• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 한국정밀공학회 2003년도 추계학술대회 논문요약집
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• pp.24-24
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• 2003

For the elderly, achieving a close-to-normal ambulation is important for activities of daily life. Recent researches of SE(Silver Engineering) restoring physical ability would help the elderly by developing the advanced gait assisting devices and orthoses. For the applications using the advanced technologies, the gait characteristics of the elderly must be understood. However, a few studies were performed to investigate the physiological or pathological gaits. The purpose of this study is to provide the gait analysis data and also to investigate relationships between alignment of the lower limb, foot progression angle and knee joint moments in the healthy elderly. By participating a total of 20 healthy elderly persons in this study, the following facts were found: 1) Cadence showed 114.8 steps/min, gait speed showed 1.05 m/s, time per a stride showed 1.06 sec, time per a step showed 0.53 sec, single-supporting phase was 0.41 sec, double-supporting phase was 0.24 sec, stride length was 1.04m, Step length was 0.56m; 2) The maximum knee flexion angle through swing phase showed left 46.82$^{\circ}$, right 40.19$^{\circ}$ and the maximum knee extension angle showed left -1.32$^{\circ}$, right 2.01$^{\circ}$. Knee varus showed left 26.90$^{\circ}$, right 30.93$^{\circ}$; 3) The maximum knee flexion moment showed left 0.363 Nm/kg, right 0.464 Nm/kg, The maximum knee extension moment showed left 0.389 Nm/kg, right 0.463 Nm/kg. The maximum knee adduction moment showed left 0.332 Nm/kg, right 0.379 Nm/kg. The maximum internal rotational moment showed left 0.13 Nm/kg, right 0.140 Nm/kg; 4) The subjects who had varus alignment of the lower extremity had statistically higher in knee adduction moment in mid stance phase; and 5) The subjects who had large foot progression angle had statistically lower in knee adduction moment in late stance phase.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.359-368
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• 2001

A new knee-ankle-foot-orthosis(KAFO) which uses an automatically-controlled electromechanical wrap spring clutch for the knee joint was developed in the present study. It was found that the output voltage from the foot switches of the developed KAFO was proportionally increased with respect to the applied load. The output voltage from the infrared sensor also decreased as the knee flexion angle increased. The knee joint system for the new KAFO weighs only 780g lighter than any other commercially available developed system. In addition, the solenoid reduces the reaction time for the automatic control of the knee joint. The static torque of the clutch was measured for three persons, and it satisfied the normal knee extension moment during the pre-swing. Three-dimensional gait analyses for three different gait patterns (normal gait, locked-knee gait, controlled-knee gait) from five normal subjects were conducted. Controlled-knee gait showed the maximum knee flexion angle of 40.56$\pm9.55^{\circ}$ and the maximum knee flexion moment of 0.20$\pm$0.07Nm/kg at similar periods in the normal gait. Our KAFO system satisfies both stability during stance phase and free knee flexion during the swing phase at the proper period during the gait cycle. Therefore, our KAFO system would be very useful in various low extremity orthotic applications.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.25-31
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• 2018

Background: The purpose of this study was to find out how changes in knee angles in stable and unstable support surfaces affect the muscle thickness of core muscles. Methods: The subjects of this study were 25 male adult. Each knee angle of 120, 90 and 60 degrees, they were performed bridge exercise on the stabilized surface and on the unstable support surface using TOGU, and measured the muscle thickness of the external and internal oblique muscle and the abdominal muscles through ultrasound images. Results: There was no significant difference between the thickness of the rectus abdominis and the internal oblique muscle depending on the support surface and the knee joint bending angles. However, there was a significant difference between the external oblique muscle and the transverse abdominis muscle by knee joint flexion angle. Conclusion: While the muscle thickness of the core muscle was not significantly affected by each support surface during the bridge exercise, there were significant changes in the core muscle as a result of changes in knee angle.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• 제4권4호
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• pp.67-75
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare Hip-Knee-Ankle(HKA) angle and muscle activation ratio between vastus medialis(VM), rectus femoris(RF), and vastus lateralis (VL), and by this, to examine their relationship. It is aimed to explore how the activation ratio among the muscles involved in patellofemoral kinetics would vary in relation with the frontal alignment of the lower extremity. Subjects and Methods: 26 healthy subjects were recruited for the study. The HKA angles were measured with radiograph. The VM, RF, VL muscle activation level were measured by surface electromyography while each participant performed 4 different types of movement (isometric knee extension, squat, ambulation, step-up) and VM/RF, VM/VL, RF/VL ratios were calculated. Pearson correlation was used to estimate the relationship between the HKA angle and the muscle ratio. Results: There was significant moderate correlation between HKA angle and VM: RF on the left side during ambulation (p<0.05). Moderate correlations were also observed during step-up and squat with less significance (p<0.1). Conclusion: The frontal alignment of the knee measured by the HKA angle was conditionally associated with muscle activation ratio between VM and RF (VM:RF); On the left, during ambulation, step-up, and squat, the more valgus knee tended to correlate with the more VM muscle activation ratio, which is expected to induce more stabilizing effect to the patella and its tracking. It suggests that the frontal alignement measured by the HKA-angle can affect PF kinetics. It also indicates a possibility that increase in valgus alignment of the knee, by the HKA measurement, may not act unfavorably to generate PFP.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 제어로봇시스템학회 2000년도 제15차 학술회의논문집
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• pp.244-244
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• 2000

We proposed the above-knee prosthesis using rotary MR damper in which knee joint is semi-actively controlled by microprocessor. Dissipation torque in the knee joint can be controlled by the magnetic field which is induced by applying current to a solenoid, Tracking control of knee joint angle was tested by 3-DOF Leg simulator. The experimental results show that the proposed above-knee prosthesis system had good performance in swing phase tracking and repetitive controller in conjunction with a computed control law and PD control law, reduced RMS tracking error as the repetitions of tracking. Moreover, desired knee angle trajectory was generated based on the estimation of gait period with the gyro signal and the tracking control was performed.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.207-216
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to biomechanical analysis Judo's Kuzushi throwing motion in order to increase the effectiveness of Nage-waja(throwing technique). The Tori was a Judo player with 18 years experience(4th degree) while the Uke was a player with 2 years experience(1st degree). The kinematic data was captured using the Vicon motion system (7 cameras) and the kinetics were recorded by force plates(2 AMTI). The following were the results; While leaning to the front the subject's trunk's angle was $14.5^{\circ}$, the lower limbs angle was $23.8^{\circ}$, knee angle was $179.6^{\circ}$ and the vertical reaction of the left leg was 325.42N(BW 0.34) and the right leg was 233.7N(BW 0.47). While leaning back the subject's trunk's angle was $11.3^{\circ}$, the lower limbs angle was $4.1^{\circ}$, knee angle was $1761^{\circ}$ and the vertical reaction of the left leg was 299.53N(BW 0.43) and the right leg was 441.7N(BW 0.64). While leaning to the left the subject's trunk's angle was $30.8^{\circ}$, the lower limbs angle was $2.7^{\circ}$, knee angle was $175.2^{\circ}$ and the vertical reaction of the left leg was 711N(BW 1.03) and the right leg was 9.2N(BW 0.01). While leaning to the right the subject's trunk's angle was $36.5^{\circ}$, the lower limbs angle was $10.4^{\circ}$, knee angle was $175.2^{\circ}$ and the vertical reaction of the left leg was 13.2N(BW 0.02) and the right leg was 694.7N(BW 1.01). While leaning to the left front corner the subject's trunk's angle was $19.8^{\circ}$ (front) and $15.1^{\circ}$ (left), the lower limbs angle was $17.8^{\circ}$ (front) and $2.4^{\circ}$ (left), knee angle was $177.8^{\circ}$ (front) and $173.9^{\circ}$(left), and the vertical reaction of the left leg was 547.4N(BW 0.8) and the right leg was 117.8N(BW 0.17). While leaning to the right front corner the subject's trunk's angle was $15.4^{\circ}$ (front) and $17.7^{\circ}$ (right), the lower limbs angle was $21.1^{\circ}$, (front) and $5.7^{\circ}$ (right), knee angle was $175.5^{\circ}$ (front) and $178.9^{\circ}$(right), and the vertical reaction of the left leg was 53N(BW 0.08) and the right leg was 622.4N(BW 09). While leaning to the left rear corner the subject's trunk's angle was $9.2^{\circ}$ (back) and $13.8^{\circ}$ (left), the lower limbs angle was $2^{\circ}$, (back) and $5.7^{\circ}$ (left), knee angle was $175.5^{\circ}$ (back) and $172.8^{\circ}$(left), and the vertical reaction of the left leg was 698.2N(BW 1.02) and the right leg was 49.6N(BW 0.07). While leaning to the right rear corner the subject's trunk's angle was $8.9^{\circ}$ (back) and $19.6^{\circ}$ (right), the lower limbs angle was ${0.6^{\circ}}_"$ (back) and $3.1^{\circ}$ (right), knee angle was $174.6^{\circ}$ (back) and $175.6^{\circ}$(right), and the vertical reaction of the left leg was 7.2N(BW 0.01) and the right leg was 749.4N(BW 1.09). It was observed that during the Judo motion Kuzushii the range of the COM varied from $26.5{\sim}39.9cm$. It was concluded that the upper body leaned further than the lower body as there was knee extension. There was high left leg reaction forces while leaning to the left and likewise for the right side. It was therefore deduced that the Kuzushi was a more effective throwing technique for the left side.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.93-105
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• 2016

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of corrective exercise on hip joint range of motion, lower limb alignment, radiographs of hip and knee joints, and quadriceps muscle activity in a patient with knee joint valgus deformity. METHODS: A single-subject A-B-A experimental design was used to determine the effects of therapeutic exercise. The single-subject was a 27-year-old male, who presented with knee joint valgus deformity. Corrective exercise program was performed for 40 min/day twice a week for 12-week. Range of motion (hip flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, internal rotation, and external rotation), lower limb alignment test (Q-angle, rear foot alignment, and leg length), standing anterior-posterior radiographs (neck shaft angle and knee joint space), and quadriceps muscle activity of both lower limbs were measured before (A 1), after 6 weeks (B 1) and after 12-weeks (B 2) of corrective exercise and after 6 weeks of exercise completion (A 2). RESULTS: Hip range of motion increased in all directions of both sides at B 2 and A 2 compared to at A 1. Q-angle of both side and leg length discrepancy decreased at B 2 and A 2 compared to at A 1. Neck shaft angle and knee joint space of both sides improve at B 2 and A 2 compared to at A 1. Quadriceps of both side muscle activities improved at B 2 and A 2 compared to at A 1. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that corrective exercise increases range of motion, and improves lower limb alignment and muscle activity in a patient with knee joint valgus deformity.

• PNF and Movement
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.79-86
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate muscle activity according to knee flexion angle during single-limb-deadlift exercises. Methods: In total, 26 healthy volunteers participated. The single-limb-deadlift consisted of 0˚, 15˚, and 30˚ knee joint bending. The electromyography data were collected from the semitendinosus (SM), the biceps femoris (BF), the rectus femoris (RF), the vastus lateralis (VL), and the vastus medialis (VM). In addition, hamstrings and quadriceps (HQ) ratio was measured during the single-limb-deadlift using electromyography. Results: During the single-limb-deadlift, RF, VL, and VM were significantly higher at 30˚ bending angles compared to muscle activity of 0˚ and 15˚ knee-joint bending. The HQ ratio had significant differences in all three knee joint bending angles. In particular, the single-limb-deadlift carried out to a 30˚ knee-joint bend showed the closest value to 1. Conclusion: The most balanced coactivation ratios were observed during a single-limb-deadlift to a 30˚ knee-joint bend angle. A single-limb-deadlift at a knee-bend angle of less than 30˚ could be used as an exercise to prevent ACL injury. It could also be used for post-injury rehabilitation programs by increasing knee-joint stability.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• 제17권1_2호
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• pp.41-52
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of continuous passive motion(CPM) and continuous active motion(CAM) on proprioception of the knee after total knee replacement(TKR). Methods: Twenty patients with TKR were randomly allocated into two groups, the CPM group(n=10) and the CAM group(n=10). All subjects were evaluated for levels of pain, passive range of motion and angle reproduction of the knee. An angle reproduction test was used to assess the proprioceptive deficit. Two types of angle reproduction test were used: a passive angle reproduction(PAR) test and an active angle reproduction(AAR) test. The relevant examinations were performed before and after intervention(on the 5th day and the 10th day). The statistical significance were calculated using a t-test and a one-way repeated ANOVA. Results: A pre-intervention significant difference was not found between the two groups. Significantly better results were before and after the intervention at 10 days, for the PAR(flexion direction) test; however, only in the CAM group. There were no significant difference, either before or after the intervention, for the AAR test(flexion and extension direction) in both group. Both groups experienced similar levels of pain and passive range of knee motion before and after the intervention. Conclusion: This study revealed that CAM was a better effect to restore position sense of the knee joint after TKR.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.293-300
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• 2015

Objective : The purpose of this study was to compare the kinematic data of the horizontal rotation movements of shoulder, hip, knee during two-handed backhand drive stroke according to two different ball directions. Methods : The kinematic variables were analyzed such as the joint angles of the lower body, horizontal rotation angles of the shoulder, hip, inter-knee segment, body twist angle and difference in angle of forward swing. Two-handed backhand drive stroke was analyzed through a three-dimensional motion analysis. The collected data were analyzed by a paired t-test, and the statistical significant value was set at ${\alpha}=.05$. Results : The findings of this study were as follows; First, there was no difference in the total angles of lower limb joints from the forward swing position to impact posterior. Second, there was no difference in the horizontal rotation angles of E1 shoulder, hip, and E2 shoulder but the horizontal rotation angles of E1 knee, E2 hip, knee, E3, and E4 shoulder, hip, and knee were different in all events. Third, there was no difference in the body twist angle of the maximum horizontal rotation. In addition, there was no difference in the angle of the body twist by the ball direction in the shoulder-hip, the hip-knee and the shoulder-knee. Conclusion : Horizontal rotation angle determines ball directions.