• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2002

Localized muscle fatigue can be identified by a downward shift of the EMG frequency typically represented by a fall in the median frequency The Present experimental study was Performed to investigate the time change of the median frequency and the muscle torque during maximal isometric back extension exercises at different exercise angles (0$^{\circ}$, 12$^{\circ}$, 36$^{\circ}$and 72$^{\circ}$) Twenty heath subjects (mean age : 24.35 $\pm$ 2.70) were Participated in this study Median frequency was extracted from EMG signals by employing the fast Fourier transform. Initial median frequency and the slope of median frequency was not significantly correlated with the muscle torque. Pearson's Product moment correlation was used to quantify the relationship between slopes of median frequency and torque. The results may suggest that the exorcise angle during maximal isometric back extension exercises does not affect the slopes of the median frequency and torque, and y-intercept of the median frequency among exercise angles There was no significant correlation between slopes of median frequency and torque. But there was a moderate correlation between median frequency and torque at each exercise angle. In conclusion, the exercise angle during maximal isometric back extension exercise is not a direct effect on slopes of median frequency and torque. But results showed that the shift of median frequency and torque shift were highly correlated in all subjects.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.16-31
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to assess the fatigue in lumbar and abdominal muscles in patients with chronic low back pain compared with normal subjects using spectral analysis with mean power frequency and median power frequency. The experimental group consisted of twenty subjects who had experienced chronic low back pain for over one year after the onset day. A control group consisted of twenty normal subjects with no history of low back pain. All subjects stood in an apparatus to perform sustained contraction in the lumbar and abdominal muscles for 30 seconds with 60% maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC). The resulting electromyographic (EMG) recorded time serial data were transformed into frequency serial data by Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT). The results were as follows: 1) lumbar muscles measured, the frequency change ratio of both median power frequency and mean power frequency was significantly greater for experimental group compared with control group group (p<0.05). In measured two abdominal muscles (inferior rectus abdominis, obliquus externus abdominis) except superior rectus abdominis, the frequency change ratio of both median power frequency and mean power frequency was significantly greater for experimental group compared with control group (p<0.05). 2) In all three (longissimus thoracis, iliocostalis lumborum, multifidus) lumbar muscles measured, the initial frequency value of both median power frequency and mean power frequency was significantly lower for the experimental group compared with the control group (p<0.05). In the two (inferior rectus abdominis, obliquus externus abdominis) abdominal muscles measured (superior rectus abdominis not included), the initial frequency value of both median power frequency and mean power frequency was significantly lower for the experimental group compared with the control group (p<0.05). These results suggest that in patients with chronic low back pain there is a trend for more fatigue to occur in both lumbar and abdominal muscles than in the normal control group. This would seem to suggest that in treatment programs for patients with chronic low back pain, improvement of endurance in all trunk muscles should be considered.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.316-322
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to investigate muscle activation of lower extremity such as rectus femoris, tibialis anterior and soleus according to 0cm(bare foot), 4cm and 7cm heel height of shoe on the rocking surface in older women. 20 older women who did not have any lower musculoskeletal and neurological disorders in the past were participated in this study. Each subject was standing for 15 seconds on the level 8 of Biodex Stability System (BSS) while wearing 4cm and 7cm heel height shoes including bare foot. Electromyography was used to measure muscle activation of lower extremity, and the muscle activation was expressed as a percentage of maximal voluntary isometric contraction (% MVIC). We measured % MVIC of three muscles during 5 seconds except for the first 5 seconds and last 5 seconds. SPSS 12.0 program was used for this study. Repeated one-way analysis of variance(ANOVA) was performed to compare the significant difference among the muscles of lower extremities according to heel heights of shoe on the rocking plate. % MVIC of each muscle such as rectus femoris, tibialis anterior and soleus regarding heel heights of shoe had statistically significant differences (p<0.05). The results of contrast test were as follows; 1) % MVIC of rectus femoris had significant differences between barefoot and 4cm, and barefoot and 7cm. 2) % MVIC of tibialis anterior had significant differences between barefoot and 4cm, barefoot and 7cm, and 4cm and 7cm. 3) % MVIC of soleus had significant differences between barefoot and 7cm, 4cm and 7cm. The results indicate that all commonly responsive muscle on the conditions of barefoot, 4cm, and 7cm shoe height on the rcoking surface is tibialis anterior muscle. We found out that the more heels of shoe high, the more muscle activation increases. High-heeled shoes above 7cm remarkably increase the muscle activation of lower extremity and may result in muscle fatigue. Thus, these shoes may summate risk factors of falls in older women. We can acknowledge that the heels above 4 cm affect each muscle activation in lower extremity on the rocking surface.

• 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.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.41 no.9
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• pp.825-837
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• 2017

This paper describes a novel type of a walking rehabilitation robot that applies robot technologies to crutches used by patients with walking difficulties in the lower body. The primary features of the developed robot are divided into three parts. First, the developed robot is worn on the patient's chest, as opposed to the conventional elbow crutch that is attached to the forearm; hence, it can effectively disperse the patient's weight throughout the width of the chest, and eliminate the concentrated load at the elbow. Furthermore, it allows free arm motion during walking. Second, the developed robot can recognize the walking intention of the patient from the magnitude and direction of the ground reactive forces. This is done using three-axis force sensors attached to the feet of the robot. Third, the robot can perform a stair walking function, which can change vertical movement trajectories in order to step up and down a single stair according to the floor height. Consequently, we experimentally showed that the developed robot can effectively perform walking rehabilitation assistance by perceiving the walking intention of the patient. Moreover we quantitatively verified muscle power assistance by measuring the electromyography (EMG) signals of the muscles of the lower limb.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2006

Purpose: This study was to investigate how induced microcurrent shoes affect relief of feet pain, which often occurs to persons who are more than fifty years old and how they prevent fatigue of feet generated during everyday life. The subjects of this study were comprised af five males and five females, who agreed with this research and ate more than fifty years old. And they all have plantar faciitis and pain in their feet. Methods: Subjects ware the induced microcurrent shoes far more than 4 hours everyday during the test. When they wore those shoes, they also wore the specially produced shacks made of silver-mixed thread and they were asked to avoid serious exercise. Prior to starting test and after the test, assessments were carried out two times. In the examination before the test, general shoes were used and in examination after the test, induced microcurrent shoes used. Muscle fatigue was measured by electromyography(MP150, Biopac, USA). When the walking rate of subjects on a treadmill was increased from 2.Km/h to 3Km/h for 10 minutes, muscle activities of a lower leg were measured during the whale walking process by MP150 remote monitoring system(TEL 100C). And pain was measured by VAS. Results: The results are as follows. 1. Comparisons of VAS before and after experimentation showed that degree of pain was significantly decreased(p < .05). 2. Degree of fatigue of Tibialis anterior was significantly decreased after 6 weeks of treatment(p < .05). 3. Degree of fatigue of Soleus was slightly decreased after 6 weeks of treatment, but did not show significant difference (p > .05). Conclusion: The above results suggest that induced microcurrent shoes is helpful decreasing fatigue of feet and relief of feet pain.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.33-41
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• 2019

Purpose : The muscle strength of iliopsoas (IL) was measured commonly in sitting position with hip and knee flexed 90°. However, there is no study to determine the muscle strength of IL in various test positions. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the muscle strength of IL and muscle activity of rectus femoris (RF) according to test position and knee flexion angle. Methods : Twenty healthy subjects were participated for this study. The muscle strength of IL and muscle activity of RF were measured by hand-held dynamometer and surface electromyography during maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) of IL, respectively. The muscle strength of IL and muscle activity of RF was measured in 4 conditions as follows; 1) knee flexion angles 90 ° in supine, 2) 130 ° in supine position, 3) 90 ° in sitting, 4) 130 ° in sitting. Each condition were performed randomly by three repetitions. Results : The muscle strength of the IL was the main effect on the test position and knee flexion angle (p<.05), and the muscle activity of RF was the main effect only on the knee flexion angle (p<.05). There was also no interaction between the factors (p>.05). In supine position, the muscle strength of IL in knee flexion 130 ° was significantly less than that in knee flexion 90 ° (p<.0125). In knee flexion 90 °, the muscle strength of IL in supine position was significantly greater than that in sitting position (p<.0125). The muscle activity of RF in knee flexion 130 ° was significantly less than that in knee flexion 90 ° in supine and sitting positions (p<.0125). Conclusion : When the muscle strength of IL was measured in clinic and sports fields, the supine position with knee flexion 130 ° was recommended to prevent the muscle activation of RF and to maintain the trunk stability.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.5689-5697
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of scapular taping on muscle activities of the scapular rotators and anterior deltoid, ROM, shoulder pain, proprioception in subacute stroke patients. Twenty-eight patients were randomly assigned to an experimental and control groups of fourteen patients respectively. Muscle activity of upper and lower trapezius, serratus anterior, anterior deltoid was measured using surface electromyography. Visual analog scale was used for shoulder pain. Electro-Goniometry was used for shoulder elevation ROM. Assessment board was used for shoulder elevation proprioception. The muscle activity of the lower trapezius and serratus anterior increased significantly after scapular tape application (p<0.05). The AROM and PROM in the shoulder elevation significantly increased after scapular tape application (p<0.05). The VAS in the shoulder no significantly decreased after scapular tape application (p>0.05). The proprioception in the shoulder no significantly increased after scapular tape application (p>0.05). The results of this study suggest that scapular taping can be used an additional therapy for increasing muscle activity of lower trapezius and serratus anterior and ROM during shoulder elevation in subacute stroke patients.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.2012-2020
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• 2020

Background: Multifaceted approaches will be needed, such as global synkinesis (GS) achieve functional improvements in the arms of stroke patients from involuntary movements during exercise. Objective: To identify changes in arm GS and muscle activity, functional evaluation and the correlation with variables through action observation training, combined with functional electrical stimulation (FES), thereby verifying the effect on stroke patients. Design: A quasi-experimental study. Methods: The subjects of this study were 20 stroke patients who were divided into two groups: Control group (n=10) and experimental group (n=10). Before the intervention, arm GS and muscle activity were measured using surface electromyography (EMG), and arm function was evaluated using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) scale. At the end of the intervention, which lasted 4-wk, arm GS and muscle activity were measured again using the same scale. Results: There was a decrease statistically significant difference in GS during the bending action in experimental group (P<.01). Both groups showed a significant difference increased only in the activity of the anterior deltoid (AD) and biceps brachii (BB) (P<.05). The results of the arm functional assessment revealed a significant difference increase in both groups (P<.05). In the between-group comparison, there was a significant difference decrease in GS during the bending action (P<.05). Only the muscle activity of the AD and BB were significantly increase different (P<.05). There was a significant between-group difference increase in the arm functional assessment (P<.05). There was a positive correlation between GS and muscle activity on the FMA in the control group (r=.678, P<.05). In experimental group, GS during the bending arm action exhibited a negative correlation (r=-.749, P<.05), and the muscle activity of the AD and BB showed a positive correlation (r=.701, P<.05). Furthermore, in experimental group, the activity of the extensor carpi radialis increased, and the activity of the flexor carpi radialis decreased, which exhibited a negative correlation (r=-.708, P<.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that brain plasticity could be more efficiently stimulated by combining surface stimulation in the affected arm of stroke patients.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.9 no.11
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• pp.209-216
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• 2018

This study aimed to investigate the association of the muscle activity around the neck of the operator(dental hygienists') according to the change in the patient's neck angle during a direct visual inspection on the maxillary right-side molar palatal surface. The operators were $4^{th}$ year dental hygiene students, who are future dentalhy gienists, having accurate understanding on and awareness of the location of the operation site, hand fixation, and how to use the tools. Data on the change in the muscle activity around the neck were collected by using surface electromyography and neck goniometer. SPSS statistics 20 was used for statistical analyses including Shapiro-wilk test and one-way ANOVA. As a result, the activities of the operator upper trapezius, cervical erector spinae, and levator scapulae muscles significantly decreased when the patient's head was angled compared to when it was not. For the angle of the operator head, the head bend significantly decreased when the patient's head was angled than when it was not. Based on the study results, it is expected that angling the patient's head when treating his or her teeth will decrease the excessive muscle activity around the neck of the operator, and will reduce muscle fatigue. Therefore, angling the head of the patient while treating his or her teeth is recommended. This suggests that muscle pain caused by repetitive actions in the wrong posture can be reduced.