• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.181-190
• /
• 2007

The purpose of this study was to analyze the muscle fatigue for lower limbs during the level and downhill running. The subjects were 6 males of twenties who have no experience to get the injury in the lower limbs and required to run on the level and downhill which was -7% grade treadmill at 8.3km/h. EMG signal was gained by ME3000P8 Measurement Unit and computed the Median Frequency(MF) with the power spectrum analysis in the Megawin software. Rectus femoris(RF), Vastus lateralis(VL), Gluteus medius(GLU), Biceps Femoris(BF), gastrocnemius medial head(GM), gastrocnemius lateral head(GL), Tibialis anterior(TA) were selected. The result of this study were as follows: The MF of RF decreased in the downhill running than level running in length of time but, the MF of VL was opposite. The MF of BF decreased in the level and downhill running, but, the MF of BF decreased much in the level than downhill running. The MF of GLU decreased much in the downhill running but, almost no change in the level running. The MF of TA decreased in the level running than downhill running. The MF of GL decreased in the level running but, the MF of GM decreased in the downhill running in length of time. This study analyzed the muscle fatigue of the lower limbs with the median frequency on the basis of an assumption that the impact force for the flexion and extension of the joint and the body mass may be much in the eccentric contraction such as the downhill running than level running. RF and GM showed the muscle fatigue in the downhill running than level running. BF and GL showed the muscle fatigue in the level running than downhill running.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.141-148
• /
• 2007

Falls associated with tripping over an obstacle can be dangerous, yet little is known about the strategies used for stepping over obstacles in older Parkinson disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate the lower extremity muscle activity on the obstacle gait according to obstacle height in older Parkinson diseases. The obstacle gait of 7 older Parkinson disease was examined during a 5.0 m approach to, and while stepping over, obstacles of 0, 25, 52, and 152mm. Seven pairs of surface electrodes(Noraxon MyoResearch, USA) were attached to the right-hand side of the body to monitor the adductor longus(AL), gluteus medius(GME), gluteus maximus(GMA), biceps femoris(BF), rectus femoris(RF), gastrocnemius(GA), tibialis anterior(TA). Electromyography data were filtered using a 10Hz to 350 Hz Butterworth band-pass digital filter and normalized to the maximum value in the analyzed phases. A one-way ANOVA for repeated measures was employed for selected electromyography variables to analyze the differences of the height of four obstacles. The results showed significant differences between 0.0mm and 25, 52, and 152mm obstacle height in TA and GA activities during the second phase(swing phase). But the more increase obstacle height, the more not increase the muscle activities. This means that the Parkinson disease stepping over obstacle inefficiency. To prevent and reduce the frequency of falls, elderly Parkinson disease maintained and improved their balance, muscular strength, neuromuscular control and mobility.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.647-653
• /
• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences between female and male ballet dancers in anterior cruciate ligament injury risk factors during the box drop landing task. Nine female and nine male collegiate ballet dancers participated in this study. Kinematic and ground reaction data were collected and combined with inverse dynamics to estimate the knee extensor and abductor moment. EMG data from the biceps femoris and rectus femoris were used to estimate the ratio of quadriceps-hamstrings muscle activity. No gender differences in anterior cruciate ligament injury risk factors were found during the box drop landing task. A significant relationship was found between female and male ballet dancers in the knee flexion angle.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.81-86
• /
• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigated the muscle activity difference of lower extremity by abdominal co-contractive activation. 30 healthy women without pain in the low back and lower extremity were conducted. Muscle activities of lower extremity were measured with the active straight leg raise (ASLR) in 20cm raised from the floor without bending the knee at rest, abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) and abdominal bracing maneuver (ABM), respectively. Hip adductor longus (HadL), rectus femoris (RF), and biceps femoris (BF) muscle activity in the Abdominal bracing maneuver were statistically significantly higher, also gluteus medius (Gmed) and tibialis anterior (TA) muscle activity in the ADIM were higher. We provide the evidence to the positive effects of individual abdominal co-contractive activation training which can enhance postural stability and lower extremity strengthening with volitional preemptive abdominal contraction.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.257-264
• /
• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate the lower extremity kinematics and muscle activities of adductor longus(AL), gluteus medius(GME), gluteus maximus(GMA), biceps femoris(BF), rectus femoris(RF), gastrocnemius(GA), and tibialis anterior(TA) using three dimensional and Noraxon 8 channels EMG system during turn 0, 60, 90 and 120 degrees in patients with Parkinson's disease. Seven parkinson's patients and five healthy subjects were participated in the study. Participants with Parkinson's disease demonstrated significant differences in reduction of stride length and stride width. Also, they showed ill difference in muscle activities. The strength and balance of the lower extremity muscles may help to improve cutting movement and to prevent falling in parkinson's patients.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.99-109
• /
• 2007

The purpose of the study is to examine the effect of the spring shoe through the comparison of spring shoe to general shoe. For this, 12 healthy females in the age from 20 to 30 years participated in the E.M.G. experiment with testing kinematic variables. Results indicated that there was significant differences in angle of ankel between the general and spring shoe. Specifically, the spring shoe showed a bigger angle of take on and a smaller angle of take off in walking than the general shoe. This mesns that the spring shoe does not have a significant effect to produce efficient and smooth walking. In addition, the spring shoes revealed a bigger rear-foot angle than the general shoe in the evaluation of rear-foot control function. This means that the rear-foot control function of the spring shoe is low compared to trhe general shoe. Meanwhile, there is no significant differences in angle of knee and angle of Achilles tendon between both shoes. In an analysis of E.M.G., the significant differences were found in gastrocnemius muscle, anterior tibial musculi, musculi rectus femoris, biceps muscle of thigh between both the general and spring shoe groups by the section. In the case of gastrocnemius muscle, the spring shoe showed a low muscle production of anterior tibial musculi than the general shoe. This is a result from structural nature of the sole of a foot of the spring shoe. The spring shoe performs a rolling movement through slightly large pronation toward front-foot from rear-foot in supprt time before taking-off of toe and the power for this movement is mainly produced from musculi rectus femoris.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.111-119
• /
• 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate muscle activity and gait pattern in lower limb depending on the outsole of heel rockers. Fifteen healthy men volunteered for this experiment. Each subject performed totally three trails with two pairs of different heel rocker shoes and a pair of normal running shoes at speed of 1.33m/s for 1 minute during walking on a treadmill. Kinematic data gathered in 100Hz was recorded and analyzed by using the 3D motion capture system to measure the trunk tilt and joint angle of the right lower limb. And the lower extremity muscle activities were simultaneously recorded in 1000Hz and assessed by using EMG. The statistical analysis was the one-way ANOVA with the repeated measures to compare among the three kinds of shoes. The level of statistical significance for all tests was 0.05. Joint angle of lower limb was showed statistically significant different in MST(hip joint), LHS(ankle joint), and RTO(knee and ankle joint). Muscle activity of rectus femoris and biceps femoris was statistically increased in both heel rocker shoes during gait cycle on treadmill. The maximum peak time of tibialis anterior in the negative heel rocker showed the delay of approximately 23.8%time than normal shoes. Gait pattern variability of the negative heel rocker was increased in the first half of the stance phase and the variability of the positive heel rocker was increased in the terminal stance phase. In Conclusion, stability was decreased in between joints of lower limb on positive heel rocker than negative heel rocker. This study found that there were different joint angle, muscle activity, gait pattern and coordinate system of the lower limb in each kind of shoes. These unstability affected the lower extremity and the whole body. A further study has to be continued with study of rehabilitation and exercise for a long-term.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
• /
• v.30 no.5
• /
• pp.605-611
• /
• 2011

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of seat heights for optimizing the ingress/egress performance in the elderly people. Background: Recently elderly users have been increasing in number and the ease of ingress/egress of the vehicle becomes an important issue. Method: Seven elderly subjects participated in this study(age: 71.7${\pm}$3.6yr, height: 167.7${\pm}$5.4cm, weight: 68.1${\pm}$11.5kg). Each subject performed the sitting and rising task from comfortable seated position on the chair under the following conditions: (1) with a lumbar support and (2) without a lumbar support. We measured EMG activities of seven muscles(tibialis anterior, soleus, gastrocnemius, vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, biceps femoris and erector supinae) and ranges of motion in lower limb during sitting and standing from three different heights (400mm, 500mm and 600mm from ground) of slide-up seat. Results: Muscle activities and angular movements of hip and knee joints during standing-up and sitting-down with a high seat height(600mm) were reduced mean 30.4% in extensor muscles, 57.11% in flexor muscle, 18.74% in erector muscle and 31.0% in joints compared with a low seat height(400mm). Conclusion: Muscle activities and joint movements in hip and knee were reduced when rising/sitting from a high seat height(600mm) compared with a low seat height(400mm). Application: This study can be used to design vehicle that are easy to get in and out of by older peoples with or without impairments.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.441-450
• /
• 2019

Purpose: This study identified the co-activation of quadriceps and hamstring muscles during hamstring strengthening exercises in healthy adults. Methods: Twenty-one participants were required for the present study design to achieve 80% power, 0.8 effect size (η2), and an alpha level of 0.05. Thus, this study recruited 21 healthy adults. All participants performed Nordic exercises, bridge exercises, and one-leg deadlifts randomly. The activity of the rectus femoris, vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis (VL), biceps femoris (BF), and semitendinosus (SM) were measured. In addition, the ratios of VM/VL and hamstring/quadriceps (HQ) were measured during the three hamstring strengthening exercises using electromyography. One-way ANOVA was used to compare the co-activation of quadriceps and hamstring muscles in the three exercises. Results: The activity of VM and VL during the performance of one-leg deadlifts was significantly higher than the other two exercises. The BF had significantly higher activity during the Nordic exercises compared to the other two exercises. In addition, the SM activation was significantly greater during Nordic exercises than one-leg deadlifts. Additionally, there was significant difference in HQ ratio among hamstring strengthening exercises. In specific, the one-leg deadlifts yielded a significantly lower HQ ratio. Conclusion: This study revealed that one-leg deadlifts are effective in rehabilitation for anterior cruciate ligament injury. In addition, Nordic exercises can be recommended to facilitate hamstring muscle activation.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.36-42
• /
• 2020

Objective: Many caregivers often carry infants using baby carriers until they are approximately 36 months old. The purpose of this study was to compare the muscular activity of the trunk and lower leg muscles during trunk flexion-extension movements in correspondence to various wearing methods of a baby carrier blanket. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Sixteen healthy adult women were to wear baby carrier blankets in five different ways in terms of direction and height, followed by flexion-extension of the trunk. Erector spinae (ES), rectus abdominis, rectus femoris (RF), biceps femoris (BF) muscle activities and triaxial acceleration of trunk were investigated. Results: The front-wearing method of the baby carrier blanket increased the muscular activity of the ES muscle, and wearing the baby carrier blanket at waist height in the same direction was significantly higher than wearing it at pelvic height (p<0.05). As the angle of flexion increased during trunk flexion-extension, the muscle activity of the ES, BF, and the RF increased. There was a greater increase in muscle activity of the ES and the BF during extension compared to flexion (p<0.05). Conclusions: If it is difficult to wear a baby carrier blanket due to lumbar pain, it is recommended to lower the wearing height of the baby carrier to the pelvic level so that the external load can be transferred to the lower extremity. In addition, it appears to be necessary to hold the baby and distribute the load onto the waist through proper body control when performing flexion-extension movements of the trunk. More objective and scientific research that includes various daily tasks and evaluation methods are needed.