• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1-10
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to examine the differences of lower limbs muscle activities depending on three walking speeds of 2.5km/h, 5.0km/h and 7.5km/h during forward walking and backward walking making 14 students the subjects of this study. To achieve this aim, surface electrodes for factor analysis of EMG were adhered to rectus femoris, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius medial head of right lower limbs. The conclusions through this study are as follows. 1) The muscle activity of rectus femoris was higher in backward walking group than in forward walking group and it was the highest at 7.5km/h walking speed. 2) The muscle activity of biceps femoris was higher in forward walking group than in backward walking group. It was the lowest at 5.0km/h walking speed and the highest at 7.5km/h walking speed. 3) The muscle activity of tibialis anterior was higher in backward walking group than in forward walking group. It was the lowest at 5.0km/h walking speed and the highest at 7.5km/h walking speed. 4) The muscle activity of gastrocnemius medial head was higher in backward walking group than in forward walking group except P2. It was the lowest at 5.0km/h walking speed and the highest at 7.5km/h walking speed.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.43-51
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• 2002

Physiological Cost Index (PCI) of walking has been widely used to predict oxygen consumption in healthy subjects or patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the predictability of physiological cost index of walking for the amount of exercise and cardiac function. Walking exercise was conducted in 67 healthy children (age 4-12) with a self-selected comfortable walking speed on the level surface. Walking speed was calculated, and heart rate was measured before and immediately after the walking. PCI was calculated for statistical analysis. The results were as follows; 1) The walking speed tends to increase and PCI of walking tends to decrease with age. There was significant difference in walking speed and PCI of walking among three age groups (p<.05). The change of walking heart rate tends to decrease with age, however, there was no significant difference among three age groups. 2) Linear regression equation between walking speed and age was 'Y (walking speed) = 2.124X (age) + 48.286' ($R^2$=.337), (p=.00). 3) The walking heart rate tends to decrease with age. Linear regression equation between walking heart rate and age was 'Y (walking heart rate) = 143.346 - 2.63X (age)' ($R^2$=.3425), (p=.00). 4) The walking heart rate decreased as body surface area (BSA) increased. Linear regression equation between walking heart rate and BSA was 'Y (walking heart rate) = 149.830 - 27.115X (BSA)' ($R^2$=.3066), (p=.00). In conclusion, these equations and PCI could be useful to quantify the variation of energy expenditure of children with pathological gait when compared with age-matched healthy children.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Health Science
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.1015-1020
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• 2017

Purpose. Walking depends on the speed and type of shoe to be worn, and the degree of impact varies with the muscle used. In addition, the speed can be changed by moving objects and using objects when walking. This study analyzed the change of walking speed by applying various factors influencing walking. Methods. A total of 60 patients who had not undergone musculoskeletal diseases during the last 1 year were included. Shoe type was divided into slippers and shoe heels. Behavioral types were divided into bagging, books, and cell phone use. The walking speed was measured by the general walking, the middle walking, and the fast walking. The time was measured using a 10M linear distance test. The collected data were analyzed with SPSS program for independent samples t-test, one-way ANOVA. Results. There was a statistically significant difference according to the type of shoes when walking. Walking speed was slow in shoe heel. In addition, There was statistically significant difference according to type of behavior task at walking. Walking speed was slow in task type using mobile phone during walking. Conclusions. The walking speed were appeared difference in each type of shoe heel, using mobile phone.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.145-151
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• 2022

Purpose : Stroke patients exhibit abnormal walking patterns such as slow walking speed and asymmetrical walking values. The recovery of symmetrical walking in the stance phase using a treadmill means improvements in walking speed and asymmetrical walking. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of unilateral step treadmill training (USTT) on gait speed and the recovery of symmetrical walking in chronic stroke patients. Methods : Fifteen patients (11 men and 4 women) with chronic stroke participated in this study. The 10-meter walk test (10MWT) and GAITRite system were used to determine the intervention-related changes in gait speed and symmetrical walking values such as non-paretic step length (NSL), non-paretic step time (NST), paretic single-support time (PSST), step length asymmetry (SLA), and step time asymmetry (STA) after USTT. All participants completed USTT and underwent measurements at 3 different times: at pretest, posttest, and the follow-up test. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to compare walking speed and asymmetrical walking values. The statistical significance level was set at p<.05. Results : Walking speed by 10MWT (p<.05) showed significant improvements after USTT as follows: at pretest and posttest (p<.05), posttest and follow-up test (p<.05), and pretest and follow-up test (p<.05). Recovery of symmetrical walking patterns such as NSL (p<.05), NST (p<.05), and SLA (p<.05) were observed after USTT. However, no significant improvements were found in PSST (p>.05) and STA (p>.05) in symmetrical gait. Conclusion : This study suggests that USTT may have a positive effect on walking speed and symmetrical walking patterns in chronic stroke patients. Thus, this study contributes to the existing knowledge about the usefulness of USTT for the effective management of patients with chronic stroke. Further studies are needed to generalize these findings.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.11-17
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the smoothness of movement during various walking speeds. Based on the maximum smoothness theory (or the minimum jerk theory), we hypothesized that the walking speed at the maximum smoothness (or minimum normalized jerk) is the same as that at the minimum energy consumption. Eleven university students participated in treadmill walking experiment with 11 different walking speeds (1.11, 1.19, 1.25, 1.33, 1.56, 1.78, 1.9, 2, 211, 233, and 2.47m/sec). Normalized jerk at 15 markers and the center of mass was calculated. Results showed that there existed a quadratic relationship between the normalized jerk of the vertical direction at the center of mass and the walking speed As the walking speed increased, the normalized jerk of all directions at the heel decreased Our hypothesis that the previously published energetically optimal walking speed ($1.25\;{\sim}\;1.4m/s$) is the same as the minimum jerk speed (1.78m/s) did not agree with this result. The minimum normalized jerk at the center of mass occurred at the walking speed of 1.78m/s which was the preferred walking speed by subjects' questionaries. Further studies concerning the energetically optimal walking speed, preferred walking speed, and walk-run transition speed or run-walk transition speed are necessary based on actual energy consumption experiment and various multi-dimensional analysis.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.61-71
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to compare kinematic characteristics on the limbs at 3 different walking speed during the energy and the normal walking. Eight subjects performed energy walking and normal walking at the slow speed(65 beats/min), the normal speed(115beats/min), the fast speed(160 beats/min). The 3-d angle was calculated by vector projected with least squares solution with three-dimensional cinematography(Motion Analysis corporation). The range of motion was calculated on the trunk, shoulder, elbow, hip, knee joint. The results showed that stride length was no difference of the two walking pattern. The duration of support phase was also no difference of the two walking pattern. The range of motion of shoulder joint significantly increased in the sagittal and frontal planes, and the range of motion of elbow joint significantly increased as the energy walking. The range of motion of hip joint had no significant difference in the any planes in changing of walking speed. But the most remarkable difference of the two walking patterns revealed at the trunk. The range of flexion/extension angle had significant increasing $2.36^{\circ}$ at normal speed, and the range of the right/left flexion angle had significant increasing below $4^{\circ}$ at the 3 walking speed, and The range of rotation angle had significant increasing $7.35^{\circ}$, $9.22^{\circ}$, respectively at the normal and slow speed. But there was no significant difference of range of motion at the hip and knee joints between energy walking and normal walking.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.292-297
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• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the effects of backward walking training with task orientation on the functional walking ability of children with cerebral palsy. Methods: This study was a single-blinded, randomized controlled trial with a crossover design conducted at a single rehabilitation facility with cross-over to the other intervention arm following a two-week break. For a total of 12 children with spastic hemiplegia cerebral palsy, the forward walking training group (n=6) underwent training three times a week for three weeks, 40 minutes a day, and the backward walking training group (n=6) was also trained under the same conditions. To identify the functional walking ability, variables, such as the walking speed, stride length, and step length, were measured using a walk analyzer (OptoGait, Microgate S.r.l, Italy). Results: Both groups showed significant increases in walking speed, stride length, and step length (p<0.01). The backward walking group showed more significant improvement in the walking speed from pre- to post-test (p<0.05). The gait characteristics were similar in the two groups (stride length and step length) but the walking speed in the backward walking group showed a mean difference between the positive effects higher than the forward walking group. Conclusion: Task-oriented backward walking training, which was conducted on the ground, may be a more effective treatment approach for improving the walking functions of spastic hemiplegia children than forward walk training.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.1873-1878
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• 2019

Background: Walking is a complex activity. The main components of walking include balance, coordination, and symmetrical posture. The characteristics of walking patterns of stroke patients include slow walking, measured by gait cycle and walking speed. This is an important factor that reflects post-stroke quality of life and walking ability. Objective: This study aimed to examine the effect of deep lumbar muscle stabilization exercise on the spatiotemporal walking ability of stroke patients. Design: Quasi-experial study Methods: The experiment was conducted 5 times per week for 4 weeks, with 30 minutes per session, on 10 subjects in the experimental group who performed the deep lumbar muscle stabilization exercise and 10 subjects in the control group who performed a regular exercise. Variables that represent the spatiotemporal walking ability (step length, stride length, step rate, and walking speed) were measured using GAITRrite before and after the experiment and were analyzed. Results: There was a significant difference in the pre- and post-exercise spatiotemporal walking ability between the two groups (p<.05). Furthermore, there was a significant difference in the step rate and walking speed between the two groups (p<.05). Conclusions: Deep lumbar muscle stabilization exercise is effective in improving the walking ability of stroke patients. Therefore, its application will help improve the spatiotemporal walking ability of stroke patients.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.221-228
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• 2016

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in gait parameters and symmetry between walking speed by using the Froude number and preferred walking speed. Method: Fifty adults (age: $21.0{\pm}1.7years$, body weight: $71.0{\pm}9.2kg$, height: $1.75{\pm}0.07m$, leg length: $0.89{\pm}0.05m$) participated in this study. Leg length-applied walking speed was calculated by using the Froude number, defined as Fr = ${\upsilon}^2$/gL, where v is the velocity, g is the gravitational acceleration, and L is the leg length. Video data were collected by using eight infrared cameras (Oqus 300, Qualysis, Sweden) and the Qualisys Track Manager software (Qualisys, Sweden), with a 200-Hz sampling frequency during two-speed walking (preferred walking speed [PS] and leg length-applied walking speed [LS]) on a treadmill (Instrumented Treadmill, Bertec, USA). The step length, stride length, support percentage, cadence, lower joint angle, range of motion (ROM), and symmetry index were then calculated by using the Matlab R2009a software. Results: Step and stride lengths were greater in LS than in PS (p < 0.05). The right single-support percentage was greater in LS than in PS (p < 0.05). The hip joint angle at heel contact and toe-off were greater in LS than in PS (p < 0.05). The hip and knee joint ROM were greater in LS than in PS (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Based on our findings, we suggest that increased walking speed had a significant effect on step length, stride length, support percentage, and lower joint ROM.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.77-95
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• 2003

Many factors affect foot and ankle biomechanics during walking, including gait speed and anthropometric characteristics. However, speed has not been taken into account in foot kinematics and kinetics during walking. This study examined the effect of walking speed on foot joint motion and peak plantar pressure during the walking phase. Eighty healthy subjects (40 men, 40 women) were recruited. Maximal dorsiflexion and excursion were measured at the first metatarsophalangeal joints during walking phase at three different cadences (80, 100, and 120 step/min) using a three dimensional motion analysis system (CMS70P). At the same time, peak plantar pressure was investigated using pressure distribution platforms (MatScan system) under the hallux heads of the first, second, and third metatarsal bones and heel. Maximal dorsiflexion and excursion and excursion at the ankle joint decreased significantly with increasing walking speed. Peak plantar pressure increased significantly under the heads of the first of the first, second, and third metatarsal bones, and heel with increasing walking speed: three was no change under the hallux. There were no significant changes in maximal dorsiflexion or excursion at the first metatarsophalangeal joint. The results show that walking speed should be considered when comparing gait parameters. The results also suggest that slow walking speeds may decrease forefoot peak plantar pressure in patients with peripheral neuropathy who have a high risk of skin breakdown under the forefoot.