• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.160-168
• /
• 2023

Background: Individuals with scapular winging have a weak serratus anterior (SA) muscle, and to compensate, the pectoralis major (PM) and upper trapezius (UT) muscles excessively activate, which can cause upper extremity dysfunction. This study aimed to compare the effects of isometric horizontal abduction (IHA) on SA, PM, and UT muscle activity, as well as the SA/PM and SA/UT muscle activity ratios during knee push-up plus (KPP) at 90° and 120° of shoulder flexion. Objects: This study aimed to compare the effects of IHA on SA, PM, and UT muscle activity, as well as the SA/PM and SA/UT muscle activity ratios during KPP at 90° and 120° of shoulder flexion. Methods: This study, conducted at a university research laboratory, included 20 individuals with scapular winging. Participants performed KPP with and without IHA at 90° (KPP90) and 120° (KPP120) of shoulder flexion. SA, PM, and UT muscle activity were measured using surface electromyography. Results: PM activity in KPP90 with IHA was significantly lower than KPP90 and in KPP120 was significantly lower than KPP90. UT activity was significantly greater with IHA than without IHA and at 120° than 90° of shoulder flexion. SA/PM muscle activity ratio was significantly higher in KPP90 with IHA than without IHA and in KPP120 than in KPP90. SA/UT muscle activity ratio was significantly lower with IHA than without IHA. Conclusion: KPP90 with IHA and KPP120 are effective exercises to reduce PM activity and increase SA/PM muscle activity ratio. However, applying IHA in KPP90 also reduces SA/UT muscle activity ratio, implying that it would be preferable to apply KPP120 in individuals overusing their UT muscles.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.130-139
• /
• 2006

Purpose: This study was designed to present preliminary data for the development of appropriate nursing care system for the patients with ALS by analyzing their physical function. Method: The clinical data of 36 ALS patients, who visited ALS Clinic of H University Hospital in Seoul, were collected from January, 2006 to August, 2006. To determine the physical function, Norris ALS scale and Appel ALS Rating Scale were used. The data were analyzed by frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, range, t-test, ANOVA, using SPSS PC program. Results: The mean score of physical activity, muscle strength, upper extremity function, lower extremity function was 18.08, 27.72, 25.94, 25.19 respectively. There were significant differences in physical activity, muscle strength, and upper extremity function according to sender and comorbid disease(diabetes). Although sites of symptom onset were not statistically significant with all physical function, patients with bulbar onset showed relatively severe physical disabilities. Conclusion: The preliminary data on physical function of patients with ALS would be helpful for the development of ALS nursing guideline system.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.113-121
• /
• 2012

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of forefoot rocker shoes equipped with a metatarsal bar on lower extremity muscle activity and plantar pressure distribution. Ten healthy women in the age of twenties were participated in this study as the subjects. All subjects walked on a treadmill(Gait Trainer, BIODEX, USA) wearing normal shoes and metatarsal bar shoes, during which the plantar pressure distribution and muscle activity were measured. Using Pedar-X system(Novel Gmbh, Germany), the plantar pressure was measured for six regions of the foot: forefoot, midfoot, rearfoot, 1st metatarsal, 2-3th metatarsal, and 4-5th metatarsal, and for each sub-region, 4 features such as maximum force, contact area, peak pressure, and mean pressure were analyzed based on the plantar pressure. EMG(Electromyography) activity was measured by attaching surface electrodes to the rectus femoris, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior, and gastrocnemius medial head, and magnitude of muscle contraction was analyzed in IEMG(Integrated EMG) value. The results show that the maximum force, contact area, peak pressure, and mean pressure in the midfoot all increased while maximum force, peak pressure, contact area, mean pressure in the 1st metatarsal and 2-3th metatarsal all decreased when wearing functional shoes. Also, muscle activities in the four muscles were all decreased when wearing the functional shoes. This paper suggests that forfoot rocker shoes equipped with a metatarsal bar can help disperse the high pressure and absorb the shock to the foot as well as give positive influence on gait pattern and postural stability by reducing muscle fatigue during walking.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2009

An abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) with a pressure biofeedback unit can be used to prevent excessive lumbar lordosis during bridging exercise. Therefore, in this research, the effects of an ADIM on lumbar lordosis and lower extremity muscle activity during bridging exercise were investigated in thirty healthy adults. Surface electromyography (EMG) and VICON system were used to collect kinematic data and muscle activity, respectively. A paired t-test was used to determine a statistical significance. The results showed as follows: (1) When performing bridging exercise with an ADIM, the height of the anterior superior iliac spine and greater trochanter decreased significantly (p<.05). (2) When performing bridging exercise with an ADIM, the trunk extension angle and pelvic angle increased significantly (p<.05). (3) When performing bridging exercise with an ADIM, the EMG signal amplitude increased significantly in the rectus abdominis, internal oblique abdominis, external oblique abdominis, medial hamstring, and lateral hamstring (p<.05). (4) When performing bridging exercise with an ADIM, the EMG signal amplitude decreased significantly in the erector spinae (p<.05). From the result of this research, an ADIM trained with pressure biofeedback unit during bridging exercise is effective to prevent excessive contraction of erector spinae, to limit excessive motion of pelvis from sagittal plane and to increase muscle activity of abdominal muscles and hamstring muscle.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.35-40
• /
• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate change of muscle activities during level walking, stairs and ramp climbing in old adults. Methods: Twelve old adults were recruited and agreed this study. Muscle activity was measured by MP150 system (BIOPAC System Inc., Santa Barbara, USA). Statistical analysis was used one-way ANOVA to know the difference according to gait conditions (level walking, stairs and ramp ascending) Results: In stance phase, muscle activities of low extremities with old adults were generally significant difference in ramp ascending. In swing phase, rectus femoris and biceps femoris activity in old adults generally more increased during stairs ascending and tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius activity in old adults generally increased during ramp ascending. Conclusion: These results indicate that stair and ramp climbing is different muscle recruit pattern to level walking.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.26-34
• /
• 2010

The purpose of this study was to compare the trunk and lower extremity muscle activity induced by six different conditions floor, intensity 0, 1, 3, 5 of whole body vibration (WBV), and Swiss ball during bridging exercise. Surface electromyography (EMG) was used to measure trunk and lower extremity muscles activity. Ten elderly women were recruited from Hong-sung Senior Citizen Welfare Center. The collected EMG data were normalized using reference contraction (during floor bridging) and expressed as a percentage of reference voluntary contraction (%RVC). To analyze the differences in EMG data, the repeated one-way analysis of variance was used. A Bonferroni's correction was used for multiple comparisons. The study showed that EMG activity of the rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique, erector spinae and rectus abdominis muscles were not significantly different between six different conditions of during bridging exercise (p>.05). However, there were significantly increased EMG activity of the rectus femoris (p=.034) in the WBV intensity 0, 1, 3, and 5 conditions compared with the floor bridging condition. EMG activity of the medial gastrocnemius were significantly increased in the WBV intensity 0, 1, 3, 5 and Swiss ball conditions compared with the floor bridging condition. Future studies are required the dynamic instability condition such as one leg lifting in bridging.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.9 no.12
• /
• pp.348-356
• /
• 2009

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of bridging using Swiss ball, whole body vibration (WBV), and mat on trunk and lower extremity muscle activity and postural stability. The results were as follows: 1) EMG activity of internal oblique increased significantly in WBV condition compared with mat condition (p<.05). 2) EMG activity of rectus femoris and medial gastrocnemius increased significantly in Swiss ball condition and WBV condition compared with mat condition (p<.05). 3) The muscle activity of medial hamstrings increased significantly in Swiss ball condition compared with mat condition (p<.05). 4) The limit of stability in three groups increased significantly in all directions after 4-week intervention (p<.05). 5). There were no significant differences in the limit of stability among three groups after 4-week intervention (p>.05). Therefore the trunk and lower extremity muscle activity increased in Swiss ball and WBV conditions, and postural stability was improved in three groups after intervention period.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.257-264
• /
• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate the lower extremity kinematics and muscle activities of adductor longus(AL), gluteus medius(GME), gluteus maximus(GMA), biceps femoris(BF), rectus femoris(RF), gastrocnemius(GA), and tibialis anterior(TA) using three dimensional and Noraxon 8 channels EMG system during turn 0, 60, 90 and 120 degrees in patients with Parkinson's disease. Seven parkinson's patients and five healthy subjects were participated in the study. Participants with Parkinson's disease demonstrated significant differences in reduction of stride length and stride width. Also, they showed ill difference in muscle activities. The strength and balance of the lower extremity muscles may help to improve cutting movement and to prevent falling in parkinson's patients.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.83-92
• /
• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the changes of physical function, perceptual and cognitive function, emotional function, and functional independence in the institutionalized aged according to functional group activity program (self help Tai Chi exercise plus functional task). Methods: Study subjects were 20 institutionalized aged from June to October in 2010. The subjects received functional group activity program two times a week for 15 weeks. Physical function (grip strength, coordination, lower extremity strength, balance, gait, trunk flexibility), perceptual and cognitive function, emotional function(depression, social skill), and functional independence were measured before and after the program. Results: The subjects showed significantly increased physical function (coordination, lower extremity strength, gait, trunk flexibility), perceptual and cognitive function, emotional function (depression, social skill), and functional independence. The functional group activity program may be an effective strategy for institutionalized elders to enhance their functions. Conclusion: The functional group activity program may be effective on elderly institutions which have limitation in human, material, environmental resources.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.8 no.3
• /
• pp.443-448
• /
• 2013

PURPOSE: In recent years, senior friendly device is growing rapidly because of population aging The study was designed to investigate the effects of table height of electronic bed on upper extremity and trunk EMG in elderly. METHODS: Thirty right-handed elderly without history of neurological and musculoskeletal dysfunction were participated in this study. Three heights of the table (3/3 height, 2/3 height, and 1/3 height between top of the shoulder and olecranon) were provided. During the eating performance, surface electromyography (EMG) was used to measure muscle activity, and electrodes were attached to the deltoid middle fiber, serratus anterior, suprapinatus, upper trapezius, rhomboideus, cervical part of longissimus, thoracic part of longissimus, lumbar part of longissimus on right. One way ANOVA was conducted for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: There were significant differences in deltoid middle fiber, suprapinatus, upper trapezius, rhomboideus, lumbar part of longissimus in the 3 different height of table (p<.05). The deltoid middle fiber, suprapinatus, upper trapezius, and lumbar part of longissimus were significantly increased in higher table than lower table(p<.05). And the rhomboideus was significantly decreased in higher table than lower table(p<.05). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that different height of table affect upper extremity and trunk muscle activity. The table height of olecranon is the best for elderly.