• PNF and Movement
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.253-262
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• 2022

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify the effects of performing the half squat exercise with Kinesio taping (HSEKT) on trunk and lower extremity muscle activity and balance ability in general university students. Methods: The 32 participants were randomly assigned to either the HSEKT group (half squats with Kinesio taping) or the control group (half squats with sham Kinesio taping). Both groups performed half squats with either Kinesio taping (HSEKT group) or sham Kinesio taping (control group) for 30 min/day, 3 times/week for 6 weeks. The Noraxon mini direct transmission system (DTS) electromyography (EMG) system was used to evaluate trunk and lower extremity muscle activity. BioRescue equipment was used to measure the movement area of the center of pressure with eyes open and eyes closed. The muscle activity of the trunk and lower extremities and the balance ability of all participants were measured before and after the intervention. An independent t-test was used to statistically analyze the pre- and post-intervention EMG and balance ability results. Results: The trunk and lower extremity muscle activity was found to have significantly improved in the HSEKT group and the control group after the intervention (p < 0.05). Also, the balance ability of the HSEKT group differed significantly after 6 weeks of training compared to that of the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The findings of this study show that performing half squats with Kinesio taping had a positive effect on trunk and lower extremity muscle activity and balance ability in general university students.

• 감성과학
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.3-10
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• 2022

기억용이성은 자극이 얼마나 잘 기억될 수 있는가를 나타내는 척도로 자극의 지각적, 의미적 특성으로는 설명되지 않는 자극 고유의 특성이다. 기존의 기억용이성 연구는 주로 단독으로 제시된 자극을 얼마나 잘 기억할 수 있는가를 측정했다. 그러나 단일 자극만 제시하는 연구로는 다수의 자극이 동시에 나타나는 현실 세계의 시각 정보 처리 과정을 설명하는 데 한계가 있다. 이에 본 연구에서는 다수의 자극이 동시에 제시되었을 때 자극의 기억용이성 수준에 따라 기억 과제 수행이 어떻게 달라지는가를 알아봤다. 참가자들은 기억용이성이 높거나 낮은 방해자극과 동시에 제시된 목표자극을 기억하는 과제를 수행했다. 실험 결과, 목표자극의 기억용이성이 높았을 때 기억 수행이 향상되었으나, 목표자극의 기억용이성 효과는 동시에 제시된 방해자극의 기억용이성 수준의 영향을 받지 않았다. 이러한 결과는 높은 기억용이성을 가진 자극이 자동적으로 상향적 주의를 유도하지 않는다는 선행 연구 결과를 지지한다.

• PNF and Movement
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.179-187
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the asymmetrical difference between the use of leg muscles on the surgical and non-surgical sides during initial lower extremity ergometer exercise after unilateral knee arthroplasty. Methods: Twelve elderly patients diagnosed with degenerative arthritis of the knee and who underwent unilateral arthroplasty were included in this study. The leg length of each subject was taken into account when setting the application distance of the lower extremity ergometer. The same pedal resistance, strength, and speed were used for all the subjects. The total angle of use of the ergometer (360°) was analyzed by dividing it into an extension section and a flexion section. Using a surface electromyography system, the activities of the muscles of the surgical and non-surgical sides were converted into maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) and analyzed using the paired t-test. Results: When the activities of the muscles on the surgical and non-surgical sides were compared, it was found that the rectus femoris and biceps femoris had significant differences in the flexion and extension sections (p < .05), and that the tibialis anterior significantly differed in the flexion section (p < .05). There was no significant difference in the extension section of the tibialis anterior muscle, or in the flexion and extension sections of the gastrocnemius (p >.05). Conclusion: The results of this study confirm that the rectus femoris, tibialis anterior, biceps femoris, and gastrocnemius on the surgical side act in an opposite manner to those on the non-surgical side during pedaling in the same section.

• PNF and Movement
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.285-293
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to confirm that the activation of the contralateral muscles changes according to posture after applying the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation leg pattern. Methods: Ten healthy adults (four males and six females) with no history of current musculoskeletal/neurological injuries were recruited for this study. Abdominal muscle (transverse abdominis) and hip joint muscle (gluteus maximus and gluteus medius) activation was assessed using surface electromyography (Ultium EMG, Noraxon Inc., USA). We evaluated muscle activation during the application of the PNF leg pattern. The data were analyzed using the SPSS version 21.0 program. Results: The results were found to be statistically significantly different in the 90/90 supine posture and sitting posture for the gluteus maximus (p < 0.05). The results were found to be not statistically significantly different for the transverse abdominis according to posture (p > 0.05). The results were found to be not statistically significantly different for the gluteus medius according to posture (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Application of the PNF leg pattern resulted in a significant change in the muscle activation of the contralateral segment according to posture, and the 90/90 supine posture induced high muscle activation of the gluteus maximus. In addition, the activation of the transverse abdominis was high in all three postures.

• 대한물리의학회지
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.1-8
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• 2023

PURPOSE: This study analyzed how proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) combined with auricular acupuncture affected the activation of the leg muscles of stroke patients and measured the effects of this combination to provide clinical data. METHODS: The subjects were divided randomly into experimental group I, which received PNF combined with auricular acupuncture, and experimental group II, which received PNF alone. Each group had ten members. A 30-minute intervention was performed four days a week for six weeks. Before the six weeks of intervention, pre-tests were conducted to measure muscle activation in the legs. After six weeks, post-tests were also conducted to measure muscle activation in the legs. RESULTS: Experimental group I showed a statistically significant difference in muscle rectus femoris, muscle biceps femoris, muscle tibialis anterior, and muscle soleus. Experimental group II also showed a statistically significant difference in the muscle rectus femoris, muscle biceps femoris, muscle tibialis anterior, and muscle soleus (p < .05). In a between-group comparison of the changes, a statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of muscle rectus femoris, muscle biceps femoris, muscle tibialis anterior, and muscle soleus (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Intervention in experimental group I increased the activation of the leg muscles more effectively because auricular acupuncture was applied to various spots on the ear corresponding to the spleen, liver, kidney, pelvis, knee, ankle, and toe. Auricular acupuncture is expected to be used more widely in the future because it is a safe way of stimulating muscle activation.

• PNF and Movement
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.231-241
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• 2023

Purpose: Weakness of the vastus medialis oblique muscle (VMO), or the imbalance between VMO and vastus lateralis muscle (VL) activity, is one of the most important factors in knee joint problems. Rigid taping techniques, such as patellar inhibition taping and VL inhibition taping, are frequently used in clinical practice to treat knee joint problems. The purpose of this study was to compare the acute effect of three different types of taping (patellar inhibition taping (PIT), distal VL inhibition taping (DVLIT), and proximal VL inhibition taping (PVLIT)) on electromyography (EMG) activity of VMO, VL, and VMO:VL ratio during walking. Methods: Thirty-eight normal healthy subjects (38 males; mean age = 31.00 years) voluntarily participated in this study. EMG was applied to investigate muscle activation during walking. Repeated measures of ANOVA and one-way ANOVA compared the three different conditions (PIT, DVLIT, and PVLIT) for each variable. Results: VMO and VL activation were significantly increased after PTIT application, and VMO and VL activation were significantly decreased after DVLIT and PVLIT application. The VMO:VL ratio increased after the three types of taping application, but there were no significant differences among the three types of taping. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, PTIT is more effective than DVLIT and PVLIT in increasing the muscle activation of the VMO and VL during walking. Also, DVLIT is more effective for increasing the VMO:VL ratio and has beneficial effects on the imbalance between VMO and VL activity.

• PNF and Movement
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.159-169
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• 2023

Purpose: The study examined the effect of dynamic taping and Kinesio Taping intervention on round shoulder posture, pectoralis minor length, craniovertebral angle, and balance in 20s adults with rounded shoulder posture. Methods: A total of 20s Adults with rounded shoulder posture were recruited and randomized to Group I (n = 15) and Group II (n = 15). Group I performed dynamic taping. Group II performed Kinesio Taping. Round shoulder posture and pectoralis minor length were measured using a tape measure. The craniovertebral angle was measured using a goniometer. Balance was measured using Biorescue. Results: As a result of comparison within groups, groups I and II showed a significant difference for round shoulder posture, pectoralis minor length, craniovertebral angle, and balance after the experiment (p < 0.05). In a comparison between the two groups, the experimental group showed a more significant difference in round shoulder posture, pectoralis minor length, craniovertebral angle, and balance than the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that dynamic taping intervention was effective in round shoulder posture, pectoralis minor length, craniovertebral angle, and balance in 20s adults with rounded shoulder posture.

• PNF and Movement
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.107-117
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• 2023

Purpose: The aim of this study is to compare the immediate effects of weight-assisting methods on vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscle activation, on the VMO/VL muscle activation ratio, and on muscle onset time in healthy subjects when ascending stairs. Methods: Healthy participants were randomly assigned to the belt group (n = 11), hand group (n = 11), and control group (n = 11). In the belt group, a belt was wrapped around the sacrum and pulled forward with both hands, moving the center of weight forward, while ascending stairs. The hand group grasped the hips with both hands and climbed stairs, assisting their weight from the rear and moving the center of weight backward, and the control group climbed the stairs without any intervention. Results: Muscle activation of the VMO decreased significantly after the intervention in the belt and hand groups, and activation of the VL muscle in both groups showed a greater decrease than that of the VMO muscle. Further, the VMO/VL muscle activation ratio increased significantly, with an improvement shown in the order of the belt group, hand group, and control group, while muscle onset time also improved in the order of the belt group, hand group, and control group. Conclusion: The belt group demonstrated the greatest effect across all dependent variables, confirming that in clinical practice, these two weight-assisting methods are more effective interventions during stair ascent for patients with knee joint instability, pain, and imbalance than no assistance.

• PNF and Movement
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.63-74
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aims to compare hamstring flexibility and pressure pain threshold (PPT) after an intervention with proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation contract-relax (PNF CR) technique, myofascial release (MFR), and a massage gun (MG), as well as to verify the effectiveness of the MG. Methods: This study recruited 36 participants (22 males and 14 females) with shortening of less than 70 degrees upon a straight leg raise (SLR) test, and they were randomly assigned to one of the PNF, MG, and MFR groups, each of which underwent its own protocol for 30 minutes. Flexibility of the hamstring was measured after the intervention using the active and passive knee extension (AKE and PKE) test, the sit and reach test, and PPT. Results: The AKE and PKE angles significantly decreased, as well as significantly increased in flexibility when each of the PNF, MFR, and MG interventions was performed (p<0.05). In addition, there was no significant difference among groups. However, according to the Cohen's D effect size, the MG demonstrated the largest effect size in AKE (d = 1.41) and PNF demonstrated the largest effect size in PKE (d = 1.66) and flexibility (d = 0.63). Conclusion: All interventions used in our study are effective in increasing hamstring flexibility. Based on the Cohen's D effect size, an MG is beneficial to increase the AKE, whereas PNF CR technique is recommended for increasing PKE and flexibility.

• PNF and Movement
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.47-52
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aims to examine the functional difference in the long and short heads of the biceps brachii by investigating the onset time of muscle contractions in the biceps brachii in the supination motion according to whether the flexor of the elbow joint is excluded. Methods: This study was conducted with 21 healthy men aged in their 20s. While performing forearm pronation at an elbow flexion angle of 90 degrees, the onset time of muscle contractions in the long and short heads of the biceps brachii was measured and compared in a posture where the humerus is placed on a table and the posture is lifted against gravity. Using an independent samples t-test, the difference in the onset time of muscle contractions in the long and short heads of the biceps brachii was analyzed. Results: The onset time of the long head was shorter if the flexor activity of the elbow joint was excluded, while that of the short head of the biceps brachii was shorter if it was not excluded. Conclusion: It is noted that the long head of the biceps brachii mainly functions as a supinator muscle, while the short head of the biceps brachii plays a role in stabilizing and maintaining flexion of the elbow joint.