• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.161-173
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• 1991

A statistical approach was carried out to analyze joint moments acting on the six subjects performing a right-handed seated task. The dynamic task analyzed consisted of moving a hand-held weight of lkg mass back and forth in front of a subject's chest at the shoulder level in an upright seated position. We used experimental data obtained in the Biomechanics Laboratory of the University of Michigan. Based on the acquired data from three trials by each subject, moments were calculated using a 3-dimensional biomechanical model at such articulations as wrist, elbow, shoulder, the third lumbar spine, hip, knee, and ankle joints. The linear correlation and the two way analysis of variance were applied to the calculated joint moments in order to investigate inter-subject and inter-trial varations. The results obtained showed that the largest magnitude and deviation of moment was found at the third lumbar spine, that any linear relationship could not be found between moment and its equivalents attempted in this study, and that the maximum value and deviation of moment acting on each joint were statistically the same for all three trials but those were statistically not the same for all six subjects.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.31-36
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• 2009

Many daily activities require people to complete a motor task while walking. Substantial gait decrements during simultaneous attention to a variety of cognitive tasks have been shown by a group of severely injured neurological patients of mixed etiology. And previous studies have shown that the attentional load of a walking-associated task increased with its level of difficulty. The purpose of this study was to analyze subjects' gait changes are affected by the effects of arithmetic task difficulty and performance level. Participants performed a walking task alone, three different Arithmetic tasks while seated, and among them, two kinds of the simillar Arithmetic tasks in combination with walking. Reaction time and accuracy were recorded for two of the Arithmetic tasks. The mean values of the gait were measured using a Timed Up and Go test among 11 with post-stroke patients while walking with and without forward counting (WFC) and backward counting(WBC).There was significant Arithmetic Task Difficulty level between the 10-forward counting task condition(FC) and the 10-backward counting task condition(BC)(p=0.008). The mean values of T.U.G time were significantly higher under backward counting dual-task condition than during a simple walking task(p=0.009) and WFC(p=0.009). The change in T.U.G time during WFC was higher when compared with the change during a simple walking, but there was no significant difference (p=0.246). This study suggesting that a high interference could be linked with a high level of difficulty, whereas adaptive task enabled participants to perfectly share their attention between two concurrent tasks. Future research should determine whether dual task training can reduce gait decrements in dual task situations in people after stroke. And the dual-task-based exercise program is feasible and beneficial for improving walking ability in subjects with stroke.

• Industrial Engineering and Management Systems
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.140-150
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• 2004

Repetitive stress injury at the wrist has been reported as a common injury among visual display terminal (VDT) users (i.e., computer users). Adjusting a VDT workstation (computer table and chair) to maintain a correct seated posture while operating a keyboard is perhaps the most frequently recommended preventive solution. This paper proposes an analytical design methodology based on ergonomic design principles for recommending appropriate VDT workstation settings and layout of individual computer accessories on the computer table. The proposed design methodology consists of two interrelated phases: (1) determination of VDT workstation settings, and (2) design of computer accessories layout. Based on the information about the VDT user, dominant task to be performed, typing skill, and degrees of physical and visual interactions between the user and computer accessories, adjustment and layout solutions are recommended to allow having a correct seated posture while minimizing both physical and visual movements. The results from an experiment show that when adjusting the workstation and locating the computer accessories according to the recommendations given by the proposed design methodology, the user's hand movements can be significantly reduced.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.32-39
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• 2003

In this study we examined connections between vertebral motion and patterns of muscle activation during voluntary head tracking movements. A Rhesus (Maraca mulatta) monkey was trained to produce sinusoidal tracking movements of the head in the sagittal plane while seated. Radio-opaque markers were placed in the cervical vertebrae, and intramuscular patch electrodes were implanted to record from eight neck muscles. Videofluoroscopic images of cervical vertebral motion, and EMG (electromyographic) responses were simultaneously re-corded. Experimental results demonstrated that head and vertebrae moved synchronously and that motion occurred primarily at skull-C$_1$, C$\_$6/-C$\_$7/ and Csub 7/-C$_1$. Our findings illustrate that although the biomechanical constraints of each species may limit the number of solutions available, it is the task requirements that appear to govern CNS (central nervous system) selection of movement behaviors.

• Journal of Drive and Control
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.35-42
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• 2021

A personal mobility withstanding function for the disabled and vulnerable groups with difficulties in mobility was developed and structural and dynamics analysis was conducted. Personal mobility devices are a very helpful means of transportation for the disabled and vulnerable groups. In addition, the standing function allows individuals to perform a difficult task in while seated and offers a medical advantage to the user. In this study, a personal mobility device was designed and developed to help vulnerable groups and disabled people overcome limited mobility, and communicate with the general people at eye level through standing functions. Through structural and dynamic analysis, the structural safety, optimal speed during rotation, and lateral acceleration of the personal mobility device was analyzed. The analysis results are expected to contribute to the improvement of the users' convenience and stability of personal mobility.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.605-611
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• 2011

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of seat heights for optimizing the ingress/egress performance in the elderly people. Background: Recently elderly users have been increasing in number and the ease of ingress/egress of the vehicle becomes an important issue. Method: Seven elderly subjects participated in this study(age: 71.7${\pm}$3.6yr, height: 167.7${\pm}$5.4cm, weight: 68.1${\pm}$11.5kg). Each subject performed the sitting and rising task from comfortable seated position on the chair under the following conditions: (1) with a lumbar support and (2) without a lumbar support. We measured EMG activities of seven muscles(tibialis anterior, soleus, gastrocnemius, vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, biceps femoris and erector supinae) and ranges of motion in lower limb during sitting and standing from three different heights (400mm, 500mm and 600mm from ground) of slide-up seat. Results: Muscle activities and angular movements of hip and knee joints during standing-up and sitting-down with a high seat height(600mm) were reduced mean 30.4% in extensor muscles, 57.11% in flexor muscle, 18.74% in erector muscle and 31.0% in joints compared with a low seat height(400mm). Conclusion: Muscle activities and joint movements in hip and knee were reduced when rising/sitting from a high seat height(600mm) compared with a low seat height(400mm). Application: This study can be used to design vehicle that are easy to get in and out of by older peoples with or without impairments.

• The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.291-314
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• 2018

In recent 3 years, Korea's low-cost airlines have expanded their areas of passenger transportation not only to domestic market but also to Japan, China, Southeast Asia and US territory as a total of 6 companies (8 airlines including small air operation business carriers). Currently, three more airlines have filed for air transportation business certification as future low-cost carriers, and this expansion is expected to continue. To cope with the aggressive airline operations of domestic and foreign low-cost carriers and to enhance their competitiveness, each low-cost airline is taking a number of strategies for promoting cabin service. Therefore, the workload of the cabin crew is increased in proportion to the expansion, and the fatigue directly connected with the safety task performance is increased. It is stipulated in the Enforcement Regulations of the Korea Aviation Safety Act that at minimum, one cabin crew is required per 50 passenger seating capacity, and all low cost carriers are boarding only the minimum cabin crew. Sometimes it is impossible for them to sit in a floor level emergency exit for evacuation, which is the main task of the cabin crew, and this can cause confusion among evacuating passengers in the event of an emergency. In addition, if one of the minimum cabin crew becomes incapacitated due to an injury or the like, it will become a serious impediment in performing emergency evacuation duties. Even in the normal situation, since it will be violating the Act prescription on the minimum cabin crew complement, passengers will have to move to another available airline flights, encountering extreme inconvenience. Annex 6 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation specifies international standards for the determination of the minimum number of cabin crew shall be based only on the number of passenger seats or passengers on board for safe and expeditious emergency evacuation. Thereby in order to enhance the safety of the passengers and the crew on board, it is necessary to consider the cabin crew's fatigue that may occur in the various job characteristics (service, safety, security, first aid)and floor level emergency exit seating in calculating the minimum number of cabin crew. And it is also deemed necessary for the government's regulatory body to enhance the cabin safety for passengers and crew when determining the number of minimum cabin crew by reflecting the cabin crew's workload leading to their fatigue and unavailability to be seated in a floor level emergency exit on low cost carriers.