• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1-7
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• 2010

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of lumbar stabilization on both trunk and lower limb muscle activity and center of pressure (COP) in single leg standing. Surface electromyography (EMG) was used to collect muscle activity data, the mean velocity of COP was measured using a force plate, and a pressure biofeedback unit was used for lumbar stabilization training. The findings of this study are summarized as follows: 1) The EMG activity of the erector spinae decreased significantly and the activity of the rectus abdominis, internal oblique, external oblique, gluteus maximus, and gluteus medius increased significantly with lumbar stabilization single leg standing. 2) No differences in activity in the tibialis anterior, medial gastrocnemius, rectus femoris, and medial hamstrings were found with single leg standing. 3) The mean velocity of COP in the antero-posterior and medio-lateral directions in the lumbar stabilization single leg standing decreased significantly compared with the preferred single leg standing. The findings of this study therefore indicate that lumbar stabilization can facilitate the co-activation of deep stabilization and global muscles that improve postural control capability during single leg standing.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.80-86
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• 2008

Cross-legged sitting postures are commonly assumed during computer work. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of leg crossing on trunk muscle activity while typing at a computer. Trunk muscle activity was measured in three 8 different sitting postures, in random order. These posture were: normal sitting with a straight trunk and both feet on the floor (NS), upper leg crossing (ULC), and ankle on knee (AOK). The right leg was crossed onto the left leg in both cross-legged postures. Twenty able-bodied male volunteers participated in this study. Subjects typed on a computer keyboard for one minute. Surface electromyography (EMG) was used to record bilateral muscle activity in the external oblique (EO). internal oblique (IO), and rectus abdominis (RA). The EMG activity of each muscle in the NS posture was used as a reference (100% EMG activity) in relation to the two cross-legged postures. Muscle activity in the right EO. right IO, and left IO was significantly lower in the ULC posture than in the NS posture. In contrast, muscle activity in the right RA was significantly higher in the ULC posture than in the NS posture. Muscle activity in the tight RA was significantly higher in the AOK posture, as compared to the NS posture, whereas activity in the left IO was significantly lower in the AOK posture, as compared to the NS posture. The right-left muscle activity ratios in the EO and IO showed significantly different patterns in the cross-legged postures, suggesting that asymmetrical right-left oblique muscle activity had occurred.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.267-271
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• 2022

Purpose: This study examined the effects of a kettlebell and aqua bag on the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, and vastus medialis lower extremity muscle strength during a one-leg deadlift, a top-down exercise. Methods: Twenty healthy adults were enrolled in the one-leg deadlift exercise under two conditions. The muscle activity of the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, and vastus medialis was measured by surface electromyography (S-EMG). A paired t-test was used for statistical analysis, and the statistical significance criteria were set to p<0.05. Results: A comparison of the muscle activity according to the degree of contraction of the gluteus maximus revealed low muscle activity in AD exercise compared to KD exercise (p<0.05), and there was no significant difference in the gluteus medius and vastus medialis (p<0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that when the one-leg deadlift exercise is performed according to the weight characteristics, the gluteus maximus is suitable for intervention using a kettlebell, and the gluteus medius and vastus medialis are more suitable for intervention by providing instability using an aqua bag.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.17 no.1_2
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• pp.23-32
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate trunk and gluteal muscle activation during one-leg standing or two-leg standing with lumbar stabilizing taping using non-elastic tape. Method: The subjects of this study were twenty subjects(man=11, women=9) who be in good physical health and have not problem to back muscle and one leg standing. The surface electromyographic(EMG) data were recorded on external oblique(EO), gluteus medius(GMed), gluteus maximus(GMax), quadratus lumborum(QL) while pre- and post-lumbar stabilizing taping in two-leg standing and one-leg standing. The analysis of data was performed using the paired samples t-test to compare the difference of EMG activity of pre and post lumbar stabilizing taping. Result: Contrast of pre-lumbar stabilizing taping the muscle activity of QL in post-lumbar stabilizing taping is significant decrease on two-leg standing posture(p<.05), and the muscle activity of GMed is significant increase on one-leg standing posture(p<.05). Thus, we suggest that lumbar stabilizing taping using by functional tape will be able to affect on lumbar stability and gluteal muscle retraining.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.34-42
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• 2020

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of ipsilateral and contralateral load changes during single-leg standing on the leg muscle activities of healthy people. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: For all the subjects, a load was randomly applied to the ipsilateral or the contralateral side. While the load was applied, the subject raised a hand and then performed single-leg standing for 10 seconds using the dominant side. Results: During single-leg standing, the muscle activity of the gluteus medius, peroneus longus on the supporting side increased statistically significantly when an upper limb load was applied contralaterally, but no statistically significant differences were detected in the muscle activities of the tibialis anterior and the gastrocnemius using a test of within-subjects effects. Conclusion: It can be seen that muscle activities increase during exercise when the amount and frequency of a load are increased and when the same load is applied to different sides of the body. Such muscle activity increases may be applied to change the intensity of exercise when one is in a static posture, such as during single-leg standing.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.161-166
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• 2023

Objective: The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of shoe sole deformation on the muscle activity and balance of the lower extremities when standing on one foot. Design: Crossed-control group study Methods: A total of 18 healthy adults participated in this study. 9 participants with normal shoe and 9 participants with deformed in shoe out-soles (wear shoes) were included. Muscle activity of the tibialis anterior, fibularis longus and gluteus medius during one leg standing was measured using a electromyography. A balance board was used to evaluate balance ability when standing on one leg. The balance ability when standing on one leg was measured by the sway speed and distance of the center of gravity. Results: Muscle activity of the tibialis anterior, fibularis longus and gluteus medius was no significant difference between groups (P > 0.05). Balance ability when standing on one leg was significantly different from the group wearing normal shoes in all variables related to the sway distance and sway speed of the center of gravity. Conclusions: Through this study, the wear of the outer sole of the shoe indirectly confirmed the effect on the wearer's lower extremity muscle activity and balance ability when standing on one foot. These results of this study are expected to be used as basic data for future studies on shoe wear, lower extremity muscle activity and balance ability.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.401-409
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• 2019

Purpose: This study investigated the muscular activity of abdominal muscles during a variety of plank exercises following changes in the leg and head positions. Methods: Thirty healthy individuals participated in this study. They performed six variations of plank exercises, including three changes in head position and two changes in leg position. Each plank was defined as head neutral-leg neutral, head up-leg neutral, head down-leg neutral, head neutral-leg wide, head up-leg wide, and head down-leg wide. During the plank excises, the muscle activities of the rectus abdominis, internal oblique, erector spinae, and upper trapezius were measured. Results: The head down position significantly increased the rectus abdominis activity compared to other head positions (p<0.05). On the other hand, the upper trapezius muscle activity was significantly higher with the head up position compared to other head positions (p<0.05). Regardless of head positions, both the rectus abdominis and internal oblique muscles were significantly activated with leg wide position compared to the leg neutral position (p<0.05). Conclusion: Head and leg positions could change the muscular activities of abdominal muscles during plank exercises. For example, the head down position is effective for activating the rectus abdominis while the leg wide position could be advantageous for enhancing the internal oblique and rectus abdominis.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.25-32
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• 2017

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of ribcage stabilization using a belt in the supine position during double leg lowering (DLL) by investigating the electromyographic (EMG) activities of the abdominal muscles. Methods : Twenty-two subjects with lumbar extension syndrome were recruited. EMG activity was recorded from rectus abdominalis (RA) and internal oblique abdominalis (IO), external oblique abdominalis (EO) muscles while subjects performed three double leg lowering exercises: double leg lowering (DLL), double leg lowering with abdominal draw-in maneuver (DLL-ADIM), and double leg lowering with ribcage stabilization using a belt (DLL-belt). RA, IO, and EO EMG activity were analyzed via one-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). Bonferroni correction was performed where significant differences were identified (p<.017, .05/3). Results : RA, IO, and EO EMG activity differed significantly among the three exercises (p<.05). The use of post hoc pair-wise comparison with Bonferroni correction showed that RA muscle activity significantly differed among the three exercises (p<.017), and IO muscle activity in the DLL exercise was significantly decreased compared to the DLL-ADIM and DLL-belt exercises (p<.017). There was no significant difference between IO muscle activity for DLL-ADIM and DLL-belt exercises (p>.017). EO muscle activity in the DLL-belt exercise was significantly increased compared to both DLL and DLL-ADIM exercises (p<.017), but there was no significant difference between EO muscle activity for DLL and DLL-ADIM exercises (p>.017). Conclusion : DLL-belt is a more effective exercise for activating the abdominal muscles than DLL-ADIM exercise. Therefore, we recommend DLL-belt exercises for strengthening the abdominal muscles.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.55-62
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• 2019

PURPOSE: This study examined the muscle activity while stepping over obstacles with various heights and widths to provide basic data for training and preventing falls. METHODS: Fifteen normal young adults (seven males and eight females) were recruited. The participants walked on a 5m walkway with six obstacles. The heights of obstacles were 0%, 10%, and 40% of the subject's leg length, and the width of the obstacles was 7cm and 14cm. The participants traversed the course twice per obstacle. The muscle activities of the soleus, tibialis anterior (TA), vastus medialis (VM), and vastus lateralis (VL) were measured using surface electromyography. A Mann-Whitney test and Kruskal-Wallis test were used to examine the differences between obstacles. RESULTS: The muscle activities of the VL and the soleus of the stance leg and lead leg after crossing over the obstacles increased with increasing width, and there were significant differences in muscle activities between obstacle width (p<.05) except for the muscle activity of TA of the stance leg after crossing over the obstacles. A significant difference in muscle activities was observed according to the height of the obstacles with 14 cm (p<.05) except for the muscle activity of the VL, soleus of the leading leg, and TA of the stance leg CONCLUSION: The role of the VL and Soleus increased with increasing obstacle width, and the overall muscle activities of the lower extremities increased with increasing obstacle height. These results can be used to suggest a program to prevent falls.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.75-81
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• 2017

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the activity of the abductor hallucis (AbdH) muscle during short foot exercise (SFE) using foot orthosis (SFE-FO) and the windlass effect (SFO-WE) while sitting and in a one-leg standing position. METHODS: We recruited fourteen subjects with normal feet for this study. Surface electromyography (EMG) was used to measure the muscle activity of the AbdH muscle during SFE, SFE-FO, and SFE-WE while sitting and in a one-leg standing position. Three trials consisting of a 5 s hold for each of the three exercises were performed to measure the EMG activity of the AbdH muscle. Exercise type and position were randomly assigned. Two-way repeated-measures ANOVA was used to analyze the effects of exercise type (SFE vs. SFE-FO vs. SFE-WE) and position (sitting vs. one-leg standing position) on AbdH muscle activity. A statistical significance was set at ${\alpha}=.05$. RESULTS: The EMG activity of AbdH muscle in the SFE-WE exercise was significantly greater than that during SFE and SFE-FO in both exercise positions (p<.001). In addition, the EMG activity of the AbdH muscle in the one-leg standing position was significantly higher than that while sitting (p<.001) during all three exercises. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that SFE-WE is a more effective strengthening exercise than SFE or SFE-FO for activating the AbdH muscle.