• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.222-228
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• 2011

With comparison of maximum vertical reaction force and lower limb on drop landing between normal and flat foot group, this study is to provide fundamental data of the prevention of injury and the treatment of exercise which are frequently occurred on flat foot group's drop landing. The surface electrodes were sticked on lateral gastrocnemius muscle, medial gastrocnemius muscle, tibialis anterior and the drop landing on a force plate of 40cm was performed with a normal group who had no musculoskeletal disease and a flat foot group of 9 people who had feet examinations. Vertical reaction force were significantly statistically different between two groups(p<.001). Muscle activity of lower limbs in all three parts were not statistically different but showed high tendency on average in the flat foot group. The flat foot group had difficulties in diversification of impact burden and high muscle activity. Therefore, it was suggested that muscular strengthening of knee joints and plantar flexions of foot joints which were highly affected in impact absorption will be required.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.61-70
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• 2023

PURPOSE: This study evaluated an intrinsic foot strengthening exercise method for flat feet by comparing the effects of intrinsic exercises on a stable surface and intrinsic exercises on an unstable surface. METHODS: Twenty-four people with flat feet were divided into two groups. The control group performed short foot exercises and toe towel curl exercises on the stable support surface. The experimental group performed short foot exercises and toe towel curl exercises on an unstable support surface using Aerostep. The navicular drop test, and the static and dynamic balance were measured before and after the intervention. RESULTS: In the experimental and control groups, there was a significant difference in the navicular drop test and static balance before and after the intervention (p < .05). On the other hand, there was no significant difference between the two groups (p > .05). In the dynamic balance, the experimental group showed significant differences in all directions after the intervention (p < .05). The control group showed significant differences in the postero-lateral direction and posteromedial direction (p < .05). In particular, in the forward direction, the experimental group had a more significant change than the control group (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Intrinsic foot muscle strengthening exercises performed on unstable surfaces can be an effective clinical exercise method to improve the dynamic balance ability of people with flat feet.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.41-49
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• 2022

Background: In patients with forward head posture (FHP), the head is positioned forward, causing increased tension in the muscles and structures of the head, neck, and shoulders. This can result in joint dysfunction that may lead to abnormal afferent information. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect on foot pressure through the isometric hip abduction (IHA) bridge exercise using elastic bands in patients with FHP. Methods: Twenty patients with FHP were randomly assigned to a study group that applied joint mobilization, soft tissue mobilization, a deep neck flexor strengthening exercise, and the IHA bridge exercise using an elastic band. A control group was also constituted, and members were given joint mobilization, soft tissue mobilization therapies, and the deep neck flexor strengthening exercise. Ten patients were assigned to each group. The static foot pressure and dynamic foot pressure of each patient were measured before and after the intervention, and the interventions for each group were applied twice a week for 4 weeks. Results: Both the study group and the control group showed significant differences in static and dynamic foot pressure before and after the interventions (p<.05). There were no significant differences in foot pressure between the study and control groups. Conclusion: : The results of this study revealed that there were no significant differences between the group doing the IHA bridge exercise using the elastic band and the control group. However, the intervention methods applied to both the groups were effective in improving the body center control of FHP patients.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.57-63
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• 2014

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to identify the muscle activity of leg during stair down in the subjects with flatfoot and normal foot. Methods : The fourteen subjects with the flatfoot group and the fifteen subjects with the normal foot group volunteered for this study. All subjects descended the stairs that the height was 20cm and consisted 25 stairs. The target muscles for recording muscle activity were posterior fiber of gluteus medius, vastus medialis and vastus lateralis oblique, semitendinosus and biceps femoris, tibialis anterior, and medial and lateral fiber of gastrocnemius muscles. The muscle activity was recorded using the wireless EMG system. Results : The flatfoot group had significantly lower the muscle activity of posterior fiber of gluteus medius than the normal foot group in stance phase during stair down(p<.05). The flatfoot group had significantly higher the muscle activity of biceps femoris and tibialis anterior than the normal foot group in swing phase during stair down(p<.05). Conclusions : This study proposed that the subject with flatfoot should train the strengthening exercise for posterior fiber of gluteus medius.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.276-282
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• 2016

This study examined the effects of 8-weeks hip muscle training on the hip joint abductor muscle isokinetic strength and foot pressure distribution in elite players with chronic ankle instability (N=19). A total of 19 subjects had chronic ankle instability from at least 2 ankle sprains, and were given 8-weeks hip muscle training exercise. The hip muscle strength of the elite players with chronic ankle instability increased significantly, but the foot pressure distribution and ratio of the foot pressure distribution of the elite players with chronic ankle instability did not reach statistical significance and the ratio of the foot pressure distribution showed a similar trend. These results suggest that the strength and foot pressure distribution of the affected-side might increase to that of the unaffected-side. The 8-weeks hip muscle training helped improve the chronic ankle instability of the elite players. Therefore, the hip muscle strength and foot pressure distribution are the primary factors of a rehabilitation program on ankle sprains.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.69-77
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• 2022

PURPOSE: In this study, we sought to investigate the effect of conservative ankle strengthening exercise programs using a Bosu® ball or taping, on the hallux valgus angle and the pain of hallux valgus patients in their 20s. METHODS: The hallux valgus angle, balance, and pain after measuring the hallux valgus were measured to select suitable subjects. In the ankle strengthening exercise group (ASG) an ankle strengthening exercise program using a Bosu® ball was performed for two sessions weekly for four weeks and the taping group (TG) was given Kinesiotaping® for two sessions weekly, two days per session, for four weeks. Before and after the experiment, a footprint was used to examine the changes in the hallux valgus angle and the visual analog scale (VAS) was used to measure pain. RESULTS: An evaluation of the post-experiment changes in the hallux valgus angle and pain showed statistically significant improvement in both groups. There was no statistically significant improvement between groups. CONCLUSION: These results show that both ankle strengthening exercises and Kinesiotaping® have a positive effect on the hallux valgus angle and pain.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.131-138
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• 2018

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to compare the muscle activity of the proximal muscles of the lower limb according to the distance between the front and rear foot during lunge and to determine the most effective foot position for activation of the proximal muscle in the limb. METHODS: A total of 49 young adults were enrolled in this study. All subjects performed lunge by positioning the big toe of the back foot and the heel of the front foot at intervals of 40%, 60%, and 80% of the subject's own leg length. Muscle activity of the vastus medialis oblique, rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis oblique (VLO), gluteus medius, biceps femoris, and semitendinosus (ST) was then measured during three intervals of lunge operation. Each operation was measured three times for 10 seconds each, after which the average value was calculated and analyzed. RESULTS: There were significant differences in muscle activities of RF, VLO, and ST among the three intervals of the foot (p<.05). Post hoc, comparisons revealed lunge at 40% intervals resulted in higher RF and VLO activity than at 60% and 80% intervals (p<.05). In the semitendinosus muscle, 80% leg length intervals showed higher muscle activity than 40% (p<.05). CONCLUSION: Strengthening of the proximal muscles of the lower extremities during lunge exercise is considered to be most effective when placing the fore- and rear foot at intervals corresponding to 40% of the leg length.

• 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 Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2008

Purpose: The isolated exercise therapy and its effect for the treatment of posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (PTTD) is not well known. The purpose of this study was to identify the clinical effect of stretching and strengthening exercise program on the patients' muscle function and range of motion, pain and gait in the management of the early stage PTTD. Materials and Methods: From October 2006 to March 2007, 14 patients with early stage PTTD (stage I or IIa) without surgical intervention were randomly assigned into two groups and we analyzed their clinical results. All patients were female and one who have sprained the same ankle during the program and one who withdrew from the program due to her private reason were excluded. At the last, the exercise group (EG) was seven and the control group (CG) was five. Mann-Whitney U test was used for the comparison of pain, ROM, muscle power, AOFAS score and 5 minute walking test of both groups. Wilcoxon-signed rank test was used for the comparison between the pre and post exercise program in EG. Results: The pain was significantly reduced in EG compare to CG and only the dorsiflexion was significantly increased in EG in the analysis of ROM. The dorsi flexion and plantar flexion power were significantly increased in EG. Conclusion: Our 6 weeks stretching and strengthening exercise program showed noticeably improved clinical result, and therefore it is recommended as one of the useful treatment option in the management of early stage PTTD.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.151-161
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• 2021

Purpose : This study was to investigate the effectiveness of ESWT and plantar fascia-specific stretching exercise vs ESWT and high-load strengthening exercise in patients with chronic plantar fasciitis. Methods : The subjects were randomized to extracorporeal shock wave therapy ( ESWT, for 3 weeks) and daily plantar-specific stretching (Group I: Stretch group) or ESWT and high-load progressive strength (Group II: Strength group) performed every second day. The main outcome measures were ultrasound, visual analogue scale (VAS), and Korean Foot Function Index (KFFI). The ultrasound (plantar fascia thickness), pain intensity I, II (the most painful of the day?, the pain when you first step in the morning?) and KFFI (functional performance) were compared between the groups. Results : No significant difference was observed between the groups in the plantar fascia thickness but pain intensity I, II was significantly lower in Group 2 than in Group 1 at only 12weeks and functional performance was also significantly increased in Group 2 compared to Group 1 at only 12 weeks. Conclusion : The high-load strengthening exercise consisting of the progressive exercise protocol, resulted in superior after 12 weeks compared with plantar-specific stretching. High-load strength exercise may aid in a quicker reduction in pain and improvements in functional performance.