• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.773-783
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• 2012

Objective: The aim of this study is to identify foot shapes of Korean male farmers by classifying their foot types using 3D scan data and analyzing the characteristics of each type. Background: The increasing demands for anthropometric information for the design of machinery and personal protective equipment to prevent occupational injuries has necessitated an understanding of the anthropometric differences to be found among occupations. Static stooped posture and squatting posture are so common in Korean farmers that anthropometric deformation in foot especially seems to occur easily. Method: 366 Korean male farmers volunteered for this study from 16 different farming villages nationwide from 2009 to 2011. Subjects were categorized into 4 age groups from 40s to 70s. Their right feet were measured by using 3D foot scanner, the anthropometric dimensions were composed of 40 items. Results: The 8 major factors affecting the foot shapes were extracted. From these factors the foot shape of Korean male farmers was classified into 3 Foot types. Foot type 1 showed severe deformation in toe 1, type 2 had a narrow shape and type 3 had a wider width for its length. Conclusion: There were some differences in foot shape and types between farmers and the public. The most characteristic foot type in Korean male farmers was type 3. Application: The results of identifying foot shapes of Korean male farmers might provide the useful information for designing ergonomic farm work shoes.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.45-59
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• 2007

The operating tasks of overhead crane have caused undue stress to the operators from physical, mental, and environmental workload. Existing workload assessment models for musculoskeletal disorders such as OWAS, RULA, and QEC have limited applicability to the crane operating tasks because they focus mainly on physical factors and do not consider the relative importance of each factor. The present study was to develop a workload assessment model customized to overhead crane operation, following a systematic process: (1) analyzing task characteristics, (2) selecting workload factors, (3) developing assessment methods, (4) establishing action levels, and (5) computerizing the assessment model. Based on literature review, worksite survey, and focus group interview, 4 physical factors (awkward posture, static posture, repetitive motion, and excessive force), 6 mental factors (visual demand, auditory demand, task complexity and difficulty, time urgency, work schedule related stress, and safety related stress), and 4 environmental factors (noise, vibration, dust, and temperature) were selected and their rating scales and relative weights were determined. Then, based on the workload assessment results of 8 overhead cranes operated at different workplaces, the action levels of each factor category were established. Finally, the crane operation assessment model was computerized for effective analysis and report preparation. The present approach is applicable to develop a customized workload assessment model for an operating task under consideration.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.451-461
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• 2019

Purpose: This study identified the effect of abdominal muscle contraction using changes in waist circumference for healthcare workers with back pain due to inadequate posture during working hours. Methods: In this study, we provided educational training focused on posture alignment and utilized waist circumference change sensors to induce the contraction of abdominal muscles as a method to address low back pain in healthcare workers. All 32 participants received the same training and then were assigned to two groups: wearing the keeping core band (CB) and not wearing the keeping core band (NCB). For the CB group, the waist circumference change sensor was applied for 6 weeks during working hours. Wilcoxon's signed-ranks test and paired t-tests were used to compare the differences between the groups. All statistical significance levels were set to α=0.05. Results: Trunk muscle endurance increased significantly in the CB group. There was no significant difference in stability index to evaluate static postural control, but active hip abduction tests, which evaluate dynamic postural control, showed significant decrease in the CB group. Conclusion: These results suggest that the induction of abdominal contraction using the waist circumference change sensor may improve the trunk muscle endurance and the postural control ability of the hip and pelvis of healthcare workers.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.62-71
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• 2023

Objective: Stroke patients need the training to adjust their posture and maintain balance is necessary to restore movement function, and unstable support training is one of the appropriate training. In this study, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to find out the effects of unstable surface training on balance and gait in stroke patients. Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis Methods: After creating a search expression referring to MeSH and EMTREE, the literature from 1976 to February 2022 was searched in the databases of PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library CENTRAL. A total of 331 studies were searched from three databases, and 11 studies were finally selected according to the inclusion criteria. Unstable surface training included studies using balance trainer, Whole-body vibration, and sand surfaces. Results: The results were found to be d=2.28 (p=0.02) and the effect size was 0.36 (95% CI: 0.05, 0.67) on the Berg Balance Scale. In the Kinesthetic Ability Trainer static balance, d=2.59 (p=0.01) and the effect size was 1.01 (95% CI: 0.24, 1.78). Timed Up and Go test showed that d=2.18 (p=0.03) and the effect size was 0.38 (95% CI: 0.04, 0.72). At the gait speed, d=0.99 (p=0.32) and the effect size was 0.15 (95% CI: -0.15, 0.45). In the 6-minute walk test, d=0.14 (p=0.89) and the effect size was 0.04 (95% CI: -0.47, 0.55). Conclusions: In this study was found that training was effective in balance if it became unstable in standing posture. Therefore, unstable surface training can be used to improve the balance of stroke patients in clinical practice.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.221-230
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of resistance exercise with vibration stimulation methods on static balance and gait parameters in experienced back pain adults. This study was Three group pretest-posttest design. A total of 30 experienced back pain adults voluntarily participated in the study. Subjects were randomly assigned to the resistance exercise with 8 Hz vibration stimulation(n=10), resistance exercise with 30 Hz vibration stimulation(n=10), and lumbar stabilization exercise groups(n=10). The static balance and the gait parameters, as such stance phase, swing phase, stride length and cadence, were measured using balance measuring equipment and gait analysis treadmill at before and after 6 week. Intervention of each group were performed, three times a week for 6 weeks, and 30 minutes a day. The effect of intervention on static balance, stance phase, swing phase, stride length and cadence were significantly differences after 6 weeks in each group(p<.05). In the comparison of the effects between the groups, static balance and stance phase were significantly difference after 6 weeks(p<.05), but in the swing phase, stride length and cadence, there were no significant differences. As a result, it is considered that resistance exercise with vibration stimulation improved leg muscle strength by a mechanism causing muscle contraction, and the strengthened leg muscle enhanced had a positive effect on balance ability. And improved balance ability was considered a more positive effect on walking ability by allowing the body to stably control posture while moving.

• The Journal of Korean society of community based occupational therapy
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2013

Objective : This study investigates the impact of the musculoskeletal disorder prevention exercise program designed on the basis of agricultural work posture on the balance ability, Oswestry Disability level, and Psychosocial stress of participants from one rural village in Chungnam area. Method : The exercise program was provided to 21 farmers with musculoskeletal symptoms living in one village in Chungnam area. Such program was performed once a week, 90 minutes per session, for a total of twelve weeks from July 10 to October 11, 2008, and was constructed in a way to increase flexibility and muscular strength, taking agricultural work posture into account. The balance ability, Oswestry Disability Index, and Psychosocial Well-being Index scores were analyzed based on the data of 13 of the farmers who participated in the program for more than eight times and in all of the pre- and post-assessments. Result : Thirteen participants were all women who were 70.55(${\pm}6.78$) years old on average. Most of them were engaged in general dry-filed farming. The parts where they mainly felt the pain were low back(69.2%) and knees(61.5%), and 46.2% responded 'not healthy' to the question on the overall health status. The static balance ability when standing on the right foot significantly increased from the average 9.27(${\pm}5.53$) seconds before intervention to 14.22(${\pm}5.47$) seconds after intervention(p<.05). The Oswestry Disability Index showed a significant change, decreasing from the average 19.84(${\pm}6.89$) seconds to 14.38(${\pm}7.58$) seconds(p<.05). However, there was no change in the Psychosocial Well-being Index. Conclusion : This exercise program that has been conducted for the female farmers who are mainly engaged in the dry-filed farming has contributed to the improvement of their static ability and reduction of their Oswestry Disability Index scores. It is expected that the studies on the effects of the differentiated exercise programs depending on work characteristics will make progress in the future.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.239-246
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was performed to investigate the effect of induced ametropia on static posture for body balance. Methods: Twenty subjects (10 males, 10 females) of average age $23.4{pm}2.70$ years were participated and ametropia(binocular myopia; BM, simple myopic anisometropia; SMA, binocular hyperopia; BH, and simple hyperopic anisometropia; SHA) were induced with ${pm}0.50D$, ${\pm}1.00D$, ${\pm}1.50D$, ${\pm}2.00D$, ${\pm}3.00D$, ${\pm}4.00D$, ${\pm}5.00D$, respectively. General stability (ST), weight distribution index (WDI), and fall risk index (FI) were measured using TETRAX the biofeedback systems. Each index of the body balance was evaluated for 32 seconds in each ametropic condition and those value was compared with the value in fully corrected condition. Results: The ST showed significant increase from +0.50 D under condition of BM, from +1.00 D under condition of SMA, from -1.00 D under condition of BH, and from -1.50 D under condition of SHA compared with under condition of fully corrected condition, respectively. The FI showed significant increases from +4.00 D under condition of BM, from -1.00 D under condition of BH, and from -1.50 D under condition of SHA. The WDI show no change in all ametropia condition. Conclusions: Whatever ametropia is, uncorrected refractive error could reduce the general stability of body balance and increase the falling risk.

• Spatial Information Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.53-62
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• 2014

The floor field model is the micro pedestrian model based on a cellular automata for modeling pedestrian movement in the interior space using the static and dynamic floor field. It regards a form of pedestrian as square but the actual pedestrian's shape and size are similar to ellipsoid or rectangle. Because of this, we are difficult to give a rotation effect to pedestrians and there is a limit to reflect an impact of clogging and jamming. Also, this model is not able to reflect an impact of a posture and visibility effectively in the pedestrian movement. In this study, we suggest the improved pedestrian model incorporating the actual shape and size of pedestrian. The pedestrian's shape is defined not square but rectangle which is close to the actual body size of Korean. Also, we define the model which is able to represent the impact of clogging and jamming between pedestrians by adding the pedestrian's posture. We develop the simulator for testing the suggested model and study the difference between two models by comparing a number of effects. As a result, we could confirm solving the problem with dynamic value in the existed model and reflecting the panic effect in evacuation situation.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.9-18
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• 2017

Background: Limitation of hamstring extensibility is often associated with various musculoskeletal problems such as alterations in posture and walking patterns. Thus, certain appropriate strategies need to be established for its management. Objects: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of the neural mobilization technique and static stretching exercises on popliteal angle and hamstring compliance in young women with short hamstring syndrome (SHS). Methods: Thirty-three women with SHS were randomly assigned to either group-1 ($n_1=17$) that underwent the neural mobilization technique or group-2 ($n_2=16$) that underwent the static stretching exercises. Outcome measures included the active popliteal angle (APA) and a hamstring's electromyographic (EMG) activity at a maximum popliteal angle of the baseline. Intervention for each group was performed for a total time of 3-min (6 sets of a 30-sec application). Results: There were significant interactions between time and group in the APA [group-1 (pre-test to post-test): $69.70{\pm}8.14^{\circ}$ to $74.14{\pm}8.07^{\circ}$ and group-2: $68.66{\pm}7.42^{\circ}$ to $70.52{\pm}7.92^{\circ}$] (F1,31=6.678, p=.015) and the EMG activity of the hamstring (group-1: $1.12{\pm}.30{\mu}N$ to $.69{\pm}.31{\mu}V$ and group-2: $1.19{\pm}.49{\mu}V$ to $1.13{\pm}.47{\mu}V$)(F1,31=6.678, p=.015). Between-group comparison revealed that the EMG activity of the hamstring was significantly different at post-test between the groups (p<.05). Furthermore, in within-group comparison, group-1 appeared to be significantly different for both variables between pre- and post-test (p<.05); however, group-2 showed significant difference in only the APA between pre- and post-test (p<.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that the neural mobilization technique and static stretching exercises may be advantageous to improve hamstring compliance in young women with SHS, resulting in a more favorable outcome in the neural mobilization technique.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.73-80
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between the visual perception ability and the static dynamic balance ability in health elderly. Method: The Motor Free Visual Perception Test-Row Score(MVPT-RS) and MVPT-Process Time(MVPT-PT) were used for evaluating the visual perception abilities. Assessment of the balance ability was taken by using Good Balance System. In the assessment using Good Balance System, X, Y coordinate speed, anterior-posterior direction, medial-lateral direction and Velocity Movement(VM) in standing posture when eye open were measured as static balance abilities. Thirty-seven healthy elderly who live in Gwangyang participated in the experiment for 2 months, from October to November 2010. Results: 1. There were statistically significant differences of MVPT-RS, MVPT-PT, NSB-X, NSB-Y, NSB-VM, OLB-X, and OLB-VM based on the gender(p<0.05). 2. The negative correlations of MVPT-RS:NSB-Y(r=-0.354), MVPT-RS:OLB-X(r=-0.4), MVPT-RS: OLB-Y(r=-0.371), but positive correlations of MVPT-PT:DTB-T showed a statistical significance(r=0.45, p<0.05). 3. The positive correlations of NSB-X:NSB-Y(r=0.54), NSB-X: NSB-VM(r=0.848), NSB-Y:NSB-VM(r=0.531), OLB-X:OLB-Y(r=0.876), OLB-X:OLB-VM(r=0.872), and OLB-Y:OLB-VM(r=0.787) showed statistical significances(p<0.05). Conclusion: These results showed that the visual perception ability was correlated with some balance ability in health elderly. Especially the perception test process time(MVPT-PT) has closely related with the DTB-T. The visual perception ability is considered as a factor on the balance ability in health elderly. Further study will focus on the development of improving program of visual perception ability as an improving method of balancing ability in health elderly.