• PNF and Movement
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.173-179
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of arm leg flexion patterns of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation on the muscle activation of the contralateral lower extremity. Methods: In this study, Electromyogram MP150(Biopac system, USA) was applied to 20 healthy male subjects. Unilateral arm flexion- abduction- external rotation pattern and Unilateral leg flexion- adduction- external rotation with knee flexion pattern were applied within mid range of the supine position for measurement. The muscle activation of vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius(medialis) muscle of the contralateral lower extremity were compared and analyzed during the applications. Results: The results of this study were summarized as follows: There was a statistically significant difference in the muscle activation of vastus lateralis and biceps femoris between the arm and leg patterns(P<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in the muscle activation of gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior between the arm and leg patterns(P<0.05). Conclusion: contralateral vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscles show the higher muscle activation in the leg pattern than one in the arm pattern.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.46-53
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• 2008

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) leg patterns on the muscle activation of neck flexors. Twenty healthy subjects participated in this study. Each subject performed bilateral asymmetrical PNF leg patterns against manual resistance under four conditions: through the full range of motion toward the right side, left side, and the end range in the right side, left side. Electromyographic (EMG) data was collected from the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscles as neck flexors. The root mean square (RMS) value of the SCM was measured and normalized from maximal EMG activity of the SCM. The data were analyzed using the paired t-test and repeated analysis of variance (ANOV A) was used to compare the statistical significance. The results of this study are summarized as follows: Firstly, the RMS values of SCM were significantly higher in all four PNF leg patterns than in the resting condition (p<.05). Secondly, there was no significant difference in muscle activation according to the direction of PNF leg patterns (p>.05). Thirdly, there was no significant difference in muscle activation according to the point of range of the motion of leg patterns (p>.05). It is suggested that PNF bilateral asymmetrical leg patterns have a considerable effect on muscle activation of the SCM, regardless of the range of motion and direction of PNF bilateral asymmetrical leg patterns.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.143-150
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of opposite lower extremity lateral muscle activation by proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) exercise targeting the lower extremities. Methods: Nineteen patients with chronic hemiplegia volunteered to participate in this study. PNF flexion, abduction, and internal rotation patterns; initial, end range, and extension patterns; abduction and internal rotation patterns; and initial and end range patterns were applied to the dominant lower extremity. Activation of lateral muscles (multifidus, gluteus medius, tensor fascia lata, and peroneous longus) of the paralyzed leg was then measured by electromyography (EMG). Results: There were significant differences in lateral muscle activation, depending on the PNF pattern applied, with the differences more significant in flexion, abduction, internal rotation, and end range patterns. Conclusion: PNF flexion, abduction, and internal rotation patterns can improve lateral muscle activation of one leg in the standing position in the gait cycle.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) applied to the unilateral upper extremity on the muscle activation of contralateral lower extremity. Twenty-two healthy subjects (mean age of 23.7 years) participated in this study. Method : PNF patterns applied on the unilateral upper extremity in all subjects were the flexion/abduction/external rotation and lifting pattern. The hold and appoximation techniques for the irradiation were applied to end range of both patterns. Muscle activations in four patterns were measured in vastus medialis, tibialis anterior, rectus femoris, and gastrocnemius medial muscles of contralateral lower extremity using surface EMG system. Each EMG value in individual muscle was normalized for maximal voluntary contraction. The data were analyzed by one factor analysis of variance with repeated measure test. Result : There were significant differences in the between-subject effect (muscles) and within-subject effect (patterns) in comparison of muscle activation by application of PNF patterns (p<.05). The irradiation led to higher activation in the flexion/abduction/external rotation pattern than that of lifting pattern in all muscles (p<.05). The approximation techniques revealed more activations than these of hold technique in all muscles (p<.05). Conclusion : These results suggest that the application of PNF patterns to the unilateral upper extremity affect on the muscle activation of contralateral lower extremity and increase according to the intensity of resistance. This mechanism of contralateral effect might provide a help to the development of treatment method for the affected side and functional improvement for the patients who have damages of central nervous system or musculoskeletal problems by orthopedic injury.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.215-223
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of leg muscle activation by applying proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) arm patterns to unilateral upper extremities under the condition of both open and closed kinetic chains in a seated position. Methods: Twenty-two healthy subjects participated in this study. Four PNF patterns were applied to each subject's unilateral upper extremity. EMG data were collected from the vastus medialis, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius. The measured EMG data were digitized and processed to root mean square (RMS) and expressed as percentage maximal voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC). The data were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures to determine the statistical significance. Results: The results of this study were summarized as follows: Firstly, in comparison to muscle activation of the biceps femoris, there was a significant increase in the D2 flexion pattern when it was compared with D2 extension pattern and when it was compared with D1 flexion pattern (p<.05). Secondly, there was a significant increase in the muscle activation of the vastus medialis and tibialis anterior with a closed kinetic chain rather than an open kinetic chain (p<.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, in order to increase muscle activation of the biceps femoris, the D2 flexion pattern can be applied, regardless of kinetic chain. In addition, in order to increase muscle activation of the vastus medialis and tibialis anterior, four arm patterns can be applied with a closed kinetic chain.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.63-74
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• 2005

J. R. PARK. The Analysis of Electrimyography and Kinematic of Kumdo Player's Head Hitting. Korean Journal of Sport Biomechanics, Vol. 15, No. 1, pp. 63-74, 2005. The purpose of this study were to describe and compare the selected electromyographical muscle activities of arm and kinematic data of kumdo player's head hitting. Using surface electrode electromyography, we evaluated muscle activity in 6 male players during head hitting motion. Surface electrodes were used to record the level of muscle activity in the carpi radialis, deltoid, triceps, biceps muscles during the player's head hitting. These signals were compared with %RVC(Reference voluntary contraction) which was normalized by IEMG(Integrated EMG). The kumdo head hitting motion was divided into two phases: back swing, down swing. we observed patterns of arm muscle activity throughout two phases of the kumdo head hiting The results can be summarized as follows: right elbow angle had decreased and left deltoid muscle's activation had higher than right deltoid muscle's activation, right carpi radialis muscle's activation had higher than left carpi radialis muscle's activation in back swing phase, knee angle had decreased and left triceps muscle's activation had higher than right triceps muscle's activation, right deltoid muscle's activation had higher than left deltoid muscle's activation, right carpi radialis muscle's activation had higher than left carpi radialis muscle's activation in down swing phase

• Archives of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.55-64
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• 2018

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the sprinter and skater combined patterns on muscle contraction onset time and muscle activation of body stabilizing muscles. Method : Our study included young and healthy men in their 20s. The participants used the sprinter and skater combined patterns of the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) methods to measure muscle activation and muscle contraction onset time of the trunk muscles. To measure muscle contraction onset time and muscle activation, electrodes were attached to the rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), internal oblique (IO), and erector spinalis (ES) regions. Significant differences were identified using a paired t-test and a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) analysis. Result : In the sprinter combined pattern, the muscle with the fastest onset time of contraction was the RES, and that with the slowest was the RRA (p<.001). In the skater combined pattern, the muscle with the fastest onset time of contraction was the LES, and that with the slowest was the LRA (p<.001). In the sprinter combined pattern, the REO and LIO presented medium muscle contraction onset times (p<.001). In the skater combined pattern, the LEO and RIO presented medium muscle contraction onset times (p<.001). Conclusions: Based on these results, these patterns could be used as exercise methods for the elderly with delayed proactive response speeds of the body stabilization methods due to imbalances in body stabilizing muscles or limbs movement.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2009

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) leg patterns on muscle activation of paretic and nonparetic arm in post-stroke hemiparetic subjects. Methods: Eighteen hemiparetic patients participated in this study. Each subject was asked to perform four PNF leg patterns against maximal manual resistance on nonparetic leg. EMG data were collected from biceps and triceps on the paretic and nonparetic side. The measured EMG data was digitized and processed to root mean square (RMS) and expressed as percentage maximal voluntary isometric contraction (％MVIC). The data were analyzed using paired t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures to determine the statistical significance. Results: The results of this study were summarized as follows: Firstly, during four PNF patterns application, all of the ％MVIC values of biceps and triceps in paretic and nonparetic arms increased significantly compared with resting condition (p<0.05). Secondly, there was a significant difference in ％MVIC of paretic biceps between PNF leg pattern 1 and 4 (p<0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, regardless of the kinematic components of PNF leg patterns, all of the muscle activation of biceps and triceps in paretic and nonparetic arm was significantly increased. The finding of this study indicates that irradiation effect caused by PNF leg patterns is beneficial for increased muscle activation of both paretic and nonparetic arms in post-stroke patients.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.19-24
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• 2011

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of PNF lower extremity flexion pattern on the eletromyographic (EMG) activity in rectus abdominis, internal oblique abdominal, external oblique abdominal, erector spinae. Methods : Twenty-six healthy adults volunteered to participate in this study. Subjects were required complete following two PNF lower extremity patterns; flexion-adduction-external rotation with knee flexion (D1) and flexion-abduction-internal rotation with knee flexion (D2). A paired t-test was used to determine the influence of the PNF two patterns on muscle activity for each muscle and descriptive statistics was used to determine local/global muscle ratio. Results : The D1 pattern was showed significant rectus abdominis (p<.05) and Median of internal oblique/rectus abdominis ratio was 2.23 and internal oblique/external oblique ratio was 1.53. The D2 pattern showed significant erector spinae (p<.05) and Median of internal oblique/rectus abdominis ratio was 3.06 and internal oblique/external oblique ratio was 1.72. Conclusion : The D1 pattern made rectus abdominis activation increase. The D2 pattern made erector spinae activation increase. As compared D1 and D2 pattern on trunk muscle activation, it's will be useful decision making for the trunk muscle strength and stabilization.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.40-46
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• 2016

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect on multifidus and external oblique abdominis muscle activation during hip contraction of three types (concentric, isometric, eccentric) in standing position. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Twenty healthy adult men volunteered to participate in this study. Muscle activation was recorded from gluteus maximus, both multifidus, and both external oblique abdominis by surface electromyography (EMG) while holding position in the type of gluteus maximus contraction. EMG values were normalized by maximum muscle contractions (% maximum voluntary isometric contraction). All subjects performed hip extension with three contraction methods. The type of gluteus maximus contraction using Thera-band was composed of concentric contraction (type 1), isometric contraction (type 2), and eccentric contraction (type 3). To measure muscle activation on the gluteus maximus contraction type, each position were maintained for 5 seconds with data collection taken place during middle three seconds. Muscle activation was measured in each position three times. Results: For the results of this study, there was no significant difference within three contraction patterns of the gluteus maximus (concentric, isometric, and eccentric) each both multifidus, both external oblique abdominis, and gluteus maximus. And there was no significant difference among both multifidus, both external oblique abdominis, and gluteus maximus each hip extension contraction type. Conclusions: These findings suggest that specific contraction types of the gluteus maximus does not lead to a more effective activation of the multifidus, external oblique abdominis, and gluteus maximus.