• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.429-440
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of knee joint position sense following local and general load protocols in 25 healthy male subjects. Proprioception of the knee joint was evaluated by measuring absolute angular errors at matching angles before, after and between 2 different types of load protocols. Proprioception tests(on the dominant knee) were performed in which proprioception of the passivepassive reproduced and active-active reproduced knee position was measured. Local load was provided with maximum isokinetic knee extension-flexion on the isokinetic dynamometer(Cybex), and general load was 10 minutes running on a treadmill. Peak torque(knee extension and flexion) and heart rate(beats per minute) was evaluated as an indicator of local and general fatigue during load protocols. The results were as follows: 1. For pasive-pasive reproduced knee position test, significant difference in absolute angular errors after general load protocol was detected compared with that before general load protocol(P<.05), significant difference in absolute angular errors after local load protocol was detected compared with that before local load protocol(P<.05). However, no significant difference in absolute angular errors of general load protocol was detected compared with that of local load protocol (P>.05), no significant difference in absolute angular errors of local load protocol was detected compared with that of general load protocol(P>.05). 2. For active-active reproduced knee position test, significant difference in absolute angular errors after general load protocol was detected compared with that before general load protocol(P<.05), significant difference in absolute angular errors after local load protocol was detected compared with that before local load protocol (P<.05). Also, significant difference in absolute angular errors of general load protocol was detected compared with that of local load protocol(P<.05), significant difference in absolute angular errors of local load protocol was detected compared with that of general load protocol(P<.05). 3. A significant decrease of peak torque of knee extensors and flexors was seen after local load, although heart rate was significantly increased(P<.05). No significant change of peak torque of knee extensors and flexors was seen after general load(P>.05), although heart rate was also significantly increased(P<.05). The previous study revealed that knee proprioception is significantly altered when the muscle mechanoreceptors are dysfunctional due to muscle fatigue, although the joint mechanoreceptors have no significantly effect on knee proprioception when the presence of knee muscle fatigue. However, the results of this study are different from those of the previous study in that muscle weakness of the knee could not be seen after general load. This study shows that general load may diminish motor control by the central nervous system. Proprioceptional decline without muscle weakness of knee after general load suggests a change in the proprioceptional pathway without influence from muscle mechanoreceptors.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.331-336
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• 2001

Objectives : To assess the prevalence of knee osteoarthritis through proper diagnosis in a rural community and to elucidate the relevant factors of this health problem in order to develop educational methods for the prevention of female knee osteoarthritis as well to provide basic data for prospective research. Methods : Over a period of three months starting from August, 2000, 432 women over the age of 40 and living in a rural area were selected by a multistage cluster sampling method in order to investigate the prevalence of knee osteoarthritis and the related factors. The study utilized interviews and radiological examination. The criteria of knee osteoarthritis used was the American College of Rheumatology classification criteria for osteoarthritis of the knee(1995). Results : The adjusted prevalence of knee osteoarthritis among the subjects was 55.0%, and multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the odds ratio(OR) of knee osteoarthritis among subjects 50-59 years of age and subjects older than 60 years of age as compared to subjects 40-49 years of age were 2.43(95% CI: 1.30-4.70) and 4.40(95% CI: 2.47-7.83), respectively. The OR of knee osteoarthritis among factory workers or farmers as compared to others was 1.79(95% CI: 1.03-3.12). The OR of knee osteoarthritis among subjects who had a family history and subjects who had knee injury or surgical history against those subjects had neither were 2.56(95% CI: 1.42-4.03) and 4.70(95% CI:1.45-15.19), respectively. The OR of knee osteoarthritis among smokers against non smokers was 0.47(95% CI: 0.22-0.97). Conclusions : Related factors of knee osteoarthritis included age, occupation, family history, smoking, knee injury and history of surgery In order to prevent knee osteoarthritis in high risked rural woman, education concerning self-care methods and safety guideline must be provided at the work place by the public and private health sectors. Additionally, these women should be continually encouraged to exercise, including jogging and swimming regularly.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.100-104
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• 2018

Purpose: An axillary crutch is the most commonly used assistive device in foot and ankle patients who require nonweightbearing. On the other hand, its use frequently induces axillary or wrist pain and critical neurovascular injuries have been reported in several studies. This study compared the clinical outcomes of patients using the knee walker and axillary crutch. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed comparing the utility of a knee walker and axillary crutch as a nonweightbearing ambulatory aid for 62 foot and ankle patients treated between November 2016 and March 2018. A comparative study of the two orthosis could be performed because all the patients temporarily used an axillary crutch before or after the use of a knee walker. A demographic study and comparative analysis based on the visual analogue scale (VAS) satisfaction score (0~100), complications, and fall down history were evaluated. Furthermore, under the assumption of having retreatment, their preference of orthosis between the knee walker and axillary crutch was investigated. Results: The mean age of the patients was 36.5 and the mean duration of ambulation with a knee walker and axillary crutch were 5.2 and 2.4 weeks. The VAS satisfaction score of the knee walker and crutch was 88.8 and 27.5, respectively (p<0.05). The most frequent complications of the knee walker and crutch were ipsilateral knee pain (6 cases) and axillary or wrist pain (56 cases), respectively. No case of falling down occurred during knee walker ambulation, but there were two cases of crutch ambulation. Fifty-eight patients (93.5%) preferred the knee walker and four patients (6.5%) preferred a crutch. Conclusion: Compared to the axillary crutch, the knee walker afforded lower complication and higher satisfaction. Most patients preferred the knee walker to a crutch. Therefore, the knee walker is an efficient and safe orthosis for foot and ankle patients who require nonweightbearing.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.372-381
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• 2005

Purpose: This study was to investigate the effects of a taping method on pain and ROM of the knee joint in the elderly. Method: The subjects were seniors registered in a senior welfare center in D city. An experimental group of 30 persons and acontrol group of 33 persons were chosen and according to the proper conditions and a knee pain score was marked from 1-5 on a Numerical Pain Rating Scale. For the experimental group, the taping method was conducted three times a week for four weeks (twelve times in all) but the control group did not receive taping.. The measuring instrument of knee pain was a numerical pain rating scale from 0 to 10 and the ROM score was the average value of three measured values with a goniometer. The data was analyzed with SPSS WIN 10.0 using an $x^2-test$, t-test, repeated measures ANOVA, and time contrast. Result: Knee joint pain was significantly decreased in the experimental group over that of the control group (p=.001). In addition, knee joint ROM of the experimental group was significantly improved over that of the control group (p=.001). Conclusion: It was proven that the taping method was effective for pain relief and increasing ROM of the knee joint in the elderly.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.30 no.4 s.247
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• pp.435-441
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• 2006

The anterior cruciate ligament(ACL) is an important stabilizer of knee joint. The ACL injury of knee is common and a serious ACL injury leads to ligament reconstruction surgery. Gait analysis is essential to identify knee condition of patients who display abnormal gait. The purpose of this study is to evaluate and classify knee condition of ACL deficient patients using a nonlinear dynamic method. The nonlinear method focuses on understanding how variations in the gait pattern change over time. The experiments were carried out for 17 subjects(l2 healthy subjects and five subjects with unilateral deficiency) walking on a motorized treadmill for 100 seconds. Three dimensional kinematics of the lower extremity were collected by using four cameras and KWON 3D motion analysis system. The largest Lyapunov exponent calculated from knee joint flexion-extension time series was used to quantify knee stability. The results revealed the difference between healthy subjects and patients. The deficient knee was significantly unstable compared with the contralateral knee. This study suggests an evaluation scheme of the severity of injury and the level of recovery. The proposed Lyapunov exponent can be used in rehabilitation and diagnosis of recoverable patients.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1547-1551
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• 2003

This study was carried out to characterized the effect of Youndamsagan-tang on a Case of Septic Knee. After we gave Youndamsagan-tang to a patient of septic knee, we examined not only symptom of patient but also the thickness and circumference of knee, the change of WBC, ESR, body temperature, VAS. As admission time passes, the pain, flare, swelling and movement of left-side knee joint were improved. The thickness and circumference of knee joint were decreased, and the count of WBC, ESR were decreased. And patient's pain by VAS was subsided. From the above result, administration of Youndamsagan-tang reduces the progressing of pain, flare, swelling and movement in knee joint.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.881-887
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• 2005

A total knee replacement is an extremely 'position-sensitive' operation; a malposition or a malalignment of the components will lead to a breakage of the component, a fracture around the knee prosthesis, and the limitation of range of the motion, etc. In a conventional total knee replacement, surgeons have to select an appropriate prosthesis according to the shape of the surgical region. A wrong selection may give rise to side effects or to need re-operation. Nevertheless, it is so difficult to choose the most proper prosthesis out of various kinds of prosthesis. This paper presents a surgical planning system for the total knee replacement with an operation simulating method in order to determine the parameters for the total knee replacement operation. We select an alignment axis and a resection angle as major operation parameters in the total knee replacement operation, and introduce the method to determine the major operation parameters with the operation simulator we developed. The simulator is used to determine operation parameters for optimized operations, to select the most appropriate prosthesis, and to analyze the prospective problems of the operation.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.197-205
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• 2011

Various jumping and landing motions are shown during sports event. But most previous studies have not considered landing height and distance simultaneously. The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of landing height and distance on knee injury mechanism. Fourteen male(age: $28.86{\pm}1.99$ yrs, height: $177.00{\pm}4.69$ cm, weight: $76.50{\pm}6.41$ kg) participated in this study. The subjects attempted drop landing task onto the ground from 30 cm to 45 cm heights and to 20 cm to 40 cm distances. The results were as follows. First, higher drop landing height and longer distance showed greater degree of maximal knee flexion and valgus. Second, higher drop landing height and longer distance showed greater maximal knee extension moment and varus moment. Third, higher drop landing height and longer distance showed larger maximal knee absorption power. Lastly, higher drop landing height showed increased Peak GRF. Landing height was more related to the cause of injury, which was indicated by increased maximal knee extension moment, peak GRF and maximal knee absorption power. Landing distance was also associated with increased knee valgus moment and absorption power during landing. These results suggest that landing height and distance may be the cause of injury.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.431-435
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• 2008

Quantitative information of a three dimensional(3D) kinematics of joint is very useful in knee joint surgery, understanding how knee kinematics related to joint injury, impairment, surgical treatment, and rehabilitation. In this paper, an automated 2D/3D image matching technique was developed to estimate the 3D in vivo knee kinematics using dual X-ray images. First, a 3D geometric model of the knee was reconstructed from CT scan data. The 3D in vivo position and orientation of femoral and tibial components of the knee joint could be estimated by minimizing the pixel by pixel difference between the projection images from the developed 3D model and the given X-ray images. The accuracy of the developed technique was validated by an experiment with a cubic phantom. The present 2D/3D image matching technique for the estimation of in vivo joint kinematics could be useful for pre-operative planning as well as post-operative evaluation of knee surgery.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.101-104
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• 2014

Reconstruction of soft tissue defects of the knee has always been a challenging task for plastic surgeons. Various reconstructive choices are available depending on the location, size, and depth of the defect relative to the knee joint. Defects on the knee joint have several characteristic features. The use of a free flap is preferred for reconstructions involving obliteration of large-cavity defects, but recipient pedicle isolation can be difficult because of the extent of the injury zone. Furthermore, the true defect during knee joint flexion is larger than during knee joint extension, and a durable flap is necessary for joint movement. We report for the first time on the use of pedicled perforator flaps for reconstruction of bilateral knee defects in a 76-year-old woman. The operative procedure required skeletonizing the perforators of an antero-lateral thigh flap and antero-medial thigh flap and rotating the flap in the defect. The patient returned to normal daily activity and had a full range of motion two months after the accident. The shorter operating time with decreased donor site morbidity and its durability make this flap a valuable alternative for soft tissue reconstruction of the knee.