• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.56 no.7
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• pp.1339-1342
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• 2007

In this study, we determined the optimum electrode pair for measuring the abdominal pressure using bio-impedance method and compared with conventional methods. Because impedance changes differ from a weight, a height, contractile force, volume of muscle and blood other or whatever of individuals, it was quantified using values of impedance change, correlation coefficient and SNR. Our results showed the optimum electrode pair (1, 9) which could detect impedance changes due to an increase of the intensity of the abdominal pressure. The correlation coefficient and quadratic function between the RMS values of EMG and the impedance changes were 0.87 and $y=0.0014x^2+0.0620x+0.6958$, respectively. It demonstrated that the abdominal pressure could be measured noninvasively and simply using bio-impedance method. We propose that this optimum electrode configuration would be useful for future studies involving the convenient measurement of abdominal pressure by ambulatory urodynamics monitoring study.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.55-62
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• 2005

This study examined the effect of ergonomic heel rest that was designed for drivers who have physical handicap in the low leg muscles or have to drive prolonged hours with frequent foot pedaling. An experiment was designed to test the ergonomic heel rest with traditional foot pedal. Forty subjects participated in the experiment. Electromyography(EMG) was used to monitor the muscle activity and fatigue of right leg, and Electro-goniometer was used to measure the ranges of motions of the knee and ankle. A simulator of driver's seat was built for the experiment and the heel rest was installed on it. In order to examine the low muscle activity and range of motion, subjects used the foot pedal for 15 minutes repetitively for each experimental condition. Another 15 minutes test without the heel rest was also performed for comparison. The Root Mean Square(RMS) and Mean Power Frequency(MPF) Shift were used to quantify the level of muscle activity and local muscle fatigue. In results, statistically significant decreases of muscle activity and fatigue were found in all the low leg muscles. The range of motion of the knee and ankle joint also decreased when the heel rest was used. The mechanism of the heel rest effect was discussed in this study. This type of heel rest can be applied to real driving situation after ensuring the safety, or overcoming the psychological discomfort possibly due to unfamiliarity.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.237-243
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• 2011

This study was to examine on the respiratory variables, heart rate and muscle activity between the static recovery and dynamic recovery after progressive resistance exercise to maximal point. Subjects were 15 students enrolled in N University. All were tested two times (static recovery and dynamic recovery) and were requested to perform a walking on a treadmill after progressive resistance exercise to maximal point. Electromyography(EMG) was used to monitor the muscle activity(TA: Tibialis Anterior, MG: Medial Gastrocnemius) during gait. CPEX-1 was used to measure the respiratory variables and heart rate. The dynamic recovery group was shown the significant lower heart rate than that of static recovery group at during gait. Respiratory rate showed statistically a significant difference. Electromyography(RMS, root mean square) showed a non-significant difference. But the dynamic recovery group of muscle activity was found highly in TA and MG. This study indicated that the dynamic recovery method evidenced more faster than the static recovery method. And this type of dynamic rest by walking can be a help of recovery after exercise.

• Journal of Korean Institute of Industrial Engineers
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.67-81
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• 1990

Effectiveness of physical exercise in reducing work-related musculoskeletal stress was investigated. This was compared to the stress alleviation accomplished by using ergonomically designed work station. Tasks chosen for the study were data entry and file maintenance on the video display terminal (VDT). Three different measures, namely root-mean-square (RMS) values of electromyogram (EMG), subjective rating and task performance were used for the evaluation. Electromyograms were recorded from the neck, the left and right trapezius muscles in the shoulder region, and L2/L3 region of the back. Subjects rated discomfort levels for the same parts of their body. Task performance was measured by recording typing speed and errors. Each of the five subjects was tested for two days (8 hours/day) in two different work stations. These were the ergonomically designed adjustable work station and the fixed work station of traditional design with no adjustable features. Assigned physical exercises were performed for four minutes, every two hours during the breaks, by the subjects while working in the fixed work station. It was concluded that the physical exercise could be helpful in reducing musculoskeletal stress as effectively as the ergonomic design of the VDT work station.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.519-524
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• 2023

The purpose of this study is to construct basic data for efficient technical training by investigating the difference in muscle activity during badminton technical movements involving jump motions similar to game situations. Seven male badminton players were randomly assigned to perform smash, drop, and clear techniques, and electromyograms were measured during the implementation of three technical movements. Measured EMG was calculated by RMS and one-way ANOVA was performed. The muscle activity of the smashing motion did not show any significant difference according to the site. In drop motion, activity of PM in the upper extremity muscles was lower than that of BC and ECR, and FCR activity was lower than that of EC. The activity of ECR was higher than that of PM and FCR. The activity of ES in trunk muscles was lower than that of RF and GM. RF activity of lower extremity muscles was higher than that of ES and BF. In clear motion, the activity of TC in upper extremity muscle was higher than FCR. The activity of ES in trunk muscles was lower than that of BF. RF activity of lower extremity muscles was higher than that of BF, and BF activity was lower than that of RF and GM. The activity of GM was higher than that of BF. As for muscle activity according to badminton skills, smash and drop motions were higher than clear motions in FCR, and clear motions were higher than smash and drop motions in RA. In conclusion, it is considered that muscle activity during the badminton game is different according to the characteristics of each skill, and FCR can affect the smash and drop, and RA can affect the clear motion.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.149-154
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• 2016

Purpose: The aim of this study is to suggest an intervention method for clinical use in the future by analyzing the effect of breathing exercise on activity of sternocleidomastoid muscle and scalenus anterior muscle, which are respiratory synergist muscles, and pulmonary functions in patients with forward head posture. Methods: Prior to the experiment, 12 patients (experimental group) performed feedback exhalation exercise along with conventional deep neck exercise, and 11 subjects (control group) performed feedback deep neck exercise along with conventional deep neck exercise. The intervention programs were performed for 40 minutes once a day (three times a week for four weeks). Results: Before intervention, %RMS was measured for surface electromyography (sEMG), and FVC, FEV1, and FEV1/FVC were measured using a spirometer. After four weeks, these items were re-measured under the same condition and analyzed. In within-group comparison of the experimental group, activity of sternocleidomastoid muscle and scalenus anterior muscle showed a significant decrease (p<0.05)(p<0.001), and forced vital capacity (FVC) showed a significant increase (p<0.05). In within-group comparison of the control group, activity of sternocleidomastoid muscle and scalenus anterior muscle showed a significant decrease (p<0.05), and in between-group comparison, there were significant differences in activity of sternocleidomastoid muscle and FVC (p<0.05). Conclusion: Long-term forward head posture restrains exercise performance of the neck and leads to exercise avoidance of the neck during daily activities, thus restraint factors might be created even while breathing. To cut off this link, a constant effort is required and diversified research on the correlation between neck functions and breathing should be conducted.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.41 no.9
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• pp.799-807
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• 2017

In this paper, a new method is proposed for estimating pedestrians' walking velocity based on lower-limb kinematics and wearable inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors. While the soles and ground are not in contact during the walking cycle, the walking velocity can be estimated by integrating the acceleration output of the inertial sensor mounted on the pelvis. To minimize the effects of acceleration measurement errors caused by the tilt of the pelvis while walking, the estimated walking velocity based on lower-limb kinematics is imposed as the initial value in the acceleration signal integration process of the pelvis inertial sensor. In the experiment involving outdoor walking for six minutes, sensor drift due to error accumulation was not observed, and the RMS error in the walking velocity estimation was less than 0.08 m/s.