• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.672-678
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• 2008

This paper proposes a new rehabilitation robot with upper and lower limb connections for gait training. As humans change a walking speed, their nervous systems adapt muscle activation patterns to modify arm swing for the appropriate frequency. By analyzing this property, we can find a relation between arm swinging and lower limb motions. Thus, the lower limb motion can be controlled by the arm swing for walking speed adaptation according to a patent's intension. This paper deals with the design aspects of the suggested gait rehabilitation robot, including a trajectory planning and a control strategy. The suggested robot is mainly composed of upper limb and lower limb devices, a body support system. The lower limb device consists of a slider device and two 2-dof footpads to allow walking training at uneven and various terrains. The upper limb device consists of an arm swing handle and switches to use as a user input device for walking. The body support system will partially support a patient's weight to allow the upper limb motions. Finally, we showed simulation results for the designed trajectory and controller using a dynamic simulation tool.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.169-175
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• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the effects of a spiral elastic band for the walking function on patients with chronic stroke. Methods: Twenty one chronic stroke patients were recruited and divided randomly into the experimental group and control group. Both groups performed mat exercises and gait training three times a week for four weeks, and gait training was applied to the experimental group with additional spinal elastic bands. Results: The results of this research were as follows. The 10MWT measurements showed that the velocities within and between the groups decreased significantly, and the results of TUG showed significant decreases in velocities after the interventions in both the control group and experimental group. On the other hand, there were no significant differences between the control and experimental group. The FRT measurements showed significantly increased stride lengths within and between the groups. The measurements of the stride length, stride velocity, cadence, and step length showed significant improvement within the groups, but there was no significant difference between the groups. The measurement of stance showed that the non-paralytic patients had a significant increase in the rates within the groups and a significant difference was observed between the groups. Conclusion: Spiral elastic bands are an effective intervention method for rehabilitation programs to enhance the walking function in the clinical field. A treatment needs to be developed for patients with walking problems due to various disorders by investigating the action mechanism of spiral elastic bands.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.10-18
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• 2021

Purpose: The objective of the present study was to examine the effects of Kinesio taping with backward walking training (KTBW) on muscle strength of lower extremity and gait ability in post-stroke patients. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Method: Participants included 27 post stroke patients and were randomly distributed into two groups: KTBW group received Kinesio taping with backward training (n=13), control group receive general physical therapy (n=14). Intervention was given five times a week, a total of four weeks. The subjects evaluated the muscle strength test and walking ability before and 4 weeks after the experiment. Muslce strength of lower extremity was measured by digital manual muscle test. Gait ability was measured by G-walk. Result: After training, the KTBW group showed significant improvement in muscle strength of the lower extremity compared to the control group (p<0.05). KTBW group showed significant improvement in gait ability compared to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: These finding show the benefits of the Kinesio taping with backward walking training on the muscle strength of lower extremity and gait ability in post stroke patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.213-219
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• 2023

Purpose: In this study, based on the error augmentation, we performed walking training with increased rhythmic auditory stimulation speed on the affected side (IRAS) and walking training with decreased rhythmic auditory stimulation speed on the unaffected side (DRAS). The purpose of this study was to verify whether motor learning was effective in improving balance ability. Methods: Twenty-eight subjects with chronic stroke were recruited from a rehabilitation center. The subjects were divided into three groups: an IRAS group (10 subjects), a DRAS group (9 subjects), and control group (9 subjects). They received 30minutes of neuro-developmental therapy and walking training for 30minutes, five times a week for three weeks. Static and functional balance ability were measured before and after the training period. Static balance was measured by balancia software. Functional balance was measured by the timed up and go test (TUG) and the berg balance scale (BBS). Results: After the training periods, the IRAS group showed a significant improvement in TUG, BBS, area 95% COP, and weight distribution on the affected side when compared to both the DRAS group and control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it is possible to consider error augmentation methods of motor learning if rhythmic auditory stimulation is applied to stroke patients in clinical practice. If the affected side is shorter than the unaffected side, the affected side should be adjusted to the increased rhythmic auditory stimulation speed, which is considered to be an effective intervention to improve balance ability.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.9 no.11
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• pp.943-951
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• 2003

A strategy for fault-tolerant gaits of autonomous legged robots is proposed. A legged robot is considered to be fault tolerant with respect to a given failure if it is guaranteed to be capable of walking maintaining its static stability after the occurrence of the failure. The failure concerned in this paper is a locked joint failure for which a joint in a leg cannot move and is locked in place. If a failed joint is locked, the workspace of the resulting leg is constrained, but legged robots have fault tolerance capability to continue static walking. An algorithm for generating fault-tolerant gaits is described and, especially, periodic gaits are presented for forward walking of a hexapod robot with a locked joint failure. The leg sequence and the formula of the stride length are analytically driven based on gait study and robot kinematics. The transition procedure from a normal gait to the proposed fault-tolerant gait is shown to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed scheme.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 1995.10a
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• pp.311-314
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• 1995

Biped locomotion can be simply modeled as a linear inverted pendulum mode. This model considers only the CG (center of gravity) of the entire system. But in real biped robot systems, the free-leg motion dynamics is not negligible. So if its dynamics is not considered in designing the reference CG motion, it is badly influence to the ZMP(zero moment point) position of the biped robot walking in the sagittal plane. Therefore, we modeled the biped locomotion similar to the linear inverted pendulum mode but considered the predetermined free-leg dynamics. To verify that the proposed biped locomotion is more stable than the linear inverted pendulum mode, we constructed a biped robot simulator and designed a serco controller to track both the reference motion of the free leg and the reference motion of CG of the biped robot using the computed torque control low. And through simulations, we verified that the proposed walking is better in stability than the one based on the linear inverted pendulum mode.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1996.10b
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• pp.1157-1160
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• 1996

Control of a biped robot which has compliant ankle joints is dealt in this paper. Simulated version of a human ankle joint is built using springs and mechanical constraints, which gives a flexibility of joint and compliance against the touching ground. The biped robot with compliant ankle joints proposed here gives a good contact between its sole and the ground and makes foot landing soft. As a result, installing force sensors for measuring the center of gravity of the biped becomes easier. A motor to drive an ankle joint is not needed which makes legs light. However, the control problem becomes more difficult because the torque of the ankle joint to put the biped in a desired walking gait cannot be provided from the compliant ankle joint. To solve this problem, we proposed a dynamic gait modification method by adjusting the position of a hip joint. Simulation results for the mathematical model of the SD-2 biped in the Ohio State University are given to show the validity of the proposed controller.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 1996.07b
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• pp.1228-1230
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• 1996

A neural network(NN) mechanism is proposed to modify the gait of a biped robot that walks on sloping surface using sensory inputs. The robot starts walking on a surface with no priori knowledge of the inclination of the surface. By accumulating experience during walking, the robot improves its walking gait and finally forms a gait that is adapted to the surface inclination. A neural controller is proposed to control the gait which has 72 reciprocally inhibited and excited neurons. PI control is used for position control, and the neurons are trained by a reinforcement learning mechanism. Experiments of static gait learning and pseudo dynamic learning are performed to show the validity of the proposed reinforcement learning mechanism.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.363-375
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• 2015

Objective: This study aims to recognize the risk of current traffic systems and to investigate a method to decrease risk by doing exercise using an elastic-band and cognitive rehabilitation. Background: The existing traffic system usually focuses on the ordinary citizens, which may not be appropriate to the elderly. It may affect the cognition and walking speed of the elderly. This study tries to examine whether cognition and muscle training is appropriate to improve their vulnerability. Therefore this study will provide human ergonomics - based basic data in relation to the elderly to identify the risk of current signal system and to mitigate the risk. Method: A total of 30 elderly participants were divided into two groups: experimental and control groups. Experimental group (n=15) was trained to strengthen their muscles and to promote cognition, whereas control group (n=15) was not. The training was conducted twice a week for three weeks. To strengthen muscles, a yellow colored elastic-band was used, and a computer program for cognitive rehabilitation was used to develop cognition. In the experimental group, there were significant differences between pre and post exercises However, the control group didn't show any significant difference. The increase in cognition and walking speed was found in the experimental group, whereas there were no differences in the control group. Statistically there was no significant difference between the two groups. Results: The results of this study show that the exercise program using the elastic-band gave a positive effect on gait training thanks to the development of muscle power and balance. Conclusion: This study did not show any statistical difference or significant differences between the two groups, since time was restricted, we believe. Application: The results of the walking speed will help to prevent traffic collision.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a 12 week walking program on the risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome in older people in rural areas. Method: A total of 31 people among the people who live within the area served by E County Community Health Practice were observed from December 5, 2006 to February 23, 2007. This group included 18 people who were identified as having metabolic syndrome on the basis of the Asia-Pacific fatness basic standard (the experimental group) and a control group of 13 people who did not have metabolic syndrome. Results: The results of the study are as follows: In the experimental group, there was no significant difference in body composition between pre and post measurement. The small change in values that were observed in the experimental group did not reach statistical significance. However, body composition values in the control group increased. In the experimental group, there were significant differences in waist circumference, blood pressure, HDL-C, and fasting blood sugar between pre and post measurement. But there were no changes in the control group. There was no difference in TG in either group. As to changes in risk-factors related metabolic syndrome after the 12 week walking program, the number of risk-factors were effectively reduced in the experimental group, but not in the control group. Conclusion: According to the present study, a 12 week walking program led to significant improvement in body weight, BMI as the factors composing the body and in waist circumference, HDL-C, blood pressure, and fasting blood sugar as risk-factors related to metabolic syndrome in older people in rural areas.