• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 2021

Background: Hip flexor muscles are very important in the hip joint structure as a mover and stabilizer. In addition, isometric hip flexor strength in the supine position needs to be considered with isometric core strength (WICS) to measure a precise strength in a clinical way. Objects: We compared isometric hip flexor strength in the supine position in subjects with and without WICS (between factors) and conditions with and without an external support (within factors). Methods: A total of 34 subjects (16 with WICS, 18 without WICS) participated in this study. We used the double-bent leg-lowering test to divide the subjects in two groups according to the presence of WICS. Isometric hip flexor strength was evaluated in the supine position both with and without an external support condition. The two-way mixed analysis of variance was applied to identify significant differences between groups (with vs. without WICS: between factors) and conditions (with vs. without an external support: within factors). Statistical significance was set at α = 0.05. Results: In subjects with WICS, isometric hip flexor strength was greater with an external support than without it (p = 0.0064). In subjects without WICS, there were no significant differences in isometric hip flexor strength in the presence or absence of an external support (p = 0.075). The isometric hip flexor strength was significantly greater with an external support condition in particular in subjects with WICS. Conclusion: The findings of this study reported that an external support condition in individuals with WICS may contribute to the improvement of isometric hip flexion strength in the supine position. Therefore, isometric core strength should be evaluated to distinguish the weakness between core region and hip flexors.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.245-252
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• 2023

Background: Various functional tests such as upper quarter Y-balance test (UQYBT) are used to evaluate shoulder stability and mobility in clinical or sports fields. Previous studies have been conducted to determine the correlation between the scapular or trunk muscle and UQYBT. However, the correlation between UQYBT and hip flexor, which can be considered as a core muscle, has not been confirmed. Objects: To verify the relationship between the UQYBT and scapular muscle (scapular protractor and lower trapezius [LT]), trunk muscle, and hip flexor strengths in healthy male participants. Methods: A total of 37 healthy male participants were recruited and underwent UQYBT in the push-up posture. The isometric strength of the scapular protractor, LT, trunk flexor and extensor, and hip flexors were measured using a smart KEMA strength sensor (KOREATECH Inc.). Results: The superolateral direction of the UQYBT was moderately to strongly related to trunk extensor (r = 0.443, p < 0.01), scapular protractor (r = 0.412, p < 0.05), LT (r = 0.436, p < 0.01), and both sides of the hip flexors (supporting-side: r = 0.669, p < 0.01; non-supporting-side: r = 0.641, p < 0.01). The inferolateral direction of the UQYBT was moderately related to the scapular protractor (r = 0.429, p < 0.01), LT (r = 0.511, p < 0.01), and both sides of hip flexors (supporting-side: r = 0.481, p < 0.01; non-supporting-side: r = 0.521, p < 0.01). The medial direction of the UQYBT was moderately to strongly related with the scapular protractor (r = 0.522, p < 0.01), LT (r = 0.541, p < 0.01), and both sides of hip flexors (supporting-side: r = 0.605, p < 0.01; non-supporting-side: r = 0.561, p < 0.01). Conclusion: This study showed that the strength of the scapular muscles, trunk muscles, and hip flexor muscles correlated to the UQYBT. Therefore, the strength of not only the scapular and trunk muscles but also the hip flexor muscles should be considered to improve the UQYBT.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.71-80
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• 2019

PURPOSE: This study examined whether a task-oriented training program is an effective intervention to improve the body function, activity, and participation of children with cerebral palsy (CP). METHODS: Ten children with CP (7-13 years old) performed a task-oriented training program for eight weeks (three sessions per week, 30 minutes each). The taskoriented training program consisted of eight activities. The subjects' body function was assessed using a handheld dynamometer, goniometer, Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Balance Performance Monitor (BPM), and the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOTMP). The subjects' activity and participation were assessed using the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) and Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. RESULTS: Task-oriented training provided significant improvements in the subjects' body function. The subjects improved the bilateral isometric muscle strength of the hip flexors, extensors and abductors, knee flexors and extensors, and ankle dorsi- and plantar flexors (p<.05). Bilateral passive hip flexion, abduction, and external rotation, knee flexion, and ankle dorsi- and plantar flexion were also increased (p<.05). In addition, the MAS score of the hip adductors decreased (p<.05) and the BOTMP score increased after training (p<.05). The subjects' activity and participation also improved significantly after training, increasing the GMFM score (p<.05) and decreasing the TUG score (p<.05). On the other hand, the BPM score did not change after training. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that a task-oriented training program can be an effective intervention to improve the body function, activity, and participation for children with CP.