• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 2014

Tendon elasticity is an important factor affecting muscle function and thus human movements. It has been reported that the mechanical properties of tendon are adaptable to external loading condition. Based on the adaptability of muscle and tendon to external loading conditions, one can assume that there might be an optimum ratio between muscle strength and tendon stiffness. The present study aimed to investigate whether there is correlation between plantar flexor muscle strength and stiffness of the achilles tendon (AT). Twenty two male subjects (age: $23.2{\pm}1.5yrs$, height: $175.5{\pm}6.2cm$, weight: $75.4{\pm}9.8kg$) performed maximum voluntary isometric plantarflexion on a custom-built dynamometer and muscle-tendon junction of the medial gastrocnemius muscle was simultaneously monitored using a real-time ultrasound imaging machine. The averages of muscle force and tendon stiffness were $366.38{\pm}79.37N$, $35.34{\pm}10.42N/mm$, respectively. Significant positive correlation was observed between muscle strength and tendon stiffness (r=0.8507), indicating that the muscle force is proportional to tendon stiffness. The results might have been used in computational modeling and criterion of training progress level in the fields of training and rehabilitation.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.49-59
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• 2005

This study assigns each 8 of 24 normal persons to control group(Group I), strength increase group(Group II) and endurance increase group(Group III) to analyze differences in changes of strength and endurance with surface electromyography and kinetics according to application modes of neuromuscular electrical stimulation(NMES). Group I had not any treatment, group II performed 15 repeated contraction with 60% intensity of maximal voluntary isometric contraction(MVIC) by setting 10-sec on time and 50-sec off time and group III conducted 30 repeated contraction with 30% intensity of MVIC by setting 10-sec on time and 20-sec off time. For neuromuscular electrical stimulation, 2,500 Hz of Russian current, 35 pps of pulse rate and 200 of pulse width. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation was conducted by five times for total 4 weeks. Before and after experimentmotor unit action potential of vastus medialis, rectus femoris and vastus lateralis were measured with sEMG, median frequency(MDF) was analyzed, and thus the following results were obtained. There was significant difference in the period of measuring vastus medialis and rectus femoris in change of MDF and interaction among groups with analysis of surface electromyography before and after neuromuscular electrical stimulation(p<.001) and in particular, there was a remarkable change among groups according to the period of measurement. In conclusion, NMES influenced changes of strength and endurance according to its application modes and in particular, it was found that strength increment application had a significant influence on strength increment in applying short-time NMES.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.123-130
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• 2007

This study is that the elderly female patients having low back pain(34 people) show a change of stabilization ratio after isotonic rehabilitation of 4 types(before exercise, after 4weeks, 8weeks, 12weeks). Under the cover of lumbar extension machine, isometric extension strength and stabilization ratio is measured and analyzed at some flexion angles(the degree of $0^{\circ}$, $12^{\circ}$, $24^{\circ}$, $36^{\circ}$, $48^{\circ}$, $60^{\circ}$, $72^{\circ}$). The conclusion is as follows. 1. The maximum lumbar extension strength at a range of 7 angles have an increase of 73.92% in case of 12weeks isotonic exercise(p<.001). 2. After 12weeks exercise, the lumbar flexion angle maximum extension strength, have an higher increase than 54% on the average at all angles(p<.001). These statistically show a meaningful increase of muscular strength. 3. After 12weeks isotonic exercise, the lumbar stabilization ratio have a decrease of 50.27% at a statistically meaningful level(p<.001). In case of 12weeks exercise comparing with 8weeks, the stabilization ratio decrease at the level of 1.85 versus 1. This figure is similar to that of a normal person. In view of this study, 12weeks exercise for the elderly female patients having low back pain has much influence on the change of lumbar stabilization ratio and this is the scientifically verified result of a long term exercise.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.49-55
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was conducted in order to analyze the effect of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation lower extremity pattern on muscular strength and flexibility in an aquatic environment. Methods: Ten members of the experimental group and 10 members of the control group were randomly selected from 20 college students who are in their 20s. Bilateral symmetry pattern among proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation lower extremity patterns was applied in an aquatic environment in the experimental group three times per week for a period of six weeks, and a set consisted of 10 times, which was repeated 10 times. On the other hand, subjects in the control group did not receive any treatment while maintaining daily life. Muscular strength was measured using a dynamometer and electromyogram system for maximum voluntary isometric contraction of hip flexor, hip extensor, knee flexor, and knee extensor. Cervical flexibility was measured using cervical range of motion instrument for cervical flexion, rotation, and lateral flexion. Lumbar flexibility was measured using back range of motion instrument II for lumbar flexion. Results: For the experimental group, significance was observed for hip flexor, extensor, knee flexor, extensor, cervical flexion, rotation, lateral flexion, and lumbar flexion. For the control group, no significance was observed for any other variables except for cervical flexion. As a result of observation of difference between the two groups, relatively high significance was observed in the experimental group, compared with the control group. Conclusion: In conclusion, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation lower extremity pattern had a positive effect on muscular strength and flexibility in an aquatic environment.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.757-763
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to observe the effect of elasticity of taping on ankle muscles'activity and endurance after plyometric training that easily causes ankle injury, and provide baseline data for physical therapy intervention methods. The study subjects are 24 male students in their 20s who attend N University in Choongnam. They were divided into three groups; 8 subjects in the elastic taping group, 8 in the non-elastic taping group, and 8 in the non-taping group(control group). They had plyometric training for 6 weeks. After the training, this study measured their maximum voluntary isometric contraction(MVIC) and muscle endurance of the muscles around ankle joint. The experiment result is as follows. After the training, all three groups showed improvement in muscle strength and endurance. The elastic taping group showed insignificant improvement in muscle strength but significant increase in muscle endurance in plantarflexion. In dorsiflexion, both muscle strength and endurance increased significantly. The non-elastic taping group showed insignificant improvement in muscle strength but significant increase in muscle endurance in plantarflexion. Taping during plyometric training had a little or insignificant effect on muscle endurance and strength compared to the non-taping group.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.155-164
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• 2007

This study is aimed at determining the effects of rehabilitation training on lumbar extension strength and relief of back pain in middle-aged women of low back pain. Twenty-nine subjects(total 29 people; CLBP 16, HLD 13) were trained twice per week for eight weeks and completed a maximum isometric test at various flexion angle(the degree of $0^{\circ}$, $12^{\circ}$, $24^{\circ}$, $36^{\icrc}$, $48^{\circ}$, $60^{\circ}$, $72^{\circ}$) by lumbar extension machine. The result showed that. 1. Patient group of CLBP were increased the maximum lumbar extension strength at a range of 7 flexion angles after rehabilitation rather than no rehabilitation(on the average 60.75%). The operated patient group in HLD also showed an increase of 56.55%. In view of these cases, all of two groups showed a significant increase of muscle strength(p<.05). But there is no difference between pre-exercise and post-exercise groups. 2. Patient group of CLBP were increased higher rate than 41% for maximum lumbar extension strength(91.79% at $0^{\circ}$, 79.41% at $12^{\circ}$, 65.89% at $24^{\circ}$) at all angles after 8 weeks training. Both groups indicated a significant increase(p<.05) of lumbar extension strength at all degrees. There is no difference between pre-exercise and post-exercise groups. 3. Relief of back pain in Patient group of CLBP showed a decrease of average 105.2% and patient group of HLD indicated a decrease of average 64.57% two groups showed a significant reduction (p<.05, p<.05). But in case of a decrease of pain, CLBP group got 3.44 points and HLD group got 4.77 points. In view of these results, two groups showed remarkable reduction of back pain, however HLD group had residual pain relatively.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.112-118
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• 2014

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of an exercise with and without neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) of the quadriceps femoris muscle, on strength, pain, and weight distribution in patients with knee instability post surgery. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Twenty patients in the early stage of rehabilitation after knee surgery were recruited as subjects and were randomly divided into either experimental group (exercise combined with NMES) (n=10) or control group (n=10). Both groups received strength training of the lower limb for 20 min/day, 5 days/week for 4 weeks. The experimental group used NMES for unilateral quadriceps femoris training with incremental increases in the intensity of isometric contraction over 4 weeks. Outcome measurements were assessed using the digital manual muscle testing, 30-chair stand test (30CST), numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) and weight distribution using the foot analyzer before and after 4 weeks of training. Results: After the 4-week intervention, knee extensor strength increased significantly in the experimental group post intervention (p<0.05), and there was a significant improvement in the experimental group compared with the control group (p<0.05). The 30CST and NPRS scores improved significantly in the experimental group compared to the control group (p<0.05), and there was a significant difference between the two groups (p<0.05). Weight distribution was significantly improved in the experimental group compared with the control group, (p<0.05), but there was no significant difference in improvement between the two groups. Conclusions: This study showed that NMES combined with strengthening exercises of the lower limbs is effective in improving lower limb pain and strength in patients with instability after knee surgery.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 2009

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to study the effect of rectus abdominal muscle contraction by proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation trunk stabilization training using extremity simultaneous pattern (PNF trunk stabilization training) and traditional trunk stabilization training methods. Methods : A group of 24 adults male and female, healthy, with no previous medical history nor disability in neuromuscular system and musculoskeletal system was chosen as subjects, and was divided into a control group, a PNF trunk stabilization training group and a traditional trunk stabilization training group. Experiments were performed on the last two groups, 3 times a week for 6 weeks, totaling 18 times. Using a dynamometer, muscle strength and endurance time on trunk flexion were measured before and after each experiment, and surface electromyography in left and right rectus abdominis were measured. Results : following results were obtained; 1. As for the change in the maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), all subjects in the trunk stabilization training group showed significant difference from those in the control group. 2. As for surface electromyography measurement and the changes in root mean square at the time of trunk flexion, in the left rectus abdominis, PNF trunk stabilization training group showed significant difference from the control group, while in the right rectus abdominis, traditional trunk stabilization training group showed significant difference. Conclusion : To sum up the results, both trunk stabilization training groups showed improvement in the MVIC of abdominal muscle, motor unit action potential activity, but the difference between two trunk stabilization training groups was not significant. Therefore, while trunk stabilization training significantly improved abdominal muscle contraction, but the difference attributable to training methods was found to be insignificant.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.2071-2076
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• 2020

Background: Based on the understanding of the muscle activation relationship between the infraspinatus and posterior deltoid muscles to according to the angle of motion during external rotation on glenohumeral joint, effective shoulder joint strengthening exercise for the prevention and rehabilitation of shoulder injury due to muscle strength imbalance can be performed by achieving the ideal muscle activity ratio during exercise. Objectives: To compare and analyze the muscle activation changes and activity ratio of the infraspinatus and posterior deltoid muscles according to the glenohumeral external rotation angle. Design: Quasi-randomized trial. Methods: The study included 48 healthy male and female adults who provided informed consent for participation in the study. All the subjects performed isometric glenohumeral external rotation by setting the angle of motion to 30°, 45°, and 60° using a 5 kg resistance weight pulley. On surface electromyography, the differences in muscle activation and activity ratio between the infraspinatus and posterior deltoid muscles were investigated. Results: A significant difference in muscle activation was found in the comparison between the infraspinatus and posterior deltoid muscles according to the glenohumeral external rotation angle (P<.05). The muscle activation levels of the infraspinatus and posterior deltoid muscles were highest at the external rotation angles of 30° and 60°, respectively. The muscle activity ratio between the infraspinatus and posterior deltoid muscles also showed a significant difference (P<.05) and was highest at the shoulder external rotation angle of 30°. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that muscle activity is the highest at the shoulder external rotation angle of 30° in healthy individuals.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.11 no.10
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• pp.549-556
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• 2013

In this study, we investigated the effects of stretching and movement with mobilization in lunge position on the muscle activity of the lower limb and limited of stability in chronic stroke patients with hemiplegia. Sixteen subjects were randomly selected and classified into the experimental and control groups. The experimental group performed self stretching exercises in the lunge position, and in the control group performed movement with mobilization in the lunge position. The interventions were conducted for 20 min, 5 times a week for 8 weeks. Statistical analyses were performed using repeated ANOVA. The analysis results showed no statistically significant between-group differences with respect to the muscle activity(%MVIC;maximum voluntary isometric contraction) of lower limb and limited of stability(LOS)(p>.05). However, statistically significant within-group differences were observed in the maximum voluntary isometric contraction and limited of stability for both the groups (p<.05). Therefore, self stretching in the lunge position is considered to have positive influences on the muscle strength and balance in stroke patients with hemiplegia.