• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.69-80
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• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyse the effects of Tai Chi on the muscle strength and flexibility. Method: 10 articles from Medline search of foreign journals(1981-2003) and 4 from Korean nursing journals (1981-2003) were surveyed. The research are analyzed according to research design, subjects, and dependent variables. Results: Research on Tai Chi Exercise increased rapidly in the 1990's. The experimental research design was more reported than the comparative design. The experimental design included; 21.4% one group pre-posttest design, 35.7% quasi-experimental design and 28.6% randomized design. Out of the subjects; 64.4% of papers were healthy older people, and 35.6% of papers were patients with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Style of Tai Chi was mostly used Yang or Sun form. Muscle strength was usually measured at lower extremity or grip strength. Classical Yang style or Long form was more effective to improve muscle strength. 75% of papers were significantly improvement in grip strength and 71.4% of papers in flexibility. Conclusion: To properly study the positive effects of Tai Chi exercise, it is suggested that meta analysis needs to be done to integrate the various results.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.149-157
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• 2013

In the present study, we aimed to elucidate how muscle strength and activity are affected by movement pattern(bilateral [BLM] & unilateral movement [ULM]) and movement velocity($0^{\circ}$/s, $60^{\circ}$/s, $120^{\circ}$/s) at maximum effort, and to elucidate the relationship between a left/right asymmetry and bilateral deficit. A total of 18 healthy males participated in the study. Each participant performed maximum knee extension bilaterally and unilaterally while the EMG and moment were recorded, and then the relationships between the asymmetry and bilateral deficit were analyzed. The peak moments for the isokinetic motion at $60^{\circ}$/s and $120^{\circ}$/s and overall muscle activities of lower extremity were significantly reduced for the BLM in comparison to the ULM. And though the asymmetry in ULM were maintained during BLM at all velocities, the bilateral deficits at the velocity of $0^{\circ}\acute{y}$/s and $120^{\circ}\acute{y}$/s were significantly correlated with increased asymmetries of muscle strength in ULM. In conclusion, the reduction in the muscle strength exhibited in bilateral knee extension was shown to arise partially from a reduction in muscle activity, and left/right asymmetry was found to be associated with mechanical reduction in bilateral movement. These findings suggest that training aimed at increasing muscle strength must involve methods and strategies intended to reduce left/right asymmetry.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.9 no.10
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• pp.423-432
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in upper and lower strengths and symmetry between upper body injury group, lower body injury group and non-injury group of bowling athletes. The subjects were the upper body injury group (UG), n = 16, the low body injury group (LG), n = 8, the non injury group, [NG], n = 15). The isometric strength of the bowler was measured using Manual Muscle Tester 01165 (Lafayette Instrument Company, USA) and the symmetry index (SI) was calculated. The results were as follow. The symmetry index of hip extension strength and hip external rotation strength was statistically larger in NG than LG (p <.05). The above results suggest that lower body strength and bilateral symmetry was closely related to injuries of the lower body. In order to prevent injury of the bowler, strengthening of lower body strength and symmetrical training are needed.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.15-22
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between hip abductor muscle strength and lumbar instability in patients with chronic low back pain. Methods: Fifty-two female patients were recruited for this study. The patients' history was recorded and was used to determine the general characteristics of the female complaints. The women were additionally examined to determine whether the level of pain was characteristic of patients with chronic lumbar instability. The following tests were also carried out in the subjects during the examination: 1) the prone instability test. 2) the test for aberrant movement patterns during lumbar flexion test. 3) the straight leg raising test. 4) posterior-to-anterior mobility test, and 5) the test for age and strength of the hip abductor muscle following assessment of the dominant side. In particular, hip abductor muscle strength was evaluated using a dynamometer. Results: The test results showed that the number of positive responses for the five types of lumbar instability tests performed, was significantly related to the strength of the hip abductor muscle. The average hip abductor muscle strength in total subjects was $72.89{\pm}7.66N$, whereas the average hip abductor muscle strength in subjects who showed positive responses to more than four out of the five tests, was $44.70{\pm}5.79N$. Conclusion: The results demonstrated that the hip abductor muscle strength and lumbar instability were negatively correlated. The lower was the strength of the hip abductor muscle, the higher was the possibility of lumbar instability.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.263-271
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of line dance program on muscle strength, balance, flexibility, pain, and mood state in post-menopausal women. Methods: A quasi-experimental research design (one group pretest-posttest) was employed. A total of 13 post-menopausal women completed 12-week line dance program(60min/day, 2days/wk) in S city. Descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon signed rank test were used in the data analysis by SPSS 18.0. Results: Muscle strength and balance were higher, and pain level were lower than before the line dance program. However, flexibility and mood state were not significantly changed after the line dance program. Conclusion: Findings of this study indicated that the 12-week line dance program were effective on muscle strength, balance, and pain relief in the post-menopausal women. Future study is needed to explore the effect of the line dance program on flexibility and mood state with the post-menopausal women.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.85-93
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate a relationship among Taekwondo, soccer and gymnastic athletes their balance ability and lower extremity muscle strength, muscle endurance and also whether these variables show differences by sports type. For this purpose, 10 Taekwondo athletes, 10 soccer athletes and 10 gymnastic athletes that is a high school in I area were selected and their balance ability, isokinetic muscle strength and muscle endurance were measured by using force platform (AMTI) and isokinetic measurement (HUMAC NORM). Then the following results were obtained by conducting pearson product-moment correlation analysis and one-way ANOVA. In case of both right and left foot one-leg standing with open-eyes, there was a relation between both knee extension maximal muscle strength of Taekwondo, soccer, gymnastic athletes and balance ability, and in case of right foot one-leg standing with open-eyes, there was a relation between that is right plantar flexion and dorsi flexion maximum muscle strength and muscle endurance of Taekwondo, soccer, gymnastic athletes and their balance ability. Furthermore, in case of left dorsi flexion maximum muscle strength, there were significant differences in order of Taekwondo, gymnastics and soccer, and for isokinetic plantar flexion maximum muscle endurance, both right and left showed significant differences in order of Taekwondo, gymnastic and soccer.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.69-74
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• 2009

Purpose: This study examined that effect of a change in balance index on ankle Kinesio taping, muscle strength exercises and taping after muscle strength exercises in 30 healthy adult subjects. Methods: The Sway Index of the left, right, front and back on stable, toes up and linear were compared using a Balance System, a balance experimental instrument. Results: The pre and post experimental balance index regarding stable, toes up, and linear were taken for the Kinesio taping group, lower extremities muscle strengthening group, and muscle strengthening with the Kinesio taping group. Statistically significant decreases were observed in all variables except for the left and right pre and post experiment results under stable conditions. Conclusion: The balance index of exercise with taping was lower than that of exercise only. There is a need for objective research on the long-term applications and post-exercise. The body balance appears to be influenced by ankle stabilization using taping.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2015

Background: This study was conducted in order to see if muscle strength is different according to fall experience in female elders by comparing their muscle strength of waist and knee, which is one of factors inducing fall. Method: For this study, 22 female elders aged over 65 sampled from senior centers in D City were surveyed on their fall experiences using a questionnaire asking clinical history. Then, 8 elders with fall experience (FE) and another 8 without (NFE) were selected and participated in the research. Isokinetic muscle strength was measured with isokinetic equipment BIODEX SYSTEM 3 PRO, and the peak torque was obtained from the highest of 9 measurements at angular velocity $60^{\circ}/sec$ according to the method recommended in the manual. Measured items were waist flexion and extension, and knee flexion and extension. Results: The FE group showed higher extensor and flexor muscle strength of the waist, but the difference was not significant (p<.05). In addition, no difference was observed in extensor muscle strength of the knee (p<.05). In flexor muscle strength, however, the FE group was significantly higher than the NFE group (p<.05). Conclusion: The application of regular exercise programs for improving muscle strength, endurance, etc. to those with fall experience will be effective in preventing falls among them.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.58-68
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• 2015

This study aimed to determine the effect of lower trapezius muscle strengthening exercises on pain, neck disability index (NDI), cervical range of motion (ROM), and lower trapezius muscle strength in patients with unilateral neck pain. Following baseline measurements, the subjects (N=40) with unilateral neck pain were randomized into one of two 5 weeks exercise intervention groups: a experimental group (EG, $n_1=20$) that received strength training of the lower trapezius muscles or a control group (CG, $n_2=20$) that received routine physical therapy program. Each group participated in the intervention for 30 minutes, 3 times a week, for 5 weeks. All participants performed 2 repetitions of each intervention per day. The numeric pain rating scale for pain, NDI, ROM, and lower trapezius strength were recorded both pre- and post-intervention for both groups. Paired t-tests were used to determine significant changes post-intervention compared with pre-intervention and independent t-tests were used to analyze differences in the dependent variables between the 2 groups. After the 5-weeks intervention, both groups experienced significantly decreased pain and disability level (p<.05) and significantly increased cervical flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation ROM (p<.05). The EG that received strength training of the lower trapezius muscles showed greater improvements in pain and functional disability level, cervical rotation, and lower trapezius strength than the CG (p<.05). These results suggest that a lower trapezius strengthening exercises reduce neck pain and neck disability level and enhance cervical ROM and lower trapezius strength level in patients with unilateral neck pain.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.13-21
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• 2019

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of abdominal muscle strengthening exercise on abdominal muscle strength and respiratory function in stroke patients. Methods : The subjects were 14 stroke patients (10 males, 4 females) hospitalized at W rehabilitation hospital in Busan City and randomly assigned to 7 exercise groups and 7 control groups. Exercise was performed in combination with an upper and lower extremity pattern of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation. Measurements of abdominal muscle strength and respiratory function were made before intervention and 4 weeks after intervention. Abdominal muscle strength was assessed using a digital manual dynamometer, and respiratory function was assessed by spirometry. The collected data were analyzed with a paired t-test and independent t-test and the significance level was set as α =.05. Results : The results showed that applying abdominal muscle strengthening exercise to stroke patients showed a significant increase in abdominal muscle strength and a significant difference between groups (p<.05). Maximal-effort expiratory spirogram (MES) readings were significantly increased in forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁), in the exercise group, and there were a significant differences between the groups in terms of FEV1 (p<.05). Slow vital capacity (SVC) was significantly increased in vital capacity (VC), tidal volume (TV), inspiratory reserve volume (IRV), and expiratory capacity (EC), and there were significant differences between the groups in VC, TV, expiratory reserve volume (ERV), EC, and inspiratory capacity (IC) (p<.05). Conclusion : Abdominal muscle strengthening exercise was effective in the abdominal muscle strength of stroke patients, and it was confirmed to have a positive effect on the enhancement of respiratory function. Therefore, it seems that exercise programs for stroke patients with respiratory weakness should include abdominal muscle strengthening exercises.