• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2011

Purpose:This study was designed to investigate difference in isokinetic muscle strength in the knee extensor muscle and characteristic differences in muscle strength between males and females through the ankle joint angles. Methods: Seventy-four subjects participated in this study. There were two groups: 36 males and 38 females. The mean age of the men was 24.58 years and women was 23.74 years. Subjects were seated on a CON-TREX LP (leg press) lean to back of chair, and there bodies were fixed by straps with the hip joint at an angle of $130^{\circ}$. After randomly fixing the ankle joint at $0^{\circ}$, $20^{\circ}$, and $40^{\circ}$ of plantar flexion (PF) in range of full extension of knee joint. We studied force max average, force max average/kg, power average, and total work through the angle of the ankle joint when the knee joint was extended from $90^{\circ}$ to $180^{\circ}$. Results: In the male group, all maximum measured value showed at the ankle joint $0^{\circ}$, all minimum measured value showed at $40^{\circ}$ PF (p<0.01). In the female group, all maximum measured value showed at the ankle joint $20^{\circ}$ PF, especially the power average increased significantly. All minimum measured value showed $40^{\circ}$ PF (p<0.01). Conclusion: There are differences between males and females in isokinetic muscle strength of the knee extensor through ankle joint angles in healthy adults. Males and Females have different characteristics of muscle strength through the ankle joint angles.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.142-150
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• 2015

Purpose: Restoration of ankle stability through the strengthening exercise of peroneus muscles is considered an important factor for achievement of successful outcomes, in the rehabilitation program following ankle ligament injuries. However, there were few definitive data on normal muscle strength, including eversion power by peroneus muscles. This study was conducted to evaluate the muscle strength of ankle joint measured using an isokinetic dynamometer in normal Koreans. Materials and Methods: Sixty adults (120 ankles) were recruited and divided into three groups (20 in their twenties, 20 in thirties, and 20 in forties). Each group consisted of 10 males and 10 females. The selection criteria were no history of ankle injury and no evidence of instability. The peak torque, total work, and deficit ratio were measured using the Biodex$^{TM}$ (Biodex Medical Systems). Differences in muscle strength by age, gender and dominant versus non-dominant side were analyzed. Results: The peak torque of dorsiflexion was average 31.5 Nm at $30^{\circ}/s$ of angular velocity and 18.8 Nm at $90^{\circ}/s$; average 69.3 Nm ($30^{\circ}/s$) and 42.4 Nm ($90^{\circ}/s$) on plantarflexion; average 19.6 Nm ($30^{\circ}/s$) and 10.8 Nm ($90^{\circ}/s$) on inversion; average 12.9 Nm ($30^{\circ}/s$) and 8.0 Nm ($90^{\circ}/s$) on eversion. The deficit ratio of strength in women was average 61.1% of men on dorsiflexion; average 66.2% on plantarflexion; average 48.5% on inversion; average 55.4% on eversion. The deficit ratio in non-dominant foot was average 88.6% of dominant foot on dorsiflexion; average 90.1% on plantarflexion; average 85.1% on inversion; average 85.6% on eversion. Conclusion: The muscle strength of the ankle joint showed a tendency to weaken with age. There were significant differences in muscle strength by gender and dominancy. Further studies for comparison of patients with ankle instability, a comparison between before and after surgery for instability, the correlation between clinical outcomes and the recovery in muscle strength will be needed.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.20-30
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of ankle joint mobilization with movement (MWM) on the range of motion (ROM) in the ankle, on the muscle strength of lower extremities, and on spatiotemporal gait parameters in chronic hemiplegic patients. Fifteen subjects with chronic stroke were divided into two groups: an experimental group (8 subjects) and a control group (7 subjects). Both groups attended two or three sessions of physical therapy each week. The experimental group also attended additional MWM training sessions three times a week for five weeks. For both groups, the ROM of the ankle, the muscle strength of the lower extremities, and the spatiotemporal gait parameters in paretic limbs were evaluated before and after the training period. The results showed that the experimental group experienced more significant increases than did the control group in terms of passive (6.10%) and active (21.96%) ROM of the ankle, gait velocity (12.96%), and peak torque, of the knee flexor (81.39%), the knee extensor (24.88%), and the ankle plantar flexor (41.75%)(p<.05). These results suggest that MWM training in patients with chronic stroke may be beneficial in increasing ROM in the ankle, muscle strength in the lower extremities, and gait speed.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.11
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• pp.217-223
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• 2019

The relationship between balance and ankle muscle characteristics (strength and flexibility) may be important to identify those at an increased risk of falling and to develop fall-prevention training programs. The association between ankle muscle characteristics (strength and flexibility) and balance has not previously been studied. The purpose of this study assessed the relationship between ankle muscle characteristics and balance. Sixteen healthy participants volunteered to participate in the study. Dynamic balance measured using Y-balance kit. Ankle muscle characteristics (strength and flexibility) measured using hand-held dynamometer and goniometry. The results indicated a positive correlation between ankle invertor muscle strength and Y-balance test performance. Clinicians should consider ankle muscle strength during therapeutic interventions to improve dynamic balance.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.194-201
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• 2023

Background: Falls are a common and serious problem in the elderly population. Muscle strength and balance are important factors in the prevention of falls. The Y-balance test (YBT) is used to assess dynamic postural control and shows excellent test-retest reliability. However, no studies have examined the relationship between lower-limb strength and YBT scores in elderly women. Objects: This study aimed to examine the relationship between lower-limb strength and YBT scores in elderly women. Methods: Thirty community-dwelling elderly women participated in the study. Lower-limb strength including hip flexor, hip extensor, hip abductor (HAB), hip adductor (HAD), knee flexor, knee extensor, ankle dorsiflexor, and ankle plantar flexor (PF) muscles was examined using a smart KEMA strength sensor (KOREATECH Inc.), and the YBT was used to assess dynamic balance. Relationship between lower-limb strength and YBT was demonstrated using a Pearson's correlation coefficient. Results: HAB strength (r = 0.388, p < 0.05), HAD strength (r = 0.362, p < 0.05), and ankle PF strength (r = 0.391, p < 0.05) positively correlated with the YBT-anterior direction distance. Ankle PF strength was positively correlated with the YBT-posteromedial direction distance (r = 0.396, p < 0.05) and composite score (r = 0.376, p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that HAB, HAD, and ankle PF strengths should be considered for dynamic postural control in elderly women.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.176-183
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the short term effects of ASEJ (ankle strengthening with emphasis on jumping) for 3weeks on strength, mechanical properties, and balance and to compare the balance with and without HH(high-heel) condition. Methods: ASEJ (a combined exercise of squat, heel raise up, and jumping) were performed for the subjects in 11 female ankle instability young females ($21.7{\pm}2.0yrs$ Cumberland ankle instability score $19{\pm}6.5$). To investigate the effect of ASEJ, investigator used dynamometer for measuring strength, MyotonPRO for measuring mechanical properties(tone, stiffness, and elasticity of the muscles), I-Balance test for static balance, and Y-balance test for dynamic balance between the condition with and without HH condition. All data were normally distributed and analyzed using the SPSS 22.0 statistical program. Comparing pre- and post-intervention and the condition with and without HH conditions data were examined using the paired t-test. The level of significance was chosen as 0.05 for all the analyses. Results: 3wks of ASEJ would strengthen leg muscles and increasing muscle tone and stiffness in most muscles however there was decreasing muscle elasticity of gastrocnemious. In addition, the ASEJ improves the static balance for ankle instability young females and increases the dynamic balance when wearing the heels especially. Conclusions: the ASEJ could recommend to improve the strength and balance for ankle instability young females. Also, measuring the balance with HH conditions well represents the risk of ankle damage in female.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.25-33
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• 2009

In dancers, intact muscular coordination is a well balanced antagonist, which could be a decisive factor in protection against injury as dancers often have hypermobile joints and their ankle joints often bear their full body weight in extreme positions. The purposes of this study were to identify the isokinetic strength to the knee and ankle and the isometric strength of the trunk in female collegiate dancers and controls. Furthermore, the study aimed to investigate the peak torque ratio of knee extension to flexion, ankle plantarflexion (PF) to dorsiflexion (DF), and dominant legs to nondominant. Twenty-one female collegiate dancers (20.0 years of age) and twenty-one female collegiate students (19.3 years of age) performed isokinetic maximum efforts of the knee extensors and flexors at $60^{\circ}/sec$ and $120^{\circ}/sec$, the ankle plantarflexors and dorsiflexors at $30^{\circ}/sec$ and $120^{\circ}/sec$ and isometric maximum efforts of the lumbar extensors at $0^{\circ}$, $12^{\circ}$, $24^{\circ}$, $36^{\circ}$, $48^{\circ}$, $60^{\circ}$, and $72^{\circ}$. The results were as follows: The isokinetic peak torque of the knee extensors and the ratio of knee extensors to flexors of dancers were significantly higher than those of controls (p<.01). However, the isometric peak torque of the back extensors (p<.01) and isokinetic peak torque of the ankle plantarflexors and dorsiflexors (p<.05) of dancers were significantly lower than those of controls. Further studies are needed to identify the difference in proprioception of the joints between dancers and controls.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.18-28
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• 2024

Background: Lateral instability of the ankle is one of the most common causes of musculoskeletal ankle injuries. The peroneus longus (PL) and peroneus brevis (PB) contribute to ankle stability. In early rehabilitation, isometric exercises have been selected for improvement of ankle stability. To effectively train the peroneal muscles during eversion, it is important to consider ankle and body posture. Objects: This study aimed to compare activation of the PL, PB, and biceps femoris (BF) muscles during eversion in different ankle postures (neutral [N], plantarflexed [PF]) and body postures (sitting and side-lying). Methods: Thirty healthy individuals with no history of lateral ankle sprains within the last 6 months were included in the study. Maximal isometric strength of eversion and muscle activation were measured simultaneously. Muscle activation at submaximal eversion was divided by the highest value obtained from maximal isometric eversion among the four postures (percent maximal voluntary isometric contraction [%MVIC]). To examine the differences in muscle activation depending on posture, a 2 × 2 repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted. Results: There were significant interaction effects of ankle and body postures on PL muscle activation and evertor strength (p < 0.05). The PL muscle activation showed a significantly greater difference in the side-lying and PF conditions than in the sitting and N conditions (p < 0.05). Evertor strength was greater in the N compared to the PF condition regardless of body posture (p < 0.05). In the case of PB and BF muscle activation, only the main effects of ankle and body posture were observed (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Among the four postures, the side-lying-PF posture produced the highest muscle activation. The side-lying-PF posture may be preferred for effective peroneal muscle exercises, even when considering the BF muscle.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.27-37
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• 2010

Purpose : The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of stepper exercise using lower extremity patterns of PNF(Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation) on ankle muscle strength and balance ability of females in their twenties. Method : Twenty subjects participated in this experiment were carried out the exercise program dose of 5 days per week for 2 weeks. They were divided into two groups; using twist stepper group(lower extremity patterns of PNF group, n=10) and using straight stepper group(n=10). The effects of twist stepper and straight stepper were evaluated by measurements of normal standing(NSEO, NSEC), and dynamic type 1 and dynamic type 2, respectively. For each case, the experimental data were obtained about static balance in 3 items : mean X speed, mean Y speed and velocity moment, that of dynamic balance in 4 items : mean X speed, mean Y speed, time, distance. Results : The results of this study were as follows; 1) In straight stepper group, the statistically significants were significants were shown on right/left ankle muscle strength in case of dorsi-flexion. 2) In twist stepper group, the statistically significants were significants were shown on right/left ankle muscle strength in case of dorsi-flexion. 3) In straight stepper group, the statistically significants were significants were shown on right ankle muscle strength in case of plantar-flexion. 4) In twist stepper group, the statistically significants were significants were shown on right/left ankle muscle strength in case of plantar-flexion. Conclusion : The above results revealed that twist stepper exercise using lower extremity patterns of PNF was more effective than straight stepper exercise for improving the ankle muscle strength.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.61-73
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• 2024

Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of ankle strengthening and proprioceptor exercise, including gluteus-medius strengthening exercise, on ankle strength, dynamic and static balance, ankle function, and quality of life in 24 adults without ankle instability. Methods: After randomly classifying 12 people per group into the experimental group and the control group, Home-exercise rehabilitation program was conducted for a total of 2 weeks. The control group performed ankle strengthening and proprioceptor exercise 5 times a week for 15 minutes, and the experimental group was performed by adding 15 minutes of gluteus-medius strengthning exercise to the exercise performed by the control group. The SPSS 27.0 program was used for statistical analysis. Results: Both groups showed statistically significant differences in the plantar flexion muscle strength, Y-Balance test, side hop test, quality of life. But, only experimental group showed statistically significant differences dorsi-flexion muscle strength and hip abduction muscle strength. There was no statistical difference in comparison of difference values between groups. Conclusion: These exercises can provide useful home rehabilitation programs for sports populations seeking to prevent injury in sports.