• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2016

Background: Patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) functionally adapt to decreased postural control due to impaired processing of sensory information. Standing postural control has been the focus of recent research in CLBP. Change in postural control may be a risk factor for CLBP, although available studies are not conclusive. Objects: This study aimed to identify the role of partial weight supported treadmill training (PWSTT) in improving balance, dysfunction, and pain in patients with chronic low back pain. Methods: The study included 22 patients with CLBP. Patients in the control group ($n_1=8$) performed three 20 min stabilization exercise sessions per week, for 4 weeks. Patients in the full weight treadmill training group ($n_2=7$) performed treadmill training for 30 min after stabilization exercise. Patients in the PWSTT group ($n_3=7$) performed PWSTT with 20% of their body weight unloaded after stabilization exercises. By using the Biodex balance system, the dynamic balance abilities of the patients in the three groups were assessed in the quiet standing position under combined conditions of visual feedback (eyes open and closed) and platform stability (level 8). The Korean version of the Oswestry Disability Index and visual analogue scale score were used as the main measure. Results: The results of this study showed that dysfunction and pain were significantly improved in all groups. Although dynamic postural stability with eyes closed was significantly improved only in the PWSTT group (p<.05), no significant difference was found in the other groups. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that PWSTT improved balance, dysfunction and pain in the patients with CLBP. Thus, this intervention is necessary for patients with CLBP with decreased postural control.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.139-146
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• 2012

This study was designed to examine comfort levels of pitch and loudness with target matching and their effects on electroglottographic (EGG) and acoustic measures. Twelve speakers, six males and six females, were instructed to produce /a/ sustained vowel for three seconds at a comfortable pitch and loudness level without any instruction and with a target matching procedure of either a certain f0 or SPL separately with visual and auditory feedback. The range of pitch for females and males were presented by progressing up and down randomly at intervals of 5Hz from 150 Hz to 310 Hz (total 33 frequency targets) and from 85 Hz to 190 Hz (total 22 frequency targets), respectively. The loudness levels were 65, 75, 85, 95 dB (total of four intensity targets) for both males and females. Subjective estimations of comfortable levels were obtained using a 10-point equal-appearing interval rating scale following each phonation. The results showed that males and females demonstrated similar trends in loudness levels with greatest comfort at 75 dB, whereas pitch comfort ratings showed a greater variability with females having a wider range with target matching. In the comfort levels of individuals, most male and female speakers rated higher comfort at soft, rather than loud phonations. On the other hand, most male speakers perceived highest comfort levels below the comfort pitch levels they phonated under natural conditions. Higher frequency ranges, however, were perceived to be more comfortable than those of natural condition in most female speakers, although the comfortable pitch levels in spontaneous phonations were within the comfort level ranges determined by targeted phonations. When comparing acoustic (%jitter, %shimmer, SNR) and EGG measures (CQ%) between spontaneous comfortable phonations and targeted phonations produced by the same subject at similar f0 and intensity, no significant differences were observed (p>0.05). Thus, target matching procedures may be considered a compatible and alternative method to reduce the variability of comfortable pitch and loudness levels by eliciting consistent comfortable phonations.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 2006

Though the final goal of mobile robot navigation is to be autonomous, operators' intelligent and skillful decisions are necessary when there are many scattered obstacles. There are several limitations even in the camera-based tele-operation of a mobile robot, which is very popular for the mobile robot navigation. For examples, shadowed and curved areas cannot be viewed using a narrow view-angle camera, especially in bad weather such as on snowy or rainy days. Therefore, it is necessary to have other sensory information for reliable tele-operations. In this paper, sixteen ultrasonic sensors are attached around a mobile robot in a ring pattern to measure the distances to obstacles. A collision vector is introduced in this paper as a new tool for obstacle avoidance, which is defined as a normal vector from an obstacle to the mobile robot. Based on this collision vector, a virtual reflection force is generated to avoid the obstacles and then the reflection force is transferred to an operator who is holding a joystick to control the mobile robot. Relying on the reflection force, the operator can control the mobile robot more smoothly and safely. For this bi-directional tele-operation, a master joystick system using a hall sensor was designed to resolve the existence of nonlinear sections, which are usual for a general joystick with two motors and potentiometers. Finally, the efficiency of a force reflection joystick is verified through the comparison of two vision-based tele-operation experiments, with and without force reflection.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.65 no.2
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• pp.349-353
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate possible age differences in the attenuation of acceleration in the upper body (from pelvis through shoulder to head) during fast walking. Thirty young and 29 elderly subjects participated in this study. Wireless acceleration sensors were attached on head, shoulder, and pelvis. Subjects performed two trials of fast walking on a treadmill, where the fast speed was defined as 1.5 times of the comfortable speed. Root-mean-squared (RMS) accelerations of each axis were compared with age group and sensor position as independent factors. In the AP direction, the pelvis acceleration was greater in the young and the shoulder-to-head attenuation was also greater in the young (p<0.001), so that the head acceleration was comparable between age groups (p=0.581). In the ML direction, the pelvis acceleration was greater in the young and also the pelvis-to-shoulder attenuation was greater in the young (p<0.001), so that the head acceleration was greater in the elderly group (p<0.001). Insufficient attenuation ML acceleration in the elderly resulting in the greater acceleration in the head may deteriorate the balance control which utilize feedback signals from the sensory organs in head, e.g., vestibular and visual systems.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.711-716
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate how the modulation method affects the effectiveness of eliciting tactile sensations by electrical stimulation. Two methods were employed and the results were compared and analyzed; pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) and pulse width modulation (PWM). Thirty-five healthy subjects participated in the experiments to measure the stimulation intensity that began to elicit a tactile sensation - activation threshold (AT). Constant-current monophasic rectangular pulse trains were employed, and the stimulation intensity was varied from zero until the subject felt any uncomfortable sensation. The step size of the stimulation intensity was 100nC/pulse. After each experiment, the subject described the sensation both quantitatively and qualitatively. The two modulation methods did not make a significant difference as far as the AT values were concerned, but most of the subjects showed 'intra-individual' consistency. Also, it was confirmed that our range of the stimulation parameters enabled us to obtain three major tactile sensations; tickling, pressure and vibration. The results suggested that the stimulation parameters and the modulation type should be selected for each individual and that selective electrical stimulation of the mechanoreceptors needs more diversified researches on the electrode design, multi-channel stimulation protocol, waveforms of the pulse train, etc.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.85-92
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• 2022

PURPOSE: This study aimed to analyze the effects of task exercise on an unstable surface on the involuntary arm and leg movement and balance in stroke patients. METHODS: 20 stroke patients were clinically sampled and randomly assigned to two groups of 10 patients each. Experimental group I received task exercise intervention on an unstable surface and experimental group II received task exercise intervention. The interventions were carried out 3 times a week for 4 weeks (30 minutes per session). The global synkinesis (GS) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) of the patients were evaluated as pre-tests prior to intervention, and then the post-tests were re-measured in the same manner as the pre-tests after a 4-week intervention period. RESULTS: In the experimental group I, there were statistically significant differences in the changes in the arm and leg GS (p < .01) and in the BBS (p < .05). On the other hand, in the experimental group II, there were statistically significant differences in the changes only in the arm GS (p < .01) and in the BBS (p < .05). Also, in the comparison of the changes between the two groups, there was a statistically significant difference in the changes in the leg GS only (p < .05). CONCLUSION: In the experimental group I, the arm and leg GS were statistically significantly reduced, but the balance ability was statistically significantly improved. The reason was that in the experimental group I, similar movements of the paralyzed arm were promoted due to the double-task exercise on the unstable surface, and sensory feedback and posture strategies were well utilized in the legs, which was found to be effective in reducing the GS and improving the balance ability. Therefore, based on these results, the double-task exercise on an unstable surface should be fully utilized for the rapid rehabilitation of stroke patients.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.101-107
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• 2021

Background: Studies suggest that induced emotional changes can affect the sensory-motor system involved in the practice of muscle activity and movement in physical aspects. Previous studies have shown focused on effects just feedback on muscle activity associated with emotions but rarely have focused induced emotional change on gross motor function such as muscle activity. Objects: The purpose of this study was to compare biceps activity and emotion that before and after viewing a video was induced positive or negative emotion. Methods: The study enrolled 34 healthy male and female who scored at normal points on the Center for Epidermiological Studies-Depression Scale. The study measured over two weeks, showing subjects pleasant and sad videos one by one in a week. We performed to measure the biceps brachii activity which is maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) and the visual analog mood scale (VAMS) scores before and after one week. The significance level was set to α = 0.05. Results: There was no significant difference in muscle activity of the biceps brachii before and after each video was viewed (p > 0.05). However, the visual analogue mood scale showed an increase in VAMS after viewing each video (p < 0.05). Conclusion: We figured out induced emotional changes are cause actual emotional changes but there are no differences in muscle activity. In this research, watching the video with a short time looks like insufficient to change muscle activity. Nevertheless, there might be different when we check various muscles with sufficient time for viewing the video. Further study is needed to measure a variety of muscles with more time for viewing the video.

• Current Optics and Photonics
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.38-46
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• 2023

Optical Fourier-domain reflectometry (OFDR) sensors have been widely used to measure distances with high resolution and speed in a noncontact state. In the electroplating process of a printed circuit board, it is critically important to monitor the copper-plating thickness, as small deviations can lead to defects, such as an open or short circuit. In this paper we employ a phase-based OFDR sensor for in situ relative distance sensing of a sample with nanometer-scale resolution, during electroplating. We also develop an optical-path difference (OPD)-regulated sensing probe that can maintain a preset distance from the sample. This function can markedly facilitate practical measurements in two aspects: Optimal distance setting for high signal-to-noise ratio OFDR sensing, and protection of a fragile probe tip via vertical evasion movement. In a sample with a centimeter-scale structure, a conventional OFDR sensor will probably either bump into the sample or practically out of the detection range of the sensing probe. To address this limitation, a novel OPD-regulated OFDR system is designed by combining the OFDR sensing probe and linear piezo motors with feedback-loop control. By using multiple OFDR sensors, it is possible to effectively monitor copper-plating thickness in situ and uniformize it at various positions.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.138-142
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• 2016

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate how light touch with a finger affects balance ability when a posture is maintained in the condition of visual information blockage and to provide a fundamental material for developing balance ability in the process of rehabilitation treatment. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: The study subjects were 17 healthy men and women in their twenties and thirties who were studying at S University in Seoul. The system was comprised of an equilateral triangular force platform. Subjects were asked to step on the foot position of the force platform (Good Balance, Finland) barefooted for 30 seconds, with eyes closed, hands hanging down loosely, and feet comfortably apart. It was connected to a laptop by using Bluetooth technology. An experiment was conducted in the following three circumstances: 1) no-touch trial, 2) light touch to the back (T7 area), and 3) light touch to the middle finger of the left hand. Each subject was given a 10-minute break between consecutive measurements. The experimental circumstances were performed randomly. Anteroposterior sway (APSV), mediolateral sway velocity (MLSV), and velocity moment (VM) were measured. Results: The APSVs (mm/s) were $9.32{\pm}3.37$ and $5.45{\pm}2.98$; the MLSVs (mm/s), $6.39{\pm}3.35$ and $3.31{\pm}2.48$; and VM ($mm^2/s$), $17.13{\pm}11.75$ and $6.76{\pm}8.31$ in the first and second experimental circumstances, respectively. APSV, MLSV, and VM values were significantly improved with the 1) no-touch trial and 2) light touch to the back trail conditions compared with the 3) light touch to the middle finger of the left hand condition (p<0.05). Conclusions: This study revealed that the balance ability for maintaining a body posture was influenced more by light touch to the back (T7) than by light touch with the sensitive fingertip and body sway diminished after visual information was blocked.

• The Journal of Korean society of community based occupational therapy
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.59-70
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• 2017

Objective : The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of virtual reality-based remote rehabilitation on stroke patients systematically and to look for its effect and how to apply it domestically. Methods : In order to search data, EMBASE and CINAHL database were used. Relevant research used those terms of virtual reality, telerehabilitation, and stroke. A total of 10 studies satisfying the selection criteria was analyzed according to their qualitative level, general characteristics, and PICO method. Results : Based on the selected 10 studies, virtual reality-based telerehabilitation system was applied. Sensory and motor feedback was provided with inputting visual and auditory senses through a video in the home environment, and it stimulated changes in the client's nervous system. Tools to measure the results were upper extremity function, balance and gait, activities of daily living, etc. Those virtual reality-based telerehabilitation method had an effect on upper extremity function and ability of sense of balance in all studies, and on the activities of daily living partially. Telerehabilitation service to make up environmental specificity improved satisfaction of client. That meaned the effect of the intervention to maintain the function. Conclusion : The virtual reality-based telerehabilitation system was applied to upper extremity function, sense of balance, and activities of daily living largely, and it showed that it helped to improve functions through intervention, supervision, and training of therapist in the home environment as well. This study suggests the basis and possibility of clinical application on virtual-reality based telerehabilitation. Additional research is needed to diverse virtual reality intervention methods and the effect of telerehabilitation in the future.