• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.434-438
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of calcaneal taping on peak plantar pressure of rearfoot and forefoot while walking. Methods: Fifteen healthy subjects with normal feet participated in this study. Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) no disturbance of gait and foot pain, (2) normal range of motion of ankle joint, (3) no foot deformity. Pedoscan was used for recording of plantar pressure data during walking. The participants walked along a 12-m walkway before and after application of calcaneal taping. The plantar pressure gait was measured 3 times under barefoot and calcaneal taping conditions randomly at a speed practiced with the metronome during gait. The peak plantar pressure data were calculated for medial and lateral areas of the rearfoot and forefoot. The paired t-test was used to determine significant differences in peak plantar pressure of rearfoot and forefoot before and after application of calcaneal taping. A p-value less than 0.05 was accepted as significant. Results: The calcaneal taping resulted in statistically significant decreases in peak plantar pressure of the rearfoot (medial side: p=0.03; lateral side: p=0.01). However, there were no significant changes in peak plantar pressure of the forefoot (medial side: p=0.45; lateral side: p=0.40). Conclusion: The calcaneal taping is recommended to reduce plantar pressure of the rearfoot in weight-bearing activities in subjects with plantar heel pain caused by atrophy of the fat pad.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.355-366
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• 2003

본 연구의 목적은 뛰어 내리기 동작 시 신발과 뛰어 내리는 높이가 지면반력과 충격감소에 미치는 영향을 연구하였다. 10명의 건강한 피험자가 신발 또는 맨발로 네 가지 다른 높이에서 (30, 45, 60 &75 cm) 다섯 번의 뛰어 내리기를 시도하였다. 수직지면반력(VGRF), 영상분석, 경골과 앞이마의 가속도가 함께 측정되었다. 첫 번째 정점의 수직지면반력 (VGRF1)은 75cm의 높이에서 맨발보다는 신발을 신은 상황에서 더 큰 값을 보여 주었다. 두 번째 정점의 수직지면반력 (VGRF2)은 신발을 신은 것보다는 맨발의 조건에 더 큰 값을 보여 주었다. 앞 이마의 가속도 (AccHead)는 높이와 지면에 거의 변화를 보이지 않았다. 첫 번째 정점의 경골 가속도 (AccHead)는 높이와 지면에 거의 변화를 보이지 않았다. 첫 번째 정점의 경골 가속도 (AccTibia1)는 맨발의 조건보다 신발을 신은 조건에서 더 크게 나타났다. 반면에 두 번째 정점의 경골 가속도 (AccTibia2)는 특히 60 그리고 75cm조건에서 신발을 신었을 때 보다 맨발일 때 더 큰 값을 보여 주었다. 충격감소지수 (AtteIndex)는 모든 높이에서 맨발의 조건이 신발을 신은 조건 보다 통계적으로 유의하게 높게 나타났다. 결론적으로 뛰어 내리기 동작 시 신발이 지면반력을 최소화시키고 충격을 감소시키는데 부가적인 완충물로 제공되었음을 뒷받침 해준다.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.602-607
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• 2017

This study was undertaken to compare the gait characteristics between the Korean elderly and young adults, we measured the plantar pressure and contact time of gait with barefoot along a walkway at their preferred walking speed. The results indicate that older people exhibited significantly less plantar pressure than young adult in all 3 regions (FF, MF and RF) and significantly less time % on the initial contact phase (ICP), forefoot push-off phase (FFPOP) and significantly more % forefoot contact phase (FFCP) and foot flat phase (FFP). The converted plantar pressure value to percentage, it showed more pressure in forefoot (FF) in the elderly person than the young adults. It could be explained that the forward shifting in plantar pressure are associated with a more flexed posture of elderly such as actual stabilizing fearrelated adaptations. Longer total foot contact time in the elderly means that the old people show the decreased gait velocity. In other words, lower velocity was found to be associated with pre-existing fear of falling. With longer contact time and slower stepping movement, the elderly become more unstable. With these findings, it could be confirmed that there were significant changes in foot characteristics which contribute to alter the plantar pressure and contact time during gait with advancing age. Further research is required to establish possible links to risk of falling and development of footwear in the elderly adults.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.990-992
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to develop a practical gait-event detection system which is necessary for the FES (functional electrical stimulation) control of locomotion in paralyzed patients. The system is comprised of a sensor board and an event recognition algorithm. We focused on the practicality improvement of the system through 1) using accelerometer to get the angle of shank and dispensing with the foot-switches having limitation in indoor or barefoot usage and 2) using a rule-base instead of threshold to determine the heel-off/heel-strike events corresponding the stimulation on/off timing. The sensor signals are transmitted through RF communication and gait-events was detected using the peaks in shank angle. The system could detect two critical gait-events in all five paralyzed patients. The standard deviation of the gait events time from the peaks were smaller when 1.5Hz cutoff frequency was used in the derivation of the shank angle from the acceleration signals.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.52-58
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• 2015

Balance control deficits have been indicated to be a primary problem among cerebral palsy (CP) patients. Fabric ankle foot orthosis (AFO) can allow more efficient balance control by facilitating proprioception. The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate effect of fabric AFO on balance, compared to a barefoot condition in children with unilateral CP. Twelve children with unilateral CP participated in this study. Their balance ability was evaluated using pediatric balance scale and bubble test. Both pediatric balance scale and bubble test showed significant improvement with the use of the fabirc AFO (p<.05). The fabric AFO could improve functional balance ability, and promote better balance among children with unilateral CP. We demonstrated that fabric AFO contributed to improving balance among children with unilateral CP, classified as Gross Motor Function Classification System level I and II. Consequently, fabric AFO might be an assistive device leading to the improvement of balance instead of the typical AFOs.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.569-573
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• 2017

The present study was performed to reveal the current status and risk factors of Strongyloides stercoralis infections in the villages of Kenethao district, Xayaburi Province, Lao PDR. Fecal specimens were collected and examined for S. stercoralis using Koga-agar plate culture technique. Among 516 individuals, the prevalence of S. stercoralis and hookworm infection was 44.2% and 17.1%, respectively. Co-infection was detected in 13.2% of the cases. The prevalence did not significantly differ between males and females (P=0.193). However, the prevalence of S. stercoralis infection increased significantly with age (P=0.041). Of the risk factors examined, both performing farming activities (P=0.001) and walking barefoot when going outside of the house (P=0.003) showed significant correlations with S. stercoralis infections. Our results suggest that S. stercoralis is highly endemic in this area. The National Helminth Control Program of Lao PDR should take actions to control S. stercoralis infection. In addition, provision of health education about the benefits of wearing shoes would be important for reducing infection in the study area. Moreover, the application of high-sensitivity diagnostic approaches is needed to obtain the true impact of S. stercoralis infections in all rural communities in order to provide surveillance activities in Lao PDR.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of both various shoe types and bare feet on ground reaction force while walking. Ten first-year female university students were selected. A force platform(Kistler, Germany) was used to measure ground reaction force. Six types of shoe were tested: flip flops, canvas shoes, running shoes, elevated forefoot walking shoes, elevated midfoot walking shoes, and five-toed shoes. The control group was barefooted. Only vertical passive/active ground reaction force variables were analyzed. The statistical analysis was carried out using the SAS 9.1.2 package, specifically ANOVA, and Tukey for the post hoc. The five-toed shoe had the highest maximum passive force value; while the running shoe had the lowest. The first active loading rate for running shoes was the highest; meanwhile, bare feet, the five-toed shoe, and the elevated fore foot walking shoe was the lowest. Although barefoot movement or movement in five toed shoes increases impact, it also allows for full movement of the foot. This in turn allows the foot arch to work properly, fully flexing along three arches(transverse, lateral, medial), facilitating braking force and initiating forward movement as the tendons, ligaments, and muscles of the arch flex back into shape. In contrast movement in padded shoes have a tendency to pound their feet into the ground. This pounding action can result in greater foot instability, which would account for the higher loading rates for the first active peak for padded shoes.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Rural Architecture
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2007

Educational Facility has a specialty that similar design is repeatedly taken place so the importance of POE(Post Occupancy Evaluation) is increased for the improvement of problem appeared at the former projects. The POE could provides help to the design of next project and the direction when the need of remodeling is faced. Through the process of POE, the repeat of design mistakes could be prevented and the good information related with building efficiency and other problems could be applied to the design of next school project . In this study, the POE of Manbalro(barefoot) toilet of D Elementary school in rural area of H county is performed. The toilet is renovated as an educational environment improvement project of H county educational office in Chungcheong Namdo Province. The study is focused on the user's behavior at Manbalro toilet for carrying out indicative POE by the subjective response of user's. From the research, several being reformed items is proposed however the toilet is evaluated as a successful project that design purpose of initial stage is applied well.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.51-56
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• 2009

Purpose: This study examined the difference in the static balance ability according to the visual cues and postural tasks in normal subjects. Methods: Thirty participants (12 male, 18 female; mean age $24.63\pm1.43$ years) stood barefoot on a force platform in a one-legged stance, tandem Romberg stance and tandem Romberg with neck extension stance with a visual cue open and closes. The static balance was assessed by the center of pressure (CoP), surface electromyography root mean square (RMS) of the leg muscles according to the stance position. Results: In the CoP tests, the difference in the unit path length and circumference area was affected by the visual cue according to the stance posture (p<0.01). In the RMS tests, the difference in the tibialis anterior and medial gastrocnemius muscle was affected by visual cue in accordance with the stance posture (p<0.01). Conclusion: The visual cue and postural task affect the balance ability in normal subjects. Therefore, this study provides clinical evidence that the balance and postural control can be improved. Therapeutic intervention, such as an obstacle course, and a lower leg muscle performance program with a change in the base of support can affect the balance and postural control.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.135-143
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate onset timing of vastus medialis oblique(VMO) relative to vastus lateralis(VL) the VMO/VL electromyographic(EMG) ratio according to heel height Methods: A repeated measures design was used. Fifteen healthy female college students with no known knee musculoskeletal dysfunction were recruited this study. They carried out a standardised stair acent activity under 4 conditions; barefoot, and with heel height of 1, 3, 7 cm. Muscle activity was measured by surface EMG (Myosystem 1400A, Noraxon Inc., U.S.A). Data were analysed using $1{\times}4$ repeated measures ANOVA. Results: Onset timing differed with heel height(p<.05). However, the VMO/VL EMG ratio was not significantly difference between conditions. Conclusion: We found that 7 cm heel height delayed in VMO onset compared with 3 cm heel height during stair ascent, but no change in the relative EMG intensity of VMO and VL as measured by th VMO/VL ratio. The findings indicate that high-heeled shoes may have disadvantages in knee stability because of delayed onset of VMO. Due to a lack of knee joint stability, wearing of high heeled shoes should be avoided.