The electrical muscle stimulator (EMS) based human machine interface (HMI) free to mechanical constraint and muscle fatigue problems are proposed for force feedback in a virtual reality. The device was designed to provide force feedback up to 4.8 N and 2.6 N each to the thumb and forefingers. The main objective of the HMI is to make unnecessary mechanical structures to attach on the hand or fingers. It employs custom EMSs and an interface arranged in the forearm. In this work, major muscle groups such as extensor pollicis brevis (EPB), extensor indicis proprius (EIP), flexor pollicis longus (FPL) and flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) are selected for efficient force feedback and controlled individually. For this, a human muscular-skeletal analysis was performed and verified. The validity of the proposed multi-channel EMS based HMI was evaluated thorough various experiments with ten human subjects, interacting with a virtual environment.

While working in an industrial environment which requires extended periods of upright posture; workers tend to develop muscle fatigue due to the constant load on lower-limb muscles. In addition, when working while bending knees; muscle fatigue of lower back and hamstrings is increased due to the abnormal posture. This can lead to damage of muscles, induce musculoskeletal disorders, and reduce long-term working efficiency. Recent medical studies have shown that long-term working in an upright posture can induce musculoskeletal disorders such as foot fatigue, edema, pain and varicose veins. Likewise, medical and rehabilitation expenses have grown due to the increase in musculoskeletal conditions suffered by workers. For this problem, we aim to develop a device that can reduce the physical fatigue on the lower limbs by supporting the weight of workers during the extended periods of upright and bending postures in the industrial environments. In this paper, we have designed and manufactured a wearable weight support system; with a user intention algorithm that the users can maintain various postures. For validation of the developed system, we measured the muscle activity of the users wearing the system with EMG sensors.

This paper present a novel approach to control the lower body power assistive exoskeleton system of a HEXAR-CR35 aimed at improving a muscular strength. More specifically the control of based on the human intention is crucial of importance to ensure intuitive and dexterous motion with the human. In this contribution, we proposed the detection algorithm of the human intention using the MCRS which are developed to measure the contraction of the muscle with variation of the circumference. The proposed algorithm provides a joint motion of exoskeleton corresponding the relate muscles. The main advantages of the algorithm are its simplicity, computational efficiency to control one joint of the HEXAR-CR35 which are consisted knee-active type exoskeleton (the other joints are consisted with the passive or quasi-passive joints that can be arranged by analyzing of the human joint functions). As a consequence, the motion of exoskeleton is generated according to the gait phase: swing and stance phase which are determined by the foot insole sensors. The experimental evaluation of the proposed algorithm is achieved in walking with the exoskeleton while carrying the external mass in the back side.

Intramuscular lipoma is a rare benign tumor. It refers to infiltrating lipoma because it originates between skeletal muscle abundles and infiltrates into the intramuscular septa. Kransdorf reported that the majority of lipomas were located in the trunk, head/neck, and lower extremity. In addition, in research by Kindlom et al., on 43 cases of muscular infiltrative lipoma, there was no case involving the chest wall. We report on a case of intramuscular lipoma on the anterior chest wall. The lesion was removed completely and histopathological findings showed that mature adipocytes had infiltrated serratus anterior muscle in a diffuse manner. After treatment, the patient has shown no complication or evidence of recurrence.

Respiratory distress resulting from a neuromuscular disorder is often misdiagnosed and not managed properly until development of severe respiratory failure. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare but archetypical motor neuron disease. Most cases manifest as weakness, muscular atrophy, and progressive paralysis of the limbs. Late stage of the disease is characterized by respiratory failure due to respiratory muscle weakness. In a few cases, 3% of patients, respiratory failure is the initial presentation, preceding other symptoms. We report on a case of ALS accompanied by acute respiratory failure and weaning failure, with a review of the literature.

우리나라는 태권도의 종주국임에도 불구하고 신체활동량과 그에 따른 에너지 소모량에 대한 기초연구가 미흡하며 이에 대한 연구가 시급한 상태이다. 본 연구에서는 센서(SenseWear® PRO2 Armband)를 이용하여 태권도의 신체활동 량을 획득하였고, Inbody 520을 통하여 체성분 데이터를 획득 하였으며, CT로 하체부위(허벅지)를 스캔하여 허벅지 근육면적 데이터를 추출하였다. 획득된 데이터를 이용하여 허벅지 둘레와 근육면적의 상관관계, 허벅지 근육면적과 분 당 에너지 소모량의 상관관계를 분석하였다. 분석결과 실험자 8명의 평균 허벅지 근육면적은 132.79 cm2 였으며, 무 릎뼈(Pattela) 위 20 cm의 평균 허벅지 전체 면적은 178.79 cm2이었다. 실험자들의 허벅지 둘레와 근육면적은 상관 관계가 있는 것으로 나타났다. 실험자들의 평균 분당 에너지 소모량은 6.94 칼로리였으며, 허벅지 근육면적과 평균 분 당 에너지 소모량도 상관관계가 있는 것으로 나타났다.

본 연구는 급성염증과 비슷한 지연성 근육통이 있을 때 초기 한냉치료를 적용함에 있어 냉기에 의한 냉각통증을 최소화하면서, 근육온도를 낮출 수 있는 방법으로 냉기단독과 냉기와 적외선 조사 병용을 적용하여 피부온도에 미치는 영향을 측정하고, 냉기와 적외선 병용치료의 효율성을 평가함과 동시에 초음파를 통한 근 두께를 바탕으로 등척성 근기능을 평가해보고자 하였다. 본 연구의 결과 냉기와 적외선 병용치료 시 냉기 단독치료보다 냉각통증의 빈도가 낮게 나타났으며, 냉각통증 자각 시점도 늦게 나타났다. 또한 충분한 냉기적용 후 피부온도가 재가온되는데 있어서 냉기를 2회 적용할 때가 1회 적용할 때 보다 더 느려지며, 냉기 단독치료보다 냉기와 적외선 광선 조사 병용치료 시 더 느려짐을 나타내어 2회 이상의 반복적인 냉기 적용이 냉기의 효용이 있다고 나타났다. 또한 상완이두근 두께 변화에 있어서 병용군이 대조군보다 더 크게 나타나 이 효과를 뒷받침하게 되었다. 이러한 연구결과 자료는 향후 급성염증이 있는 환자에게 한냉치료와 관련된 치료적인 자료로써 활용될 수 있을 것이라 생각되고 근골격계 초음파 진단기를 활용하여 통증에 대한 자각도를 간접적으로 표현하는 것이 구체화되어 임상에서 널리 활용될 것으로 보여진다.

This paper presents a frequency-response test performed on an antagonistic actuation system consisting of two Mckibben pneumatic artificial muscles and a pneumatic circuit. A linear model, capable of estimating the dynamic characteristics of the antagonistic system in the operating range of pneumatic artificial muscles, was optimally calculated based on frequency-response results and applied to a multiple simultaneous specification control scheme. Trajectory tracking results showed that the presented multiple simultaneous specification controller, built experimentally by three PD typed sample controllers, satisfied successfully all required control specifications; rising time, maximum overshoot, steady-state error.

The purpose of this study was analysis of the muscle action in physical exercise in the rolling machine. The rolling machine moved by eletric power-driven was made to keep the constant cycle and size of rolling. The subjects of this study consist of 4 seaman(SM) and 4 landman (LM). The experiment analyzed the muscle power of lower and upper limbs by Intergrated Electromyogram(IEMG). The measurement was made on the ground, and 6 and 8 degrees of rolling separately. This study concludes as follows ; including analysis of IEMG of heavy exercise in two hands curl, a standstill walking and just standing. 1. IEMG of the lower limbs when standing. 1) In 6 degrees of rolling, for the landman(LM), vastus medialis m.(9.73), vastus lateralis m.(9.55), and rectus femores m.(8.73) acted more. As for the seaman(SM), tibialis anterior m.(5.38), biceps femores m.(5.05), and gastrocnemius m.(4.47) acted more. 2) In 8 degrees of rolling, in common, for both LM and SM, it were vastus medialis m.(11.20 and 8.97), vastus lateralis m.(16.20 and 4.63), and tibialis anterior m.(5.13 and 4.47). 3) It was showed that IEMG of LM was larger than that of SM. 2. IEMG of the lower limbs when walking. 1) On the ground, for the LM, gastrocnemius m.(7.08), vastus medialis m.(6.65), and vastus latralis m.(6.60) acted more. As for the SM, vastus lateralis m.(7.08), vastus medialis m.(6.58) and restus femores m.(5.10) acted more. 2) In both 8 and 6 degrees of rolling, vastus medials m.(14.50 and 11.98), vastus lateralis m.(10.10 and 14.10), and gastrocnemius m.(11.75 and 7.10) acted more in two groups. 3) It was showed that IEMG of LM was larger than that of SM. 3. IEMG of the lower limbs when heavy exercise(two hands curl). 1) On the ground, for the LM, vastus lateralis m.(21.68), vastus medialis m.(16.08), and rectus femores m.(14.08) acted more. As for the SM, tibialis anterior m.(16.08), vastus medialis m.(14.58), and vastus lateralis m.(8.78) acted more. 2) In 8 and 6 dgrees of rolling, it were vastus medialis m.(17.05 and 12.45), vastus lateralis m.(37.98 and 17.08), and tibialis anterior m.(19.83 and 13.20). 3) It was showed that IEMG of LM was larger than that of SM. 4. IEMG of the upper limbs when heavy exercise. 1) On the ground, the brachialis m.(44.30 and 17.80), and biceps brachii m.(13.40 and 25.10) acted more in two groups. 2) In both 6 and 8 degrees of rolling, the brachialis m.(37.60 and 24.35), and biceps brachii m.(11.38 and 7.97) acted more in two groups. 3) It was showed that IEMG of SM was larger than that of LM.