• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.129-136
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• 2018

PURPOSE: This Study compared the level of activation of the muscles around the shoulder at the time of abduction through Pilates breathing and regular breathing by using quantified biofeedback. METHODS: Experiment was conducted on 25 healthy males and females in the age bracket of 20's~30's as the subjects. The level of activation of muscles displayed at the time of Pilates breathing were measured at intercostal (InC) muscle, transverse abdominis (TrA) muscle, internal oblique (IO) muscle and external oblique (EO) muscle by using surface electromyogram (EMG) and were provided as biofeedback. Moreover, the changes in the level of muscular activation at sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle, upper trapezius (UT) muscle and Deltoid (Del) muscle, which are the muscles around the shoulder, at the time of abduction of shoulder during Pilates breathing and regular breathing were measured. RESULTS: When abduction of shoulder is executed through Pilates breathing, the level of muscular activation of UT muscle was $11.56{\pm}7.10%$ at the time of exhaling of Pilates breathing and $17.54{\pm}9.57%$ at the time of exhaling of regular breathing. Del muscle also displayed lowered level of muscular activation at the time of Pilates breathing with $12.88{\pm}5.80%$ during inhaling and $15.14{\pm}5.49%$ during exhaling. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the results could be interpreted as indicating that the muscle activities of upper trapezius and deltoid muscle were decreased based on Pilates breathing more than those on regular breathing.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.207-214
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• 2017

The problem of trunk stability is a major factor in back pain.. Abdominal draw in maneuver(ADIM), One of the trunk stabilization exercises to relieve lumbar instability, is a method of inducing selective contraction of the transverse abdominis associated with anticipatory posture control among the abdominal stabilization muscles. ADIM is usually performed with a visual feedback by applying a pressure biofeedback unit(PBU) under the lumbar at the supine position, which is not functional compared to the sitting position. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of ADIM applied in supine and sitting position on 31 healthy men and women. In each posture, muscle activity was measured by rectal abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), transverse abdominis (TrA)/internal obilique (IO) and erector spinae (ES) using wireless EMG. In the result, there was no significant difference between RA and EO between the two postures and there was a significant difference between TrA / IO and ES. In both postures, the activity of TrA/IO was higher than that of RA, and the effect of ADIM was shown to be the same, whereas TrA/IO and ES showed higher activity in sitting position. This means that the activity of the muscles involved in the postural stability and lumbar stability is increased further in the sitting position. Therefore, ADIM in sitting, which can be applied more easily in daily life, is useful for improving lumbar stability.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.79-84
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• 2009

Objectives: Chronic pain is one of the most common experiences of humans and a typical psychophysiological disorder. The aim of this study was to measure the psychophysiological responses in chronic pain patients using a biofeedback system, and to compare them with the results from normal healthy subjects. Methods: Forty two patients with chronic pain (17 males and 25 females, average age $44.67{\pm}11.10$ years) and 42 normal healthy controls (17 males and 25 females, average age $45.17{\pm}10.46$ years) participated in this study. Electromyography (EMG), skin conductance (SC), and skin temperature (ST) were recorded using biofeedback system during the 3 phases (baseline, stress, and recovery) of stress reactivity test, and average values of them were calculated. Difference of values between two groups in each corresponding phase was analyzed with independent t-test, and change of values across phases of stress reactivity test was analyzed with paired t-test (all two-tailed, p<0.05). Results: Compared to normal controls, chronic pain patients had higher value of EMG (baseline: $8.10{\pm}5.97{\mu}V$ vs $4.72{\pm}1.52{\mu}V$, t=-3.56, p<0.01; stress: $11.25{\pm}6.89{\mu}V$ vs $8.49{\pm}4.78{\mu}V$, t=-2.13, p<0.05; recovery: $7.12{\pm}3.77{\mu}V$ vs $4.78{\pm}1.59{\mu}V$, t=-3.70, p<0.01) and SC (baseline: $1.06{\pm}1.0{\mu}S$ vs $0.42{\pm}0.29{\mu}S$, t=-4.0. p<0.01; stress: $1.87{\pm}2.05{\mu}S$ vs $1.03{\pm}0.86{\mu}S$, t=-2.47, p<0.05; recovery: $1.74{\pm}1.77{\mu}S$ vs $0.64{\pm}0.59{\mu}S$, t=-3.8, p<0.01) in all the 3 phases. But, skin temperature comparison did not reveal significant differences in all the 3 phases between two groups. Conclusion: Psychophysiological responses of chronic pain patients in stress reactivity test were different from those of normal healthy controls. These results suggest that sympathetic nervous system is more activated in chronic pain patients.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.199-215
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• 2015

Objective: The purpose of this study is to find the level of physical relaxation of individual subject by monitoring psychophysiological biofeedback to different types of mattresses. And, the study also aims to find a protocol to make a selection of the best mattress based on the measured information. Background: In Korea, there are an increasing number of people using western style bed. However, they are often fastidious in choosing the right mattress for them. In fact, people use their past experience with their old mattress as well as the spontaneous experience they encounter in a show room to finally decide to buy a bed. Method: Total five mattresses were tested in this study. After measuring the elasticity of the mattresses, they were sorted into five different classes. Physiological and psychological variables including Electromyography (EMG), heart rates (HR), oxygen saturations (SaO2) were used. In addition, the peak body pressure concentration rate was used to find uncomfortably pressured body part. Finally, the personal factors and subjective satisfaction were also examined. A protocol was made to select the best mattress for individual subject. The selection rule for the protocol considered all the variables tested in this study. Results: The result revealing psychological comfort range of 0.68 to 0.95, dermal comfort range of 3.15 to 6.07, back muscle relaxation range of 0.25 to 1.64 and personal habit range of 2.0 to 3.4 was drawn in this study. Also a regression model was developed to predict biofeedback with the minimal use of biofeedback devices. Moreover results from the proposed protocol with the regression equation and subjective satisfaction were compared with each other for validation. Ten out of twenty subjects recorded the same level of relaxation, and eight subjects showed one-level difference while two subjects showed two-levels difference. Conclusion: The psychophysiological variables and suitability selection process used in this study seem to be used for selecting and assessing ergonomic products mechanically or emotionally. Application: This regression model can be applied to the mattress industry to estimate back muscle relaxation using dermal, psychophysiology and personal habit values.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.107-120
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• 2006

Objective : The purpose of this study is to learn the effects of Musimgigong supine position Doyin-therapy (MGSDT) on the autonomous nervous system (ANS) and musculoskeletal system (MSS), and to know how much MGSDT is useful for relaxing the human body. Methods : Eight oriental medical doctors participated in the experiment, who have trained Musimgigong for 6 years or more. Before and after applying MGSDT, we measured BVP/HR, respiration rate, peripheral temperatures, skin conductance, and EMG, using Procomp Infinity and Biograph Infinity of Thought Technology Ltd Results and Conclusions : 1. After the treatment, the participants in MGSDT group reported that they felt refreshed and relaxed. 2 By analyzing the measured data, we observed significant difference in respiration rate(p=.026<.05) and SC(p=.013<.05) before and after applying MGSDT. We also observed relaxing effect in BVP/HR, EMG, but was not significant. On the other hand Temp was stressed but was not significant. Conclusion is that MGSDT can be considered to have an effect on relaxing ANS. Therefore MGSDT could have useful clinical effect to autonomic imbalance.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.70-76
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• 2015

Background and Objectives: Insomnia is the most prevalent sleep disorder in the general population and is considered to be a disorder of hyperarousal. The aim of this study was to measure the psychophysiological responses in insomnia patients using a biofeedback system, and to compare them with results from normal healthy subjects. Materials and Methods: Eighty patients with primary insomnia (35 males and 45 females, average age $49.71{\pm}12.91years$) and 101 normal healthy controls (64 males and 37 females, average age $27.65{\pm}2.77$) participated in this study. Electromyography (EMG), heart rate (HR), skin conductance (SC), skin temperature (ST), and respiratory rate (RR) were recorded using a biofeedback system during 5 phases (baseline, stress 1, recovery 1, stress 2, recovery 2) of a stress reactivity test, and average values were calculated. Difference in values between the two groups in each corresponding phase was analyzed with independent t-test, and change in values across phases of the stress reactivity test was analyzed with paired t-test (all two-tailed, p<0.05). Results: Compared to normal controls, insomnia patients had higher EMG in all 5 phases (baseline : $7.72{\pm}3.88{\mu}V$ vs. $4.89{\pm}1.73{\mu}V$, t = -6.06, p<0.001 ; stress 1 : $10.29{\pm}5.16{\mu}V$ vs. $6.63{\pm}2.48{\mu}V$, t = -5.84, p<0.001 ; recovery 1 : $7.87{\pm}3.86{\mu}V$ vs. $5.17{\pm}2.17{\mu}V$, t = -5.61, p<0.001 ; stress 2 : $10.22{\pm}6.07{\mu}V$ vs. $6.98{\pm}2.98{\mu}V$, t = -4.37, p<0.001 ; recovery 2 : $7.88{\pm}4.25{\mu}V$ vs. $5.17{\pm}1.99{\mu}V$, t = -5.27, p<0.001). Change in heart rate across phases of the stress reactivity test were higher in normal controls than in insomnia patients (stress 1-baseline : $6.48{\pm}0.59$ vs. $3.77{\pm}0.59$, t = 3.22, p = 0.002 ; recovery 1- stress 1 : $-5.36{\pm}0.0.59$ vs. $-3.16{\pm}0.47$, t = 2.91, p = 0.004 ; stress 2-recovery 1 : $8.45{\pm}0.61$ vs. $4.03{\pm}0.47$, t = 5.72, p<0.001 ; recovery 2-stress 2 : $-8.56{\pm}0.65$ vs. $4.02{\pm}0.51$, t = -5.31, p<0.001). Conclusion: Psychophysiological profiles of insomnia patients in a stress reactivity test were different from those of normal healthy controls. These results suggest that the sympathetic nervous system is more highly activated in insomnia patients.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.36-43
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• 1995

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the vastus medialis oblique muscle(VMO) had greater electrical activity than the vastus lateralis muscle(VL) when hip adduction and knee extension exercise were performed. Electrical activity of the VMO and VL was measured on 42 healthy subjects (28 men, 14 women) during maximal voluntary isometric contractions of hip adduction and knee extension by an EMG-BIOFEEDBACK. The results showed that the electromyographic activity of the VMO was significantly greater than that of the VL during the hip adduction exercise. Differences noted with knee extension by performing hip adduction exercises. Isometric hip adduction exercises, therefore, may be advisable in the treatment of patients with patellofemoral pain.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.70-77
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• 1997

An A-B-A-C single subject research design was used to assess the effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation(TENS) and inhibitive techniques on spasticity in a 10-year-old girl with cerebral palsy. Stimulation electrodes were placed over the sural nerve of the right leg. The standard method of cutaneous stimulation, TENS with impulse frequency of 100 Hz, was applied. Inhibitive techniques including stretch, antagonist contraction, and weight bearing were used. The tonus of the leg muscle was measured by means of a surface-EMG biofeedback unit. Visual analysis of data indicate that the child showed clinically significant reduction of spasticity in passive ankle movement following 30 minutes of TENS and inhibitive techniques application, respectively. The effect of TENS on spasticity inhibition was similar to that of inhibitive techniques. This result suggests that for this child with cerebral palsy, the application of TENS to the sural nerve may induce short-term post-stimulation inhibitory effects on the spasticity of cerebral palsy. Replication of this study with a more complex single-subject design involving more subjects is recommended to confirm this result.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.23-32
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• 2021

Background: The purpose of this study was to find out how the lumbar instability during clam exercise causes changes in pelvic rotation and hip joint abductor muscle activity. Design: Case-control study. Methods: Twenty male participated in this study. The amount of pelvic rotation was measured using myomotion during the clam exercise in a normal group and a group of patients with low lumbar instability, and the muscle activity of the muscle gluteus medius and the tensor fasciae latae using an EMG device. Results: The amount of pelvic rotation that occurred during the clam exercise was statistically significantly greater in the lumbar instability group than in the normal group (p<.05), and the ratio of muscle activity of the muscle gluteus medius/the tensor fasciae latae was statistically significantly higher in the normal group than in the lumbar instability group (p<.05). Conclusion: In order to stabilize the lumbo-pelvic and strengthen the strength of the hip joints, it is believed that it is necessary to apply exercise while controlling the lumbo-pelvic movement during clam exercises, and various studies will be needed.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 2007

Purpose: Recently well-developed anorectal function tests have revealed that there is an obvious pelvic floor dyssynergia (PFD) pattern in pediatric patients with constipation, as well as in adult's. The use of biofeedback therapy (BT) has been widely implemented in adult PFD patients; however, this approach has only rarely been considered for pediatric PFD patients. Therefore, we assessed the effectiveness of BT in children with PFD. Methods: We studied 70 children with PFD, who were referred to the department of pediatrics at the Asan Medical Center for the management of soiling or chronic constipation from September 2002 to February 2005. Diagnosis of PFD and assessment of the efficacy of BT for PFD treatment were carried out along with several ano-rectal function tests (cine-defecography, ano-rectal manometry, balloon expulsion test and intra-anal EMG); in addition, a questionnaire was administered. The BT based intra-anal EMG was performed. A follow-up telephone interview was performed more than 6 months later. Results: Most of the symptoms and results of the ano-rectal function tests were statistically improved after BT. In comparisons between the BT and control groups (BT refusal group due to poor compliance), the symptoms were statistically improved at follow-up. Therefore, for the shortterm improvement of symptoms, BT was better than conservative therapy alone. The negative feelings associated with ano-rectal function testing and BT were directly associated with failure or success of therapy. Conclusion: Pediatric patients with constipation or soiling that presented with an obvious PFD pattern showed that BT was a useful therapeutic tool for rapid improvement of symptoms.