• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.43-48
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• 2022

Objective: The purpose of this study was to verify the effectiveness among simulating ski jumping trainings by comparing with actual ski jump. Method: Three healthy youth national athletes were recruited for this study (age: 13.70 ± 0.9 yrs, height: 169.30 ± 0.9 cm, jumping caree: 5.3 ± 0.9 yrs). Participants were asked to performed ski jumping with 3 simulating and one actual situation. A 3-dimensional motion analysis with 5 channels of EMG was performed in this study. Muscle activations of Rectus Femoris [RF], Tibialis Anterior [TA], Thoracis [TH], Gluteus maximus [GM], and Gastronemius [GL] were achieved with sampling rate of 2,000 Hz during each jump. Results: In the case of S1 in the actual jumping motion, the deviation of the muscle activity peak did not appear each trial, and the jump timing was consistent. For S2, the timing of the muscles peak activation which can maintain the posture of the upper body and ankles appeared at the beginning. In the case of S3, the part maintaining the ankle posture at the beginning appeared, but it could be expected that it would progress in the vertical direction due to the activation of GL at the time of jumping. Conclusion: The muscle activation peak before the take-off point showed a different pattern for each athlete, and individual differences were large. In addition, it was attempted to confirm the actual jump with simulation jump, and it was found that not only the difference in patterns but also the fluctuations in the timing of each muscle activation peak were large.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.275-282
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• 2012

Purpose : Bridge exercise has been commonly used in clinical rehabilitation settings to improve trunk control, and hip adductor muscles were a related muscle that may affect trunk muscle activation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the co-contraction of hip adductor muscles may affect trunk muscle activation during bridge exercises. Methods : Thirty-eight healthy young subjects (19 men and 19 women) performed bridge exercises (with and without hip adduction movement). Surface electromyography (EMG) data were collected from the dominant-side internal oblique (IO), rectus abdominis (RA), multifidus (MF) and erect spine (ES) during bridge exercises to compare trunk muscles activation patterns. Result : The EMG activities of IO and RA appeared to be significantly higher during bridge exercise with hip adductor co-contraction than during bridge exercise alone (p<.01), but there were no significant differences in those of MF and ES. Furthermore, there were significant differences in the IO:RA EMG ratio during bridge exercise with hip adductor co-contraction (p<.05). Conclusion : These findings suggest that integration of hip adduction during bridge exercise may be beneficial in increasing deep muscles' activity for trunk stabilization.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.75-79
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• 2020

Purpose: This study analyzed the immediate effects of intra-abdominal pressure with visual feedback on the muscle activation of the upper trapezius and sternomastoid during natural inspiration and forced inspiration in individuals with costal respiration. Methods: The eighteen individuals with upper costal breathing pattern participated in this study. Surface electromyography was used to analyze the muscle activity of the upper trapezius and sternomastoid during natural inspiration and forced inspiration before and after intra-abdominal pressure. Results: A significant difference in muscle activation was observed with the muscle type, inspiration type, and test session (p<0.05). The muscle activities of the sternomastoid and upper trapezius decreased significantly during forced inspiration after intra-abdominal pressure training (p<0.05). On the other hand, there was no significant difference during natural inspiration in both muscles (p>0.05). A comparison of the difference between the pre-test and post-test during forced inspiration revealed the upper trapezius to be significantly larger than the sternomastoid (p<0.05). No significant difference was noted during natural inspiration (p>0.05). Conclusion: The intra-abdominal pressure has positive effects on correcting the breathing patterns in individuals with costal respiration.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.80-86
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• 2016

Background: Prone hip extension (PHE) can be performed to measure the lumbopelvic motor patterns and motions. Imbalances in lumbopelvic muscle activity and muscle weakness can result in instability including pain in lumbopelvic region. The posterior oblique sling (POS) muscles contribute to dynamic lumbopelvic stability. In addition, POS are anatomically aligned with the trapezius muscle group according to shoulder positions. Objects: This study compared the electromyography (EMG) activity of POS and pelvic compensations during PHE with and without pre-activation of lower trapezius muscle (lowT). Methods: Sixteen healthy males were recruited. PHE was performed in randomized order: PHE with and without lowT pre-activation. Surface EMG signals were recorded for biceps femoris (BF), gluteus maximus (GM) (ipsilateral), lumbar multifidus (MF) (bilateral), and the lowT (contralateral). An electromagnetic tracking motion analysis was used to measure the angle of pelvic rotation and anterior tilting. Results: The ipsilateral GM and bilateral MF EMG amplitudes were greater during PHE with lowT pre-activation compared to PHE without lowT pre-activation (p<.05). The BF amplitude during PHE without lowT pre-activation was significantly greater than that during PHE with lowT pre-activation (p<.05). The angles of pelvic rotation and anterior tilting during PHE with lowT pre-activation were significantly smaller compared to PHE without lowT pre-activation (p<.05). Conclusion: PHE with lowT pre-activation, which is aligned with the POS, showed more increased MF and GM muscular activity with smaller lumbopelvic compensations in rotation and anterior tilting compared to PHE without lowT pre-activation.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.151-158
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• 2024

Purpose: The present study investigated how variations in diagonal exercises affect shoulder muscle activity, examining changes in neuromuscular activation during scapular and shoulder diagonal patterns of exercises. Furthermore, we explored whether the exercise phase affects muscle activation. Methods: Sixteen asymptomatic male participants were recruited. Four diagonal pattern exercises (scapular anterior elevation, posterior elevation, flexion-adduction-external rotation, flexion, abduction-external rotation), and two exercise phases (concentric and eccentric) were administered. Surface electromyography data were collected. Results: Upper trapezius activity was significantly higher during the concentric phase of scapular posterior elevation exercises compared with the others (p<0.05). The serratus anterior, anterior deltoid, and infraspinatus activities were significantly higher during shoulder diagonal pattern exercises compared with the scapular diagonal pattern exercises (p<0.05). Except for the lower trapezius, muscular activities during the concentric phase were significantly greater compared with the eccentric phase (p<0.05). Conclusion: The current study suggests that the diagonal pattern of exercise may contribute to selective strengthening of the shoulder complex muscles and that the form of exercise should be tailored to the subject. It also suggests that diagonal exercises with concentric contractions tend to be more beneficial than eccentric contractions for overall muscle recruitment, but the effects vary for specific diagonal patterns.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.413-420
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• 1997

In this paper, we analyzed the contraction patterns of active elbow muscles during isometric, concentric and eccentric contraction. The analysis parameters consist of frequency domain parameters (mean frequency, median frequency, peak frequency, peak power, skewness, kurtosis) and time domain paraseters (zero crossing, positive maxima, integrated EMG). The results of this study were as follows; The BR/BB of isometric contraction appeared to be Venter as the elbow joint was more extended. The BR /BB during concentric and eccentric contraction tended to increase with more extension of the elbow joint angle, but there was no significant difference between concentric and eccentric contraction. Further, the EMG power spectrum due to the type of contraction were different betwen eccentric and concentric contraction. According to the results, it was found that the activation pattern in elbow flexor muscles was different during three different muscle contraction pattern. Therefore, elbow flexor muscles should not be considered a single functioning unit. Especially, at the time domain analysis, IEMG is a dominant parameter for analysis of activation patterns, and the skewness kurtosis can be useful parameters in functional recognition for prosthesis control purpose.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.393-398
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare muscle activation patterns of lower extremities in stroke patients during stepper climbing, stair-up, and level-ground gait conditions by surface electromyography (EMG). Methods: Subjects included 19 hemiplegic patients comprehensive rehabilitation center for inpatients with stroke. Surface EMG was used to measure the subjects' medial gastrocnemius (GCM), tibialis anterior (TA), biceps femoris (BF), and rectus femoris (RF) activity as they took six steps during stepper climbing, stair-up, and level-ground gait conditions. Results: There was no significant difference in the BF or RF muscle activity for the stepper climbing, stair-up, and level-ground gait conditions. However, there were significant differences in the medial GCM and TA muscle activity between each condition on the patients' hemiplegic side(p<0.05). There was significant difference in the medial GCM, TA, RF, and BF muscle activity between each condition on the patients' non-hemiplegic side (p<0.05). Conclusion: As a result, the overall muscle activity during the level-ground gait was higher than the stair-up condition, and the muscle activity during the stair-up condition was higher than the muscle activity during the stepper climbing condition. As one of the many methods used for gait training, we suggest that the stepper exercise could be applied at an earlier stage in the gait training process.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to investigate difference of the muscle activation patterns of the upper body during wheelchair cycle ramps ascent of different slopes for disabled with spinal cord injury. Three subjects who is disabled with spinal cord injury participated in this study. Surface electromyography (EMG) data (reaction time [RT], onset-offset time, and peak value of muscle activation) were collected biceps, triceps, upper trapezius, anterior deltoid, latissimus dorsi, and upper rectus abdominal muscles during wheelchair cycle ramps ascent ($0^{\circ}$, $3^{\circ}$, and $6^{\circ}$). For latissimus dorsi muscle, RT and peak value of muscle activation was were increased and offset time was delayed as the slope increased (p < 0.05). These results indicate that wheelchair cycle ramps ascent might cause excessive overuse of latissimus dorsi muscle.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a supplementary shouting technique on abdominal muscle activation to the rectus abdominis (RA) and external oblique (EO) muscles during performance of crunch exercise in healthy subjects. Methods: Sixty-four subjects were randomly allocated to two groups, crunch exercise with shouting group (SG) and crunch exercise with non-shouting group (NSG), with 32 subjects in each group, respectively. The interventions were conducted over three trials in each group, and measurements were performed on each subject by one examiner in three trials. Muscle activation of RA and EO was evaluated using electromyography (EMG) during performance of crunch exercise with or without shouting. Results: Our results showed a significantly greater increase in the EMG patterns of the RA and EO muscles during performance of crunch exercise in the SG compared to the NSG (p<0.01). Conclusion: These findings suggest that addition of the shouting technique during performance of crunch exercise, at the same time, would suggest positive evidence for improving activation of abdominal muscles.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.87-94
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• 2023

Purpose: The present study aims to investigate the effects of a diagonal exercise pattern on selective activation of the upper extremity muscles using both normalization and isolation methods. Methods: In total, 17 asymptomatic subjects participated in this study. During the two diagonal patterns of exercise (diagonals 1 and 2), muscular activities of the upper trapezius (UT), lower trapezius (LT), serratus anterior (SA), anterior deltoid (AD), and infraspinatus (IS) were measured. The collected data were analyzed in two ways, according to the dominance of muscle activities (%Isolation) and according to normalized activities (%MVIC). Results: There were significant differences in LT, SA, AD, and IS between %MVIC and %Isolation (p<0.05), and the diagonal 1 pattern of exercise showed significantly more LT activities compared with the diagonal 2 pattern (p<0.05). Further, except for LT, there were no significant differences in muscle activities between the diagonal 1 and 2 exercises. Conclusion: The present study suggests that a diagonal pattern of exercise is advantageous for strengthening shoulder muscles, but caution is needed when applying to patients requiring selective strengthening. Regarding both the concentric and eccentric phases of exercise, there was no significant difference in muscular activation, except in LT, between the two diagonal patterns of exercises.