• PNF and Movement
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.299-307
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• 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of new exercises (combined cervical and thoracic extension exercises) with those of conventional cervical extensor strengthening exercises (sitting cervical extension exercises) and thoracic extensor strengthening exercises (prone thoracic extension exercises). Method: Fifteen healthy subjects performed sitting cervical extension exercises, prone thoracic extension exercises, and combined cervical and thoracic extension exercises. During each exercise, electromyography was used to measure muscle activity in the erector spinae with C4 and T4 levels. The measured data were analyzed using one-way repeated analysis of variance. Results: With different exercises, there were significant differences in activity in the erector spinae muscle (p < 0.05). The activity in the erector spinae muscle increased significantly during the combined cervical and thoracic extension exercises compared to the sitting cervical extension (p < 0.05) and prone thoracic extension exercises (p < 0.05). The sitting cervical extension exercises significantly increased activity in the cervical erector spinae muscle compared to the prone thoracic extension exercises (p < 0.05). Activity in the thoracic erector spinae muscles was significantly increased during the prone thoracic extension exercises compared to during the sitting cervical extension exercises (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that the newer exercises effectively increase activity in the cervical and thoracic extensor muscles.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.47-54
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was to investigate the effects of lumbar stabilization exercise and lower extremity strengthening program on pain, lower extremity muscle in patients with chronic low back pain. Method: The subject were randomly divided two groups. 15 people who were conducted lower extremity exercises and lumbar stabilization exercises called the combined exercise group and other(15 people) who were only conducted lower extremity exercise group. The assessment tools were the pain level and the led muscle power. Exercise was conducted for eight weeks. Result: Pain of the combined exercise group showed significant differences in the change in pain level(p<.05). The leg muscle power showed significant differences within group which hip flexor, extensor muscles and abductor muscles. there were significant differences within combined exercise group (p<.05). But the knee joint in each group showed a significant difference within group (p<.05). Conclusion: This study suggest that the lumbar stabilization exercises and lower extremity exercises showed more efficient results in the pain levels and leg muscles power than only the lower extremity exercise for patients with lumbar instability.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.52-60
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• 2006

Muscle weakness in the hemiplegia following stroke is an important factor which determines the quality of life in the future. Therefore, muscle strengthening exercise is essential for functional recovery in hemiplegic patients. Even though the popular conception is that muscle strengthening exercise causes spasticity and associated reaction that hemiplegia patients don't want, and that it disturbs functional recovery, recently there have been many new reports against that opinion. Therefore, the effects of strengthening exercise programs on functional recovery in hemiplegic patients are still controversial. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of strengthening exercise programs for the knee joint using isokinetic exercise on the associated reaction of the upper extremities. Comparing the muscle activities of biceps brachii and triceps brachii during, before, and immediately after 2 and 5 minute intervals of isokinetic exercise, we examined the increase and decrease of associated reaction. Twenty stroke inpatients participated in this study. Surface electromyography was used to get muscle activity data from biceps brachii and triceps brachii. The major findings of this study were as follows: 1. The flexor and extensor peak torque were significantly higher on the sound side than the affected side (p<.05). 2. Before and after strengthening exercise, there was no significant difference in muscle activities (surface electromyographic root mean square values) between the sound and affected side. 3. Muscle activities were examined during, before, and immediately after 2 and 5 minute intervals of isokinetic exercise. There were significant differences in muscle activities between, before and during the exercises, during exercise and 5 minutes after exercise in the biceps brachii (p<.05), and during exercise and 5 minutes after exercise in the triceps brachii (p<.05). In conclusion, there was no relation between strengthening exercise and associated reaction in the upper extremities. Rather, muscle activities after exercise had a tendency to decrease relative to before the exercise. Thus, it is considered that intensive strengthening exercise contributes to improvement of functional recovery without increase in associated reaction in hemiparetic patients.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 2018

Purpose: This study examined the effects of a shoulder-strengthening exercise on muscle strength of shoulder flexors and extensors of caregivers. Methods: The study consisted of 19 caregivers (2 males and 17 females) employed by Medical Center B. All the participants took part in an 8-week shoulder muscle strengthening exercise, based on previous studies. In the first week, the subjects took part in a stretching exercise enhance the range of motion. In the second week, they participated in an exercise aimed at improving shoulder blade stability. From the third to seventh weeks, a resistance exercise of different intensities was applied in a phased manner. Finally, in the eight week, the subjects took part in plyometric exercise. Peak torque, average power, and total work of shoulder flexors and extensors in both sides were measured before and after the exercise at an angular speed of 120deg/sec using an isokinetic device. Wilcoxon's singed-ranks test was conducted to analyze differences in muscle strength before and after the intervention. Results: After the exercise, there was a significant improvement in peak torque and average power of flexors of the right arm. After the exercise, peak torque, total work, and average power showed a significant improvement in the flexors of the left arm (p<0.05). However, there was no statistically significant difference in extensor muscle strength in either arm after the exercise. Conclusion: Shoulder flexors of caregivers are utilized frequently in the workplace. Implementation of extensor-strengthening exercises, in addition to flexor-strengthening exercises, can contribute to reducing the incidence rate of shoulder injuries among caregivers.

• Korean Security Journal
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• no.21
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• pp.1-18
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• 2009

Background: This study was to investigate the effects of spinal strengthening exercise and lumbar stabilization exercise(core exercise program) on trunk muscle strength, flexibility and balance, lumbar function. The subjects of this study were the eighteen subjects who was registered in private guard company. The each exercise group of 9 persons were chosen by random controlled trial. Methods: We used instrument BTE, Libra, Ruler Measuring tape to measured trunk muscle strength, flexibility, balance and lumbar function. Results: The result of this study were summarized below; The flexor muscle strength was improve in lumbar stabilization exercise(core exercise) group(p<.05). The extensor muscle strength was improve in lumbar stabilization exercise(core program) group(p<.05). The trunk flexibility was improve in spinal strengthening exercise group and lumbar stabilization exercise group(p<.05). The balance ability was improve in spinal strengthening group and lumbar stabilization exercise group(core program) group(p<.05). Conclusion: With the above results, demonstrated effects of spinal strengthening exercise and lumbar stabilization exercise in each private guard and security in this study.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.11-18
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• 2013

Background: The objective of this study was to compare the efficacies of thoracic self-mobilization and strengthening exercise in young adults with thoracic hyperkyphosis. Methods: The subjects were 30 young adults (11 males, 19 females) with thoracic hyperkyphosis. They were randomly assigned to one of three groups: thoracic self-mobilization, thoracic strengthening exercise, and control group. The thoracic self-mobilization group performed active dynamic exercises, which included thoracic extension and rotation in supine and standing positions. The strengthening exercise group performed resistance exercises involving the back extensor muscle, with an elastic band and dumbbells. The outcome measures were the thoracic kyphosis angle and forward head posture (craniovertebral angle [CVA] and cranial rotation angle [CRA]). Results: Compared with the baseline values, the thoracic kyphosis angle had decreased while the CVA had increased in both training groups (p<.05), but the CRA was significantly decreased in only the strengthening exercise group. Thoracic self mobilization reduced kyphosis and improved CVA, while thoracic strengthening exercise reduced kyphosis and improved CVA and CRA. Conclusion: This study suggests a promising exercise intervention that can improve posture in young adults with thoracic hyperkyphosis.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.97-105
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of functional strengthening exercise on static and dynamic standing balance in a child with cerebral palsy. The subject was a 7 year old boy with diplegia whose Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) score was 80% along with G1 of the lower extremities in Modified Ashworth Scale. The subject was ambulatory with some degree of limitation and demonstrated muscle weakness and strength asymmetry in the lower extremities. A changing criterion design for a single-subject research was used for this study. The functional strengthening exercise consisted of lower extremity ergometer exercise and knee exercise with grading movement in standing position, each for 20 minutes, which lasted 18 sessions for 6 weeks. A knee extensor strength test on both extremities and standing balance test were conducted after each functional strengthening exercise. Two types of standing balance were tested: one leg stance test and functional reach test. One leg stance test was to evaluate static standing balance, and functional reach test was to evaluate dynamic standing balance. The results showed that the functional strengthening exercise had some positive effects on improvement of both static and dynamic standing balance, and there was a positive correlation between the knee strength and standing balance.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.675-683
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• 2010

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of Whole body vibration exercise(WBVE) in patient with chronic stroke. Methods : Thirty patients were divided into two groups by randomly experimental group(14 subject) and control group(16 subject) in a single blinded, randomised study. experimental group was conducted for the 6-weeks WBVE program and had a structured exercise program for 16 minutes, 5 days per week and control group was conducted for the shame exercise program. Outcome variables included the knee extensor strength, Berg balance scale, Timed up and go test at 0 and 6 weeks. Results : The experimental group tended to improve more than the control group in balance(Berg balance scale) and walking ability(Timed up and go test). There were no trends in differences in change scores by the knee extensor strength. Conclusion : WBVE program may be helpful to improve knee extensor strengthening, dynamic balance and walking ability for patients with chronic patients.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.76-88
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• 2001

Back extension exercises have been used for rehabilitation of the injured low back, prevention of injury, and fitness training programs. However, excessive loading on low back can exacerbate existing structural weakness. The purpose of this study was to compare muscle activity of low back muscles during back extension exercises. Twenty healthy male subject s were evaluated. Electromyographic (EMG) activities of low back muscles at L1 and L5 level were recorded during seven different back extension exercises and two reference tasks by surface EMG and saved for data analysis. Reference tasks of lifting 20% and 40% of their body weight were included for comparison. The result were as follows: 1) Single-arm extension and single-leg extension exercises on quadruped position appeared to constitute a low-risk exercise for initial extensor strengthening. 2) When arm extension was combined with contralateral leg extension on quadruped position, EMG activities of low back muscles were increased. 3) EMG activity of low back muscles was highest during the trunk extension exercises on prone position. 4) EMG activities of low back muscles during arm and leg extension exercises on quadruped position were less than those of reference task of lifting 40% of their body weight. These result s have important implications for progressive back extensor muscle strengthening exercises in patients with back pain.