• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.16-44
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• 2003

Skeletal muscle regeneration is a vital process for various muscle myopathies and muscular adaptation to physiological overload. Angiogenesis is the key event in the process of muscle regeneration, and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) plays an important role in it. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of GaAlAs(830nm) laser and immunoreactivity of VEGF on angiogenesis after muscle contusion injury. Muscle contusion injury was induced in the triceps surae muscle by dropping a metal bead(31.4g). GaAlAs laser irradiation(power 20 mW, frequency 2000 Hz, treatment time 15 min) was applied directly to the skin of injured muscle daily for seven days. The experimental group I was irradiated immediately by laser after injury, whereas the experimental group II was irradiated after 1 day of injury. The control group was non-irradiated. The results of this study were as follows. 1. In morphological observation, there were no significant changes in experimental and control groups for 7 days. At 3 days, however, the splited muscle fibers were observed in experimental groups, and the muscle atrophy and granular tissue viewed at 7 days in control group. 2. The VEGF was expressed in muscle fiber that located in the interspace between gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. As the time coursed, the immunoreactivity of VEGF also seemed to be strong in the individual muscle fibers. 3. The experimental group I & II showed higher immunoreactivity of VEGF than control group(p<0.05). Then, the experimental group I showed higher than group II especially(p<0.05). These data suggest GaAlAs semiconduct diode laser irradiation(830nm) enhanced angiogenesis in the skeletal muscle induced contusion injury, and immediate laser irradiation after injury promoted the angiogenesis greatly than after 1 day of injury.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.195-201
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• 2019

PURPOSE: This study aimed to quantify the effects of whole body vibration (WBV) stimulation training on the muscle thickness and gross motor function in children with spastic cerebral palsy. METHODS: Twenty children diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy were assigned randomly to the Whole Body Vibration (WBV) group (n=10) and control group (n=10). The WBV group received vibration therapy including five different therapy, and the control group received only five general physiotherapy sessions. After 10 weeks of intervention, the muscle thickness was measured using ultrasound, and the Gross Motor Function D and E items were evaluated. RESULTS: After the intervention, both groups showed a significant increase in muscle thickness and gross motor function (p<.05). The WBV group showed a significant increase in the quadriceps femoris and tibialis anterior muscles compared to the control group, whereas no significant increase in the gastrocnemius muscle was observed (p<.05). The WBV group showed significant improvement in the Gross Motor Function D and E scores compared to the control group (p<.05). CONCLUSION: WBV training may be a useful way of improving the lower extremity muscle strength in children with spastic cerebral palsy, which may help improve the gross motor function.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.259-265
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• 2014

The aims of this study are to investigate the walking intention detection of a rollator based on Infraed (IR) sensor measuring knee joint anterior displacement and leg muscle activities. We used Active Walker attached IR sensor to measure the knee joint anterior displacement and EMG signal of leg muscles(rectus femoris, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius) were taken by Delsys bagnli-8ch. Subjects were eight healthy males(age $23.7{\pm}0.5years$, height $175.4{\pm}2.3cm$, weight $70.6{\pm}5.6kg$) and they were involved in experiments which had been proceeded 30 minutes a week, during 3 weeks. This system indicates that the knee joint anterior displacement had the distinction increases according to the gait slope and velocity. We showed the increase of the femoral muscle activities along the anterior tilt and the increase of the crural muscle activities along the posterior tilt.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.11-22
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of three different pelvic tilts on a sit-to-stand (STS) and to suggest a new assessment approach based on biomechanical analysis. The three difrent pelvic tilts were: (1) comfortable pelvic tilt sit-to-stand (CPT STS), (2) posterior pelvic tilt sit-to-stand (PPT STS) and (3) anterior pelvic tilt sit-to-stand (APT STS). To determine the onset time of muscle contraction surface electrodes were applied to the rectus femoris muscle (RF), vastus lateralis muscle (VL), biceps femoris muscle (BF), tibialis anterior muscle (TA), gastrocnemius muscle (GCM), and soleus muscle (SOL). The ICC was used for functional linkage analysis. The findings of this study were as follows. First, significant differences were found in kinematic variables and in muscle activation pattern among the three activities. Second, the results of functional integrated analysis revealed that recruited muscle activation patterns changed when the thigh-off was viewed as a reference point. Third, there were independent functional units between the thigh-off and the VL and between the thigh-off and the RF in the functional linkage analysis. The VL and RF acted as prime mover muscles, and more postural adjustment muscle recruitment was required as the demand of postural muscle control increased (PPT STS, APT STS, and CPT STS in order). In conclusion, the findings of this study suggest the following evaluative and therapeutic approach for STS activity. APT STS can be introduced for movement efficiency and functional advantage when abnormal STS is treated. However, excessive APT would change the muscle activation patterns of BF and SOL and require additional postural muscle control to cause abnormal control patterns.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2009

Purpose: We investigated the changes that effects of load stimulation (LS) on static balance and muscle activities in normal healthy elders and chronic stroke patients. Methods: Subjects were instructed twenty normal healthy elders (8 men and 12 women) and ten chronic stroke patients (4 men and 6 women). They were tested while standing on a force platform under two conditions; LS, no LS were applied in random order. Prior to testing, adhesive surface EMG electrodes were fastened to the skin overlying the right (non-paralytic side in stroke patient) bellies of tibialis anterior (TA) and lateral gastrocnemius (LG) muscles. They were assessed on postural sway and %MVC (Maximum voluntary contraction) of TA and LG. Results: Participants showed that the application of LS brought about a decrease in postural sway as expressed by average sway path and velocity. %MVC of TA and LG were increased. The application of LS to normal and stroke patients decreases postural sway during quite stance. Conclusion: These findings the application of LS to normal and stroke patients improves static balance.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.34 no.9
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• pp.1145-1151
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• 2010

In this paper, we discuss the design and simulation of a jumping-robot mechanism that is actuated by SMA (shape memory alloy) wires. We propose a jumping-robot mechanism; the structure of the robot is inspired by the musculoskeletal system of vertebrates, including humans. Each robot leg consists of three parts (a thigh, shank, and foot) and three kinds of muscles (gluteus maximus, rectus femoris, and gastrocnemius). The jumping capability of the robot model was tested by means of computer simulations, and it was found that the robot can jump to about four times its own height. This robot model was also compared with another model with a simpler structure, and the performance of the former, which was based on the biomimetic design, was 3.3 times better than that of the latter in terms of the jumping height. The simulation results also verified that SMA wires can be suitable actuators for small jumping robots.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.427-436
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• 2018

The objective of this study was to analyze the concurrent treatment effects of ursolic acid (UA) and low-intensity treadmill exercise and to confirm the effectiveness of UA as an exercise mimetic to safely improve muscle atrophy-related diseases using Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats with skeletal muscle atrophy. Significant muscle atrophy was induced in male SD rats through hind limb immobilization using casting for 10 days. The muscle atrophy-induced SD rats were group into four: SED, sedentary; UA, daily intraperitoneal UA injection, 5 mg/kg; EX, low-intensity (10-12 m/min, $0^{\circ}$ grade) treadmill exercise; and UEX, daily intraperitoneal UA injection, 5 mg/kg, and low-intensity (10-12 m/min, $0^{\circ}$ grade) treadmill exercise. After 8 weeks of treatment, endurance capacity was analyzed using a treadmill, and tissues were extracted for analysis of visceral fat mass, body weight, muscle mass, expression of muscle atrophy- and hypertrophy-related genes, and endurance capacity. Although the effects of body weight gain control, muscle mass increase, and endurance capacity improvement were inadequate in the UA group, significant results were confirmed in the UEX group. The UEX group had significantly reduced body weight and visceral fat, significantly improved mass of tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius muscles, and significantly decreased atrophy-related gene expression of MuRF1 and atrogin-1, but did not have significant change in hypertrophy-related gene expression of Akt and mTOR. The endurance capacity was significantly improved in the EX and UEX groups. These data suggest that concurrent treatment with low-intensity exercise and UA is effective for atrophy-related physical dysfunctions.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.107-118
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• 2008

In this study, lower extremity joint kinematics and kinetics and lumbar lordosis were investigated for two different symmetrical lifting techniques(squat and stoop) using the three-dimensional motion analysis. Twenty-six male volunteers lifted boxes weighing 5, 10 and 15kg by both squat and stoop lifting techniques. There were not significant differences in maximum lumbar joint moments between the two techniques. The hip and ankle contributed the most part of the support moments during squat lifting, and the knee flexion moment played an important role in stoop lifting. The hip, ankle and lumbar joints generated power and only the khee joint absorbed power in the squat lifting. The knee and ankle joints absorbed power, the hip and lumbar joints generated power in the stoop lifting. The bi-articular antagonist muscles' co-contraction around the knee joint during the squat lifting and the eccentric co-contraction of the gastrocnemius and semitendinosus were found to be important for straightening up during the stoop lifting. At the time of lordotic curvature appearance in the squat lifting, there were significant correlations in all three lower extremity joint moments with the lumbar joint. Differently, only the hip moment had significant correlation with the lumbar joint in the stoop lifting. In conclusion, the knee extension which is prominent kinematics during the squat tilling was produced by the contributions of the kinetic factors from the hip and ankle joints(extensor moment and power generation) and the lumbar extension which is prominent kinematics during the stoop lifting could be produced by the contributions of the knee joint kinetic factors(flexor moment, power absorption, bi-articular muscle function).

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.113-121
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of forefoot rocker shoes equipped with a metatarsal bar on lower extremity muscle activity and plantar pressure distribution. Ten healthy women in the age of twenties were participated in this study as the subjects. All subjects walked on a treadmill(Gait Trainer, BIODEX, USA) wearing normal shoes and metatarsal bar shoes, during which the plantar pressure distribution and muscle activity were measured. Using Pedar-X system(Novel Gmbh, Germany), the plantar pressure was measured for six regions of the foot: forefoot, midfoot, rearfoot, 1st metatarsal, 2-3th metatarsal, and 4-5th metatarsal, and for each sub-region, 4 features such as maximum force, contact area, peak pressure, and mean pressure were analyzed based on the plantar pressure. EMG(Electromyography) activity was measured by attaching surface electrodes to the rectus femoris, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior, and gastrocnemius medial head, and magnitude of muscle contraction was analyzed in IEMG(Integrated EMG) value. The results show that the maximum force, contact area, peak pressure, and mean pressure in the midfoot all increased while maximum force, peak pressure, contact area, mean pressure in the 1st metatarsal and 2-3th metatarsal all decreased when wearing functional shoes. Also, muscle activities in the four muscles were all decreased when wearing the functional shoes. This paper suggests that forfoot rocker shoes equipped with a metatarsal bar can help disperse the high pressure and absorb the shock to the foot as well as give positive influence on gait pattern and postural stability by reducing muscle fatigue during walking.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.75-81
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• 2017

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze the kinematic variables and electromyography (EMG) findings that change with varying characteristics of crouch start and feedback provision, and to provide the fundamental data for record improvement in 400 mH. Method: Four short-distance runners participated in the experiment. The analyzed variables were elapsed time per interval, stride length, and muscle activities in three lower limb muscles. These variables were analyzed by using Kwon3d XP and Noraxon Myoresearch. The participants were subjected to three conditions, including two conditions that relate to the thrusting foot on the rear block and another condition pertinent to feedback provision. Results: In terms of a one-step interval, the elapsed time in condition A was longer than that in condition B, and the one after the feedback was the longest. The stride length of a one-step interval was the longest in condition A. The stride length of a two-step interval was the shortest in condition A. The muscle activity during a one-step interval showed differences in vastus medialis and medial gastrocnemius, with condition A being the highest. Conclusion: When the non-dominant left foot was located at the back, negative results were observed in terms of elapsed time and stride length. Moreover, an imbalance in muscle activity was observed between the left and right feet when the left foot was placed at the back. As a result, significant differences in elapsed time, stride length, and muscle activity were observed depending on the foot placed on the rear block. In conclusion, we identified the characteristics of crouch start in 400 mH, and a specialized program must be suggested.