• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.125-133
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• 2017

This paper presents the inter-rater reliability of finger spasticity assessment tested realized by using finger simulator that mimics finger spasticity of patients after a stroke. For controlling the simulator torque, finger spasticity was modeled, and the model parameters were obtained by measuring quantitative data while grading based on Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). A robotic finger simulator was designed for mimicking finger spasticity. Evaluation of this simulator with the help of seven rehabilitation doctors showed that the simulator had a Cohen's kappa value of 0.619 for Metacarpophalangeal Joint and 0.514 for Proximal Interphalangeal Joint. Fleiss' kappa between raters is 0.513 for Metacarpophalangeal Joint and 0.486 for Proximal Interphalangeal Joint. Therefore, the spasticity assessment made by MAS grade system is not reliable owing to the subjectivity of the assessment. The proposed robotic simulator can be used as a training tool for improving the reliability of the spasticity assessment.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.169-175
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this case study is to observe the effect of burning acupuncture therapy on the trigger finger. Methods : 2 patients were treated by burning acupuncture therapy to recover from trigger finger. The symptoms were evaluated by visual analog scale(VAS) and Tanaka score. Results : In both cases, VAS decreased to 0 and 1. Patients were evaluated as excellent and good by Tanaka score. Conclusions : Burning acupuncture therapy is effective to trigger finger.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.163-169
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• 2005

Objective : Direct moxibustion applied on painful point of injured ligament, not acu-point, is effective method to treat acute pain and chronic weakness of injured ligaments. We recently experienced 3 case of sprain treated with direct moxibustion on painful point of ligaments. Methods : Patients who injured in lateral collated ligament, anterior talo-fibular ligament, and collateral ligament of finger were treated by direct moxibustion on tender points of injured ligaments. Results and conclusion : There was successful results that pain and ROM was improved. It seems that burns due to moxibustion facilitate repair of ligament and control inflammation.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.919-926
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• 2010

This paper proposes a wearable hand rehabilitation device, DULEX, for persons with functional paralysis of upper-limbs after stoke. DULEX has three degrees of freedom for rehabilitation exercises for wrist and fingers except the thumb. The main function of DULEX is to extend the range of motions of finger and wrist being contracture. DULEX is designed by using a parallel mechanism, and its parameters such as length and location of links are determined by kinematic analysis. The motion trajectory of the designed DULEX is aligned to human hand to prevent a slip. To reduce total weight of DULEX, artificial air muscles are used for actuating each joint motion. In feedback control, each joint angle is indirectly estimated from the relations of the input air pressure and the output muscle length. Experimental results show that DULEX is feasible in hand rehabilitation for stroke survivals.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.127-133
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• 2014

This paper describes a design and manufacture of a two-axis force sensor and a single-axis force sensor for the fingers of an intelligent robot's hand. The robot's finger is composed of a two-axis force sensor, a first knuckle, a single-axis force sensor, a second knuckle, a spring, a motor of first knuckle, a motor of second knuckle, and so on. The two-axis force sensor attached to the first knuckle and the single-axis force sensor attached to the second knuckle were designed and manufactured, and the characteristics test of two sensors was carried out. As a test results, the interference error of the two-axis force sensor was less than 0.68%, the repeatability error of each sensor was less than 0.02%, and then the non-linearity was less than 0.03%. It is thought that the sensors can be used for the fingers of the intelligent robot's hand for rehabilitation exercise of finger patients.

• Design Convergence Study
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.1-14
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• 2019

General finger splint manufactured and sold domestically could have been of great help to patients with disabilities due to damage to the body's. However, it reminded the wearer of his disability that he wanted to hide. This has had a negative effect on the psychological side of self-absorption and depression. If this avoids or rejects wearing, the role of ancillary rehabilitation is lost. This does not meet the user's requirements. Thus, in this study, 3D printing was used to better reflect user requirements. Next, the study examined existing prior studies to identify the characteristics and criteria of each study. It also examined medical finger aids that were being sold in the auxiliary device market. The assessment criteria were derived by compiling and interpreting user surveys of each finger splint device. Based on the evaluation criteria derived, the design guidelines for finger splint were presented using FDM-style 3D printers. Finally, we proposed a finger splint design according to the proposed design guideline.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.238-245
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• 2010

Stroke patients can't use their hands because of the paralysis of their fingers. Their fingers are recovered by rehabilitating training, and the rehabilitating extent can be judged by grasping a spherical object. At present, the object used in hospital is only a spherical object, and can't measure the force of fingers. Therefore, doctors judge the rehabilitating extent by touching and watching at their fingers. So, the spherical object measuring system which can measure the force of their fingers should be developed. In this paper, the finger-force measuring system with a three-axis force sensor which can measure the spherical-object grasping force is developed. The three-axis force sensor is designed and fabricated, and the force measuring device is designed and manufactured using DSP(digital signal processing). Also, the grasping force test of men is performed using the developed finger-force measuring system, it was confirmed that the average force of men was about 120 N.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.79-85
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• 2011

In this paper, we proposed a design of upper-limb rehabilitation device with power-assist function for stroke survivals. The designed upper-limb rehabilitation device has three degrees of freedom； it is possible to perform flexion and extension motions of wrist, index finger and the other fingers except the thumb independently. The power-assist for wrist motion is performed by a pneumatic double-acting cylinder, but the fingers are actuated by electrical linear actuators to assist motions. A prototype upper-limb rehabilitation device and its controller were implemented. The position controller showed 0.8 mm errors in the steady-state. Experimental results showed that the proposed upper-limb rehabilitation device with power-assist function is feasible.

• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.1145-1154
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• 2012

Recent research has been mostly focused on the differences of prenatal sex hormone could affect the ratio of the lengths of the second to fourth digits (2D:4D) as well as the rate of several physiological characteristics. It has been suggested that digit ratios are thought to be associated with either higher prenatal testosterone levels or greater sensitivity to androgens, or both. However, a study of person with disabilities are rare in Korea. The purpose of this study was to compare patterns of the ratio (2D:4D) of the lengths of the second and fourth digits in persons with disabilities and students without disabilities. Also, we empirically analyze the characteristics of persons with disabilities. We found that finger length ratio (2D:4D) of men with disabilities and student without disabilities were lower than women with disabilities and student without disabilities. Therefore, it could be confirmed that finger length ratio (2D:4D) is sexually dimorphic trait. There were no correlations between finger length ratio (2D:4D) and age group in persons with disabilities. Therefore, as with person without disabilities, the 2D:4D ratio was negatively associated with a growth process of persons with disabilities. Finally, There was no difference correlations between finger length ratio (2D:4D) and level of disability in persons with intellectual disabilities. From this, one possible explanation for this is that if finger length ratio (2D:4D) is related to person with disability then current classification of the level of disability deserves further investigation.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.24-31
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• 1996

The purpose of this study was to determine which of several crutch-fitting techniques best predicts ideal crutch length. Ideal crutch length is defined as the length of the crutch, including accessories, obtained during stance when the crutch tip is 6 inches (15.2 cm) lateral and 6 inches(15.2 cm) anterior to the fifth toe and the axillary pad is 2.5 inches(6.4 cm) below the axillary fold. Forty four volunteers were measured for crutches using each of the following methods:(1) 77% of actual height, (2) actual height minus 40.6 cm, (3) actual height minus 45.7 cm, (4) olecranon to opposite third finger tip, (5) olecranon to opposite fifth finger tip, (6) 77% of arm span, (7) arm span minus 40.6 cm, (8) anterior axillary fold to heel plus 5.1 cm, (9) anterior axillary fold to heel plus 10.2 cm, (10) ideal crutch length. Of the techniques studied, the two involving anterior axillary fold to heel were found to be good predictors: anterior axillary fold to heel plus 5.1 cm and anterior axillary fold to heel plus 10.2 cm. Finally, two additional length estimates were derived using linear regression analyses. These estimates provided the best overall predictors based on anterior axillary fold to heel and actual height.