• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.11-17
• /
• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study were to analyze fatigue patterns of the rectus femoris muscle by isometric contraction. Methods: Twenty healthy subjects(10 male, 10 female) participated in this study. Maximal voluntary isometric contraction(MVIC) was measured by the dynamometer. Muscle activity was recorded from the rectus femoris muscle. During the experiment, the subject was seated in the chair. The measured items, median frequency(MDF) and root mean square (RMS), were collected from the surface EMG. All data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA. Results: There was significant difference of MVIC between male and female. Endurance time was significant difference by the level of MVIC but no significant in the main effect(sex) and interaction effect. The MDF and fatigue index were significant differences in the interaction effect. The RMS was not significant difference in both of main and interaction effect. The muscle fatigue patterns of female was greater than male after 60% MVIC. Conclusion: This study showed that sex differences of muscle fatigue were started from 60% MVIC.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.316-322
• /
• 2008

The purpose of this study was to investigate muscle activation of lower extremity such as rectus femoris, tibialis anterior and soleus according to 0cm(bare foot), 4cm and 7cm heel height of shoe on the rocking surface in older women. 20 older women who did not have any lower musculoskeletal and neurological disorders in the past were participated in this study. Each subject was standing for 15 seconds on the level 8 of Biodex Stability System (BSS) while wearing 4cm and 7cm heel height shoes including bare foot. Electromyography was used to measure muscle activation of lower extremity, and the muscle activation was expressed as a percentage of maximal voluntary isometric contraction (% MVIC). We measured % MVIC of three muscles during 5 seconds except for the first 5 seconds and last 5 seconds. SPSS 12.0 program was used for this study. Repeated one-way analysis of variance(ANOVA) was performed to compare the significant difference among the muscles of lower extremities according to heel heights of shoe on the rocking plate. % MVIC of each muscle such as rectus femoris, tibialis anterior and soleus regarding heel heights of shoe had statistically significant differences (p<0.05). The results of contrast test were as follows; 1) % MVIC of rectus femoris had significant differences between barefoot and 4cm, and barefoot and 7cm. 2) % MVIC of tibialis anterior had significant differences between barefoot and 4cm, barefoot and 7cm, and 4cm and 7cm. 3) % MVIC of soleus had significant differences between barefoot and 7cm, 4cm and 7cm. The results indicate that all commonly responsive muscle on the conditions of barefoot, 4cm, and 7cm shoe height on the rcoking surface is tibialis anterior muscle. We found out that the more heels of shoe high, the more muscle activation increases. High-heeled shoes above 7cm remarkably increase the muscle activation of lower extremity and may result in muscle fatigue. Thus, these shoes may summate risk factors of falls in older women. We can acknowledge that the heels above 4 cm affect each muscle activation in lower extremity on the rocking surface.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.655-661
• /
• 2009

This study investigated the effects of different types of shouting actions on the strength of the human body. Both H-reflex and MVIC measures of the rectus femoris muscle were used to investigate effects on impact force and motor performance, in order to find optimum shouting methods. The H-reflex of the soleus muscle gave an electric stimulus to the curve of the knee that contains the tibial nerves. Surface electromyelography was used to collect muscle activity the amplitude increased 28% at action with shouting and 29% at the one immediately after short-time shouting than the one without shouting was. To assess the myoelectric activity of the rectus femoris, a surface electrode was attached to the right side of the lower extremity and to increase 10% and 1% depending upon shouting type. The findings were as follows. Shouting affected not only motor efficiency (H-reflex), but also the amplitude of MVIC, with a positive effect on increased muscle strength. Further comprehensive studies are needed to investigate the many variables of increased muscle strength for general purposes, for instance, shouting and breathing, brain waves, and so on.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.33-40
• /
• 2008

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the correlations between muscle strength of the ankle and balance, walking in the elderly. Methods: Thirty-nine subjects were selected from a population of female volunteers. Measurement of balance ability included evaluation of timed "up and go", functional reach, and a one leg standing test. Measurement of walking analysis included evaluation of cadence, stride length, step length, and walking speed. Maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) of the ankle muscle strength was measured by use of a dynamometer. Results: For balance, there were significant negative correlations between timed "up and go" and the MVIC of the ankle dorsiflexor. There were significant positive correlations between one leg standing with the eyes closed and the MVIC of the ankle dorsiflexor. For walking, there were significant positive correlations between cadence, walking speed and the MVIC of the ankle dorsiflexor. Conclusion: This study showed that there were close relationships between muscle strength of the ankle dorsiflexor and walking and balance in the elderly.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.10-15
• /
• 2006

This study examined the ability of human subjects to match a force in their quadriceps muscle during fatigue. Twenty subjects (mean age: 23.4 yrs, mean height: 167.8 cm, mean weight, 62.6 kg) were enrolled in the experiment. In the force-matching task, the quadriceps muscle generated 50% of the MVIC (maximum voluntary isometric contraction) torque under visual control and then without visual feedback. After inducing fatigue in the quadriceps muscle, the subjects were required to match 50% of the MVIC torque without visual feedback. The perceived magnitude of the force and force-matching errors were measured. 50% of the MVIC torque was perceived from 39.96 Nm in the pre-fatigue condition to 44.95 Nm in the post-fatigue condition. 50% of the MVIC torque-matching errors increased significantly from .55% in the pre-fatigue condition to 9.6% in the post-fatigue condition (p<.001). in addition, there were significantly more force-matching errors in women than in men (p<.01). In conclusion muscle fatigue can interfere with a subject's ability to match a force. This suggests that muscle fatigue may contributes to the sensitization of the proprioception.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.37-45
• /
• 2006

Purpose: This study analyzed changes in spinal neuron and action potential of motor unit depending on voluntary contraction on spinal neuron adaptation. Methods: It selected 80 university students in their twenties and divided into experimental groups of 25% MVIC (I), 50% MVIC (II), 75% MVIC (III) and 100% MVIC (IV) depending on maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) and performed isometric exercise of plantar flexor muscle to each experimental group with given contraction for 20 times. It measured Mmax, H/Mmax, Hmax latency, V/Mmax, V wave latency before and after exercise, compared method and volume of contraction. Results: H/Mmax ratio showed significant difference in comparison among groups (p<0.01) and there was difference in I and IV groups. V/Mmax ratio showed significant difference in comparison among experimental groups (p<0.05) and there was difference in I and IV groups. When voluntary contraction level was maximum, changes were greatest. However, no significantly difference was to Mmax, H latency and V wave latency. Conclusion: These results suggest that amplitude changes of voluntary contraction level, spinal neuron and supra-spinal neuron had a dose connection that the more contraction level, the better central activation seem to decrease highly for a short time.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.37-44
• /
• 2011

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of an exercise program using a virtual reality game and a gait exercise program using a treadmill on % maximum voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC) and static and dynamic balancing capabilities. Methods: A total of 26 elderly women were included in the study. 13 women were assigned to an exercise program using a virtual reality game, and 13 to a gait exercise program using a treadmill. The subjects performed the exercise for 40 min per session, three sessions per week, for eight weeks. Results: The %MVIC of the vastus medialis was significantly increased from $28.91{\pm}2.03%$ to $32.98{\pm}2.6%$ in the virtual reality game exercise group (p<0.00). The %MVIC of the vastus lateralis was significantly increased from $27.17{\pm}1.93%$ to $31.50{\pm}2.18%$ (p<0.00) in the gait exercise program group. The whole path length with both feet on the floor and eyes open was significantly decreased from $1570.92{\pm}820.6mm$ to $1343.62{\pm}242.41mm$ (p<0.00). The whole path length with both feet on the floor and eyes closed was significantly decreased from $1819.85{\pm}361.14mm$ to $1581.05{\pm}285.11mm$ (p<0.00). The length of a functional reach was significantly increased from $25.2{\pm}4.23cm$ to $27.68{\pm}4.04cm$ (p<0.00). Conclusion: The exercise program using a virtual reality game is effective for improving the %MVIC and static and dynamic balancing capabilities in elderly women aged 65 years and more.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.93-101
• /
• 2006

This study examined whether there is a transfer effect to other joint angles and the angular specificity of muscle fatigue after 6 weeks of isometric training of the vastus medialis. Twenty subjects were randomly assigned to 30° and 90° knee flexion groups and were trained at 80% maximal voluntary isometric contraction(MVIC) three times a week for 6 weeks. The pre-and post-training values of the 80% holding time(endurance time) of MVIC, the Fatigue Index(FI), and the MVIC at 30°, 60°, and 90° were compared. After isometric training for 6 weeks, in the 30° knee flexion group, FI decreased significantly(p<0.05) only at 30°, which was the training angle; there was no change at other angles. By contrast, in the 90° knee flexion group, FI decreased significantly(p<0.05) at both the trained angle and at the other angles, indicating a transfer effect of training. MVIC did not increase significantly(p<0.05) at any trained angle in either the 30° or 90° knee flexion groups after 6 weeks of isometric training, neither did the 80% holding time of MVIC differ significantly compared with pre-training in either group. These findings suggest that training at 90° of knee flexion is more effective than training at 30° of knee flexion for obtaining a training transfer effect on muscle fatigue in the vastus medialis.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2005

The purpose of this study was to verify the most effective spinal stabilization exercises program by comparing the activities of muscles contributing to spinal stabilization during four types of exercises using a sling and a mat. Twenty healthy males were recruited and each subjects performed four types of exercises. Exercise 1 was performed in a quadruped position with the subjects lifting the left arm and the opposite leg on the mat. Exercise 2 was performed in a prone position while holding a sling with the right hand and the left knee was fully extended while lifting the left arm and right leg. Exercise 3 was performed in quadruped position while holding a sling with one the right hand and lifting the opposite arm and leg. In exercise 4, subjects were instructed to maintain a balance push-up position while holding slings with both hands in 10 cm forward reaching with extended elbows. Electromyographic(EMG) activities were recorded from the multifidus, external oblique, internal oblique, abdominal rectus, and erector spinalis muscles during the exercises. The EMG amplitude of each muscle was normalized to the amplitude in the maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) of each muscle. Repeated ANOVA and Bonferroni's tests were used to compare the differences in the muscle activity according to the types of exercise. The EMG amplitudes of all the muscles were significantly different according to the types of exercises (p<.05). The highest EMG activities of each muscle was as follow; multifidus was 73.38%MVIC in exercise 3, the erector spinalis was 40.03%MVIC in exercise 3, the external oblique was 135.88%MVIC in exercise 4, the internal oblique was 128.60%MVIC in exercise 4, and the rectus abdominalis was 95.24%MVIC in Exercise 4. The types of exercises showed a significant difference in composition rate of EMG amplitudes of each muscle (p<.05). EMG composition rate of the multifidus was high in exercise 1 and 3. However, EMG composition rates of the external oblique, internal oblique, and the rectus abdominals were high in exercise 2 and 4. These results showed differences in EMG activities of muscles contributing to trunk stabilization during different therapeutic exercises. Therefore, the type of exercise should be carefully selected to effectively strengthen a specific trunk stabilizer.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.59-71
• /
• 2007

The purpose of this study was to study for the change of neural adaptation by muscle contraction force when neuromuscular electrical stimulation(NMES) was applied. Sixteen subjects(8 male, 8 female) without neuromuscular disease volunteered to participate in the study. All subjects were divided into two subgroups: control(no electrical stimulation) group, NMES(50% maximal voluntary isometric contraction) group. NMES training program was performed in the calf muscle over three times a week for 12 weeks. Before and after experiment MVIC of ankle plantar flexor was measured by use of dynamometer. H-reflex and V-wave in tibial nerve were measured. The following results were obtained; MVIC and V/Mmax ratio were significantly increased in the electrical stimulation groups. However, H/Mmax ratio was not changed. It was closely relationship between MVIC and V/Mmax ratio. In this study, the effect of neural adaptation of central neural adaptation was found in this study. Accordingly, NMES means not only a change of muscle fiber and skeletal muscle volume but also a effect of neural adaptation of central neural drive. Also, it was found that there was closely relationship between MVIC and neural adaptation of central neural drive by NMES.