• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.64-73
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• 2013

The purposes of this study were to develop a new orthosis controlling ankle and knee joint motion during the gait cycle and to identify the effects of the newly designed orthosis on gait kinematics and tempospatial parameters, including coordination of the extremities in stroke patients. Fifteen individuals who had sustained a stroke, onset was 16 months, participated in this study. Before application of the measurement equipment the subjects were accustomed to walking on the ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) or stance control knee with knee flexion assisted-oil damper ankle-foot orthosis (SCKAFO) for 5 minutes. Fifteen patients were investigated for 45 days with a 3-day interval between sessions. Measurements were walking in fifteen stroke with hemiparesis on the 3D motion analysis system. Comparison of AFO and SCKAFO are gait pattern. The difference between the AFO and SCKAFO conditions was significant in the gait velocity, step length of the right affected side, stance time of both legs, step-length asymmetry ratio, single-support-time asymmetry ratio, ${\phi}$-thigh angle and ${\phi}$-shank angle in the mid swing (p<.001). Using a SCKAFO in stroke patients has shown similar to normal walking speeds can be attained for walking efficiency and is therefore desirable. In this study, the support time of the affected leg with the SCKAFO was longer than with the AFO and the asymmetry ratio of single support time decreased by more than with the AFO. This indicates that the SCKAFO was effective for improving gait symmetry, single-support-time symmetry. This may be due to the decrease of gait asymmetry. Thus, the newly designed SCKAFO may be useful for promoting gait performance by improving the coordination of the extremity and decreasing gait asymmetry in chronic stroke patients.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.229-236
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• 2013

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of wearing spandex underwear on the muscle activity and heart rate during flexion and extension of trunk and knee joint. Background: Back pain continues to be the leading overall cause of physical illness and lowering productivity in workplace. Recently, the utility of assistive garment or back belt have been discussed to lessen the back pain as well as to preserve the right posture. Method: Ten males and ten females participated in the experiment. Gender, wearing spandex underwear and postures were used for independent variables, and muscle activity, the level of asymmetry of muscle activity and variation of heart rate were used as dependent variables. Muscle activity and heart rate were measured during flexion and extension of trunk and knee joint. Results: When wearing spandex underwear, the muscle activity was relatively low compared to the condition not wearing the spandex underwear. The symmetry of muscle activity and the variation of heart rate were statistically significant at the 0.05 significance level. In particular, it was found that the symmetry of muscle activity increased while wearing spandex underwear. Conclusion: Spandex underwear has an effect that can reduce asymmetry of right and left muscles which are relevant to leg because spandex underwear equally supports right and left low-back muscles. Application: The spandex underwear used in this study can apply to the rehabilitation as an useful assistive device.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.337-345
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to define the relation of the degree of menton deviation and 3-D CT (computerized tomography) measurements of the glenoid fossa and the mandible, which are considered to have an influence on menton deviation. Methods: The CT images were obtained in 60 adults and these were transmitted to a computer and reconstructed using computer software. According to the degree of the menton deviation, which was measured on the posteroanterior cephalogram, the subjects were divided into the menton deviated group (30 adults) and the symmetry group (30 adults). A total of 11 measurements that might have an effect on menton deviation were determined and these were measured in the right and left sides using the function of 3-D measurement in the computer program. The 11 measurements consist of 6 measurements in the glenoid fossa (vertical position of the glenoid fossa and articular eminence, the sagittal position of the glenoid fossa and articular eminence, the depth of the glenoid fossa, and the anterior angle of the glenoid fossa), and 5 measurements in the mandible (ramus length, frontal ramal inclination, lateral ramal inclination, body length, body height). Results: The comparison of the differences between the menton deviated and symmetry groups and correlation analysis on the degree of menton deviation were carried out. The results of comparison of the right and the left difference between the menton deviated and symmetry groups showed that the vertical position and depth of the glenoid fossa were significantly increased in the menton deviated group. Conclusion: The results of the present study show that consideration of the shape and position of the glenoid fossa is necessary for making the diagnosis and administering proper treatment in facial asymmetry patients and especially growing patients.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.103-110
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• 2014

Objectives: In this study, we assessed soft tissue asymmetry that occurred after open reduction of unilateral zygomaticomaxillary complex (ZMC) fractures. We proposed a simple method to assess soft tissue asymmetry after reduction surgery by evaluating the symmetry between the affected and the unaffected sides. The factors affecting soft tissue contour after surgery were also analyzed. Materials and Methods: Subjects included patients admitted to Wonkwang University Dental Hospital from 2008 to 2013. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of asymmetric patients who underwent open reduction at least 3 months prior were compared with healthy patients. Results: The degree of asymmetry was measured in both the open reduction and control groups. Landmarks that showed a statistically significant difference between the two groups were zygion ($1.73{\pm}0.24mm$), bucclae ($1.08{\pm}0.26mm$), point of cheek ($2.05{\pm}0.33mm$) and frontozygomatic point ($1.30{\pm}0.31mm$). Conclusion: When compared with the normal group, asymmetry can occur in the affected side, which usually shows depression of overlying soft tissue and is statistically significantly different. Evaluation of soft tissue asymmetry with CBCT images after open reduction of ZMC fracture is useful.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.298-301
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• 2007

Magnesium alloy sheets have unique mechanical properties such as high in-plane anisotropy/asymmetry of yield stress and hardening response. The unusual mechanical behavior of magnesium alloys has been understood by the limited symmetry crystal structure of HCP metals or by deformation twinning. In the present study, the continuum plasticity models considering the unusual plastic behavior of magnesium alloy sheet were derived for a finite element analysis. A new hardening law based on two-surface model was developed to consider the general stress-strain response of metal sheets such as Bauschinger effect, transient behavior and the unusual asymmetry. Three deformation modes observed during the continuous tension/compression tests were mathematically formulated with simplified relations between the state of deformation and their histories. In terms of the anisotropy and asymmetry of the initial yield stress, the Drucker-Prager's pressure dependent yield surface was modified to include the anisotropy of magnesium alloys.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.259-269
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate age-related bimanual coordination functions in older adults. Method: Thirteen studies that compared bimanual coordination functions in older adults with those in healthy young adults qualified for this meta-analysis. We additionally categorized 21 total comparisons from the 13 qualified studies into two types of task-related moderator variables: (1) kinematic versus kinetic movements and (2) symmetry versus asymmetry movements. Results: Random effects model meta-analysis found that older adults revealed significant bimanual coordination impairments as compared with young adults (Hedges's g = -0.771; p < .0001; I² = 74.437%). We additionally confirmed specific bimanual coordination deficits using two moderator variables: 1) kinematic (Hedges's g = -0.884; p < .0001; I² = 0.000%) and kinetic (Hedges's g = -0.666; p = .023; I² = 86.170%). 2) symmetry (Hedges's g = -0.712; p = .001; I² = 74.291%) and asymmetry (Hedges's g = -0.817; p < .0001; I² = 76.322%). The moderator variable analysis indicated older adults indicated bimanual coordination deficits in the upper extremities than healthy young adults while performing kinematic bimanual coordination tasks and asymmetry coordination tasks. Conclusion: These findings suggest that developing motor rehabilitation programs based on asymmetric bimanual movement task for enhancing interlimb coordination functions of older adults may be crucial for increasing their independence in everyday activities. Given that elderly revealed the deficits in lower extremities coordination when older adults perform gait, posture, and balance, future studies should estimate lower limb coordination functions in elderly people.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.383-390
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• 2016

Objective: Gymnastics on rings needs a high level of muscle strength with balance ability for controlling the body. A study on a new balance training program is necessary for elite gymnasts. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of an 8-week pilates core-muscle training on balance ability and asymmetry index of the L-sit on the rings in male elite gymnasts. Method: Ten elite gymnasts (age: $20.6{\pm}0.7years$, height: $169.9{\pm}4.9cm$, weight: $65.4{\pm}5.6kg$, career duration: $20.6{\pm}0.7years$), who are students at K-university, participated in this study. Results: First, the range of the COM tended to decrease in the anterior-posterior direction. Second, the left hip joint angle and knee extension and ankle dorsiflexion angles significantly increased after the pilates training. Third, the ROM also increased. Fourth, the symmetry value increased in the hip angle, while the symmetry index in all joints of the ROM decreased. As a result, the pilates core-muscle training influenced the static balance ability during the L-sit on the rings. Conclusion: Accordingly, the pilates core-muscle training is suitable in enhancing the basic balance ability in gymnastics on rings.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.9 no.10
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• pp.423-432
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in upper and lower strengths and symmetry between upper body injury group, lower body injury group and non-injury group of bowling athletes. The subjects were the upper body injury group (UG), n = 16, the low body injury group (LG), n = 8, the non injury group, [NG], n = 15). The isometric strength of the bowler was measured using Manual Muscle Tester 01165 (Lafayette Instrument Company, USA) and the symmetry index (SI) was calculated. The results were as follow. The symmetry index of hip extension strength and hip external rotation strength was statistically larger in NG than LG (p <.05). The above results suggest that lower body strength and bilateral symmetry was closely related to injuries of the lower body. In order to prevent injury of the bowler, strengthening of lower body strength and symmetrical training are needed.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.37
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• pp.33.1-33.9
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• 2015

Background: The porion (Po) is used to construct the Frankfort horizontal (FH) plane for cephalometrics, and the external auditory meatus (EAM) is to transfer and mount the dental model with facebow. The classical assumption is that EAM represents Po by the parallel positioning. However, we are sometimes questioning about the possible positional disparity between Po and EAM, when the occlusal cant or facial midline is different from our clinical understandings. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the positional parallelism of Po and EAM in facial asymmetries, and also to investigate their relationship with the maxillary occlusal cant. Methods: The 67 subjects were classified into three groups. Group I had normal subjects with facial symmetry ($1.05{\pm}0.52mm$ of average chin deviation) with minimal occlusal cant (<1.5 mm). Asymmetry group II-A had no maxillary occlusal cant (average $0.60{\pm}0.36$), while asymmetry group II-B had occlusal cant (average $3.72{\pm}1.47$). The distances of bilateral Po, EAM, and mesiobuccal cusp tips of the maxillary first molars (Mx) from the horizontal orbital plane (Orb) and the coronal plane were measured on the three-dimensional computed tomographic images. Their right and left side distance discrepancies were calculated and statistically compared. Results: EAM was located 10.3 mm below and 2.3 mm anterior to Po in group I. The vertical distances from Po to EAM of both sides were significantly different in group II-B (p=0.001), while other groups were not. Interside discrepancy of the vertical distances from EAM to Mx in group II-B also showed the significant differences, as compared with those from Po to Mx and from Orb to Mx. Conclusions: The subjects with facial asymmetry and prominent maxillary occlusal cant tend to have the symmetric position of Po but asymmetric EAM. Some caution or other measures will be helpful for them to be used during the clinical procedures.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.423-429
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• 2015

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a body alignment correction program on asymmetrically developed squash players. Method : 30 experienced squash players who showed asymmetric body development, after evaluation of moire topography contour line shape, were involved in the experiment. All of them were right-handed and had more than five years of experience playing squash. Variables of body composition, moire topography and EMG were statistically compared between pre- and post- application of the 12-week body alignment correction program. The program consisted of 10-minute, left-handed forehand and backhand drive movements and 36 minutes performing 12 different yoga postures. Results : First, the body alignment correction program showed significant effects on the total weight, body fat percentage, and body mass index of the participants. Second, a decrease of right side inclined angles and an increase of left side inclined angles might result in a higher left-right symmetry rate and a better left-right balance; however the data was not statistically significant. Third, the EMG left-right deviation of erector spinae and latissimus decreased and the erector spinae muscle was thought to be more essential for vertebral movement and left-right asymmetry correction. Conclusion : A body alignment correction program, including yoga and opposite side exercises, could reduce left-right asymmetry.