• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.1116-1122
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• 2008

Since conventional methods for measuring stride length(distance) are many weaknesses, optical methods have been developed to measure stride length(distance) of human pedestrians. IR(Infrared) elements and Power LED(Light Emitting Diode) with two types of lens were used to correlate detected light intensity with stride length(distance). The suggested methods in this study are simple, convenient, and cost effective. The results can be used to analyze walking patterns of normal and disabled men, and to monitor the recovering processes of the disabled patients.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.35-43
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• 2013

Exercise such as walking is helpful to manage one's own weight and to counter life habit diseases such as obesity. Calorie consumption is usually calculated based on the distance walked. One way to measure the distance is by using steps and stride length. Most pedometers, including some applications in smart devices, are inaccurate, because they use a common value as the average stride length, even though each person has a different stride length. Moreover, the stride length differs depending on the walking pace, which will further increase the error. To address this, in this paper, I classify paces into three categories. Following that, I introduce a customized measurement of stride length, which is calculated based on the stride length corresponding to each pace category after obtaining x, y, z values from a 3-axis accelerometer in the smart device. In addition to this, I developed an application running on the smart device designed for the proposed measurement of stride. I have conducted three experiments for the assessment of the proposed measurement. In conclusion, I confirmed the effectiveness of this system.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.273-278
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of three-dimensional virtual reality horse riding simulator training using a head-mounted display on gait and balance in children with cerebral palsy. Methods: Ten children with cerebral palsy were randomly assigned to the horse riding simulator (HRS) group (n=5) or the horse riding simulator with virtual reality (HRSVR) group (n=5). To evaluate balance, center of gravity (COG) sway velocity and total sway distance of each group were assessed using the Wii balance board, and gait speed and stride length of each group were assessed using a gait analysis system. Results: Intra-group comparisons between pre- and post-intervention measures revealed that there were significant changes in all gait and balance variables such as stride length, gait velocity, COG sway velocity and COG sway distance in the HRSVR group (p<0.05). In the HRS group, there were significant changes in all variables except stride length (p<0.05). In addition, inter-group comparisons showed significant differences between the two groups in stride length, gait velocity and COG sway distance except COG sway velocity (p<0.05). Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that horse riding simulator training combined with 3D virtual reality can be a new positive therapeutic approach for improving functional performance in children with cerebral palsy.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.142-148
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of aromatherapy massage in the elderly with knee osteoarthritis. Methods: Participants were assigned randomly to an intervention (n=21) group and a control (n=21) group. In order to increase a lasting effect of aromatherapy massage, an essential oil used in the form of cream. Each participant had aromatherapy massage on lower legs for 20 minutes each time twice a week for four weeks. Numerical rating scale was used for self-report of pain intensity. Sleep disturbance was measured by Korean Sleep Scale consisting of 15 items. Stride length had been obtained by measuring the distance from the heel of one foot to the heel of the other foot. Results: There was a significant difference between the pain scores of the experimental group and that of control group after the aromatherapy massage (p=.001). Whereas, no significant differences between sleep scores of the two groups (p=.592) was found. The experimental group's stride length significantly increased than those of the control group (p=.009). Conclusion: Aromatherapy massage could be recommended as an effective intervention to decease pain and to increase stride length in the elderly with knee osteoarthritis.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.75-81
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• 2017

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze the kinematic variables and electromyography (EMG) findings that change with varying characteristics of crouch start and feedback provision, and to provide the fundamental data for record improvement in 400 mH. Method: Four short-distance runners participated in the experiment. The analyzed variables were elapsed time per interval, stride length, and muscle activities in three lower limb muscles. These variables were analyzed by using Kwon3d XP and Noraxon Myoresearch. The participants were subjected to three conditions, including two conditions that relate to the thrusting foot on the rear block and another condition pertinent to feedback provision. Results: In terms of a one-step interval, the elapsed time in condition A was longer than that in condition B, and the one after the feedback was the longest. The stride length of a one-step interval was the longest in condition A. The stride length of a two-step interval was the shortest in condition A. The muscle activity during a one-step interval showed differences in vastus medialis and medial gastrocnemius, with condition A being the highest. Conclusion: When the non-dominant left foot was located at the back, negative results were observed in terms of elapsed time and stride length. Moreover, an imbalance in muscle activity was observed between the left and right feet when the left foot was placed at the back. As a result, significant differences in elapsed time, stride length, and muscle activity were observed depending on the foot placed on the rear block. In conclusion, we identified the characteristics of crouch start in 400 mH, and a specialized program must be suggested.

• Journal of Korean Institute of Industrial Engineers
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.197-202
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• 2001

The biomechanical analysis of the load carrying effect on different floor surfaces has been conducted. Four different floor surfaces were prepared for ten subjects with each walking at a fixed velocity(1.33 m/sec) while carrying five different loads. The results showed that because of the significant interaction effect between floor slipperiness and the load carrying task, the load carrying effect should be analyzed according to different levels of the floor slipperiness, especially contaminant floors. On oily surfaces, slip distance(SD) and heel velocity (HV) increased whereas stride length(SL) decreased as load increased. In other words, significantly longer SD, faster HV, and no normal gait were found as load increased. As a result, a different protocol should be applied to measure floor slipperiness on oily floors as compared to dry surfaces for tribological approach.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.179-185
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the visual and spatial elements of the gait of a stroke patient who had diverse ankle weight loads applied, according to weight changes. Methods: The subject was a 57-year-old stroke patient diagnosed and hospitalized with a left intracerebral hemorrhage. A weight equivalent to 0%, 1%, and 2% of his body weight was applied to the area 5cm upward from the ankle using a Velcro strap. He was then trained on a treadmill, receiving a six-minute walk test to evaluate his gait ability. A gait analyzer was used to collect visual and spatial elements, such as gait distance, gait velocity, cadence, step length, stride length, and swing phase, according to a weight load equivalent to 0%, 1%, and 2% of his body weight. Results: According to the results of applying 0%, 1%, and 2% of his body weight on the ankle, except for gait velocity, his gait distance, cadence, step length, stride length, and swing phase were higher when 1% of his body weight was applied compared to 0% or 2% of his body weight. Conclusion: Applying a weight equivalent to 1% of the body weight to the ankle positively affected the visual and spatial element of the gait and heightened the efficiency of exercise during treadmill training, a gait-training tool generally used for stroke patients. However, the result is difficult to generalize because the number of subjects was small with only one subject.

• Journal of Korean Institute of Industrial Engineers
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.337-349
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• 1996

A study was conducted to find the possible relationship between slip distance and dynamic coefficient of friction (DCOF) through the biomechanical study of slips and falls using a broader variety of floors and levels of slipperiness than those used before. Four different floor surfaces covering the full range of floor slipperiness (with and without on oil contaminant) were prepared for ten subjects with each walking at a fixed velocity. The results showed that slip distance and heel velocity had a decreasing trend while stride length had a increasing trend as DCOF increased. The contaminant effect overpowered floor slipperiness effect because a higher DCOF surface with oil contaminant created longer slip distance than the lower DCOF with dry floor. Normal gait pattern and suggested heel velocity (10 to 20 cm/sec) were seen on dry floors but abnormally longer stride length and 5 to 10 times faster heel velocity were found an oily floors. In other words, faster heel velocity (greater than 10 to 20 cm/sec) is recommended to measure DCOF on oily floors because the assumption of normal gait was no longer valid.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.207-211
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• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an 8-week SMR, stretching, and band program on lower limb alignment (distance between the knees, Q angle) and gait (gait speed, stride length, impulse, and peak pressure) in female in their 20s who have genu varum. Method: The participants, female in their 20s who had genu varum, were randomly divided into the SMR, Stretching, and Band group (SSB, n=9), Stretching and Band group (SB, n=9), and Control Group (CG, n=9). Experimental group A (SSB) performed 3 50-minute sessions of the program per week for 8 weeks while the experimental group B (SB) performed stretching and band correctional exercise in 3 40-minute sessions per week for 8 weeks. The control group had no correctional exercise program. Results: Only the SSB group showed a significant increase in gait velocity and stride length in this study. The SSB and SB group showed a significant decrease of impulse on the forefoot after exercise program suggests that SMR and elastic band exercise had a positive effect on the distribution of foot pressure. Conclusion: We concluded that 8-week genu varum correctional exercise program had beneficial effects on the gait parameters (gait velocity, stride length, impulse, peak pressure) in 20s women with genu varum.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.32-37
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• 2015

Objective: This study was conducted to test the effects of mobile texting and gaming on gait with obstructions under different illumination levels. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Twelve healthy adults aged 20 to 36 years (mean 23.5 years) were tested under six different conditions. All participants used touchscreen smartphones. Testing conditions included: 1) Walking with an obstruction under a bright illumination level; 2) walking with an obstruction with a low level of illumination; 3) walking with an obstruction while texting under a bright illumination level; 4) walking with an obstruction while texting with a low level of illumination; 5) walking with an obstruction while gaming under a bright illumination level; and 6) walking with an obstruction while gaming with a low level of illumination. All participants were asked to text the Korean national anthem by their own phone and play Temple Run 2 using an iPhone 5. Gait variances were measured over a distance of 3 m, and the mean value after three trials was used. A gait analyzer was used to measure the data. Results: Compared to normal gait with obstruction, gait speed, step length, stride length, step time, stride time, cadence while texting and gaming showed significant differences (p<0.05). Differences between the illumination levels included gait speed, step length, stride length, and step time (p<0.05) with no significant differences in stride time and cadence. Conclusions: Dual-tasking using a smartphone under low levels of illumination lowers the quality of gait with obstructions.