• PNF and Movement
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.79-86
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate muscle activity according to knee flexion angle during single-limb-deadlift exercises. Methods: In total, 26 healthy volunteers participated. The single-limb-deadlift consisted of 0˚, 15˚, and 30˚ knee joint bending. The electromyography data were collected from the semitendinosus (SM), the biceps femoris (BF), the rectus femoris (RF), the vastus lateralis (VL), and the vastus medialis (VM). In addition, hamstrings and quadriceps (HQ) ratio was measured during the single-limb-deadlift using electromyography. Results: During the single-limb-deadlift, RF, VL, and VM were significantly higher at 30˚ bending angles compared to muscle activity of 0˚ and 15˚ knee-joint bending. The HQ ratio had significant differences in all three knee joint bending angles. In particular, the single-limb-deadlift carried out to a 30˚ knee-joint bend showed the closest value to 1. Conclusion: The most balanced coactivation ratios were observed during a single-limb-deadlift to a 30˚ knee-joint bend angle. A single-limb-deadlift at a knee-bend angle of less than 30˚ could be used as an exercise to prevent ACL injury. It could also be used for post-injury rehabilitation programs by increasing knee-joint stability.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.267-271
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• 2022

Purpose: This study examined the effects of a kettlebell and aqua bag on the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, and vastus medialis lower extremity muscle strength during a one-leg deadlift, a top-down exercise. Methods: Twenty healthy adults were enrolled in the one-leg deadlift exercise under two conditions. The muscle activity of the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, and vastus medialis was measured by surface electromyography (S-EMG). A paired t-test was used for statistical analysis, and the statistical significance criteria were set to p<0.05. Results: A comparison of the muscle activity according to the degree of contraction of the gluteus maximus revealed low muscle activity in AD exercise compared to KD exercise (p<0.05), and there was no significant difference in the gluteus medius and vastus medialis (p<0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that when the one-leg deadlift exercise is performed according to the weight characteristics, the gluteus maximus is suitable for intervention using a kettlebell, and the gluteus medius and vastus medialis are more suitable for intervention by providing instability using an aqua bag.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.270-275
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate 16 muscles activity according to three exercise intensity when performing Deadlift and Upright row. Method: To accomplish the purpose of the study, subjects (n=10) were performed Electromyography (EMG) measurement for 16 different muscles. The experimental movements were Deadlift and Upright row, measured five times for each intensity (40%, 60%, 80%) of 1RM. This study normalized the EMG values through RVC for comparative analysis. Results: The results were summarized as follows: As a result of Deadlift, there was significant difference in the mean EMG value according to the exercise intensity in all muscles except RA, PM and BB (p<.05). As a result of Upright row, There was significant difference in the mean EMG value according to the exercise intensity in all muscles except BF, TA, GN, RA and UT (p<.05). Conclusion: This study allowed us to know the activities of major muscles according to the exercise intensity for 16 different muscles when performing Deadlift and Upright row.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2023

Background: Excessive hamstring (HS) activation due to the weakness of the gluteus maximus (GM) causes pain in the hip joint. A single-leg deadlift is a hip extensor exercise, especially GM, that includes functional movements in daily life and complex multi-joint training. In single-leg deadlift, the muscle activity depends on the forward trunk lean angle, and it's necessary to study which muscles are used dominantly depending on the angle. Objects: The purpose of this study was to compare the effect on the muscle activity of the GM and HS during single-leg deadlift according to different forward trunk lean angles and the ratio of the GM vs HS (GM/HS). Methods: Twenty-one healthy female participants were recruited. The muscles activities of the GM, HS and the GM/HS ratio were measured through electromyography during single-leg deadlift according to three condition of forward trunk lean angles (30°, 60°, and 90°). Results: The GM and HS activities significantly differed among three conditions (p < 0.05). GM/HS ratio was significantly higher at 30° and 60° of forward trunk lean compared to 90°. Moreover, the GM activity was significantly higher at 60° of forward trunk lean than at 30° (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The single-leg deadlift at 60° of forward trunk lean is a proper GM muscle strengthening exercise.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.291-298
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to suggest an effective exercise for treating anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and hamstring injuries based on the dynamic control ratio (DCR) for the hamstring and quadriceps during eccentric hamstring exercises. Methods: Twenty-four healthy participants participated in this study. The participants performed three eccentric hamstring exercises, including the Nordic exercise, the supine leg curl, and single-leg deadlifts. During the eccentric hamstring exercises, the vastus medialis oblique (VMO), vastus lateralis (VL), biceps femoris (BF), and semitendinosus (ST) were measured using surface electromyography. Results: The DCR was significantly lower during the supine leg curl and single-leg deadlift than during the Nordic exercise (p < 0.05). The activity of the VMO and VL was significantly greater during the supine leg curl than during the Nordic exercise and the single-leg deadlift (p < 0.05). VL activity was significantly higher during the single-leg deadlift than during the Nordic exercise (p < 0.05). ST activity was significantly higher during the supine leg curl and Nordic exercise than during the single-leg deadlift (p < 0.05). BF activity was significantly higher during the supine leg curl than during the Nordic exercise and single-leg deadlift (p < 0.05). Finally, the BF showed significantly higher activity during the Nordic exercise compared to during the single-leg deadlift (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Based on the DCR ratio and quadriceps activity, the supine leg curl should be introduced early in rehabilitation for ACL injuries.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.67-72
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• 2022

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare trunk and lower extremity muscle activity during deadlift on stable - and unstable surfaces. Methods: Twenty healthy men participated in this study. The participants performed deadlift exercise on both a stable surface and an unstable surface. During the deadlift, the activities of the trunk and lower extremity muscle were collected by using electromyography. Results: The results showed that the electromyographic activity of the gluteus maximus significantly increased during deadlift on an unstable surface compared to on a stable surface (p <0.05). However, in the electromyographic activities of the rectus femoris, biceps femoris, and erector spinae, there were no significant differences (p >0.05). Conclusion: The finding that the electromyographic activity of the gluteus maximus increases significantly during deadlift on an unstable surface compared to stable one could be used to develop an efficient exercise program.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.53-70
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• 2024

Background: The conventional deadlift is a popular exercise for enhancing trunk, core, and lower extremity strength. However, its use in sports medicine is constrained by concerns of lumbar injuries, despite evidence supporting its safety and rehabilitative benefits. To optimize muscle activation using resistive bands in variable resistance therapy, we explored their feasibility in the deadlift. Design: Comparative experimental design Methods: Surface electromyography recorded muscle activity in the trunk and lower extremities during lifting, with normalization to the isometric Floor Lift using Maximal Voluntary Contraction. Kinematics were measured using inclinometer sensors to track hip and trunk sagittal plane angles. To prevent fatigue, each subject only used one of the three pairs of bands employed in the study. Results: Our study involved 45 healthy subjects (mean age: 30.4 ± 6.3 years) with similar baseline characteristics, except for years of lifting and strength-to-years-of-lifting ratio. Various resistance band groups exhibited significantly higher muscle activity than conventional deadlifts during different phases. The minimal resistance band group had notably higher muscle activity in the trunk, core, and lower extremity muscles, particularly in the end phase. The moderate resistance band group showed increased muscle activity in the mid-and end-phases. The maximum resistance band group demonstrated greater muscle activity in specific muscles during the early phase and overall higher activity in all trunk and lower extremity muscles in the mid and end phases of the deadlift (p<0.05). Conclusion: Our findings provide valuable insights into muscle activation with various resistance bands during deadlift exercise in clinical and gym settings. There appears to be a dose-response relationship between increased resistance bandwidth, external load, myoelectric activation, and range.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.275-283
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• 2020

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect pf flexibility of hip flexor muscles on a conventional deadlift movement. Method: Eighteen healthy male were participated in this study and were divided into normal group (NG: age: 24.0±1.8 yrs, height: 174.5±2.37 cm, body mass: 74.4±5.5 kg, 1RM: 138.0±23.8 kg) and restricted group (RG: age: 24.6±1.7 yrs, height: 171.5±5.3 cm, body mass: 74.0±5.7 kg, 1RM: 137.5±18.3 kg) by Thomas test, which measure flexibility of hip flexor muscles. A 3-dimensional motion analysis with 8 infrared cameras and 3 channels of EMG was performed in this study. A two-way ANOVA (group x load) with repeated measure was used for statistical verification. The significant level was set at α=.05. Results: RG revealed significantly increased muscle activation in erector spinae on 70% and 90% of 1RM and decreased muscle activation in gluteus maximus on 90% of 1RM compared to NG (p<.05). For the muscle activation ratio for agonist to synergist, erector spinae showed the difference in 90% of 1RM while hamstring was observed differences in all loads (p<.05). Conclusion: Our results indicated that hip flexibility affects conventional deadlift movement. Therefore, it is necessary to assess the flexibility of the hip flexor muscles before performing the movement and, as needed, to train to address the lack of flexibility.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 2021

Objective: This study aims to verify the conventional deadlift motions using by two different grips, thereby elucidating the grounds for effective training methods that can minimize the risk of injury. Method: Total of 18 healthy young adults were recruited for this study (age: 25.11±2.19 yrs., height: 175.67±5.22 cm, body mass: 78.5±8.09 kg, 1-RM: 125.75±19.48 kg). All participants were asked to perform conventional deadlift with two types of grips which are overhand grip (OG) and underhand grip (UG). In each grip, participant perform the deadlift with 50% and 80% of the pre-measured 1-RM. A 3-dimensional motion analysis with 8 infrared cameras and 3 channels of EMG was performed in this study. A two-way ANOVA (group × load) with repeated measure was used for statistical verification. The significant level was set at α=.05. Results: There were significant differences in grip type and weight on the right shoulder joint, and only significant difference in grip on the left shoulder joint (p<.05). The hip joint ROM was significantly increased as the weight increased in both types of grips on phase 1, while the ROM of hip joint was significantly decreased as the weight increased only in the case of OG on phase 2 (p<.05). In case of the OG, as the weight, increased significantly increased L1 ROM and L3 ROM were revealed on phase 1 and phase 2, respectively (p<.05). Moreover, as the weight increased, UG revealed significantly decreased L5 ROM on phase 1, while both grips showed significantly increased ROM on phase 2 (p<.05). In addition, the erector spinae and the biceps femoris, which are synergist for the motion, showed a significant difference in both types of grip according to the weight (p<.05). The muscle activity ratio of gluteus maximus/biceps femoris showed a significant difference only in the UG according to the weight (p<.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, beginners might be suggested to use the UG for maintaining the neutral state of the lumbar spine and focus on the gluteus maximus muscle, which is the main activation muscle. For the experts, it may recommend alternative use of the OG and UG according to the training purpose to minimize the compensation effect.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.1-11
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• 2018

Background: Lumbopelvic stability is highly important for exercise therapy for patients with low back pain and shoulder dysfunction. It can be attained using a pelvic compression belt. Previous studies showed that external pelvic compression (EPC) enhances form closure by reducing sacroiliac joint laxity and selectively strengthens force closure and motor control by reducing the compensatory activity of the stabilizer. In addition, when the pelvic compression belt was placed directly on the anterior superior iliac spine, the laxity of the sacroiliac cephalic joint could be significantly reduced. Objects: This study aimed to compare the effects of EPC on lumbopelvic and shoulder muscle surface electromyography (EMG) activities during push-up plus (PUP) and deadlift (DL) exercise, trunk extensor strength during DL exercise. Methods: Thirty-eight subjects (21 men and 17 women) volunteered to participate in this study. The subjects were instructed to perform PUP and DL with and without the EPC. EMG data were collect from serratus anterior (SA), pectoralis major (PM), erector spinae (ES), and multifidus (MF). Trunk extensor strength were tested in DL exercise. The data were collected during 3 repetitions of all exercise and the mean of root mean square was used for analysis. Results: The EMG activities of the SA and PM were significantly increased in PUP with pelvic compression as compared with PUP without pelvic compression (p<.05). In DL exercise, a significant improvement in trunk extensor strength was observed during DL exercise with pelvic compression (p<.05). Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that lumbopelvic stabilization reinforced with external pelvic compression may be propitious to strengthen PUP in more-active SA and PM muscles. Applying EPC can improve the trunk extensor strength during DL exercise. Our study shows that EPC was beneficial to improve the PUP and DL exercise efficiency.