• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.48-53
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• 2022

Background: The gastrocnemius tightness can easily occur. Gastrocnemius tightness results in gait disturbance. Thus, various interventions have been used to release a tight gastrocnemius muscle and improve gait performance. Moreover, focal muscle vibration (FMV) has recently been extensively researched in terms of tight muscle release and muscle performance. However, no study has investigated the effects of FMV application on medial gastrocnemius architectural changes. Objects: In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of FMV on medial gastrocnemius architecture in persons with limited ankle dorsiflexion. Methods: Thirty one persons with <10° of passive ankle dorsiflexion participated in this study. We excluded persons with acute ankle injury within six months prior to study onset, a history of ankle fracture, leg length discrepancy greater than 2 cm, no history of neurological dysfunction, or trauma affecting the lower limb. The specifications of the FMV motor were as follows: a fixed frequency (fast wave: 150 Hz) and low amplitude (0.3-0.5 mm peak to peak) of vibration; the motor was used to release the medial gastrocnemius for 15 minutes. Each participant completed three trials for 10 days; a 30-second rest period was provided between each trial. Medial gastrocnemius architectural parameters [muscle thickness (MT), fiber bundle length (FBL), and pennation angle (PA)] were measured via ultrasonography. Results: MT significantly decreased after FMV application (p < 0.05). FBL significantly increased from its baseline value after FMV application (p < 0.05). PA significantly decreased from its baseline value after FMV application (p < 0.05). Conclusion: FMV application may be advantageous in reducing medial gastrocnemius excitability following a decrease in the amount of contractile tissue. Furthermore, FMV application can be used as a stretching method to alter medial gastrocnemius architecture.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.1-6
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• 2008

Medial gastrocnemius flap has been known as a useful option for soft tissue reconstruction of the knee and upper 1/3 of lower extremity, but it has a limitation to cover the lateral defect of the knee joint. We performed the combined gastrocnemius-medial sural artery perforator flap for coverage of the anterolateral defects of the knee joint, which is compound flap using a medial gastrocnemius flap and a medial sural artery perforator flap. This flap is a useful method for reconstruction of anterolateral knee defects, providing a easy dissection without the microsurgery and intramuscular dissection of the perforators.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.405-411
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• 2009

This study evaluated the effects of Puerariae Radix on the skeletal muscle atrophy, Muscle atrophy was induced by the sciatic nerve transection in Sprague-Dawley rats, then aqueous-extract of Puerariae Radix was administered for 12 days, Muscle wet weight was measured in soleus, plantaris, and medial gastrocnemius. Muscle fiber type was classified by MHCf immunohistochemistry. Muscle fiber type proportion and cross section area of muscle fiber also was observed in medial gastrocnemius. Bax and Bcl-2 expressions in medial gastrocnemius of the damaged hind limb were evaluated with immunohistochemistry. The results are as follows; Puerariae Radix attenuated muscle atrophy in soleus of the sciatic nerve transectioned rats, but there was statistic significance. Puerariae Radix attenuated significantly atrophy in plantaris at 12 days and in medial gastrocnemius at 8 days and 12 days. Puerariae Radix improved histology of the atrophic changes and increased significantly cross section areas of type-I and type-II muscle fibers in medial gastrocnemius of the sciatic nerve transectioned rats. Puerariae Radix did not affect to muscle fiber type proportion in medial gastrocnemius of the sciatic nerve transectioned rats. Puerariae Radix attenuated significantly Bax positive nuclei but did not affect to Bcl-2 positive muscle fibers in medial gastrocnemius of the sciatic nerve transectioned rats.According to above results, Puerariae Radix may have an anti-atrophy effect on the denervated skeletal muscle through anti-apoptotic effects on muscle fibers.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.159-166
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• 1992

The present study was designed to evaluate effects of intermittent electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve on the atrophic response of antigravity muscles, such as the soleus (slow m.) and medial gastrocnemius (fast m.) muscles. Rats (Sprague-Dawley, 245-255g) were subjected to a hindlimb suspension and divided into three groups : one was with hindlimb suspension (MS) and another with hindlimb suspension plus intermittent electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve (HS ES). Control group (CONT) was kept free without strain of the hindlimb. After 7 days of hindlimb suspension, the soleus and medial gastrocnemius muscles were cut at their insertion sites, and were then connected to the force transducer to observe their mechanical properties. Optimal pulse width and frequency of electrical stimulation were 0.2ms, 20Hz for the soleus muscle and 0.3ms, 40Hz for the medial gastrocnemius muscle under supramaximal stimulation. Body weight and circumference of the hindlimb were significantly decreased in HS and HS-ES groups compared with the control group. In HS-ES group, however, the weight of the soleus muscle was not different from that in the control group while the weight of the medial gastrocnemius muscle was lower than that in the control group. In HS group, mechanical properties of muscle contraction including contraction time, half relaxation time, twitch tension, tetanic tension, and fatigue index of both muscles were significantly decreased compared with the control group except for twitch tension and tetanic tension of medial gastrocnemius muscle. The degree of atrophy of the soleus muscle in HS group was more prominent than that of the medial gastrocnemius muscle. Twitch tension and fatigue index of the soleus muscle and fatigue index of the medial gastrocnemius muscle in HS-ES group were not different from those of the control group. While mechanical properties of the soleus muscle examined were all significantly increased in HS-ES group compared with HS group, only contraction time and fatigue index of the medial gastrocnemius muscle were significantly increased in HS-ES group. These data indicate that intermittent electrical stimulation may be useful in prevention of muscle atrophy.

• 국제물리치료학회지
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.1486-1489
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• 2018

This study aimed to investigate the influence of walking on crural muscle tone and stiffness in individuals with bilateral pronated foot. This study consisted of 16 healthy male. Subjects were divided into a pronated foot group (n = 8) and a normal foot group (n = 8). The navicular drop test on both foot and muscle tone and stiffness in tibialis anterior muscle, medial gastrocnemius muscle, and peroneus longus muscle of both lower extremities were measured before and after 30 min of walking. In this study, the measured navicular drop test before walking was significantly different between pronated foot group and a normal group(p < .05). After 30 min of walking, significantly, increased medial gastrocnemius muscle stiffness of the non-dominant leg was found in the pronated foot group (p < .05). However, there was no significant difference in medial gastrocnemius muscle stiffness between the two groups (p > .05). Based on this study, pronated foot needs to be managed to prevent the abnormally increased medial gastrocnemius muscle stiffness.

• 대한물리치료과학회지
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.1-11
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of virtual reality based treadmill training on muscle architecture of gastrocnemius in chronic stroke patients. Methods: Thirty chronic stroke patients were randomly assigned to either the virtual reality based treadmill training (VRTT) group (n=15) or treadmill training (TT) group (n=15). Both groups participated in a standard rehabilitation program; in addition, the VRTT group participated in virtual reality based treadmill training for 30 minutes per day, three times per week, for 6 weeks, and TT group participated in treadmill walking training for 30 minutes per day, three times per week, for 6 weeks. Ultrasound image was used for measurement of pennation angle and muscle thickness of the medial gastrocnemius muscle at rest and during maximum voluntary contraction. Results: In the paretic side medial gastrocnemius muscle, greater improvement on the pennation angle and muscle thickness while resting and maximal voluntary contraction were observed in the VRTT group compared with the TT group. Conclusion: Findings of this study demonstrated that the virtual reality based treadmill training has an effect on muscle architecture of medial gastrocnemius in chronic stroke patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.56-61
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• 2019

Purpose: The spasticity of stroke patients decreases the ankle range of motion and increases the gastrocnemius muscle tone. This study examined the effects of stretching exercise and far infrared irradiation on the ankle function in stroke patients with spasticity. Methods: This study was conducted on 20 stroke patients admitted to Jesaeng General Hospital, who were divided into a study group (stretching exercise with far infrared) and control group (stretching exercise only). The dorsiflexion range of motion was measured using a smartphone and the medial gastrocnemius muscle tone and stiffness were measured using a Myoton pro. Results: With the exception of the non-paretic gastrocnemius muscle tone in the control group, the medial gastrocnemius muscle tone and stiffness decreased significantly in both groups. In both groups, the dorsiflexion range of motion increased significantly. In addition, the experimental group had a significantly higher dorsiflexion range of motion than the control group. On the other hand, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the medial gastrocnemius muscle tone and stiffness. Conclusion: For stroke patients with spasticity, stretching exercises increased the ankle's range of motion and decreased the gastrocnemius muscle tone. The addition of heat therapy further increased the ankle's range of motion. On the other hand, as the sample size was small, future studies should include more subjects.

• 대한물리치료과학회지
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.37-43
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of load and speed of treadmill exercise impact on muscle activity and muscle strength. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: The study was conducted for 12 female student from G University. Treadmill exercise was divided into four groups (ULS, LLS, UHS, LHS). Results: 1) There was significant difference in muscle activity of tibialis anterial, medial head of gastrocnemius, rectus femoris, biceps femoris muscle in ULS, UHS (p<0.05). 2) There was significant difference in muscle activity of tibialis anterial, medial head of gastrocnemius, rectus femoris, biceps femoris muscle in LLS, LHS (p<0.05). 3) There was significant difference in muscle activity of tibialis anterial, medial head of gastrocnemius, rectus femoris, biceps femoris muscle in ULS, LLS (p<0.05). 4) There was significant difference in muscle activity of tibialis anterial, medial head of gastrocnemius, rectus femoris, biceps femoris muscle in UHS, LHS (p<0.05). 5 There was significant difference in muscle strength in LHS (p<0.05). Conclusion: Exercising with high speed and load has more influence on the muscle activity and muscle strength of the lower extremities.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제7권3호
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• pp.34-48
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of mild-intensity exercise training on the denervated muscle atrophy in the sciatic nerve injured rat. Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats (250~300 g) were randomly assigned into three groups; sham-denervated group (n=8), denervated group (n=8), and denervated-exercised group (n=20). Exercise consisted of treadmill running at 20 m/min speed with 0% grade for 30 min/day. The animals were decapitated at the second and sixth weeks postcrush. Soleus and medial gastrocnemius were immediately excised to be weighed. Type I and II fibers of the muscles were differentiated by m-ATPase (pH 9.4) stain, and fiber diameters were evaluated. The results were as follows: 1) The weight of the soleus and medial gastrocnemius muscles showed a tendency to increase in both the denervation-exercised groups compared to the denervated group. 2) In the 2-week denervation-exercised group, type II fiber diameter of soleus and type I fiber diameter of medial gastrocnemius were increased significantly compared to the denervated control group. 3) In the 6-week denervated-exercised group, type I fiber diameter of soleus and type II fiber diameter of medial gastrocnemius were hypertrophied significantly compared to sham-denervated group. The results of this study suggested that treadmill exercise partially prevented denervation atrophy in the soleus and medial gastrocnemius of the rat.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.132-137
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• 2021

Background: Flat feet can be identified by assessing the collapse of the medial longitudinal arch (MLA) and these conditions can trigger epidemiological changes in the feet. Many of previous studies compared the muscle activity of lower body in terms of intervention and dynamics to treat the structural defect of flat feet. However, few studies have investigated or analyzed the muscle activity of gastrocnemius muscle in the subjects with flat feet. Objects: This study investigated the differences in changes of medial and lateral plantar flexors in subjects with flat feet during bipedal heel-rise (BHR) task and analyzed the differences in muscle activity between two groups by measuring the electromyography (EMG) of abductor hallucis (AH), tibialis anterior (TA), medial gastrocnemius (MG), lateral gastrocnemius (LG). Methods: A total of Twenty one adult females participated in this experiment. Subjects were assigned to groups according to the navicular drop test. The task was applied to the leg, where the heel lifting action prevailed. The muscle activity of the medial and lateral feet plantar flexors was evaluated, and the % maximum voluntary isometric contractions (%MVIC) of these were compared. Results: For the difference between groups the muscle activity (%MVIC) of LG muscle was statistically significantly low in flat feet group compared to healthy feet group (flat feet: 64.57, healthy feet: 90.17; p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study will contribute to identifying the muscle activities of medial and lateral feet plantar flexors among subjects with flat feet, which can cause abnormal epidemiological changes in the feet.