• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2019

Background: The Microsoft Kinect which is a low-cost gaming device has been studied as a promise clinical gait analysis tool having satisfactory reliability and validity. However, its accuracy is only guaranteed when it is properly positioned in front of a subject. Objects: The purpose of this study was to identify the error when the Kinect was positioned at a $45^{\circ}$ angle to the longitudinal walking plane compare with those when the Kinect was positioned in front of a subject. Methods: Sixteen healthy adults performed two testing sessions consisting of walking toward and $45^{\circ}$ obliquely the Kinect. Spatiotemporal outcome measures related to stride length, stride time, step length, step time and walking speed were examined. To assess the error between Kinect and 3D motion analysis systems, mean absolute errors (MAE) were determined and compared. Results: MAE of stride length, stride time, step time and walking speed when the Kinect set in front of subjects were investigated as .36, .04, .20 and .32 respectively. MAE of those when the Kinect placed obliquely were investigated as .67, .09, .37, and .58 respectively. There were significant differences in spatiotemporal outcomes between the two conditions. Conclusion: Based on our study experience, positioning the Kinect directly in front of the person walking towards it provides the optimal spatiotemporal data. Therefore, we concluded that the Kinect should be placed carefully and adequately in clinical settings.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.543-555
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze the walking characteristics of jaywalking pedestrians, which account for a large proportion of deaths in pedestrian traffic accidents. Method: As for the analysis method, after collecting data of jaywalking pedestrians using imaging equipment, frequency analysis and statistical verification were performed on the jaywalking characteristics of elderly and non-elderly people. Result: It was found that there was a difference in the characteristics of jaywalking between the elderly and non-elders, but in the case of walking speed, insignificant results were derived. However, it was found that among the elderly, the group having difficulty walking in general had a lower walking speed than the group that did not. Conclusion: It is judged that one of the causes of jaywalking is the perception of illegal activities and insensitivity to the risk of accidents, not the age and walking ability. Therefore, in addition to safety education, it is judged that it is necessary to provide pedestrian safety information that requires the driver's attention in multiple jaywalking sections.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.495-506
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• 2022

Purpose: When a serious disaster occurred in East Japan on March 11, 2011, some evacuees in shock failed to avoid danger to the best of their ability. Why did they hesitate and waste their time? And why didn't they choose correct escaping routes? This study attempts to classify human behavior through psychological point of view and cognitive science and to interpret behavioral patterns based on animal behaviors from the field of biology. Method: This study first conceptually categorized walking behavior into intellectualization, automaticity and instinct based on the existing literature and matched these with empirical data. Result: The actual walking patterns observed failed to be compatible with these categories and consequently, this study suggests the following five categories: normal, busy, fast & straight, freezing and tizzy. This new classification of walking behavior is based on speed, variation of speed and change of direction. Conclusion: The method used in this study and the results can be applied to simulations of walking behavior and analysis of behavior in emergency situations.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.43-52
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• 2024

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the impact of a 12-week combined cognitive and physical exercise program on cognitive and physical functions in older adults diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Design: A one-group pretest-posttest study. Methods: Twelve participants with MCI engaged in a weekly 60-minute session of combined cognitive and physical exercise program. Cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), while physical function was evaluated through measures of muscle strength, postural balance, and walking capabilities. Muscle strength assessments included the arm curl test, handgrip strength, and the 5 sit-to-stand test. Postural balance was evaluated using the one-leg stance test, timed up-and-go test, functional reach test, and four square step test. Walking function was analyzed through a gait analysis device. Pre- and post-intervention measurements were compared to determine the effects of the exercise program. Results: The results demonstrated significant improvements in MoCA, arm curl test, timed up-and-go test, walking speed, and cadence following the 12-week intervention (p<0.05). MoCA scores revealed enhanced cognitive performance, while measures of muscle strength, including the arm curl test, exhibited significant changes. Improvements in timed up-and-go test scores indicated enhanced mobility, accompanied by increased walking speed and cadence, as evidenced by gait analysis. Conclusions: This study suggests that a structured 12-week program incorporating both cognitive and physical exercises can lead to meaningful improvements in cognitive and physical functions among older adults with MCI.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.645-646
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• 2008

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.39-46
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• 2015

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of short-term treadmill walking with high-heeled shoes on electromyography activities of the medial gastrocnemius, lateral gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior in healthy young females. Methods: Fifteen healthy females were recruited for this study. To measure muscle activation, the subjects were asked in random order to walk on a treadmill using either high-heeled shoes or barefoot conditions. The shoe heel height for high-heeled walking was 7 cm. The walking speed on the treadmill was 4 km/h, and the inclination rate of the treadmill was 10%. The subjects performed treadmill walking in the barefoot and high-heeled walking conditions for 5 minutes. Electromyography data were collected from the tibialis anterior, medial gastrocnemius, lateral gastrocnemius, and soleus on both firm and foam surfaces and during eyes-open and-closed conditions while standing. Results: Tibialis anterior activity was significantly different before and after the walking task while standing on a foam surface with eyes closed (p<.05). Conclusion: This finding suggests that the activity of the tibialis anterior may be lowered after high-heeled walking. Therefore, high-heeled shoes contribute to harmful effects at the ankle joints, increasing the risks of falling and musculoskeletal injury.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in walking pattern of the elderly during inclined walkway with uneven surfaces and level walking. 10 young($26.3{\pm}1.3$ years, $174.3{\pm}5.3\;cm$, $69.5{\pm}9.5\;kg$) and 13 elderly($72.4{\pm}5.2$ years, $164.5{\pm}5.4\;cm$, $66.1{\pm}9.6\;kg$) male subjects were participated in the experiment. Experiment consisted of 2 walking conditions: horizontal and inclined walkway with uneven surfaces. 3D motion capturing system were used to acquire and analyze walking motion data with sampling frequency of 120 Hz. To compare differences between conditions, kinematic variables(walking speed, stance-swing ratio, hip joint angle, knee joint angle, ankle joint angle, pelvic rotation angle) were used. Results showed that there were some changes of elderly walking pattern in inclined walkway with uneven surfaces: hip joint(adduction and rotation) and pelvic movement pattern. These changes by inclination and surface may affect gait pattern of young subjects as well as elderly subjects. However, in case of elderly it revealed more unstable gait than the young. Further study is necessary to clarify changes in walking pattern for elderly by considering various gait variables including head movement and various walkway conditions.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.503-515
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• 2011

We developed a walking-assistance robot for walking rehabilitation and assessed the kinematic characteristics of a prototype. The walking-assistance robot is composed of hip, knee, and ankle joints, and each joint is driven by a motor with a decelerator. The equations of angular displacement while walking were derived by theoretically analyzing human locomotion, and the calculated angular displacements were then applied to the robot controller. The output angular displacement of each joint was measured and compared with its input angular displacement in walking experiments on a treadmill at various walking speeds and strides. The differences between the input and output angular displacements are 5.22% for the hip and 2.97% for the knee joints, and it has been confirmed that the walking-assistance robot works well.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.23-31
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of high-heeled shoes on walking of obese women as it was already proven an extrinsic factor of knee osteoarthritis in women with normal weight. In this study the aimed therefore in particular was to utilize high-heeled shoes in proving it's causal influence on knee osteoarthritis by measuring the angle and torque of the knee joint. Fifteen obese women (BMI>25 $kg/m^2$) were measured in their twenties. Each angle and torque of their knee joints during walking on 6.5 cm high-heeled shoes and with a bare feet, were compared with each other and analyzed with a 3D motion analysis system. There was no significant difference in walking speed, cadence and stride length between the two conditions. However, there was a significant increase in a double limb support time and the stance phase when walking on high-heeled shoes as when walking with bare feet. The peak knee flexion angle and peak knee varus torque was higher when walking on high-heeled shoes than with bare feet. On the contrary, the peak knee flexion angle in the swing phase was not statistically different. The prolongation of peak knee varus torque was also proven. There was a significant increase in peak knee varus torque in the initial and last stance phases during walking on high-heeled shoes as compared to walking on bare feet. Through the above results, it was proven that when obese women walked on high-heeled shoes, rather than with bare feet, peak knee flexor and varus torque increased along with the changes of the in knee joint angle. Therefore, the influence of high-heeled shoes might be a significant intrinsic factor in knee osteoarthritis of obese women.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.65 no.2
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• pp.349-353
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate possible age differences in the attenuation of acceleration in the upper body (from pelvis through shoulder to head) during fast walking. Thirty young and 29 elderly subjects participated in this study. Wireless acceleration sensors were attached on head, shoulder, and pelvis. Subjects performed two trials of fast walking on a treadmill, where the fast speed was defined as 1.5 times of the comfortable speed. Root-mean-squared (RMS) accelerations of each axis were compared with age group and sensor position as independent factors. In the AP direction, the pelvis acceleration was greater in the young and the shoulder-to-head attenuation was also greater in the young (p<0.001), so that the head acceleration was comparable between age groups (p=0.581). In the ML direction, the pelvis acceleration was greater in the young and also the pelvis-to-shoulder attenuation was greater in the young (p<0.001), so that the head acceleration was greater in the elderly group (p<0.001). Insufficient attenuation ML acceleration in the elderly resulting in the greater acceleration in the head may deteriorate the balance control which utilize feedback signals from the sensory organs in head, e.g., vestibular and visual systems.