• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.87-93
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• 2022

Objective: The purpose of this research was to investigate the age-related changes in whole-body motor variability during sit-to-stand (STS) task. It has been reported that children perform motor tasks less accurately with greater variability as compared to adults. However, it is still unknown how they utilize the abundant degrees of freedom and accomplish voluntary actions. Uncontrolled manifold (UCM) analysis has been used to partition motor variabilities into two independent variability components, task-relevant variability (V_ORT) and task-irrelevant variability (V_UCM). We investigated what differences exist between children and adults with respect to these two motor variability components in relation to motor development stages. Method: Ten 6-year-old children (height: 116.2 ± 4.3 cm, weight: 23.1 ± 3.9 kg, motor development assessment percentile score: 77.5 ± 18.6%), ten 10-year-old children (height: 138.7 ± 7.2 cm, weight: 35.8 ± 10.3 kg, motor development assessment percentile score: 73.9 ± 12.7%), and ten young adults (age: 23 ± 1.6 year-old, height: 164.3 ± 11.4 cm, weight: 60.8 ± 12.0 kg) participated in this study. Each participant performed STS ten times, and a motion capture system was used to capture the whole-body kinematics. Each segment centers of mass and the whole-body center of mass were calculated, and UCM analysis was used to quantify motor variabilities, V_ORT and V_UCM. One-way ANOVA was used for statistical analysis. Results: We found that children produced more motor variabilities in V_ORT and V_UCM in all three dimensions, anterior-posterior, medial-lateral, and vertical. As age increased, both, V_ORT and V_UCM significantly decreased (p<.05). Conclusion: The greater V_ORT found in children compared to adults indicates that the repeatability over repetitions improves through development, while the greater V_UCM found in children suggests that children better utilize the abundant degrees of freedom during STS compared to adults.

• Bulletin of the Korean Institute for Industrial Safety
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.11-17
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• 2003

In recent years, work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are one of major issues in occupational safety and health in Korea, since the number of injured workers has rapidly increased and the related regulation was amended to improve the work conditions. Main risk factors of WMSDs in Korean industries include manual handling of heavy weight loads, awkward postures, repetitive tasks, prolonged static muscle contraction, and so on. in this article, some ergonomics case studies for identifying the risk factors of WMSDs and far their prevention were introduced. They include a biomechanical analysis for the heavy-weight handling task in a machine-repair shop, physiological evaluation of backpack-carrying tasks in a beverage delivery job, and a set of psychophysical studies to evaluate static-postural load. These studies showed that there are several different ergonomic approaches to identifying and evaluating risk factors of WMSDs and to eliminating them or reducing their levels, and that it is important to select proper methods and apply them in improving the work conditions according to the characteristics of the task. In addition, it needs to develop practical and effective ergonomic tools to prevent WMSDs and to provide these tools to the safety managers in the field so that they can improve the tasks by themselves.

• Transactions on Control, Automation and Systems Engineering
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 2002

We show that humans execute the postural control ingeniously by regulating the impedance properties of the musculo-skeletal system as the motor command against the alteration of the environment. Adjusting muscle activity can control the impedance properties of the musculo-skeletal system. To quantify the changes in human arm viscoelasticity on the vertical plane during interaction with the environment, we asked our subject to hold an object. By utilizing surface electromyographic(EMG) studies, we determined a relationship between the perturbation and a time-varying muscle co-activation. Our study showed when the subject lifts the object by himself the muscle stiffness increases while the torque remains the same just before the lift-off. These results suggest that the central nervous system(CNS) simultaneously controls not only the equilibrium point(EP) and the torque, but also the muscle stiffness as themotor command in posture control during the contact task.

• Proceedings of the KAIS Fall Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.119-122
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• 2009

본 연구는 뇌졸중으로 인한 편마비 환자 20명을 대상으로 총 8주간 시지각 운동 과제를 적용하여 자세 균형, 보행 양상에 미치는 효과를 검증하고자 시행하였다. 실험군(n=10)과 대조군(n=10) 모두 보존적인 물리치료를 실시하였고 실험군에는 시지각 운동 과제 프로그램을 더하여 실시하였다. 본 연구의 결과는 실험군의 되먹임 측정을 통한 자세 균형 검사에서 편평한 지면 위에서 눈을 뜨고 감은 상태의 안정성 지수는 유의한 감소를 보였으며, pillow 위에서 눈을 뜨고 감은 상태의 안정성 지수도 유의하게 감소하였다. 체중분포지수는 편평한 지면에서 눈을 뜨고, 감은 상태와 pillow 위에서 눈을 뜨고 감은 상태 모두에서 유의하게 감소하였다. 실험군에서 10m 보행 속도는 대조군과 달리 유의하게 증가하였다. 본 연구에서의 시지각적 운동과제 프로그램은 편마비 환자의 신체기능과 관련된 자세균형 및 보행을 증진시키는 효과가 있었고 이에 보다 효과적인 운동방법으로 제시할 수 있다.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.82-91
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• 1996

Normal balance is defined as state in which the body is equlilibrium. It is complex motor control task, requring integration of sensory information, neural processing, and biomechanical factors. There are major two factors contribute to balance control, the neurological and the musculoskeletal. The neurological factor provides the sensory processing and motor output mechanisms that are the neurophysiological basis for response. The musculoskeletal factor provides the mechanical structure for response. When all components of two factors are operating effectively, the postural response should be appropriate and effective for good balance control. Therfore, balance can be influenced by above all factors. In addition, balance can be also influenced by muscle tone, hearing, physiological factors, and environmental factors. Physical therapists must understand factors of balance control so that we can accurately assess balance. Therefore, physical therapists have to develop useful balance measurement tools to evaluate balance.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2012

Purpose : This study was conducted to identify the effects of high heel shoes on surface electromyography(EMG) activities fo tibialis anterior(TA), soles(S), and gastrocnemius(G) in 12 healthy women. Methods : Subjects were composed of three group(sports shoes, 5cm heel height shoes, and 9cm heel height shoes). The muscle activity of the TA, G, S in the lower leg were measured using a surface EMG. Results : Results of one way repeated measures ANOVA of the after waling 30minutes standing task duration among the sport shoes, 5cm, and 9cm heel height conditions. The comparison of the muscular activities showed significant differences in the G muscles among the high heel shoes. Conclusion : Wearing high heel shoes for hours will bring inappropriate alignment of the lower limbs and cause postural changes or abnormal sensation and several other problems in the body, resulting in exposure to ankle sprain or fall injuries.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.265-271
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• 2021

Purpose: We aimed to analyze the reliability of the test for choice stepping reaction time (CSRT) under an unstable surface and determine whether there were differences in CSRT between support surface conditions (stable vs. unstable conditions) and between age groups (young adults vs. community-dwelling older adults). Methods: Twenty healthy community-dwelling older adults and twenty young adults performed the stepping task under an unstable condition over two visits. The mean of the two trials measured for each visit was used for the analysis. The test-retest reliability was analyzed using intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) with a 95% confidence interval, standard error of measurement (SEM), and minimal detectable change (MDC). Differences in CSRT between support surface conditions and age groups were analyzed using the independent t-test with Bonferroni correction. Results: Excellent consistency was observed for ICC >0.90 in both groups. Moreover, the SEM and MDC values of the CSRT in older and young adults were 0.03 and 0.09 and 0.01 and 0.04, respectively. There was a significant difference in the CSRT between the age groups under stable (p<0.001) and unstable conditions (p<0.001). Conclusion: The findings demonstrated that the test for CSRT under an unstable condition had reliable results in both groups. Although older adults demonstrated longer reaction times than younger adults in all surface conditions, increasing the balance control demand by implementing a choice stepping task concomitant with a balance task had no influence on the reaction time in both age groups.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.11-21
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• 1999

Human balance is maintained through a complex process involving sensory detection of body motions, integration of sensorimotor information within the central nervous system, and execution of appropriate musculoskeletal responses. The basic task of balance is to position the body center of gravity (COG) over some portion of the support base. When the COG extends beyond the base of support, the person has exceeded the limits of stability (LOS). At this point, a step or stumble is required to prevent a fall. Automatic postural responses operate to keep the COG over the base of support. They are a set of functionally organized, long-loop responses that act to keep the body in a state of equilibrium. There are four commonly identified automatic postural responses, or strategies. These are ankle strategy, hip strategy, suspensory (knee) strategy, and stepping strategy. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the LOS using various knee strategies. Forty subjects participated in this study. The subjects were comprised of 20 males and 20 females who were without neurologic, orthopaedic or balance performance impairments. The LOS was measured with a Balance Performance Monitor (BPM) Dataprint Software Version 5.3. The results of this study were as follows: 1) Knee joint angle which is to increase stability of standing balance with using knee strategy was at mid-range. 2) There were statistically significant differences in anteroposterior LOSs according to the knee strategy. 3) There were no statistically significant differences in mediolateral LOSs according to the knee strategy. 4) There were statistically significant differences of anteroposterior LOSs with using knee strategy according to gender. 5) There were no statistically significant differences in mediolateral LOSs with using knee strategy according to gender.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.93-103
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• 2021

Purpose : This study aimed to investigate the effect of trunk postural stability maintained wearing a spiral elastic band on the upper extremity function of patients with stroke who undertook a functional activity program and to provide fundamental data useful for the application of therapeutic interventions in the clinical environment of occupational therapy. Methods : The research subjects included 16 patients with stroke who were evenly divided into an experimental group and a control group. The eight-week intervention consisted of a functional activity program aimed at improving the function of the affected-side upper extremity. The experimental group performed the functional activity program while maintaining a stable trunk posture by wearing a spiral elastic band. The control group followed the program without wearing the band. Upper extremity function was assessed before and after the intervention using a manual function test (MFT) and a motor activity log (MAL), and the effectiveness on the upper extremity function of the affected side was confirmed. Results : First, in the within-group comparison of the upper extremity function scores before and after the intervention, the experimental group showed a statistically significant difference in the MFT and MAL assessment(p<.05). The control group showed a statistically significant difference in the MAL assessment(p<.05). Second, in the between-group comparison of the change in scores after the intervention, a statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups in all assessments(p<.05). Conclusion : This study confirmed the positive effect on upper extremity function of trunk stabilization posture using a spiral elastic band. The results could be useful when implementing a task-oriented training program in the clinical environment of occupational therapy in the future, as application of the training while maintaining trunk postural stability by wearing a spiral elastic band could be more effective for improving the upper extremity function of patients with stroke.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.445-453
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• 2012

The aim of this paper was to prove that if the risk level in combined tasks was improved through evaluation of postural load of liquid weight measurement process, the workload level and ratio of exposure time would be changed, and the time of process would be seen concurrently. Background: According to results of epidemiological studies conducted by Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency, 122 musculoskeletal disorders occurred during 1992 to 2008, in which manufacturing industry covers 96(78.7%) of total. However, this is an insufficient level and only occupies 39% based on the South Korea's manufacturing standard industrial classification(246 industries). Method: Firstly, the number of batches weighed on one day(460min) was investigated based on the work performed and Weight measured weekly. VCR recording was taken based on the level of liquid ingredients prescribed for 1batch using the Camcorder. After dividing a 356 sec video into 1 sec using the screen capture function in Gom player, the job classification was performed by analyzing the change of working postures, which revealed 148 working postures. Time measurement was decided by time of the postures was being maintained. Then, the REBA analysis was performed for the working postures. The ratio of Exposure time was calculated based on the measurement time and REBA Score. In addition, the recommendations were designed and implementation was carried out for the working postures with REBA Score higher than 3. Finally, after the intervention, REBA measurement, time measurement, and ratio of exposure time were calculated for the comparison of works before and after improvement. Results: The number of work elements was decreased by 30.4% from 148 to 103 after improvement. The results of time measurement showed that the time was reduced by 46.3% from 356 sec to 191 sec. And the ratio of exposure time was also improved by 52.1% from 0% to 52.1% after improvement. Conclusion: The reduction of time was found to improve the productivity of management. Furthermore, because the reduction of ratio of exposure time and the improvement of workload level are the improvement of discomfort, it would contribute to the improvement of the worker's psychological working posture. Application: These results would contribute to musculoskeletal disease prevention and management performance. Further studies for other industries would be needed based on this case study.