• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.2317-2323
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• 2010

When the muscle is contracted by continuous and same, the force takes fatigue and stiffness. The aim of this study was to know how the fatigue and muscle stiffness change during an isometric contraction. Surface Electro myography(EMG) signal monitoring system and ultrasonic transducer set up the same muscle stem, subjects contract his right femoris muscle by submaximal isometric contraction(50% of MVC) until exhaustion. Before and after the test, muscle stiffness was measured and EMG was measured during the contraction. As time goes by, muscle fatigue was increased. and the stiffness was shown strongly after the contraction. These results show if the muscle becomes more and more fatigued, the circulation of muscle is delayed although the contraction doesn't happen. So muscle stiffness is increased.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.109-111
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• 1989

An electrical stimulator was designed to induce locomotion for paraplegic patients caused by central nervous system injury. Optimal stimulus parameters, which can minimize muscle fatigue and can achieve effective muscle contraction were determined in slow and fast muscles in Sprague-Dawley rats. Stimulus patterns of our stimulator were designed to simulate electromyographic activity monitored during locomotion of normal subjects. Muscle types of the lower extremity were classified according to their mechanical property of contraction, which are slow muscle (msoleus m.) and fast muscle (medial gastrocneminus m., rectus femoris m., vastus lateralis m.). Optimal parameters of electrical stimulation for slow muscles were 20 Hz, 0.2 ms square pulse. For fast muscle, 40 Hz, 0.3 ms square pulse was optimal to produce repeated contraction. Higher stimulus intensity was required when synergistic muscles were stimulated simultaneously than when they were stimulated individually. Electrical stimulation for each muscle was designed to generate bipedal locomotion, so that individual muscles alternate contraction and relaxation to simulate stance and swing phases. Portable electrical stimulator with 16 channels built in microprocessor was constructed and applied to paraplegic patients due to lumbar cord injury. The electrical stimulator restored partially gait function in paraplegic patients.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.59-65
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• 2012

In this study, muscle fatigue of biceps and triceps during isometric exercise depending on concentric contraction and eccentric contraction was evaluated using EMG. 12 healthy male volunteers was performed concentric exercise and eccentric exercise by maximum flection and extension of elbow joint. Integrated EMG (IEMG) in time domain and mean power frequency (MNF) in frequency domain were calculated. MNF of the biceps and triceps was decreased, whereas IEMG was increased during concentric contraction and eccentric contraction. But muscle fatigue index appeared higher at region of stretched muscle length. in this result, muscle fatigue occurs at both biceps and triceps muscle during concentric and eccentric exercise, and muscle fatigue was affected by muscle contraction and extension.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.471-478
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• 1994

Effects of histamine on the ruminal smooth muscle motility of cattle were investigated in the longitudinal and circular smooth muscle strips. In order to these experiments, specimens were obtained from 35 korean native cattles, 3-4 years old, in Kwang-ju area slaughterhouse. Smooth muscle strips of rumen were made from sample, and then measured the isometric contraction with physiograph in $37{^{\circ}C}$ organ bath. The results were as follows : 1. Histamine caused two different types of response(a contraction or a relaxation) on the smooth muscle of cattle rumen. These responses increased in dose dependant manner. 2. Pyrilamine($H_1$-receptor antagonist) completely blocked contraction in all the preparation and converted the response into relaxation. 3. Cimetidine($H_2$-receptor antagonist) completely blocked relaxation in all the preparation and converted the response into contraction. 4. The contraction induced by histamine($10^{-3}M$) was not Mocked by cholinergic, adrenergic blocker or hexamethonium. 5. The contraction induced by histamine($10^{-3}M$) was markedly inhibited in the $Ca^{2+}$ free(or EDTA 2Na) Kreb's solution and by verapamil.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.331-340
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• 2022

Purpose: Thisstudy aimed to identify the effect of varying the expansibility of elastic tape on the onset time of muscle contraction during neck extension for forward head posture syndrome. Methods: Forty-five young adults with forward head posture syndrome volunteered to participate and were randomly assigned to one of three groups according to the expansibility of the elastic tape (25%, 50%, 75%). The onset time of muscle contraction for the neck extensor during neck extension was measured using an electromyographic system (Free EMG, BTS, Italy). Multivariate analysis of variance was employed to determine the effect of different expansibilities of elastic tape on the onset time of muscle contraction during neck extension for forward head posture syndrome. When there was a statistically significant difference by MANOVA, Scheffe was used as a post-hoc test. The level of significance was set at α=0.05. Results: In the comparison of the onset time of muscle contraction of varying elastic tape expansibilities and measurement times, there was a significant difference between the groups (Lt. UT, Lt. SCM, Rt. SCM) (p < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in the interaction between the measurement time and the group, between the measurement time (p > 0.05). Conclusion: In the neck extension, 75% of the tape extensibility in the Lt. UT and both SCM shortened the muscle contraction onset time.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.353-362
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• 1990

Fluoride (F-), a known stimulator of G-protein, induced strong contraction in rabbit trachealis muscle. $AlCl_3\;(5{\sim}20\;{\mu}M)$, which is required for G-protein stimulation by $F^-$, potentiated the contractile response to $F^-$. $Ca^{2+}-removal$ and verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, inhibited the fluoroaluminate-induced contraction. Fluoroaluminate increased $^{45}Ca$ influx in the absence and presence of verapamil. In heparin-loaded muscle high $K^+-induced$ contraction was not affected, but acetylcholine and fluoroaluminate-induced contractions were inhibited. The fluoroaluminate-induced contraction was partially relaxed by isoproterenol, a stimulator of adenylate cyclase. Pertussis toxin partially inhibited fluoroaluminate-induced contraction and potentiated isoproterenol-induced relaxation in the presence of fluoroaluminate, but had no effect on acetylcholine-induced contraction and the isoproterenol-induced relaxation in the presence of acetylcholine. These results suggest that fluoroaluminate has the ability to stimulate at least two putative G-proteins in rabbit trachealis muscle; One causes $Ca^{2+}$ influx through the potential-operated $Ca^{2+}$ channel and the other induces intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release by the increase of inositol-1, 4, 5-triphosphate.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.139-146
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• 2016

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of craniocervical flexion exercise with masticatory muscle contraction in patients with neck pain. Patients with neck pain also experience muscle weakness and limitation of activities of daily living. Craniocervical flexion exercise with masticatory muscle contraction may increase the thickness of the deep cervical flexor muscles, thereby reducing pain and limitations on activities of daily living. METHODS: Twenty-six volunteers participated in this study. The subjects were randomly divided into an experimental group (n=13) and a control group (n=13). Both groups performed craniocervical flexion exercise using a pressure biofeedback unit; the experimental group performed craniocervical flexion exercise with masticatory muscle contraction for 20 minutes, 3 times a week for 4 weeks. Assessment tools included ultrasonography for measurement of muscle thickness and the Neck Disability Index for the level of pain and function. RESULTS: The rate of change in muscle thickness in both groups significantly increased (p<.05), with a significantly greater increase in the experimental group than in the control group (p<.05). The Neck Disability Index score significantly improved (p<.05) in both groups, with significantly greater improvement in the experimental group compared with the control group (p<.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that craniocervical flexion exercise with masticatory muscle contraction can be effective in increasing muscle thickness and improving the Neck Disability Index score in patients with neck pain.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2015

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the activity of the shoulder flexor and extensor when hold-relax and contraction-relax techniques were applied with shoulder joint flexion. Methods: The subjects of this study were 15 healthy women. With the shoulder joint flexion at $0^{\circ}$ and $90^{\circ}$, hold-relax and contraction-relax techniques were applied for the same submaximal resistance to measure the activities of the deltoid muscle anterior fiber, deltoid muscle posterior fiber, pectoralis major fiber, and latissimus dorsi muscle with surface electromyography. An independent t-test was conducted in order to compare activities of each muscle according to the two techniques. Results: When the hold-relax and contraction-relax techniques were applied with the shoulder joint flexion at $0^{\circ}$, the activities of the shoulder flexor and extensor were not significantly different, but the activity of the flexor was higher when the contraction-relax technique was applied than when the hold-relax technique was applied. When the hold-relax and contraction-relax techniques were applied with the shoulder joint flexed at $90^{\circ}$, the activities of the shoulder flexor and extensor were not significantly different, but the activity of the extensor was relatively higher than when the flexor was at $0^{\circ}$ Conclusion: When the hold-relax and contraction-relax techniques were applied with the shoulder joint flexion at $0^{\circ}$, the activities of the shoulder flexor and extensor were not significantly different, but the activity of the flexor was higher when the contraction-relax technique was applied than when the hold-relax technique was applied. When the hold-relax and contraction-relax techniques were applied with the shoulder joint flexed at $90^{\circ}$, the activities of the shoulder flexor and extensor were not significantly different, but the activity of the extensor was relatively higher than when the flexor was at $0^{\circ}$.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.23-37
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• 2002

This study examined the muscle recruitment order during extension of the hip joint in normal subjects, and evaluated whether the external support obtained from wearing a lumbosacral corset had an effect on muscle recruitment leading to increased lumbar stability. The subjects were 40 normal adults (32 male, 8 female) with no history of low back pain and no pathological findings in the nervous or musculoskeletal systems. All subjects extended their hip joints under 3 positions (prone, sidelying, standing). During extension, the onsets of contraction of the rectus abdominis, gluteus maximus, and semitendinosus muscles were measured. Electromyographic activity was measured using a surface electrode, and the muscle contraction onset time was designated as the point exceeding a threshold of 25 ms, using a mean plus twice of the standard deviation. To compare the average order of muscle contraction onset time, a Freedman two-way analysis of variance by ranks was used. The relative difference between muscle contraction onset time wearing and not wearing a lumbosacral corset was measured using a paired t-test. A difference in the average muscle contraction onset order for the rectus abdominis, gluteus maximus, and semitendinosus muscles was observed (p<.05) among three positions. However, wearing a lumbosacral corset did not. change the contraction order. In addition, wearing a lumbosacral corset produced a significant difference (p<.05) in the relative onset time between the rectus abdominis and gluteus maximus in the standing position, but no difference was observed for the other muscles or positions. In the future, patients suffering from low back pain should be compared with normal subjects to determine the effectiveness of a lumbosacral corset in changing muscle recruitment order.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.139-147
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• 2013

Lysolipids such as LPA, S1P and SPC have diverse biological activities including cell proliferation, differentiation, and migration. We investigated signaling pathways of LPA-induced contraction in feline esophageal smooth muscle cells. We used freshly isolated smooth muscle cells and permeabilized cells from cat esophagus to measure the length of cells. Maximal contraction occurred at $10^{-6}M$ and the response peaked at 30s. To identify LPA receptor subtypes in cells, western blot analysis was performed with antibodies to LPA receptor subtypes. LPA1 and LPA3 receptor were detected at 50 kDa and 44 kDa. LPA-induced contraction was almost completely blocked by LPA receptor (1/3) antagonist KI16425. Pertussis toxin (PTX) inhibited the contraction induced by LPA, suggesting that the contraction is mediated by a PTX-sensitive G protein. Phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitors U73122 and neomycin, and protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor GF109203X also reduced the contraction. The PKC-mediated contraction may be isozyme-specific since only $PKC{\varepsilon}$ antibody inhibited the contraction. MEK inhibitor PD98059 and JNK inhibitor SP600125 blocked the contraction. However, there is no synergistic effect of PKC and MAPK on the LPA-induced contraction. In addition, RhoA inhibitor C3 exoenzyme and ROCK inhibitor Y27632 significantly, but not completely, reduced the contraction. The present study demonstrated that LPA-induced contraction seems to be mediated by LPA receptors (1/3), coupled to PTX-sensitive G protein, resulting in activation of PLC, PKC-${\varepsilon}$ pathway, which subsequently mediates activation of ERK and JNK. The data also suggest that RhoA/ROCK are involved in the LPA-induced contraction.