• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of wearing various types of shoes on gait ability in stroke survivors and in order to gain information in regards to shoes that could possibly replace ankle orthosis. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Eight hemiplegic survivors diagnosed with stroke participated in the study. Gait was analyzed using the GAITRite Electronic Walkway (CIR System Inc., USA) when subjects walked with no showed, walked with non-ankle-covered shoes, and walked with ankle-covered shoes. This study collected gait variables, including velocity, cadence, step length, stride length, single support time, and double support time, respectively. Results: In the comparison of walking with no shoes, non-ankle-covered shoes, and ankle-covered shoes, there were significant differences in gait velocity, step length, stride length, and the less affected side single support time (p<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in cadence, affected side single support time, and double support time. Conclusions: Ankle-covered shoes had a positive impact on the gait of stroke survivors. However, it is necessary to conduct more studies comparing various types of shoes with ankle orthoses.

• Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.872-883
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• 2018

Objective To replace camera-based three-dimensional motion analyzers which are widely used to analyze body movements and gait but are also costly and require a large dedicated space, this study evaluates the validity and reliability of inertial measurement unit (IMU)-based systems by analyzing their spatio-temporal and kinematic measurement parameters. Methods The investigation was conducted in three separate hospitals with three healthy participants. IMUs were attached to the abdomen as well as the thigh, shank, and foot of both legs of each participant. Each participant then completed a 10-m gait course 10 times. During each gait cycle, the hips, knees, and ankle joints were observed from the sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes. The experiments were conducted with both a camera-based system and an IMU-based system. The measured gait analysis data were evaluated for validity and reliability using root mean square error (RMSE) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) analyses. Results The differences between the RMSE values of the two systems determined through kinematic parameters ranged from a minimum of 1.83 to a maximum of 3.98 with a tolerance close to 1%. The results of this study also confirmed the reliability of the IMU-based system, and all of the variables showed a statistically high ICC. Conclusion These results confirmed that IMU-based systems can reliably replace camera-based systems for clinical body motion and gait analyses.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1-8
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate the difference in the stride-to-stride variability between two treadmill conditions; traditional treadmill and special treadmill whose speed can be adjusted automatically by subject's walking speed. Eight male subjects (25.1 years, 172.7 cm, 66.6 kg) were participated in treadmill walking experiment. First, preferred walking speed (PWS) of each subject was determined. Second, each subject performed walking experiment with fixed PWS condition and with free PWS condition for 10 minutes. 3D motion capture system (Motion analysis Corp., USA) with 6 cameras was used to collect motion data with sampling frequency of 120Hz. Temporal and spatial variables for stride-to-stride variability were calculated. Coefficient of variance (CV) which quantifies the amount of variability and Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (DFA) which explains the structure (self-similarity) of the variability were used for analysis. Results showed that the amount of variability during free PWS condition was greater than that of fixed PWS condition. DFA results showed that there was a statistical difference between two treadmill conditions for the variables of step length, stance time, and double support time. From these results, it is possible that traditional treadmill study might give incorrect conclusion about gait variability study. Further study is necessary to clarify these matters by considering the number of subjects, experimental time, and gait variables for the study of stride-to-stride variability.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.2187-2196
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of gait training using rhythmic auditory stimulation on gait symmetry of stroke patients. Forty chronic stroke patients were divided into four groups by intervention. Group A and B received auditory stimulation when they walk with comfortable gait speed. Group A received auditory stimulation to paralyzed side while group B to non-paralyzed side. Group C and D received auditory stimulation with 10% faster gait speed than their comfortable gait speed. Group C received auditory stimulation to paralyzed side while group D to non-paralyzed side. Gait training using auditory stimulation was done in each group during five minutes. Gait symmetry was evaluated by formula and temporal variables of gait were measured by gait analysis system. Step time was decreased significantly in all groups except group A (P<.05), and gait symmetry was also improved significantly in all groups except group A (P<.05). Cadence was increased significantly in all groups except group A (p<.05), but velocity was not increased in all groups. Therefore we conclude that RAS gait training is effective in improving gait symmetry and can be useful to stroke patient's gait training.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.383-390
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• 2011

In this study, 26 normal subjects were studied to compare the biomechanical Analysis of Lower Limbs on Speed of Nordic Walking. The biomechanical variables were determined by performing three-dimensional gait analysis, and the measurements items were spatial and temporal parameters; vertical ground reaction force; and moments of the hip, knee, and ankle joints. The purpose of this study based on the speed of Nordic Walking to the vertical ground reaction force and joint moments of each were analyzed. Nordic Walking with poles while being whether this weight is reduced to load, not the improvement of muscle activity by identify Nordic walking is to allow efficient. The results of the analysis were follows. The spatial parameters of step length, stride length significantly increased with increase in velocity(p<0.001). The temporal parameters of step time, stride time, the duration of double support use, and the duration of single support use also significantly decreased with increase in velocity(p<0.001), but cadence significantly increased(p<0.01). Analysis of the changes in ground reaction force revealed that vertical ground reaction force significantly increased at the initial contact and the terminal stance and decreased at the mid stance with increase in velocity(p<0.001). Moments of the hip and knee joints significantly in creased with increase in velocity whereas that of the ankle joint did not. Gait analysis revealed that weight-bearing decreased and moments of the hip and knee joints increased with increase in velocity(p<0.01). The results of this study may help people perform Nordic walking efficiently and Nordic walking can be used in the gait training of people with an abnormal gait.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.53-58
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• 2017

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of stride time and stride length provided by a commercial APDM inertial sensor system (APDM) with the results of three dimensional motion capture system (3D motion) during treadmill walking. Method: Five healthy men participated in this experiment. All subjects walked on the treadmill for 3 minutes at their preferred walking speed. The 3D motion and the APDM were simultaneously used for extracting gait variables such as stride time and stride length. Mean difference and root mean squared (RMS) difference were used to compare the measured gait variables from the two measurement devices. The regression equation derived from the range of motion of the lower limb was also applied to correct the error of stride length. Results: The stride time extracted from the APDM was almost the same as that from the 3D motion (the mean difference and RMS difference were less than 0.0001 sec and 0.0085 sec, respectively). For stride length, mean difference and RMS difference were less than 0.1141 m and 0.1254 m, respectively. However, after correction of the stride length error using the derived regression equation, the mean difference and the RMS difference decreased to 0.0134 m and 0.0556 m or less, respectively. Conclusion: In this study, we confirmed the possibility of using the temporal variables provided from the APDM during treadmill walking. By applying the regression equation derived only from the range of motion provided by the APDM, the error of the spatial variable could be reduced. Although further studies are needed with additional subjects and various walking speeds, these results may provide the basic data necessary for using APDM in treadmill walking.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.77-83
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• 2021

Background: Although symmetry of spatio-temporal parameter and center of pressure (COP) shift during walking is associated with knee adduction moment, research on clinical association with knee osteoarthritis (OA)-related knee pain and functional scores is lacking. Objects: The aims were 1) to compare symmetry of gait parameters and COP-shift in patients with unilateral knee OA and pain and matched controls, and 2) to investigate the relationship between symmetry of gait parameters and COP-shift, and clinical measures. Methods: Female subjects (n = 16) had with unilateral radiological knee OA and pain. Healthy controls (n = 15) were age-matched to OA group. Symmetry of foot rotation, step length, stance and swing phase, lateral symmetry of COP and anterior/posterior symmetry of COP during walking was assessed. To assess the clinical variables, pain intensity, pain duration and function using Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Survey (KOOS) subscales were collected. We compared symmetry between groups using Mann-Whitney U-test or independent t-test. Relationships between clinical measures and symmetry index measured using Spearman's correlation test. Statistical significance was set at α = 0.05. Results: Knee OA group showed significantly greater values of only lateral symmetry of COP (p < 0.01) than healthy group. Values of lateral symmetry of COP had moderate or strong correlation significantly with the intensity of knee pain, pain duration, and scores of all KOOS subscales (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Patients with unilateral knee OA and pain showed more asymmetry of lateral COP-shift during walking compared with matched healthy controls. In addition, larger asymmetry of lateral COP-shift has the moderate or strong association with worse of knee pain, worse in KOOS scores and longer duration of knee pain. Asymmetry of lateral COP-shift during walking may be one of the characteristics of unilateral knee OA as the compensatory strategy response to unilateral OA of the knee.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.49-58
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to identify effects of walking speed and a cognitive task during treadmill walking on gait variability. Experiments consisted of 5 different walking speeds(80%, 90%, 100%, 110% and 120% of preferred walking speed) with/without a cognitive task. 3D motion analysis system was used to measure subject's kinematic data. Temporal/spatial variables were selected for this study; stride time, stance time, swing time, step time, double support time, stride length, step length and step width. Two parameters were used to compare stride-to-stride variability with/without cognitive task. One is the coefficient of variance which is used to describe the amount of variability. The other is the detrended fluctuation analysis which is used to infer self-similarity from fluctuation of aspects. Results showed that cognitive task may influence stride-to-stride variability during treadmill walking. Further study is necessary to clarify this result.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.93-101
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• 2008

Wedged soles and rocker soles are widespread shoe designs used to prevent the disorders and reduce the pain of the lower extremity caused by arthritis or diabetic feet. In this study, the effect of a shoe with a laterally wedged sole and a rocker sole simultaneously was analyzed on the kinematics and kinetics of the ankle joint during normal walking. Eight male participants without a history of lower extremity disorders were recruited. Each participant performed twenty walking cycles for each of three walking conditions: bare foot, wearing normal shoes and wearing shoes with laterally wedged rocker soles. The differences between the three walking conditions were statistically investigated including spatio-temporal variables, angular displacements, joint moments and ground reaction forces. The results showed that the laterally wedged rocker sole decreased the sagittal variation of angular displacements as well as the frontal/sagittal average moment on the ankle joints compared to the flat sole. In addition, the rate of angular displacements and loading decreased during the heel contact phase.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.444-451
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in temporospatial variables in healthy elderly and healthy adults during usual walking, narrow base walking and centerline-guided walking. Twenty healthy elderly and nineteen healthy adults were participated in this study. In each conditions, the subjects were walked on a 6m walkway at comfortable self-selected speeds under three conditions : (1) usual walking, (2) walking within a 50% of the distance between the subject's ASIS (3) walking along a centerline. GAITRite system was used for kinematic analysis to assess the temporospatial variables. There were no significant changes in healthy adults(p>.05), but walking speed, cadence, H-H base support, functional ambulation performance were significantly decreased progressively as pathway narrowed in elderly adults(p<.05). The results show that elderly people had more difficulty with walking on narrow pathway for fear of falling. This study provides data for use in basic research into safe walking and preventing falling for elderly.