• 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.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.311-327
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of diaphragmatic breathing on activation of trunk muscles of patients with low back pain. Diaphragmatic breathing may affect activation of trunk muscles. The assumptions are as follows: the crural diaphragm attatches to the lumbar vertebrae from L1 to L3, the voluntary downward pressurization of the diaphragm increases intra-abdominal pressure, and this increases the stiffness of the spine. Diaphragmatic breathing increases intra-abdominal pressure and the increased intra-abdominal pressure may contribute to the lumbar stability. Sixty patients with low back pain were randomly divided into two groups. Experimental group performed diaphragmatic breathing exercise with six breathing positions and control group performed only the breathing positions for five times per week during six weeks. % maximal voluntary contraction(% MVC) of trunk muscles on six breathing positions of experimental and control group was measured according to testing period of pre test, three weeks, and six weeks. The repeated measures of one-way ANOVA were used to analyze % MVC on trunk muscles of experimental and control group according to testing period. The results of this study were as follows: First, % MVC of right and left erector spinae in the right leg extension position indicated the statistically significant difference in experimental group which performed diaphragmatic breathing exercise rather than control group (p<0.05). Second, % MVC of right and left erector spinae in all-four positions indicated the statistically significant difference in experimental group which performed diaphragmatic breathing exercise rather than control group (p<0.05). Third, % MVC of right and left erector spinae, external oblique in the sitting position indicated the statistically significant difference in experimental group which performed diaphragmatic breathing exercise rather than control group (p<0.05). Fourth, % MVC of right and left erector spinae, external oblique in the standing position indicated the statistically significant difference in experimental group which performed diaphragmatic breathing exercise rather than control group (p<0.05). Fifth, % MVC of right and left erector spinae, external oblique in the supine position indicated the statistically significant difference in experimental group which performed diaphragmatic breathing exercise rather than control group (p<0.05). Sixth, % MVC of right and left erector spinae, external oblique in the lying on prone position indicated the statistically significant difference in experimental group which performed diaphragmatic breathing exercise rather than control group (p<0.05). In conclusion, as experimental group performed diaphragmatic breathing exercise according to the period of pre-test, post three weeks, and post six weeks, experimental group showed the greater significant effect on the activation of right, left erector spinae, and external oblique muscle. Diaphragmatic breathing exercise which resulted in activation of trunk muscles can be effective for managing the patients with back pain and should be utilized as the new therapeutic intervention.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.11 no.11
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• pp.4418-4426
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• 2010

Muscle fatigue often induces deterioration of postural balance and muscle contraction, such as strength or maximal voluntary contraction(MVC). This study was to investigate the effects of transcutaneous electrical stimulation(TENS) applied to the fatigued muscles on postural imbalance and decline in muscle strength following fatigue of triceps surae. For the 4 months from March, 2010, twenty healthy subjects without vestibular disease and visual disturbance were recruited and induced muscle fatigue of triceps surea performed by repeated voluntary contraction. TENS was applied to gastocnemius immediately after development of muscle fatigue. Postural sway length, velocity and MVC were recorded under these conditions: pre-fatigue, post-fatigue, and TENS application to fatigued muscle during post-fatigue. Muscle fatigue increased postural imbalance as expressed by sway length and velocity and decreased muscle contraction(p<.05), while TENS improved the postural imbalance and MVC following muscle fatigue during stance(p<.05). The results suggested that fatigue on plantar flexor is associated with postural balance and muscle contraction, and TENS application to fatigued muscle was effective in improving postural imbalance and decline in muscle strength following muscle fatigue. TENS will be an effective method in exercise, working environment and daily life.

• Journal of Korean Institute of Industrial Engineers
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.330-335
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• 1999

The goal of the study is to determine the most sensitive parameter to represent the degree of muscle force and fatigue. Various numerical parameters such as the first coefficient of Autoregressive (AR) Model, Root Mean Square (RMS), Zero Crossing Rate (ZCR), Mean Power Frequency (MPF), Median Frequency (MF) were tested in this study. Ten healthy male subjects participated in the experiment. They were asked to extend their trunk by using the right and left erector spinae muscles during a sustained isometric contraction for twenty seconds. The force levels were 15%, 30%, 45%, 60%, and 75% of Maximal Voluntary Contraction (MVC), and the order of trials was randomized. The results showed that RMS was the best parameter to measure the force level of the muscle, and that the first coefficient of AR model was relatively sensitive parameter for the fatigue measurement at less than 60% MVC condition. At the 75% MVC, however, both MPF and the first coefficient of AR Model showed the best performance in quantification of muscle fatigue. Therefore, the sensitivity of measurement can be improved by properly selecting the parameter based upon the level of force during a sustained isometric condition.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.853-859
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to identify the correlation between electroencephalography (EEG) and strength, using grip strength. 64-channel EEG data were recorded from five healthy subjects in tasks requiring handgrip contractions of nine levels of MVC (Maximal Voluntary Contraction). We found the ERS (Event-Related Synchronization)/ERD (Event-Related Desynchronization) at the measured EEG data using STFT (Short-Time Furier Transform) and spectral power in the EEG of each frequency range displayed in the graph. In this paper, we identified that the stronger we contracted, the greater the spectral power was increased in the ${\beta}$, ${\gamma}$ wave.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.25-37
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• 2004

To provide reflection diagnostical basic-data by ultrasonography intended for 38 male/female students used by ultrasound imaging system and dynamometer, compared the MVIC and muscle thickness take an accurate measurement of elbow flexor and knee extensor of thickness and MVIC, in confirmity with distinction of sex and then analysised of correlation in muscle thickness-MVIC, MVIC-weight, weight-muscle thickness, it shows statiscally significant difference MVIC and muscle thickness according to sex. Also there is a high interrelation between two. As well as it shows that there is a different between sex in the MVIC of same thickness and MVIC of same weight. This difference will be related with preportions of muscle fiber type in view of the results by preceded research, it needs to be prerequisite analysis of difference in sex with a great variety of ways hereafter.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.328-335
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• 2011

For human factor engineering and wearable robot design, the quantitative assessment of physical workload is needed. Through measuring the surface EMG (sEMG) and analysis, the physical workload in overhead lifting posture is presented in quantitative manner. By normalizing sEMG activities with maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), the inter-subject variability is reduced. In all muscles, %MVC increased as the weight of lifting object increases. In anterior deltoid muscle, the %MVC was 3-4 times higher than the other muscles which imply that this muscle performs the major role in the overhead lifting posture. In fatigue analysis, %MVC and the mean frequency in muscle of anterior deltoid changed markedly when compared with other muscles. Through the suggested procedures and analysis, the physical workload for a specific posture can be represented in quantitative way but the clinical meaning for the value should be investigated further.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2014

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to analyze and compare the surface electromyography(EMG) activity of trunk region muscle between normal subjects and chronic low back pain(CLBP) patients during one leg stance. Methods : The subjects were 27 people, were consisted of 12 subjects who don't have low back pain and 15 subjects who have low back pain from 19 to 28 year of age(mean age 22.22). We used surface EMG to evaluate the activity of the Rectus abdominis, External abdominal oblique, Quadratus lumborum, Gluteus medius muscle. We used independent two samples t-test for statistical data. Results : The result of this study showed that the maximal voluntary isometric contraction(%MVIC) ratio of the trunk muscles was higher in patients with CLBP than in normal subject. But there were no statistically significant differences. There were statistically significant differences of the activity of the Quadratus lumborum, Gluteus medius muscle(p<0.05).

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2632-2640
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether medial gastrocnemius ultrasound imaging of the Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) has the possibilities as a measurement method. This study was conducted from April 21th 2011 to April 30th 2011. Thirty-five healthy subjects were included based on the absence of regular physical activity, and no history of recent trauma, musculoskeletal pathology, cardiovascular disease or drug intake. All subjects induced DOMS through climbing for 5 hours and we measured the visual analogue scale (VAS), creatine kinase (CK) and maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVlC) of ankle plantar flexor prior to DOMS and at 24, 48 and 72 hours post DOMS and these measurements were compared with pennation angle of medial gastrocnemius measured by ultrasound imaging. Results of this study were as following. VAS, CK, and MVIC of ankle plantar flexor were found significant difference related measurement period (p<0.05) and pennation angle of medial gastrocnemius were found significant difference related measurement period (p<0.05). Furthermore, we confirmed that the flow of change between variables related measurment period was consistent. Through this study, we think that measuring the changes in pennation angle of medial gastrocnemius over time using ultrasound imaging will be able to be used as a new method measuring DOMS.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.43-52
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to suggest the effective squat exercise position to strengthening vastus medialis oblique, and vastus lateralis in quadriceps. Subjects were twenty patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) volunteered to participate in this study. All subjects were applied to static squat convergence exercise with knee flexed $45^{\circ}$, $60^{\circ}$, and $90^{\circ}$ for 30 seconds total 5 times. Measurement variables were maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) of the quadriceps, Q angle and length of thigh. Those were measured before and after the squat exercise on knee joint angle, change rate of which were used for statistical analysis. As a result, squat exercise with knee flexed $90^{\circ}$ increase significantly among knee joint angle in the MVIC change rates of quadriceps (p<.05), however the rates of Q-angle and length change of thigh showed no significant difference. Therefore, this findings suggest that squat exercise with knee flexed $90^{\circ}$ strengthen quadriceps effectively in patients with PFPS.