• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.21-33
• /
• 2014

Background: Significant technological development and changes happened in the tractor industries. Contrariwise, the test procedures of the major standard development organizations (SDO's) remained unchanged or with a little modification over the years, demanding new tractor test standards or improvement of existing ones for tractor performance, safety, and comfort. Purpose: This study focuses on reviewing the research trends regarding performance, safety and comfort evaluation of agricultural tractors. Based on this review, few recommendations were proposed to revise or improve the current test standards. Review: Tractor power take-off power test using the DC electric dynamometer reduced human error in the testing process and increased the accuracy of the test results. GPS signals were used to determine acceleration and converted into torque. High capacity double extended octagonal ring dynamometer has been designed to measure drawbar forces. Numerical optimization methodology has been used to design three-point hitch. Numerous technologies, driving strategies, and transmission characteristics are being considered for reducing emissions of gaseous and particulate pollutants. Engine emission control technology standards need to be revised to meet the exhaust regulations for agricultural tractors. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) program has been used to design Roll-Over Protective Structures (ROPS). Program and methodology has been presented for testing tractor brake systems. Whole-body vibration emission levels have been found to be very dependent upon the nature of field operation performed, and the test track techniques required development/adaptation to improve their suitability during standardized assessment. Emphasizes should be given to improve visibility and thermal environment inside the cab for tractor operator. Tractors need to be evaluated under electromagnetic compatibility test conditions due to large growing of electronic devices. Research trends reviewed in this paper can be considered for possible revision or improvement of tractor performance, safety, and comfort test standards.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.1683-1686
• /
• 2018

Low back pain (LBP) is the most common reason for seeking physical therapy (PT) care. Recent studies suggest that axial loading can have a positive impact on the intervertebral disc by improving its tensile strength. Further, whole body vibration (WBV) appears to improve spinal muscle relaxation. Therefore, this case study describes the use of axial loading using a mini-trampoline in a female with chronic LBP. This case report is a single subject design. This patient is a 29-year-old female with a six-month history of low back pain following a motor vehicle accident. MRI found herniated discs at L4 and L5, clinical tests were positive for pain in the L4 and L5 dermatome and myotome the slump test was positive for neural tension, and LBP was constant at 4-6/10 over the past four months. She received axial loading exercises using a mini-trampoline and performed six sessions that were, scheduled twice a week for three weeks. Her Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score improved from 40% at the time of her first visit to 22% at her final visit. Pain measure on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) after the first treatment was 7/10, and her pain after the final treatment was 0/10. These changes in the pain scores are clinically significant and exceed the minimal clinically important difference (MCID). This patient had a significant improvement in her pain using the NPRS and the ODI. This case study suggests that axial loading may be an effective treatment for some individuals with discogenic chronic low back pain.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• v.7 no.4
• /
• pp.197-203
• /
• 2018

Objective: Independent walking is the most essential prerequisite to maintain quality of life in older persons. The purpose of this review was to investigate the effect of fall prevention strategies on fall risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) within community-dwelling older adults aged 65 and over. Design: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: PubMed and three other databases were searched up to October 31st, 2018 and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating fall prevention strategies for fall risk in persons who were 65 years of age or above with T2DM were included. The review extracted the following information from each study selected: first author's surname, published year, country, study population, type of intervention, intensity of intervention, comparison, measurement variables, additional therapy, summary of results, and mean and standard deviation from selected studies. Results: This review selected fourteen RCTs with 460 older adults with diabetes mellitus. Of the 14 studies, the types of intervention used to improve the risk of falls were strengthening (5), aerobic exercises (2), multimodal exercises (4), one virtual reality exercise (1), whole body vibration with balance exercise (1), and Tai Chi exercise (1). Seven RCTs were eligible for the meta-analysis. Therapeutic interventions were more effective than the control group for the Timed Up-and-Go test (-1.11; 95% CI, -1.82 to -0.41) and the 6-minute Walk Test (-1.89; 95% CI, -8.33 to 4.54). Conclusions: The results of the review suggest that interventions to prevent fall risk in older adults with T2DM should focus on strengthening, balance, aerobic, and multimodal exercises.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.62-71
• /
• 2023

Objective: Stroke patients need the training to adjust their posture and maintain balance is necessary to restore movement function, and unstable support training is one of the appropriate training. In this study, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to find out the effects of unstable surface training on balance and gait in stroke patients. Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis Methods: After creating a search expression referring to MeSH and EMTREE, the literature from 1976 to February 2022 was searched in the databases of PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library CENTRAL. A total of 331 studies were searched from three databases, and 11 studies were finally selected according to the inclusion criteria. Unstable surface training included studies using balance trainer, Whole-body vibration, and sand surfaces. Results: The results were found to be d=2.28 (p=0.02) and the effect size was 0.36 (95% CI: 0.05, 0.67) on the Berg Balance Scale. In the Kinesthetic Ability Trainer static balance, d=2.59 (p=0.01) and the effect size was 1.01 (95% CI: 0.24, 1.78). Timed Up and Go test showed that d=2.18 (p=0.03) and the effect size was 0.38 (95% CI: 0.04, 0.72). At the gait speed, d=0.99 (p=0.32) and the effect size was 0.15 (95% CI: -0.15, 0.45). In the 6-minute walk test, d=0.14 (p=0.89) and the effect size was 0.04 (95% CI: -0.47, 0.55). Conclusions: In this study was found that training was effective in balance if it became unstable in standing posture. Therefore, unstable surface training can be used to improve the balance of stroke patients in clinical practice.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.199-213
• /
• 1967

Circulatory and respiratory activities were observed in men exposed to the environment of engine room of a cruising Republic of Korea Navy ship and compared to the control values obtained in an ordinary laboratory room on land. The environment of an engine room of cruising navy ship was presumed to be a multiple stress acting on men. The environment of the engine room included high temperature $(35-42^{\circ}C)$, low relative humidity (20-38% saturation), vibration (about 7 cycles per second), rolling and pitching of ship and noises. Sixteen men were divided into two groups consisted of each 8 subjects. Subjects of sea duty group had experience of continuous on board duty averaging 3.5 years. Men of land duty group had no experience of on board activity. On land observations were made on one day prior to the boarding and leaving the port and four days after landing. In between observations in the engine room were made on the first, 5 th, 9 th, 12 th, and 14 th day of on board activity. The whole experimental period lasted for 20 days. Measurements on circulatory and respiratory parameters were at standing resting state (after 30 minutes standing in the case of on land study and 15 minutes in engine room study) and within one minute after cessation of on the spot running of which rhythm was 30/min. and lasted for 5 minutes. Oxygen consumption and pulmonary function test were done in the period of two minutes from the 3rd to 5th minutes of running. The following results were obtained. 1. Body temperature showed no change regardless of group difference or on land or on board measurements. 2. Pulse rate increased markedly after boarding the ship id both groups. Pulse rate increased from the first day on board at rest and after exercise as compared to the on land control value. This increase in pulse rate was more marked after exercise. Sea duty group showed less increase in pulse rate at rest than the land duty group. Standing and resting pulse rate of sea duty group on lam was 81 and increased to 87 at the 5th day on board and remained smaller than the land duty group throughout the period on board. Control standing and resting pulse rate of land duty group on land was 76 and reached 89 at the 9th day on board and thereafter decreased a little. Pulse rate of land duty group at rest on board remained greater than that of sea duty group throughout the period on board. 3. Systolic blood pressure of sea duty group increased after boarding the ship and remained higher than the control value on land. In the land duty group, however, systolic blood pressure decreased during the period on board the ship. Diastolic blood pressure decreased in both groups. 4. Resting breathing rate of land duty group increased and remained higher than the control value on land. In sea duty group, however, resting breathing rate showed a transient increase on the 1st day on board and decreased thereafter to the control value on land and kept the same level throughout the period of cruise. Absolute value of breathing rate in the sea duty group was greater than the land duty group both at rest and after exercise. 5. There was a lowering of breathing efficiency in both groups. Thus, increases in tidal volume and minute ventilation volume and decreases in maximum breathing capacity, vital capacity, capacity ratio and air velocity Index were observed after boarding the ship. An increase in ventilation equivalent was also observed in both groups. The lowering of breathing efficiency was more marked in the land duty group than the sea duty group. 6. Energy expediture increased in both groups during their stay on the ship and was more marked in the sea duty group. 7, Lactate concentration in venous blood at rest and after exercise increased after boarding the ship and no group difference was observed.