• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate effect of fabric ankle-foot orthosis on spatiotemporal gait parameters, compared to a barefoot condition in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Eleven children with spastic cerebral palsy participated in this study. Spatiotemporal gait parameters were measured with the GAITRite system. Fabric ankle-foot orthosis significantly improved Timed Up and Go test time and gait velocity. There was no significant difference in cadence. The step time significantly improved in both the more and less affected foot compared to the barefoot condition. The step length of the affected foot also significantly improved, but there was no significant difference in the step length of the less affected foot. There was significant improvement in the stride length of both the affected and less affected foot, but no significant difference in single stance or double stance. The fabric ankle-foot orthosis could improve stability, and selective control of the joint and promote better walking in children with cerebral palsy. Consequently, the fabric ankle-foot orthosis might be an alternative assistive device for neurological populations as a primary role instead of the typical ankle-foot orthosis.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.107-113
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• 2020

Purpose: This study compared the walking ability of chronic stroke patients following either treadmill training with knowledge of the result (KR group) or treadmill training with knowledge of the performance (KP group). Methods: Nineteen patients with chronic stroke were recruited from a rehabilitation hospital. The patients were divided into two groups: a KR group (10 patients) and a KP group (9 patients). They received 30 minutes of neuro-developmental therapy and treadmill training 30 minutes, five times a week for three weeks. The gait parameters were measured before and after training using the Optogait system. Results: After the training periods, the KR group showed significant improvement in gait speed, cadence, step length of the unaffected limb, stance time of the affected limb, and functional gait assessment compared to the KP group (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results showed that treadmill training with KR was more effective in improving the gait speed and cadence, step length of the unaffected limb, stance time of the affected limb, and functional gait ability than the treadmill training with KP. Therefore, to improve the walking ability of stroke patients, it is necessary to consider treadmill training with KR. If it can be combined with conventional neurological physiotherapy, it would be an effective rehabilitation for stroke patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 2023

PURPOSE: This study examined the immediate effects of applying ankle eversion taping using kinesiology tape in chronic stroke patients-design: a randomized cross-over trial. METHODS: Seventeen stroke patients underwent three interventions in random order. The subjects were initially assigned randomly to an ankle eversion taping, placebo taping, or no taping for each intervention. Ankle eversion taping was used for mechanical correction and was involved in ankle dorsiflexion and eversion. The tape was stretched by 30-40%. Placebo tapping was applied in the same form as eversion tapping but was not stretched. The balance ability was assessed using the Y-balance test. The gait ability was assessed by maximum foot pressure and time of stance phase, and gait speed was assessed using a 10 m walk test (10MWT). All measurements were performed immediately after the intervention. RESULTS: The results showed that the dynamic balance and stance phase time in chronic stroke patients was improved after ankle eversion taping. The ankle eversion taping conditions increased significantly (p < .05) compared to the placebo and no taping conditions. CONCLUSION: The application of ankle eversion taping that uses kinesiology tape instantly increased the gait ability of chronic stroke patients. On the other hand, more research will be needed to identify the long-term effects of ankle eversion taping.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.99-107
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• 2008

The aim of this study was to provide fundamental data in training to improve athletes' competitiveness through the comparative analysis of kinematic variables according to the types of stance. For this study, the subjects selected 4 Junior Weight lifters. Subjects performed two type(8-type and 11-type) Dead-lift and their performance was sampled at 60frame/sec. using four high-speed digital video cameras. After digitizing images from four cameras, the two-dimensional coordinates were used to produce three-dimensional coordinates of the 15 body segments(20 joint makers and 2 bar makers). And the results were as follows. 1. As for the time required for stances, 8-type motion was faster than 11-type motion. 2. As for the body-center shift in stances, 8-type motion was bigger than 11-type motion in back and forth motion shift, and 11-type motion was bigger than 8-type motion in right and left, up and down motion shift. 3. As for the speed of a body-center and a babel, 8-type motion was faster than 11-type motion. 4. As for the motion-trace of a babel in stances, 8-type motion was bigger than 11-type in back and forth, right and left motion and 11-type motion was bigger than 8-type in up and down motion. 5. As for the body-angles in stances, 8-type motion was bigger than 11-type in the stance angle, and 11-type motion is bigger than 8-type in the angles of a coxa, a knee and an ankle. As a result of the comparative analysis between 8-type and 11-type stance of Junior Weight lifters dead-lift, both were generally similar in variables, but 8-type motion was more stable than 11-type in aspects of time, speed, center shift, angle change.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.64-73
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• 2013

The purposes of this study were to develop a new orthosis controlling ankle and knee joint motion during the gait cycle and to identify the effects of the newly designed orthosis on gait kinematics and tempospatial parameters, including coordination of the extremities in stroke patients. Fifteen individuals who had sustained a stroke, onset was 16 months, participated in this study. Before application of the measurement equipment the subjects were accustomed to walking on the ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) or stance control knee with knee flexion assisted-oil damper ankle-foot orthosis (SCKAFO) for 5 minutes. Fifteen patients were investigated for 45 days with a 3-day interval between sessions. Measurements were walking in fifteen stroke with hemiparesis on the 3D motion analysis system. Comparison of AFO and SCKAFO are gait pattern. The difference between the AFO and SCKAFO conditions was significant in the gait velocity, step length of the right affected side, stance time of both legs, step-length asymmetry ratio, single-support-time asymmetry ratio, ${\phi}$-thigh angle and ${\phi}$-shank angle in the mid swing (p<.001). Using a SCKAFO in stroke patients has shown similar to normal walking speeds can be attained for walking efficiency and is therefore desirable. In this study, the support time of the affected leg with the SCKAFO was longer than with the AFO and the asymmetry ratio of single support time decreased by more than with the AFO. This indicates that the SCKAFO was effective for improving gait symmetry, single-support-time symmetry. This may be due to the decrease of gait asymmetry. Thus, the newly designed SCKAFO may be useful for promoting gait performance by improving the coordination of the extremity and decreasing gait asymmetry in chronic stroke patients.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.1-15
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to investigate the kinematic variables of the upper part of the body for 8 elderly men during walking. For this study, kinematic data were collected using a six-camera (240Hz) Qualisys ProReflex system. The room coordinate system was right-handed and fixed in space, with righted orthogonal segment coordinate systems defined for the head, trunk, and pelvis. Based on a rigid body model, reflective marker triads were attached on the 3 segments. Three-dimensional Cartesian coordinates for each marker were determined at the time of recording using a nonlinear transformation(NLT) technique with ProReflex software (Qualisys, Inc.). Coordinate data were low-pass filtered using a fourth-order Butterworth with cutoff frequency of 6Hz. Three-dimensional angles of the head, trunk, and pelvis segment were determined using a Cardan method. On the basis of each segment angle, angle-angle plot used to estimated the movement coordinations between segments. The conclusions were as follows; (1) During the support phase of walking, the elderly people generally kept their, head the flexional and abductional posture. Particularly, the elderly displayed little internal/external rotation. (2) The elderly people showed extensional and external rotation postures in the trunk movement. Particularly, It showed the change from adduction into abduction at the heel contact event of the stance phase. (3) The elderly people showed almost same pelvis movement from the flexion into extension, from the abduction into adduction, and from internal rotation into external rotation at the mid stance and toe off of the stance phase.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.269-276
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• 2012

The purpose of This study's aim is to examine the difference in the changes of body segment movement, variables for ball quality, and carry at golf driver swing according to the ball quality using comparative analysis. Regarding the impact variables according to the ball quality using the track man and carry, club speed was the fastest at draw shot, ball speed was the fastest at straight shot, and smash factor was the lowest at draw shot. About the vertical launch angle, the fade shot showed the highest launch angle while the max height of the ground and ball was the highest at fade shot. And carry was the longest at draw shot. For the flight time, it was the longest at draw shot. The landing angle was the largest at fade shot. About the club head position change and trajectory, at the overall event point, the fade shot drew a more outer trajectory at the point of the follow through(E6) than the straight or draw shot. Regarding the angular speed of shoulder rotation, at the overall event point, the fade shot showed the greatest angular speed change in the follow through(E6). Also, about the angular speed of pelvic rotation, at the overall event point, the draw shot showed the greatest angular speed change at the point of down swing(E4). Concerning the stance angle change, both straight and fade shots were open as the concept of open stance whereas the draw shot was close as that of close stance. Regarding the previous study, the most important factor of deciding Ball Quality is the club face angle's open and close state at Impact. In short, the Ball Quality and carry were decided by this factor.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.14-22
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• 2018

Purpose: This study examined the effects of the lower limb alignment on the pelvis, hip, and knee kinematics in people with genu varum during stair walking. Methods: Forty subjects were enrolled in this study. People who had intercondylar distance ${\geq}4cm$ were classified in the genu varum group, and people who had intercondylar distance <4cm and intermalleolar distance <4cm were placed in the control group. 3D motion analysis was used to collect the pelvis, hip, and knee kinematic data while subjects were walking stairs with three steps. Results: During stair ascent, the genu varum group had decreased pelvic lateral tilt and hip adduction at the early stance phase and decreased pelvic lateral tilt at the swing phase compared to the control group. At the same time, they had decreased minimal hip adduction ROM at the early stance and decreased maximum pelvic lateral tilt ROM and minimum hip rotation ROM at the swing phase. During stair descent, the genu varum group had decreased pelvic lateral tilt at the early stance and decreased pelvic lateral tilt and pelvic rotation at the swing phase. In addition, they had decreased pelvic frontal ROM during single limb support and increased knee sagittal ROM during the whole gait cycle. Conclusion: This study suggests that a genu varum deformity could affect the pelvis, hip and knee kinematics. In addition, the biomechanical risk factors that could result in the articular impairments by the excessive loads from lower limb malalignment were identified.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.21-27
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to examine, in stroke patients, differences between backward walking training applied on a treadmill and the same training applied on the ground. Methods: Twenty seven stroke patients were divided into a treadmill backward walking group of 14 patients and a ground backward walking group of 13 subjects. Each group performed their respective training method for 8 weeks (15 min per day, 4 days a week). Walking ability was measured using a 10 m MWS (Maximal Walking Speed) test and the GAITRite system to examine changes in walking. Cadence, stridelength, step time, step length and symmetry index of the less affected side were measured to examine changes in stance phase of the lower extremity of the more affected side. Results: 10 m MWS, cadence, stride length, step time and step length of the less affected side significantly increased and symmetry index significantly decreased after training in both groups. The treadmill backward walking group experienced a significantly greater increase in step time and step length and a significantly greater decrease in symmetry index than the ground backward walking group. Conclusion: The two walking training methods were effective for improving stability in stance phase of the lower extremity of the more affected side, but the treadmill method was more effective. The present study is meaningful in that it analyzed the effects of backward walking training methods on walking and the differences of the training methods to provide information necessary for effective treatment of stroke patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.24 no.1 s.190
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• pp.85-92
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• 2007

In the present study, three-dimensional motion analyses were performed to determine biomechanics of the lower extremity in unexpected missing foot steps for ten healthy young volunteers. In unexpected missing foot steps, the whole plantar surface of the foot or the heel contacted to the ground. A rapid ankle dorsiflexion was found right after missing foot steps and an increased plantarflexion moment was noted during loading response. After the unexpected situation, the breaking force increased rapidly. At this time, both tibialis anterior and soleus were simultaneously activated. Moreover, the range of motion at ankle, knee and hip significantly decreased during stance. In pre-swing, rectus femoris and biceps femoris prevented the collapse of the lower limbs. During late stance, propulsive forces decreased and thus, both plantarflexion moment and power generation were significantly reduced. On the opposite side, hip extension and pelvic upward motion during terminal swing were significant. Due to the shortened pre-swing, the energy generation at the ankle to push sufficiently off the ground was greatly reduced. This preliminary study would be helpful to understand the biomechanics of unexpected dynamic perturbations and valuable to prevent frequent falling of the elderly and patients with gait disorders.