• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 2003

Obesity increases the risk of knee and to a lesser extent hip OA, which combined affect a large percentage of middle-aged and elderly adults and which are major source of disability, and factor of drop a lowering in the physical exercise ability. Energy expenditure from physical activity accounts for up to 30% of total energy expenditure, it can have a significant impact on energy balance. We studied a exercise therapy that improved long-term weight management and produced additional benefits - loss of joint pain, improved joint mobility, and this exercise program will enhance the weight loss and health benefits from physical activity in the treatment of obese patients with osteoarthritis.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.157-167
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• 2003

Falls are a leading cause of injury, disability and death among people older than 65. Even without injury, falls cause a loss of confidence that results in reduced physical activity, increased dependency and social withdrawal. Fall prevention in the eldery people is a multifaced task that includes both the identification of risk factors and their modification strategies. Fall risk factors have been identified as both intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic factors are those related to the physical and cognitive function of the person. Extrinsic factors are those which are included in the environmental hazards of everyday life. Combinations of interventions aimed at modifying both intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors can result in significant fall prevention in the geriatric population. This article selectively reviews the literature reporting exercise intervention to improve strength, balance and mobility.

• IEMEK Journal of Embedded Systems and Applications
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.161-167
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• 2018

The improvement of the social environment and the rapid development of medicine are making possible the age of 100. So a great number of countries including Korea are rapidly becoming the aged society or the super aged society. The elderly are accompanied by discomfort and disability. A variety of systems are developed and distributed to overcome them. The electric wheelchair is an electric motorized system for people who can not manipulate a manual wheelchair. In this paper, we propose an autonomous driving platform for an electric wheelchair. Here we use QR (Quick Response) code for self-localization. We also present real test results of the proposed system.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.191-197
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• 2011

Lifting chair is a typical assistive product to aid for standing up and sitting down for persons with disability. It is particularly useful for the elderly persons whose muscular system is weakened by degenerative joint disease. This paper describes biomechanical assessments of lifting chair with hip-up function. In experiments we measured 3D motion and electromyographic(EMG) signal on the femoral muscle when subject performs the standing motion on the predetermined seat height. Based on assessment of the standing motion, we select the hip-up angle as 15 degrees to cover the relative femoral angle when EMG peak value is appeared. Using an implemented prototype lifting chair with hip-up function we perform standing experiments with five subjects. The experimental results show that the lifting and hip-up functions are effective to assist for standing up motion with less muscle force.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.301-310
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• 2018

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between physical function (ADL, IADL) and mental function (depression, cognitive dysfunction) and quality of life in the elderly. The subjects of this study were 524 elderly people aged 65 or older who were admitted to 15 care facilities located in D metropolitan city. Data were collected through a personal interview conducted by interviewers that visited each care facility from November 2015 to January 2016. T-tests and ANOVA were used to compare the quality of life score for each independent variable, while multiple regression was used to determine the explanatory power of independent variables that affected quality of life. Quality of life was significantly lower among those of older age, lower educational level, living alone, with lower relationships with children, lower subjective health status, disability, lower ability for mastication, without regular eating habits, without regular exercise, and without regular health checkups. In addition, quality of life was significantly lower in the ADL and IADL, as well as among those with a higher depression level and lower cognitive impairment scores than their respective counterparts. The results of this study suggest that the quality of life among elderly that have been admitted to care facilities is significantly related to physical and mental functions as well as demographic characteristics, health status and health related behavioral characteristics.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.788-797
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to identify the satisfaction with medical services of the disabled elderly who have the highest need for medical services. For this purpose, the effect of health characteristics and medical service characteristics of the disabled elderly on medical service satisfaction was verified. The subjects of analysis were 3,323 persons with disabilities aged 65 or older who were taken from the national survey of people with disabilities in 2017. For statistical analysis, descriptive analysis, correlation analysis, and regression analysis were performed using the SPSS 26.0 program. The results of the study showed as follows. As a result of the regression analysis, gender (β= -.045, p<.05) and residence status (β= -.048, p<.05) among the demographic characteristics as control variables had a statistically significant effect on the level of medical service satisfaction. Among the health characteristics, IADL (β=-.044, p<.05) had a statistically significant effect on medical service satisfaction level. In the case of medical service characteristics, satisfaction with medical facilities and equipment (β = .290, p< .001), medical staff's level of understanding of disability (β = .404, p< .001), health-related service use (β = .182, p<.05) had a statistically significant effect on the level of medical service satisfaction. Based on the results, practical alternatives to ensure health equity in the community medical system were suggested in the discussion to enhance the health management and self-determination capabilities of the disabled elderly.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.423-432
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• 2021

In this study, we investigated and the following conclusions are presented by identifying the current status and problems in order to expand the future's value of the community care project introduced and implemented to improve the quality and care for the elderly's life. First, the needs analysis of the elderly receiving services is composed of patient-centered rather than investigator-centered, and in particular, medical management through medical staff visits should be strengthened, and specialized service items according to gender, age, disability type, and personal preference should be strengthened. This will have to be gradually strengthened. Second, by analyzing the satisfaction, redundancy, and effectiveness of service items, we save money, and consider the consumer-oriented service item composition and application of items necessary for new services. Third, through the introduction of an integrated schedule management system, it is necessary to specialize in pre-booking and visit schedule management between the elderly and the direct service organizations that provide services. Fourth, as an effort to solve the financial problem, it is necessary to prepare a rational resource sharing system with health and medical finance, long-term care insurance system, and social welfare financial project. and it may consider that putting the medical personnel who are from local public medical college input. Through these proposals, the community care business will be able to complete and have future value as a universal aged care system.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.742-751
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between depression, perceived health status, and health promotion behavior of frail elderly. The subjects were 164 frail elders aged over 65 registered with the home visiting services of two welfare centers in D city. Data was collected using structured questionnaires from January 2 to February 21, 2020. Data was analyzed using the t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe test, Pearson's correlation coefficients and stepwise multiple regression with the SPSS/WIN 23.0 program. The mean depression score was 10.67, perceived health status was 6.71, health promotion behavior score was 2.59. Health promotion behavior and depression were negatively correlated and perceived health status was positively correlated. Factors influencing health promotion behavior were age, education level, and depression. These variables accounted for 73.6% of health-promoting behaviors. Based on these results, we conclude that it is important to continue health promotion for the frail elderly through various programs including interventions for depression to prevent the elderly from progressing to disability.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.67-74
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• 2017

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of and the relevant risk factors for lumbar spondylosis (LS) among middle-aged and elderly rural Korean residents and to explore the association between radiographic LS and lower back pain (LBP) in relation to age and gender. Methods : This community-based, cross-sectional study evaluated 1512 subjects with available radiograph. The prevalence of LBP was obtained using a questionnaire and disability resulting from LBP was measured using a validated Korean version of the Oswestry disability index (ODI). In lumbar spine radiographs, vertebral levels from L1/2 to L4/5 were evaluated for the presence of osteophytes and joint-space narrowing (JSN), and Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grading was applied. Results : Of 4261 subjects aged 40-79 years, data from 1512 subjects were included. The prevalence of radiographic LS indicated by grade ${\geq}2$ osteophytes and JSN were 53.9 and 15.8%, respectively. Seventy-three percent of subjects had KL grade ${\geq}2$ spondylosis and LBP was present in 36.5% of subjects. Although LS was more common among males, the prevalence of LBP was higher among females. Age, male gender and history of hand or knee arthritis were risk factors for LS. LS was significantly associated with LBP mostly among females over 60 years old and correlated with the ODI after adjusting for age and gender. Conclusion : Our study among rural Korean residents revealed a high prevalence of LS and LBP. The association between LS and LBP was observed mostly among females and LS was significantly correlated with the severity of back pain.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.214-226
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• 2023

PURPOSE. This study aimed to compare the bite force (BF) between complete dentures and implant overdentures (IODs) retained by two mandibular implants. Additionally, we evaluated the quality of life (QoL) and patient satisfaction among individuals using IODs. In addition, the effects of demographic parameters such as age and sex, and clinical parameters such as implant length, implant diameter, attachment height, attachment color, and interimplant distance on BF, QoL, and patient satisfaction were evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A total of 51 edentulous patients rehabilitated with the maxillary complete dentures and mandibular IODs retained by two implants were included in this study. BF was measured using a force meter pre- and post-implant in the same patients. Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) was assessed with the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) and patient satisfaction was assessed with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) questionnaires. RESULTS. It was found that BF values were statistically higher for IODs than complete dentures (P < .001). In terms of attachment height of the OHIP scores, there was a significant difference in the psychological disability and social disability domains (P < .05). When examining the change in patient satisfaction as a function of sex, it was found that mandibular retention satisfaction differed significantly by sex (P < .05), but there was no significant difference in the other domains. CONCLUSION. Within the limitations of this study, it was observed that the BF increased after the use of IODs. Several factors, including age, interimplant distance, attachment height, and attachment color, were found to impact OHRQoL. Sex and implant diameter were identified as factors affecting patient satisfaction.