• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.85-91
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• 2004

Background: Needle electromyography (EMG) and motor evoked potential (MEP) of the genioglossus (tongue) are difficult to perform in evaluations of the craniobulbar region in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Therefore, we investigated the yields of needle EMG and MEP recorded from the upper trapezius, since it receives innervation from the lower medulla and upper cervical cord. Methods: Needle EMG and MEP of the upper trapezius were obtained in 17 consecutive ALS patients. The needle EMG parameters recorded included abnormal spontaneous activity and motor unit action potential (MUAP) morphology. An upper motor neuron (UMN) lesion was presumed when either response to cortical stimulation was absent, or the central conduction time was delayed (>mean+2SD). Results: Of the five patients with bulbar-onset ALS, four had abnormalities in the upper trapezius and four in the tongue by needle EMG. In contrast, of the 12 patients with limb-onset ALS, 11 had abnormalities in the upper trapezius, and only five in the tongue. When MEP was performed, it was found that three of the five patients with bulbar symptoms and three of the six patients with isolated limb involvement had abnormal MEP findings. Conclusions: Electrophysiological studies of the upper trapezius are more sensitive those of the tongue in patients without bulbar symptoms. Thus, needle EMG and MEP of the upper trapezius are alternative tools for assessing bulbar and rostral neuraxial involvement in the diagnosis of ALS.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.37-45
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• 2006

Purpose: This study analyzed changes in spinal neuron and action potential of motor unit depending on voluntary contraction on spinal neuron adaptation. Methods: It selected 80 university students in their twenties and divided into experimental groups of 25% MVIC (I), 50% MVIC (II), 75% MVIC (III) and 100% MVIC (IV) depending on maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) and performed isometric exercise of plantar flexor muscle to each experimental group with given contraction for 20 times. It measured Mmax, H/Mmax, Hmax latency, V/Mmax, V wave latency before and after exercise, compared method and volume of contraction. Results: H/Mmax ratio showed significant difference in comparison among groups (p<0.01) and there was difference in I and IV groups. V/Mmax ratio showed significant difference in comparison among experimental groups (p<0.05) and there was difference in I and IV groups. When voluntary contraction level was maximum, changes were greatest. However, no significantly difference was to Mmax, H latency and V wave latency. Conclusion: These results suggest that amplitude changes of voluntary contraction level, spinal neuron and supra-spinal neuron had a dose connection that the more contraction level, the better central activation seem to decrease highly for a short time.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.31-42
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• 2008

This study performed in order to investigate the effect of isometric resistance exercise for vastus medialis oblique muscle with EMG(electromyography) biofeedback training which are applied to the patello-femoral joint of patients with osteoarthritis on the improve of function. The subjects had no neuromuscular disorders, and they were elder patients with osteoarthritis, 20 women. And the experiment was performed in control group, taping with EMG biofeedback training group respectively, and the measurement was carried out before and after the treatment and 4 weeks after the treatment. Motor unit action potential analysis with surface electromyography showed a significant change in RMS(root mean square) amplitude and MDF(median frequency) in vastus medialis oblique muscle(p<0.05). VMO/VL(vastus medialis oblique/vastus lateralis oblique) MDF ratio showed a significant change between groups(p<0.05). Taping with EMG biofeedback training applied to patello-femoral joint of osteoarthritis patients appeared to be effective for muscle function improvement. However, increase of muscular force in vastus medialis oblique muscle appears to have a positive effect on improve of function along with correction effect on patella malalignment. In conclusion, in case of osteoarthritis patients with loss of patello-femoral joint function, it appears to be effective to practice isometric resistance exercise of vastus medialis oblique muscle selective with taping.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.632-640
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• 2007

The low force estimation method of skeletal muscle was proposed by using ICA(independent component analysis) and neuro-transmission model. An EMG decomposition is the procedure by which the signal is classified into its constituent MUAP(motor unit action potential). The force index of electromyography was due to the generation of MUAP. To estimate low force, current analysis technique, such as RMS(root mean square) and MAV(mean absolute value), have not been shown to provide direct measures of the number and timing of motoneurons firing or their firing frequencies, but are used due to lack of other options. In this paper, the method based on ICA and chemical signal transmission mechanism from neuron to muscle was proposed. The force generation model consists of two linear, first-order low pass filters separated by a static non-linearity. The model takes a modulated IPI(inter pulse interval) as input and produces isometric force as output. Both the step and random train were applied to the neuro-transmission model. As a results, the ICA has shown remarkable enhancement by finding a hidden MAUP from the original superimposed EMG signal and estimating accurate IPI. And the proposed estimation technique shows good agreements with the low force measured comparing with RMS and MAV method to the input patterns.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1997 no.05
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• pp.398-401
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• 1997

The EMG signal of spinal cord injured patient is very feeble because that the information from central nervous system is not sufficiently transmitted to molter neuron or muscle fiber. Therefore the observer can not observe contraction and relaxation movement of muscle from the raw EMG signal. In this paper, we propose the muscle contraction and relaxation pattern analysis method of spinal cord injured patient whose EMG signal is composed of the sum of motor unit action potential train with additive white Gaussian noise and impulsive noise. From the EMG model, we denoise impulsive noise using median filter which is a kind of nonlinear filter and the output of median filter is transformed to wavelet transform domain for denoising additive white Gaussian noise using threshold level removal technique. As a result, we can obtain the clear contraction and relaxation pattern.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1997 no.11
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• pp.55-58
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• 1997

In this paper, we study a signal processing method which extracts each MUAP(motor unit action potential) from EMG(Electromyogram) interference pattern or clinical diagnostic purposes. First of all, differential digital filtering is selected or eliminating the spike components of the MUAP's from the background noise. And, the algorithm identifies the spikes over the certanin threshold by template matching in frequency domain. After missing or false firing actor is cut off at the IPI(inter pulse interval) histogram, we averages the MUAP waveforms from the raw signal using the identified spikes as triggers, and Finally, measures their amplitudes, durations, and numbers of phases. Specially, We introduce algorithm performed by template matching in the frequency domain. A typical 3-s signal recorded from the biceps brachii muscle using a conventional needle electrode during a isometric contraction is used. Finally, the method decomposed five simultaneous active MUAP's from original EMG signal.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 2009

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to study the effect of rectus abdominal muscle contraction by proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation trunk stabilization training using extremity simultaneous pattern (PNF trunk stabilization training) and traditional trunk stabilization training methods. Methods : A group of 24 adults male and female, healthy, with no previous medical history nor disability in neuromuscular system and musculoskeletal system was chosen as subjects, and was divided into a control group, a PNF trunk stabilization training group and a traditional trunk stabilization training group. Experiments were performed on the last two groups, 3 times a week for 6 weeks, totaling 18 times. Using a dynamometer, muscle strength and endurance time on trunk flexion were measured before and after each experiment, and surface electromyography in left and right rectus abdominis were measured. Results : following results were obtained; 1. As for the change in the maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), all subjects in the trunk stabilization training group showed significant difference from those in the control group. 2. As for surface electromyography measurement and the changes in root mean square at the time of trunk flexion, in the left rectus abdominis, PNF trunk stabilization training group showed significant difference from the control group, while in the right rectus abdominis, traditional trunk stabilization training group showed significant difference. Conclusion : To sum up the results, both trunk stabilization training groups showed improvement in the MVIC of abdominal muscle, motor unit action potential activity, but the difference between two trunk stabilization training groups was not significant. Therefore, while trunk stabilization training significantly improved abdominal muscle contraction, but the difference attributable to training methods was found to be insignificant.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2010

Purpose : This study is to offer clinical primary data that examines the change of imaging structure and the quantitative evaluation of muscle activity on myofascial trigger points. This study examines neuromuscular physiological characteristic by comparing the differences in physical findings, pressure pain threshold, imaging, and electrophysiological characteristics in latent and active myofascial trigger points muscle and normal muscle through the following experimental procedures. Methods : The participants for the study were thirty-three adults in their twenties. We divided three groups into normal, latent and active myofascial trigger points groups by physical findings. We analyzed the results of measured pressure pain, threshold for pain, ultrasound imaging perform for structure characteristic of muscle, surface EMG according to type of muscle contraction for function of muscle contraction. Results : Significant differences were indicated in pressure pain threshold (p<0.05). Significant differences were discovered in the ultrasound imaging analysis. There were increases in muscle Echogenicity white area index (p<0.001). There were significant differences that decrease in %MVIC (p<0.05), increase in MDF (p<0.05). Conclusion : From these results, active rnyotascial trigger points muscle showed quality deterioration on ultrasound imaging and decreased function of muscle contraction, increased motor unit action potential of II type fiber, and electrophysiologically. Imaging structure and neuromuscular physiological characteristic can be diagnostic and quantitative analytical techniques for myofascial pain syndrome and a primary factor that reflected in physical therapy intervention.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.261-276
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• 2001

본 연구는 구강안면동통 중에서 빈번히 나타나는 근육성 동통의 주 원인인 저작근의 과활성으로 유발된 근육의 피로 시에 운동단위전위, 압력통각역치, 근전도 power spectrum의 변화 양상과 이들 척도간의 연관성을 조사하기 위해 시행되었다. 두개하악장애의 병력 및 현증이 없고 정상적인 구치부 교합관계를 가진 평균연령 25.8세인 36명의 정상 성인(남자 26명, 여자 10명)을 대상으로 교근과 전측두근의 지속적인 등길이 수축 전후의 압력통각역치 및 운동단위전위를 측정하였고 인내시간까지의 근수축 동안 근전도 power spectrum을 분석하여 다음과 같은 결론을 얻었다. 1. 지속적인 등길이 수축 후 교근과 전측두근의 압력통각역치는 수축 전에 비해 유의하게 감소하였다. 2. 압력통각역치는 수축 전과 수축 후 모두에서 전측두근이 교근보다 유의하게 높게 나타났으며, 전체적으로 남성이 여성보다 높게 나타나는 양상을 보였으나 성별간의 차이는 전측두근의 수축 후 압력통각역치에서만 통계적으로 유의하게 나타났다. 3. 지속적인 등길이 수축말기의 중간주파수는 수축초기에 비하여 유의하게 감소하였고, 전측두근의 수축초기 중간주파수와 수축말기 중간주파수 모두 교근보다 유의하게 높게 나타났다. 4. 교근은 지속적인 등길이 수축 전에 비하여 수축 후의 운동단위전위의 지속시간,진폭, 면적, 상의 4가지 척도에서 유의한 증가를 보였고 전측두근은 진폭을 제외한 나머지 3가지 척도, 즉 지속시간, 면적, 상의 유의한 증가를 보였다. 5. 교근과 전측두근의 지속적인 등길이 수축 전의 압력통각역치와 운동단위전위 척도 사이에는 통계적으로 유의한 상관관계가 없었고 교근에서는 수축 후의 압력통각역치와 운동단위전위의 지속시간, 진폭, 면적, 상 사이에 유의한 상관관계가 존재하였다. 위의 실험결과를 통해 근육피로 검사에 압력통각역치, 근전도 power spectrum 검사 외에 근육수축의 기능적 최소 단위인 운동단위전위의 분석 또한 유용할 수 있고 추후 만성으로 진행된 근막동통환자와 정상 대조군간의 운동단위 수준에서의 비교연구와 근피로에 더욱 민감한 운동단위전위의 다른 척도에 대한 개발과 연구가 필요하다고 사료된다.