prevented foot drop by proper plantarflexion during loading response and provided enough plantarflexion moment as a driving force to walk forward by sufficient push-off during pre-swing. AAFO also could prevent toe drag by proper dorsiflexion during swing phase. These results indicate that the developed AAFO may have more clinical benefits to treat foot drop and toe drag, compared to conventional AFOs, and also may be useful in patients with other orthotic devices.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.129-140
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• 2002

This study intended to find out how the handicapped use medical aid, their satisfaction at using it and so on. First a preliminary survey(Apr. 20$\sim$24, 2002) was made for the handicapped who had been cured for rehabilitation by wearing medical aid at hospitals and welfare center in Jeonbuk region. Then total 120 subjects were asked to fill out a standardized questionnaire from May 15$\sim$22, 2002. Out of total 95 questionnaires collected, 84 questionnaires were analyzed except for 11 cases unsuitable for the intention of this study. The results can be outlined as follows: 1. In general characteristic, it was found that the causes of disability included disease(35 respondents; 41.7%), traffic accident(23 respondents, 27.4%) and so on. In addition, 1st handicap comprised the majority(32 respondents; 58.2%) in handicap grade and ankle foot orthosis(or b-k orthosis) was most often used as medical aid(28 respondents: 33.3%) 2. In particular, it was also shown that the 1st handicap mainly resulted from traffic accident(15 respondents, 27.3%) and post-disease disability (11 respondents, 20.0%). They wore medical aid for 1 year or less on the average, because they were hospitalized for cure, which showed statistically significant level(P<0.05). 3. It was found that total 69 respondents(82.1%) were more or less satisfied with their medical aids depending on the causes of disability, and total 46 respondents(83.6%) were satisfied with their aids according to their handicap grade, but there were no statistical significance. 4. Total 56(66.7%) respondents answered that they would purchase medical aid on their own expenses, when they became handicapped. And the price of medical aid ranged from $\300,000{\sim}400,000$(25 respondents: 29.8%) to \ 500,000 or more(24 respondents: 28.6%). It means that they purchased more or less expensive medical aid on their own expenses, which showed statistical significance(P<0.05). 5. If there was any failure of medical aid, 9 respondents(37.5%) answered that they would be serviced from medical companies, and 7 respondents(29.2%) would be serviced from medical aid manufacturers. Most respondents were serviced for their medical aids from related companies. For the question about the causes of dissatisfaction upon repair service, 11 respondents(45.8%) answered that existing service company provided unskilled repair services and other respondents answered that there was no spare part or higher service expenses than they thought. These answers had the statistical significance(P<0.05). However, 20 respondents(79.2%) answered that they were satisfied with the repair service, which means that most respondents are satisfied with the service. In view of the results as described above, it can be concluded that their handicap or disability results from disease or sequelae after traffic accident and most of the affected wear their own medical aid. In the future, it is required that the medical insurance should cover those medical aids, and the service for failed medical aids should be commissioned by technical serviceman to realize customized manufacture and repair service according to different causes so that the handicapped can enjoy more or less comfort and convenience in their daily lives without any extreme difficulty.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.7-25
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• 2003

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2008.06a
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• pp.887-888
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• 2008

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.80-87
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• 1995

The purpose of this case study was to introduce a myoelectric hand prosthesis for upper extremity amputee and prosthetic training program. Limb loss can result from disease, injury, or congenital causes. Trauma has been increasingly important role as the cause of amputaion in young, vigorous, and otherwise healthy individuals. The higher the level of amputation the greater the functional loss of the part, and the more the amputee must depend on the prostheis for fuction and cosmesis. Myoelectrical control of prostheses is a recent development and has been steadily gaining in clinical use over the past 20 years. Such a prosthesis uses signals from muscle contraction within the stump to activate a battery driven moter that operates specific component fuctions of the prosthesis. This twenty years old male case was operated a right above-elbow amputation due to tracffic accident and admitted to Yonsei Rehabilitaion hospital for the preprosthetic and prosthetic training. The case was able to successfully complete his myoelectric hand prosthesis training in the February of 1995.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.10-18
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• 2003

This paper presented a design and control of a biped walking RGO(robotic gait orthosis) and its simulation. The biped walking RGO was distinguished from the other one by which had a very light-weight and a new RGO system will be made of 12-servo motors and 12-controllers. The vibration evaluation of the dynamic PLS(posterior leaf splint) on the biped walking RGO was used to access by the 3-axis accelerometer with a low frequency vibration of less than 30 Hz. The galt of the biped walking RGO depends on the constrains of mechanical kinematics and the initial posture. The stability of dynamic walking was investigated by analyzing the ZMP (zero moment point) of the biped walking RGO. It was designed according to the human wear type and was able to accomodate itself to the environments of S.C.I. Patients. The Joints of each leg were adopted with a good kinematic characteristics. To analyse joint kinematic properties. we made the strain stress analysis of the dynamic PLS and the analysis study of FEM with a dynamic PLS.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1992-1998
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• 2020

Background: The foot drop stimulator is designed to improve the walking ability of foot drop in patients after stroke, however, studies on clinical effects are still lacking. Objective: To investigate the effect of a foot drop stimulator on the walking and balancing abilities of foot drop patients after a stroke. Design: One-Group (Pretest-Posttest) Design. Methods: All subjects walked in all three conditions: foot drop stimulator (FDS) ankle foot orthosis (AFO) and barefoot. Primary outcome measures were assessed for walking and balance using a 10-m walking test (10MWT) and a timed up and go test (TUG). Secondary outcome measures consisted of a brief user interview, and the patients recorded the advantages and disadvantages of each condition. Results: FDS, AFO, and barefoot conditions showed a statistically significant difference in 10MWT and TUG (P<.001) as a result of comparing three conditions. FDS and AFO were significantly different from the barefoot condition as post-hoc results; however, there was no significant difference between the two conditions (P>.05). Conclusion: In this study, the foot drop stimulator contributed to improving the balance ability, and the walking ability was similar to the effect of the ankle-foot orthosis.