This study investigates area and size of stress part appeared when the continuous loads are applied at artificial joint. Upper and lower parts composed with polyethylene shock absorber and titanium alloy are applied with the loads. The configurations of stress distribution near the hole of support to fix the frame are investigated and secured as through this study. As the result of this study, the stress is concentrated from the edge end of upper artificial joint. The crack is initiated at this point. This analysis result is similar with the instance of tissue corruption due to the damage of artificial joint.

Cross knee curl-up is an ideal variation of abdominal curl up exercise to strengthen abdominal musculature without excessive lumbar flexion which can increase the loads on the disc and ligaments. In addition, slowly forced expiration can facilitate the activation of the abdominal musculature. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of slowly forced expiration on activity of abdominal muscles, such as rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), and transverse abdominis/internal oblique (TrA/IO), while cross knee curl-up. Eleven young and healthy subjects (6 males and 5 females) participated. All subjects performed the cross knee curl-up slowly forced expiration and natural breathing. Paired t-test was performed in normalized electromyogram (EMG) muscle activity of the bilateral RA, EO, and TrA/IO to compare the differences between the cross curl-up with slowly forced expiration and natural breathing. Statistical significance was set at .05. There were no significant differences in normalized EMG muscle activity of the bilateral RA, EO, and TrA/IO between the cross curl-up with slowly forced expiration and natural breathing. The finding of this study designates that slowly forced expiration does not induce increasing activity of abdominal muscle in cross knee curl-up; hence, learning step of breathing control might not be necessary to strengthen abdominal muscle in cross knee curl-up.

Recent experimental researches supports the hypothesis that mechanical stimuli play a role in regulating specialized molecules expression in articular cartilage in vitro and in vivo. Therefore we are studying bioreactor to provide a stimulus of mimicked real knee environment. Our bioreactor system consists of a joint motion stimulation device and culture chamber. We fabricated a stimulation system similar to movement of the CPM(Continuous Passive Motion) device for human joint motion. This system is composed of a linear stage, ball spline and links. Also we fabricated a culture system for media and circulation and mimicked knee environment. However, Previous culture system has some problems that media leakage and interference of joint model. In this study, we improved a new-chamber system for non-interference of joint model and medium sealing. Then, this system could be used to investigate the effect of dynamic culture.

본 연구에서는 텅스텐합금강의 상부구조와 폴리에틸렌소재로 구성된 하부구조의 인공관절이 하중을 받았을때의 인공관절의 하중분포와 인공관절의 설치를 위한 지지구멍에 가해지는 응력분포에 대하여 유한요소해석을 통하여 결과값을 도출하였으며, 실물을 이용한 다음 실험을 위한 기초자료를 얻을 수 있었다. 이를 통하여 나온 해석결과의 하중분포는 텅스텐합금의 상부구조가 모서리 끝부분부터 하중이 집중되어 크랙이 발생하며 이는 의학계에 보고된 인공관절파손에 의한 조직괴사사례와 그 거동이 일치 하였다.

This study analyzes how different knee flexion angles affect the abdominal and pelvic muscle activity during supine bridging. Twenty healthy subjects participated in the study. We used surface electromyography (EMG) to measure how three different knee flexion angles (100°, 70°, and 40°) affected the activity of the transverse abdominis/internal oblique (TrA/IO), external oblique (EO), biceps femoris (BF), rectus femoris (RF), and gluteus maximus (GM) muscles on the dominant side during supine bridging. The one-way repeated analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the statistical significance of TrA/IO, EO, BF, RF and GM muscle activity and the GM/BF activity ratio. For the TrA/IO, EO, BF, and GM muscles, supine bridging with different knee flexion angles resulted in significant differences in abdominal and pelvic muscle activity. For the TrA/IO muscles, the post-hoc test demonstrated that muscle activity significantly increased at 40° compared to 70°; however, there were no significant differences between 100° and 70° or 100° and 40°. For the EO muscle, the post-hoc test demonstrated that muscle activity significantly increased at 40° compared to 100° and 70°; no significant difference was observed between angles 100° and 70°. For the BF muscle, the post-hoc test demonstrated that muscle activity significantly increased according to the knee flexion angle (40°>70°>100°). For the GM muscle, the post-hoc test demonstrated that muscle activity significantly increased according to the knee flexion angle (100°>70°>40°). However, for the RF muscle, there was no significant difference. Additionally, the GM/BF activity ratio significantly increased according to the knee flexion angle (100°>70°>40°). From these results, we can conclude that bridging with a knee flexion of 100° can strengthen the GM muscle, whereas bridging with a knee flexion of 40° is recommended to strengthen the IO, EO, and BF muscles. We can also conclude that knee flexion angles should be modified during supine bridging to increase the muscle activity of different target muscles.

The purpose of this study is to identify the bridge exercise posture for the efficient exercise by comparing the muscle activity of the lower limbs according to the changes in muscle length because of knee angle in bridge exercise. The subjects of this study were 9 randomly selected males in their 20s living in D city from those who satisfied inclusion criteria. The measured muscles were Vastus medialis oblique, Vastus lateralis, Semitendinosus, Biceps femoris, Gluteus maximus, Gluteus medius, Tensor faciae latae, and Adductor longus. Data were analyzed through paired comparison test. In the result, ST, BF, and TFL muscle activities were high when knee joint flexion angle was 90°Although in most cases higher muscle activity was shown at 90°than 60°there was no statistical significance. Interestingly, it was lower at 90°than 60°in VL. In ST, BF, and TFL, it was significantly higher at 90°han 60°(p<.05). Conclusively, knee angles in bridge exercise may affect the muscle activity, and in particular when the activity of two joint muscles such as semimenbranosus muscle, biceps femoris muscle, and tensor fasciae latae muscle increase as the angle gets higher. Therefore, it is considered that this study will provide helpful tips to develop muscular strength enforcement program for the patients with damages in the lower limbs through bridge exercise in clinical situations.

The purpose of this study was to assess the intra-rater test-retest reliability of tibial external rotation angle measurement using a smartphone-based photographic goniometer, DrGoniometer (DrG) compared to a three-dimensional motion analysis system (Vicon). The current study showed an interchangeable method using DrG to measure the tibial external rotation angle in standing knee flexion at . Twelve healthy subjects participated in this study. A rest session was conducted 30 minutes later for within-day reliability and five days later for between-day intra-rater test-retest reliability. To assess the validity of the measurement using DrG, we used a three dimensional motion analysis system as a gold standard to measure the angle of tibial external rotation. Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and the standard error of measurement (SEM) values were used to determine the within- and between- day intra-rater test-retest reliability of using DrG and a three dimensional motion analysis system. To assess validity, Pearson correlation coefficients were used for two measurement techniques. The measurement for tibial external rotation had high intra-rater test-retest reliability of within-day (ICC=.88) and between-day (ICC=.83) reliability using DrG and of within-day (ICC=.93) and between-day (ICC=.77) reliability using a three-dimentional motion analysis system. Tibial external rotation angle measurement using DrG was highly correlated with those of the three-dimensional motion analysis system (r=.86). These results represented that the tibial external rotation angle measurement using DrG showed acceptable reliability and validity compared with the use of three-dimensional motion analysis system.

The purposes of this study were to develop a new orthosis controlling ankle and knee joint motion during the gait cycle and to identify the effects of the newly designed orthosis on gait kinematics and tempospatial parameters, including coordination of the extremities in stroke patients. Fifteen individuals who had sustained a stroke, onset was 16 months, participated in this study. Before application of the measurement equipment the subjects were accustomed to walking on the ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) or stance control knee with knee flexion assisted-oil damper ankle-foot orthosis (SCKAFO) for 5 minutes. Fifteen patients were investigated for 45 days with a 3-day interval between sessions. Measurements were walking in fifteen stroke with hemiparesis on the 3D motion analysis system. Comparison of AFO and SCKAFO are gait pattern. The difference between the AFO and SCKAFO conditions was significant in the gait velocity, step length of the right affected side, stance time of both legs, step-length asymmetry ratio, single-support-time asymmetry ratio, -thigh angle and -shank angle in the mid swing (p<.001). Using a SCKAFO in stroke patients has shown similar to normal walking speeds can be attained for walking efficiency and is therefore desirable. In this study, the support time of the affected leg with the SCKAFO was longer than with the AFO and the asymmetry ratio of single support time decreased by more than with the AFO. This indicates that the SCKAFO was effective for improving gait symmetry, single-support-time symmetry. This may be due to the decrease of gait asymmetry. Thus, the newly designed SCKAFO may be useful for promoting gait performance by improving the coordination of the extremity and decreasing gait asymmetry in chronic stroke patients.

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of repeated passive movement (RPM) of different velocities on the improvement of knee joint position sense (JPS) in post-stroke patients with hemiplegia, thereby investigate the possibility of clinical application in the initial stage of rehabilitation for patients with post-stroke hemiplegia. Thirteen hemiplegic patients participated in this study. For the subjects' knee JPS tests, a passive angle reproduction test and an active angle reproduction test were performed prior to and after the intervention, which involved 30 repetitions of passive full-range-of-motion flexion and extension exercise of the knee joints at randomized degrees of , , and . Paired t-test analysis was done in order to compare changes in the pre- and post-intervention knee JPS. One-way repeated analysis of variance was used in order to compare changes in JPS after intervention at three different movement velocities. The level of significance was set at .05. The result was that the subjects' post-intervention knee JPS significantly improved after the RPM exercise at a and a relative to the RPM exercise (p<.05). JPS changes with RPM intervention at the rapid velocity of were most increased, suggesting the most effective enhancement in knee JPS is with intervention at the velocity (p<.05). Therefore, RPM intervention at a half or higher velocity improved stroke patients' knee JPS. During the initial stage of rehabilitation for patients with post-stroke hemiplegia, the efficient application of the RPM exercise at a half or higher velocity will be possible.

This study aims to examine the effect of patellar taping common to patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome on the change of knee joint location. The total number of participants is 12 patients with no pain in their knee. There are three different experiments: no-taping, placebo taping, and patellar taping. After application, they squat on their hams. As a result, both the muscle activity of vastus medialis and that of vastus lateralis increased in placebo taping compared to no-taping, which wasn't statistically significant. However, the muscle activity of vastus medialis and that of vastus lateralis decreased in patellar taping compared to no-taping, which was statistically significant. This suggests that patellar taping causing the lateral attraction of knee joint is more influential to the dynamics of knee joint than skin afferent input in placebo taping. Therefore, patellar taping is effective to change the location of knee joint, affect the muscle activity of quadriceps muscle of thigh, and thus correct the misalignments of the knee joint.

Although there have been various studies related to the body's movement from a sitting to a standing position (sit-to-stand task), there is limited information on the kinematic changes on the frontal and transverse planes. The purpose of this study was to ascertain how pelvic tilt affects kinematic changes in the frontal and transverse planes in the hip and knee joints during a sit-to-stand task. For this study, 33 healthy participants (13 female) were recruited. Each participant rose from a sitting to a standing posture at his or her preferred speed for each of three different pelvic tilt trials (anterior, posterior, and neutral), and the measured angles were analyzed using a 3-D motion analysis system. A one-way repeated measure analysis of variance was performed with Bonferroni's post hoc test. In addition, an independent t-test was carried out to determine the sex differences in hip and knee joint kinematic changes during the sit-to-stand tasks. The results were as follows: 1) The hip and knee joint angle in the frontal and transverse planes showed a significant difference between the different pelvic tilt postures during sitting in the pre-buttock lift-off phase (pre-LO) (p<.05). Compared to the posterior pelvic tilt posture, the anterior pelvic tilt posture involved significantly greater hip joint adduction and internal rotation, knee joint adduction, and reduced internal rotation of the knee joint. 2) Sex differences were found with significant differences for males in the initial and maximal angles in the frontal plane of the hip and knee joint (p<.05). Females had a significantly smaller initial abduction angle of the hip joint and a significantly greater maximal angle of the hip adduction joint. These results suggest that selecting a sit-to-stand exercise for pelvic tilt posture should be considered to control abnormal movement in the lower extremities.

The purpose of this study was to find differences of sergeant jumping performances. The best(GP) & worst(BP) performance of each subject based on their jump height were compared in further analysis. There was a significant difference of approx. 18% in the

The purpose of this study was to analyze and compare the effect of resistance exercise and balance exercise on proprioception and WOMAC index of patients with degenerative knee osteoarthritis. A total of 40 subjects participated in this study. The subjects were diagnosed with degenerative knee osteoarthritis and all were more than 60 years old. They were divided into three groups. Group Ⅰ(n=8) was trained with resistance exercise, Group Ⅱ(n=6) was trained with balance exercise and GroupⅢ(n=6) was trained with range of motion as a control. The results of this study were as follows. It was significantly indicated that the resistance exercise group and balance exercise group elicited error-reduction on proprioception goal-angle (p<.05). There was a statistically significant difference on proprioception between resistance exercise group and control(range of motion) group. There was a statistically significant reduction on WOMAC index between resistance exercise group and balance exercise group (p<.05) and on the WOMAC index between resistance exercise group and range of motion group(p<.05). In conclusion, resistance exercise and balance exercise are effective on degenerative knee osteoarthritis and resistance exercise is the most effective for improving proprioception and WOMAC index. More research on the intervention according to the degree of degenerative knee osteoarthritis is needed.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of closed and open kinetic chain exercise for increasing knee joint function on the knee position sense in the normal adults. Thirty normal adults(male 15, female 15; mean age: 22.13±2.58 years) were participated in this study into two groups, each with 15 people. The group I was trained that closed kinetic chain exercise on the knee joint and the group II was trained that open kinetic chain exercise on the knee joint. Exercise programs performed for 4 weeks, 3 times a week were using Shuttle 2000-1 closed kinetic chain exercise and Knee Extensor open kinetic chain exercise(HUR, Filand). The results of this study were as follows: 1) There were statistically significant decreasing of measuring error degree in 0-20。were found between before and after training in closed kinetic chain exercise(p<.05). 2) There were statistically significant decreasing of measuring error degree in 21-40。were found between before and after training in closed kinetic chain exercise(p<.05). 3) There were statistically significant decreasing of measuring error degree in 41-60。were found between before and after training in closed kinetic chain exercise(p<.05). 4) There were statistically significant decreasing of measuring error degree in 0- 20。were found between before and after training in open kinetic chain exercise(p<.05). 5) There were statistically significant decreasing of measuring error degree in 21-40。were found between before and after training in open kinetic chain exercise(p<.05). 6) There were statistically significant decreasing of measuring error degree in 41- 60。were found between before and after training in open kinetic chain exercise(p<.05). In conclusion, these results suggest that closed and open kinetic chain exercise has increased in the knee joint proprioception between before and after training. Especially, closed kinetic chain exercise could be more useful intervention than open kinetic chain exercise for increasing proprioceptive sense.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of sciatic nerve mobilization technique on perceived pain, straight leg raise test (SLR), and strength of knee extensor, location of symptoms (LOS) in patients with chronic low back pain. 22 patients with chronic low back pain were recruited for this study. The subjects were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (EG) or the control group (CG), with 11 patients in each group. All patients received a routine physical therapy (hot pack and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation). The mobilization technique of the sciatic nerve was performed for 10 min in the case of the EG subjects. Outcome measurements included the level of the perceived pain, SLR, and strength of the knee extensor, LOS. The measurements were recorded 3 times: before the intervention, after the intervention, and at 1 hour of follow up. The two groups did not significantly differ with regard to the level of perceived pain, SLR, and strength of the knee extensor, LOS before the test (p>.05). In the case of the EG subjects, all the variables measured after the intervention significantly differed from those measured before the intervention (p<.05). However, in the case of the CG subjects, a significant difference was noted only with regard to the level of perceived pain (p<.05). The findings indicate that sciatic nerve mobilization technique exerts a positive effect on the control of subjective symptoms and knee strength in patients with chronic low back pain. Further studies are required to generalize the result of this study.

To develop effective training methods for strengthening a weakened quadriceps femoris muscle in hemiplegic patients, we examined the effects of maximal isometric contraction of the nonparalyzed knee joint on the electromyographic activities of the paralytic muscle. An electromyogram (EMG) was used to record the electromyographic activities of the paralytic quadriceps femoris muscle in 27 hemiplegic patients. The maximal isometric contraction was measured for each subject to normalize the electromyographic activities. The maximal isometric extension and flexion exercises were randomly conducted when the knee joint angles of the nonparalyzed knees were 0˚, 45˚, and 90˚. The patients were encouraged to maintain maximal isometric contractions in both knee joints during each measurement, and three measurements were taken. A one-minute rest interval was given between each measurement to minimize the effects of muscle fatigue. An average from the three values was taken as being the root mean square of the EMG and was recorded as being the maximal isometric contraction. The electromyographic activity obtained for each measurement was expressed as a percentage of the reference voluntary contraction, which was determined using the values obtained during the maximal isometric contraction. The results of this study are summarized as follows: First, when the knee joint angle of the nonparalyzed knee was 0˚, the electromyographic activities of the paralytic medial aspect of rectus femoris were related to measurement by a maximal isometric flexion exercise than by an extension exercise (p<.05). Second, when the knee joint angle of the nonparalyzed knee was 90˚, the electromyographic activities of the paralytic lateral aspect of rectus femoris were related to measurement by a maximal isometric flexion exercise than by an extension exercise (p<.05). The results show that myoelectrical activities of paralytic quardriceps were not related to measurement angles and exercise directions of the nonparalized knee joint. Studies on various indirect intervention to improve muscular strength of patients with nervous system disorders of the weakened muscle should be constantly conducted.