• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.11-19
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• 2012

This study aimed to investigate whether isometric lower limb exercise can activate contralateral trunk muscles and whether the magnitude of muscle activation is related to lower limb movement in sitting. This study included 25 healthy young subjects (20 males and 5 females). The magnitude of trunk muscle activation was measured using surface electromyography (EMG) during hip flexion, extension, adduction, and abduction, and a significant difference was observed in the activation levels of trunk muscles among the tests (p<.01). The EMG activity of the multifidus (MF) and erector spinae (ES) muscles on the contralateral side were significantly greater during hip extension. However, the activation levels of the contralateral internal oblique (IO) and rectus abdominis (RA) muscles were greatest during hip flexion. The MF : ES EMG ratio was significantly greater during hip isometric during hip isometric flexion and abduction compared to hip extension and adduction. There was no significantly difference in the IO : RA ratio during the isometric contractions toward different directions. These findings indicate that isometric lower limb exercise can elicit trunk muscle contraction on the contralateral side and may therefore be helped for developing contralateral trunk muscle strength in individuals undergoing rehabilitation.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.74-82
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• 2003

The purpose of this study is to provide guideline of muscle strengthening exercise for preparing ambulation by presenting suitable ratio of muscle power of agonist & antagonist, and that of concentric & eccentric contraction on behalf of amputee's normal ambulation training and it's strenthening as well. 7 Subjects who have femur amputee for experimental group were able to ambulate naturally without inconvenience and 20 adult subjects of comparison group for comparison were considered to be free from disturbance of ambulation. The method of study was to measure the muscle power of hip pint, was to figure out the ratio of agonist & antagonist, concentric contraction & eccentric contraction, and was to find out mean and standard deviation of each measurement. Every numerical value of comparison was tested by Mann-whitney and comparison group's comparison between left & right value was done with t-test. Results are as followings : 1) Extension force was stronger than flexor force and had no remarkable difference(p<0.05) 2) For normal adults, adduction farce was stronger than abduction force and for amputees, abduction force was stronger while adduction force was the same as the normal without showing remarkable difference(p<0.05) According the result above, I make an assumption that maintaining a proper ratio of muscle power on strengthening exercise for amputee's ambulation training & rehabilitation and finally bring out an improvement of transfer and ambulation.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.79-86
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of reduced plantar cutaneous sensation on gait kinematics during walking with and without CAI. Method: A total of 20 subjects involved in this study and ten healthy subjects and 10 CAI subjects participated underwent ice-immersion of the plantar aspect of the feet before walking test in this study. The gait kinematics were measured before and after ice-immersion. Results: We observed a before ice-immersion on plantar cutaneous sensation, CAI subject were found to reduced ankle dorsiflexion, knee external rotation, hip adduction, and internal rotation compared to control subject. After ice-immersion, CAI subjects were found to reduce knee external rotation, hip adduction. However, no significant ankle joint kinematics. Conclusion: While walking, gait pattern differences were perceived between groups with and without plantar cutaneous sensation. The results of the study may explain the abductions in the hip angle movements in CAI patients at initial contact compared to healthy subjects in the control group when plantar cutaneous sensation was reduced. A change in proximal joint kinematics may be a conservative strategy to promote normal gait patterns in CAI patients.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.64-72
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to determine the differences in joint moment in the intact limb of uni-transfemoral amputees and to identify the implications of knee osteoarthritis. As an experimental method, three-dimensional gait analysis was performed on 10 uni-transfemoral amputees and 10 healthy males. Kinematics and kinetics at the hip, knee, and ankle joint were calculated. As a statistical method, independent t-tests were conducted to perform a comparison between the transfemoral amputee group and the control group. The results showed that the external knee adduction moment increased in the transfemoral amputee group (.22 Nm/kg) compared with that of the control group (.13 Nm/kg) at terminal stance (p=.008). External knee flexion moment also increased in the transfemoral amputee group (.24 Nm/kg) but this difference was not statistically significant. External hip flexion moment increased in the transfemoral amputee group (1.35 Nm/kg) compared with that of the control group (.45 Nm/kg) at initial stance, and external hip extension moment decreased in the transfemoral amputee group (-.26 Nm/kg) compared with that of the control group (-.76 Nm/kg) at terminal stance. Although external ankle plantarflexion moment of the transfemoral amputee group increased, it was not found to be statistically significant. The results suggest that the intact limb joint moment of the uni-transfemoral amputees during walking can be different from that of healthy subjects. In conclusion, it was found that there is a link between the increase of external knee adduction moment and the prevalence of knee osteoarthritis in uni-transfemoral amputees. This result is expected to provide some objective data for rehabilitation programs related to knee osteoarthritis in transfemoral amputees.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 2024

Background: The serratus anterior (SA) is a muscle that performs protraction of the scapulothoracic joint and plays a role in stabilizing the scapula. Imbalances or weaknesses in SA activation are associated with a variety of shoulder dysfunctions, making selective SA strengthening important for rehabilitation. Objects: We aimed to compare the muscle activation of the pectoralis major (PM), SA, external oblique (EO), and internal oblique (IO) during the push-up plus (PUP) exercise with isometric hip adduction (HA) and abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM). Methods: Nineteen healthy male participants performed three PUP exercises: standard PUP, PUP with ADIM, and PUP with HA. Surface electromyography was used to measure and analyze the muscle activity for PM, SA, EO, and IO. Results: PUP with HA showed the lowest PM activity and highest SA activity, and no significant difference was observed between PUP and PUP with ADIM. PUP with ADIM showed significantly the highest EO and IO activity, followed by PUP with HA and PUP. Additionally, PUP with HA showed the lowest PM/SA ratio, and no significant difference was noted between PUP and PUP with ADIM. Conclusion: PUP with HA was able to show high SA muscle activity while reducing PM muscle activity. In addition, PUP with HA can lead to higher EO and IO muscle activity than standard PUP. This exercise could be used as a practical exercise method to selectively strengthen SA and improve scapular muscle stability during early shoulder rehabilitation.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.239-244
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• 2012

The prevalence of knee osteoarthritis was higher people with lower limb amputation. This was identified that transfemoral amputees have a greater external knee adduction moment than ablebodied subjects by biomechanical studies. Therefore, they need rehabilitative intervention for prevention and reduction of knee osteoarthritis. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of lateral wedge insole used in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. This study was participated in fourteen unilateral transfemoral amputees and we were analyzed the difference gait variables between without lateral wedge insole and with $5^{\circ}$ and $10^{\circ}$ lateral wedge insole during gait. Our results showed that step length ratio was more symmetrical and, hip adduction and ankle inversion angle were more close to normal value, and knee adduction moment was decreased as the wedge angle increases. We proposed that these data would be utilized conservative treatment of knee osteoarthritis in lower limb amputees.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.75-83
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• 2019

Background: A tight iliotibial band (ITB) may lead to lateral patellar maltracking, compression, and tilt, and dominant vatus lateralis (VL) muscle activation relative to vastus medialis oblique (VMO) can laterally displace the patella, which leads to anterior knee pain. Therefore, an effective management technique is needed to stabilize the patella in individuals with tight ITB. Increased stability during the modified Thomas test has the potential to decrease compensatory motion and thus to selectively stretch the ITB. Objects: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of ITB stretching in the modified Thomas test position on ITB flexibility, patellar translation, and muscle activities of the VMO and VL during quadreceps-setting (QS) exercise in individuals with tight ITB. Methods: Twenty-one subjects with tight ITB were recruited. Digital inclinometer was used to measure the hip adduction angle during the modified Ober test. Universal goniometer was used to measure the hip abduction angle during the modified Thomas test. Ultrasonography was used to measure the patella-condylar distance. Electromyography was performed to collect data of muscle activities. Paired t-test was used to determine the statistical significance between pretest and posttest. Results: The range of hip adduction in modified Ober test increased (p=.04) and the range of hip abduction in the modified Thomas test decreased after ITB stretching (p<.01). There was no difference between lateral patellar translation (p=.18). VMO muscle activity significantly increased after ITB stretching during QS (p<.01). VL muscle activity had no difference after stretching. Conclusion: The ITB stretching in the modified Thomas test position can be suggested as a management method for improving ITB flexibility and VMO muscle activity in individuals with tight ITB.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.177-185
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• 2022

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of additional isometric contraction of trunk, shoulder, and hip muscles during abdominal crunch exercise on abdominal muscle thickness and to identify the most effective intervention for core muscle activation. Methods : This study was conducted on 22 healthy male adults. Subjects performed three types of crunch exercises (abdominal crunches accompanied by internal and external isometric rotation of the hip, horizontal shoulder adduction and abduction, and rotation of the trunk). The thickness of the transverse abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO) were evaluated using ultrasonography. The collected data used one-way repeated ANOVA statistics. Wilcoxon signed-rank test of nonparametric statistics was used for post-test analysis. Results : The IO thickness was significantly lower than general abdominal crunch when shoulder adduction was added (p<.05). The crunch with shoulder abduction, hip external rotation, and ipsilateral trunk rotation was significantly higher than the abdominal crunch (p<.05). The EO thickness was significantly greater in the crunch with hip external rotation than in the abdominal crunch (p<.05). Conclusion : The level of contraction in abdominal muscles appears to vary when isometric contractions of the trunk, shoulder, and hip muscles are added to the abdominal crunch exercise. Therefore, the use of isometric contractions of other joints to selectively induce contraction of the abdominal muscles may be considered.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.45-53
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• 2021

PURPOSE: The current case study focuses on identifying the effects of the independent application of TECAR therapy and physiotherapeutic intervention using TECAR therapy on pain self-awareness and hip joint function in patients with hip impingement syndrome caused by nonstructural changes. Subjects: The research subject was a 34-year-old woman struggling with acute pain in her left hip, difficulty in actively moving the hip, and a problem in its overall function. METHODS: The subject's pain awareness and hip joint function were measured using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and passive range of motion (PROM), respectively. The experimental intervention was carried out in 24 sessions of 16 minutes each, three times a week, for eight weeks. RESULTS: The VAS score decreased to 0 cm on the post-test from 4.3 cm, 6.5 cm, and 7.2 cm in the pre-test at the rest, standing, and gait positions, respectively. The index of PROM measured hip joint flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, internal rotation, external rotation, and passive straight leg raise. The values increased to 122.5°, 24.5°, 78°, 33°, 65°, 42°, and 96.5° in the post-test compared to 88.5°, 15°, 39°, 21.5°, 23°, 22°, and 46.5° in the pre-test, respectively. CONCLUSION: TECAR therapy and physiotherapeutic intervention using TECAR can help reduce pain and enhance the hip joint function in patients with hip impingement syndrome.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.368-371
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of leg length discrepancy on kinematic changes of the pelvis and hip during gait. Methods: A total of ten healthy women with no history of neurological, musculoskeletal surgery or injuries, or pain in the lower limbs were recruited. They were assigned to two groups; the experimental group (LLD) consisting of five subjects leg length discrepancy of 10mm to 18mm and the control group (CON) consisting of five subjects leg length discrepancy of<10 mm. All participants were instructed to perform three walking trials for further analysis by using the Cortex 3.0 software program. Independent T-test and Mann-Whitney test were used to examine the effects of mild LLD on kinematic changes of the pelvis and hip during gait. Results: Angles of hip flexion, hip abduction, pelvic obliquity, and pelvic tilt in the experimental group were not significantly different compared to those of the control group. Conclusion: Mild leg length discrepancy induces kinematic changes in the lower limbs, including decreased hip flexion, increased hip abduction, and increased pelvic obliquity in the shorter limb, and increased hip adduction and increased pelvic obliquity in the longer limb. However, those changes were not significant.