• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.149-154
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• 2023

Objective: This study is designed to investigate the effect of ankle joint position on hip extensor muscle activity when bridging exercise in sagittal plane. Design: Cross-sectional study Methods: The subjects were recruited from 20 healthy adult men. The subjects performed three types of bridging exercises (normal bridging, ankle dorsiflexion bridging, ankle plantar flexion bridging) three times for five seconds with a rest of 15 seconds between measurements and two minutes of rest between each motion. The target muscles were the gluteus maximus, biceps femoris, soleus, and tibialis anterior. A surface electromyography was used to measure the muscle activity of these muscles. Results: The results show there was no statistically significant difference between the three types of exercise in the gluteus maximus muscle activity. However, the biceps femoris showed a significant difference between the three types of exercises (p<0.05). Conclusions: In conclusion, when the three different bridging exercises were performed by adding ankle motion to normal bridging exercise, there was a significant difference in the muscle activity of the gluteus maximus relative to the biceps femoris muscle activity in the order of the ankle dorsiflexion bridging, normal bridging, and ankle plantar flexion bridging exercise. Therefore, this could be an effective option for a bridging exercise if applied to patients with a weak gluteal muscle and shortening of the hamstring muscle in further studies.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.56-63
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was conducted in order to examine how an effective rehabilitation exercise program influences the activity of shoulder muscles, and to help the clinical application of a rehabilitation program, for prevention and relief of pain, adhesion, and joint stiffness of patients who undergo rotator cuff repair. Methods: Nine test subjects were placed randomly into each group for a total of 27 subjects and exercise program interventions according to the group were conducted for six weeks, after which maximum voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC) value was re-measured for supraspinatus muscle, infraspinatus muscle, serratus anterior muscle, and middle deltoid muscle in all groups in order to compare changes in muscle activity before and after the experiment in order to perform comparative analysis of changes in muscle activity between groups, based on which four experimental hypotheses were confirmed. Results: Changes in muscle activity according to %MVIC showed a statistically significant difference (p<0.01) (p<0.001) in all muscles, except the middle deltoid muscle, and post-verification results showed that changes in muscle activity according to %MVIC were greater in test groups I and II, compared with the control group, for the supraspinatus muscle, infraspinatus muscle, and serratus anterior muscle. Conclusion: Therefore, rehabilitation through use of the methods described above should be applied efficiently in clinical settings and more research in development of much more efficient rehabilitation program interventions must be conducted.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.91-99
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• 2018

The aim of this study was to investigate the short-term effects of combined postural correction exercises (CPCE) on muscle stiffness and muscle activity in children with cerebral spastic diplegia(CSD). The subjects were 3 children (2 male and 1 female) with CSD from 4 to 7 years old. The measurement sites were upper trapezius muscle(UT), rectus abdominis muscle(RA), and gluteus maximus muscle(Gmax), muscle stiffness and muscle activity were measured using Myoton and surface EMG, and the symmetry of both sides was also examined. As a result, children with severe compensatory action showed decreased muscle stiffness and muscle activity in UT and RA and increase in Gmax after CPCE intervention. Especially, the left and right symmetry of the muscles was decreased. In this study, despite some limitations, CPCE have shown a positive effect in posture correction of children with CSD.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2022

Background: Muscle activities of gluteus maximus (GM) and hamstring (HAM) have important roles in the stability and mobility of the hip joint during various functional activities including bridge and prone hip extension exercises. Objects: The purpose of this study is to investigate muscle activities of GM, multifidus (MF) and HAM during three different bridge exercises in healthy individuals. Methods: Twenty healthy subjects were participated. Electromyography device was used to measure muscle activities of GM, MF and HAM. Each subject was asked to perform three different bridge exercises with hip abduction (0°, 15°, 30°) in random order. One-way repeated measures analysis of the variance and a Bonferroni post hoc test were used. Statistical significance was set at α = 0.01. Results: The muscle activity of GM was significantly different among three conditions (hip abduction 0°, 15°, 30°) (adjusted p-value [Padj] < 0.01). The muscle activity of GM was significantly greater during bridge exercise with hip abduction 30° compared to 0° and 15° (Padj < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the muscle activity of MF and HAM muscle (Padj > 0.01). The ratio of muscle activity (ratio = GM/HAM) during bridge exercise with hip abduction 30° was significant greater compared to the hip abduction angles 0° and 15° (Padj < 0.01). Conclusion: Bridge exercise with hip abduction 30° can be recommended to selectively facilitate the muscle activity of GM and improve the ratio of muscle activity between GM and HAM.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.25-31
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• 2016

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the trunk muscle activity according to the direction of upper extremity lifting using elastic band. METHODS: Thirty three healthy individuals participated in this study. Each subject performed upper extremity lifting using elastic band on two different directions (straight and diagonal). And then we compared the muscle activity of respective trunk muscles of both directions. In order to examine the muscle activity of trunk muscle, we used the electromyogram to measure peak and mean torque in shoulder 90 degree flexion with sitting position. Electromyographic activities were recorded from the external oblique, internal oblique, rectus abdominis, and erector spine muscles during upper extremity lifting. RESULTS: As a result, first, there was significant difference between two directions. The muscle activity of ipsilateral external oblique and contralateral internal oblique is significantly increased in both straight and diagonal directions (p<0.05). Second, the muscle activities of external oblique and internal oblique of both side showed significant difference in diagonal direction (p<0.05). Third, the muscle activity of erector spine of both side showed significant difference in straight direction (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Through this study, it is important that implement diagonal direction exercise at sitting positions to help increasing muscle activity of ipsilateral external oblique and contralateral internal oblique on patients when activating the trunk muscle or stabilizing the trunk.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2022

Purpose: In this study, we provide a way to assess even a slight effect of exercise on trunk-muscle activity. Materials and Methods: Seven healthy male participants (mean age, 24.7 ± 3.2 years; height, 171.2 ± 9.8 cm; and weight, 63.8 ± 11.9 kg) performed 15 sets of an exercise with 20 repetitions of 90° hip and right-knee flexion while lying supine. The exercise intensity was measured using the 10-point Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale after the first and 15th sets of exercises. Although cross-sectional areas and functional T2 mapping using ultrafast imaging (fast-acquired muscle functional magnetic resonance imaging, fast-mfMRI) have been proposed for imaging to evaluate exercise-induced muscle activity in real time, no previous studies have reported on the evaluation of trunk-muscle activity using functional T2 mapping. As a method for assessing trunk-muscle activity, we compared functional T2 mapping using ultrafast imaging (fast-mfMRI) with cross-sectional areas. Results: Although the muscle cross-sectional areas were increased by the exercise, there was no significant difference at rest. On the other hand, for all sets, the changes in T2 were significant compared with those at rest (P < 0.01). These results demonstrate that T2, calculated from fast-mfMRI images can be used to detect even a small amount of muscle activity induced by acute exercise, which was impossible to do with cross-sectional areas. Conclusion: Fast-mfMRI, which can also display functional information with detailed forms, enabled non-invasive real-time imaging for identifying and evaluating the degree of deep trunk-muscle activity induced by exercise.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.266-272
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of whole body vibration (WBV) exercise on balance and lower extremity muscle activity according to different intensity of vibration in stroke patients. Methods: Thirty subjects were randomly divided into three groups: experimental group II (n=10), III (n=10), and control group I (n=10). Each subject was exposed to three WBV conditions, as follows: 1. no WBV (group I), 2. 10 Hz (group II), 3. 30 Hz (group III) in semi squat position. The exercise program was conducted for six weeks (five times per week; 16 minutes per day). Subjects were measured on balance (limited of stability: LOS) and lower extremity muscle activity. Results: Significant difference in balance and lower extremity muscle activity was observed in the experimental group (II, III), compared with the control group (I). Results of post-hoc analysis, showed a significant difference in balance (LOS) in on group II and group III compared with group I, but no significant difference in on group II compared with group III, and a significant difference in lower extremity muscle activity in on group II and group III compared with group I, and a significant difference on in group II compared with group III. Conclusion: WBV exercise may be helpful in improvement of balance and lower extremity muscle activity in stroke patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.10-15
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• 2013

Purpose: Low back pain occurs and frequently recurs in many people. An imbalance of paraspinal muscle activity can cause low back pain. Mulligan's concept of mobilizations with sustained natural apophyseal glides (SNAG) is a common method for treating low back pain. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of this method on paraspinal muscle activity in patients with chronic low back pain. Methods: Twenty-one patients with low back pain participated in this study. Patients were classified using the Oswestry disability index. The subjects' paraspinal muscles were measured by surface electromyography both before and after the SNAG mobilization. We measured the root mean square value of the paraspinal muscles during lumbar flexion and extension. Results: Paraspinal muscle activity in patients with chronic low back pain was different between the right and left sides. Importantly, paraspinal muscle activity significantly decreased after using the SNAG mobilization method. Conclusion: This study shows a difference between paraspinal muscle activity in chronic low back pain patients and finds that the Mulligan's concept of SNAG mobilization is effective at reducing imbalances in paraspinal muscle activity in low back pain patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.394-399
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• 2020

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of lower rib cage lateral expansion limitation on the maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures and on abdominal muscle activity during maximal respiratory breathing in healthy subjects. Methods: Fifteen healthy male subjects voluntarily participated in this cross-sectional study. During maximal breathing, maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures were measured, and abdominal muscle activity was determined with using surface electromyography. Also, the measurement was repeated with using a non-elastic belt to the lower rib cage for limiting of lateral expansion. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test was performed for obtaining the statistical difference with a significance level of 0.05. Results: The findings of this study are as follows: 1) There were no significant differences in maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressure with and without lower rib cage lateral expansion (p>0.05), 2) There was no significant difference in abdominal muscle activity during the maximal inspiratory phase (p>0.05). However, right external oblique muscle activity decreased significantly during maximum exhalation with lower rib expansion limitation (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results of the current study indicate that a non-elastic belt was effective in decreasing right external oblique muscle activity during forced expiratory breathing in healthy subjects.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.218-223
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of active vibration exercise on the neck pain, disability index, and muscle activity of patients with forward head posture. Methods: A total of 24 patients were randomly assigned to an experimental group or a control group (n=12 each). The experimental group performed active vibration exercise using a flexi-bar for 20 minutes a day, five times a week for four weeks. The study measured patient neck pain using a visual analog scale, neck pain related disability using the neck disability index, and muscle activity using electromyography. Results: The intragroup comparison showed significant differences in the visual analog scale score, neck disability index score and upper trapezius, lower trapezius and serratus anterior muscle activity values among patients in the experimental group. The intergroup comparison showed that differences in the visual analog scale score, neck disability index score and upper trapezius, lower trapezius and serratus anterior muscle activity values in the control group. Conclusion: This study showed that active vibration exercise was effective in improving the neck pain, disability index, and muscle activity of patients with forward head posture.