• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.135-141
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• 2017

Purpose: This study was to identify the anticipatory postural adjustment (APA) mechanism which is represented by the onset time of trunk muscles and the displacement of the center of pressure (COP) according to the different base of support (BOS) during upper extremity movement. Methods: Thirty healthy subjects (14 males, 16 females) participated in this study. The movement was performed for 10 trials during each of various BOS (shoulder - width double leg stance, narrow base double leg stance, tandem stance, non-dominant single leg stance) at the 1.2 Hz frequency. Electromyography was used to measure muscle onset time and biorescue was used to measure characteristics of the displacement of COP. Surface bipolar electrodes were applied over the right deltoid anterior, right latissimus dorsi, both rectus abdominis, both internal oblique and both erector spinae. The data were analyzed by repeated one-way ANOVA and Duncan's post hoc test. Results: The study has revealed following. There were significant differences with muscle onset time in each BOS (p<0.01). There were significant differences in characteristics of the COP in each BOS (p<0.01). Conclusion: The study found that the more narrowed the basis requires the more rapid anticipatory postural control in contralateral postural muscle when the upper extremity movement is performed.

• Advances in biomechanics and applications
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.57-66
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• 2014

The purpose of the study was to investigate the kinematics between the double collar-tie and double underhook Thai Boxing clinching positions. Ten amateur mixed martial arts athletes executed six knee strikes for both clinching positions with their dominant limb directed towards a target. A standard two-dimensional video motion analysis was conducted, and the results showed a statistical significant difference at the hip joint angle and the angular acceleration of the knee and ankle. Within both clinching positions, there was a statistically significant correlation between the hip and knee joint angles, hip and knee angular velocities, and hip angular acceleration. Between both clinching positions, there was a statistically significant correlation at the knee joint angle, knee angular velocity, and hip angular acceleration. This study demonstrates the importance of the hip and knee joint movements in both clinching positions, which implies the applications of strength training and flexibility at these joints for sports performance and injury prevention. It is suggested that future studies analyzing the non-dominant leg are warranted to fully understand the Thai Boxing clinch.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.1486-1489
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• 2018

This study aimed to investigate the influence of walking on crural muscle tone and stiffness in individuals with bilateral pronated foot. This study consisted of 16 healthy male. Subjects were divided into a pronated foot group (n = 8) and a normal foot group (n = 8). The navicular drop test on both foot and muscle tone and stiffness in tibialis anterior muscle, medial gastrocnemius muscle, and peroneus longus muscle of both lower extremities were measured before and after 30 min of walking. In this study, the measured navicular drop test before walking was significantly different between pronated foot group and a normal group(p < .05). After 30 min of walking, significantly, increased medial gastrocnemius muscle stiffness of the non-dominant leg was found in the pronated foot group (p < .05). However, there was no significant difference in medial gastrocnemius muscle stiffness between the two groups (p > .05). Based on this study, pronated foot needs to be managed to prevent the abnormally increased medial gastrocnemius muscle stiffness.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.275-280
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• 2020

Objective: Compression wear is an external aid which promotes performance and recovery, diminishes muscular microtrauma, reduces muscle fiber recruitment, improves neuromechanics, enhances coordinative activities, and reduces the perceived exertion. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between athletic taping and compression wear on dynamic postural balance in healthy young men. The hypothesis was that the athletic taping and compression wear would affect dynamic postural balance, with athletic taping having a different effect on dynamic postural balance in healthy young adults. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Thirty-seven healthy young men participated in this study. To examine the association between athletic taping and compression wear, 3 clinical measurement tools, including 5 times sit-to-stand (5xSTS), one-leg standing (OLS) test, and Y-balance test (YBT) in 5 different conditions, namely (1) non-supporting, and support with (2) athletic taping, (3) regular compression wear, (4) silicon compression wear, and (5) double-fiber compression wear were used. Results: The distance of the Y-balance test (YBT) on both the dominant and non-dominant sides showed a statistically difference among the 5 supporting conditions (p<0.05). The distance measured via the YBT in the non-support condition was significantly different than that in the other four supporting conditions (p<0.05). However, 5xSTS and OLS were not significantly different in these supporting conditions. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that athletic taping, silicon compression wear, and double-fiber compression wear were more effective for dynamic balance than non-supporting and regular compression wear.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2022

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate how the chronic ankle instability affects postural control during forward jump landing. Method: 20 women with chronic ankle instability (age: 21.7 ± 1.6 yrs, height: 162.1 ± 3.7 cm, weight: 52.2 ± 5.8 kg) and 20 healthy adult women (age: 21.8 ± 1.6 yrs, height: 161.9 ± 4.4 cm, weight: 52.9 ± 7.2 kg) participated in this study. For the forward jump participants were instructed to stand on two legs at a distance of 40% of their body height from the center of force plate. Participants were jump forward over a 15 cm hurdle to the force plate and land on their non-dominant or affected leg. Kinetic and kinematic data were obtained using 8 motion capture cameras and 1 force plates and joint angle, vertical ground reaction force and center of pressure. All statistical analyses were using SPSS 25.0 program. The differences in variables between the two groups were compared through an independent sample t-test, and the significance level was to p < .05. Results: In the hip and knee joint angle, the CAI group showed a smaller flexion angle than the control group, and the knee joint valgus angle was significantly larger. In the case of ankle joint, the CAI group showed a large inversion angle at all events. In the kinetic variables, the vGRF was significantly greater in the CAI group than control group at IC and mGRF. In COP Y, the CAI group showed a lateral shifted center of pressure. Conclusion: Our results indicated that chronic ankle instability decreases the flexion angle of the hip and knee joint, increases the valgus angle of the knee joint, and increases the inversion angle of the ankle joint during landing. In addition, an increase in the maximum vertical ground reaction force and a lateral shifted center of pressure were observed. This suggests that chronic ankle instability increases the risk of non-contact knee injury as well as the risk of lateral ankle sprain during forward jump landing.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 2017

Background: Short foot exercise (SFex) is often prescribed and performed in the sport and rehabilitation fields to strengthen intrinsic foot muscles. However, SFex is difficult to perform because of lack of feedback methods. Objects: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of SFex with and without electromyography (EMG) biofeedback on the medial longitudinal arch (MLA) of healthy individuals who maintained a static standing position. Methods: All participants (14 males and 12 females) were randomly divided into two groups (biofeedback and non-biofeedback groups). The EMG activity of the abductor hallucis (AbdH) and tibialis anterior (TA) and the MLA angle on the dominant leg side were measured with the participant in the standing position in the pre- and post-intervention conditions. The intervention session consisted of 15 minutes of SFex with (biofeedback group) or without (non-biofeedback group) EMG biofeedback. The groups were compared using two-way repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: The post-intervention activities of the AbdH muscle (p<.05) and the AbdH/TA ratio (p<.05) were significantly greater in the biofeedback group than in the non-biofeedback group. The activity of the TA (p<.05) and the MLA angle (p<.05) in the biofeedback group were significantly lower in the post-intervention condition than in the pre-intervention condition. Conclusion: The present findings demonstrate that the combination of SFex and EMG biofeedback can effectively facilitate the muscle activity of the AbdH and strengthen the medial longitudinal arch.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.55-63
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• 2013

This study investigated the effects of axillary crutch length on trunk muscle activity and lumbo-pelvic-hip complex movements during crutch gait. Eleven healthy men participated in this study. The participants performed a three-point gait with optimal, shorter, and longer crutch lengths. Weight-bearing (WB) side was determined as the dominant leg side. The electromyography (EMG) activity of the bilateral rectus abdominis (RA) and erector spinae (ES) muscles and lumbo-pelvic-hip complex movements were monitored using a three-dimensional motion system with wireless surface EMG. Differences in the EMG activity of RA and ES muscles and range of motion (ROM) of lumbar spine, pelvis, and hip among conditions were analyzed using one-way repeated-measures analysis of variance, and a Bonferroni correction was conducted. There was less RA muscle activity on the WB side under the optimal crutch length condition compared with shorter and longer crutch length conditions (p<.05). The EMG activity of the RA muscle on the non-WB side and ES muscle on the WB side were significantly decreased under the optimal crutch length condition compared with shorter crutch length condition (p<.05). No significant differences in the EMG activity of the ES muscle on the non-WB side and ROM of lumbo-pelvic-hip complex were found among conditions (p>.05). These findings indicate that the optimal crutch length improves the trunk muscle efficiency during crutch gait.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.19-26
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• 2017

Background: To improve lumbo-pelvic stability, passive support devices (i.e., a pelvic belt) are recommended clinically. Nevertheless, to understand the influence of passive support on lumbo-pelvic stability, it is necessary to examine the influence of a pelvic belt on the abdominal and hip abductor muscles. Objects: To examine the effects of a pelvic belt on the forces of the hip adductor and abductor muscles and activity of the abdominal muscles during isometric hip adduction and abduction. Methods: This study recruited 14 healthy men. All subjects performed isometric hip adduction and abduction with and without a pelvic belt in a neutral hip position. Load cells, wrapped with a non-elastic belt, were placed above the medial and lateral malleoli of the dominant leg to measure the muscle forces of the hip adductors and abductors, respectively. The forces of the hip adductors and abductors were measured using a load cell during isometric hip adduction and abduction, while the electromyographic activities of the bilateral rectus abdominis, internal oblique, and external oblique muscles were measured. Results: The forces generated by the hip adductors and abductors were significantly greater with the pelvic belt than without (p<.05). No significant differences in abdominal muscle activities between the two conditions were found (p>.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that use of a pelvic belt could lead to effective strengthening exercise of hip muscles in individuals with sacroiliac joint pain.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.125-133
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• 2019

Objective: To compare the postural control between non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP) subgroups and healthy people during dynamic balance performance using a modified Star Excursion Balance Test (mSEBT). Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Eighteen NSCLBP subjects (9 active extension pattern [AEP], 9 flexion pattern [FP]), and 10 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. All subjects performed mSEBT on their dominant leg on a force plate. Normalized reach distance and balance parameters, including the center of pressure (COP) displacement and velocity, were recorded. Results: There were significant differences in mean reach distances in both posterolateral and posteromedial (PM) reach directions between AEP and healthy subjects (p<0.001) and between FP and healthy subjects (p<0.001). However, there were no significant differences among the three groups in the anterior reach direction. Also, the results showed no significant differences in mean COP variables (velocity and displacement) between pooled NSCLBP and healthy subjects. However, the subjects were reclassified into AEP, FP and healthy groups and the results showed a significant difference in mean COP velocity in the PM direction between AEP and FP subjects (p=0.048), and between AEP and healthy subjects (p=0.024). Conclusions: The findings in this study highlight the heterogeneity of the individuals with NSCLBP and the importance of identifying the homogenous subgroups. Individuals with AEP and FP experience deficits in dynamic postural control compared to healthy controls. In addition, the findings of this study support the concept of the Multidimensional Classification System.