• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.59-66
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of knee joint muscle fatigue and overweight on shock absorption during single-leg landing of adult women. Written informed consent forms, which were approved by the human subject research and review committee at Dong-A University, were provided to all subjects. The subjects who participated in this study were divided into 2 groups: a normal weight group and an overweight group, consisting of 15 young women each. Both the normal weight group and the overweight group showed that use soft landing and ankle dominant strategy. The peak vertical ground reaction force, the knee joint absorption power, and eccentric work done, as the increase of knee joint muscle fatigue level, showed a decrease. And the hip joint absorption power and eccentric work done, as the increase of weight, was less than the overweight group showed the normal weight group. In conclusion, the accumulation of the knee joint muscle fatigue and the increase of body weight may lead to an increased risk of injury during landing.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.63-69
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• 2014

Cross knee curl-up is an ideal variation of abdominal curl up exercise to strengthen abdominal musculature without excessive lumbar flexion which can increase the loads on the disc and ligaments. In addition, slowly forced expiration can facilitate the activation of the abdominal musculature. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of slowly forced expiration on activity of abdominal muscles, such as rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), and transverse abdominis/internal oblique (TrA/IO), while cross knee curl-up. Eleven young and healthy subjects (6 males and 5 females) participated. All subjects performed the cross knee curl-up slowly forced expiration and natural breathing. Paired t-test was performed in normalized electromyogram (EMG) muscle activity of the bilateral RA, EO, and TrA/IO to compare the differences between the cross curl-up with slowly forced expiration and natural breathing. Statistical significance was set at .05. There were no significant differences in normalized EMG muscle activity of the bilateral RA, EO, and TrA/IO between the cross curl-up with slowly forced expiration and natural breathing. The finding of this study designates that slowly forced expiration does not induce increasing activity of abdominal muscle in cross knee curl-up; hence, learning step of breathing control might not be necessary to strengthen abdominal muscle in cross knee curl-up.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.223-230
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• 2006

Purpose: This study was to examine the effect of electrical muscle stimulation therapy on chronic knee pain and depression for the aged. Method: Design was one-group pretest-posttest design. Samples were 32 elderly of 60 years old and above with chronic knee pain and depression. Measures were the S-F McGill Pain Questuionnaire for chronic knee pain and the Korean Elderly Depression Scale for depression. Electrical muscle stimulation therapy, experimental treatment, was applied for 12 weeks, 3 times/week, 15 min/time. Data were collected from January 2005 to May 2005. Data were analyzed using SPSS PC+ 12 version. Results: After receiving electrical muscle stimulation therapy, chronic knee pain (t=-88.034, P=.000) and depression (t=-114.659, P=.000) were significantly decreased. Conclusion: Electrical muscle stimulation therapy can be a better effective primary nursing intervention on chronic knee pain and depression for community dwelling elders.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.79-86
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• 2022

Background: Bird dog exercise (BDE) is one of the lumbar stabilization exercises that rehabilitate low back pain by co-contraction of the local and global muscles. Previous studies have reported the effect of various type of BDEs (for example, practicing the exercises on various surfaces and changing the limb movement) for muscle co-contraction. Objects: This study aimed to investigate the effect of knee joint flexion position of the raised lower limb on abdominal and back muscle activity during BDE in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). Methods: Thirteen males participated in this study (age: 32.54 ± 4.48 years, height: 177.38 ± 7.17 cm). Surface electromyographic (SEMG) data of the internal abdominal oblique (IO), external abdominal oblique (EO), lumbar multifidus (MF), and thoracic part of the iliocostalis lumborum (ICLT) were collected in two knee joint flexion positions (90° flexion versus 0° flexion) during BDE. The SEMG data were expressed as a percentage of root mean square mean values obtained in the maximal voluntary isometric contraction. Results: Greater muscle activity of the IO (p = 0.001), MF (p = 0.009), and ICLT (p = 0.021) of the raised lower limb side and the EO (p = 0.001) and MF (p = 0.009) of the contralateral side were demonstrated in the knee joint flexion position compared to the knee joint extension position. Greater local/global activity ratios of the abdominal muscle (i.e., IO and EO) of the raised lower limb (p = 0.002) and the back muscle (i.e., MF and ICLT) of the contralateral side (p = 0.028) were also noted in the knee joint flexion position. Conclusion: BDE with a knee joint flexion position might be recommended as an alternative lumbar stabilization exercise to enhance muscle activity in both the raised lower limb and the contralateral sides of the trunk for individuals with CLBP.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.275-281
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• 2015

Objective : In order for Taekwondo athletes to perform destructive kicking performance, they are expected to have Taekwondo-specific muscle properties such as high muscle strength and power. The purpose of this study was to investigate the joint angle-dependent force-producing property of Taekwondo athletes' knee extensor muscles, which is one of the primary muscle groups involved in kicking performance. Method : Ten Taekwondo male athletes (age: $19.9{\pm}0.7yrs$, height: $180.6{\pm}6.2cm$, body mass: $75.9{\pm}8.9kg$, career: $9.2{\pm}2.9yrs$.) and 10 healthy male non-athletes (age: $26.3{\pm}2.6yrs$, height: $174.2{\pm}4.8cm$, body mass: $72.8{\pm}7.7kg$) participated in this study. Subjects performed maximum isometric knee extension at knee joint angles of $40^{\circ}$, $60^{\circ}$, $80^{\circ}$, and $100^{\circ}$ (the full knee extension was set to $0^{\circ}$) with the hip joint angles of $0^{\circ}$ and $80^{\circ}$ (the full extension was set to $0^{\circ}$). During the contractions, knee extension torque using an isokinetic dynamometer simultaneously with muscle activities of the rectus femoris (RF), and the vastus lateralis (VL) and vastus medialis (VM) using surface electromyography were recorded. Based on the torque values at systematically different knee-hip joint angles, the joint torque-angle relationships were established and then the optimal joint angle for the knee extensor was estimated. Results : The results of this study showed that the isometric knee extension torque values were greater for the Taekwondo athletes compared with the non-athlete group at all hip-knee joint angle combinations (p<.05). When the hip joint was set at $80^{\circ}$, the peak isometric torque was greater for the Taekwondo athletes compared with the non-athlete group ($313.61{\pm}36.79Nm$ and $221.43{\pm}35.92Nm$, respectively; p<.05) but the estimated optimum knee joint angles were similar ($62.33{\pm}5.71^{\circ}$ and $62.30{\pm}4.67^{\circ}$ for the Taekwondo athletes and non-athlete group, respectively). When the hip joint was set at $0^{\circ}$, the peak isometric torque was greater for the Taekwondo athletes compared with the non-athlete group ($296.29{\pm}45.13Nm$ and $199.58{\pm}25.23Nm$, respectively; p<.05) and the estimated optimum knee joint angle was larger for the Taekwondo athletes compared with the non-athlete group ($78.47{\pm}5.14^{\circ}$ and $67.54{\pm}5.77^{\circ}$, respectively; p<.05). Conclusion : The results of this study suggests that, compared with non-athletes, Taekwondo athletes have stronger knee extensor strength at all hip-knee joint angle combinations as well as longer optimum muscle length, which might be optimized for the event-specific required performance through prolonged training period.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.77-85
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• 2021

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the changes in muscle strength and walking ability in patients who complained of knee instability due to excessive pronation of the foot. METHODS: Twenty patients (ten men and ten women) who complained of instability of the knee joint due to excessive pronation of the foot participated in the experiment. In the experimental group, the internal rotation of the tibia caused by excessive adduction of the foot was maintained as external rotation, and the joint state was to recognize the movement of the joint position changed through maintenance of the muscle. This exercise was performed five times for each patient, and the muscle strength maintenance was performed for 20 seconds. In the control group, stretching and range of motion (ROM) exercises were performed. For the stretching exercise, one specific motion was performed for 20 second, and the ROM exercise was performed to confirm the change in muscle strength in the knee joint area and walking ability. RESULTS: The knee flexion and extension strength in the patients with excessive pronation of the foot differed significantly from those in the subjects from the control group (p<.05). Further, the before-after comparison of the step time and length in the evaluation of walking ability, which affects overall postural movement due to knee joint instability, revealed a significant difference between the experimental and control groups (p<.05). CONCLUSION: The patients that were subjected to manual therapy and ROM exercise for the knee joint showed improved knee joint muscle strength and walking ability compared to the subjects from the control group.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.140-148
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• 2023

Objective: Meniscal injuries are a common and high-risk condition among military personnel, leading to difficulties in performing missions.The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of combining electrical muscle stimulation therapy with exercise therapy during rehabilitation on pain, muscle strength, and function in patients after meniscectomy. Design: A two-group pretest-posttest design Methods: A total of 30 subjects were included in this study. They were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n=15), which received knee extensor strengthening exercise along with electrical muscle stimulation, or the control group (n=15), which received only knee extensor strengthening exercise. Pre-test was conducted prior to the intervention, which consisted of 30 minutes of treatment five times a week for a total of 20 sessions. Post-test was performed after a 4-week period. Pain, strength, and function were assessed before and after the intervention. Results: The results of the study showed that there was a significant difference in pain reduction and muscle strength improvement in the experimental group, and a significant difference was also found between the experimental group and the control group in terms of functional evaluation. Conclusions: The combination of exercise therapy and electrical muscle stimulation therapy resulted in greater improvements in pain, strength, and function assessment, contributing to improved overall function.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.83-90
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• 2017

Objective: To investigate the effect of short-term vibration frequencies on muscle force generation capabilities. Method: Six healthy participants were recruited for this study and only their dominant leg was tested. The subjects were tested under five conditions of vibration frequencies with constant amplitude: 0 Hz (no vibration), 30 Hz, 60 Hz, and 90 Hz, and the vibration amplitude was 10 mm for all frequency conditions. The vibration was applied to the rectus femoris (RF). The subjects were then instructed to maintain a steady-state isometric knee joint torque (100 Nm) for the first 6 s. After the steady-state torque production, the subjects were required to produce isometric knee joint torque by leg extension as hard as possible with a start signal within the next 3 s. The vibration was applied for ~4 s starting from 1 s before initiation of the change in the steady-state knee joint torque. Results: The results showed that the maximum voluntary torque (MVT) of the knee joint increased with the vibration frequencies. On average, the MVTs were 756.47 Nm for 0 Hz (no vibration) and 809.61 Nm for 90 Hz. There was a significant positive correlation (r = 0.71) between the MVTs and integrated electromyograms (iEMGs). Further, the co-contraction indices (CCIs) were computed, which represent the ratio of the iEMGs of the antagonist muscle to the iEMGs of all involved muscles. There was a significant negative correlation (r = 0.62) between the CCIs and MVTs, which was accompanied by a significant positive correlation (r = 0.69) between the iEMGs of the vibrated muscle (RF). There was no significant correlation between the MVTs and iEMGs of the antagonist muscle. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the short-term vibration on the muscle increases the level of muscle activation possibly owing to the increased Ia afferent activities, which enhances the muscle force generation capability.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.308-313
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• 2016

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of sex hormones across menstrual cycle phases on knee muscle activity during one-leg landing in non-athletic females. Methods: Twenty-six healthy females who reported normal menstrual cycles for the previous three months were tested when estrogen levels were highest (ovulation) and lowest (menstruation). Knee muscle activity was analyzed based on electromyography (EMG) data recorded during landing on a 30-cm box. Before data collection, each subject was trained in single-leg landing tasks ten times. Landing was analyzed by measuring the average of three landing tasks. EMG data were collected between the moment of ground contact and the point of knee maximum flexion. The maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) for normalization that was recorded as the EMG root-mean-square (RMS) during landing was tested, with paired t-tests used to assess differences in knee muscle activity according to menstrual cycle phases. Results: The results showed that the soleus, semitendinosus, and lateral gastrocnemius muscle activity during landing was differed significantly during ovulation compared to that during menstruation (p<0.05). No significant differences in vastus medialis activity were found between menstrual and ovulatory phases during landing (p>0.05). Conclusion: Changes in the menstrual cycle in response to sex hormones changed the activity of muscles around the knee during landing. Females utilize different muscle activity control strategies during different phases of the menstrual cycle, which may contribute to increased ACL injury risk.