• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.31-41
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the angle of a wedged insole on knee varus torque during walking. Fifteen healthy subjects were recruited. Knee varus torque was measured using three-dimensional motion analysis (Elite). Knee varus torque was normalized to gait cycle (0%: initial contact; 100%: ipsilateral initial contact) and stance phase (0%: initial contact; 100%: ipsilateral toe off). The average peaks of knee varus torque during the stance phase of the gait cycle according to the different insole angles (10 or 15 degrees) were compared using one-way ANOVA with repeated measures. The results showed that in the early stance phase, the average peak knee varus torque increased significantly for both the medial 10 and 15 degree wedged insole conditions and decreased significantly for both the lateral 10 and 15 degree wedged insole conditions as compared with no insole (p<.05). However, there were no significant differences between the 10 and 15 degree wedged insole conditions with either the medial or lateral wedged insole (p>.05). In the late stance phase, the average peak knee varus torque increased significantly for the medial 10 and 15 degree wedged insole conditions (p<.05), but not for the lateral 10 and 15 degree wedged insole conditions as compared with no insole (p>.05). We suggest that these results may be beneficial for manufacturing foot orthotic devices, such as wedged insoles, to control medial and lateral compartment forces in the knee varus-valgus deformity. Further studies of the effects of wedged insole angle on knee varus torque in patients with medial-lateral knee osteoarthritis are needed.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.25-31
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• 2018

Background: The purpose of this study was to find out how changes in knee angles in stable and unstable support surfaces affect the muscle thickness of core muscles. Methods: The subjects of this study were 25 male adult. Each knee angle of 120, 90 and 60 degrees, they were performed bridge exercise on the stabilized surface and on the unstable support surface using TOGU, and measured the muscle thickness of the external and internal oblique muscle and the abdominal muscles through ultrasound images. Results: There was no significant difference between the thickness of the rectus abdominis and the internal oblique muscle depending on the support surface and the knee joint bending angles. However, there was a significant difference between the external oblique muscle and the transverse abdominis muscle by knee joint flexion angle. Conclusion: While the muscle thickness of the core muscle was not significantly affected by each support surface during the bridge exercise, there were significant changes in the core muscle as a result of changes in knee angle.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.65-73
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to identify the saddle to pedal length contributing to successful performance in kayak using a kayak ergometer. Ten male elite kayak players participated in this study. players were tested on the kayak ergometer which was varied saddle to pedal length by the knee flexion angle(90deg; 120deg; 150deg) to measure stroke frequency, paddling amplitude, joint angle, RoM and angular velocity, foot pressure and force, iEMG using the 3D motion system, foot pressure system and EMG wireless system. At a results, rowing at 120deg on knee flexion angle showed higher stroke frequency and paddling amplitude than other knee flexion angles. RoM at upper extremity showed not significant difference between knee flexion angles. But there were significant differences in thorax and pelvis rotation RoM, knee flexion-extension RoM in each condition. In addition, foot pressure, force and iEMG were significantly different in knee flexion angles. Study showed that changed of saddle to pedal length affected rowing performance kinds of stroke frequency, paddling amplitude. The most important thing, increased range of motion in pelvic and thorax has occurred by force that generated foot-bar to seat. Not only that, but it seems to be attributed to a technical adaptation developed to maximum rowing performance.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.93-101
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• 2006

This study examined whether there is a transfer effect to other joint angles and the angular specificity of muscle fatigue after 6 weeks of isometric training of the vastus medialis. Twenty subjects were randomly assigned to 30° and 90° knee flexion groups and were trained at 80% maximal voluntary isometric contraction(MVIC) three times a week for 6 weeks. The pre-and post-training values of the 80% holding time(endurance time) of MVIC, the Fatigue Index(FI), and the MVIC at 30°, 60°, and 90° were compared. After isometric training for 6 weeks, in the 30° knee flexion group, FI decreased significantly(p<0.05) only at 30°, which was the training angle; there was no change at other angles. By contrast, in the 90° knee flexion group, FI decreased significantly(p<0.05) at both the trained angle and at the other angles, indicating a transfer effect of training. MVIC did not increase significantly(p<0.05) at any trained angle in either the 30° or 90° knee flexion groups after 6 weeks of isometric training, neither did the 80% holding time of MVIC differ significantly compared with pre-training in either group. These findings suggest that training at 90° of knee flexion is more effective than training at 30° of knee flexion for obtaining a training transfer effect on muscle fatigue in the vastus medialis.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.76-81
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• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the effects of squatting with different foot positions on the muscle activation of the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscles in subjects with genu varum. Methods: Thirty four subjects participated in this study. Surface electromyography was used to measure the muscle activation of the VMO and VL muscles at the knee angles ($15^{\circ}$, $60^{\circ}$) at three foot positions (internal rotation, neutral position, external rotation) during squatting. Results: Muscle activation differences at different knee angles and foot positions differed significantly between the VMO and VL muscles in both the varus and normal groups. In addition, there was a significant difference according to the knee angles with the foot in external rotation in the VMO and VL ratio. In the varus group, however, the VMO and VL ratio were significantly different only with the feet in internal rotation. In the muscle activation changes of the knee angle differences in the foot position, there was no significant difference in the varus group, but both the VMO and VL muscles were significant different in the normal group. Conclusion: In both groups, regardless of the foot position, muscle activation of the VMO and VL muscles increased with increasing knee flexion angle. In the normal group, when squatting with the feet in external rotation, the VMO and VL muscles activations increased with increasing knee angle. In the varus group, however, the foot position did not affect the VMO or VL muscle activation. This study shows that subjects with genu varum and normal subjects have different VMO and VL muscle activation patterns during squat exercises.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.107-113
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• 2007

The purpose of this study were to investigate the effects of knee brace on the knee muscular neuro-biomechanical variables during the rebound in female highschool basketball players. Twelve high school female ($17.9{\pm}0.8years$) basketball players rebound jumped for maximal vertical height to sufficiently stress the anterior cruciate ligament with and without knee brace. Kinematic data were collected to estimate the knee flexion, abduction angles and jump height. The EMG data from the biceps femoris and rectus femoris was used to estimate the ratio of quadriceps muscle activity. Female athletes with knee brace showed more reduced the knee abduction angle and the ratio of quadriceps muscle activity at foot contact phase than without knee brace. In conclusion, Female athletes with brace reduced knee anterior cruciate ligament loads.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.9-15
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• 2016

Background: Squatting is one of the best functional exercises to strengthen the quadriceps muscle in independent gait and activities of daily living. Although the use of a gym ball during squat exercise is the most common way of strengthening the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) muscle, published data on this subject are limited. Objects: The purpose of this study was to compare the sequential muscle activation of the VMO and vastus lateralis (VL) muscles during squat exercise using a gym ball at different knee flexion angles. Methods: Forty healthy adults were randomly divided into experimental (squat exercise using a gym ball) and control (squat exercise alone) groups, in which squats were performed at $45^{\circ}$ and $90^{\circ}$ knee flexion. Electromyographic (EMG) activity data were collected over 10 seconds under the 2 angles of knee flexion ($45^{\circ}$ and $90^{\circ}$). Results: There was significant group and time interaction effect for VMO and VL muscle activation at $45^{\circ}$ knee flexion. This was similarly demonstrated at $90^{\circ}$ knee flexion. No significant group main effect and time main effect for VMO and VL muscle activation were noted at $45^{\circ}$ knee flexion, respectively. In contrast, there was significant group main effect and time main effect for VMO and VL muscle activation at $90^{\circ}$ knee flexion. These significant differences were demonstrated through two-way analysis of variance over repeated measurements, suggesting that the EMG activity of the VMO muscle during squatting with a gym ball showed remarkable improvement compared to that of the VL muscle. Conclusion: This research suggests that squat exercise using a gym ball may be more beneficial in improving the activity of VMO than of the VL muscle at both $45^{\circ}$ and $90^{\circ}$ of knee flexion, respectively. We highly recommend squat exercises with a gym ball for selective strengthening of the VMO muscle in knee rehabilitation.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.690-696
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• 2013

This study, which is conducted on two groups of skilled people and unskilled people, is purposed to analyze joint angle of lower extremity during short track speed skating in order to find out efficient body position and propose ideal training method. Short Track Speed Skating has a wide range of research areas, but their findings indicate a promising area for further research. Targeting 8 people who are skilled in short track speed skating and 8 people who are not skilled in it, this study analyzes three dimensional images using super-high speed camera to compare differences between these two groups of people. In this study, 6 sections of body positions including right foot push-off, right foot recovery, right foot basic position, left foot push-off, left foot recovery, and left foot basic position were analyzed using 8 super-high speed cameras of VICON. These body positions were analyzed in order to find out joint angles of the hip joint, the knee joint, and the ankle joint. In the section 4 of the inner and outer parts of the left hip angles showed significant difference, and most of the sections of knee joint angles also showed significant difference. In the section 1 and 2 of the plantar flexion, dorsiflexion of ankle joints showed significant difference(p<.001) It was found out that there were differences between groups of skilled people and unskilled people in terms of lower extremity's joint angles such as angles of the hip joint, the knee joint, and the ankle joint.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.1584-1594
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• 2008

This study was to research the characteristics of the body shape of Korean woman farmers by the major crops. Four hundred ninety-five Korean woman farmers from 9 different area such as Kumi, Damyang, Iksan, Injae, Chungju, Choongju, Haman, Whasung, and Whasoon volunteered for this study. Their major crops were the rice, the pepper, the water melon, the strawberry, the wild rocambole, the sweet persimmon, the grapes, the mushroom, and the chrysanthemums. Twelve body angles were measured from archived the somatotype photographs of the front, the side, and the back. Questionnaires of SF-36 and the farmer's symptom, and the farm-work related movements were surveyed. The results were as follows; 1. Farmers had lower health levels in physical role limit, pain, vitality, and physical function than other occupational workers. 2. Most farmers acted the high-risk ergonomics motions when they worked in the farm. 3. There were significantly different on the both shoulder angles, the hip tangential line slope, the hip breadth angel, in frontal ankle-knee angle, the bending back angle, the dropping breast slope, the abdominis media angle, under the abdominis media angle, the glutea angle, under the glutea angle, and the sideward knee angle(p<.05). 4. Farmers cultivating the low plants such as the water melon, the strawberry, and the wild rocambole showed more banded vertebralis and side knee angles. Farmers cultivating the red pepper showed the dropping the left shoulder and O shape legs. Farmers cultivating the fruit trees such as the sweet persimmon and the grapes showed the less banded side knee angles than other farmer groups. 5. On comparing the same age, farmers showed the older's body shape in earlier and much more than the old living in the city.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.15-22
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to determine the muscle activities of the erector spinae (ES), gluteus maximus (Gmax), gluteus medius (Gmed), and the hamstring (HAM) and the ratios of Gmax/ES, Gmax/HAM, and Gmed/HAM during the prone heel squeeze (PHS) with different knee flexion angles ($45^{\circ}$, $90^{\circ}$, and $135^{\circ}$). Fifteen young and healthy subjects (8 men, 7 women) were recruited for the study. Surface electromyography signals were collected on ES, Gmax, Gmed, and HAM during PHS. A separate one-way analysis of variance with repeated measures was used to determine the significance of the muscle activities of ES, Gmax, Gmed, and HAM and the ratios of Gmax/ES, Gmax/HAM, and Gmed/HAM with different knee flexion angles during PHS. There was a significant increase in the Gmax activity at the knee flexion of $90^{\circ}$ in comparison with that of the $45^{\circ}$ (p=.016). There were significant increases in the Gmed activity at the knee flexion of $90^{\circ}$ (p=.008) and $135^{\circ}$ (p=.006) in comparison with that of the $45^{\circ}$. There were significant decreases in the HAM activity at the knee flexion of $90^{\circ}$ (p=.009) and $135^{\circ}$ (p=.004) in comparison with that of the $45^{\circ}$. There were significant increases in the Gmax/HAM muscle activity ratio at the knee flexion of $90^{\circ}$ (p=.007) and $135^{\circ}$ (p=.012) in comparison with that of the $45^{\circ}$. There were significant increase in the Gmed/HAM muscle activity ratio at the knee flexion of $135^{\circ}$ in comparison with that of the $45^{\circ}$ (p=.008). The knee flexion of $90^{\circ}$ during PHS can induce decreasing activity of HAM and increasing activity of Gmax, and the knee flexion of $135^{\circ}$ during PHS can induce decreasing activity of HAM and increasing activity of Gmed. Hence, PHS with different knee flexion positions could be considered for the different target muscle.