• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.1-8
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• 2018

Background: Round shoulder posture, results from excessive flexed posture of the thorax, is defined as a position of scapular protraction, anterior tipping, and downward rotation. However, previous studies have focused on only passive position of the thorax during scapular posterior tilting (SPT) and have not reported on SPT combined with correction of flexed posture. Objects: The aim of this study was to compare effects of SPT and SPT with prone trunk extension (SPT + PTE) on activities of the lower trapezius, serratus anterior, and thoracic erector spinae and degree of posture in subjects with round shoulder and flexed posture. Methods: Fifteen subjects with round shoulder and flexed posture were recruited. The caliper was used to measure the degree of round shoulder and flexed posture. Electromyography was performed to collect data of muscle activities. Paired t-test was used to compare two exercise (${\alpha}=.05$). Results: When SPT + PTE was applied, the degree of round shoulder posture (p=.001) and flexed posture (p=.039) significantly decreased compared with that when SPT was applied. The lower trapezius activity significantly increased in the SPT + PTE condition compared with that in the SPT condition (p=.026). There were no significant differences in serratus anterior activity between SPT + PTE and SPT. The thoracic erector spinae activity significantly increased in the SPT + PTE condition compared with that in the SPT condition (p=.014). Conclusion: SPT + PTE might be one of the effective methods to enhance activities of lower trapezius and thoracic erector spinae, and to reduce round shoulder posture and flexed posture in subjects with round shoulder and flexed posture.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.358-364
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• 2014

Purpose: Flexed posture commonly increases with age in older women and is characterized by an excessive curvature in the thoracic spine (kyphosis), forward head posture, and decline in height. This study was conducted in order to determine the relationship between flexed posture, physical performance, and psychosocial factors in community dwelling elderly women in Korea. Methods: Fifty-two subjects with thoracic kyphosis of $40^{\circ}C$ or greater participated in this study. Flexed posture was measured using kyphosis angle (KA), forward head posture (FHP), and round shoulder (RS), and physical performance was evaluated using the short physical performance battery (SPPB), grip strength, and static and dynamic balance. Psychosocial factors were measured using depression and the quality of life (QOL). All data were analyzed using SPSS 18.0 software for windows. Results: KA showed significant correlation with SPPB score (r=-0.447) and dynamic balance (r=0.426) (p<0.05) depression (r=0.405) and QOL (r=-0.464) but not with grip strength and static balance in elderly individuals. FHP and RS showed significant correlation with SPPB score (r=0.002, r=-0341) and dynamic balance (r=-0.278, r=0.346) (p<0.05) but not with psychosocial factors. Conclusion: These findings suggest that flexed posture provides meaningful information about physical performance and psychosocial factors in elderly women. Our data suggest that the flexed posture may need to be addressed as part of the health management process for elderly women.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.243-252
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of trunk posture on muscle activity and motion of scapular and scapulohumeral rhythm. Thirty-one healthy subjects performed right-arm abduction and adduction along the frontal plane while standing in both upright and flexed posture of trunk. Scapular upward rotation, anterior tilting and internal rotation ware recorded using a motion analysis system and muscle activity of upper trapezius, lower trapezius and serratus anterior ware recorded using surface electromyography during abduction and adduction in both trunk postures. then, scapulohumeral rhythm was calculated. Scapulohumeral rhythm and scapular posterior tilting in flexed posture was significantly decreased than in upright posture. Also, muscle activity of lower trapezius in flexed posture was significantly increased and serratus anterior was significantly decreased than in general posture. The result of this study revealed that flexed posture of trunk altered the muscle activity and kinematic of scapular. Measurement of trunk posture should be included the evaluation of dysfunction and disorder of shoulder girdle since rehabilitation of trunk posture is important to restore of upper limbs function.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.223-239
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• 1989

To observe the change in the status of stresses according to three different postural angulation of an intervertebral disc with or without nucleus pulposus, 6 specimens of a 3-dimensional photoelastic model of the s pine were made of epoxy. The nucleus pulposus portion was replaced with silicon in three models, and the three were made without silicon. Through axial application of a vertical compressive load of 8kg, the peculiar patterns of the isochromatic fringes were observed. Stresses on the intervertebral disc were analyzed according to three different postural angulations of the intervertebral disc with the nucleus pulposus and without the nucleus pulposus. The results of these study are as follow : 1. In an erect neutral posture with the nucleus pulposus, the stress concentration was much increased at the posterior portion rather than at the anterior portion. Also, the high stress was concentrated at the medial and central portion. In an erect neutral posture without the nucleus pulposus, the stress concentration was much increased at the anterior portion rather than at the posterior portion and the stress distribution seemed to be locally concentrated. 2. In a maximal flexed posture, the stress concentration was much increased at the posterior portion rather than at the anterior portion. Comparing the presence of the nucleus pulposus with the absence of the nucleus pulposus, the stress concentration was lower at the anterior portion in the presence of the nucleus pulposus than in the absence of the nucleus pulposus. However, the stress distribution at the posterior portion was nearly same in the two groups. According to the analysis of the stress distribution diagram, as a whole, the stress pattern around the disc was evenly distributed. 3. In a maximal extended posture, the higher concentration of the stress distribution at the anterior and medial portion rather than in the posterior and lateral portion was observed. The stress concentration was higher in the presence of the nucleus pulposus than in the absence of the nucleus pulposus. 4. Comparing the maximal flexed posture with the erect neutral posture, the stress concentration in the flexed posture was much decreased in the posterior portion rather than in the erect neutral posture, and an even distribution of the stress pattern in the flexed posture was observed. 5. In the presence of the nucleus pulposus, at the anterior and posterior portion, the stress concentration in the flexed posture was much decreased compared with the extended posture. In the absence of the nucleus pulposus, at the anterior and posterior portion, the stress concentration in the extended posture was much decreased compared with the flexed posture.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.32 no.9
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• pp.1478-1486
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• 2008

The human body composed of concave and convex curvatures, and the current 3D scanning technology which involves inherent measurement errors make it difficult to extract distinct curvature plot directly. In this study, a method of extracting the clear curvature plot and its application to the cycling pants design were proposed. We have developed the ergonomic pattern from the 3D human body reflecting cycling posture. For the ergonomic design line on the 3D human body, the 3D information on the lower part of four male bodies with flexed posture was analyzed. The 3D scan data of four subjects were obtained using Cyberware. As results, the iteration of the tessellated shell was executed 100 times to obtain optimized curvature plots of the muscles on the body surface, and the boundaries of the curvature plots were applied to the design lines. Maximum(Max-pattern) and mean curvature plots(Mean-pattern) were adopted in the design line of the cycling pants, and performance of those lines was compared with that of conventional princess line(Con-pattern). The average error of total area and length in the 2D pattern developed from the 3D flexed body surface in this study were very minimal($4.58cm^2$(0.19%) and 0.15mm(0.46%)), which was within the range of tolerable limits in clothing production. The pattern obtained from the flexed body reflecting cycling posture already included the contraction and extension of the cycling skin, so that the extra ease for movement and good fit was not need to be considered.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.727-734
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• 2010

The objective of this study was to evaluate the resting postures of the fingers and wrist based on the biomechanical model in term of hand posture (neutral, pronation, and supination) and gender (male and female). The finger and wrist joint angles were measured with VICON motion system. The EMG system was used to examine the muscle activity in the resting condition. The participants consisted of twenty male and twenty female students. The angles of the fingers and wrist were analyzed by means of the coordinate system associated with the International Society of Biomechanics. Hand posture was significant for all the joints. The finger and wrist joint flexed in supination more than in neutral and pronation. The hand posture and gender were not significant for the results of muscle activity, but it had larger muscle activities in supination more than in neutral and pronation.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.174-183
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• 2023

Background: Office workers experience neck or back pain due to poor posture, such as flexed head and forward head posture, during long-term sedentary work. Posture correction is used to reduce pain caused by poor posture and ensures proper alignment of the body. Several assistive devices have been developed to assist in maintaining an ideal posture; however, there are limitations in practical use due to vast size, unproven long-term effects or inconsistency of maintaining posture alignment. We developed a headphone and necklace posture correction system (HANPCS) for posture correction using an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor that provides visual or auditory feedback. Objects: To demonstrate the test-retest reliability and concurrent validity of neck and upper trunk flexion measurements using a HANPCS, compared with a three-dimensional motion analysis system (3DMAS). Methods: Twenty-nine participants were included in this study. The HANPCS was applied to each participant. The angle for each action was measured simultaneously using the HANPCS and 3DMAS. The data were analyzed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = [3,3] with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: The angular measurements of the HANPCS for neck and upper trunk flexions showed high intra- (ICC = 0.954-0.971) and inter-day (ICC = 0.865-0.937) values, standard error of measurement (SEM) values (1.05°-2.04°), and minimal detectable change (MDC) values (2.92°-5.65°). Also, the angular measurements between the HANPCS and 3DMAS had excellent ICC values (> 0.90) for all sessions, which indicates high concurrent validity. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that the HANPCS is as accurate in measuring angle as the gold standard, 3DMAS. Therefore, the HANPCS is reliable and valid because of its angular measurement reliability and validity.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.131-142
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to analyze kinematic variables of a Mae-ukemi (forward breakfall :MU) in Judo through 3-D image analysis with five Judoka with over 2 years' career (2nd dan, 3rd dan). The kinematic variables include posture, and distance variables; the mean values and the standard deviations for each variable were obtained to analyze kinematic variables of a MU in Judo. From the data analysis and discussion, the following conclusions were drawn : 1) Posture variables : The angles of wrists during right before Mae-ukemi (RBU) were extended from the just MU position(MUP) and flexed from in the right after MU(RAU), and there was a difference in the displacement between the angles of the right and left wrists. The angles of elbows were flexed in the ready position from in the RAU. The angles of ankles were flexed from the ready position to that down position, extended from the down position to that transition, and flexed from the transition positiont to that RAU. 2) Distance variables : The distance height between the mat and shoulders in the RBU(32.2cm) to in the MUP(18.3cm) and in the RAU(20.5cm). during that height between the mat and hips in the RBU(48.0cm) to in the MUP(23.4cm), and in the RAU(30.6cm).

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.117-123
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• 2022

Background: Push-up are effective exercises for shoulder stability. Previous studies have documented the effects of support plane and hand position and width on muscle activities during a push-up. Objects: This study aimed to investigate the changes in muscle activities in the upper extremity when performing the standard and the knee-flexed push-up with different hand shapes. Methods: A total of twenty-six healthy males participated in this study. Three different hand shapes (finger abduction, finger adduction, and fists) and two types of push-up posture (standard and knee-flexed push-up) were set as the independent variables. Electrograms were used to measure the muscle activity of the upper trapezius (UT), triceps brachii (TB), pectoralis major (PM), and serratus anterior (SA). Each participant performed the randomly assigned push-up to the sound of the metronome. The mixed-effect linear regression model was used to detect the changes in muscle activities after changing the hand shape and push-up posture. Statistical significance was set at α = 0.05. Results: The UT muscle activity was statistically significantly higher when performing push-up with fists than finger abduction (p = 0.035) or finger adduction (p = 0.044). During the standard push-up, the muscle activity in all muscles was that the push-up with fists showed the highest muscle activity compared to the finger abduction (p < 0.01) and finger adduction (p < 0.01). Regardless of the shape of the hand, UT had the lowest muscle activity compared to other muscles (p < 0.001). In contrast, the SA muscle had the highest muscle activity among four muscles during the standard push-up. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, we suggest hand shape is related to the difficulty level of push-up either in the standard or the knee-flexed push-up, especially in the push-up with fists. In addition, knee push-up can be recommended as shoulder muscle-strengthening exercises for individuals with low shoulder muscle strength.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.221-229
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• 2023

Background: In modern society, the use of computers accounts for a large proportion of our daily lives. Although substantial research is being actively conducted on musculoskeletal diseases resulting from computer use, there has been a recent surge in interest in improving the working environment for prevention. Objects: This study aimed to examine the effects of posture correction feedback (PCF) on changes in neck posture and muscle activation during computer typing. Methods: The participants performed a computer typing task in two sessions, each lasting 16 minutes. The participant's dominant side was photographed and analyzed using ImageJ software to verify neck posture. Surface electromyography (EMG) was used to confirm the participant's cervical erector spinae (CES) and upper trapezius muscle activities. The EMG signal was analyzed using the percentage of reference voluntary contraction and amplitude probability distribution function (APDF). In the second session, visual and auditory feedback for posture correction was provided if the neck was flexed by more than 15° in the initial position during computer typing. A 20-minute rest period was provided between the two sessions. Results: The neck angle (p = 0.014), CES muscle activity (p = 0.008), and APDF (p = 0.015) showed significant differences depending on the presence of the PCF. Furthermore, significant differences were observed regarding the CES muscle activity (p = 0.001) and APDF (p = 0.002) over time. Conclusion: Our study showed that the feedback system can correct poor posture and reduces unnecessary muscle activation during computer work. The improved neck posture and reduced CES muscle activity observed in this study suggest that neck pain can be prevented. Based on these results, we suggest that the PCF system can be used to prevent neck pain.