• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 2017

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine how gaze angle affects muscle activity and kinematic variables during treadmill walking and to offer scientific information for effective and safe treadmill training environment. Method: Ten male subjects who have no musculoskeletal disorder were recruited. Eight pairs of surface electrodes were attached to the right side of the body to monitor the upper trapezius (UT), rectus abdominis (RA), erector spinae (ES), rectus femoris (RF), bicep femoris (BF), tibialis anterior (TA), medialis gastrocnemius (MG), and lateral gastrocnemius (LG). Two digital camcorders were used to obtain 3-D kinematics of the lower extremity. Each subject walked on a treadmill with a TV monitor at three different heights (eye level; EL, 20% above eye level; AE, 20% below eye level; BE) at speed of 5.0 km/h. For each trial being analyzed, five critical instants and four phases were identified from the video recording. For each dependent variable, one-way ANOVA with repeated measures was used to determine whether there were significant differences among three different conditions (p<.05). When a significant difference was found, post hoc analyses were performed using the contrast procedure. Results: This study found that average and peak IEMG values for EL were generally smaller than the corresponding values for AE and BE but the differences were not statically significant. There were also no significant changes in kinematic variables among three different gaze angles. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, gaze angle does not affect muscle activity and kinematic variables during treadmill walking. However, it is interesting to note that walking with BE may increase the muscle activity of the trapezius and the lower extremity. Moreover, it may hinder proper dorsiflexion during landing phase. Thus, it seems to reasonable to suggest that inappropriate gaze angle should be avoided in treadmill walking. It is obvious that increased walking speed may cause a significant changes in biomechanical parameters used in this study. It is recommended that future studies be conducted which are similar to the present investigation but using different walking speed.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 2017

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify kinematic variables that govern successful performance and judges' scores and to establish correlative relationships among those of Yurchenko layout with a full twist in female vaults. Method: Four video cameras with sampling rate of 60 Hz collected 32 motion data of Yurchenko vaults from twenty-two female participants (age: $18.6{\pm}3.6years$, height: $153.0{\pm}6.5cm$, mass: $44.7{\pm}7.3kg$) during national competition. Posting processing and calculations of kinematic variables were performed in Kwon 3D XP and $Matlab^{(R)}$ programs. Correlation and regression analyses were applied to find the relationships between the obtained scores and kinematic variables. Deterministic model (Hay & Reid, 1988) was used to investigate the strength of correlative relationships among kinematic variables. Results: The obtained scores from the judges' decision were mainly affected by post-flight peak height, horse contact time, knee angle at landing, and horse takeoff angle. Strong blocking during horse contact was required to get successful performance and obtain high scores. Modified deterministic model showed that round-off entrance and takeoff angles and resultant velocity of the center of mass (CM) during the roundoff phase were the starting variables affecting performance in the following kinematics. Knee angle at landing, a highly influential variable on the obtained point, was only determined by judges' decision without significant correlative relationship with previous kinematic variables. Conclusion: The obtained scores highly depended on kinematic variables of post-flight and horse contact phases that were affected by those from the previous phases including round-off postures and resultant velocity of the body center of mass.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.19-23
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• 2017

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the ball velocity and the upper extremity kinematics for both dominant and non-dominant side in inexperienced participants about an overarm throwing task. Method: Seven women who are inexperienced in overarm throwing participated in this study (Age: $25.1{\pm}2.4years$, Height: $160.8{\pm}3.5$; Weight $56.5{\pm}7.8$). Participants visit the laboratory for three days with one day rest between test sessions. Whole body 3-dimensional (3D) motion capture was recorded during the overarm throwing trials with ten cameras Vicon motion analysis system (T-10, T40, Oxford Metrics Ltd, UK). Total 45 overarm throwing were recorded for each side for each test session. Ball speed also was measured 3 meters away behind the subjects and recorded for every trial. Results: Mean ball velocity was higher for dominant hand compared to non-dominant hand (p <.05). Trunk segment variables (maximum angles and angular velocities) showed the most consistent relationship with the ball velocity. Conclusion: The importance of the trunk segment during the throwing activities can be seen in some individuals. But inconsistent results between subjects emphasize the importance of the individuals' movement patterns especially for bilateral sports. The future studies should be conduct about the sequence of segments, kinetic variables and effect of training.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.71-82
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• 2016

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate kinematic comparisons of Tsukahara vault in gymnastics between a top-level athlete and sublevel collegiate athletes in order to obtain information on key biomechanical points for successful Tsukahara vaults. Methods: An Olympic gold medalist (height, 160 cm; weight, 52 kg; age, 25 years) and five sublevel collegiate gymnasts (height, $168.2{\pm}3.4cm$; weight, $59.6{\pm}3.1kg$; age, $23.2{\pm}1.6years$) participated in this study. They repeatedly performed Tsukahara vaults including one somersault. Fourteen motion-capturing cameras were used to collect the trajectories of 26 body markers during Tsukahara vaults. Event time, displacement and velocity of the center of mass, joint angles, the distance between the two hands on the horse, and averaged horizontal and vertical impact forces were calculated and compared. Results: The top-level athlete showed a larger range of motion (ROM) of the hip and knee joints compared to sublevel collegiate athletes during board contact. During horse contact, the top-level athlete had a narrow distance between the two hands with extended elbows and shoulders in order to produce a strong blocking force from the horse with a shorter contact time. At the moment of horse take-off, reactive hip extension of the top-level athlete enhanced propulsive take-off velocity and hip posture during post-flight phase. Conclusion: Even though a high velocity of the center of mass is important, the posture and interactive action during horse contact is crucial to post-flight performance and the advanced performance of Tsukahara vaults.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.761-770
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to observe the kinematic patterns of hurdling by domestic hurdlers and elite hurdlers from other countries in particular, we studied the hurdling motion and joint angles at the third hurdle in 110-m hurdle races. There were slight differences in the following variables at takeoff and landing: angle of the center of gravity(elite hurdler, $34.14^{\circ}$ domestic hurdler, $24.89^{\circ}$), angle variables the body angle(elite hurdler, $4.27^{\circ}$ domestic hurdler, $6.37^{\circ}$), the angle of trunk inclination(elite hurdler, $3.18^{\circ}$ domestic hurdler, $11.58^{\circ}$), and the hip angle(elite hurdler, $40.1^{\circ}$ domestic hurdler, $43.2^{\circ}$).

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.121-129
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• 2013

To find a healthy driving posture, in this study, survey and empirical analysis given onto measurement of car-seat angle has been performed. Among 153 male respondents, those drivers who has minimum 5 year experience and 2 hours daily driving has been selected by a multiple screening process. They were further confirmed to have no discomfort history in any body region caused by the driving task. Final 44 people verified that their actual driving posture is not significantly different (p = 0.692) from healthy one they think. And their data, accordingly, the healthy driving postures are clustered based on the same seat-cushion angle, seat-back angle and trunk-thigh angle. Consequently, three seat-angles of the 44 subjects showed a significant difference only with their height information which is the most effecting factor on driving posture among the physical characteristics. That is a first result categorized healthy driving posture classified physical, if it were departmentalized into additional study, could be able to reflected a factor of "healthy" on car seat design.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.11-21
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• 2006

The adjustable dental impression trays were made for being adjusted their width automatically along the width of patient's dental arch. The purpose of this study was to investigate the retentive force of adjustable dental impression trays made of different synthetic resin materials. Three pairs of adjustable trays were made of ABS(acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) synthetic resin, polyurethane synthetic resin and polycarbonate synthetic resin with a hole and without a rim on the border area of them. The experiment was done with the horse-shoe shaped metal plate to pull out the set impression body from the tray jig which was made for holding the tray on the lower part of Universal Testing Machine(UTM, Zwick Z020, Zwick Co., Germany). After the alginate impression in the tray was allowed to set four minutes, a tensile force was applied at right angles to the tray which had been previously seated on the jig. The force was applied to measure a maximum force by use of UTM at a constant strain rate 100mm per minute. The results obtained in this study were as follows : 1. The upper trays were showed higher retentive force than lower trays in three tray materials. 2. There was no significant difference in the retentive force of the tray materials(p>0.05).

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.114-121
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• 1998

Osteoporosis is defined as a pathologic condition in which there occurs no change in the chemical composition of the bone, while bone resorption is abnormally increased. This compares with osteogenesis, which leads to a decrease in the amount of bone. Though many varieties of therapies have been tried, no fully effective method has been found. Korean red ginseng is an important variety of Korean ginsengs and many studies have been performed to investigate its effectiveness. But there has been no report on red ginseng's effects on osteoporosis. The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical effects of Korean red ginseng on postmenopausal osteoporosis patients. The study was designed as a double-blind study. Group I consisted of 30 postmenopausal osteoporosis patients who were administered red ginseng extracts and 15 patients who were administered maltose capsules, were included in group II. The following results were obtained after one-year administration to both groups. 1. There were no significant differences in the degree of wedging, number of compression fractures in the vertebral body, trabeculations, and Cobb's angles between the experimental and control groups. 2. Even though bone mineral density increased in the lumbar spine, and decreased in the femur, there was no significant statistical difference. 3. The serum levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium, phosphate, and alkaline phosphates showed no difference between the two groups regardless of treatment. 4. Urine Deoxy-pyridinoline (DPYD) decreased in the red ginseng group while it increased in the maltose group, but statistically there was no significant difference between the two groups. 5. The clinical presentations showed no significant differences using Visual Analog Scale. 6. The specific complications related with the long-term use of red ginseng did not occur in all patients. In conclusion, there were no statistically significant differences in clinical presentations, biochemical, and radiological studies between the red gins eng and maltose groups. No definite effectiveness of red ginseng on patients with osteoporosis was found.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.349-354
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• 2017

In this study, we proposed a design guideline of height-adjustable wash basin which is an assistive product for personal hygiene for persons with disability. We performed biomechanical assessments using both of conventional and prototype height adjustable wash basin. Total five elderly subjects (all male, age $68.6{\pm}4.3yrs.$, height $169.8{\pm}5.7cm$, weight $70{\pm}7.7kg$) participated for the assessment test. Each joint angles were measured by using a 3D motion capture system when subjects use wash basins, and the lumbar moment of each subjects was estimated based on a human body model. From the assessment results, a design guideline which has the range of the height from 652[mm] to 1162[mm] was proposed. Then additional assessment tests with five healthy subjects ($25.8{\pm}1.8yrs.$, $175.5{\pm}5.8cm$, $74{\pm}15.7kg$) were performed in order to verify effectiveness of the design guideline. The results showed a height-adjustable wash basin applied the proposed design guideline was effective to reduce the lumbar moment.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.105-115
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• 2005

Recently among several tennis techniques forehand stroke has been greatly changed in the aspect of spin, grip and stance. The most fundamental factor among the three factors is the stance which consists of open, square and closed stance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relations between the segments of the body, the three dimensional anatomical angle according to open, close, and square stance patterns during forehand stroke in tennis. For the movement analysis three dimensional cinematographical method(APAS) was used and for the calculation of the kinematic variables a self developed program was used with the LabVIEW 6.1 graphical programming(Johnson, 1999) program. By using Eular's equations the three dimensional anatomical Cardan angles of the joint and racket head angle were defined. In conclusion, the first hypothesis, "In three dimensional maximum linear velocity of racket head would be significant difference among the stance patterns during forehand stroke in tennis" was rejected. The second hypothesis, "In three dimensional anatomical angular displacement of trunk would be significant difference among the stance patterns during forehand stroke in tennis" was rejected and the result showed that the internal-external rotation showed most important role among the three dimensional anatomical angular displacement of trunk The third hypothesis, "In three dimensional anatomical angular displacement of upperlimb would be significant difference among the stance patterns during forehand stroke in tennis" was rejected and the result showed that The three dimensional anatomical angular displacement of shoulder joint showed most important role in forehand stroke. Flexion-extension and internal-external rotation the open stance showed the largest angular displacement and is follwed by square stance and closed stance. The fourth hypothesis, "In three dimensional anatomical angular velocity of upperlimb would be significant difference among the stance patterns during forehand stroke in tennis" was rejected and the result showed that X-axis angular velocity and Z-axis angular velocity the square stance showed the largest angular velocity of the trunk and X-axis angular velocity and Y-axis angular velocity the closed stance showed the largest angular velocity of the shoulder joint.