• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.228-233
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• 2015

Purpose: Gait is the most basic element when evaluating the quality of life with activities of daily living under ordinary life circumstances. Symmetrical use of the lower extremities requires complicated coordination of all limbs. Thus, this study examined asymmetry of muscle activity quadriceps femoris and tibialis anterior as a baseline for training during over-ground walking and stair walking of stroke patients. Methods: Subjects were 14 stroke patients included as one experimental group. Gait speed used in this study was determined by the subject. Low extremity paretic and non-paretic EMG was compared using the surface EMG system. Results: The low extremity EMG difference was statistically significant during over-ground walking and stair walking (p<0.05). The result of low extremity EMG substituted symmetry ratio formula was compared to EMG symmetry ratio in both legs during over-ground walking and stair walking. The average symmetry ratio of quadriceps femoris during over-ground walking was 0.65, and average symmetry ratio of quadriceps femoris during stair walking was 0.47, with significant difference (p<0.05). Conclusion: EMG data was higher in stair walking than over-ground walking. However, in the comparison of symmetry ratio, asymmetric EMG of quadriceps femoris was significantly increased during stair walking. These findings suggested that application of stair walking for strengthening of both legs can be positive, but the key factor is maintaining asymmetrical posture of both legs. Therefore, physical therapists should make an effort to reduce asymmetry of quadriceps femoris power during stair walking by stroke patients.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.55-64
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• 2013

The first purpose was to identify the plantar pressure distributions (peak pressure, pressure integral time, and contact area) during level walking, and stair ascent and descent in asymptomatic flexible flatfoot (AFF). The second purpose was to investigate whether peak pressure data during level walking could be used to predict peak pressure during stair walking by identifying correlations between the peak pressures of level walking and stair walking. Twenty young adult subjects (8 males and 12 females, age $21.0{\pm}1.7$ years) with AFF were recruited. A distance greater than 10 mm in a navicular drop test was defined as flexible flatfoot. Each subject performed at least 10 steps during level walking, and stair ascent and descent. The plantar pressure distribution was measured in nine foot regions using a pressure measurement system. A two-way repeated analysis of variance was conducted to examine the differences in the three dependent variables with two within-subject factors (activity type and foot region). Linear regression analysis was conducted to predict peak pressure during stair walking using the peak pressure in the metatarsal regions during level walking. Significant interaction effects were observed between activity type and foot region for peak pressure (F=9.508, p<.001), pressure time integral (F=5.912, p=.003), and contact area (F=15.510, p<.001). The regression equations predicting peak pressure during stair walking accounted for variance in the range of 25.7% and 65.8%. The findings indicate that plantar pressures in AFF were influenced by both activity type and foot region. Furthermore the findings suggest that peak pressure data during level walking could be used to predict the peak pressure data during stair walking. These data collected for AFF can be useful for evaluating gait patterns and for predicting pressure data of flexible flatfoot subjects who have difficulty performing activities such as stair walking. Further studies should investigate plantar pressure distribution during various functional activities in symptomatic flexible flatfoot, and consider other predictors for regression analysis.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.379-385
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare kinematics on lower limbs between stair walking with high heel and barefoot in healthy adult women. Methods: 18 healthy adult women were recruited in this study. The subjects performed stair ascent and descent with high heels and barefoot. The experiment was conducted in random order and repeated three times for each stair walking with high heels and barefoot. The movements of lower limb joints were measured and analyzed using a three-dimensional analysis system. Results: The ankle, knee, and hip flexion angles on the sagittal plane exhibited statistically significant differences between stair ascent and descent with high heels and barefoot. The pelvic forward tilt angles showed statistically significant differences only during stair ascent. The ankle inversion, hip abduction and pelvic lateral tilt angles on the frontal plane showed statistically significant differences between stair walking with high heels and barefoot. On the transverse plane, the hip rotation angles showed statistically significant differences between the high-heeled and barefoot gait during stair ascent and descent. However, the pelvic rotation angles showed no statistically significant differences. Conclusion: Therefore, wearing high-heeled shoes during stair walking in daily life is considered to influence lower limb kinematics due to the high heel, and thus poses the risks of pain, and low stability and joint damage caused by changes in the movement of lower limb joints.

• Korean Journal of Computational Design and Engineering
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.391-396
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• 2011

Gait is walking attitude and indicating state. The body's gait is a good mix in the center of body mechanics and exercises to wake up gently at the same time switch is a pass which is complicated at legs various joints. The shifting action what swing phase and stance phase rhythmic movement of body. One from piece moves with different dot. Especially plain walking and stair walking as a vehicle has been used frequently. Characteristics of the stair walking while the balanced the horizontal and vertical movement. Stair walking often takes place in everyday. It requires large range more than walking at plain in the moment and joint range of gait motion. And consistently applied to joints and various types of loads at legs joint may involve joint disorders. In this study, spastic cerebral palsy existing artificial limbs for disabled people when developing calibration equinus deformity patients induce muscle pain when walking on stairs independently, to reduce the research. Comparing the characteristics of the walking up the stairs for analysis patellofemoral joint pain as a result it is to provide engineering data.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.105-113
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this case study was to examine the effects of an intervention based on the concept of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on the weight-supporting ability, fear of falling, and stair-walking ability of stroke patients. Methods: One pretest, three intervention sessions, and one posttest were conducted. In the tests, weight-supporting ability, manual muscle strength, the fear of falling, and the time to go up and down a 'ㄱ'-shaped stair-walking machine were measured and compared. The intervention was implemented for 30 minutes per day for three days in combination with general rehabilitation. The intervention was planned and implemented based on the concept of PNF, and the goal was for the subjects, after their consent, to walk backward down the stairs. Results: After the intervention, functional improvement was seen in weight-supporting ability and the fear of falling felt when walking down the stairs. Whereas the subjects could not perform the task of walking down the stairs on the 'ㄱ'-shaped stair-walking machine in the pretest, they could perform the task in the posttest, and their stair-climbing speed was greater than before the intervention. Conclusion: This study verified that a PNF-based intervention can improve stroke patients' weight-supporting ability and stair-walking ability. Therefore, this intervention can be clinically applied to stroke patients.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.169-178
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• 2008

The goals of this study were to provide data of 3 dimensional ground reaction force(GRF) parameters during stair ascent and descent on three different stair runs and to investigate variability and asymmetry index of them. 10 healthy adults participated in this study and performed 7 different types of gait with 10 trials each. After data analysis, following results were found. Firstly, stair run did not affect on the pattern of GRF parameters, coefficient of variation and asymmetry index. Secondly, a significant different GRF pattern was found between level walking and stair walking. Especially, ascending stair walking has only large Fz1 and small Fz3 while level walking and descending stair walking have a "M" shape connected by Fz1, Fz2 and Fz3. Thirdly, only vertical GRF parameters of stair walking revealed acceptable coefficient of variation and asymmetry index.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.53-61
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• 2021

Purpose: This study examined the impacts of action observational physical training related to stair walking on the stair walking ability and self-efficacy of chronic stroke patients. Methods: This study was conducted on 24 chronic stroke patients, who were assigned randomly to an action observational physical training group (12 persons) and a landscape observation physical training group (12 persons). To the action-observational physical training group, five videos related to stair walking were presented, and after observing them, physical training was carried out. The landscape observation physical training group observed the videos consisting of landscape, where there were no humans and animals, and then underwent physical training. This study measured the rectus femoris, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior, and gastrocnemius to examine the muscle activity of the lower limb. A timed up and go and step test was performed to examine the balance ability, and a timed stair test was conducted to examine their stair walking ability. A self-efficacy scale was measured to examine the degree of their confidence of performing stair walking. The assessment was conducted three times in total: pre-, post-, and follow-up surveys. Results: As a result of this study, the action observational physical training group significant improvement after the intervention than in the landscape observation physical training group. Moreover, the follow-up study four weeks after the intervention showed significant improvements in the action observational physical training group (p<0.05). Conclusion: These results show that the action observational physical training had a positive impact on the stair walking ability and self-efficacy of chronic stroke patients.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.161-169
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to investigate kinetic variables of the lower extremity during walking on three different stair widths in healthy adults. Ten healthy college-aged adults($23.5{\pm}3.5$) recruited for this study. Each stairs with the same height and length(l8cm and 90cm) under the Korean Constructional Law but three different widths(26cm, 31cm and 36cm) were conducted for this study. One force plate(9286AA, Kistler Co.) was put on third stairs. One-way ANOVA was performed to find the stair width effects during stair walking and the following findings ware obtained. There was significantly decreased in ankle resultant joint moment at Pull-Up phase(p<.05) and, significantly increased in knee extension moment during mid-stance phase as stair width increase(p<.05), but there was no significance in ankle resultant joint moment was found at Forward Continuance Phase in Ascending Stair Walking and There was significantly increased in ankle resultant joint moment as stair width increase during mid-stance phase(p<.05) and no significance in knee and hip resultant moments among the stair width in descending stair walking.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.159-166
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• 2019

Recently, the advanced development of smart devices has increased the interest in health-care, and many people are paying more attentions to disease prevention than disease treatment. Among these prevention methods, the bare body movement has received much attention, and especially walking exercise is attracting much attention because it is enjoyable without any restrictions on place and time. Walking exercise is generally divided into two types: walking on the ground and climbing the stairs. Walking up the stairs consumes much more calories compared to walking on the ground. These walking exercises have the advantage that they can be easily performed by male and female without special equipments or economic considerations. However, there is a lack of applications and systems that accurately determine such walking and stair walking and measure momentum according to stair walking. In this paper, we designed and implemented a real-time walking status analysis system using smartwatch's, pedometer, smartphone's barometer and beacons.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.177-183
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• 2008

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate characteristics of the muscle activities during level walking and stairs ascending in young adults. Methods : Fifteen young adult were recruited this study. Muscle activity (BIOPAC System Inc., Santa Barbara, U.SA). Statistical analysis was difference between level and stair walking. Results : In stance phase, muscle activity of low extremity generally more increased during ramp ascent both young adults. In swing phase, muscle activity of low extremity generally more increased during stairs ascent in young adults. Conclusion : These results indicate that stair and ramp ascent is more difficult task than level walking in young adults. Muscle activity was more changed at ramp ascent. In the future, we suggest that studies of stair and ramp gait pattern regarding ambulatory patient with disabilities be further studied and an appropriate stairs and ramp inclination will be indicated.