• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 2019

Purpose : This study aims to investigate the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and muscle activity of the inspiratory primary and accessory muscle during breathing exercise with different air hole diameters of the inspiratory muscle trainer (IMT). Methods : The Borg's scale and surface electromyography (EMG) was used to collect data of the RPE and muscle activity of the inspiratory primary the external intercostal (EI) and diaphragm (DIA) and accessory muscles anterior scalene (AS), sternocleidomastoid (SCM), pectoralis major (PM), and upper trapezius (UT) muscles during breathing exercise with different air hole diameters (6 mm, 4 mm, and 2 mm) of the IMT in healthy young male subjects. Results : The RPE and muscle activities of the AS, SCM, and UT are increased significantly in accordance to the decreasing diameter of air hole of air tip in IMT. However, there are no differences in the muscle activities of the PM, EI, and DIA based on differences of diameters of air hole of air tip in IMT. Conclusion : The smaller the diametr of IMT air-hole, RPE and muscle activities of AS, SCM and UT were increased. Therefore, further study would be necessary to investigate the proper intensity and relaxation posture for the exercise protocol to strengthen the inspiratory primary muscles.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.279-284
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of head posture and respiratory pattern on muscle activities of sternocleidomastoid (SCM) and scalene during maximal respiration. The seventeen subjects with upper-costal breathing pattern were participated in this study. Surface electromyography was used to measure the muscles activities of SCM and scalene. The volume and velocity of inspiration were monitored by using the spirometer in each subject. Each subject was performed the 3-cycle of respiration in each condition. The mean values of three peak muscle activity in each muscle were used in the data analysis. A2 (head posture: forward head posture: FHP vs. neutral posture) X 2 (breathing pattern: costal vs. diaphragmatic) repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the normalized muscle activities of the SCM and scalene. The results showed that the muscle activities of SCM and scalene in diaphragmatic breathing were significantly lower than those in costal breathing for each head posture (p<.0125). The muscle activities of SCM in neutral position were lower than those in forward head position during costal breathing (p<.0125). The diaphragmatic breathing in neutral position of head is recommended to decrease the tension of the accessory inspiratory muscles during respiration in neck-pain patients with FHP.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2010

This study aimed to compare 2 protocols recommended to patients with chronic cervical cord injury: each protocol included breathing exercises (inhalation-oriented or exhalation-oriented) and facilitation maneuver for the accessory respiratory muscles. Seventeen patients with chronic cervical cord injury volunteered to participate in this study, and we randomized these patients into 2 groups: the inhalation-oriented breathing exercise group (IOBEG) and exhalation-oriented breathing exercise group (EOBEG), consisting of 8 and 9 patients, respectively. Patients in the IOBEG performed inspiratory exercises using intermittent positive pressure breathing devices, while those in the EOBEG performed expiratory exercises using incentive spirometry. All exercises were performed by the subjects twice a day for 4 weeks, with each session lasting an average of 20 min. The outcomes were assessed on the basis of the pre- and post-treatment values of vital capacity (VC), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), and FEV1/FVC. In the IOBEG, no significant differences were observed between the pre- and post-treatment values of any of the measured variables (p>.05); however, in the EOBEG, significant improvement was noted in the VC, FVC, FEV1 measured (p<.05) after the treatment. In addition, the rates of change in the values of VC, FVC, and FEV1 differed significantly between the 2 groups (p<.05). These findings suggest that the EOBEs can enhance respiratory function and are clinically feasible in patients with chronic cervical cord injury. Further studies will be undertaken to evaluate the clinical application of these findings.