• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 2021

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to provide fundamental clinical data to be used in therapeutic approach to patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome by administrating the squat exercise combined with whole body vibration exercise to them and investigating the effect of such exercise to leg muscle activity and muscle fatigue. METHODS: The patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome were randomly assigned to experimental group I (n = 9) where only squat exercise was administered and experimental group II (n = 9) where the squat exercise combined with whole body vibration exercise was provided. The intervention program was administered for two weeks, four days a week, one session a day, three set a session, and 20 reps a set. The pre- and post-test were performed to measure muscle activity and muscle fatigue of vastus medialis and vastus lateralis. RESULTS: The muscle activity significantly changed in both group (p < .05, p < .01, respectively) and the muscle fatigue showed significant change only in group I (p < .05). In addition, there was significant difference between groups in change of muscle fatigue of both muscles (p < .05) but not in change of muscle activity. CONCLUSION: The results showed that both exercise are effective in improving muscle activity, however, that the squat exercise combined with whole body vibration exercise is more effective in preventing muscle fatigue.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.95-102
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• 2021

PURPOSE: This study examined the muscle activity of the abdominal muscle when lifting with abdominal hollowing with visual feedback and lifting with a pelvic compression belt. This study suggests how to lift an object safely in the workplace for people who bend their backs repeatedly. METHODS: The study was conducted on healthy men in their 20s and 30s. When lifting a 7kg object, lifting with abdominal hollowing with visual feedback, and lifting an object with a pelvic compression belt were performed three times in random order. The muscle activities were measured rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), internal oblique/transverse abdominis (IO/TrA) muscles, and abdominal hollowing exercises, and box lifting exercises were carried out in advance before the experiment. One-way ANOVA was used to compare muscle activities, and a Tukey HSD was used for post-analysis. The level of significance was set to .05. RESULTS: According to the study, there was no significant difference in muscle activity of the RA muscle depending on the lifting method (p > .05). There were significant differences between the EO and IO/TrA muscle (p < .05). The IO/TrA muscle activity showed the largest increase in lifting an abdominal hollowing with visual feedback (p < .05). The EO muscle activity increased in pelvic compression belt lifting (p < .05). The muscle activity was increased in RA, but there was no significant difference (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Abdominal hollowing lifting with visual feedback increases the muscle activity of the IO/TrA muscle, which is higher than normal, and affects the core stability of the body.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1-9
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• 2006

The purpose of this research was to analyze the effects of the increase of the femoral anteversion angle on the unbalanced quadriceps femoris muscle causing the increase of the valgus force on the knee joints and patellofemoral pain syndrome by comparing with the group that shows the smaller femoral anteversion angle. The method for the research was to compare the femoral muscle's activity while the subjects were maintaining the knee joint flexed isometrically for 10 seconds. The evaluation tool for femoral muscle's activity was QEMG-4 (model LXM 3204). The results were as followings. Firstly, in case of the experimental group, the muscle strength of the vastus lateralis muscle was strong while the rectus femoris and vastus medialis were weak. In these facts, we can see the statistically meaningful difference in vastus medialis muscle activity. Secondly, in the muscle activity analysis for vastus lateralis and medialis of the two groups, we could see the vastus lateralis muscle was strong in anteversion wider for experimental group while the vastus medialis muscle contracted far more stronger in anteversion smaller for control group. From these results, we can see the significant differences in muscle recruitment between the two groups. Above results show that if the anteversion becomes wider, vastus medialis muscle will become seriously weaker, on the other hand, vastus lateralis act stronger.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.1-8
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• 2013

This study analyzes how different knee flexion angles affect the abdominal and pelvic muscle activity during supine bridging. Twenty healthy subjects participated in the study. We used surface electromyography (EMG) to measure how three different knee flexion angles ($100^{\circ}$, $70^{\circ}$, and $40^{\circ}$) affected the activity of the transverse abdominis/internal oblique (TrA/IO), external oblique (EO), biceps femoris (BF), rectus femoris (RF), and gluteus maximus (GM) muscles on the dominant side during supine bridging. The one-way repeated analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the statistical significance of TrA/IO, EO, BF, RF and GM muscle activity and the GM/BF activity ratio. For the TrA/IO, EO, BF, and GM muscles, supine bridging with different knee flexion angles resulted in significant differences in abdominal and pelvic muscle activity. For the TrA/IO muscles, the post-hoc test demonstrated that muscle activity significantly increased at $40^{\circ}$ compared to $70^{\circ}$; however, there were no significant differences between $100^{\circ}$ and $70^{\circ}$ or $100^{\circ}$ and $40^{\circ}$. For the EO muscle, the post-hoc test demonstrated that muscle activity significantly increased at $40^{\circ}$ compared to $100^{\circ}$ and $70^{\circ}$; no significant difference was observed between angles $100^{\circ}$ and $70^{\circ}$. For the BF muscle, the post-hoc test demonstrated that muscle activity significantly increased according to the knee flexion angle ($40^{\circ}$ > $70^{\circ}$ > $100^{\circ}$). For the GM muscle, the post-hoc test demonstrated that muscle activity significantly increased according to the knee flexion angle ($100^{\circ}$ > $70^{\circ}$ > $40^{\circ}$). However, for the RF muscle, there was no significant difference. Additionally, the GM/BF activity ratio significantly increased according to the knee flexion angle ($100^{\circ}$ > $70^{\circ}$ > $40^{\circ}$). From these results, we can conclude that bridging with a knee flexion of $100^{\circ}$ can strengthen the GM muscle, whereas bridging with a knee flexion of $40^{\circ}$ is recommended to strengthen the IO, EO, and BF muscles. We can also conclude that knee flexion angles should be modified during supine bridging to increase the muscle activity of different target muscles.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2004

Altered scapular kinematics in the scapular joint is commonly believed to be a factor contributing to trunk posture. The purpose of this study was to analyze the muscle activity with several changes of the shoulder angle. Tests were performed on 10 male subjects by repeated measures. Each subject was measured while sitting in both erect and slouched trunk positions. In each sitting posture, a three-dimensional motion analysis measurement was used to measure thoracic angle and shoulder abduction angle. Measurements were taken with the shoulder abdcution angle at $0^{\circ}$, $30^{\circ}$, $60^{\circ}$, $90^{\circ}$, $120^{\circ}$, and $150^{\circ}$. By using surface Electromyography (EMG) electrodes, we recorded the activity of the upper trapezius, middle trapezius, lower trapezius, middle deltoid, and serratus anterior muscle while the subject held a 4 kg weight at each angle. The mean of root mean square (RMS) of EMG activity was calculated. The middle trapezius, lower trapezius, and middle deltoid muscle activity showed significantly higher results but serratus anterior muscle activity showed significantly lower results (p<.05). With the shoulder angle increased, the muscle activity was also significantly increased (p<.05). In conclusion, the thoracic spine posture significantly affects the scapular muscle during scapular plane abduction, and the slouched posture is associated with increased trapezius muscle activity and with decreased serratus anterior muscle activity.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.203-217
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• 2020

Purpose : This study aimed to determine whether task-oriented trunk training can improve muscle strength, muscle activity, balance, and gait in stroke patients. Methods : A total of 27 stroke patients who agreed to participate in the study were randomly divided into the following two groups: (1) experimental group 1, task-oriented training applied to the proximal part (n=14) and (2) experimental group 2, task-oriented training applied to the distal part (n=13). Thereafter, task-oriented trunk training was accordingly applied in each group for 60 minutes per session, 5 times per week for 6 weeks. Muscle power, muscle activity, balance, and gait were assessed using a digital dynamometer, surface electromyograph, Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and gait analyzer (G-WALK), respectively, before and after training. Results : Trunk muscle strength significantly increased in both groups after training (p<.05). and there was a significant difference between the groups. Muscle activity in the stance phase during gait significantly increased in both groups after training (p<.05), and there was a significant difference between the groups. Muscle activity in the swing phase during gait significantly increased in both groups after training (p<.05), and there was a significant difference between the groups. The TUG test values significantly increased in both groups after training (p<.05), and there was a significant difference between the groups. Gait significantly increased in both groups after training (p<.05), and there was a significant difference between the groups. Conclusion : The results of this study show that task-oriented training can improve trunk muscle strength, muscle activity, balance, and gait in stroke patients.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.533-541
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• 2014

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the differences in electromyographic activities of upper extremity muscle between repeated taping and to compare the effects of each taping method in stroke patients. Background: Taping studies for functional improvement and pain relief of the UE have been conducted using various methods. Despite being an important factor when you treatment to a patient in a clinical attachment numbers situation quantitative research is that there is not at all to the taping at the time of application. Method: Twenty patients volunteered in this study and were tested under four taping conditions as follows, in random order: (1) no taping, (2) taping applied once, (3) taping applied twice, and (4) taping applied thrice. The muscle activity and maximum peak of the extensor carpi radialis muscle in electromyographic activities were measured, respectively. Results: The muscle activity and maximum peak of the extensor carpi radialis muscle showed significant differences among the four conditions (p<.05). In the post hoc test, the extensor muscle showed significant differences in muscle activity and maximum peak in electromyographic activities, except between taping applied twice and thrice. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that repeated taping up to two times may be useful in improving the muscle activity and maximum peak of the extensor muscle. Application: This study provides useful information to future researchers regarding the effects of repeated taping applications on muscle activity and maximum peak of the muscles of the human body.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.44-57
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• 2007

Purpose: The objective of this study is to analyze the activities of muscles importantly functioning when walking with different inclinations and speeds of a treadmill, in order to provide basic data on walking exercise using a treadmill. Method: The selected subjects of this study were 16 men and women who had lower extremity injury. A treadmill was used to provide the activation of muscle, and the electromyography was used to analyze the muscle activity variables. The Biodex was used to measure the value of maximum isometric contraction. The inclinations of the treadmill were 0%, 5% and 10%, respectively, and its speeds were 2Km/h. 3Km/h, 4Km/h, 5Km/h, and 6Km/h, respectively. Result: For quadriceps femoris muscle and trunk muscle, there were significant differences in muscle activity when different speeds were applied at 0%, 5% and 10% inclinations.(p<0.05) The activity of vastus medialis muscle was 9.78% at 0% inclination and 2km/h speed, whereas it was 9.32% at 0% inclination and 3km/h, which was slightly lower. The activity of erector spinae muscle was 24.93% at 0% inclination and 2km/h speed, whereas it was 24.84% at 0% inclination and 3km/h, whereas it was 23.99% at 0% inclination and 4km/h, which was slightly lower. The activity of vastus medialis muscle was 11.89% at 10% inclination and 2km/h speed, whereas it was 10.65% at 10% inclination and 3km/h, which was slightly lower. The activity of rectus femoris muscle was 10.26% at 10% inclination and 2km/h speed, whereas it was 9.77% at 10% inclination and 3km/h, which was slightly lower. Conclusion: It was found that the activities of trunk muscle and quadriceps femoris muscle increase as the inclination and the speed of a treadmill increase during treadmill walking.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.63-71
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• 2015

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study to investigate the effects of exercise on lumbar stabilization in muscle activity and isokinetic muscle strength of female with chronic low back pain. METHODS: The candidates was chose to twenty women in their 30s and 40s complaining back pain for over 12 weeks and consist of 10 people for lumbar stabilization and general physical therapy group(PL group), another 10 people for general physical therapy group(GP group). Lumbar stabilization exercise was conducted for 8 weeks and was comprised of 60 minutes for two times a week. In order to examine the effects of lumbar stabilization, results in the present study were analyzed maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) using electromyogram to measure muscle activity and isokinetic performance including peak torque and average power at the pre to post. RESULTS: The following are results in this study. The MVIC and isokinetic muscle strength were gradually increased in all group. As the result of the test of the MVIC and isokinetic muscle strength, the difference of lumbar stabilization and general physical therapy group is statistically more significant than that of general physical therapy group. CONCLUSION: In the present study, results indicate that lumbar stabilization helps to improve the muscle activity and isokinetic muscle strength.

• 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.