• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.157-166
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• 2019

Objective: This study examined the effects of stimulating fingertip temperature on the patterns of force sharing and stability properties during multi-finger force production tasks. Method: 9 adult subjects (male: 3, female: 6, age: $26.11{\pm}4.01yrs$, height: $169.22{\pm}5.97cm$, weight: $61.44{\pm}11.27kg$) participated in this study. The experiment consisted of three blocks: 1) maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) task, 2) single-finger ramp task to quantify enslaving (i.e., unintended force production by non-task fingers), and 3) 12 trials of multi-finger steady-state force production task at 20% MVC. There were three temperature conditions including body-temperature (i.e., control condition), $40^{\circ}C$, and $43^{\circ}C$, and the stimulation was given to the index finger only for all experimental conditions. Results: There were no significant differences in the MVC forces, enslaving, and the accuracy of performance during the steady-state task between the conditions. However, the share of stimulated index finger force increased with the index fingertip temperature, while the share of middle finger force decreased. Also, the coefficient of variation of both index and middle finger forces over repetitive trials increased with the index fingertip temperature. Under the framework of the uncontrolled manifold (UCM) hypothesis used to quantify indices of multi-finger synergies (i.e., stability property) stabilizing total force during the steady-state task, the two variance components within the UCM analysis increased together with the fingertip temperature, while no changes in the synergy indices between the conditions. Conclusion: The current results showed that fingertip temperature stimulation only to index finger does not affect to muscle force production capability of multi-finger, independence of individual fingers, and force production accuracy by the involvement of all four fingers. The effect of fingertip temperature on the sharing pattern and force variation may be due to diffuse reflex effects of the induced afferent activity on alpha-motoneuronal pools. However, the unchanged stability properties may be the reflection of the active error compensation strategies by non-stimulated finger actions.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.45-55
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• 2020

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of WBC (whole-body cryotherapy)on the MVIC (maximal voluntary isometric contraction)and active ROM (range of motion) recovery of after EIMD (exercise-induced muscle injury). Design: Randomized Controlled Trial. Methods: Thirty subjects who are student in their 20s at a university participated in this study, these subjects were assigned into three groups, a control group (n=10), experiment group I(n=10), and experiment group II (n=10). The subjects in the experimental group II were intervened by WBC (-130℃, 3 minutes) before induced EIMD, the experimental group were intervened by WBC (-130℃, 3 minutes) after induced EIMD, and the control group weren't by any intervened after induced EIMD. Results: First, In the comparison of the MVIC, there were significant variations with the lapse the time in three groups (p<.001) and there was a significant interaction of time and group (p<.001). In the among group comparison, the MVIC of experimental group II was significantly larger than those of other groups (p<.001). Second, In the comparison of the active extension angle, there were significant variations with the lapse the time in three groups (p<.001) and there was a significant interaction of time and group (p<.001). In the among group comparison, the active extension angle of experimental group II was significantly smaller than those of other groups (p<.001). Third, In the comparison of the active flexion angle, there were significant variations with the lapse the time in three groups (p<.01) and there was a significant interaction of time and group (p<.001). In the among group comparison, the active flexion angle of experimental group II was significantly larger than those of other groups (p<.05). Conclusion: The above results revealed that the WBC intervention after an exercise had a positive effect of muscle function after EIMD. Therefore we can consider the WBC as a considerable intervention method to prevent or reduce an exercise injury.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.49-59
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• 2005

This study assigns each 8 of 24 normal persons to control group(Group I), strength increase group(Group II) and endurance increase group(Group III) to analyze differences in changes of strength and endurance with surface electromyography and kinetics according to application modes of neuromuscular electrical stimulation(NMES). Group I had not any treatment, group II performed 15 repeated contraction with 60% intensity of maximal voluntary isometric contraction(MVIC) by setting 10-sec on time and 50-sec off time and group III conducted 30 repeated contraction with 30% intensity of MVIC by setting 10-sec on time and 20-sec off time. For neuromuscular electrical stimulation, 2,500 Hz of Russian current, 35 pps of pulse rate and 200 of pulse width. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation was conducted by five times for total 4 weeks. Before and after experimentmotor unit action potential of vastus medialis, rectus femoris and vastus lateralis were measured with sEMG, median frequency(MDF) was analyzed, and thus the following results were obtained. There was significant difference in the period of measuring vastus medialis and rectus femoris in change of MDF and interaction among groups with analysis of surface electromyography before and after neuromuscular electrical stimulation(p<.001) and in particular, there was a remarkable change among groups according to the period of measurement. In conclusion, NMES influenced changes of strength and endurance according to its application modes and in particular, it was found that strength increment application had a significant influence on strength increment in applying short-time NMES.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.245-250
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of sex and age and their interactions in premotor-time (PMT) of ankle muscle. Forty-eight elderly subjects (aged 65-90 years) and thirty young subjects (aged 19-27 years) participated in this study. Subject were instructed to perform maximal, voluntary, isometric, bilateral contraction of ankle muscle in reaction to auditory stimulus to determine PMT. As analysis variables, PMT, intrasubject variability of PMT and asymmetry of PMT between dominant and nondominant legs were used. As statistical analysis, two-way ANOVA was performed to assess the main effects of age group and sex and also their interactions. All variables showed significant age effects (p<0.01). However, no sex effect and interaction existed in all variables in both dominant and nondomiant legs. Theses results suggest that the PMT of ankle muscle is related to the age-related deterioration in postural control, however, not related to the sex-difference of fall incidence in the elderly population.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.93-100
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• 2021

Background: Lateral epicondylitis (LE) is the most common chronic musculoskeletal conditions of the upper extremity with pain and wrist extension disability. The tendon which is most affected is the extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB). Previous study evaluated the effect of taping technique on patient with LE, but no study investigated the changes of electromyography (EMG) on ECRB when using dynamic taping (DT) technique. Objects: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of DT technique using dynamic tape on muscle activity of ECRB during wrist isometric extension, isotonic extension and flexion. Methods: Twenty-one healthy subjects volunteered to participate in this study. Subjects were instructed to perform wrist isometric extension, isotonic extension and flexion without and with DT on origin area of ECRB. Wrist isometric extension was performed at 75%, 50% and 25% (%maximal voluntary contraction force), respectively, based on maximum contraction force. Isotonic extension and flexion test used dumbbell. EMG data was collected from ECRB. Results: EMG of ECRB were statistically significant decrease in wrist isotonic extension after DT (p < 0.05). Significant increase in wrist isometric extension during 25% and 50% force task (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study applied DT technique to suppress the wrist extensor muscles in 21 healthy adults in their twenties. Change in muscle activity was compared in the ECRB muscle during wrist isometric extension, isotonic extension and flexion task. Based on the results of this study, the DT technique applied to the wrist and forearm area can reduce the load on the wrist extensors when the wrist performs various movements during daily life movements or repetitive tasks, and by using these effects, excessive stress is applied to tennis elbow patients.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.79-86
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• 2022

Background: Bird dog exercise (BDE) is one of the lumbar stabilization exercises that rehabilitate low back pain by co-contraction of the local and global muscles. Previous studies have reported the effect of various type of BDEs (for example, practicing the exercises on various surfaces and changing the limb movement) for muscle co-contraction. Objects: This study aimed to investigate the effect of knee joint flexion position of the raised lower limb on abdominal and back muscle activity during BDE in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). Methods: Thirteen males participated in this study (age: 32.54 ± 4.48 years, height: 177.38 ± 7.17 cm). Surface electromyographic (SEMG) data of the internal abdominal oblique (IO), external abdominal oblique (EO), lumbar multifidus (MF), and thoracic part of the iliocostalis lumborum (ICLT) were collected in two knee joint flexion positions (90° flexion versus 0° flexion) during BDE. The SEMG data were expressed as a percentage of root mean square mean values obtained in the maximal voluntary isometric contraction. Results: Greater muscle activity of the IO (p = 0.001), MF (p = 0.009), and ICLT (p = 0.021) of the raised lower limb side and the EO (p = 0.001) and MF (p = 0.009) of the contralateral side were demonstrated in the knee joint flexion position compared to the knee joint extension position. Greater local/global activity ratios of the abdominal muscle (i.e., IO and EO) of the raised lower limb (p = 0.002) and the back muscle (i.e., MF and ICLT) of the contralateral side (p = 0.028) were also noted in the knee joint flexion position. Conclusion: BDE with a knee joint flexion position might be recommended as an alternative lumbar stabilization exercise to enhance muscle activity in both the raised lower limb and the contralateral sides of the trunk for individuals with CLBP.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.18-28
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• 2024

Background: Lateral instability of the ankle is one of the most common causes of musculoskeletal ankle injuries. The peroneus longus (PL) and peroneus brevis (PB) contribute to ankle stability. In early rehabilitation, isometric exercises have been selected for improvement of ankle stability. To effectively train the peroneal muscles during eversion, it is important to consider ankle and body posture. Objects: This study aimed to compare activation of the PL, PB, and biceps femoris (BF) muscles during eversion in different ankle postures (neutral [N], plantarflexed [PF]) and body postures (sitting and side-lying). Methods: Thirty healthy individuals with no history of lateral ankle sprains within the last 6 months were included in the study. Maximal isometric strength of eversion and muscle activation were measured simultaneously. Muscle activation at submaximal eversion was divided by the highest value obtained from maximal isometric eversion among the four postures (percent maximal voluntary isometric contraction [%MVIC]). To examine the differences in muscle activation depending on posture, a 2 × 2 repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted. Results: There were significant interaction effects of ankle and body postures on PL muscle activation and evertor strength (p < 0.05). The PL muscle activation showed a significantly greater difference in the side-lying and PF conditions than in the sitting and N conditions (p < 0.05). Evertor strength was greater in the N compared to the PF condition regardless of body posture (p < 0.05). In the case of PB and BF muscle activation, only the main effects of ankle and body posture were observed (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Among the four postures, the side-lying-PF posture produced the highest muscle activation. The side-lying-PF posture may be preferred for effective peroneal muscle exercises, even when considering the BF muscle.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.141-149
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• 2003

Median frequency can be regarded as a valid indicator of local muscle fatigue. As local muscle fatigue develops, the muscle fiber conduction velocity decreases, the fast twitch fibers are recruited less, and consequently the median frequency shifts toward the lower frequency area. The aim of this study was to test the characteristics of the median frequency according to exercise load (30% and 60% of MVC on the biceps brachii, 40% and 80% of MVC on the vastus lateralis) during the fatiguing isometric exercise. Thirteen healthy male volunteer students of Yonsei University were recruited. After the testing maximal voluntary isometric contraction, three variables (initial median frequency, regression slope, fatigue index) from the regression line of MDF data were measured in each exercise load. The results showed that the regression slope and fatigue index were significantly different for the biceps brachii, but not for the vastus lateralis initial MDF was not significant difference according to the exercise load on both muscles. The regression slope and fatigue index could monitor physiologic muscle change during fatiguing isometric exercise. The results showed that two MDF variables reflect the local muscle fatigue according to the exercise load.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.621-631
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to measure magnitude of lower leg muscle activity during dynamic stability tests performed on an unstable board by subjects with sprained lateral ankles. Fifteen lateral ankle sprain subjects(8 male, 7 female) participated in this study. The muscle activity was measured at gastrocnemious, tibialis anterior, peroneus longus during dynamic stability tests performed on Biodex stability system as surface EMG. The EMG amplitude of each muscle was normalized to the amplitude in the maximal voluntary isometric contraction(MVIC) of each muscle. As results, peroneus longus evidenced significant difference at stable and unstable grade comparing injured with uninjured sides. Gastrocnemious and tibialis anterior evidenced no significant difference. Change of muscle activity with stable and unstable grade evidenced no significant difference on injured and uninjured sides. The data provided information on peroneus longus contributes to dynamic stability after lateral ankle sprains. Peroneus longus training program may have to be emphasized after an ankle sprain.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.333-338
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• 2014

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate any changes in abdominal muscle activity after curl-up and jack-knife exercisse using a sling and swiss-ball. METHODS: Sixteen asymptomatic subjects were randomly assigned into either a sling exercise group (SG) or swiss-ball exercise group (SBG). Subjects performed curl-up and jack-knife exercise using sling and swiss ball. Activity of abdominal muscles (rectus abdominis and external oblique) was assessed using surface electromyography (EMG) and normalized maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) before and after exercises. The significance of differences between the SG and the SBG was evaluated by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). RESULTS: There was an increase in activity of all abdominal muscles after the curl-up and jack-knife exercises for 6 weeks. However, there was not a significant difference between the SG and the SBG after curl-up exercise (p>.05). There was also not a significant difference between the SG and the SBG after Jack-knife exercise (p>.05) except for the right external oblique muscle (p<.05). CONCLUSION: Exercises on an unstable surface using a sling and swiss ball are effective ways of abdominal muscle exercise.