• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2022

Background: Muscle activities of gluteus maximus (GM) and hamstring (HAM) have important roles in the stability and mobility of the hip joint during various functional activities including bridge and prone hip extension exercises. Objects: The purpose of this study is to investigate muscle activities of GM, multifidus (MF) and HAM during three different bridge exercises in healthy individuals. Methods: Twenty healthy subjects were participated. Electromyography device was used to measure muscle activities of GM, MF and HAM. Each subject was asked to perform three different bridge exercises with hip abduction (0°, 15°, 30°) in random order. One-way repeated measures analysis of the variance and a Bonferroni post hoc test were used. Statistical significance was set at α = 0.01. Results: The muscle activity of GM was significantly different among three conditions (hip abduction 0°, 15°, 30°) (adjusted p-value [Padj] < 0.01). The muscle activity of GM was significantly greater during bridge exercise with hip abduction 30° compared to 0° and 15° (Padj < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the muscle activity of MF and HAM muscle (Padj > 0.01). The ratio of muscle activity (ratio = GM/HAM) during bridge exercise with hip abduction 30° was significant greater compared to the hip abduction angles 0° and 15° (Padj < 0.01). Conclusion: Bridge exercise with hip abduction 30° can be recommended to selectively facilitate the muscle activity of GM and improve the ratio of muscle activity between GM and HAM.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2011

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate muscle activity of affected lower extremity by unaffected lower extremity exercise and tried to examine muscle activity of affected lower extremity of hemiplegic patients were caused by stroke according to wearing single strap hemisling or non-wearing. Methods : We measured muscle activity of affected lower extremity when wearing single strap hemisling to affected lower extremity or non-wearing according to unaffected lower extremity used MP 150 Eletromyogram. Results : 1) Muscle activity of gluteus medius muscle was the highest D1 before wearing single strap hemisling. 2) Muscle activity of hamstring muscle was the highest D3 after wearing single strap hemisling. 3) Muscle activity of quadriceps muscle was the highest D5 after wearing single strap hemisling. 4) Muscle activity of tibialis anterior muscle was the highest D1 after wearing single strap hemisling. 5) Muscle activity of soleus muscle was the highest D2 before wearing single strap hemisling. Conclusion : Wearing single strap hemisling of hemiplegic patients had effect on muscle activity of gluteus medius but didn't effect gluteus medius, hamstring, quadriceps, tibialis anterior muscle and soleus muscle.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.1-4
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to analyze the changes of the muscle strength and length according to the changes of evaluation postures. Subjects of this study were 13 male and 13 female students. 6 evaluation postures were selected for this study(K90H90, K90H45, K90H0, K70H90, K70H45, K70H0 ; K90=knee $90^{\circ}$ flexion, K70=knee $70^{\circ}$ flexion, H90=hip $90^{\circ}$ fleion, H45=hip $45\circ}$ flexion. H0=hip $0^{\circ}$ ). The peak torque and hamstring muscle length(from fibula head to ischial tuberosity) were measured at each postures. The peak torque level was evaluated by make use of the KIN-COM. The results were as follows : 1. The peak torque in male was significantly increased with changes of hip flexion angle but not in female(($90^{\circ}\;>\;45^{\circ}\;>0^{\circ}$). 2. The hamstring length and peat torque in male and female was significantly changed according to the alteration of evaluation postures.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.37-47
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• 2022

Background: Lower back pain (LBP) is a major cause of disability and a common musculoskeletal disorder encountered at some point in life. Dysfunction of the lumbar vertebrae has been associated with decreased flexibility of the hamstrings, which exhibited a strong positive correlation with LBP. Hamstring tension affects lumbar pelvic rhythm. We aimed to activate pelvic stability with compression by Active Therapeutic Movement (ATM), muscle energy technique (MET) was applied to increase the flexibility of the hamstring. Objects: In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of MET with ATM and general MET were applied to the hamstring of adults, who were in their twenties with nor without LBP, on their pelvic inclination and the length of their hamstring. Methods: A total of 32 subjects were briefed about the purpose of this study and agreed to participate voluntarily. Before the experiment, all subjects were pre-examined, and they were divided into an LBP group and a no lower back pain group accordingly. Thereafter, all subjects participated in both in a crossover manner. After at least one week, they switched to another group and participated in the same experiment. Results: The study results revealed that both groups demonstrated significant results in the modified active knee extension test (p < 0.01) and the sit and reach test (p < 0.01) performed to assess the hamstring flexibility; an interaction (p < 0.05) was noted. Moreover, a more significant difference was observed between the MET with ATM and the general MET. Although significant results were obtained for the pelvic inclination (p < 0.01), interaction was not noted. Conclusion: Conclusively, in this study, when the MET with ATM was applied to the two groups, there was a significant difference compared to the general MET for hamstring flexibility, but it was confirmed that there was no significant difference for the pelvic inclination.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.133-140
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the relative muscle activity on the erector spinae, gluteus maximus, and hamstring, using a non-visual feedback bridge exercise and a visual feedback bridge exercise with a tension sensor and clinometer. Methods: Twenty-two healthy subjects participated in this study. The study subjects performed bridge exercises without visual feedback, bridge exercises using a tension sensor, and bridge exercises using an inclinometer in the supine position, and the muscle activity of the left and right erector spinae, gluteus maximus, and hamstring muscles was measured while maintaining isometric contraction during the bridge movement. Muscle activity was measured by using surface an electromyography equipment. To standardize the measured action potential of each muscle, the maximum voluntary isometric contraction was measured. The bridge exercise was repeated 3 times for 5s each. Using repeated analysis of variance, we compared the significant difference in EMG activity for each muscle between the three experiments, and all statistical processing was performed using SPSS version 26. The statistical significance level was set at α = 0.05. Results: During bridging exercises, the asymmetry of the muscle activity of the erector spinae and gluteus maximus during visual feedback guiding was lower than that during no visual feedback. However, there was no significant difference. Moreover, the asymmetry of the muscle activity of the hamstring muscles was significantly lower during tension sensor visual feedback than that during no visual feedback (p<0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that bridge exercise with visual feedback using a tension sensor and an inclinometer is effective in inducing symmetrical movement. When it is necessary to symmetrically adjust the weight load of both feet during the bridge exercise, it is effective to apply visual feedback using a tension sensor.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.140-148
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• 2020

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of pelvic displacement when self-hamstring muscle stretches were applied to persons with low back pain. Design: Three-group pretest-posttest design. Methods: Forty persons with low back pain participated in this study. Pelvic tilt angle, hamstring flexibility, Quadruple Visual Analogue Scale (QVAS), Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ), Korea version of the Oswestry Disability Index (KODI) and pelvic mobility were measured at pre-post. All participants were divided into either the pevic anterior tilt group (PAT group, n=12), pelvic midrange group (PMR group, n=18), or the pelvic posterior tilt group (PPT group, n=10). Self-stretching was performed using the pilates ring three times a week for a total of four weeks and the post-test was conducted and compared with the pre-test. Results: Hamstring flexibility, QVAS, KODI scores were significantly different compared to before the intervention (p<0.05). The changes in hamstring flexibility of the three groups were significantly different (p<0.05). Changes in KODI and FABQ results of the three groups were not significant. The pelvic posterior tilt range were significantly different in the PMR and PPT groups (p<0.05). The pelvic anterior tilt ranges showed significant differences after stretching in the PPT group (p<0.05). Conclusions: A large amount of change of hamstring flexibility, pelvic mobility of anterior and posterior tilt test in the PPT group was observed. Furthermore, therapists should consider pelvic displacement of the participant when applying intervention, which may, accordingly, have different effectiveness.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.45-51
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• 2017

Objective: This study aimed to identify the area with greatest effect using self-myofascial release technique (self-MFR) in the hamstring, suboccipital, and plantar regions. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Twenty-two adult subjects were evaluated for flexibility and hamstring pain threshold after self-MFR. Based on the superficial back line, the self-MFR application areas were the suboccipital region, hamstring, and plantar regions. Self-MFR was applied to each area using a wooden pole for a total of 4 minutes. Self-MFR was applied for 3 days at the same time of day, which was randomly assigned for each subject. Treatment was applied to one area each day. The sit and reach test (SRT), active range of motion (AROM), and passive ROM (PROM) were used to determine changes in flexibility, and an algometer was used to determine pain threshold. Pre/post-self-MFR effectiveness was tested using a paired t-test. Repeated measurement was used to compare self-MFR effects in the suboccipital, hamstring, and plantar regions. Results: When the self-MFR technique was applied to the 3 areas, the SRT showed significant improvement over baseline (p<0.05). Bilateral AROM and PROM showed significant improvements (p<0.05). When the self-MFR technique was applied to the hamstring, the semimembranosus showed a significant change in pain threshold (p<0.05). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that indirect application based on the Anatomy Trains could be effective for those who need to improve muscle flexibility. Moreover, self-MFR easily alleviates myofascial pain while maintaining flexibility, and can be performed at any time and place.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.45-51
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• 2019

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the muscle activity ratio of the lower limb according to changes in straight leg raise (SLR) test angles on hamstring muscle shortening during squat exercises. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: The subjects were 14 healthy adults who were informed of and agreed to the method and purpose of the study. The participants were classified into SLR groups according to two angles (over $80^{\circ}$ or under $80^{\circ}$) assessed using the SLR tests. After training and practicing the wall squat posture to be applied to the experiment, electromyography (EMG) was used to measure changes in muscle activity during the performance of a wall squat. After stretching, a sequence of pre-stretch tests were performed again, and the active and passive SLR tests were also reconducted; thereafter, a wall squat was performed again by attaching EMG electrodes. The EMG results before and after stretching were compared. Results: The muscle activity of the vastus lateralis oblique muscle increased in both groups. The muscle activity of the vastus medialis oblique muscle decreased in over both group. Rectus femorus activity increased in the under 80-degree groups but decreased in the over 80-degree group. The muscle activity of the biceps femoris muscle decreased after stretching in the over 80-degree group and increased in the under 80-degree group, and the semitendinosus muscle activity after stretching was decreased. The quadriceps-to-hamstring muscle (Q:H) ratio before and after stretching between groups showed that the hamstring muscle ratio decreased after stretching in both groups. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that the Q:H ratio before and after stretching between groups was not significantly different.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.1-9
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• 2020

PURPOSE: The current generation has shortened hamstrings due to a sedentary lifestyle, resulting in reduced flexibility of the hamstring and dysfunction. This study was undertaken to compare effects of three different release exercises on hamstring flexibility, in participants with short hamstrings. METHODS: Totally, 20 subjects having short hamstrings were involved in this study. The inclusion criterion for study participation was active knee extension test (AKET) less than 60°. All participants were subjected to 3 methods: hamstring foam roller release (HFRR), sitting self myofascial release (sitting SMR), and standing self myofascial release (Standing SMR). All participants randomly performed all three methods to avoid bias caused by learning or fatigue. Passive knee extension test (PKET), AKET, finger to floor distance test (FTFT), and pelvic tilting angle test (PTAT) were measured pre- and post-exercises. RESULTS: The PKET, AKET and FTFT were significantly increased after HFRR, sitting SMR, and standing SMR exercise (p < .05). However, PTAT was not significantly increased after the three exercises (p > .05). Furthermore, no significant differences were observed between PKET, AKET, FTFT and PTAT subsequent to HFRR, sitting SMR, and standing SMR (p > .05). CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that HFRR, sitting SMR and standing SMR were immediately effective in improving hamstring flexibility in participants with short hamstrings.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in muscle activation associated with foot position during a sit-to-stand exercise among normally healthy elderly subjects. Methods: Eight subjects (male=3; female=5; mean age=$70.13{\pm}{\pm}2.53$years) were recruited.The activation of six muscles (neck extensor; lumbar extensor; hamstring; rectus femoris; gastrocnemius; tibialis anterior) was measured by surface EMG (TeleMyo 2400T G2, Noraxon Inc., USA) during a sit-to-stand protocol under three different foot positions (ankle dorsiflexion of 0, 15, or 30 degrees). Results: Muscle activation of the neck extensor and hamstring was decreased according to the change in foot position (p<0.05), but activation of the rectus femoris was increased (p<0.05). Muscle activation of the neck extensor was significantly different between 0 and 15 degrees (p<0.05). Muscle activation of the hamstring was significantly different between 0 and 15 degrees and between 0 and 30 degrees (p<0.05). Muscle activation of the rectus femoris was significantly different between 0 and 30 degrees and between 15 and 30 degrees (p<0.05). However, activation of lumbar extensor, gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscles did not significantly differ between foot positions. Conclusion: These findings suggest that muscle activation during a sit-to-stand movement differs depending on foot position. We believe that these differences should be considered when educating the elderly regarding proper body movements.