• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.637-645
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate the biomechanical alterations in the punching motion of 10 elderly women after 12 weeks of taekwonaerobics training. Seven infrared cameras(Qualisys MCU-240) and 2 force platforms(Kistler-9286AA) were used to acquire raw data. The results were as follows. First, the minimum joint angles of the lower limbs had a statistically significant difference between both the dorsiflexion/plantar flexion(1eft, $p=0.001^*$) and the inversion/eversion(both, $p=0.009^*$, $p=0.04^*$) from the ankle angle. There were differences in abduction/adduction(left, $p=0.04^*$) from the knee angle, as well as internal/external rotation(both, $p=0.07^*$, $p=0.02^*$) from the hip angle. Second, the maximum resultant joint moments of the lower limbs had statistically significant differences in the inversion/eversion moment from the ankle joint(both, $p=0.05^*$, $p=0.05^*$), the abduction/adduction moment(left, $p=0.08^*$) from the knee joint, and the internal/external rotation moment(right, $p=0.09^*$) from the hip joint. Third, the maximum resultant joint powers of the lower limbs had a statistically significant difference both in flexion/extension joint powers(both, $p=0.05^*$, $p=0.01^*$) and in abduction/adduction(both, $p=0.02^*$, $p=0.00^*$) from the hip joint, as well as abduction/adduction(left, $p=0.00^*$) from the knee joint, In conclusion, the elderly women were somewhat changed after 12 weeks of taekwonaerobics training.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.359-368
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• 2001

A new knee-ankle-foot-orthosis(KAFO) which uses an automatically-controlled electromechanical wrap spring clutch for the knee joint was developed in the present study. It was found that the output voltage from the foot switches of the developed KAFO was proportionally increased with respect to the applied load. The output voltage from the infrared sensor also decreased as the knee flexion angle increased. The knee joint system for the new KAFO weighs only 780g lighter than any other commercially available developed system. In addition, the solenoid reduces the reaction time for the automatic control of the knee joint. The static torque of the clutch was measured for three persons, and it satisfied the normal knee extension moment during the pre-swing. Three-dimensional gait analyses for three different gait patterns (normal gait, locked-knee gait, controlled-knee gait) from five normal subjects were conducted. Controlled-knee gait showed the maximum knee flexion angle of 40.56$\pm9.55^{\circ}$ and the maximum knee flexion moment of 0.20$\pm$0.07Nm/kg at similar periods in the normal gait. Our KAFO system satisfies both stability during stance phase and free knee flexion during the swing phase at the proper period during the gait cycle. Therefore, our KAFO system would be very useful in various low extremity orthotic applications.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.163-168
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• 2009

In this study, we would be developed the fuzzy controlled PGO that controlled the flexion and the extension of each PGO's hip joint using the bio-signal and FSR sensor. The PGO driving system is to couple the right and left sides of the orthosis by specially designed hip joints and pelvic section. This driving system consists of the orthosis, sensor, control system. An air supply system of muscle is composed of an air compressor, 2-way solenoid valve (MAC, USA), accumulator, pressure sensor. Role of this system provide air muscle with the compressed air at hip joint constantly. According to output signal of EMG sensor and foot sensor, air muscles and assists the flexion of hip joint during PGO gait. As a results, the maximum hip flexion angles of RGO's gait and PGO's gait were about $16^{\circ}\;and\;57^{\circ}$ respectively. The maximum angle of flexion/extention in hip joint of the patients during RGO's gait are smaller than normal gait, because of the step length of them shoes a little bit. But maximum angle of flexion/extention in hip joint of the patients during PGO's gait are larger than normal gait.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in walking pattern of the elderly during inclined walkway with uneven surfaces and level walking. 10 young($26.3{\pm}1.3$ years, $174.3{\pm}5.3\;cm$, $69.5{\pm}9.5\;kg$) and 13 elderly($72.4{\pm}5.2$ years, $164.5{\pm}5.4\;cm$, $66.1{\pm}9.6\;kg$) male subjects were participated in the experiment. Experiment consisted of 2 walking conditions: horizontal and inclined walkway with uneven surfaces. 3D motion capturing system were used to acquire and analyze walking motion data with sampling frequency of 120 Hz. To compare differences between conditions, kinematic variables(walking speed, stance-swing ratio, hip joint angle, knee joint angle, ankle joint angle, pelvic rotation angle) were used. Results showed that there were some changes of elderly walking pattern in inclined walkway with uneven surfaces: hip joint(adduction and rotation) and pelvic movement pattern. These changes by inclination and surface may affect gait pattern of young subjects as well as elderly subjects. However, in case of elderly it revealed more unstable gait than the young. Further study is necessary to clarify changes in walking pattern for elderly by considering various gait variables including head movement and various walkway conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.126-132
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• 2009

This study examined the differences in spatio-temporal parameters, joint angle, ground reaction force (GRF), and joint power according to the changes of gait speed for trans-tibial amputees to investigate the features of the energy-storing foot for sports. The subjects walked at normal speed and at fast speed, wearing a single-axis type foot (Korec) and an energy-storing foot for sports (Renegade) respectively. The results showed that Renegade yielded faster gait speed as well as more symmetric gait pattern, compared to Korec. However, as gait speed was increased, there was no significant difference in kinematics, ground reaction force, and joint power between two artificial foots. This was similar to the results from previous studies regarding the energy-storing foot, where the walking velocity and gait symmetry have been improved. Nevertheless, the result of this study differed from the previous ones which reported that joint angle, joint power, and GRF increased as the gait speed increased except spatio-temporal parameters.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2004.11c
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• pp.307-309
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• 2004

In this study, we have evaluated and classified arthritic pathology using the auscultation of knee joint sound. Six normal persons and 11 patients with knee problem were enrolled. Six patients of Group 1 needed an orthopeadic surgery because of the ruptured wounds of meniscus or ACL(Anterior Cruciate Ligament) and 5 patients of Group 2 diagnosed as osteoarthritis. Subjects were taken knee flexion and extension being seated in a chair for 20 seconds which repeated 3 times. Also subjects stood up and sit down repeatedly in the same way. After the movement of knee was divided into 18 degrees, the pitch perturbation according to partial degrees was analyzed and the DTW(Dynamic Time Warping) method was applied for normalizing a time-axis and unpaired t-test was used for statistic results among groups. As a result, the amplitude and frequency perturbations of group 2 was higher than group 1(p<0.05) and showed a characteristic 'w-shape' in angle-amplitude graph. These results suggest that the analysis of knee joint sound might assist in early diagnosis of knee joint disease.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.183-189
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• 2010

This paper deals with the comparison of analysis methodologies by applying both Euler angle and quaternion to observe the kinematical behavior of the universal joint system used as an automotive drive-shaft. At first, conventional approaches are applied to predict a kinematical behavior by introducing only Euler angles into the universal joint system, but turns out to be lack in consistency and reliability of the analysis. Then to overcome this deficiency in numerical analysis a different methodology is proposed by using quaternion in this system. Its corresponding advantage is discussed in terms of kinetic energy, rotational velocity and rotational displacement. The application of quaternions in the numerical experiment is shown to be a more useful and valid way of establishing the ideal analytical model of the universal joint system.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.61-73
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in the center of pressure (COP), ground reaction force (GRF) and joint angles of elderly people and young people while stair-descent. The participants in this experiment were 5 elderly people and 5 young people, each of which was asked to descend stairs of three different heights (8 cm, 16 cm, and 32 cm). As they climbed down the stairs, they received vibration stimulation on the lower limb. The change of COP, GRF and joint angles were analyzed during the standing phase. COP decreased as the Achilles tendon and tibialis anterior tendon were vibrated. Vertical GRF increased as the Achilles tendon was vibrated, and the joint angle differed according to vibration stimulation conditions. These results mean that ankle joint, knee joint and hip joint were influenced by the vibrations on the lower limb as the participants descended the stairs. It was concluded that the vibration stimulation on the lower limb allowed the participants to efficiently climb down the stairs.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.91-107
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• 2002

This research got the following conclusion as result that analyzed high clear action kinematically to 4 C girls' junior high school badminton players who are situated in Chungchong-bukdo. 1. Most of the subject didn't rotate their right shoulder and elbow joint at back swing and moved speedy to shuttle cock. And an cooperation action of joint decreases displaying only a good action on both subject`s specification joint part. 2. When the subject S1 and S2 swing slowly and largely the joint of shoulder and elbow and then the speed of right wrist and racket head is fast, the cooperation action of joint is better than other subject. 3. An angle change of right shoulder showed angle that all subjects are great being caused in softness of joint and angular velocity was exposed that load enough Impact force and increase the speed of racket head as angular velocity decreases rapidly in Impact except subject S3. 4. All subjects of right elbow angle change showed similar form and was exposed that subject S2 sees form of impact stage serious bends from back swing and do not use force effectively in angular velocity. 5. Angle of right wrist appeared that the speed of shuttle cock is decelerated because fast bends of wrist is not formed shortly after Impact because all subject do not accomplish big angle shortly after back swing. Angular velocity can assume that the subject S1 and S4 are using and move fast strong snap shot offering angular velocity value of Impact stage sound (-). 6. While size of Impact stage knee angle accomplishes angle that is big both subject, hip joint angles sees small angle and is playing swing that do on upper body and arm without using strong waist force that is composition action with knee and hip joint.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.83-98
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to determine the kinematic variables of the hurdling for a korea record holder (A) and a national hurdle representative (B). after the kinematic variables such the distance and the distance and height of C.G, the velocity and the angle were analyzed about the hurdling. The results were summarized as follows; 1. In terms of the distance and the height of C.G, subject A showed long in horizontal distance from C.G to the take-off phase, but showed short in the landing phase. Subject B showed short in horizontal distance from C.G to the take-off phase, and showed long in the landing phase. 2. In terms of the velocity of C.G, Subject A showed fast C.G velocity in horizontal direction to the braking phase, Subject A and B showed slower C.G velority in the landing phase, but Subject A showed height C.G velocity in vertical direction to the to the take-off, the landing, and propulsion phase 3. In terms of the angle of C.G and lean of C.G to front at the braking and the take-off phase. Subject A kept the less angle in the maximum trunk lean to front at the flight phase as comparison with Subject B. 4. In terms of the velocity of the knee and the ankle joint. Subject A showed fast in the resultant velocity of the left ankle joint the take-off phase, but showed slow in the left knee joint. Subject B showed fast in the resultant velocity of the left knee joint the take-off phase, but showed slow in the right knee and the right ankle joint.