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

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.45-53
• /
• 2018

Experimental investigations have revealed significant mismatches between analytical estimates and experimentally measured deflections of transmission towers. These are attributed to bolt slip and joint flexibility. This study focuses on effects of joint flexibility on tower deflections and proposes criterions for permissible deflection limits based on the stresses in joints. The objective has been framed given that guidelines are not available in the codes of practices for transmission towers with regard to the permissible limits of deflection. The analysis procedure is geometric and material nonlinear with consideration of joint flexibility in the form of extension or contraction of the cover plates. The deflections due to bolt slip are included in the study by scaling up the deflections obtained from analysis by a factor. Using the results of the analysis, deflection limits for the towers are proposed by limiting the stresses in the joints. The obtained limits are then applied to a new full scale tower to demonstrate the application of the current study.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.59-65
• /
• 2012

In this study, muscle fatigue of biceps and triceps during isometric exercise depending on concentric contraction and eccentric contraction was evaluated using EMG. 12 healthy male volunteers was performed concentric exercise and eccentric exercise by maximum flection and extension of elbow joint. Integrated EMG (IEMG) in time domain and mean power frequency (MNF) in frequency domain were calculated. MNF of the biceps and triceps was decreased, whereas IEMG was increased during concentric contraction and eccentric contraction. But muscle fatigue index appeared higher at region of stretched muscle length. in this result, muscle fatigue occurs at both biceps and triceps muscle during concentric and eccentric exercise, and muscle fatigue was affected by muscle contraction and extension.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.9 no.3
• /
• pp.23-37
• /
• 2002

This study examined the muscle recruitment order during extension of the hip joint in normal subjects, and evaluated whether the external support obtained from wearing a lumbosacral corset had an effect on muscle recruitment leading to increased lumbar stability. The subjects were 40 normal adults (32 male, 8 female) with no history of low back pain and no pathological findings in the nervous or musculoskeletal systems. All subjects extended their hip joints under 3 positions (prone, sidelying, standing). During extension, the onsets of contraction of the rectus abdominis, gluteus maximus, and semitendinosus muscles were measured. Electromyographic activity was measured using a surface electrode, and the muscle contraction onset time was designated as the point exceeding a threshold of 25 ms, using a mean plus twice of the standard deviation. To compare the average order of muscle contraction onset time, a Freedman two-way analysis of variance by ranks was used. The relative difference between muscle contraction onset time wearing and not wearing a lumbosacral corset was measured using a paired t-test. A difference in the average muscle contraction onset order for the rectus abdominis, gluteus maximus, and semitendinosus muscles was observed (p<.05) among three positions. However, wearing a lumbosacral corset did not. change the contraction order. In addition, wearing a lumbosacral corset produced a significant difference (p<.05) in the relative onset time between the rectus abdominis and gluteus maximus in the standing position, but no difference was observed for the other muscles or positions. In the future, patients suffering from low back pain should be compared with normal subjects to determine the effectiveness of a lumbosacral corset in changing muscle recruitment order.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
• /
• 1989.10a
• /
• pp.15-18
• /
• 1989

The planar effects on the concrete pavements Is mainly due to the concrete shrinkage, subgrade friction, and thermal expansion or contraction. A complete understanding of analytical behavior of concrete pavement requires the development of computer model, stiffness matrix and equivalent nodal load matrices due to the effects mentioned above. A computer program, INPLANE II, has been written to evaluate the planar effects on concrete pavements. The planar effects determine to what degree the joint open and also help In determining factors which affect the joint stiffnesses and structural behavior of concrete Pavements.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.27-32
• /
• 2024

Purpose: This study was conducted to verify the effect of applying a pressure biofeedback unit on walking ability and knee joint function while performing knee joint extensor strengthening exercises using resistance exercise equipment in total knee replacement (TKR) patients. Methods: This study was conducted on twelve patients receiving rehabilitation treatment after being admitted to a rehabilitation hospital post-TKR. Of these, six were allocated to a feedback group with a pressure biofeedback unit, and the other 6 were allocated to a control group without a pressure biofeedback unit. The subjects performed an exercise program for 45 minutes per session, five times a week, for two weeks. Walking ability and knee joint function were evaluated and analyzed before and after exercise. Results: The feedback group showed significantly better improvements in walking speed, gait cycle, step length on the non-operation side, time on the foot on the operation side, K-WOMAC stiffness, and K-WOMAC function than the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: When strengthening the knee joint extensor muscles using resistance exercise equipment in TKR patients, the provision of a pressure biofeedback unit was found to improve walking ability and knee joint function by inducing concentric-eccentric contraction of the knee joint extensor muscles. Therefore, the study shows that exercise based on the provision of a pressure biofeedback unit should be considered when strengthening knee joint extensor muscles to improve the walking ability and knee joint function of TKR patients in clinical practice.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.86-92
• /
• 1995

Temporomandibular disorders typically present findings of limited or asymmetric patterns of jaw opening and joint sounds usually described as clicking, popping, grating, or crepitus. Recently, patients with temporomandibular disorders have received an increasingly aggressive treatment with a greater emphasis on surgical and dental reconstruction. Scientific studies have not clearly identified the specific causes of the temporomandibular disorders and therefore some of the treatments are empiric, without a firm scientific foundation. We carried out a study on the patients of pain clinic OPD and concluded that the causes of the temporomandibular joint(TMJ) pain are the prolonged contraction of the muscles of mastication, especially the masseter muscle. Therefore, the spasmolytic treatment of masseter muscle would be a better treatment for TMJ syndrome rather than the surgical and dental reconstruction.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.176-191
• /
• 2004

The purpose of this study was to find the effects of the eccentric exercise induced delayed muscle soreness on proprioception, muscle strength, muscle fatigue, and muscle pain of the elbow flexor muscles. Thirty one healthy male subjects were participated in this study. Before resisted eccentric exercise of the elbow flexors and immediately and at 1, 3, 5, and 7 days post-exercise, pain threshold, proprioception, tension tracking, initial median frequency, and fatigue index were measured. Pain pressure threshold and visual analog scale (VAS) was used to measure muscle pain. Proprioception of the elbow joint was measured by using 3 dimension motion analysis system. Maximum isometric contraction was measured by using digital tensiometer. Electromyography and power spectrum analysis was used to measure initial median frequency (IMF) and fatigue index (FI). Immediately post-exercise, a significant decrease pain threshold was observed that continued to 5 days post-exercise. VAS score was significantly increased at 1 and 3 days post-exercise compared to that of immediately post-exercise. Maximum isometric contraction, IMF, tension tracking ability of the exercised elbow joint were significantly decreased at 1, 3, and 5 days post-exercise compared to that of pre-exercise. FI was significantly increased at 1 and 3 days post-exercise compared that of pre-exercise. Proprioception sense of exercised elbow joint was significantly decreased immediately and at 1, 3, and 5 days post-exercise compared to that of pre-exercise. Proprioception sense of the contralateral elbow joint was significantly decreased immediately post-exercise compared to that of pre-exercise. However, proprioception sense that was measured in close chain kinematic position was not significantly difference between pre-exercise and post-exercise. These results could be useful to determine the resume time for exercising and participating sports activities.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.315-321
• /
• 1999

The purpose of this study is to develop a mathematical model for system identification in order to predIct muscle force based on eledromyographic signal. Therefore, a finding of the relalionship between characteristics of electromyographic signal and the corre spondng muscle force should be necessiiry through dynamic, joint model. To develop the dynamic joint model, the upper limb mcludmg the wrist and elbow joint has been considered. The kinematic and dynamic data, such as joint angular displacement, velocity, deceleration along with the moment of inertla, required to establish the dynamic model has been obtained by electrical flexible goniometer which has two degree-of-frcedoms. ln this model, muscle force can be predicted only electromyographs through the relationship between the integrated lorce and the mtegrated electromyographic signal over the duration of muscle contraclion in this study.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.37-43
• /
• 2018

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze muscle activation of the lower extremities as a function of changes of the center of pressure (CoP) of the foot during squats in order to provide quantitative information to trainers who would like to teach correct movements for developing muscles. Method: Ten men with over three years of weight training experience participated in this study (age: $26.1{\pm}0.8yrs$, height: $171.2{\pm}3.9cm$, body mass: $71.1{\pm}5.7kg$, 60%RM: $84{\pm}9kg$, career: $4.0{\pm}0.7yrs$). The participants were instructed to perform a squat in each of 3 conditions, with different CoP's (the front, middle, and rear of the foot). Results: The position of the CoP showed significant differences according to instructions in both the eccentric and concentric contraction phases (p < .05). The range of movement of the hip and ankle joints showed significant differences corresponding to changes of the CoP position (p < .05). The rectus femoris and gluteus maximus muscle showed significant differences for different CoP positions only in the concentric contraction phase, while the gastrocnemius and anterior tibialis were significantly different in both the concentric and eccentric contraction phase (p < .05). Conclusion: When the target muscle of squat training is the gastrocnemius, the CoP should be located in the front of the foot for effective muscle training. When the target muscles of squat training are the gluteus maximus and quadriceps femoris, the CoP should be located on the rear of the foot.