• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.357-367
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• 2013

The purposes of this study were investigated physical compensation for gait on induced knee stiffness in normal subjects. Ten subjects were participated in the experiment(age: $26.0{\pm}6.3$ yrs, height: $175.5{\pm}5.3$ cm, weight: $69.1{\pm}6.1$ kg). The study method adopted 3D analysis with five cameras and ground reaction force with two force-plate. Induced knee stiffness level were classified as gait pattern on ROM of knee(free level, $30^{\circ}$ restriction level, fix level). The results were as follows; In angular displacement of hip joint, left hip joint was the more extended in mid-stance on induced right knee stiffness. In angular displacement of knee joint, there was no physical compensation on induced right knee stiffness, but free knee level gait was more flexed in swing phase of right knee joint. In angular displacement of ankle joint, right ankle joint was the more dorsiflexed on induced right knee stiffness, and $30^{\circ}$ restriction level and fix level gait were less plantarflexed in TO2. In trunk tilt, free and $30^{\circ}$ restriction level gait was more backward tilt on induced right knee stiffness. In ROM of each joint, right knee joint was more larger and trunk tilt was more lower on induced right knee stiffness. In GRF, Fx was more bigger lateral force in free and $30^{\circ}$ restriction level gait, and was more bigger medial force in fix level gait. Fy was more bigger propulsion force in free level gait, and was was more bigger braking force in $30^{\circ}$ restriction level gait. Left braking force in $30^{\circ}$ restriction level gait was more bigger. Fz was no significant.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.723-729
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• 2012

Spring-like leg models have been employed to explain various dynamic characteristics in human walking. However, this leg stiffness model has limitations to represent complex motion of actual human gait, especially the behaviors of each lower limb joint. The purpose of this research was to determine changes of total leg stiffness and lower limb joint stiffness with gait speed in knee osteoarthritis. Joint stiffness defined as the ratio of the joint torque change to the angular displacement change. Eight subjects with knee osteoarthritis participated to this study. The subject walked on a 12 m long and 1 m wide walkway with three sets of four different randomly ordered gait speeds, ranging from their self-selected speed to maximum speed. Kinetic and kinematic data were measured using three force plates and an optical marker system, respectively. Joint torques of lower limb joints calculated by a multi-segment inverse dynamics model. Total leg and each lower limb joint had constant stiffness during single support phase. The leg and hip joint stiffness increased with gait speed. The correlation between knee joint angles and torques had significant changed by the degree of severity of knee osteoarthritis.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2004

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the correlation of pain, stiffness, and physical function by analyizing the KWOMAC socre of the patients with degenerative knee OA, is the most common disease among senior population. Method : 100 degenerative knee OA patients, diagnosed at the hostpital or clinic located in Degu and Kyung-buk province were participated in the study. Result : This study results in following conclusions. 1. Degenerative knee OA patients complained the pain going up or down stairs, stiffness after getting up in the morning. immediately. 2. They also had significant difficulty ascending or decending stairs, getting in or out of car, rising from sitting, doing chores. 3. There was the high correlation among pain, stiffness, physical function. Conclusions : It may provide information to assess the ADL of knee OA patients and the exercise, outcome for their independent life effectly.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.109-115
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to illustrate the potential for clinical improvement in treating a patient with a case of Posttraumatic Knee Stiffness with a combination of Korean medicine therapy. We treated the patient with acupuncture, electroacupuncture, CHUNA manual therapy and Interferential Current Therapy from $5^{th}$ December 2016 to $13^{th}$ January 2017 (total 29 times) by evaluating knee function with VAS score. After six weeks of treatment, this patient achieved effective outcome following the technique, showing that clinical symptom as able to walked and pain was relieved, VAS changed from 10 to 2 and the knee flexion ROM (active/passive) changed from 30/60 degrees to 120/140 degrees. This result shows that Korean Medicine therapy may be an effective option for Posttraumatic Knee Stiffness. Further clinical studies are needed to clarify the effect of Korean Medicine therapy on Posttraumatic Knee Stiffness.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.1311-1312
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• 2012

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2013.05a
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• pp.1627-1628
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• 2013

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.51-64
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• 2013

Objectives : This study is performed to develop the oriental medical rating scale of knee pain and to assess its validity. Methods : 250 knee pain patients completed the previously accepted rating scale of knee pain(VAS, WOMAC(pain, function, stiffness), 6 minute walk test(number of steps, distance)) and oriental medical rating scale of knee pain which was developed by Hwang et al at 2012, before and after the 6 weeks acupuncture treatment. Comparing these results, we assessed the validity of oriental medical rating scale. Results : Comparing oriental medical rating scale of knee pain before acupuncture treatment with VAS, WOMAC(pain, function, stiffness) and 6 minute walk test(number of steps, distance), oriental medical rating scale showed correlation with VAS, WOMAC(pain, function, stiffness) and showed the highest correlation with WOMAC(function). Comparing the change of oriental medical rating scale of knee pain after 6 weeks of acupuncture treatment with the change of VAS, WOMAC(pain, function, stiffness) and 6 minute walk test(number of steps, distance) after 6 weeks, change of oriental medical rating scale showed correlation with the change of VAS, WOMAC(pain, function, stiffness) and showed the highest correlation with the change of WOMAC(function). Through factor analysis of oriental medical rating scale items, 4 factors(pain, swelling, deformation of the knee, thermal sense of the knee), 17 items were extracted. Conclusions : Oriental medical rating scale of knee pain reflected the patient's pain, functional limitation and stiffness well. And oriental medical rating scale reflected the patient's functional improvement after the treatment well.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2008

Purpose: This study was to determine whether the Sun-style 24 forms of Tai Chi exercise improve pain, stiffness, disability, knee joint motion, mobility, balance or falling. Method: Forty-six community-dwelling elderly subjects (mean age, $75.46{\pm}6.28$) voluntarily participated in an intervention group of either 24 forms of Sun-style T ai Chi for 60 min, 2 times per week for 12 weeks or a control group. A non-equivalent pretest-posttest design was used. Independent t-test and ANCOVA were used to examine group differences by using SPSS12.0. Result: The experimental group had significantly less pain (F=7.60, p=.008) and stiffness (t=-3.19, p=.003) than the control group. Also there were significant improvements in knee joint motion on the right knee (t=2.44, p=.019), left knee (t=2.30, p=.026), rising time (F=8.03, p=.07), balance on the left single leg test (t=2.20, p=.033), and fear of falling (t=-2.33, p=.024) in the Tai Chi exercise group. No significant group differences were found in disability and falls efficacy. Conclusion: The Sun-style 24 forms Tai Chi exercise is effective in decreasing pain, stiffness, fear of falling and it improves balance, rising time, and knee joint motion. We suggest a continuing long term intervention to decrease disability and increase efficacy concerning falls.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2010

Purpose: Stretching exercises are commonly used in conjunction with sports and rehabilitation. Weassessed the immediate effects of stretching on passive stiffness of the hamstring muscles and knee range of motion (ROM) using three stretching techniques. Methods: A total of 45 participants were recruited. Isokinetic equipment was used to measure the passive stiffness of hamstring muscles and an inclinometer was used to measure active and passive ROM of the knee joint pre and post stretching. Stiffness was then calculated based on the incline of the torque-angle relationship. The test conditions for Group I were $3{\times}30$ seconds of static stretches using the hamstring muscle, Group II were $3{\times}30$ seconds of static stretches using the hamstring muscle with ankle dorsiflexion, and Group IIII had $3{\times}30$ seconds of active stretching. Results: Group II had significantly higher excursion of active ROM and Group IIIhad significantly higher excursion of passive muscle stiffness. All of the groups had significantly higher active and passive ROM and significantly lower muscle stiffness after stretching. The participants showed no change in hamstring muscle stiffness on the following day. Conclusion: Stretching has significant acute effects on ROM and muscle stiffness and canbe used in warm-up protocols for reducing muscle stiffness before a variety of exercise programs.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 2017

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between leg stiffness and kinematic variables according to load while running. Method: Participants included eight healthy men (mean age, $22.75{\pm}1.16years$; mean height: $1.73{\pm}0.01m$; mean body weight, $71.37{\pm}5.50kg$) who ran with no load or a backpack loaded with 14.08% or 28.17% of their body weight. The analyzed variables included leg stiffness, ground contact time, center of gravity (COG) displacement and Y-axis velocity, lower-extremity joint angle (hip, knee, ankle), peak vertical force (PVF), and change in stance phase leg length. Results: Dimensionless leg stiffness increased significantly with increasing load during running, which was the result of increased PVF and contact time due to decreased leg lengths and COG displacement and velocity. Leg length and leg stiffness showed a negative correlation (r = -.902, $R^2=0.814$). COG velocity showed a similar correlation with COG displacement (r = .408, $R^2=.166$) and contact time (r = -.455, $R^2=.207$). Conclusion: Dimensionless leg stiffness increased during running with a load. In this investigation, leg stiffness due to load increased was most closely related to the PVF, knee joint angle, and change in stance phase leg length. However, leg stiffness was unaffected by change in contact time, COG velocity, and COG displacement.