• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.43-50
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• 2002

This study was designed to identify the effects of walking conditions (normal walking vs. toe-walking) on electromyographic (EMG) activity of gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior, and soleus muscle. Seven healthy adult males participated in this study. The exclusion criteria were orthopedic or neurologic disease, congenital anomaly or acquired deformity, or pain in low back or lower extremities. The maximal voluntary isometric contraction for each muscle was used for the reference contraction, and EMG activity of each muscle during normal walking and toe-walking was expressed as a percentage of reference contraction. The gait cycle was determined with two foot switches, and gait was normalized as 100% gait cycle for each condition. The maximal values of EMG activity in terminal stance (30~50% of gait cycle) of each condition were compared for data analysis. No significant differences were found in EMG activity of the tibialis anterior and soleus (p>.05), whereas significant decrement was found in EMG activity of gastrocnemius during toe-walking compared to normal walking (p<.05). There is a limitation to generalize the results of this study, because small number of subjects participated for this study and only EMG was used for data collection. The treatment methods should be developed to improve gait efficiency by substituting the weakened muscles secondary to upper motor neuron, or by strengthening the distal muscles in lower extremity.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.223-229
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• 2019

The number of knee-related disease patients and knee joint surgeries is steadily increasing every year, and for knee rehabilitation training for these knee joint patients, it is necessary to strengthen the muscle of vastus medialis and quadriceps femoris. However, because of the cost and time-consuming difficulties of receiving regular hospital treatment in the course of knee rehabilitation, we developed knee exoskeleton using rapid prototype for knee rehabilitation with feedback from the electromyogram (EMG) and inertia motion unit (IMU) sensor. The modules was built on the basis of EMG and an IMU sensor applied complementary filter, measuring muscle activity in the vastus medialis and the range of joint operation of the knee, and then performing the game based on this measurement. The IMU sensor performed up to 97.2% accuracy in experiments with ten subjects. The functional game contents consisted of an exergaming platform based on EMG and IMU for the real-time monitoring and performance assessment of personalized isometric and isotonic exercises. This study combined EMG and IMU-based functional game with knee rehabilitation training to enable voluntary rehabilitation training by providing immediate feedback to patients through biometric information, thereby enhancing muscle strength efficiency of rehabilitation.

• 한국체육학회지인문사회과학편
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.531-540
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences between two inflatable kayak by recording performance related variables during the kayak forward stroke motion. A total of 5 elite high school kayak players were recruited to participate while their kinematics and muscle activations were recorded while performing inside their high school swimming pool. Boat velocity, boats swaying angle, the average angular velocity and were used to evaluate the boats performance. The player's trunk rotational range of motion, knee flexion-extension angle range of motion, maximum trunk rotation angle, the knee flexion-extension angular velocity, and the upper and lower limb muscle activations were calculated and analyzed for the player's efficiency evaluation. There were no significantly different variables for the player's kinematics and their muscle activations for the two conditions. The B kayak was significantly faster than the A kaya. In addition there were no significant differences between the remaining variables for the two kayaks. In conclusion, the B kayak was faster than the A kayak, but neither of the kayaks had an influence on the player's performance variables.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.655-661
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• 2009

This study investigated the effects of different types of shouting actions on the strength of the human body. Both H-reflex and MVIC measures of the rectus femoris muscle were used to investigate effects on impact force and motor performance, in order to find optimum shouting methods. The H-reflex of the soleus muscle gave an electric stimulus to the curve of the knee that contains the tibial nerves. Surface electromyelography was used to collect muscle activity the amplitude increased 28% at action with shouting and 29% at the one immediately after short-time shouting than the one without shouting was. To assess the myoelectric activity of the rectus femoris, a surface electrode was attached to the right side of the lower extremity and to increase 10% and 1% depending upon shouting type. The findings were as follows. Shouting affected not only motor efficiency (H-reflex), but also the amplitude of MVIC, with a positive effect on increased muscle strength. Further comprehensive studies are needed to investigate the many variables of increased muscle strength for general purposes, for instance, shouting and breathing, brain waves, and so on.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.12 no.7
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• pp.3109-3116
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• 2011

We studied the effects of vibration stimulation method on upper limbs spasticity in patients with brain lesion. 21 patients with spasticity of the upper limbs selected and divided randomly 3 groups. And then vibratory stimulation was applied to the triceps brachii muscle in group I(n=7), to biceps brachii muscle in group II (n=7), and to both muscles in group III (n=7). Using Neuro-EMG_Micro to investigate the changes in spinal neuronal excitability, F-waves were measured at before and directly after stimulation, and 10 minutes later and 20 minutes later after stimulation especially. MAS(Modified Ashworth Scale) test for muscle tone and MFT(Manual Function Test) for the upper extremity motor function were performed before stimulation and 20 minutes later after stimulation for the purpose of clinical evaluation. In our study, MAS was significant decreased in all groups, F wave and F/M ratio parameters were decreased in all groups and more decreased specially in group III. MFT was increased in group II and III, and more increased specially in group III. Vibration stimulation reduced the neuronal excitability of spinal cord and also muscle tone, and improved the motor function of the upper extremity. These results suggested that vibration stimulation giving to both muscles(triceps and biceps brachii muscle) at the same time was more efficiency in reducing the neuronal excitability of spinal cord and improving the motor function of the upper limbs.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.453-464
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• 2021

Abdominal obesity is increasing due to a decrease in physical activity and westernization of diet in busy daily life. Therefore, in order to satisfy the desire for body shape management, a management program with high efficiency versus time is needed. In this study, the diet-gel (i.e., slimming cosmetics) with the electrical muscle stimulation therapy was used to promote the effect of reducing waist circumference and body fat mass (or abdominal fat). For men and women in their twenties, the subjects simply applied diet-gel to their waist, wore EMS, and massaged for 20 minutes twice a day after waking up and before going to sleep. The experiment period was carried out for 2 weeks. The reduction of subcutaneous fat was observed using non-contrast CT, and it was confirmed by measuring waist circumference and body fat mass. In conclusion, the developed EMS and diet-gel combination program showed excellent waist management effects by reducing waist circumference by about 3 cm (p<0.001) and body fat mass by about 1 kg (p<0.01). This result suggests that the use of EMS shows a massage effect by muscle stimulation, and plays a role in promoting fat decomposition by helping the absorption of diet gel.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.65 no.2
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• pp.377-386
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• 2023

The effect of different commercially available bedding materials on the growth performance and carcass characteristics of ducks for 42 days was investigated. 336 one-day-old White-Pekin ducklings (60.48 ± 0.16 g) were randomly allocated into 24-floor pens with one of the three beddings namely i) coco peat, ii) rice husks, or iii) sawdust. 14 ducklings per pen and 8 replicate pens per bedding material were used. Birds were fed a starter diet from days 1-21 and a grower diet from days 22-42. Weekly growth performance evaluation was conducted for the average body weight, weight gains, daily feed intake, and feed conversion efficiency. One bird per pen was sacrificed on day 42 for the evaluation of carcass characteristics including the carcass, breast, and leg muscle percentages. Breast and leg muscle samples were then collected and analyzed for their proximate and pH values. Higher body weights (p < 0.05) were noticed with rice husks on day 42 only. Improved daily gains (p < 0.05) were also noticed for birds raised with rice husks over the entire period (days 1-42). Concerning feed intake, higher values (p < 0.05) were similarly noted with rice husks for the grower phase (days 22-42), and the entire experimental period (days 1-42). Marginally improved feed intake values were also noted with the use of rice husks as the bedding materials on day 42 (p = 0.092). Improved feed efficiency (p < 0.05) was noticed with rice husks on day 35, the grower period, and the entire 42-day period. However, no significant differences were noticed for most of the carcass characteristics that were evaluated. Nevertheless, higher (p < 0.05) pH values for the breast muscle were noticed with the use of coco peat and sawdust as the bedding. Conclusively, the bedding type could have a significant impact on the growth performance of ducks without adverse effects on carcass characteristics. The use of rice husks as bedding might be advantageous and is therefore recommended.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.63 no.5
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• pp.1086-1097
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• 2021

This study examined the impact of using total mixed ration (TMR) and concentrate on feed intake, daily gain, carcass yield grade, and carcass quality grade of Hanwoo steers and its subsequent economic efficiency. Thirty six 7-month-old Hanwoo steers were assigned to one of the four treatment groups, and each group was divided into three repeated pens, with each repeated pen comprising three steers. The treatment groups were: 1) separate feeding with commercial concentrate and forage (namely, SCF) for the entire experimental period; 2) TMR feeding for a growing period followed by SCF for the early and late fattening period (namely, TMRGSCF); 3) TMR feeding for growing and an early fattening period followed by SCF for the late fattening period (namely, TMREFSCF); and 4) TMR feeding for the entire experimental period (namely, TMRW). The results showed that the SCF treatment had significantly (p < 0.05) higher feed intake during the growing period than other treatments. In contrast, the total feed intake had little difference during early and late fattening as well as the whole period regardless of feeding strategies. Daily gain showed no difference during the growing period. However, it was significantly higher in SCF and TMREFSCF treatments for the early and late fattening period, respectively (p < 0.05). The daily gain during the total raising period is in the order of TMREFSCF > TMRGSCF > SCF > TMRW. Carcass characteristics, including carcass weight, loin eye muscle area, and carcass yield grade, did not significantly differ among different treatments. However, TMRW treatment, wherein TMR was fed for a long time, showed that the cold carcass weight was less compared with other treatments, but carcass yield grade was higher with thinner backfat. Backfat thickness was in the order of SCF > TMRGSCF > TMREFSCF > TMRW, showing that the thickness reduced with longer TMR feeding (p < 0.05). TMRGSCF, which numerically had a higher carcass quality grade, showed higher economic efficiency, whereas SCF showed low economic efficiency. In conclusion, it was more feasible to apply TMR strategy in the growing and early fattening period and then SCF for the early or late fattening period to improve carcass yield, quality grade, and economic efficiency.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.11
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• pp.1655-1665
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• 2023

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of three feeding systems, i.e., indoor feeding (CON), indoor feeding with 4-h daily access to grazing artificial pasture (ITGP), and indoor feeding with 8-h daily access to grazing artificial pasture (IEGP), on the plasma antioxidant and immunological capacity, slaughter characteristics, meat quality and economic efficiency of Huang-huai lambs. Methods: Thirty-three healthy Huang-huai rams with similar body weight (approximately 5 mo of age, 28.96±1.01 kg) were assigned equally to three experimental groups. When finished fattening, six lambs from each group were collect blood samples for plasma analyses and then slaughtered to determine slaughter characteristics and obtain biceps brachii muscle for further analysis of meat quality and fatty acid profile. Results: Compared to CON group, animals submitted to ITGP and IEGP groups resulted in greater contents of serum glutathione peroxidase, immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, and IgM), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), n-6 PUFA, and PUFA/saturated fatty acid (FA) ratio and lower palmitic /oleic acid ratio (p<0.05). Moreover, animals in ITGP group exhibited a higher (p<0.05) loin eye area, content of meat crude protein (CP), and eicosetrienoic acid compared to CON group, while slaughter performance was superior (p<0.05) to that of the IEGP group. The economic efficiency of ITGP group was 70.12% higher than that of CON group, while the IEGP group exhibited a decrease of 92.54% in economic efficiency compared to the CON group. Conclusion: Restricted grazing time combined with indoor feeding was more effective in conferring superior body health, carcass traits and economic efficiency in Huang-huai lambs, as well as higher CP content and healthier FA composition in the resulting meat.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.226-236
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• 2001

Objects : To evaluate clinical efficiency of The A-Shi point for the herniated lumbar intervertebral disc. Methods : The patients who had a diagnosis of herniated lumbar intervertebral disc by lumber CT and MRI, and were observed from the twentieth March 2000 to the tenth Novemsber 2000, were divided into two classes ; the "A" group was 15 cases practiced with Acupuncture treatment used of A-Shi point and the twelve-Meridian, the "B"group 15cases only Acupuncture treatment used of twelve-Meridian, Results : the most type of low back pain was, the Gall bladder channel of Foot-souyang 15 cases (50%) and the Gall-Bladder Meridian Muscle was 45 cases the most in the existence part of A-Shi point On the result of treatment due to clinical symptoms, the "A" group was 57.9% as excellent and "B" group 19.8%. On the measurement of Lumber flexion, the "A" group proceed more excellent result than the "B group at the whole grade. Conclusion : These results suggest that The A-shi point was effective treatment of herniated intervertebral disc.