Journal of Fashion Business (패션비즈니스)

The Korean Society of Fashion Business (한국패션비즈니스학회)
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Development of an EMS Thoracic Support Harness for Upper Posture Correction

상부 자세 교정을 위한 EMS 흉추 보호대 개발

  • Minsuk kim (Dept. of Smart Wearable Engineering, Soongsil University) ;
  • Jinhee Park (Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering, Soongsil University) ;
  • Jooyong Kim (Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering, Soongsil University)
  • 김민석 (숭실대학교, 스마트웨어러블공학과) ;
  • 박진희 (숭실대학교, 신소재공학과 ) ;
  • 김주용 (숭실대학교, 신소재공학과 )
  • Received : 2024.10.15
  • Accepted : 2024.11.15
  • Published : 2024.11.30
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Abstract

This study developed a thoracic support harness designed to contract the lower trapezius muscle through electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) applied to the subscapularis region. Fifteen female office workers in their 30s who were diagnosed with forward head posture syndrome (FHP) participated in experiments evaluating stiffness and rigidity of the upper trapezius muscle. The experiment measured FHP Angle (FHPA), Neck Flexion Angle (NFA), Neck Extension Angle (NEA), Neck Rotation Angle (NRA), and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain perception and comfort. Participants were divided into four groups (A, B, C, D) for sequential testing. Group A served as control, Group B performed upper trapezius stretching (UTS), Group C received EMS to stimulate weakened lower trapezius muscle. Group D underwent both UTS and EMS concurrently. After intervention, cervical angles and VAS scores were compared between groups. Statistical analysis using t-tests revealed significant differences between Group A and Group B, C, or D. ANOVA was used to test mean differences among groups, followed by Tukey-Kramer post-hoc tests to identify specific group differences. Results indicated that stretching or EMS alone had limited effects, while a combination of stretching and EMS showed significant benefits. The comfort level of the harness was rated at an average of 3.86 with a standard deviation of 2.38

Keywords

Acknowledgement

이 연구는 2023년도 산업통상자원부 및 산업기술평가관리원(KEIT)의 연구비 지원과('20016038') 2023년도 정부(산업통상자원부)의 재원으로 한국산업기술진흥원의 지원을 받아 수행된 연구임 (P0012770, 2023년 산업혁신인재성장지원사업)

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