• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.263-274
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• 2019

Purpose: This article was conducted to determine the immediate effects of unilateral contract-relax (CR) stretching on contralateral knee extension range and to compare both sides of the knee extension range between experimental and control groups. Methods: This study recruited 16 adult males and females with straight leg raising abilities below $90^{\circ}$. The subjects were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group comprising 8 subjects each. The experimental group performed direct CR stretching on the right hamstring muscles with straight hip extension adduction, and the control group performed indirect CR stretching on the right hamstring muscles with straight hip flexion abduction. Each group performed CR stretching 4 times with 4 repetitions comprising 10 sec of contraction and a 10 sec break between repetitions. Before and after the CR stretching exercises, the subjects' passive knee extensions were measured at the hip in a $90^{\circ}$ flexed position. The subjects' peak force on the right leg and peak pressure on the left leg during each CR stretching exercise were also measured. Results: After doing CR stretching 4 times, each group showed a significantly increased passive knee extension range on both sides, and there was no difference in the passive knee extension ranges between the groups. The peak force on the right leg was significantly higher in the experimental group than the control group. There was no difference in peak pressure between the groups. Conclusion: After applying unilateral CR stretching, the study subjects experienced a significantly increased passive knee extension range on the contralateral side. For patients who find it difficult to apply stretching techniques to knee joints directly, the use of the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation technique of CR stretching may be useful in improving the range of the knee joint on the contralateral side without direct treatment.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.88-97
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• 2021

Purpose: Patients with total knee arthroplasty (TKA) have impaired balance and movement control. Exercise interventions have not targeted these impairments in this population. This study aimed to investigate the effect of complex balance exercises on unstable ground, on the gait, balance, and daily living ability of patients with total knee arthroplasty. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: The participants consisted of 30 patients placed into two groups of 15 each: a experimental group (complex balance exercise) and a control group (physical therapy exercise). Both group exercise was applied for 3 times a week for 30 minutes for four weeks. Force plate for balance ability and Timed up and go (TUG) test were the primary outcome measures. The secondary outcome measures included 10-m walk test (10MWT) and the daily living ability using the Knee Outcome Survey Activities of Daily Living scale (KOS-ADL). Results: The result of this study showed that the experimental group had a significant difference in TUG and 10MWT than the control group, and balance was significantly different in CEA, CPL, and CAV. There was a significant difference in daily living ability between the experimental and control groups. This study confirms that the physical therapy with complex balance exercise on unstable surfaces has positive effects on balance, gait and daily living ability in patients with total knee arthroplasty. Conclusion: As a result of this study, complex balance exercise on unstable surface was more effective in improvement gait, balance and daily living ability in total knee arthroplasty. From this study, physical therapy with complex balance exercises on unstable ground may be proposed as and effective intervention method for improving gait, balance, and daily living ability in patients with early total knee arthroplasty.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.221-229
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• 2023

This study aims to develop knee protectors that provide high safety and fitness, while incorporating a motion-adaptable 3D-printed pad. These protectors were evaluated by individuals who experience knee discomfort or pain. The results are as follows. First, the 3Dprinted pad design of a hexagonal mesh structure, which is modeled for excellent appearance and knee movement. Each unit of the mesh has a outer layer of 2mm thick, a spacer layer of 1 mm in diameter, and is connected by a 1.5 mm bridge. The bridge was extended up to 1.2 cm. Second, the knee brace was designed in three types - cylinder, strap, and combination by Universal design. Impact protection measurements of the three knee protectors demonstrated roughly 80% reduction in impact. Third, based on usability evaluation, cylinder type protectors have the highest ratings in most areas, primarily because of their ease of use. The strap type protector received positive reviews in terms of appearance and care, and the combination type provided stable knee protection. This study demonstrated the potential industrial application of 3D printing technology by designing and evaluating protective products for the human body. The results of this study are expected to aid knee protector manufacturers in developing practical products and promoting the development of protective equipment for other body parts or purposes.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.203-208
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to examine the ergonomic working uniform. Developing a prototype uniform will be the first stage in aiming to create a working uniform in the construction field. This study was conducted using a questionnaire in the construction field of Daegu city, and the data was gathered from 121 questionnaires. Some of the questions that were asked, were about the case of putting on and removing the uniform and if any areas of uniform caused discomfort. The areas of the uniform that caused problems were the waist, knee, shoulder, arm and neck regions. The free range of movement of these regions were restricted and caused the person to feel cramped. The results of the questionnaire called for improvements to the knee, waist, shoulder and crotch area. The prototype that was developed offered more range of movement in the knee and crotch area, while not causing the uniform to be cramped too much during motion. The prototype also improved comfort by raising the waist line of back part, and by having the ability of the uniform to be tightened or loosened with zipper according to the persons preference. The upper area of the uniform was improved by dropping the shoulder seam line which enhanced comfort and also allowed a better fit for the elbow and wrist. The prototypes additional feature included a slit zipper in the sides of the trousers and a gusset in the under arm area to improve breathability and sweat elimination.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.1919-1931
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• 2005

Human joint motion can be kinematically described in three planes, typically the frontal, sagittal, and transverse, and related to experimentally measured data. The selection of reference systems is a prerequisite for accurate kinematic analysis and resulting development of the equations of motion. Moreover, the development of analysis techniques for the minimization of errors, due to skin movement or body deformation, during experiments involving human locomotion is a critically important step, without which accurate results in this type of experiment are an impossibility. The traditional kinematic analysis method is the Angular-based method (ABM), which utilizes the Euler angle or the Bryant angle. However, this analysis method tends to increase cumulative errors due to skin movement. Therefore, the objective of this study was to propose a new kinematic analysis method, Position-based method (PBM), which directly applies position displacement data to represent locomotion. The PBM presented here was designed to minimize cumulative errors via considerations of angle changes and translational motion between markers occurring due to skin movements. In order to verify the efficacy and accuracy of the developed PBM, the mean value of joint dislocation at the knee during one gait cycle and the pattern of three dimensional translation motion of the tibiofemoral joint at the knee, in both flexion and extension, were accessed via ABM and via new method, PBM, with a Local Reference system (LRS) and Segmental Reference system (SRS), and then the data were compared between the two techniques. Our results indicate that the proposed PBM resulted in improved accuracy in terms of motion analysis, as compared to ABM, with the LRS and SRS.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.85-90
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• 2013

Efficient gait is compensate for a lack of exercise, but the wrong walking can cause disease that joints, muscles, brain and body structure(Scott & Winter, 1990). Also many researchers has been studied gait of positive mechanism using analytical methods kinetic, kinematic. This study is to identify nature of knee adduction moment, depending on different foot progression angle and the movement of rotation of pelvis and body. Health study subject conducted intended walking with three different angles. The subjects of this study classified three types of walking; walk erect, pigeon-toed walk and an out-toed gait. Ten university students of K without previous operation and disease record selected for this study. For accuracy of this study, three types of walking carried out five times with 3D image analysis and using analysis of ground reaction force to analyze nature of knee adduction moment and the movement of rotation of pelvis and body. Firstly, the HC(heel contact) section value of intended walk erect, pigeon-toed walk and an out-toed gait was not shown statistically significant difference but TO(toe off) section value was shown that the pigeon-toed walk statistically significant. The value of pigeon-toed walk was smallest knee adduction moment(p< 0.005). Secondly, X axis was the change of rotation movement body and pelvis when walk erect, pigeon-toed walk and an out-toed gait. Shown statistically Y axis was not shown statistically significant but Z axis statistically significant(p<0.05). These result show the significant differences on TO section when walking moment reaches HC, it decides the walking types and rotates the foot.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.140-146
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• 2022

Background: The superimposed technique (ST) involves the application of electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) during voluntary muscle action. The physiological effects attributed to each stimulus may be accumulated by the ST. Although various EMS devices for the quadriceps muscle are being marketed to the general public, there is still a lack of research on whether ST training can provide significant advantages for improving quadriceps muscle strength or thickness compared with EMS alone. Objective: To compare the effects of eight weeks of ST and EMS on the thicknesses of the rectus femoris (RF) and vastus intermedius (VI) muscles and knee extension strength. Methods: Thirty healthy subjects were recruited and randomly assigned to either the ST or EMS groups. The participants underwent ST or EMS training for eight weeks. In all participants, the thicknesses of the RF and VI muscles were measured before and after the 8-week intervention by ultrasonography, and quadriceps muscle strength was measured using the Smart KEMA tension sensor (KOREATECH Co., Ltd.). Results: There were significant differences in the pre- and post-intervention thicknesses of the RF and VI muscles as well as the quadriceps muscle strength in both groups (p < 0.05). RF thickness was significantly greater in the ST group (F = 4.294, p = 0.048), but there was no significant difference in VI thickness (F = 0.234, p = 0.632) or knee extension strength (F = 0.775, p = 0.386). Conclusion: EMS can be used to improve quadriceps muscle strength and RF and VI muscle thickness, and ST can be used to improve RF thickness in the context of athletic training and fitness.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.105-116
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• 1998

Purpose In this study, We observed the recovery process in the ability to move in the hind limbs of the rats whose spinal cord injuries were treated by Radix acouniti(RA). The purpose of this study is to see the effects of Radix acouniti(RA) water extract on the contraction of rat's spinal cord injury. Procedure First, the rats were subjected to hemisectional spinal cord injuries by a scalpel blade. Those rats, then, were divided into three groups: Sham operated rats group and the experimental group, which received the Radix acouniti(RA) water extract, and the control group, which had no treatment. Their recovery in the ability to walk was observed by the Open Field Test (OFT) for 14 days after the injuries. Method The OFT was applied at four points: the hip, knee, ankle joint, and the tail. Each joint was given a movement rating of from 0 to 3, depending on the amount of movement. A movement rating of 0 designates no movement, a 1 designates slight movement, a 2 designates increased movement, and a 3 designates active movement. Slight movement is defined as a joint displaying less than or equal to 30% of that joint range, increased movement is displaying less than or equal to 60% of that joint's range, and active movement is greater than or equal to 90% of that joint's range. Tail movement is also graded on a scale of 0 to 3. A rating of 0 indicates that the tail is down 100% of the time, one of 1 indicates that the tail is down more than 10%, one of 2 shows that the tail is down less than 50% but more than 10% of the time, and one of 3 shows that the tail is down less than 10% of the time. All four ratings were added together and then averaged to arrive at a single score. Results The sham group which did not go through spinal cord injuries showed near normal results on all 3 joints and tail from right after the operation, which one would expect. The RA oral application group showed more effective recovery of movememt function than the control group around 4 days after the spinal cord injuries. However, after 14 days, both groups displayed almost the same degree of movement recovery. The results of this study are summarized as follows: 1. After 14days the spinal cord injuries, movement was recovered in sham operated group, control group, and experimented group in the hip, the knee, the tail and then the ankle of rats, in that order. 2. Around 7 days after the spinal cord injuries, the experimental group proved the effectiveness of the therapy in terms of movement recovery. 3. The level of ALT, ALP, AST in RA treated group was slightly increased. 4. The level of BUN and creatinine in RA treated group was slightly increased. The above results indicate that RA therapy at an early stage can bring about better movement recovery in patients with spinal cord injuries from traffic accidents or industrial disasters. But there is apparent side effect of RA on clinical, therefore the study on this should be continued.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.249-264
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• 2004

Objective : This study is designed to find out the effects of Sulguanjul-Bang No.1 on osteoarthritis in knee joint. Methods : 45 patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee joint were enrolled in a short term 8-week open clinical trial. The 45 patients were taken Sulguanjul-bang No.1 two times a day before meals for 8 week. After 8 week treatment period, the following parameters were analyzed ; Visual analogue Scale(VAS) as first effective parameter, Lysholm index score, patient's global assessment, passive movement range of the knee joint. Results : Sulguanjul-bang No.1 treatment led to significant improvement in the pain and symptoms of osteoarthritis as determined by all efficacy measures. After 8 weeks of therapy, there was significant improvement in VAS and Lysholm index; squat, sit down and up, crepitaion, swelling. The range of motion was improved in 6 of 9 cases. The improvement in patient's global assessment was seen in 84%. Conclusion : Sulguanjul-bang No.1 was very beneficial effect in pain relief and improvement functions on osteoarthritis.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.105-113
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• 2018

Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the effects of dynamic balance training on pain, physical function, and dynamic balance in individuals with knee osteoarthritis. Methods: Fourteen patients with knee osteoarthritis participated in this study. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups: an experimental group (n=7) or a control group (n=7). All the patients took part in a lower extremity strength program for 30 min. In addition, the experimental group participated in a 30-min dynamic balance program. Both groups performed the program five times a week for 3 weeks. Outcomes, including the numeric rating scale (NRS), Western Ontario and MacMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC), and Community Balance and Mobility Scale (CB&M), were measured at baseline and after 3 weeks. Results: Both groups showed pre-to-post intervention improvements on all outcome measures (p<0.05). The experimental group showed a significant improvement in WOMAC (p = 0.00; Z = -2.82) and CB&M (p = 0.03; Z = -2.20) scores after the intervention as compared with those of the control group. Conclusion: The results revealed that dynamic balance training improved physical function, as well as balance ability, in patients with knee osteoarthritis as compared with that of a control group with no balance training.