• 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.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.57-61
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• 2008

Background: Shoulder joint injection is currently performed under fluoroscopic or computed tomography scan guidance. We performed this study to determine if an ultrasound guided shoulder joint injection through rotator cuff interval would have clinical usefulness. Methods: A total of 17 volunteers [12 women, 5 men; mean age 28 yr (23-32 yr)] received shoulder joint injection under multilinear ultrasound (5-10 MHz). Volunteers were positioned supinely on a table with their arm in a neutral position. The anterior shoulder region of the patient was sterilized using povidone iodine. A 24 gauge needle was introduced and directly visualized in real time as it passed obliquely from the skin surface to the inferior space of the biceps tendon. If there was little or no resistance to the injection, a contrast media (omnipaque) was injected and checked fluoroscopically. Results: Ultrasound guided shoulder joint injection through rotator cuff interval was successful in all cases. The average time taken for the procedure was $27.5{\pm}16.5sec$. The vertical distance from skin to the inferior space of the biceps tendon was $1.6{\pm}0.4cm$ and the distance of needle from the skin to the inferior space of biceps tendon was $2.8{\pm}0.6cm$. The procedure was well tolerated by all volunteers. Conclusions: Ultrasound guided shoulder joint injection through rotator cuff interval is an effective, rapid, and easy-to-perform injection technique. Ultrasound guided injection enables exact needle placement and avoids the use of both ionizing radiation and iodinated contrast material.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.45-52
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• 2024

Objective: The purpose of this study was to measure the morphological characteristics of the foot and biomechanical variables of the lower extremity joints during vertical jump and investigate the relationship between foot morphology and biomechanics of vertical jump. Method: 24 men in their 20s (age: 22.42 ± 1.41 yrs, height: 173.37 ± 4.61 cm, weight: 72.02 ± 6.21 kg, foot length: 251.70 ± 8.68 mm) participated in the study. Morphological characteristics of the foot included the length of the first toe, the length of the second toe, and the horizontal length from the center of ankle joint to the achilles tendon (Plantar Flexion Moment Arm [PFMA]). Biomechanical variables were measured for plantar flexor strength of the ankle joint and peak angular velocity, moment, and power of the lower extremity joint during vertical jump. Results: There was a significant correlation between the length of the first toe and plantar flexion strength at 30°/s [r=.440, p=.016], the angular velocity of the metatarsophalangeal [MTP] joint [r=-.369, p=.038] while significant correlations between PFMA and the angular velocities of the knee joint [r=.369, p=.038] and ankle joint [r=.420, p=.021] were found. There were also significant correlations between the length of the first toe and the maximum moment of the hip joint [r=.379, p=.034], and the length of the second toe and the power of the hip joint [r=-.391, p=.029]. Finally, significant correlations between PFMA and the power of the ankle joint [r=.424, p=.019] and MTP joint [r=.367, p=.039] were found. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, the length of the toe and PFMA would be related to the function of the lower extremity joint. Therefore, this should be considered when designing the functional structure of a shoe. Furthermore, this relationship can be applied to intensive training for the plantar flexors and toe flexors to improve power in athletic performance.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.67-82
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the function and the safety of an additional weight shoe developed for the improvement of aerobic capacity, and to improve some problems found by subject's test for an additional weight shoe. The subjects employed for this study were 10 college students. 4 video cameras, AMTI force platform and Pedar insole pressure distribution measurement device were used to analyze foot motions. The results of the study were as follows: 1 The initial achilles tendon angle and initial rearfoot pronation angle of an additional weight shoe during walking were 183.7 deg and 2.33 deg, respectively, and smaller than a barefoot condition. Maximum achilles tendon angle and the angular displacement of achilles tendon angle were 185.35 deg and 4.21 deg respectively, and smaller than barefoot condition. Thus rearfoot stability variables were within the permission value for safety. 2. Maximal anterior posterior ground reaction force of additional weight shoe was appeared to be 1.01-1.2 B.W., and was bigger than a barefoot condition. The time to MAPGRF of an additional weight shoe was longer than a barefoot condition. Maximal vertical ground reaction force of additional weight shoe was appeared to be 2.3-2.7 B.W., and was bigger than a barefoot condition in propulsive force region. But A barefoot condition was bigger in braking force region. The time to MVGRF of an additional weight shoe was longer than a barefoot condition. 3. Regional peak pressure was bigger in medial region than in lateral region in contrast to conventional running shoes. The instant of regional peak pressure was M1-M2-M7-M4-M6-M5 -M3, and differed form conventional running shoes. Regional Impulse was shown to be abnormal patterns. There were no evidences that an additional weight shoe would have function and safety problems through the analysis of rearfoot control and ground reaction force during walking. However, There appeared to have small problem in pressure distribution. It was considered that it would be possible to redesign the inner geometry. This study could not find out safety on human body and exercise effects because of short term research period. Therefore long term study on subject's test would be necessary in the future study.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 2018

Objective: The human body is often modelled as a spring-mass system. Lower extremity stiffness has been considered to be one of key factor in the performance enhancement of running, jumping, and hopping involved sports activities. There are several different classification of lower extremity stiffness consisting of vertical stiffness, leg stiffness, joint stiffness, as well as muscle and tendon stiffness. The primary purpose of this paper was to review the literature and describe different stiffness models and discuss applications of stiffness models while engaging in sports activities. In addition, this paper provided a current update of the lower extremity literature as it investigates the relationships between lower extremity stiffness and both functional performance and injury. Summary: Because various methods for measuring lower extremity stiffness are existing, measurements should always be accompanied by a detailed description including type of stiffness, testing method and calculation method. Moreover, investigator should be cautious when comparing lower extremity stiffness from different methods. Some evidence highlights that optimal degree of lower extremity stiffness is required for successful athletic performance. However, the actual magnitude of stiffness required to optimize performance is relatively unexplored. Direct relationship between lower extremity stiffness and lower extremity injuries has not clearly been established yet. Overall, high stiffness is potentially associate risk factors of lower extremity injuries although some of the evidence is controversial. Prospective injures studies are necessary to confirm this relationship. Moreover, further biomechanical and physiological investigation is needed to identify the optimal regulation of the lower limb stiffness behavior and its impact on athletic performance and lower limb injuries.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.279-284
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• 2022

Objective: This study was conducted to confirm the effect of physiotherapy on the balance and walking in dog with sciatic nerve injury and degenerative arthritis of stifle joints. Design: Single case study Methods: The dog walked abnormally for six months and was administrated in S animal hospital. The dog's right hindlimb was operated for cranial cruciate ligament repair and the dog had been taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory analgesic before being refered. There was severe degenerated osteoarthritis in the right hindlimb. During stance and walking, the right hindlimb was often shown partial weight bearing. The dog's left hindlimb was shown plantigrade stance and walking. The radiograph was shown an intact calcaneal tendon in the left hindlimb. In the neurologic examination, sciatic nerve injury in the left hindlimb was confirmed. The dog was treated using muscle strengthening, proprioceptive exercise, underwater treadmill and Laser therapy two, or three times a week for 3 months. At the 10th and 17th treatment, it was evaluated through stance and gait analyzer system to measure dog's balance and walking. Results: 3 months following physiotherapy, the dog's balance was improved in center of pressure(COP). And peak vertical force(PVF), vertical impulse(VI) was increased in right hindlimb and double stance was decreased. Conclusions: Physiotherapy may have improved the prognosis in this dog with severe osteoarthritis and sciatic nerve injury. This study suggested that animal physiotherapy is a valuable way to improve balance and walking.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.107-110
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• 2005

In general, post tensioned (PT) flat plate slab systems have been used as a Gravity Load Resisting System (GLRS) in buildings. Thus, these systems should be constructed with Lateral Force Resisting Systems (LFRS) such as shear walls and moment resisting frames. When lateral loads such as winds or earthquakes occur, lateral load resisting systems undergo displacement by which connected gravity systems experience lateral displacement. Therefore, GLRS should have some lateral displacement capacity in order to hold gravity loads under severe earthquakes and winds. Since there are the limited number of researches on PT flat plate slab systems, the behavior of the systems have not been well defined. This study investigated the cyclic behavior of post tensioned flat plate slab systems. For this purpose, an experimental test was carried out using 4 interior PT flat plate slab-column specimens. All specimens have bottom reinforcement in the slab around the slab-column connection. Test variables of this experimental study are vertical load level and tendon distribution patterns.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.259-266
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• 2003

This paper introduces a relation to determine the span ratio between exterior and interior spans, which is strongly required in the preliminary design stage of bridges constructed by Free Cantilever Method (FCM). A relation for the initial tendon force is derived on the basis of an assumption that no vertical deflection occurs at the far end of a cantilever beam due to the balanced condition between the self-weight and the cantilever tendons. In advance, the span ratio can be determined by using an assumption that the negative maximum moment must be the same with the positive maximum moment along the entire spans to be a rational bridge design. Finally, many rigorous lime-dependent analyses are conducted to establish the validity of the introduced relations. The obtained numerical results show that the rational design of FCM bridges may be achieved when the span length ratio of the exterior span to the interior span ranges about 0.75 to 0.8.

• Journal of Urban Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.19-24
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• 2022

Conventional RC beams for crossing small and medium-sized rivers do not have a cross-sectional area, so the floating debris is accumulated and disasters such as damage to bridges occur. To improve this, the PSC method was invented. However, this also had problems such as transverse curvature, increase in dead weight due to cross-sectional shape, and negative moment generated during serialization, so it was necessary to develop a new type of girder. Therefore, it was intended to propose a LIT(Leton Interaction Thrust) girder bridge that is safer and has better performance than the conventional PSC girder with improved section efficiency. Unlike existing girder bridges, the LIT girder has the feature that the change in the strands of the entire girder occurs only in the vertical direction when the first tension is applied because the tendon arrangement is symmetrical by applying the raised portion. In addition, slab continuation generates a secondary moment that is advantageous to the continuous point, effectively controlling the negative moment and preventing the corrosion of the tendon. The dimensions of the cross section were determined, and the arrangement of the strands was designed to conduct structural analysis and detailed analysis. As a result of the structural analysis, the stress of the girder showed results within the allowable compressive stress, and the deflection showed the result within the allowable deflection. showed results. In addition, a detailed analysis was performed to examine the stress distribution around the girder body and the anchorage area and the stress distribution of the embossed portion, and as a result, the stress of the girder body due to the tension force showed a stable level.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.46-50
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• 2009

Purpose: Finger injury by green onion cutting machine is one of the common hand injuries in the kitchen. It has a unique feature: there are multiple parellel laceration 3 - 5 mm wide. There are two directions of injuries(vertical, oblique). It may involve bone, tendon, nerve, and vessel injuries. We discuss its management and the long - term progress. Methods: We have treated six patients from 2003 to 2007. We carried out low tension approximation with thin suture materials to avoid ischemia and performed the additional operation as nail bed repair, tenorrhaphy, open reduction, vessel anastomosis, and composite graft. We reviewed the record of initial injury and collected the follow - up record. Results: They were all middle aged - women who had worked in the kitchen. Right hand was dominent over left hand. The ratio of the directions was 3 : 3 (vertical : oblique). They were all competely healed although there were three atrophy, four hyperesthesia, and one nail deformity. Conclusion: Finger injury by green onion cutting machine is a unique pattern of laceration with various accompanied injuries. It may look like a severe form of injury, but in most cases have relatively favorable progress. We have to perform careful examination of accompanied injuries and carry out the proper management. First and foremost, the user especially in the middle aged women should be warned to be careful in handling this risky machine.