• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.363-367
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• 2019

Purpose: This study was to investigate the effect of instability on the activation of lower limb muscles during lunge exercise. Methods: The study subjects were healthy twenties and were selected to have no orthopedic or neurological diseases. 1) Flat lunge exercise (Lunge 1, 2) Lunge exercise on TOGU (Lunge 2, 3) Holding the olympic bar and moving the lunge on TOGU (Lunge 3, 4) Holding the Surge and moving the lunge on TOGU (Lunge 4). Through the above four actions, we can see how the top-down instability influences the lower limb unlike the Bottom-up instability. EMG attachment sites were gluteus medius, vastus medialis, gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior. Results: These result suggest that exercise using Lunge 4 activity was the highest in muscle activity compared to other exercises, but vastus medialis showed the highest muscle activity in Lunge 2 exercise(p<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed the muscular activity of the lower extremities according to the lunge exercise using the instability tools.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.98-105
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examined the kinematic relationship and differences through the range of motion (ROM), muscle activity, and vertical ground reaction force (VGRF) during forward and backward lunge movements, which are effective in improving muscle strength and balance ability of the lower extremities, and to provide clinical information on more efficient lunge movements. Design: Cross-sectional study Methods: Fifteen adult males who met the selection criteria were tested for their dominant feet.Forward and backward lunges were then performed, and the ROM, muscle activity, and VGRF were measured for kinematic analysis during the lunge movement.The differences betweenthe forward lunge and backward lunge intervention were examined using a paired t-test. Results: A significant increase in the ROM of the knee and ankle was observed during the forward and backward lunges (p<0.05). In addition, in terms of the muscle activity, the peak values of the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and VGRF also showed a significant increase in the forward lunge compared to the backward lunge (p<0.05). Conclusions: This study showed an increase in VGRF peak value, knee and ankle ROM, and VMO muscle activity during forward lunge. Based on these results, it is considered necessary to apply differently depending on the direction of progress in consideration of the musculoskeletal situation and physical ability during the lunge movement.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.343-351
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• 2017

Purpose: This study aimed to suggest effective lunge exercise methods for various purposes by comparing differences in the muscle activity of thigh and plantar pressure according to changes in base of support during lunge exercises. Methods: The subjects were 20 college students who agreed to participate in the experiment. They performed three types of lunges-a basic lunge (BL), wide lunge (WL), and narrow lunge (NL). In a static position during each lunge, the muscle activity of the thigh and plantar pressure were measured. Each movement was maintained for 7 seconds, and the muscle activity for the 3 seconds in the middle was measured and analyzed. The plantar pressure was divided into six areas for analysis. The subjects randomly performed the lunges to prevent the influence of an experimental sequence. Each movement was performed three times, and the mean value of the three measurements was analyzed. Results: The analysis of muscle activities in the thigh during the three lunge movements showed statistically significantly higher muscle activity of biceps femoris in WL and NL than BL. Moreover, the analysis of plantar force showed statistically significant differences between BL and WL and WL and NL on the medial-forefoot and medial-midfoot, as well as between BL and WL and BL and NL on the lateral-midfoot. The analysis of plantar contact pressure exhibited statistically significant differences between BL and NL and WL and NL on the medial-forefoot, as well as a statistically significant difference between WL and NL on the medial-midfoot and lateral-hindfoot. Conclusion: This study suggests that changing the base of support during lunges can be useful to suit the purposes of various rehabilitation programs.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.273-279
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• 2021

Background: Lunge exercises are lower extremity rehabilitation and strengthening exercises for patients and athletes. Most studies have shown the effectiveness of the forward and backward lunge exercises for treating patellofemoral pain and anterior cruciate ligament injuries (by increasing lower extremity muscle activity) and improving kinematics. Objects: However, it is not known how the two different lunge movements affect trunk muscle activities in healthy individuals. The purpose of this study was to investigate the electromyographic activity of the rectus abdominis and erector spinae muscles during forward and backward lunge exercises in healthy participants. Methods: Twelve healthy participants were recruited. Electromyographic activity of the rectus abdominis and erector spinae was recorded using surface electrodes during forward and backward lunges, and subsequently normalized to the respective reference voluntary isometric contractions of each muscle. Results: Activity of the erector spinae was significantly higher than that of the rectus abdominis during all stages of the backward lunge (p < 0.05). The activity of the erector spinae was significantly greater during the backward than forward lunge at all stages (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Backward lunging is better able to enhance trunk motor control and activate the erector spinae muscles.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.59-63
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• 2014

Purpose : To determined the effect of self-stretching and manual therapy on ankle joint about ROM and persisting effect. Method : Twenty participants(6 male, 14 female) ramdomly divided into self-stretching and manual therapy group. Each participant started with lunge test then self-stretching and manual therapy intervention was performed. After intervention lunge test was performed again. Last lunge test was performed after 30 minute break. Result : Result of lunge test showed both self-stretching and manual therapy group have significant difference in immediate increase of ROM and persistence effect(p<0.05). However, persistence effect of each group did not show significant difference(p>0.05). Conclusion : Manual therapy and well-designed self-stretching by therapist showed the effect in increase ROM.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.273-276
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the resistance conditions on the electromyography (EMG) activity ratio of vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscle during partial lunge exercise in healthy subjects in order to suggest the basic data of exercise intervention for such as patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). Methods: The participants of this study were healthy twenty two people with no knee pain, limitation of motion and past history of operation at lower extremity. The participants performed three types of lunge 1) no resistance, 2) anterolateral 45° resistance and 3) lateral 90° respectively. The EMG activity of the VMO and VL were recorded by surface EMG and the measured data normalized by the %MVIC value was analyzed by repeated measured ANOVA. Results: The results showed that the VMO/VL EMG activity ratio during lunge with anterolateral 45° resistance was significantly higher than with no resistance and lateral 90° resistance (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in VMO, VL, and VMO/VL muscle activity between male and female subjects (p>0.05). Conclusion: This study suggests that partial lunge exercise with anterolateral 45° resistance can increase the VMO/VL muscle activity in healthy subjects. This result could be used as basic data to develop therapeutic exercise programs such as PFPS patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.40-46
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• 2021

Purpose: This study compared the muscle activity of the lower limb according to the three types of fixed angles of the ankle joint during a lunge exercise. Methods: Twenty healthy subjects performed the lunge motion in a trial including the three types of fixed angle. The lunge motion with a neutral, 20° dorsiflexion, and 20° plantarflexion of the ankle joint were randomized and measured repeatedly. The muscle activity of the rectus femoris (RF), vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis (VL), biceps femoris (BF), and semitendinosus (ST) was measured by surface electromyography. Results: In the change in ankle joint angle, the RF, VL, BF, and ST muscle activity showed significant differences (p<0.05). In the 20° dorsiflexion position, the muscle activity of VL, BF, and ST showed a significant decrease compared to that in the neutral position (p<0.017). The muscle activity of RF and VL in the neutral position was greater than that in the 20° plantarflexion position (p<0.017). Only the muscle activity of the BF in the 20° plantarflexion position was significantly greater than the 20° dorsiflexion position (p<0.017). Conclusion: These results revealed a difference in the muscle activity of lower extremities in the proximal region according to the angle of the ankle joint during the lunge.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.21-28
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• 2022

Background: Hamstring shortness results in the inappropriate activation of the quadriceps femoris because of the loss of the reciprocal inhibition mechanism. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of that activation during lunge exercises on the vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, medial, and lateral hamstrings in participants with hamstring shortness and normal length. Design: Quasi-experimental design Methods: Participants were divided into a hamstring shortness group(n=20) and a hamstring normal length group(n=23), based on a hamstring length test. During lunge exercises, muscle activation of the vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, medial, and lateral hamstrings were measured by electromyography. Results: Each muscle tested was less activated in the hamstring shortness group than in the hamstring normal length group. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups (p>.05). Conclusion: Although there was no significant difference between the shortness and normal hamstring groups during short lunge exercise time, longer exercising periods will result in the inappropriate activation of the quadriceps femoris. During lunge exercise, hamstring shortness causes an imbalance activation of quadriceps femoris and hamstring, and continuous hamstring shortness can cause damage on joints of lower limb.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.131-138
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• 2018

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to compare the muscle activity of the proximal muscles of the lower limb according to the distance between the front and rear foot during lunge and to determine the most effective foot position for activation of the proximal muscle in the limb. METHODS: A total of 49 young adults were enrolled in this study. All subjects performed lunge by positioning the big toe of the back foot and the heel of the front foot at intervals of 40%, 60%, and 80% of the subject's own leg length. Muscle activity of the vastus medialis oblique, rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis oblique (VLO), gluteus medius, biceps femoris, and semitendinosus (ST) was then measured during three intervals of lunge operation. Each operation was measured three times for 10 seconds each, after which the average value was calculated and analyzed. RESULTS: There were significant differences in muscle activities of RF, VLO, and ST among the three intervals of the foot (p<.05). Post hoc, comparisons revealed lunge at 40% intervals resulted in higher RF and VLO activity than at 60% and 80% intervals (p<.05). In the semitendinosus muscle, 80% leg length intervals showed higher muscle activity than 40% (p<.05). CONCLUSION: Strengthening of the proximal muscles of the lower extremities during lunge exercise is considered to be most effective when placing the fore- and rear foot at intervals corresponding to 40% of the leg length.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.163-170
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• 2024

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the muscle activity of the vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, rectus femoris, and gluteus medius muscles according to the medial/lateral bias of the knee during lunge exercise. Design: Crossed-control group study Methods: This study recruited 20 healthy men and women in their 20s who were capable of lunge exercise and had no musculoskeletal or neurological abnormalities. All three postures were performed three times each during lunge exercise. In each posture, surface electromyography (EMG) equipment was used to measure muscle activity of the vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, rectus femoris, and gluteus medius during lunge exercise. Results: As a result of comparing lower extremity muscle activity in normal, medial and lateral knee-deviation postures according to lunge exercise, the muscle activity of the vastus medialis was 107.09±13.90% in the normal posture, 79.24±5.26% in the medial- deviation posture and 125.73±14.30% in the lateral- deviation posture, which was a statistically significant difference (p<0.05). However, In the case of the vastus lateralis, rectus femoris and gluteus medius there was no statistically significant difference in muscle activity in the medial and lateral deviation positions(p>0.05). Conclusions: As a result, it was found that the muscle activity of the vastus medialis during lunge exercise significantly increased in the lateral deviation posture compared to the normal and medial deviation postures. In the case of the vastus lateralis, rectus femoris and gluteus medius there was no significant difference in muscle activity for medial and lateral knee deviation.