• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.27-37
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• 2016

Background: In previous studies regarding flexible pes planus, Foot orthosis, special shoes have been used as interventions for correcting malalignment and intrinsic muscles strengthening exercise have been regarded as interventions for foot function and supporting medial longitudinal arch during walking. However, some recent studies reported that strengthening extrinsic muscles as well as intrinsic muscles is more effective and active intervention for flexible pes planus. In particular, the tibialis posterior muscle of foot extrinsic muscles plays essential roles in maintaining the medial longitudinal arch during dynamic weight bearing and balance. In addition this muscle acts longer than other supination muscles during the stance phase in the gait cycle. Objects: This study aimed to investigate the effect of foot intrinsic muscle and tibialis posterior muscle strengthening exercise for plantar pressure and dynamic balance in adults with flexible pes planus. Methods: 16 young flexible pes planus adults (7 males, 9 females) were recruited and were randomized into two groups. The experimental group performed foot intrinsic muscle and tibialis posterior muscle strengthening training, the control group performed only foot intrinsic muscle strengthening training. All groups received strengthening training for 30 minutes five times a week for six weeks. Results: The experimental group had significantly lower plantar pressure of medial heel area than the control group in stand (p<.05). The experimental group had significantly higher dynamic balance ability than control group (p<.05). Conclusion: The results of this study provide evidence to suggest that foot intrinsic muscle and tibialis posterior muscle of extrinsic muscle strengthening exercises may improve plantar pressure distribution and dynamic balance ability in adults with flexible pes planus.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.103-110
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to investigate effect of low-dye taping and foot intrinsic muscle strengthening exercise on the muscle activity of the tibialis anterior, calf muscles, and long calf muscles during one-foot standing in subjects with flat feet. The subjects were 16 adults in their 20s with flat feet, and they were divided into low-dye taping (LTG; n=8) and foot intrinsic muscle strengthening exercise (FSG; n=8) groups. Each group underwent the appropriate intervention twice a week for 6 weeks. The muscle activity of the tibialis anterior, long calf muscle, and medial calf muscle was measured. Repeated two-way ANOVA was performed to compare changes in muscle activity before and after the intervention. As a result of muscle activity measurement, LTG significantly decreased between before and after the experiment in all muscles (p<.05). In FSG, only the tibialis anterior significantly decreased between before and after the experiment (p<.05). Therefore, low-dye taping and foot intrinsic muscle strengthening exercises will be helpful for efficient the lower extremity muscle activity of flat foot.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.195-201
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate effective intervention(Intrinsic foot muscle training and navicular mobilization) methods for flexible flat foot. 32 subjects were divided into two groups: intrinsic foot muscle training(IFMT) and navicular mobilization(NM). In both groups significant difference in navicular drop pre and post test(p<.01), significant difference between n the two groups (p<.01, 95% CI: .768-4.607). In both groups significant difference in Foot pressure distribution pre and post test(p<.01), significant difference between the two groups (p<.01, 95% CI: 3.404-14.90). The results of this study showed that the IFMT was more effective than that of the flexible flat foot. It would be possible to provide more effective interventions for patients with flat feet and also to prevent secondary musculoskeletal disorders due to flat feet.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.78-83
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• 2016

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the intrinsic foot muscle training method can improve the medial longitudinal arch in patients with chronic ankle injury and with pronated feet, as well as to investigate for the most effective exercise method for these patients. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Thirty men and women with pronated feet had participated in this study and were allocated to either the short foot exercise group (SFEG) or the towel curl exercise group (TCEG) randomly. SFEG and TCEG underwent exercises three times a week for 8 weeks, with three sets per day, totalling up to 5 minutes per day. The navicular drop test (NDT) was used in order to assess for changes in the medial longitudinal arch and the Cumberland ankle instability tool (CAIT) was used to assess for ankle instability of the chronic ankle sprain patients. Results: There was a significant increase in CAIT scores in the SFEG (p<0.05) and a significant difference between groups was presented (p<0.05). The NDT scores were significantly decreased in both groups (p<0.05). In the SFEG, the NDT scores were more decreased than in the TCEG (p<0.05). Conclusions: These results suggest that short foot exercises are more effective in providing intrinsic foot muscle training for patients with pronated feet among chronic ankle sprain patients. Furthermore, short foot exercises may be used to provide ankle stability.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 2024

Background: Individuals with pes planus tend to overuse the extrinsic foot muscles, such as the tibialis anterior (TA) and peroneus longus (PL), to compensate for the weakened intrinsic foot muscles, such as the abductor hallucis (AbdH). Furthermore, differences in weight-bearing can affect the activity of muscles in both the intrinsic and extrinsic foot muscles. To date, no study has compared the effects of the short foot exercise (SFE) and toe spread-out exercise (TSO) on intrinsic and extrinsic foot muscle activity and the corresponding ratios in different weight-bearing positions. Objects: To compare the effects of the SFE and TSO on AbdH, TA, and PL activity and the AbdH/TA and AbdH/PL activity ratios in the sitting and standing positions in individuals with pes planus. Methods: Twenty participants with pes planus were recruited. Surface electromyography was used to assess the amplitudes of AbdH, TA, and PL activity. Participants performed both exercises while adopting both the sitting and standing positions. Results: No significant interaction between exercise and position was found regarding the activity of any muscle or ratio of the activity, except for PL activity. We observed a significant increase in AbdH activity during the TSO compared to the SFE, and no significant difference in TA and PL activity between the two exercises. AbdH, TA, and PL activity were significantly higher in the standing position than in the sitting position. Furthermore, the AbdH/PL activity ratio significantly increased in the sitting position, although there was a significant increase in AbdH activity in the standing position. Conclusion: In individuals with pes planus, we recommend performing the TSO in the sitting position, which may increase the activity of the AbdH while concurrently decreasing the activity of the TA and PL, thus strengthening the AbdH.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.43-50
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• 2017

Purpose : There is no validated method for measuring the toe flexor strength that can isolate the intrinsic muscles of the foot from the extrinsic muscles. This study compared the hallux flexion force (HFF) and muscle activity in the foot and ankle according to ankle position [plantarflexion (PF), neutral, and dorsiflexion (DF)]. Method : The study enrolled 17 subjects. In the sitting position, the HFF and activities of the abductor hallucis (AbdH), tibialis anterior (TA), and gastrocnemius (GCM) muscles were measured using a digital dynamometer and a wireless electromyography system, respectively. Subjects were instructed to flex the great toe maximally in three different ankle positions. Three 5-second trials were performed to measure the HFF and muscle activities in each condition. Repeated-measures ANOVA was used to compare the variables and paired t-tests with the Bonferroni correction were used for post-hoc pair-wise comparisons. The significance level was set at .016. Result : The HFF in DF was significantly greater than in any other ankle position (p<.01). The TA activity was greatest in ankle DF and that of the GCM was greatest in PF (both p<.01). However, there was no significant difference in AbdH activity according to ankle position. Conclusion : These results suggest that selective strength measurement of the foot intrinsic muscles in HFF should be performed with the ankle in the neutral position.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.367-373
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• 2021

Objective: Short foot exercise(SFE) is frequently used to increase the medial longitudinal arch of the foot, as well as the intrinsic foot muscles. This studyinvestigated the effects of SFE onmuscular activity and the onset of contraction of the quadriceps femoris muscle during squats in healthypeople. It also aimed to compare and analyze the results with those of the general squat method and propose a more efficient squat method. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: This study compared 20 adults (male=10, female=10) who statisfied the inclusion criteria for the muscle activity and onset of the muscle contraction of the quadriceps femoris using surface EMG under two conditions: general squats and SFE squats. Results: Separate analyses and comparisons of the outcomes of the SFE squat and the general squat, showed a significant increase in the muscle activities of the rectus femoris and vastus medial muscles in both males and females (p<0.05). The onset of muscle contraction was significantly delayed for the vastus lateralis relative to that for the vastus medialis (p<0.05). However, it delayed significantly in females, but not in males. Conclusions: The SFE squats induced selective muscular activities of the rectus femoris and vastus medialis muscels and affected the onset of contraction of the vastus medialis and lateralis muscles.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.75-81
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• 2017

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the activity of the abductor hallucis (AbdH) muscle during short foot exercise (SFE) using foot orthosis (SFE-FO) and the windlass effect (SFO-WE) while sitting and in a one-leg standing position. METHODS: We recruited fourteen subjects with normal feet for this study. Surface electromyography (EMG) was used to measure the muscle activity of the AbdH muscle during SFE, SFE-FO, and SFE-WE while sitting and in a one-leg standing position. Three trials consisting of a 5 s hold for each of the three exercises were performed to measure the EMG activity of the AbdH muscle. Exercise type and position were randomly assigned. Two-way repeated-measures ANOVA was used to analyze the effects of exercise type (SFE vs. SFE-FO vs. SFE-WE) and position (sitting vs. one-leg standing position) on AbdH muscle activity. A statistical significance was set at ${\alpha}=.05$. RESULTS: The EMG activity of AbdH muscle in the SFE-WE exercise was significantly greater than that during SFE and SFE-FO in both exercise positions (p<.001). In addition, the EMG activity of the AbdH muscle in the one-leg standing position was significantly higher than that while sitting (p<.001) during all three exercises. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that SFE-WE is a more effective strengthening exercise than SFE or SFE-FO for activating the AbdH muscle.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.133-139
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• 2018

PURPOSE: Despite the abundant literature available regarding the activity of intrinsic muscles, few studies have investigated the muscle activity of extrinsic muscles. Therefore, the present study compared the muscle activity of the peroneus longus, tibialis anterior, and abductor hallucis during short foot exercise in subjects with and without flat feet. METHODS: Twelve subjects with and without pes planus participated in this study. During the short foot exercises, muscular activity of the tibialis anterior, fibularis longus, and abductor hallucis longus were measured in both groups. To identify the effects of short foot exercises, navicular drop height was also investigated in pre and post short foot exercises. RESULTS: In a symptomatic group, the navicular drop height was significantly reduced at post measurement compared with pre-measurement. During the short foot exercise, the pes planus group showed significantly lower activities of the fibularis longus than the control group (p<.05). CONCLUSION: Similar to previous studies and clinical literature, short foot exercise was effective for alleviating navicular drop for a population with pes planus. In addition, subjects with pes planus showed decreased muscular activities of the fibularis longus, which suggests that considering extrinsic muscles such as fibularis longus is also important for rehabilitation of pes planus patients.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.46-53
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• 2017

Background: The MLA is supported by both the abductor hallucis (ABH) and the extrinsic muscles. Insufficient muscular support may lower the MLA when the body's weight is applied to the foot. The short foot exercise (SFE) is effective in increasing the height of the MLA for people with flat feet. Most of the research related to the SFE has simply evaluated the efficiency of the exercise using enhanced ABH electromyography (EMG) activation. Since the tibialis anterior (TA), peroneus longus (PER), and ABH are all involved in supporting the MLA, a new experiment design examining the EMG of the selected muscles during SFE should be applied to clarify its effect. Objects: Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the effect of the SFE in different ankle position on the MLA angle and the activation of both the intrinsic and extrinsic muscles and to determine the optimal position. Methods: 20 healthy subjects and 12 subjects with flat feet were recruited from Yonsei University. The surface EMG and camera were used to collect muscle activation amplitude of TA, PER, and ABH and to capture the image of MLA angle during SFE. The subjects performed the SFE while sitting in three different ankle positions-neutral (N), dorsiflexion (DF) at 30 degrees, and plantar flexion (PF) at 30 degrees. Results: ABH EMG amplitudes were significantly greater in N and DF than in PF (p<.05). Muscle activation ratio of TA to ABH was the lowest in PF (p<.05). MLA angle in both groups significantly decreased in PF (p<.01). The TA and ABH was activated at the highest level in DF. However, in PF, subjects significantly activated the ABH and PER with relatively low activation of TA. Conclusion: Therefore, researchers need to discuss which SFE condition most effectively use the arch support muscle for flat foot.