• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• 제11권1호
• /
• pp.80-87
• /
• 2020

Background: Residential and commercial cleaning is a part of our daily routine to maintain sanitation around the environment. Health care of professionals involved in such cleaning activities has become a major concern all over the world. The present study investigates the risk of musculoskeletal disorders in professional cleaners involved in floor mopping tasks. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on 132 mopping professionals using a modified Nordic questionnaire. The Pearson correlation test was implemented to study the association of perceived pain with work experience. The muscle strain and postural risk were evaluated by means of three-channel electromyography and real-time motion capture respectively of 15 professionals during floor mopping. Results: Regarding musculoskeletal injuries, risk was reported majorly in the right hand, lower back, left wrist, right shoulder, left biceps, and right wrist of the workers. Work experience had a low negative association with MSDs in the left wrist, right wrist, right elbow, lower back, and right lower arm (p < 0.01). Surface EMG showed occurrence of higher muscle activity in upper trapezius and biceps brachii (BB) muscles of the dominant hand and flexor carpi radialis and BB muscles of the nondominant hand positioned at the upper and lower portion of the mop rod, respectively. Conclusion: Ergonomic mediations should be executed to lessen the observed risk of musculoskeletal injuries in this professional group of workers.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• 제65권4호
• /
• pp.865-877
• /
• 2023

Thirty Hanwoo cattle including bulls, cows, and steers (n = 10 each) were slaughtered and investigated for carcass traits (weight, meat color, fat color, yield index, maturity, marbling score, back-fat thickness, and firmness) and meat quality. The meat quality such as: pH, color, cooking loss, fatty acid, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance, warner-bratzler shear force, tensile tests, and texture profiles were analyzed on longissimus lumborum (LL) muscles of the carcasses at different aging times (3 d and 21 d). The results showed that steers and cows had higher back-fat thickness and marbling score, and a lower firmness (p < 0.001) than bulls. Bulls exhibited a lower meat quality indicating by higher cooking loss, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance content, warner-bratzler shear force and tensile test values (p < 0.01). Regarding the sensory property, the bull meat also had higher hardness, and lower tenderness, juiciness and flavor scores than the cow or steer meat (p < 0.01). Additionally, the bull meat had a higher polyunsaturated fatty acid and a lower monounsaturated fatty acid contents (p < 0.01). With increased aging time, the meat tenderness was improved in all the genders. Taken together, the present study demonstrated that the gender and aging time affected the carcass traits, fatty acid and sensory quality of beef. Postmortem aging could improve the meat tenderness of all genders especially bulls.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• 제15권3호
• /
• pp.217-226
• /
• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a modified abdominal draw-in maneuver on trunk stability and functional capacity as well as pain in patients with chronic low back pain. Methods: The study included 3 patients with chronic low back pain who volunteered to participate. The modified abdominal draw-in maneuver included a posterior pelvic tilt, a traditional abdominal draw-in maneuver, and a vibration sensory feedback device. Voluntary abdominal contraction using the vibration sensory feedback device was performed by the subjects for more than 1 hour per day, 5 times per week, for 6 weeks along with common low back pain treatment. Electromyographic signals in the rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), internal oblique (IO), and erector spinae (ES) muscles were measured to compare muscle activation. The degree of pain was measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS), and functional capacity was measured using the Korea Oswestry Disability Index (K-ODI). All results were compared to the means before and after intervention. Results: After the intervention, the RA, EO, and IO showed increased muscle activation and the ES showed decreased muscle activation. The visual analogue scale decreased after intervention and the K-ODI decreased after intervention. Conclusion: Modified abdominal draw-in maneuvers in daily life combined with therapeutic exercises may be effective in relieving pain and dysfunctions in chronic low back pain patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• 제17권3호
• /
• pp.413-420
• /
• 2005

The purpose of this study was to determine differences of balance performance to upright standing, forward bending posture, and sudden load during forward bending posture in subjects with and without a history of low back pain. A study was conducted on 8 subjects with low back pain and 13 healthy subjects. Dynamic Balance System was used to measure the postural sway index, left-right sway index, and anterior-posterior sway index on balance performance. There were no differences between subject groups on balance performance during upright standing. Balance performance was increased in forward bending posture and decreased in sudden load during forward bending posture in subjects with low back pain. These results suggest that subjects with low back pain demonstrated increased activity and decreased reaction times of trunk muscles.

• 대한정형도수물리치료학회지
• /
• 제26권2호
• /
• pp.19-27
• /
• 2020

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a multi-modal exercise program for patients with chronic low back with respect to pain intensity, trunk muscle strength and Oswestry disability index. Methods: Thirty patients with chronic low back pain were recruited and divided equally into two groups. The multi-modal training program comprised a series of exercises such as warm-up, stabilization exercises, stretching, endurance exercises, and cool down whereas the control group performed only stabilization exercises. The both group spent an equal amount of time performing 60 minutes per day, three times per week, for five weeks. Results: The experimental group demonstrated statistically significant improvements in range of motion, trunk muscle strength, the visual analogue scale, and the Oswestry Disability Index (p<.05). Intergroup comparison showed a statistically significant difference in the range of motion of the lumbar spine and the degree of disability in the experimental group. Muscle strength and pain were statistically significant in both groups. Conclusion: The multi-modal exercise program is effective for patients with chronic low back pain, as it reduces lower back pain, increases trunk muscles strength, and decrease the potential for becoming disabled.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• 제25권5호
• /
• pp.337-342
• /
• 2013

Purpose: This study was conducted in order to determine the effect of visual and tactile feedback on muscle activity of the gluteus maximus (Gmax) and abdominal muscles and the motion of pelvic rotation during performance of clam exercise (CE). Methods: Thirteen subjects without low back pain were recruited for this study. Each subject was instructed to perform the CE without and with feedback. The subjects were instructed to keep pelvic from rotating backwards by palpating the ASIS and monitoring the pelvic movement by themselves during performance of CE with feedback. The electromyographic (EMG) activities of Gmax and abdominal muscles were collected using surface EMG. Angles of pelvic rotation were measured using a 3-dimensional motion-analysis system. Paired t-tests were used for comparison of EMG activities in each muscle and the angle of pelvic rotation. Results: The EMG activities of all abdominal muscles were not significant between CM without and CM with feedback (p>0.05). The EMG activity of Gmax was significantly greater in CM with feedback compared with CM without feedback (without vs. with feedback; 14.2% vs. 20.7%MVIC) (p<0.05). The angle of pelvic rotation was significantly less in CM with feedback compared with CM without feedback (without vs. with feedback; $15.3^{\circ}$ vs. $10.8^{\circ}$ ) (p<0.05). Conclusion: Therefore, these findings suggest that CM with the visual and tactile feedback is effective in activation of the Gmax and correcting of the uncontrolled lumbopelvic rotation during CE.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
• /
• 제9권3호
• /
• pp.23-37
• /
• 2002

This study examined the muscle recruitment order during extension of the hip joint in normal subjects, and evaluated whether the external support obtained from wearing a lumbosacral corset had an effect on muscle recruitment leading to increased lumbar stability. The subjects were 40 normal adults (32 male, 8 female) with no history of low back pain and no pathological findings in the nervous or musculoskeletal systems. All subjects extended their hip joints under 3 positions (prone, sidelying, standing). During extension, the onsets of contraction of the rectus abdominis, gluteus maximus, and semitendinosus muscles were measured. Electromyographic activity was measured using a surface electrode, and the muscle contraction onset time was designated as the point exceeding a threshold of 25 ms, using a mean plus twice of the standard deviation. To compare the average order of muscle contraction onset time, a Freedman two-way analysis of variance by ranks was used. The relative difference between muscle contraction onset time wearing and not wearing a lumbosacral corset was measured using a paired t-test. A difference in the average muscle contraction onset order for the rectus abdominis, gluteus maximus, and semitendinosus muscles was observed (p<.05) among three positions. However, wearing a lumbosacral corset did not. change the contraction order. In addition, wearing a lumbosacral corset produced a significant difference (p<.05) in the relative onset time between the rectus abdominis and gluteus maximus in the standing position, but no difference was observed for the other muscles or positions. In the future, patients suffering from low back pain should be compared with normal subjects to determine the effectiveness of a lumbosacral corset in changing muscle recruitment order.

• 대한물리치료과학회지
• /
• 제9권2호
• /
• pp.27-36
• /
• 2002

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of graded low back exercise program with patient education about low back pain care on abdominal strength, endurance and flexibility of waist of chronic low back pain patents. For this study 13 patients aged 40 to 60 were selected as subjects, who suffered from low back pain and got diagnosed by physician. The exercise program and the education were executed for total 6 weeks, posture education were executed with physical exercises over first 1 to 4 weeks period and over 5 to 6 weeks the exercises were executed. The effect of the exercises and the education were evaluated through weights, WHR, fat(%), flexibility by sit-and-reach and trunk extension test, strength by sit-up test and back sit-up test. Weights were, decreased after physical exercise and education, but there was no statistical significance. Wasit hip ratio(WHR) and fat(%) were decreased after physical exercise and education, but there were no statistical significances. Sit-and-reach was significantly increased from $13.68{\pm}5.59cm$ to $19.45{\pm}3.81cm$ after education and physical exercise(P<0.05). Trunk extension was significantly increased from $30.31{\pm}11.34cm$ to $40.88{\pm}6.16cm$ after education and physical exercise(P<0.05). Sit-up and Back sit-up were increased after physical exercise and education, but there were no statistical significances. These results suggest that graded low back exercise program with patient education about low back pain care increase the abdominal strength, endurance and the flexibility of waist in low back pain patients.

• 대한간호학회지
• /
• 제25권2호
• /
• pp.259-278
• /
• 1995

This study was done to investigate levels of physical fitness, self efficacy(SE), instrumental activities of daily living(IADL), and quality of life (QL), and their relationships among the elderly Data were collected from 47 noninstitutionalized elderly dwell-ing in their own homes and 43 institutionalized elderly living in homes for older people. The ages of the subjects were 65 years and over. The data were col lected from January 20th to February 20th, 1995. Physical fitness was measured with T.K. K dyna mometer, grip dynamometer, stop watch, and Purdue pegboard. Structured questionnaires developed by Kim by Lawton & Brody, and by Ro were adopted to measure SE, IADL, and QL, respectively. The data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficients. The results were as follows : 1. The noninstitutionalized elderly had higher scores in such measures of physical fitness as body weight, skinfold thickness, flexibility and coordination as compared to the institutionalized elderly. 2. On the following measures of physical fitness, men showed higher levels than women ; in height when standing, height when sitting, body weight, and muscle strength. Women had more trunk flexibility than men. 3. Muscle strength was positively correlated with height when standing, height when sitting, and body weight. The following measures of physical fitness, muscle strength, flexibility and coordi nation, were negatively correlated with "up and go”. 4. The noninstitutionalized elderly had higher scores in SE(t=2.28, p<0.05), IADL(t=2.24, p<0.05), and QL(t=2.41, p<0.05) as compared to the institutionalized elderly. 5. SE was positively correlated with both IADL(r=0.41, p<0.001) and QL(r=0.54, p<0.001), and the latter two variables were a positively correlated (r=0.30, p<0.001). 6. SE was positively correlated with the physical fitness measures of height when standing, body weight, strength of leg muscles, strength of back muscles, grip strength, and level of touching the floor, but negatively correlated with "up and go”. 7. Positive correlations were revealed between IADL and the physical fitness measures of height, strength of leg muscles, level of trunk muscle extension, level of touching the floor, and coordination. The IADL was negatively correlated with “up and go”. 8. QL was positively correlated with body weight (r=0.28, p<0.01) and skinfold thickness (r=0.26, p<0.05). 9. Age was negatively correlated with the physical fitness measures of height when standing, height when sitting, “up and go”, strength of leg muscles, strength of back muscles, grip strength, level of trunk muscle extension, and coordination. 10. Age was also negatively correlated with SE (r=-0.24, p<0.05) and IADL(r=-0.22, p<0.05). The above results suggest that caring elderly in their own homes were more effective and that nursing interventions to enhance physical fitness, SE, IADL, and QL especially for the institutionalized elderly are stressed.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• 제27권6호
• /
• pp.400-406
• /
• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to examine joint position senses and muscle activity in subjects with and without chronic low back pain and to determine the effects of different types of bridge exercises on their trunk muscle activity. Methods: Thrity-eight subjects with chronic low back pain and thrity healthy controls participated in the experiment. Joint position senses and trunk muscle activity levels were measured during the different bridge exercise methods. Results: The joint position senses of the healthy group and chronic low back pain group showed significant differences during lumbar flexion, lumbar extension, lumbar lateral flexion, and lumbar rotation. The muscle activity levels of the transversus abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO) were highest in the prone bridge exercise (PBE) group, followed by the supine bridge swiss ball exercise (SBSE) group and supine bridge exercise (SBE) group in order of precedence. The muscle activity level of the erector spinae (ES) was highest in the SBSE group, followed by the SBE and PBE groups in order of precedence. Conclusion: Overall, the results suggest that chronic low back pain is associated with declines in joint position senses and that PBEs increase trunk muscle activity more than conventional bridge exercises.