• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.123-128
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• 2018

Purpose: This study examined the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and horseback riding using a robotic device on the trunk muscle activity and gross motor function in children with spastic diplegia. Methods: Children with spastic diplegia were divided into two groups: an experimental group (NMES and horseback riding using a robotic device [n=10]) and a control group (placebo NMES and horseback riding using a robotic device [n=10]). Each group received general physical therapy and occupational therapy. Each intervention involved the administration of NMES for 15 minutes and horseback riding using robotic device therapy for 15 minutes three times a week for 4 weeks. The evaluation included both the rectus abdominis muscles (RA), external oblique muscles (EO), thoracic paraspinal muscles (TP), and lumbar paraspinal muscles (LP) activity and GMFM. Results: The RA, EO, TP, and LP muscle activity, GMFM C, D, and E were increased significantly in the experimental and control groups. A significant increase in both the TP muscle activity and GMFM D was observed in the experimental group compared to the control group. Conclusion: This study showed that horseback riding using a robotic device is an effective intervention for trunk muscle activity and GMFM in children with spastic diplegia. However, if NMES is added to the back muscles, it is possible to further increase the thoracic paraspinal muscle activity and standing ability.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.367-373
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• 2021

Objective: Short foot exercise(SFE) is frequently used to increase the medial longitudinal arch of the foot, as well as the intrinsic foot muscles. This studyinvestigated the effects of SFE onmuscular activity and the onset of contraction of the quadriceps femoris muscle during squats in healthypeople. It also aimed to compare and analyze the results with those of the general squat method and propose a more efficient squat method. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: This study compared 20 adults (male=10, female=10) who statisfied the inclusion criteria for the muscle activity and onset of the muscle contraction of the quadriceps femoris using surface EMG under two conditions: general squats and SFE squats. Results: Separate analyses and comparisons of the outcomes of the SFE squat and the general squat, showed a significant increase in the muscle activities of the rectus femoris and vastus medial muscles in both males and females (p<0.05). The onset of muscle contraction was significantly delayed for the vastus lateralis relative to that for the vastus medialis (p<0.05). However, it delayed significantly in females, but not in males. Conclusions: The SFE squats induced selective muscular activities of the rectus femoris and vastus medialis muscels and affected the onset of contraction of the vastus medialis and lateralis muscles.

• 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.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.173-183
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• 2017

Conditions related to body composition and aging, such as osteopenic obesity, sarcopenia/ sarcopenic obesity, and the newly termed osteosarcopenic obesity(triad of bone, muscle and adipose tissue impairment), are beginning to gain recognition. Currently, it has begun to attract the attention of scholars from all over the world, however, for this disease, it still needs a more clear understanding and perception. Therefore, this article considered the osteoporosis, muscle depression, and obesity, these diseases as a gate to study the relationship among muscle, bone, and fat. In addition, in the aging process, the formation of IGF-cortisol, testosterone, and estrogen is sensitive. These hormones can not only absorb muscle protein metabolism, but also affect alienation. The decrease in IGF-cortisol in the elderly resulted in increased visceral fat, decreased muscle mass and bone mineral density, and then affected decreased skeletal muscle atrophy and decreased quality. The reduction of skeletal muscle quality and strength and increase body fat affected the adipose tissue to produce inflammatory cytokines, thereby reduced skeletal muscle, promoted cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance in chronic diseases. Almost all chronic inflammatory diseases were associated with bone, muscle and fat. These mechanisms were complex and interrelated. Inflammation reduces bone formation, increases fat and reduces muscle mass. And thus not only had a significant impact on the motor system, but also made the incidence increase of fracture, osteoporosis, fragile syndrome, fall, osteomalacia and other bone disease. This article aimed to start from the interaction between the muscles and bones of the elderly, extended to obesity, muscle deficiency, osteoporosis and other diseases, finally, from a nutritional point of view, to discuss how to treat osteoporosis obesity.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.992-996
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• 2006

The study examined clinical effect of the 'Sexiang Shuhuo Jing' on serum CK and LDH activities and skeletal muscle ${\alpha}-actin$ mRNA expression concentration 140days after skeletal muscle injury in rats. The clinical research consisted of observing and measuring the serum CK, LDH activities and skeletal muscle ${\alpha}-actin$ mRNA expression, at the time of injury and during recovery. All experimental data were analyzed by repeated measurement with ANOVA on of SPSS(11.5v), accepting level for all significances was above ${\alpha}\;=.05.$ The results were as follows: That skeletal muscle injury in rats there existed a substantial increase serum CK, LDH activities and expression of skeletal muscle ${\alpha}-actin$ mRNA And Sexiang Shuhuo Jing treatment group's serum CK, LDH activities lower and faster recovery than control group. The 1 st day after skeletal muscle injury, Sexiang Shuhuo Jing treatment group's skeletal muscle ${\alpha}-actin$ mRNA expression was much more higher than control group, after 2 day's faster recovery normal level than control group. There existed a substantial increase again serum CK, LDH activities and skeletal muscle ${\alpha}-actin$ mRNA expression 3rd days after injury in control group. But in Sexiang Shuhuo Jing treatment group's can't be found that.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.205-211
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• 2022

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of an intervention that combined the abdominal drawing-in maneuver and frequency-specific neuromuscular electrical stimulation on changes in trunk muscle activity, muscle fatigue, and balance in stroke patients. Methods: Thirty stroke patients were randomly assigned to two groups. Fifteen subjects were assigned to group I which performed the abdominal drawing-in maneuver combined with low-frequency neuromuscular electrical stimulation and the other 15 subjects to group II where the abdominal drawing-in maneuver was combined with high-frequency neuromuscular electrical stimulation. Muscle activity and fatigue were measured using surface electromyography before the intervention. Balance was measured using the Trunk Impairment Scale and re-measured after six weeks of intervention for comparative analysis. Results: Both groups showed a significant increase in muscle activity and balance (p<0.05), and there was no significant difference between the groups (p>0.05). In the changes in muscle fatigue, only the experimental group II showed a significant increase in muscle fatigue (p<0.05). The difference between the groups was statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was confirmed that among stroke patients, the combination of the abdominal drawing-in maneuver and low-frequency neuromuscular electrical stimulation was more effective in changing the muscle activity and balance of the trunk by minimizing the occurrence of muscle fatigue compared to the combination of the abdominal drawing-in maneuver and high-frequency stimulation. These results can be used as basic data for clinical trunk stabilization training.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.495-505
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• 2024

Gromwell (Lithospermum erythrorhizon, LE) can mitigate obesity-induced skeletal muscle atrophy in C2C12 myotubes and high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-skeletal muscle atrophy effects of LE and the underlying molecular mechanism. C2C12 myotubes were pretreated with LE or shikonin, and active component of LE, for 24 h and then treated with 500 μM palmitic acid (PA) for an additional 24 h. Additionally, mice were fed a HFD for 8 weeks to induced obesity, and then fed either the same diet or a version containing 0.25% LE for 10 weeks. LE attenuated PA-induced myotubes atrophy in differentiated C2C12 myotubes. The supplementation of LE to obese mice significantly increased skeletal muscle weight, lean body mass, muscle strength, and exercise performance compared with those in the HFD group. LE supplementation not only suppressed obesity-induced skeletal muscle lipid accumulation, but also downregulated TNF-α and atrophic genes. LE increased protein synthesis in the skeletal muscle via the mTOR pathway. We observed LE induced increase of mitochondrial biogenesis and upregulation of oxidative phosphorylation related genes in the skeletal muscles. Furthermore, LE increased the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1 alpha and the phosphorylation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase. Collectively, LE may be useful in ameliorating the detrimental effects of obesity-induced skeletal muscle atrophy through the increase of protein synthesis and mitochondrial biogenesis of skeletal muscle.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.39-46
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• 2017

PURPOSE: The effectiveness of the stretching to increase the range of motion of the joint, reduce the risk of injury, enhance athletic performance or decrease post exercise muscle soreness. This study was to compare the effect of the stretching method applied on the shortened hamstring muscle for flexibility, strength, pressure pain threshold value and muscle tone. METHODS: This study is a two-group pretest- posttest design. Fifty-four healthy young adults were randomly assigned to a vibration-assisted stretching group (VASG, n=27) or a static stretching group (SSG, n=27). Participants performed each stretch in 4 sets of 30 seconds each. A 30-second break time was provided between the sets. The range of motion, strength, pressure pain threshold values and muscle tone of the hamstring muscle were measured to compare the effects of the stretching methods. RESULTS: Both the VASG and the SSG participants showed significant improvement in the range of motion and strength (p<.05); however, the increase in the VASG was significantly higher than that in the SSG (p<.05). The pressure pain threshold values and muscle tone were significantly decreased only in the VASG (p<.05). CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that vibration-supported stretching is an effective intervention for people with hamstring shortening, with high pain level and muscle tone decrease.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.139-146
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• 2016

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of craniocervical flexion exercise with masticatory muscle contraction in patients with neck pain. Patients with neck pain also experience muscle weakness and limitation of activities of daily living. Craniocervical flexion exercise with masticatory muscle contraction may increase the thickness of the deep cervical flexor muscles, thereby reducing pain and limitations on activities of daily living. METHODS: Twenty-six volunteers participated in this study. The subjects were randomly divided into an experimental group (n=13) and a control group (n=13). Both groups performed craniocervical flexion exercise using a pressure biofeedback unit; the experimental group performed craniocervical flexion exercise with masticatory muscle contraction for 20 minutes, 3 times a week for 4 weeks. Assessment tools included ultrasonography for measurement of muscle thickness and the Neck Disability Index for the level of pain and function. RESULTS: The rate of change in muscle thickness in both groups significantly increased (p<.05), with a significantly greater increase in the experimental group than in the control group (p<.05). The Neck Disability Index score significantly improved (p<.05) in both groups, with significantly greater improvement in the experimental group compared with the control group (p<.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that craniocervical flexion exercise with masticatory muscle contraction can be effective in increasing muscle thickness and improving the Neck Disability Index score in patients with neck pain.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.528-533
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• 1997

Twenty four female Sprague-Dawley rats weighing about 190 g were used to examine changes in muscle cAMP concentrations and steady-state levels of skeletal muscle ${\alpha}$-actin mRNA during chronic administration of cimaterol, a ${\beta}$-adrenergic agonist. Cimaterol was mixed in a powdered rat diet at 10 mg/kg diet. At 3 and 21 days after the start of treatment, skeletal muscle and heart samples were collected for the measurement of cAMP concentrations and skeletal muscle ${\alpha}$-actin mRNA levels. Cimaterol increased (p < 0.01) body weight gain gradually during the first seven days of the trial period, but not thereafter. Most skeletal muscle weights and the ratio of muscle weight to body weight were increased (p < 0.05) by cimaterol treatment both at 3 and 21 days. Heart weight was also increased (p < 0.05) by cimaterol treatment at 3 and 21 days, but the ratio of heart weight to body weight was increased (p < 0.05) only at 3 day. Cimaterol decreased (p < 0.05) cAMP concentration of gastrocnemius muscle at both 3 and 21 days after treatment. However, cimaterol tended (p = 0.07) to increase cAMP concentration at 3 days in the heart. Cimaterol tended (p = 0.08) to increase the steady-state level of ${\alpha}$-actin mRNA by 60% in gastrocnemius muscle at 3 days but had no effect at 21 days. The results indicate that the pattern of hypertrophic response to chronic dietary administration of cimaterol is different between cardiac and skeletal muscle. In skeletal muscles it appears that the hypertrophy induced by cimaterol is partly due to stimulated myofibrillar protein synthesis at a pre-translational level.