• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.77-84
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• 2020

PURPOSE: This study compared the activities of the trunk muscles during crutch walking to determine which of the crutch length measurements is most beneficial. METHODS: Twenty young women volunteered to participate in this study. After adjusting crutch length, the participants performed a three-point walking with nondominant leg limited in weight bearing. This study used six crutch length measurements: (1) Height-40.6cm, (2) Height'.77, (3) Olecranon-to-finger length, (4) Axillary-toheel length, (5) Arm-span length-40.6cm, and (6) Arm-span length'.77. The EMG activities of the internal oblique (IO), rectus abdominis (RA), multifidus (MF), and erector spinae (ES), muscles on the weight bearing side were monitored using wireless surface EMG. RESULTS: The EMG activities of the RA and ES appeared to be significantly different among the crutch length measurements (p<.05). The post-hoc test showed that the 'Arm-span length-40.6cm' was significantly greater in the RA activity when compared to the 'Height'.77' and 'Axillary-to-heel length' measurements, and in the ES activity when compared to 'Height'.77' measurements. Furthermore, IO/RA and MF/ES ratios showed significant differences among the crutch length measurements (p<.05). In the post-hoc test, significant difference was observed between 'Olecranon-to-finger length' and 'Arm-span length-40.6cm' for the IO/RA ratio, and between 'Height'.77' and 'Olecranon-to-finger length' and between 'Height'.77' and 'Arm-span length-40.6cm' measurement for the MF/ES ratio. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the 'Height'.77' measurement is relatively advantageous to optimize the activities of trunk muscles during the crutch walking, and allow simple measurements of the crutch length.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.79-88
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• 2019

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the peak torques of the knee and ankle joint and local stability of the lower extremity's joints, and muscle activation patterns of the lower extremity's muscles between fallers and non-fallers in the elderly women during walking. Method: Four elderly women (age: $74.5{\pm}5.2yrs.$; height: $152.1{\pm}5.6cm$; mass: $55.3{\pm}5.4kg$; preference walking speed: $1.19{\pm}0.06m/s$) who experienced falls within six months since experiment had been conducted (falls group) and thirty-six subjects ($74.2{\pm}3.09yrs.$; height: $153.6{\pm}4.9cm$; mass: $56.7{\pm}6.4kg$; preference walking speed: $1.24{\pm}0.10m/s$) who had no experience in falls (non-falls group) within this periods participated in this study. They were measured torque peaks of the knee and ankle joint using a Human Norm and while they were walking on a treadmill at their natural pace, kinematic variables and EMG signals were collected with using a 3-D motion capture system and a wireless EMG system, respectively. Lyapunov Exponent (LyE) was determined to observe the dynamic local stability of the lower extremity's joints, and muscles activation and their co-contraction index were also analysed from EMG signals. Hypotheses between falls and non-falls group were tested using paired t-test and Mann-Whitey. Level of significance was set at p<.05. Results: Local dynamic stability in the adduction-abduction movement of the knee joint was significantly lower in falling group than non-falling group (p<.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, muscles which act on the abduction-adduction movement of the knee joint need to be strengthened to prevent from potential falls during walking. However, a small number of samples for fallers make it difficult to generalize the results of this study.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.609-614
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• 2015

Implanted telemetry systems provide the ability to monitor different species of animals while they move within their cages. Species monitored include mice, rats, rabbits, dogs, pigs, primates, sheep, horses, cattle, and others. A miniature transmitter implanted in each animal measures one or more parameters. Parameters measured include arterial pressure, intra-pleural pressure, left ventricular pressure, intra-ocular pressure, bladder pressure, ECG, EMG, EEG, EOG, temperature, activity, and other parameters and transmits the data via radio frequency signals to a nearby receiver. Every conventional dedicated transmitter contains one or more sensors, cpu and battery. Due to the expected life of the battery, the measuring time is limited. To overcome these problems, electromagnetic inductive coupling based wireless power transmission technology using multiple transmit coils were proposed, with each coil having a different active area driven by the coil driver. In this research, a parallel resonance based coil driver and serial resonance based coil driver are proposed. From the experiments we see that the parallel coil driver shows better performance under a low impedance and multiple coils configuration. However, the serial coil driver is more efficient for high impedance transmit coils.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2001.11c
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• pp.176-179
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• 2001

A portable bio-signal measurement system for 24-hours continuous health monitoring of the elderly and the disabled is presented. The measurement system has the functions of acquisition of various bio-signals such as ECG, EMG and EEG, wireless data transmission/receive and adjustment of parameters such as gain and cut-off frequency. The data is sent to a host computer or other device via a Bluetooth. The design targets of the developing system for volume and power consumption are $20{\times}30{\times}5(mm^3)$ and 8mW.

• The Journal of the Institute of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.203-211
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• 2015

The implanted telemetry system provides the monitoring of species while they move within their cages. Species monitored include mice, rats, rabbits, dogs, pigs, primates, sheep, horses, cattle, and others. A miniature transmitter implanted in each animal measures one or more parameters. Parameters measured include arterial pressure, intra-pleural pressure, left ventricular pressure, intra-ocular pressure, bladder pressure, ECG, EMG, EEG, EOG, temperature, activity, and other parameters and transmits the data via radio frequency signals to a nearby receiver. Every conventional dedicated transmitter contains one or more sensors, cpu and battery. Due to the expected life of battery, the measuring time is limited. To overcome these problems, electromagnetic inductive coupling based wireless power transmission technology using multiple transmit coils were proposed. Each coil having different active area are driven by the coil driver. In this research, parallel resonance based coil driver was proposed. In addition, the device to detect where the receiver is positioned was proposed. From the experiments we show how to determine the driving condition of coil driver.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.77-84
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• 2015

Objective : The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of lower limb muscle activity on postural stability and ground type in elderly women subjects. Method : Forty two subjects participated in the experiment (high group - age: $74.29{\pm}4.13yr$, height: $152.44{\pm}5.54cm$, weight: $57.43{\pm}6.16kg$, BMI: $24.77{\pm}2.99$, low group - age: $77.67{\pm}5.16yr$, height: $151.40{\pm}3.93cm$, weight: $60.92{\pm}6.40kg$, BMI: $26.59{\pm}2.57$). Wireless EMG with eight channels was used. Ground types were classified as flat and cushion. Results : In the double-support phase, left and right rectus femoris, left biceps femoris, left and right tibialis anterior, and left gastrocnemius did not show a significant difference in postural stability according to ground type. However right biceps femoris and gastrocnemius showed higher muscle activity in the elderly women group with lower postural stability. In the single-support phase, left and right rectus femoris, right biceps femoris, and left and right tibialis anterior did not show a significant difference in postural stability according to ground type. In addition, left biceps femoris had higher muscle activity in the elderly women group with lower postural stability. Left gastrocnemius had higher muscle activity in the elderly women group with higher postural stability and right gastrocnemius had higher muscle activity in the elderly women group on cushion ground. Conclusion : In a dynamic postural stability and cushion ground, biceps femoris and gastrocnemius muscle activity were high. As a result, biceps femoris and gastrocnemius muscle strengthening exercise on cushion ground could be beneficial in the prevention of falling.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.129-135
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• 2018

PURPOSE: The imbalance of pretibial muscles can be a factor contributing to the development of pes planus. However, no study has yet compared the muscle activity of the tibials anterior (TA) to that of the extensor digitorum longus (EDL). The purpose of this study was to determine whether there are differences in the electromyographic (EMG) TA and EDL amplitude indexes (AIs) between normal and pes planus feet. METHODS: A total of 14 subjects with normal feet and 15 subjects with bilateral pes planus participated in this study. TA and EDL muscle activities were measured using a wireless EMG system and the angles of ankle dorsiflexion and eversion of the subtalar joint were measured using a universal goniometer during active ankle dorsiflexion in the prone position. AI was calculated as follows: $\text{amplitude_{TA}-amplitude_{EDL}/(amplitude_{TA}+amplitude_{EDL})}/2{\times}100$. RESULTS: The AIs of the TA and EDL were significantly lower in pes planus feet than in normal feet (p<.05). The angle of subtalar eversion was significantly greater in pes planus feet than in normal feet during active ankle dorsiflexon (p<.05). However, there was no significant difference in the angle of ankle dorsiflexion between normal feet and pes planus feet (p>.05). CONCLUSION: This study showed that TA muscle activation was lower in pes planus feet than in normal feet, resulting from greater eversion range of motion during active ankle dorsiflexion. We suggest that the imbalance of ankle dorsiflexors must be considered in pes planus management.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.81-88
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• 2019

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to examine if there is any correlation between pelvic tilt angle and trunk motion and trunk extensor during trunk forward flexion and to measure trunk motion, onset time of trunk motion, and onset time of trunk extensor activation. Methods : The subjects of this study were 42 healthy adults. The subjects had no back pain due to neurological disease and no experience of back surgery. After pelvic tilt angle was measured, each trunk forward flexion was performed three times. Trunk motion and onset time of trunk motion were measured using Myomotion. Four sensors were used, with one located at the upper thoracic (below $C_7$), the lower thoracic ($T_{12}-L_1$), the sacrum ($S_1$), and at the center of the anterior femur. Onset time of trunk extensors (spinalis, longissimus, gluteus medius, gluteus maximus, biceps femoris, and gastrocnemius) activation was measured using a wireless surface EMG. The EMG amplitude was normalized by using the reference voluntary contraction (RVC). The statistical significance of the results were evaluated using Pearson's correlation test. Results : The correlation between pelvic tilt angle and lumbar motion, onset time of pelvis motion, and onset time of gluteus medius activation was statistically significant in a positive direction (p<.05). The correlation between pelvic tilt angle with pelvis motion, onset time of lumbar motion, and onset time of longissimus activation showed a statistically significant negative correlation (p<.05). Conclusion : The study results provide a significant contribution to our understanding of the lumbar load at the initial stage of trunk flexion. Therefore, it may be possible to provide basic data for evaluation and treatment, such as orthodontic treatment for alignment of the spine and back pain. In addition, it is necessary to focus on normal exercise pattern reeducation as well as pelvic correction during exercise in daily life or in industrial fields.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.205-211
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• 2016

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze biomechanical factors and PMT (premotor time) of body muscles between elite college and amateur baseball players during the baseball batting motion. Method: Kinematic and electromyographic data were obtained for 10 elite college baseball players and 10 amateur baseball players who participated in this study. All motion capture data were collected at 200 Hz using 8 VICON cameras and the PMT of muscles was recorded using a Delsys Trigno wireless system. The peak mean bat speed and the peak mean angular velocities of trunk, pelvis, and bat with PMT of 16 body muscles were computed. These kinematic and PMT data of both groups were compared by independent t-tests (p < .05). Results: The pelvis, trunk, and bat showed a sequence of angular velocity value during baseball batting. The PMTs of right tibialis anterior, left gastrocnemius, external oblique, and erector spinae were significantly different between the two groups. Conclusion: The PMT of body muscles was related to the shifting of body and rotation of the pelvis and the trunk segment, and this action can be considered the coordinated muscle activity of the lower and upper body.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.183-190
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• 2016

Objective: The objective of this study is to present a scientific basis for ballet dancer training methods by analyzing the relationships between subjective assessment of the ballet movement 'Grand pas de chat' and kinematic and electromyographic factors. Method: The subjects were 14 professional dancers with 15 years of experience on average. Four cameras and a wireless electromyogram were used to examine kinematic factors, and the filmed videos were analyzed by 3 experts for subjective assessment. Results: Although no differences in kinematic factors were found between the excellent dancer group and the non-excellent dancer group divided based on the experts' assessment, some difference was found in electromyographic factors, especially in relation to the gastrocnemius muscle, rectus femoris muscle, and erector spinae muscle. A relationship between subjective assessment and kinematic and electromyographic factors was found, and factors such as right-side rectus femoris activation, time required, left-side gastrocnemius activation, and front-back displacement affected subjective assessment. Conclusion: This study showed a relationship between subjective assessment and kinematic and electromyographic factors. To receive higher scores in subjective assessment, it is necessary to extend the hang time by using the lower limb muscles. The findings of this study also indicate the necessity of weight training in order to improve dancing techniques.