• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.139-145
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• 1984

A Kinematical study of bite force during voluntary isometric contraction was investigated in 20 Korean women with TMJ dysfunction and 50 Korean women a normal subject, ranging from 19 to 29 years old. The author observed maximal bite force, slope of bite force graph, curve index and duration of maximal bite force by way of the foil strain guage(MPM-3000) and Dymograph(Beckman). The obtained results were as follows : 1. Maximal bite forces were 26.48kg and 21.38kg for left and right side of normal subject and 12.85kg and 20.70kg for affected and mon-affected side of TMJ dysfunction patients. 2. The slope of bite force graph were 64.69。and 63.83。 for left and right side of normal subject and 53.14。and 69.57。for affected and non-affected side. 3. The curve indexes were 0.54 and 0.80 for left and right side of normal subject and 2.30 and 0.60 for affected and non-affected side. 4. The duration of maximal bite force were 383.12 msec and 393.60 msec for left and right side of normal subject and 345.30 msec and 312.25 msec for affected and non-affected side.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.93-101
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• 2006

This study examined whether there is a transfer effect to other joint angles and the angular specificity of muscle fatigue after 6 weeks of isometric training of the vastus medialis. Twenty subjects were randomly assigned to 30° and 90° knee flexion groups and were trained at 80% maximal voluntary isometric contraction(MVIC) three times a week for 6 weeks. The pre-and post-training values of the 80% holding time(endurance time) of MVIC, the Fatigue Index(FI), and the MVIC at 30°, 60°, and 90° were compared. After isometric training for 6 weeks, in the 30° knee flexion group, FI decreased significantly(p<0.05) only at 30°, which was the training angle; there was no change at other angles. By contrast, in the 90° knee flexion group, FI decreased significantly(p<0.05) at both the trained angle and at the other angles, indicating a transfer effect of training. MVIC did not increase significantly(p<0.05) at any trained angle in either the 30° or 90° knee flexion groups after 6 weeks of isometric training, neither did the 80% holding time of MVIC differ significantly compared with pre-training in either group. These findings suggest that training at 90° of knee flexion is more effective than training at 30° of knee flexion for obtaining a training transfer effect on muscle fatigue in the vastus medialis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.33-41
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• 2018

PURPOSE: Femur and tibia alignment in the knee joint is important to the biomechanics of lower limb movement. The purpose of this study was to compare vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and vastus lateralis electromyographic muscle activities according to tibial rotation taping methods. METHODS: Twenty-nine healthy subjects (13 males and 16 females) in the 20s, without knee joint-related diseases or disorders, participated in our study. After identifying each subject's dominant foot, the maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) was determined using a manual muscle tester. The activity of each target muscle was measured at 50% MVIC in isometric muscle contraction and at a $30^{\circ}$ knee flexion position before and after applying internal and external rotation taping by the Mulligan concept and in the neutral position. Non-elastic tape was used to stabilize the tibia rotation position. RESULTS: In the males, VMO muscle activity was significantly increased in the tibia internal rotation position ($47.2{\pm}14.6$, $mean{\pm}SD$) than in the neutral position ($39.3{\pm}14.9$) (p<.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that when applying tibia internal rotation taping in healthy males, VMO muscle activity significantly increases during isometric extension of the knee. Therefore, this study provides a basis for selecting the appropriate taping method, in consideration of the available treatments in clinical practice for patients with knee problems.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.85-90
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to find the difference in muscle firing rate between each muscle according to the knee angle with the quadriceps femoris which is a representative action muscle of the lower extremity. Seven normal healthy subjects were recruited. The median frequency (MDF) of muscle contraction was recorded from vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and rectus femoris muscles using the surface EMG, in 5 seconds, during maximal isometric knee extension. The data were analyzed by the two-way repeated ANOVA. The results of the study were as follows: 1) median frequency of muscle contraction was significantly higher at the vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and rectus femoris in descending order. 2) median frequency of muscle contraction was significantly higher at the $30^{\circ}$, $60^{\circ}$, and $90^{\circ}$ in descending order. Consequently, muscle recruitment at the knee decreases the EMG activity of the lengthened muscle. This study suggests that the change in EMG activity at different muscle lengths resulted in affecting the muscle firing rate during the knee extension.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.50-57
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between delays in initiation and termination of tibialis anterior contraction through surface electromyographic (sEMG) analysis in adults with hemiplegia and healthy subjects and clinical assessment of lower-limb mobility. EMG activity of 6 long-term survivors of stroke and 5 healthy subjects was recorded during maximal isometric ankle dorsiflexion in 3 seconds beeper signals. It must be done as fast and forcefully as possible. Lower limb mobility was assessed with Modified Emory Functional Ambulation Profile (mEFAP). Delay in initiation and termination of muscle contraction was significantly prolonged in the affected lower limb relative to the unaffected limb. Termination of muscle contraction in the hemiplegic lower limb was significantly delayed than the initiation on the affected sides. Delay in initiation and termination of muscle contraction correlated significantly with a few range of mEFAP. Abnormally delayed initiation and termination of muscle contraction may contribute to hemiparetic lower limb mobility in hemiparetic patients. Consequently, this study showed that abnormal delay of initiation and termination of muscle contraction may contribute to hemiparetic lower limb mobility in adults with hemiplegia. Further studies are needed to demonstrate a treatment effect.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.43-50
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• 2002

This study was designed to identify the effects of walking conditions (normal walking vs. toe-walking) on electromyographic (EMG) activity of gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior, and soleus muscle. Seven healthy adult males participated in this study. The exclusion criteria were orthopedic or neurologic disease, congenital anomaly or acquired deformity, or pain in low back or lower extremities. The maximal voluntary isometric contraction for each muscle was used for the reference contraction, and EMG activity of each muscle during normal walking and toe-walking was expressed as a percentage of reference contraction. The gait cycle was determined with two foot switches, and gait was normalized as 100% gait cycle for each condition. The maximal values of EMG activity in terminal stance (30~50% of gait cycle) of each condition were compared for data analysis. No significant differences were found in EMG activity of the tibialis anterior and soleus (p>.05), whereas significant decrement was found in EMG activity of gastrocnemius during toe-walking compared to normal walking (p<.05). There is a limitation to generalize the results of this study, because small number of subjects participated for this study and only EMG was used for data collection. The treatment methods should be developed to improve gait efficiency by substituting the weakened muscles secondary to upper motor neuron, or by strengthening the distal muscles in lower extremity.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.121-127
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• 2022

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate potential effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on bimanual force control capabilities in healthy young adults. Method: Eighteen right-handed healthy young adults (10 females and 8 males; age: 23.55 ± 3.56 yrs) participated in this crossover design study. All participants were randomly allocated to both active-tDCS and sham-tDCS conditions, respectively. While receiving 20 min of active- or sham-tDCS interventions, all participants performed bimanual isometric force control tasks at four submaximal targeted force levels (i.e., 5%, 10%, 15, and 20% of maximal voluntary contraction: MVC). To compare bimanual force control capabilities including force accuracy, variability, and regularity between active-tDCS and sham-tDCS conditions, we conducted two-way repeated measures ANOVAs (2 × 4; tDCS condition × Force levels). Results: We found no significant difference in baseline MVC between active-tDCS and sham-tDCS conditions. Moreover, our findings revealed that providing bilateral tDCS including anodal tDCS on left primary motor cortex (M1) and cathodal on right M1 while conducting bimanual force control trials significantly decreased force variability and regularity at 5%MVC. Conclusion: These findings suggest that providing bilateral tDCS on M1 areas may improve bimanual force control capabilities at a relatively low targeted force level.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.118-125
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• 2020

Background: Lateral epicondylitis (LE) is the most common chronic musculoskeletal pain condition of the upper extremities. LE is often related to forceful grip activities that require isometric contraction of the wrist extensors. A previous study evaluated the effect of the diamond taping technique on grip strength and pain; however, there has been no report on the change in the electromyography (EMG) findings of wrist extensors. Objects: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of diamond taping technique, using a rigid tape, on the EMG activities of the extensor carpi radialis (ECR) during grip activities. Methods: Twenty-four healthy subjects (mean age = 21.50 ± 2.76 years) volunteered to participate in this study. The subjects were instructed to perform forceful grip activities with and without diamond-type taping on the origin area of the ECR. Grip strength tests were performed at 100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% for maximal isometric contraction force. EMG data were collected from the ECR. Repeated measure analysis of variance was used to analyze the effect of grip force and taping (with and without). Statistical significance levels were set at α = 0.05. Comparison of the results with and without taping at different grip force were analyzed using independent t-test. Statistical significance levels were set at α = 0.01. Results: Statistically significant association was observed between the taping application and forceful grip activity as revealed by the EMG data of the ECR (p < 0.05). EMG of the ECR significantly reduced for all muscle strength levels (p < 0.01) after taping. Conclusion: This study shows an impressive effect of the diamond taping technique, using rigid tape, on wrist extensors during grip activities. Decreasing muscle activity via this taping approach could be utilized to enhance pain-free grip force and reduce pain in patients with LE. Our study suggested that this taping technique could be considered as an effective management strategy of LE.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.210-217
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• 2019

Objective: This study was conducted to compare the immediate effect of hamstring stretching techniques of static stretching, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) hold-relax and PNF irradiation on the hamstring muscle. Design: Three-group pretest-posttest design. Methods: Fifty-one subjects with shortened hamstrings were randomly assigned to the static stretching group (n=17), PNF hold-relax group (n=17), and the PNF irradiation group (n=17). All subjects performed an active knee extension (AKE) test to assess for the lower extremity with a shortened hamstring. The static stretching group performed stretches by lifting their leg to the maximum extent (3 times, 30 seconds). The PNF hold-relax group performed maximal isometric contraction against the experimenter's resistance (3 times, 10 seconds). The PNF irradiation group performed maximum isometric contraction against the experimenter's resistance toward the direction of the body (5 times, 5 seconds). The pre and post-tests measured range of motion (ROM), pressure pain thresholds (PPT) and muscle tone. Results: There were significant differences in ROM and PPT between pre and post intervention in each group (p<0.05). There was a significant difference only in the ROM among groups (p<0.05). Post-hoc analysis showed that the changes in ROM occurred in the order of the PNF hold-relax group, static stretching group and PNF irradiation group (p<0.05). Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that the PNF irradiation technique may improve ROM and may be used to improve ROM similar to other stretching techniques. Therefore, the PNF irradiation technique could be included in stretching programs and can be used as a suitable stretching method depending on the situation.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2008

Purpose: This study examined the effects of pre-eccentric exercise to the quadriceps for the prevention of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and recovery of muscular function, depending on the training intensities. Methods: Subjects were divided into one of three groups that control group, a low intensity eccentric exercise group (LIEE group) and a high intensity eccentric exercise group (HIEE group). Subjects who underwent pre-eccentric exercise undertook exercise at an intensity of 25% and 75% of maximal voluntary contractions, respectively. After undertaking pre-eccentric exercise for eight weeks, eccentric exercise was applied again to induce DOMS. Measurements were conducted to examine pain and muscular function changes before, immediately after, after the induction of DOMS, and at the first, third, fifth and seventh days after the induction of DOMS. Results: Subjects who underwent pre-eccentric exercise showed a significant difference from the control group for the changes in the visual analogue scale (VAS) pain threshold, pressure pain threshold and muscle thickness by isometric contraction from measuring DOMS, and in particular, pain threshold by isometric contraction had remarkable effect in the LIEE group of subjects. For the change of the root mean square values using mechanomyography (MMG) as the measurement of muscular function recovery, subjects who had undertaken pre-eccentric exercise group showed a significant difference as compared to the control group. Conclusion: Pre-eccentric exercise was very effective in preventing and recovering delayed onset muscle soreness and was helpful to prevent and recover from decreased muscular function. The difference based on the intensity of exercise was not great, but it was more effective in the low intensity eccentric exercise group of subjects. Therefore, it can be considered that pre-eccentric exercise has a high application value as a physical therapy intervention for prevention and rehabilitation of sports injuries.