[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to analyze the biomechanical changes and patterns of the lower extremities after gait termination in middle-aged and elderly women. [Subjects] The study population comprised an elderly group and middle-aged group. [Methods] To collect kinematic and kinetic data related to gait termination, six infrared cameras and one force platform were used, and variables were calculated by using Visual 3D. [Results] During the termination phase, the elderly group generated less braking force than the middle-aged group. During initiation of the termination phase and after the center of gravity completely stopped moving, there was a difference between the two groups in the hip joint angle. During the termination phase, the maximum angular velocity and extension moment of the ankle joint and those of the knee joint were higher in the elderly group than in the middle-aged group. [Conclusion] In contrast to the middle-aged group that showed a rapid increase and then decrease of the initial extension moment during gait termination, the maximum extension moment that was created during the early stage of the termination phase in the elderly group continued until the center of gravity completely stopped.

The method of real-time estimation of weather, especially the amount of rainfall, by analyzing CCTV images is much cheaper than one using the existing expensive weather observation equipment. In this paper, we propose a method to find an estimation model function which has its input as CCTV images and output as the amount of rainfall. From the CCTV images, we propose an algorithm for selecting the number and size of the region of interest optimized for rainfall estimation, generating a data pattern graph showing a clear distinction from the number of region of interest, clustering the pattern data graphs, and estimating the amount of rainfall. Experiments using real CCTV images show that the estimation accuracy is over 80%.

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[Purpose] This study was conducted in order to investigate the effect of repetitive passive movement and repetitive active movement on proprioception in forearm supination. [Subjects] This study had a cross-sectional design. Twenty-three right-handed healthy subjects were recruited. All subjects randomly received both repetitive passive movement and repetitive active movement (repetitive passive/active movement at 120°/s with 60 repetitions over a 0–80° range). Active and passive joint repositioning of all subjects was measured using the error score for position sense, both before and after repositioning intervention. [Results] In the repetitive passive movement test, there was a statistically significant decrease in the pre- versus post-repositioning error scores in the active and passive angle examinations. In the repetitive active movement test, there was a statistically significant increase in pre- versus post-repositioning error scores in the active and passive angle examinations. In the comparison of position sense, there was a statistically significant decrease in both active and passive angle repositioning error scores in repetitive passive movement versus repetitive active movement. [Conclusion] Repetitive passive movement improved the proprioception results for forearm supination, compared to repetitive active movement. Results of this study indicate that repetitive passive movement can be recommended to clinicians for rehabilitation therapy as it provides greater proprioception benefits.

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The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of audiovisual biofeedback-based trunk stabilization training using a pressure biofeedback system (PBS) in stroke patients. Forty-three chronic stroke patients, who had experienced a stroke more than 6 months ago and were able to sit and walk independently, participated in this study. The subjects were randomly allocated to an experimental group (n = 21) or a control group (n = 22). The experimental group participated in audiovisual biofeedback-based trunk stabilization training for 50 minutes/day, 5 days/week, for 6 weeks. The control group underwent trunk stabilization training without any biofeedback. The primary outcome of this study was the thickness of the trunk muscles. The secondary outcomes included static sitting balance ability and dynamic sitting balance ability. The thickness of the trunk muscles, static sitting balance ability, and dynamic sitting balance ability were significantly improved in the experimental group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The present study showed that trunk stabilization training using a PBS had a positive effect on the contracted ratio of trunk muscles and balance ability. By providing audiovisual feedback, the PBS enables accurate and effective training of the trunk muscles, and it is an effective method for trunk stabilization.

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This study aimed to assess the effect of the auditory feedback gait training (AFGT) using smart insole on the gait variables, dynamic balance, and activities of daily living (ADL) of stroke patients. In this case, 45 chronic stroke patients who were diagnosed with a stroke before 6 months and could walk more than 10 m were included in this study. Participants were randomly allocated to the smart insole training group (n = 23), in which the AFGT system was used, or to the general gait training group (GGTG) (n = 22). Both groups completed conventional rehabilitation, including conventional physiotherapy and gait training, lasting 60 min per session, five times per week for 4 weeks. Instead of gait training, the smart insole training group received smart insole training twice per week for 4 weeks. Participants were assessed using the GAITRite for gait variables and Timed Up and Go test (TUG), Berg Balance Scale (BBS) for dynamic balance, and Modified Barthel Index (MBI) for ADL. The spatiotemporal gait parameters, symmetry of gait, TUG, BBS, and MBI in the smart insole training group were significantly improved compared to those in the GGTG (p < 0.05). The AFGT system approach is a helpful method for improving gait variables, dynamic balance, and ADL in chronic stroke patients.