• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.77-85
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• 2010

This study was conducted to find the effects of scapular taping on muscle activities of the scapular rotators and upper trapezius pain in subjects with upper trapezius pain. Fifteen male subjects were recruited from Yonsei University for this study. Muscle activity of upper trapezius, lower trapezius, and serratus anterior was measured using surface electromyography. Visual analog scale was used for measuring upper trapezius pain. The subjects were asked to maintain $90^{\circ}$ shoulder flexion position with holding a 1 kg dumbbell in standing position. Scapular taping was applied over the muscle belly of the upper trapezius and attached parallel with the lower trapezius muscle fibers. For normalization, % maximal voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC) was conducted. Paired t-test was applied to compare the muscle activities of scapular rotator and upper trapezius pain before and after applying the scapular taping. The muscle activity of the upper trapezius muscle and serratus anterior decreased significantly after tape application (p<.05). However, no significant difference was observed in lower trapezius muscle. The level of pain in the upper trapezius muscle significantly decreased after tape application (p<.05). The results of this study suggest that scapular taping can be used an additional therapy for reducing muscle activity of upper trapezius, serratus anterior and upper trapezius pain during shoulder flexion in patient with upper trapezius pain.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.21-29
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• 2011

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of the lower extremity muscle activity on bridging exercise according to the knee joint angle. Methods : Twenty-five healthy adults volunteered to participate in this study. Subjects were required to complete following four bridging exercises; knee joint flexion $120^{\circ}$, $90^{\circ}$, $60^{\circ}$, $45^{\circ}$. Surface electromyography from selected lower extremity muscles was normalized to maximum voluntary isometric contraction. Muscle activity was measured by QEMG-4 system (LXM 3204, Laxtha Korea). A repeated measures of one-way ANOVA was used to determine the influence of bridging exercise on muscle activity for each muscle and descriptive statistics was used to determine muscle ratio. Results : The biceps femoris of all bridging exercises showed significantly(p<.05). The vastus medialis and lateralis of all bridging exercises showed significant excepted $120^{\circ}$(p<.05). The rectus femoris of all bridging exercises showed no significant. Median of vastus medialis/rectus femoris ratio of $120^{\circ}$ was 2.03, $90^{\circ}$ was 2.16, $60^{\circ}$ was 2.67, $45^{\circ}$ was 4.10. Median of vastus lateralis/rectus femoris ratio of $120^{\circ}$ was 1.70, $90^{\circ}$ was 1.70, $60^{\circ}$ was 2.08, $45^{\circ}$ was 2.58. Median of vastus medialis/vastus lateralis ratio of $120^{\circ}$ was 1.26, $90^{\circ}$ was 1.50, $60^{\circ}$ was 1.52, $45^{\circ}$ was 1.47. Conclusion : Angular motion decreasing with knee joint flexion made increase biceps femoris and vastus medialis activation. This result will be use knee joint stabilizing exercises during bridging or unstable surface training and biceps femoris strength training.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.31-41
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• 2008

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to examine the muscle activity of shoulder stabilization according to change of supporting base interval between push-up bend and push-up plus position and is to prevent or treat a shoulder injury by the most effective exercise for rehabilitation. Methods : This study analyzed the muscle activity according to change of supporting base interval between push-up bend and push-up plus movement. The participants without neuromuscular disease were 25 students - 12 males and 13 females - all twenty or over and the surface electrode of EMG attached on pectoralis major, triceps long head, middle trapezius, lower trapezius, serratus anterior and latissimus dorsi. The process has practiced 3 sessions of supporting base interval - narrowing interval, two shoulder interval, broad interval - by push-up bend and push-up plus movement. Result : 1. The muscle activity of pectoralis major was significantly increased according to narrow interval of supporting base on push-up plus movement and was significant difference(p<.05). 2. The muscle activity of biceps was significantly increased according to narrow interval of supporting base on push-up bend movement(p<.05). 3. The muscle activity of middle or lower trapezius was a difference according to change of supporting base on push-up bend and push-up plus movement but was not significant difference. 4. The muscle activity of serratus anterior was significantly increased according to broad interval of supporting base on push-up bend movement(p<.05). 5. The muscle activity of latissimus dorsi was significantly increased according to broad interval of supporting base on push-up bend movement(p<.05). Conclusion : These results lead us to the conclusion that push-up bend exercise have the effect of muscle strength of biceps on narrowing interval, of serratus anterior or latissimus dorsi on broad interval and push-up plus exercise have the effect of muscle strength of pectoralis major on narrowing interval of support base.

• 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.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.49-58
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• 2014

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to research the effects on resistance CKC & OCK exercise method on lower limb muscle activity, in chronic stroke patients. Method : In this study, 18 patients with stroke caused by hemorrhage or infarction were participated. resistance exercise method was conducted in tow different group : one is a close kinetic chain exercise(CKC) group and the other is an open kinetic chain exercise(OKC) group. CKC with physical therapy was applied to 9 patients, and OKC with physical therapy was applied to 9 patients. Under the researcher's guidance, exercise for CKC and OKC group carried out 3 times a week for 30 minutes during 4weeks. Result : There was significantly different for the vastus lateralis, tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius muscle activity within the intervention period both group. The vastus lateralis, tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius muscle activity was significantly increased within the CKC group. The vastus leteralis and tibialis anterior muscle activity was significantly increased within the OKC group. Conclusion : It was confirmed in this study that the CKC exercise was more effective than OKC exercise in improving lower limb muscle activity of chronic stroke patients. This study seggested that CKC may be suitable for individuals with a chronic stroke. furthermore study should be made a lot of researches regarding in other method and varying conditions for many hemiplegic patients.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.245-252
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of action observation training on lower limb muscle activity and dynamic balance in chronic stroke patients. Methods: This study evaluated 20 chronic stroke patients who were divided randomly into a control and an experimental group comprising 10 patients each. Both the experimental group and the control group performed the general exercise therapy provided by the hospital, but the experimental group also performed action observation training. Lower limb muscle activity was measured with a surface electromyograph, and dynamic balance was measured with the Timed Up and Go test and the 10-meter walk test. The paired t-test was used to compare the groups before and after the experiment. Furthermore, the independent t-test was used to assess differences in the degree of change between the two groups before and after the experiment. Results: The within-group comparisons for both the experimental group and the control group showed significant differences in muscle activity and dynamic balance (p<0.05). In a comparison between the groups, the differences in the muscle activity and dynamic balance of the experimental group appeared significant compared with those of the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: The study results indicate that action observation training is effective in improving the muscle activity and dynamic balance of chronic stroke patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.63-67
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of assistance tools such as gym balls, wedges, and straps on lower extremity muscle activity and the increase in the range of motion made possible by the use of these tools. The subjects were divided into two groups: a group capable of deep-squatting (PS) and the second finding it impossible or having difficulty in performing such squats (IS). Methods: Twenty-three subjects participated in this study. Surface electromyography was used to measure the muscle activation of the rectus femoris (RF), vastus medialis (VM), and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles during deep squats, normal squats (NS), gym ball squats (GS), wedge squats (WS), and strap squats (SS). A motion analysis system was used to measure the range of motion of the knee joint during each of these exercises. Results: There was a significant difference in the RF muscle activity between the possible squat (PS) and the impossible squat (IS) groups in the GS, and there were significant differences in the RF and TA muscle activity between the groups in the WS. Both the PS group and the IS group showed a significant difference in the TA muscle activity depending on the tool used. There were also significant differences in the range of motion of the knee joints between the intervention methods using NS and those using the tools. Conclusion: In both groups, the muscle activity of the TA muscles was lower when GS, WS, and SS were performed compared to NS. In addition, compared to NS, the range of motion of the knee joint increased when the three tools were used. This study shows that the activity of the RF, VM, and TA muscles decreased and the range of motion of the knee joint increased during deep squats for both the PS and IS groups when tools were used.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.119-126
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• 2022

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of the application of abdominal brace techniques on muscle activity of the trunk and lower extremities when walking. Design: Cross-sectional study Methods: This study was conducted on 26 healthy adults in their 20s, and the subjects performed two conditions in random order: walking with the abdominal bracing technique and walking in an abdominal relaxation state (normal gait). Muscle activity was measured on the dominant side of all subjects using surface electromyography, and the attachment sites were the erector spinae, external oblique, internal oblique, vastus lateralis, and vastus medialis oblique muscles. Each condition was measured three times to calculate and analyze the average value. Results: When walking using the abdominal brace technique, the muscle activity of the erector spinae, external oblique, internal oblique, and vastus lateralis increased significantly (p<0.05), and the muscle activity of the vastus medialis increased as well but was not significant. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that it is possible to be used as an effective guide to increasing the muscle activity and stability of the trunk and lower extremities through the application of the abdominal bracing technique during walking.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 2021

Purpose: Biofeedback using various ways has helped correct the sitting posture. This study compared the multifidus muscle activity, pelvic and 2nd sacrum tilting angle during typing in nonspecific lower back pain (NCLBP) subjects with and without visual biofeedback. Methods: Thirty subjects with NCLBP were enrolled in this study. An electromyography device was used to measure the multifidus muscle activity. An electromagnetic tracking motion device was used to measure the pelvic and 2nd sacrum tilting angle. The multifidus muscle activity, pelvic, and 2nd sacrum tilting angle were measured before and after typing for 30 minutes in the sitting position. An independent t-test was used to compare the changing values for 30 minutes between the group with and without visual biofeedback. Results: The changing values of the multifidus muscle activity, pelvic, and 2nd sacrum tilting angle were significantly smaller in the group with visual biofeedback than the group without visual biofeedback (p<0.05). Conclusions: In subjects with NCLBP, the visual biofeedback can be recommended to maintain the multifidus muscle activity, pelvic, and 2nd sacrum tilting angle during typing for 30 minutes.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1975-1980
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• 2020

Background: It has been argued that changes in muscle activity in the upper trapezius and serratus anterior may or may not cause shoulder joint pain and dysfunction. Objective: To investigate the effects of active vibration exercise on muscle activity regarding scapular stabilization using a flexi-bar. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Methods: A total of 24 subjects were randomly assigned to a flexi-bar group with active vibration and general stick group with non-active vibration. Both groups performed the same four action programs for 6 weeks, three times a week for 30 minutes at a time. The upper trapezius muscle, middle trapezius muscle, lower trapezius muscle and serratus anterior muscle of the dominant side was measured by electromyography before and after the 6 weeks of exercise. The independent t-test and paired t-test were used to analyze data. Results: There was a significant difference between groups in upper trapezius muscle and serratus anterior muscle activity after exercise (P<.05). Also, there was a significant difference in upper trapezius muscle and serratus anterior muscle activity before and after exercise in the flexi-bar group (P<.05). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that active vibration exercise using a flexi-Bar contribute to reduce the activity of the upper trapezius muscle and promote the activity of the serratus anterior muscle.