• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.49-52
• /
• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of the area of the base of support formed by the human body on the maximal voluntary isometric contraction of upper limb muscles. Methods: The study was conducted with 20 normal adults. To identify changes in the base of support, the maximal voluntary isometric contraction of the biceps muscle was measured in a standing position, a sitting position, and a lying position for each subject. The sizes of the base of support formed in the standing, sitting, and lying positions were set to 1, 2, and 3 respectively, based on the sizes, to analyze the correlations. The maximal voluntary isometric contraction of the biceps muscle was measured using surface electromyograms (EMGs) (Noraxon DTS, Germany). Results: The results showed negative correlations in which, as the size of the base of support increased, the maximal voluntary isometric contraction of the biceps muscle decreased. Conclusion: Changes in the base of support of the body affect the maximal voluntary isometric contraction of the upper limbs. Therefore, when resistance exercises are applied for muscle strengthening, the positions should be changed considering the changes in muscle activity according to those positions. In addition, when EMGs are used to measure the maximal voluntary isometric contraction, the measurements should be conducted in the same positions, considering muscle activity that changes according to the base of support and positions, for data quantification.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
• /
• v.66 no.11
• /
• pp.1628-1633
• /
• 2017

The purpose of this study was to identify the difference and correlation in elbow joint maximal flexion strength according to measurement methods and characteristics of muscular contraction, and to develop the predictive equation of elbow joint maximal flexion strength for the optimal exercise intensity setting and accurate measurement. Subjects were 30 male university students. Elbow joint maximal flexion strength of isokinetic contraction, isometric contraction at $75^{\circ}$ elbow joint flexion position, isotonic concentric 1RM, manual muscle strength (MMT) were measured with isokinetic dynamometer, dumbbell, and manual muscle tester. Pearson's r, linear regression equation, and multiple regression equation between variables were calculated. As a result, the highest value was isometric contraction. The second highest value was MMT. The third highest value was isokinetic contraction. 1RM was the lowest. Predictive equations of elbow joint maximal flexion strength between isometric and isokinetic contraction, between isometric contraction and 1RM, among isometric contraction, 1RM, and body weight were developed. In conclusion, 1RM and isokinetic elbow joint maximal flexion strength could be seemed to underestimate the practical elbow joint maximal flexion strength. And it is suggested that the developed predictive equations in this study should be useful in criteria- and goal-setting for resistant exercise and sports rehabilitation after elbow joint injury.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.59-65
• /
• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to review articles in order to establish optimal contraction intensity and duration in the performance of relaxation techniques for maximal increase in range of motion. Methods: The Cochrane, EBSCO, Embase, Medline, ProQuest, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Scopus databases were used to search articles from 1990 to January 2016. The search terms were "contract relax," "hold relax," "muscle energy technique (MET)," and "proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching." Only experimental human studies (randomized controlled trials) that compared the effects of varying intensity and duration of isometric contraction were included. Non-English language and unpublished studies were excluded. Results: A total of 2,156 articles were initially identified, with only five eventually meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Three studies compared the effects of varying intensity in isometric contraction and two studies compared the effects of varying duration in isometric contraction with regard to range of motion (ROM). Two articles suggested that submaximal voluntary isometric contraction was more effective than maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) in the improvement of ROM. One article showed that a longer contraction time led to greater increases in ROM. Conclusion: Submaximal voluntary isometric contraction was recommended during contract-relax exercises in healthy people. Lack of evidence makes it difficult to suggest the optimal duration of isometric contraction during relaxation techniques. For future research, high-quality evidence will be needed to establish the optimal contraction intensity for maximum improvement of ROM.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2010

To develop effective training methods for strengthening a weakened quadriceps femoris muscle in hemiplegic patients, we examined the effects of maximal isometric contraction of the nonparalyzed knee joint on the electromyographic activities of the paralytic muscle. An electromyogram (EMG) was used to record the electromyographic activities of the paralytic quadriceps femoris muscle in 27 hemiplegic patients. The maximal isometric contraction was measured for each subject to normalize the electromyographic activities. The maximal isometric extension and flexion exercises were randomly conducted when the knee joint angles of the nonparalyzed knees were $0^{\circ}$, $45^{\circ}$, and $90^{\circ}$. The patients were encouraged to maintain maximal isometric contractions in both knee joints during each measurement, and three measurements were taken. A one-minute rest interval was given between each measurement to minimize the effects of muscle fatigue. An average from the three values was taken as being the root mean square of the EMG and was recorded as being the maximal isometric contraction. The electromyographic activity obtained for each measurement was expressed as a percentage of the reference voluntary contraction, which was determined using the values obtained during the maximal isometric contraction. The results of this study are summarized as follows: First, when the knee joint angle of the nonparalyzed knee was $0^{\circ}$, the electromyographic activities of the paralytic medial aspect of rectus femoris were related to measurement by a maximal isometric flexion exercise than by an extension exercise (p<.05). Second, when the knee joint angle of the nonparalyzed knee was $90^{\circ}$, the electromyographic activities of the paralytic lateral aspect of rectus femoris were related to measurement by a maximal isometric flexion exercise than by an extension exercise (p<.05). The results show that myoelectrical activities of paralytic quardriceps were not related to measurement angles and exercise directions of the nonparalized knee joint. Studies on various indirect intervention to improve muscular strength of patients with nervous system disorders of the weakened muscle should be constantly conducted.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.1-12
• /
• 2005

This study aimed at examining the maximal isometric contraction caused by voluntary exercise and at comparing its aspects of decrease and restoration in their different repeated application, as to the quadriceps muscles of thigh in the subjects composed of patients with spastic hemiplegia and normal adults. Using isokinetic exercise analyser(Biodex Medical Systems Inc., Biodex System 3PRO, U.S.A.), experiment was conducted as to the normal group composed of fifteen adults and the patient group composed of fifteen patients with spastic hemiplegia. As to each group, MVIC(maximal voluntary isometric contraction) of the quadriceps muscle of thigh caused by voluntary exercise and the aspects of decrease and restoration of the isometric contraction were examined with the method to induce isometric exercise, and their SDI(strength decrement index) and SRI(strength recovery index) were also calculated. The results can be summarized as follows: 1. As for decrease of maximal isometric contraction, both groups showed slow decrease in voluntary exercise, but the normal group showed rapid decrease later phase. 2. As for SDI, no significant differences could be observed in comparison between groups. 3. As for restoration of maximal isometric contraction, both groups showed slow restoration in voluntary exercise, but the normal group showed rapid restoration early phase. 4. As for SRI, comparison between groups showed significant differences in voluntary exercise. These results lead us to the conclusions that spastic muscle is characterized by slow decrease and restoration of MVIC in comparison with normal muscle in voluntary exercise.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
• /
• v.2 no.3
• /
• pp.587-598
• /
• 1995

The purpose of this study was to test the microcurrent electrical neuromuscular stimulation on muscle soreness, serum creatine kinase levels and force deficits evident following a high-intensity eccentric exercise bout. 10 volunteer male subjects were randomly assigned to a treatment group or to a control group. Exercise consisted of high-intensity eccentric contractions of the elbow flexors. Resistance was reduced as subjects fatigued, until they reached exhaustion. Muscle soreness rating was determined using a visual analog scale. Serum creatine kinase levels were analyzed using a blood sample. Force deficits were determined by measures of maximal voluntary isometric contraction at $90^{\circ}$ of elbow flexion on a Orthotron II dynamometer. Muscle soreness rating, serum creatine kinase levels and maximal voluntary isometric contraction were determined at the before exercise and again at 24 and 48 hours postexericse. Treatments were applied immediately following exercise. The control group subjects rested following their exercise bout. Statistical analysis showed significant increases in muscle soreness rating and significant decreases in maximal voluntary isometric contraction when the before exercise was compared with 24 and 48 hour measures(p<0.01). No significant effects were observed between groups in muscle soreness rating and maximal voluntary isometric contraction(p>0.05). Highly significants differences in serum creatine kinase levels were found using on Analysis of variance(ANOVA) repeated measures between groups for each time cycles(p<0.001). This modality may have benefits when used early stage in the muscle damage.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.8 no.3
• /
• pp.27-34
• /
• 2001

Physical therapists have been using biofeedback training to induce improvements in various circumstances. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of visual and tactile feedback using electrical stimulation on quadriceps strength. Nineteen women without known impairment of the neuromusculoskeletal system volunteered for this study. Subjects were randomly allocated into three groups: visual feedback, tactile feedback, and control group. The torque of isometric knee extension force was measured. Subjects were asked to exert the maximal isometric contraction force of quadriceps over a 30 second period. The resting period of 10 minutes was given after the maximal isometric contraction to avoid the muscle fatigue. In between groups comparison, significant differences of the peak torque and the torque area were found on the performance of the maximal isometric contraction of quadriceps (p<.05). The values peak of torque and torque area were significantly higher during visual feedback than tactile feedback. The results of this study suggest that visual feedback is more powerful than tactile feedback (p<.01).

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.53-64
• /
• 2006

Purpose: The present study purposed to examine the effects of massage and stretching on the recovery of muscle contraction force for muscle fatigue caused by sustained isometric contraction. Methods: The subjects of this study Were 64 healthy men and women (women: 30, men: 34). They Were divided into massage group (23), stretching group (21) and rest group (20), and using Biodex System we observed the pattern of changes in maximal voluntary contraction force (MVC) after causing muscle fatigue in quadriceps femoris muscle through sustained isometric contraction. Results: We measured the point of fatigue occurrence by sustained isometric contraction with 50% MVC and changes in isometric contraction force at 0, 10, 20 and 30 minutes after fatigue and compared them according to gender and treatment group. Conclusion: 1. According to the result of measuring the point of time when fatigue occurred, a difference was observed in time to task failure between men and women. It was significantly longer in women. 2. By gender, MVC changed significantly in all time frames in women, but it showed significant increases only at 10 minutes after fatigue in men. 3. In the comparison of MVC among the treatment groups, it showed significant differences among the groups at 10 minutes after fatigue. 4. In the comparison of changes in MVC among the time frames for each group, the rest group showed significant differences in MVC between 0 and 10 minutes after fatigue and between 20 and 30 minutes after fatigue. The massage group showed significant differences in MVC between 0 and 10 minutes after fatigue and between 10 and 20 minutes after fatigue. The stretching group showed a significant difference in MVC between 10 and 20 minutes after fatigue and between 20 and 30 minutes after fatigue.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
• /
• v.2 no.3
• /
• pp.25-35
• /
• 2004

The purpose of this study was compared to MTICs(maximal tolerated isometric contraction), decrement and recovery. For this, using isokinetic exercise analysis device(Biodex Medical Systems Inc., Biodex System 3PRO, USA), low rate(20 Hz) and high rate(100 Hz) NMES(neuromuscular electrical stimulation) were applied to the quadriceps muscles of fifteen patients with spastic hemiplegia caused by lesions in the central nervous system. The results were as follows: 1. It was shown to fast decrement in the middle of phase at low rate NMES and to slow decrement of MTIC response at high rate NMES(p<.01). 2. It was shown to fast recovery at high rate NMES and to slow recovery at low rate NMES in recovery tendency of MTIC(p<.01). These conclusions suggest that NMES of high rate caused to slow fatigue and fast recovery different from low rate NMES.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.422-428
• /
• 2012

The present study purposed to examine the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, self-stretching and functional massage on the recovery of muscle contraction force for muscle fatigue caused by sustained isotonic contraction. The subjects of this study were 45 healthy students. They were divided into transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation group(n=15), self-stretching group(n=15) and functional massage group(n=15), and using Primus RS. We observed the pattern of changes in maximal voluntary isometric contraction force(MVIC) after causing muscle fatigue in quadriceps femoris muscle through sustained isotonic contraction. Maximal voluntary isometric contraction force(MVIC) were greatly increased after transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, self-stretching and functional massage. In the comparison of recovery rate of muscle contraction force for muscle fatigue caused by sustained isotonic contraction among the treatment groups, it did not show any significant differences. However, it showed that each treatment may be effective in recovery of muscle fatigue caused by sustained isotonic contraction.