• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.167-174
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• 2021

Objective: Single leg bridge exercise (SLBE) improves trunk muscle activation and provides muscle stability by aligning joints related to posture. This preliminary study aimed to investigate the effects of SLBE on abdominal muscle activation in subacute stroke patients. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Fifteen subacute stroke patients (9 males, 6 females) voluntarily participated in this study. SLBE was performed on the affected side. Each individual patient performed an SLBE ten times in three sets and was asked to hold their position for 5 s. Muscles activity was recorded using a surface electromyography (EMG) system before and after the SLBE. A surface EMG system was used to analyze the muscle activity during general bridge exercise, including the rectus abdominis (RA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO) abdominal muscles. Results: Muscle activity of both EO and IO on the affected side significantly increased (p<0.05), whereas the muscle activity of the RA and the three muscles on the unaffected side did not show a significant difference. In addition, improvement in muscle asymmetry of the EO and IO showed a significant change after SLBE (p<0.05). Conclusions: SLBE is effective in activating the abdominal muscles of stroke patients on the affected side and is a helpful exercise intervention that activates the muscles to transform asymmetric abdominal muscles into symmetric patterns.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.302-306
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate comparisons of vastus medialis (VMO) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscle activities according to different heights during drop landing in flatfooted adults. Methods: Fifteen subjects with a flat foot arch and 15 subjects with a normal feet arch were participated. Subjects performed a double limb drop landing task from 20, 40, and 60 cm heights. Surface electromyography was used to measure the muscle activities of the VMO and VL during drop landing. Results: There were significant differences of muscle activities in the VMO, VL, and the VMO and VL ratio between groups. The electromyography values of VMO, VL, and the VMO and VL ratio in the normal group were significantly greater than in the flat foot group, and muscle activities and the VMO and VL ratio significantly increased with landing heights in the both groups. Conclusion: Our results indicated that muscle activity patterns of VOM and VL in the flat foot group were lower at heights than in the normal group, so calf tightness was negative effects on balance and gait ability, so assessment of muscle activation patterns in the knee extensors should be considered during exercise and treatment of flat feet.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.269-274
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• 2009

Purpose：The purpose of this study is an interval palmar width according to change of muscle activation under push-up movement. Methods：Three, this study participation normal young adult (male 3, mean age ; 24yaers). The subject performed maximum contraction under push-up movement. EMG activaty patterns is measured with three different width. The EMG activity of pectoralis major and latissimus dorsi were measured using surface electromyography. Results：EMG activation of pectoralis major and latissimus dorsi following of push-up was shown significant difference(p<.05). Also, experiment value was agree with calculation value and width of shoulder position was minimum of pectoralis major and latissimus dorsi muscle activity. Conslusion：RMS values in case of fretum and wide width of the hands on Latissimus Dorsi are shown muscle activity $132{\mu}V$ and $173.5{\mu}V$, respectively. Especialy, RMS value in terms of wide width of the hands on muscles is shown very enhanced muscle activity. It is suggest that interval palmar width of the hands on pectoralis major and latissimus dorsi in push-up movement was effective to intensify of the muscle activity.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) patterns on electromyography (EMG) activity in the rectus abdominis, internal abdominal oblique, external abdominal oblique, and erector spinae according to position changes. Methods: Ten healthy adults volunteered to participate in the study. The subjects were required to complete exercises that followed two PNF extremity patterns, namely, an upper extremity extension-adduction-internal rotation pattern and a lower extremity flexion-adduction-external rotation pattern. The exercises were applied in the supine, side-lying, and sitting positions. Repeated measure one-way ANOVA and post-hoc Bonferroni correction were used to determine the influence of the patterns on muscle activity for each muscle, and descriptive statistics were then used to determine the local/global muscle ratios. Results: The upper extremity pattern had a significant effect on the rectus abdominis and erector spinae in the supine position, and on the internal oblique and external oblique in the sitting position (p<0.05). The median value for the internal oblique/rectus abdominis showed a high ratio of 2.05, and a high ratio of 1.01 was shown for the internal oblique/external oblique in the sitting position. The lower extremity pattern had a significant effect on the rectus abdominis in the side-lying position and on the internal oblique, external oblique, and erector spinae in the sitting position (p<0.05). The median value for the internal oblique/rectus abdominis showed a high ratio of 2.83 in the sitting position and a high ratio of 1.30 for the internal oblique/external oblique in the side-lying position. Conclusion: The PNF pattern increases local muscle activation in an unstable position. Therefore, when the pattern is used for intervention purposes, trunk stability and varied position changes should be taken into account.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.488-497
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to compare the muscle onset time of sternocleidomastoid (SCM) and rectus abdominalis (RA) muscle activity during head lift in supine position between cerebral palsy and healthy children. Ten cerebral palsy children and 10 age, sex-matched healthy children were recruited for this study. Muscle activity of the SCM and RA were collected by surface electromyography (MP100SWS). Results demonstrated that the muscle onset time order was not significantly different between cerebral palsy children and healthy children. However, the DMHT and ST between SCM and RA during head lift in supine position were significantly shorter in healthy children than in cerebral palsy children. Further studies are needed to clarify the mechanism of differences in muscle activation patterns during head lift in supine position in cerebral palsy children compared with healthy children.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.177-183
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• 2017

Purpose: This study compared and analyzed the effect of the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) arm extension pattern and leg flexion pattern on the contralateral lower extremity muscles when the patterns were applied to the same subject. Methods: In the study, 35 healthy men and women who understood the PNF patterns were selected as participants. The participants completed the PNF arm extension-abduction-internal rotation pattern and leg flexion-adduction-external rotation with knee flexion pattern in the supine position. While the patients' completed each pattern, the contralateral leg muscle activity was measured to examine the irradiation effect. The maximum isometric contraction time of the muscles to be measured was kept for 5 seconds, and the mean value was obtained by repeating the pattern three times. Results: When the leg flexion-adduction-external rotation with knee flexion pattern was completed, the muscle activity in the vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior, and gastrocnemius of the contralateral lower extremity was significantly greater than that found in the PNF arm extension-abduction-internal rotation pattern. Conclusion: The PNF leg flexion pattern showed greater muscle activity on the contralateral lower extremity than the arm extension pattern. Thus, the PNF leg extension pattern is more effective in the activation of the muscles associated with weight-bearing activity.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.319-326
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• 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of modified ankle movement patterns on participants' active dorsiflexion range of motion and leg muscle activity. Methods: This study recruited twenty-five participants, all of whom were healthy individuals with no abnormalities in the ankle or knee joints. The research methodology involved measuring the active dorsiflexion range of motion and muscle activity in each person's legs based on the presence or absence of toe extension while the subjects were in a comfortable, supine position. A statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 25.0, and a paired samples t-test was employed. The significance level was set at 0.05. Results: When the participants demonstrated the modified ankle movement pattern with a controlled toe grip, there was an increase in their active dorsiflexion angle. However, during the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation technique without a controlled toe grip, a higher level of activity was observed in the leg muscles. Conclusion: The results of this study could be used as foundational data for establishing a rehabilitation exercise program designed to enhance range of motion and muscle activation in the ankle joint.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.59-66
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed (1) to identify asymmetry observed in electromyography (EMG) activity patterns of lower limb muscles between affected and unaffected sides of stroke patients during sit to stand (STS) movement and (2) to identify the muscles of the paretic lower limb that affected STS performance in stroke patients. Methods: This study consisted of 27 patients (15 males and 12 females) with poststroke hemiparesis. The activation of the rectus femoris (RF), tibialis anterior (TA), and gastrocnemius (GCM) of the affected side and unaffected side during STS movement were recorded using surface EMG. In addition, EMG lower limb muscle activation patterns were measured in the all section, pre-thigh off (pre-TO), and post-thigh off (post-TO) section. All measurements were obtained during five repetitions of the STS (FTSTS) movement. An independent t-test was performed to compare the affected side and unaffected side of the lower limb during the STS movement. A stepwise linear regression analysis was conducted to identify the muscles that affected STS performance. Results: Activation of both the RF and TA significantly affected the lower limb during the STS movement (p<0.05). Two muscles showed a difference on the post-TO section. The results of the stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that the RF and TA muscles of the affected lower limb were affected in FTSTS. Conclusion: These results provide a basis for reinforcement training, focusing on the RF and TA muscles of the affected side of stroke patients to improve asymmetric movement and performance in STS movement.

• Journal of Sport and Applied Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.1-12
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• 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of modified swing to prevent shoulder injury by analyzing differences in the muscle activation patterns of upper limb by the swing method in wheelchair badminton players. Research design, data, and methodology: 10 wheelchair badminton players participated in the experiment as subjects and performed 10 high clears and 10 smashes in both traditional and modified swing methods toward a shuttlecock hung at the height of racket impact point. For each trial, activation patterns of biceps brachii, triceps brachii, anterior deltoid, and posterior deltoid were measured from the upper limb participating in the swing from which the duration, peak, and root mean square (RMS) of electromyography (EMG) activities from swing initiation to shuttle impact were calculated. The maximum swing velocity of the smash and the distance of the high clear were also measured with both methods to compare differences in the swing velocity and shuttle hit distance. Results: Differences in the EMG peak and RMS of the anterior deltoid by swing methods were shown to differ by the skill type, being higher in the traditional swing method than the modified during only the high clear. The EMG peak and RMS, and the duration of the posterior deltoid were higher and longer with the traditional swing method than the modified during both the smash and high clear. The intensities of the biceps brachii and triceps brachii activities measured during the smash and high clear were higher in the traditional swing method than the modified, and the biceps brachii and triceps activity durations during the high clear were shorter in the modified swing method than the traditional. The maximum swing velocity of the smash was faster with the traditional swing method than the modified, while the distance of the high clear did not differ significantly. Conclusions: These results suggest that the modified swing can be an effective performance method for preventing shoulder injuries without undue loss of impact power in wheelchair badminton players by reducing excessive loads imposed on the shoulder and allowing the optimal use of the elbow extension.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.25-33
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• 2004

Purpose : The purpose of this article is to summarize the characteristics of isotonic combination. Method : Some studies of the motor unit activation patterns during isometric, concentric, and eccentric actions, neural strategies in the control of muscle force, and concentric versus combined concentric-eccentric training were reviewed. Results & Conclusions : Eccentric torque may be relatively higher than concentric torque for two potential reasons: 1) stretch responses in the antagonist are not elicited to restrain the motion as can occur concentrically and 2) stretch responses in the agonist may augment eccentric torque production. Concentric-eccentric training has a greater influence on functional capacity than that of concentric training. Both maximal force and average force throughout the motion were significantly higher when the dynamic action was started with preactivation as compared to the mode without preactivation. The peak torques observed during the concentric phase of the eccentric-concentric muscle actions were higher than those noted in the pure concentric contraction.