• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.281-287
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• 2014

Objective: The objective of the study is to develop a portable assistance device to help elderly users reduce strain on the knee and leg muscle while the elderly are standing up. Background: The pose of standing up from a chair is a basic movement, but the elderly often have difficulty standing up due to their weak muscles. We focus on designing a solution that helps the elderly reduce physical problems and support them standing up. Method: This study consists of three parts. Part I explores the way to reduce the refrain of leg muscle while standing up from a chair. In the process of structural development, we found that the moment is minimized when user pushes down the armrests due to a decrease in the force acting on the center of mass. In part II, a user test of 20 participants was carried out to rank the order of comfort of two stimuli: the chair with fixed armrests and the chair with the four-link mechanism that we created-in three different ways; (1) to stand up without touching armrests, (2) to stand up by pushing down on fixed armrests, and (3) to stand up by pushing down on armrests and being supported by the mechanism. To examine the statistically significant differences among the rank means, a Friedman test was conducted. In part III, we analyze the results of the user test and interview feedbacks, focusing on establishing a design strategy from UPO and visualizing it in 1:1 scale. Results: In part I, we decided to develop the four-link mechanism. The bottom is lifted up as the link rises. In part II, based on the rank data, we empirically found that UPO was assessed as the most comfortable during the stimuli. The thigh angle is smaller and the bottom of UPO is separated from a seat. In part III, after assessing the results and feedbacks, we created a visualization strategy for UPO: light, friendly, and novel. Conclusion: The portable and non-mechanical UPO comprises a four-link system that lifts the user's hips while standing. It can help users avoid knee and leg muscle strain. Its universal design considers the elderly's difficulties. Application: In a future study, combining light and durable material in UPO is expected to increase its usability. And this study is an opportunity to design various types of standing assistance devices.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Health Science
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.991-997
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• 2017

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to muscle properties analysis of SCM(sternocleidomastoid) Muscle according to posture type when using smartphone. Methods. This study was conducted on 73 college students who are using smartphone. Subjects were analyzed myotonPRO to confirm, prone posture group, stand posture group, drop head above $45^{\circ}$in sit posture on a chair group and drop head below $45^{\circ}$in sit posture on a chair group were measured SCM muscle. The myotonPRO were measured one measurer, total 3 times. Comparative analysis of the each groups were investigated of SCM muscle properties. Results. We found that Frequency, Stiffness, Creep and Relaxation were appeared difference in each posture. F index was increased at drop head below $45^{\circ}$group than stand posture group. S index was increased at drop head above $45^{\circ}$group than prone posture group. C index was decreased at drop head below $45^{\circ}$group and drop head above $45^{\circ}$group than prone posture group. R index was decreased at drop head above $45^{\circ}$group than prone posture group. Conclusions. The muscle properties were appeared difference in each posture of SCM muscle using smartphone.

• Journal of the Korea Furniture Society
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.271-279
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• 2016

In the modern society, social activities of married women are increasing along with the economic growth, which leads to low birth rates of the situation where most people give birth to only one or two children. Korea in particular records one of the lowest birth rates among many other nations of the world. Despite the situation where overall industrial consumer economy is not good, baby goods market is becoming more luxurious and diversified, and its scale is also growing. Desires of young parents in their 20s and 30s for their children leads to consumption desires of luxurious baby goods, and despite the fact that their taste level rises by easily gaining access to immense baby information via the Internet, our nation's baby furniture market is unreasonably lacking the ability to satisfy the needs of such consumers. Furniture culture of our nation today is based on the stand-up culture of the West. However, analyzing the life culture inside our homes, stand-up and sit-down cultures of the West and the East are coexisting complexly. Such life pattern can be more easily found in households with babies. As such, baby furniture that satisfies our unique life culture and has quality, design and price competitiveness is desperately needed. In such market state, this study is expected to make economic and cultural accomplishments by focusing on the newly embossing baby furniture market and developing products, delivering them to consumers to open new markets and developing into an industry.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.484-489
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• 2004

Artificial joint replacement is one of the major surgical advances of the 21th century. The primary purpose of a TKA (Total Knee Arthroplasty) is to restore normal knee Auction. Therefore, ideally, a TKA should: (a) maintain the natural leverage of the knee joint muscles to ensure generating adequate knee muscle moments to accomplish daily tasks such as rising from a chair or climbing stairs;(b) allow the same range of motion as an complete knee; and (c) provide adequate knee joint stability. Four individuals (2 peoples after surgery one year and 2 peoples after surgery three years) participated in this study. All they were prescreened for health and functional status by the same surgeon who performed the operations. Two days of accommodation practice occurred prior to the actual strength testing. The isometric strength (KIN-COM III) of the quadriceps and hamstring were measured at 60$^\circ$ and 30$^\circ$ of knee flexion, respectively. During isokinetic concentric testing, the range of motion was between 10$^\circ$ to 80$^\circ$ of knee flexion (stand-to-sit) and extension (sit-to-stand). for a given test, the trial exhibiting maximum torque was analyzed. A 16-channel MYOPACTM EMG system (Run Technologies, Inc.) was used to collect the differential input surface electromyographic (EMG) signals of the vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis(VL), rectus femoris (RF) during sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit tests. Disposable electrodes (Blue SensorTM, Medicotest, Inc.) were used to collect the EMG signals. The results were as follows; 1. Less maximum concentric (16% and 21% less for 1 yew man and 3 years mm, respectively) and isometric (12% and 29%, respectively) quadriceps torque for both participants. 2.14% less maximum hamstrings concentric torque for 1 year man but 16% greater torque for 3 years mm. However, 1 year man had similar hamstring isometric peak torque for both knees. 3. Less quadriceps co-contraction by 1 year man except for the VM at 10$^\circ$-20$^\circ$ and 30$^\circ$-50$^\circ$ range of knee flexion.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2014

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of differing insole height on the electromyographic (EMG) activity and muscle fatique in tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius a lot of repeat college students from the desk during a sit to stand activity. Methods: For the 20 subjects (males), let them wear insole in order. Using EMG equipment measured the difference in muscle activity and muscle fatigue degree. All subjects measured for 3 seconds in standing up from the chair. It's measured total 3 times. Results: The summary of results stated above is as follows: It's sitting to standing activity when there were no significant differences between the muscles. But sitting activity in muscle fatigue-calf muscle during standing activity correlated only. Conclusion: The results of this study, the height of an adult male lead in adequate to maintain a healthy foot function and health elements of effective and aesthetic elements based on a significance in that it presents.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2024

PURPOSE: This pre-post intervention study aimed to examine the effects of a 12-week supervised modified Taekwondo exercise program on the functional fitness of community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: 10 participants (mean age: 72.3 ± 4.6 years) completed the program over a 12-week period. The intervention consisted of Taekwondo-based exercises modified for older persons. Changes to functional fitness were measured using the finger-to-nose test, functional reach test, timed up and go test, 30-second sit-to-stand test, 30-second arm curl test, Chester step test, chair sit-and-reach test, and back scratch test. Participants were assessed prior to the training and after the final training session, changes were measured using descriptive statistics and paired sample 't' tests. RESULTS: Effect sizes ranged from small to large (Cohen's d = .22 to 1.23). The exercise program was well- tolerated by participants, with a high level of engagement and no attrition for the duration of the program. Results showed significant improvements in most measures of functional fitness (p < .05) except for the back scratch test (p = .051). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest a well-designed, supervised, modified Taekwondo exercise program can significantly improve functional fitness in older adults.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.331-340
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in body composition, upper and lower limb muscle strength, and functional physical ability in urban-dwelling elderly women with or without obesity. Methods: All study participants were assigned to the normal weight group (n=8, BMI<25) and the obesity group (n=7, BMI>25) based on their obesity rate. Anthropometric measurement was conducted and body composition was measured. For the upper and lower limb strength, grip strength and maximal isometric knee extension and flexion were evaluated by a dynamometer. The senior fitness test was performed to measure functional ability. Data analysis was conducted by the independent t-test and the alpha level was set at 0.05. Results: The waist, hips, and thighs of obese elderly women were thicker than those of normal-weight elderly women. This physical difference resulted from body fat mass, not muscle mass. Despite a similar level of limb muscle mass between the two groups, the upper limb grip strength was higher (24.00% for left, 19.95% for right) in the normal-weight women than the obese women (p<0.05), but otherwise there was no difference in maximal knee flexion or extension isometric strength. Functional physical ability showed no difference in a 30-second chair sit and stand test and a six-minute walk test, but a 30-second arm-curl (11.00% for left, 14.81% for right), back stretch (8.54cm for left, 8.99cm for right), chair sit and reach (9.22cm for left, 6.24cm for right), and 2.44 meter round trip walk (0.62 sec, 9.39%) were faster in performance for normal-weight elderly women than obese elderly women (p<0.05). Conclusion: Taken together, despite similar levels of upper and lower extremity muscle mass, normal-weight elderly women showed higher performance in upper limb strength, flexibility, and agility than obese elderly women, but there was no difference in lower extremity functional muscle strength and cardiopulmonary endurance.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.239-248
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the elderly physical fitness test for elderly people living in urban areas and to evaluate the physical fitness level according to gender and age groups. Methods: The subjects were 180 elderly people aged 65 and over living in urban areas. The elderly people were classified into early old age, middle old age, and advanced old age groups. Five items of the physical fitness test for the elderly (arm curl, chair stand, 2 min step test, back scratch, and chair sit and reach). Results: In analyzing the average of each item by gender and age, a significant difference was found in the results of each item as age increased in all sports, but no difference was observed according to gender except dumbbell lifting. Conclusion: Although the physical fitness level of all ages decreased from early age to late age, the difference in physical fitness according to gender was not significant except the arm curl test. The results of this study can be used as basic data for a new "age-specific exercise program" for the elderly.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.63-69
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• 2016

Objective: To evaluate the effects of sit-to-stand (STS) imagery group training (IGT) on STS movement and balance performance for chronic hemiparetic stroke. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: A total of 30 people with chronic hemiparetic stroke (15 for STS-IGT group and 15 for control) were recruited in this study. The STS-IGT group participated in a videotape-based STS-IGT for 30 minutes a day, five days a week for six weeks, while the control group watched a documentary on television for the same period. The STS-IGT focused on a five-stage protocol. Specifically, external imagery was used during the four phases of the STS movement from the seat of the chair to standing up. All of the participants also participated in a regular rehabilitation program. STS movement and balance performance were assessed using three clinical measures. Results: After training, time to perform the 5-repetition STS test significantly increased in the STS-IGT group (change value, $4.0{\pm}2.0$ sec) compared with the control group (change value, $0.9{\pm}0.7$ sec) (p<0.05). There was a greater improvement in Berg balance scale scores in the STS-IGT group (change value, $0.2{\pm}4.1$ points) compared with the control group (change value, $0.3{\pm}0.9$ points) (p<0.05). There was a greater improvement in Timed Up and Go scores in the STS-IGT group (change value, $2.6{\pm}1.5$ sec) compared with the control group (change value, $0.9{\pm}1.0$ sec) (p<0.05). Conclusions: STS-IGT can be considered as a useful option for restoration of STS movement and balance performance for individuals with chronic hemiparetic stroke who are unable to fully participate in physical activities.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.29-35
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• 2019

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to provide the standard value of the Five Times Sit to Stand Test (FTSST) measurement on the daily life independence of the elderly in Korea and examine the effects of this test on their daily lives. METHODS: This study was conducted on elderly people over 65 years of age living in Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea. FTSST was performed while sitting position on a chair. The subjects were classified into independent and dependent living groups according to their lifestyle, and their influence was then examined through logistic regression analysis. To determine the usefulness and cut-off value of the FTSST, the analysis was performed using the ROC curve. RESULTS: The elderly were more likely to live in a group rather than independently as the FTSST time increased (p<.05) (OR=1.098). The area of the lower part of the ROC curve was .707, and as the FTSST increased, a subject was more likely to live in a group rather than independently (p<.05). The cut-off value was assigned to the point where both the specificity and sensitivity were at the coordinates. The sensitivity and specificity were .626 and .753, respectively at 15.62 seconds. CONCLUSION: The elderly in Korea are more likely to live a group-dependent lifestyle than live independently; the likelihood of this outcome is increased further for every additional second beyond 15.62 seconds. The loss of independence of daily life could be predicted based on the status of a subject's lower leg strength using the FTSST.