• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.191-198
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• 2015

Objective : The purpose of this study was to conduct biomechanical analysis of varying backpack loads on the lower limb movements during downhill walking over $-20^{\circ}$ ramp. Method : Thirteen male university students (age: $23.5{\pm}2.1yrs$, height: $175.7{\pm}4.6cm$, weight: $651.9{\pm}55.5N$) who have no musculoskeletal disorder were recruited as the subjects. Each subject walked over $20^{\circ}$ ramp with four different backpack weights (0%, 10%, 20% and 30% of body weight) in random order at a speed of $1.0{\pm}0.1m/s$. Five digital camcorders and two force plates were used to obtain 3-d data and kinetics of the lower extremity. For each trial being analyzed, five critical instants were identified from the video recordings. Ground reaction force, loading rate, decay rate, and resultant joint moment of the ankle and the knee were determined by the inverse dynamics analysis. For each dependent variable, one-way ANOVA with repeated measures was used to determine whether there were significant differences among four different backpack weight conditions (p<.05). When a significant difference was found, post hoc analyses were performed using the contrast procedure. Results : The results of this study showed that the medio-lateral GRFs at RHC in 20% and 30% body weight were significantly greater than the corresponding value in 0% of body weight. A consistent increase in the vertical GRFs as backpack loads increased was observed. The valgus joint movement of the knee at RTO in 30% body weight was significantly greater than the corresponding values in 0% and 10% body weight. The increased valgus moment of 30% body weight observed in this phase was associated with decelerating and stabilizing effects on the knee joint. The results also showed that the extension and valgus joint moments of the knee were systematically affected by the backpack load during downhill walking. Conclusion : Since downhill walking while carrying heavy external loads in a backpack may lead to excessive knee joint moment, damage can occur to the joint structures such as joint capsule and ligaments. Therefore, excessive repetitions of downhill walking should be avoided if the lower extremity is subjected to abnormally high levels of load over an extended period of time.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.25-35
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to investigate the shock attenuation mechanisms while varying the loads in a backpack during drop landing. Ten subjects (age: $22.8{\pm}3.6$, height: $173.5{\pm}4.3$, weight: $70.4{\pm}5.2$) performed drop landing under five varying loads (0, 5kg. 10kg. 20kg. 30kg). By employing two cameras (Sony VX2100) the following kinematic variables (phase time, joint rotational angle and velocity of ankle, knee and hip) were calculated by applying 2D motion analysis. Additional data, i.e. max vertical ground force (VGRF) and acceleration, was acquired by using two AMTI Force plates and a Noraxon Inline Accelerometer Sensor. Through analysing the power spectrum density (PSD), drop landing patterns were classified into four groups and each group was discovered to have a different shock attenuation mechanism. The first pattern that appeared at landing was that the right leg absorbed most of the shock attenuation. The second pattern to appear was that subject quickly transferred the load from the right leg to the left leg as quickly as possible. Thus, this illustrated that two shock attenuation mechanisms occurred during drop landing under varying load conditions.