Publications by authors named "Yekwang Kim"

Muscle atrophy due to prolonged immobilization leads to severe dysfunction and progression of disease and injury. This highlights the necessity for early rehabilitation, even during the non-ambulatory stages. As manifestations vary among individuals, target-specific rehabilitation is crucial for achieving optimal outcomes.

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Post-stroke gait is characterized by slow and asymmetrical hemiparetic gait. This is attributed to the paretic lower limb which has limited plantar propulsion. The most effective method to restore paretic limb function is constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT), which promotes the usage of the paretic limb by restricting the movement of the unafflicted limb.

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Immobilization due to various reasons can lead to disuse muscle atrophy. If prolonged, the circumstance is exacerbated and may lead to joint contracture, dysfunction, and long-term sequela. Thus, a balanced exercise regimen is crucial.

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Article Synopsis
  • Real-world environments often include stairs, and about 90% of elderly individuals use compensation strategies to navigate them due to significantly different biomechanics compared to walking on level surfaces.
  • A study was conducted with 11 able-bodied subjects to assess the Myosuit, a soft wearable exosuit, for its potential as a stair ascent training aid.
  • The findings show that Myosuit maintains normal movement patterns while reducing the demand on hip and knee muscles during stair climbing, as evidenced by decreased EMG activity in key leg muscles without introducing compensatory movements.
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Basic human ambulation relies on a bipedal gait, which has been reported to be directly related to quality of life. However, injuries to the lower limb can cause an inability to walk and require non-weightbearing periods to heal. Among the many ambulatory aids, standard axillary crutches are prescribed.

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An FDA-approved soft wearable robot, the Myosuit, which was designed to provide hip and knee extension torque has recently been commercialized. While studies have reported reductions in metabolic costs, increased gait speeds, and improvements in clinical test scores, a comprehensive analysis of electromyography (EMG) signals and joint kinematics is warranted because the recruitment of appropriate muscle groups during physiological movement patterns facilitates effective motor learning. Here, we compared the lower limb joint kinematics and EMG patterns while wearing the Myosuit with that of unassisted conditions when performing level overground and incline treadmill gait.

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Article Synopsis
  • The text discusses the emerging technology of Magnetic Torque Stimulation (MTS) for regulating cell signaling through physical stimulation in biomedicine.
  • MTS uses engineered magnetic particles and an external rotating magnetic field to apply forces on heart cells, specifically cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts, promoting their maturation and hypertrophy.
  • Findings indicate that MTS enhances important biological responses under low-oxygen conditions, suggesting its potential for remote and noninvasive applications in various cell studies.
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