• PNF and Movement
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.55-64
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the strength and walking ability of chronic stroke patients following either proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) pattern training with pressure biofeedback units (feedback group) or PNF pattern training without pressure biofeedback units (control group). Methods: Eighteen participants with chronic stroke were recruited from a rehabilitation hospital. They were divided into two groups: a feedback group (n = 8) and a control group (n = 10). They all received 30 minutes of neurodevelopmental therapy and PNF training for 15 minutes five times a week for three weeks. Muscle strength and spatiotemporal gait parameters were measured. Muscle strength was measured by hand-held dynamometer; gait parameters were measured by the Biodex Gait trainer treadmill system. Results: After the training periods, the feedback group showed a significant improvement in hip abductor muscle strength, hip extensor muscle strength, step length of the unaffected limb, and step time of the affected limb (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern training with pressure biofeedback units was more effective in improving hip muscle strength and walking ability than the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern training without pressure biofeedback units. Therefore, to strengthen hip muscles and improve the walking ability of stroke patients, using pressure biofeedback units to improve trunk stability should be considered.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.23-32
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• 2021

Background: The purpose of this study was to find out how the lumbar instability during clam exercise causes changes in pelvic rotation and hip joint abductor muscle activity. Design: Case-control study. Methods: Twenty male participated in this study. The amount of pelvic rotation was measured using myomotion during the clam exercise in a normal group and a group of patients with low lumbar instability, and the muscle activity of the muscle gluteus medius and the tensor fasciae latae using an EMG device. Results: The amount of pelvic rotation that occurred during the clam exercise was statistically significantly greater in the lumbar instability group than in the normal group (p<.05), and the ratio of muscle activity of the muscle gluteus medius/the tensor fasciae latae was statistically significantly higher in the normal group than in the lumbar instability group (p<.05). Conclusion: In order to stabilize the lumbo-pelvic and strengthen the strength of the hip joints, it is believed that it is necessary to apply exercise while controlling the lumbo-pelvic movement during clam exercises, and various studies will be needed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.127-137
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• 2016

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the effects of side-lying hip abduction exercise with and without vibration on pain, disability, strength and balance in individuals with low back pain. METHODS: 30 participants enrolled in this study were randomly assigned to an experimental group (EG, n=15) for side-lying hip abduction with vibration and a control group (CG, n=15) for side-lying hip abduction without vibration. Both groups were treated 3 times per week for 4 weeks. Pain (Numeric Rating Scale), disability (Korean Oswestry Disability Index), hip abductor muscle strength, and static balance were measured in both groups before and after the program. Results were analyzed using paired t-test for comparing the difference within the group and independent t-test for comparing the difference between two groups. RESULTS: Compared to the CG, the EG showed significantly greater reductions in pain and disability (p<.05). There was a significant difference in all balance categories of both the painful and non-painful sides within the EG (p<.05). Balance showed a significant decrease except the envelope area (ENV) on the non-painful side within the CG (p<.05). There was a significant increase in all balance categories except ENV of non-painful side between the two groups (p<.05). Balance increased on both the painful and non-painful sides in the EG. Balance improved on the painful side in the CG, but significantly decreased on the non-painful side (p<.05). CONCLUSION: Side-lying hip abduction exercise with vibration is considered an effective treatment for pain, disability and balance in individuals with low back pain.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.123-130
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• 2024

Background: Weakness of gluteus medius (Gmed) is related with musculoskeletal disorders. Individuals who experience weakness in the Gmed may activate the tensor fasciae latae (TFL) as a compensatory mechanism. Application of isometric hip extension (IHE) with Thera-band may affect the activities of the Gmed, gluteus maximus (Gmax), and TFL, and the activity ratio of Gmed/TFL during side-lying hip abduction (SHA). Objects: To determine the influences of IHE during SHA on Gmed, Gmax, and TFL activities in participants with Gmed weakness. Methods: Three types of SHA exercises were performed: 1) traditional SHA in the frontal plane (SHA-T), 2) SHA with IHE applying Thera-band in the frontal plane (SHA-IHE), 3) and SHA with isometric hip flexion (IHF) applying Thera-band in the frontal plane (SHA-IHF). Results: SHA-IHE significantly showed higher Gmed and Gmax activities than SHA-T and SHA-IHF. SHA-IHF significantly showed higher activity of TFL than SHA-T or SHA-IHE. The activity ratio of Gmed/TFL was significantly higher in the SHA-IHE, SHA-T, and SHA-IHF, in that order. Conclusion: The SHA-IHE resulted in higher activities of Gmed, Gmax and a higher muscle ratio of Gmed/TFL.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.29-45
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• 2024

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the effects of pain level, lower back pain dysfunction level, psychosocial level, hip abductor strength (HAS), number of positive lumbar instability tests, and dynamic balance (DB) by applying lumbar stabilization exercises according to the presence or absence of gluteus medius muscle weakness in chronic lower back pain (CLBP) patients with lumbar instability. METHODS: Thirty-five CLBP patients with lumbar instability were divided into the gluteus medius weakness (n = 18) and gluteus medius non-weakened (n = 17) groups using the gluteus medius manual muscle test. Intervention applied conservative physical therapy and lumbar stabilization exercises to both groups that lasted three times a week for four weeks. To compare the intervention effects, the quadruple visual analog scale (QVAS), the Korean version of the Oswestry disability index (K-ODI), fear-avoidance beliefs questionnaire (FABQ), HAS, lumbar instability tests positive response counter (LIC), and DB were measured. RESULTS: Significant differences were shown for QVAS, K-ODI, FABQ, HAS, LIC, and DB for both groups pre- and post-intervention (p < .05). Compared to the gluteus medius weakness group, the gluteus medius non-weakened group showed a significant difference (p < .05) in the changes in QVAS, K-ODI, FABQ-W, FABQ-total, and HAS. CONCLUSION: In CLBP patients with lumbar instability, having gluteus medius weakness was less effective in improving lumbar stabilization exercise than gluteus medius non-weakness regarding pain level, lower back pain dysfunction level, psychosocial level excluding physical activity, and hip abductor strength. Therefore, additional gluteus medius strengthening exercises are necessary for patients with lumbar instability and gluteus medius muscle weakness.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.24 no.7 s.196
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• pp.133-138
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• 2007

It is important to understand the characteristics of amputee gait to develop more advanced prostheses. The aim of this study was quantitatively to analyze the stair climbing task for the above-knee amputee with a prosthesis and to predict muscle forces and joint moments at musculoskeletal joints by dynamic analysis. The three-dimensional musculoskeletal model of lower extremities was constructed by gait analysis and transformation software for one above-knee amputee and ten healthy people. The measured ground reaction forces and kinematical data of each joint by gait analysis were used as input data during inverse dynamic analysis. Lastly, dynamic analysis of above-knee amputee during stair climbing were performed using musculoskeletal models. The results showed that summed muscle farces of hip extensor of amputated leg were greater than those of sound leg but the opposite results were revealed at hip abductor and knee flexor of amputated leg. We could also find that the higher moments at hip and knee joint of sound leg were needed to overcome the flexion moment caused by body weight and amputated leg. In conclusion, dynamic analysis using musculoskeletal models may be a useful mean to predict muscle forces and joint moments for specific motion tasks related to rehacilitation therapy..

• International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.30-33
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• 2008

Understanding the characteristics of amputee gait is key in developing more advanced prostheses. The aim of this study was to quantitatively analyze a stair-climbing task for transfemoral amputees with a prosthesis and to predict the muscle forces and joint moments at musculoskeletal joints using a dynamic analysis. A three-dimensional musculoskeletal model of the lower extremities was constructed from a gait analysis using transformation software for two transfemoral amputees and ten healthy people. The measured ground reaction forces and kinematical data of each joint from the gait analysis were used as input data for an inverse dynamic analysis. Dynamic analyses of an transfemoral amputee climbing stairs were performed using musculoskeletal models. The results showed that the summed muscle forces of the hip extensor of an amputated leg were greater than those of a sound leg. The opposite was true at the hip abductor and knee flexor of an amputated leg. We also found that higher moments at the hip and knee joints of the sound leg were required to overcome the flexion moment caused by the body weight and amputated leg. Dynamic analyses using musculoskeletal models may be a useful means to predict muscle forces and joint moments for specific motion tasks related to rehabilitation therapy.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.23-30
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• 2024

Background: Following lower limb strength training exercises, patients with stroke often experience muscle fatigue, which can frequently lead to falls. Therefore, this study aims to explore how lower limb muscle fatigue caused by squats affects the strength and balance of healthy individuals before extrapolating it to patients with stroke. Design: Cross-sectional study Methods: The study followed a cross-sectional design. The study was conducted on 30 healthy adults. Strength and balance were measured before and after performing wall squat exercises. Muscle strength was measured using a dynamometer, while balance was assessed with the S3 check system. A paired t-test was used for the analysis. Results: The knee extensor and hip extensor showed a significant decrease after wall squat (p < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference observed in knee flexor and hip abductor between before and after wall squat. Balance did not show a significant difference between before and after wall squat. Conclusion: Muscle fatigue caused by wall squats was found to reduce the strength of the knee and hip extensors, while having no impact on balance. The results of this study may serve as foundational data for future research targeting patients with stroke.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.323-330
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• 2011

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of using a pressure bio-feedback unit (PBFU) and a pelvic belt (PB) on the electromyographic (EMG) signal amplitude of the gluteus medius (Gmed) and the quadratus lumborum (QL) during hip abduction exercise when lying on the side. Methods : Twenty able-bodied volunteers (10 male, 10 female) were recruited for this study. The EMG signal amplitude was randomly measured during hip abduction with preferred hip abduction (PHA), with PBFU, and with PB. The surface EMG signal was recorded from the Gmed and the QL. Data were analyzed using a one-way repeated ANOVA. Results : Muscle activity of Gmed was significantly higher in PBFU and in PB than in PHA (p<.05). There were no significant difference between PBFU and PB(p>.05). Muscle activity of the QL was significantly lower in PB than in PHA(p<.05). The Gmed/QL muscle activity ratio was also significantly higher in PBFU and in PB than in PHA(p<.05), with no significant difference between PBFU and PB (p>.05). Conclusion : Based on these findings, using a PBFU and a PB is an effective method to disassociate QL use from Gmed use during hip abduction exercises when lying on the side.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the differences in biomechanical variables of golf driving motion according to gender. Method: A total of 21 healthy golfers (11 men and 10 women) who have more than 5 years of professional experience and have been registered in the Korea Golf Association was recruited. A 250-Hz 8-camera motion capture system (MX-T20, Vicon, LA, USA) was used to capture the motion trajectories of a total of 42 reflective markers attached to the golfer's body and club. Moreover, two 1,000-Hz AMTI force plates (AMTI OR6-7-400, AMTI, MA, USA) were used to measure the ground reaction force. The mean and standard deviation for each parameter were then calculated for both groups of 21 subjects. SPSS Windows version 23.0 was used for statistical analysis. The independent t-test was used to determine the differences between groups. An alpha level of .05 was utilized in all tests. Results: There were differences in joint angles according to gender during golf driver swing. Men showed a statistically significantly higher peak joint angle and maximum range of angle in sagittal and frontal axis of the pelvis, hip, and knee. Moreover, women's swing of the pelvis and hips was found to have a pattern using the peak joint angle and range of angle in the vertical axis of the pelvis and hip. There were the differences in peak joint moment according to gender during golf driver swing. Men used higher joint moment in the downswing phase than women in the extensor, abductor, and external rotator muscles of the right hip; flexor and adductor muscles of left hip joint; and flexor and extensor muscles of the right knee. Conclusion: This result reveals that male golfers conducted driver swing using stronger force of the lower body and ground reaction force based on strength of hip and thigh than female golfers.