• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.1-6
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• 2007

This study examined the effects of hold-relax with agonist contraction (HR-AC) on the symptoms of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) induced by intensive eccentric exercise of the non-dominant biceps brachii. Ten men (mean age=26.7 yrs, mean height=172.1 cm, mean weight=66.2 kg) and ten women (mean age=27.4 yrs, mean height=165.9 cm, mean weight=60.7 kg) who had not participated in a regular exercise program for the upper extremities in the previous six months were randomly assigned to one of two experimental groups: the HR-AC group, or the control group. We measured joint range of motion (ROM), maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), and muscle soreness before eccentric exercise, and 24, 48, and 72 hours after eccentric exercise. The subjects in the HR-AC group received the HR-AC technique in the non-dominant biceps brachii. The HR-AC technique was applied 24 and 48 hours after eccentric exercise. There was no significant difference between the HR-AC and the control group. However, the HR-AC group, compared to the control group, had a significant difference between the time points of the various parameters. Increased ROM (p<.05), decreased muscle soreness (p<.05), and reduced MVIC (p<.05) were found in the HR-AC group after 72 hours. Decreased ROM (p<.05) and MVIC (p<.05), and increased muscle soreness (p<.05) were observed in the control group. These findings suggest that the HR-AC technique effectively reduces muscle soreness and increases ROM 72 hours after eccentric exercise.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.1-10
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• 2008

Purpose: This study examines the effects of elastic band of resistance exercise for balance control of the elderly. Methods: Thirty of eighty participants in experiment subjects who demonstrated balance-impairment through the use of primary screening tests including the one leg standing test (OLST), functional reach test (FRT) and timed up and go (TUG) were selected as subjects. Fifteen subjects that underwent muscle-strengthening exercise using an elastic band were selected as the exercise group and fifteen subjects were selected as a control group. Subjects undertook a home-based exercise program three times per week for 9 weeks. Muscle strength, functional assessment and a balance test were quantitatively measured before and after the exercise regimen. Results: After muscle strengthening exercises, changes in maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) showed a significant increase in all of the lower extremity muscles of the exercise group subjects. There were statistically significant differences between the exercise and control groups for changes in the OLST, FRT and TUG, which are functional assessments of balance ability, and changes of the unit path length and circumference area, measurement items of quantitative analysis. In addition, from examining correlations between MVIC, balance ability, it was found that an increase of muscle strength in the hip joint group of muscles among the lower extremity muscles had greater improvement in correlation with balance ability in this elderly population. Conclusion: Resistance exercise using elastic bands had significant effects on muscle strengthening in elderly subjects, with a resultant increase of lower extremity muscle strength with significant improvement of balance ability.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.75-83
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• 2016

Background: Several studies have discussed diverse exercise methods considered to be useful for the selective contraction of the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) muscle for the treatment of patellofemoral pain syndrome. Some studies have reported that exercise methods, including hip adduction, in closed kinetic chain exercises are more effective in terms of the muscle activation of the VMO and the timing of the muscle's initial contraction. We focused on isometric contraction during a closed kinetic chain exercise with hip adduction. Objects: The purpose of this study was to examine muscle activation in the VMO and the vastus lateralis (VL) and the onset time difference between their initial contractions via closed kinetic chain isometric quadriceps femoris exercises including hip adduction. Methods: In total, 36 healthy subjects adopted two hip positions during isometric contraction of the quadriceps femoris in a closed kinetic chain exercise (hip neutral and hip adduction position). Statistical analyses were conducted using a paired t-test (${\alpha}=.05$). Results: Isometric contraction of the quadriceps femoris in a closed kinetic chain exercise caused a greater increase in VMO muscle activity in the hip adduction position [$52.68{\pm}22.21$ percentage of maximal voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC)]than the hip neutral position ($43.43{\pm}19.85%MVIC$). The onset time difference (VL-VMO) decreased more in the hip adduction position ($-82.14{\pm}34.2ms$) than the hip neutral position ($73.94{\pm}2.94ms$). Conclusion: We recommend this exercise as a clinically useful therapeutic method for patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome due to weakening of the VMO muscle and lateral inclination of the patella.

• 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.

• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.8 no.8
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• pp.1271-1276
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• 2013

This study selected 22 male subjects to examine the maintenance period of static and ballistic stretching applied to rectus femoris, divided them into 11 static stretching group and 11 ballistic stretching group and analyzed changes in median frequency and in maximal voluntary isometric contraction before stretching and at 30 sec, 1 min, 3 min, 5 min, and 10 min after stretching. Median frequency showed significant differences in changes according to time and groups after the test of main effects. It was reduced after 3 min. in both static stretching and ballistic stretching groups and then increased again. Maximal voluntary isometric contraction showed significant differences in changes according to time and groups from the results of the main effect test. Static stretching group was reduced at 3 min after the experiment and then increased after that and ballistic stretching group was reduced at 5 min after the experiment and then increased again. In conclusion, changes were shown according to time after stretching and the effects of ballistic stretching were maintained a little longer than those of static stretching.

• 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.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2008

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the correlations between muscle strength of the ankle and balance, walking in the elderly. Methods: Thirty-nine subjects were selected from a population of female volunteers. Measurement of balance ability included evaluation of timed "up and go", functional reach, and a one leg standing test. Measurement of walking analysis included evaluation of cadence, stride length, step length, and walking speed. Maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) of the ankle muscle strength was measured by use of a dynamometer. Results: For balance, there were significant negative correlations between timed "up and go" and the MVIC of the ankle dorsiflexor. There were significant positive correlations between one leg standing with the eyes closed and the MVIC of the ankle dorsiflexor. For walking, there were significant positive correlations between cadence, walking speed and the MVIC of the ankle dorsiflexor. Conclusion: This study showed that there were close relationships between muscle strength of the ankle dorsiflexor and walking and balance in the elderly.

• 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 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.14 no.3
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• pp.9-15
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate electromyographic activities of the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) and the flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU) by the shape of the ultrasound head. Twelve healthy subjects participated and performed ultrasound therapy with a round head and a long handled head during each 5-minute application. Electromyographic activities of the FDS and FCU were recorded by surface electrodes and normalized by maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) values. There was no difference in the muscular fatigue of FDS and FCU as determined by the shape of the ultrasound head (p>.05). Without the shape of head, the mean power frequency decreased with the time. There also was no difference in %MVIC of the FDS and FCU as determined by the shape of the ultrasound head (p>.05), but the force exerted exceeded 20%MVIC. There was however a significant difference in the amount of cumulative workload of the FDS and FCU as determined by the shape of ultrasound head (p<.05). The workload was however not affected by the shape of the ultrasound head. Constant static grasp of ultrasound transducer head during ultrasound therapy is considered a high risk factor of work-related musculoskeletal disease.