• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.275-281
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• 2015

Objective : In order for Taekwondo athletes to perform destructive kicking performance, they are expected to have Taekwondo-specific muscle properties such as high muscle strength and power. The purpose of this study was to investigate the joint angle-dependent force-producing property of Taekwondo athletes' knee extensor muscles, which is one of the primary muscle groups involved in kicking performance. Method : Ten Taekwondo male athletes (age: $19.9{\pm}0.7yrs$, height: $180.6{\pm}6.2cm$, body mass: $75.9{\pm}8.9kg$, career: $9.2{\pm}2.9yrs$.) and 10 healthy male non-athletes (age: $26.3{\pm}2.6yrs$, height: $174.2{\pm}4.8cm$, body mass: $72.8{\pm}7.7kg$) participated in this study. Subjects performed maximum isometric knee extension at knee joint angles of $40^{\circ}$, $60^{\circ}$, $80^{\circ}$, and $100^{\circ}$ (the full knee extension was set to $0^{\circ}$) with the hip joint angles of $0^{\circ}$ and $80^{\circ}$ (the full extension was set to $0^{\circ}$). During the contractions, knee extension torque using an isokinetic dynamometer simultaneously with muscle activities of the rectus femoris (RF), and the vastus lateralis (VL) and vastus medialis (VM) using surface electromyography were recorded. Based on the torque values at systematically different knee-hip joint angles, the joint torque-angle relationships were established and then the optimal joint angle for the knee extensor was estimated. Results : The results of this study showed that the isometric knee extension torque values were greater for the Taekwondo athletes compared with the non-athlete group at all hip-knee joint angle combinations (p<.05). When the hip joint was set at $80^{\circ}$, the peak isometric torque was greater for the Taekwondo athletes compared with the non-athlete group ($313.61{\pm}36.79Nm$ and $221.43{\pm}35.92Nm$, respectively; p<.05) but the estimated optimum knee joint angles were similar ($62.33{\pm}5.71^{\circ}$ and $62.30{\pm}4.67^{\circ}$ for the Taekwondo athletes and non-athlete group, respectively). When the hip joint was set at $0^{\circ}$, the peak isometric torque was greater for the Taekwondo athletes compared with the non-athlete group ($296.29{\pm}45.13Nm$ and $199.58{\pm}25.23Nm$, respectively; p<.05) and the estimated optimum knee joint angle was larger for the Taekwondo athletes compared with the non-athlete group ($78.47{\pm}5.14^{\circ}$ and $67.54{\pm}5.77^{\circ}$, respectively; p<.05). Conclusion : The results of this study suggests that, compared with non-athletes, Taekwondo athletes have stronger knee extensor strength at all hip-knee joint angle combinations as well as longer optimum muscle length, which might be optimized for the event-specific required performance through prolonged training period.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.422-428
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• 2012

The present study purposed to examine the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, self-stretching and functional massage on the recovery of muscle contraction force for muscle fatigue caused by sustained isotonic contraction. The subjects of this study were 45 healthy students. They were divided into transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation group(n=15), self-stretching group(n=15) and functional massage group(n=15), and using Primus RS. We observed the pattern of changes in maximal voluntary isometric contraction force(MVIC) after causing muscle fatigue in quadriceps femoris muscle through sustained isotonic contraction. Maximal voluntary isometric contraction force(MVIC) were greatly increased after transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, self-stretching and functional massage. In the comparison of recovery rate of muscle contraction force for muscle fatigue caused by sustained isotonic contraction among the treatment groups, it did not show any significant differences. However, it showed that each treatment may be effective in recovery of muscle fatigue caused by sustained isotonic contraction.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.147-153
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• 2005

The purpose of this study were to compare the differences of isometric lumber extension strength and subjective pain degrees between obesity patients group and normal body fat group in disc surgical operated patients. The research purposed to indicate how isometric lumbar extension exercise for 12 weeks affected to lumbar strength and visual analogue scale of patients suffered by chronic back pain. The subjects were 65 low back pain patients(male 30, female 35)who had disease on lumbar in W hospital. The lumbar extension strength was measured at seven degrees of angles, which were $0^{\circ}$ $12^{\circ}$ $24^{\circ}$ $36^{\circ}$ $48^{\circ}$ $60^{\circ}$ and $72^{\circ}$ before and after the exercise program. We got the results of subjective pain degree using the modified visual analogue scale(VAS) of Lawlis et al(1989) and measured the maximal isometric lumbar strength of all subjects using MedX lumbar extension machine. Results were as follows; After the exercise, the lumbar extension strength of normal body fat patients groups included males and female were greater than that of the obesity patients groups in all angles(p<.05). The visual analogue scale of chronic back pain patients was decreased significantly after the exercise(p<.05). The results showed the significance between the lumbar extension strength and the visual analogue scale of chronic back pain patients and showed that the isometric lumbar extension exercise decreased the subjective pain degrees of visual analogue scale with and increased lumbar extension strength. The correlation between the visual analogue scale and the %body fat of chronic back pain patients was no significant after exercise. Therefore, the lumbar extension strength exercise is needed for improvement of back strength, decrease of %body fat.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.52-57
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• 2020

Purpose: This study compared the muscle activities of the Vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and the Vastus lateralis (VL) at three different knee extension angles: 90°, 135°, and 180° in the sitting position. Methods: Twenty subjects between 20 and 30 years of age participated in the study. A mobile phone application called the Clinometer was used to measure the knee joint angle. Electromyography (EMG) was performed to measure the muscle activities of the VMO and VL muscles during knee isometric extension exercises. The pulling sensor was used to maintain 70% of the maximum strength of the knee extensor continuously in the sitting position. After attaching the EMG sensor, the subjects were asked to perform isometric knee extension exercises randomly among three knee extension angles (90°, 135°, or 180°) in the sitting position. One-way repeated measures analysis of the variance and a Bonferroni post hoc test was used to identify the VMO and VL muscle activity during knee extension angles among 90°, 135°, and 180°. Results: The VMO and VL muscle activities increased with increasing knee extension angle in the sitting position (p<0.01). Conclusions: Knee extension exercise at a 180° angle in the sitting position can be recommended to increase the muscle activity of the VMO and VL muscle activities efficiently.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.689-696
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• 2009

This study was conducted to examine the effects of the lumbar stabilization exercise (LSE) on fall prevention in elderly females (n = 21) by measuring changes in the isometric strength, multifidus, transverse abdominis muscle thickness, and posture stability index. The strength of isometric contraction was measured by the 3-D Pegasus system ; the thickness of the multifidus and transverse abdominis were measured by using Sonoace 6000C, and the posture stability index was measured using a computerized Biodex Balance System SD apparatus analysis. These results lead us to the conclusion that flexion and extension, left rotation on strength of isometric contraction, and thickness of the transverse abdominis (when released) statically increased. Overall, the anterior/posterior and medial/lateral elements in the posture stability index statically decreased, Consequently, the LSE should the prevent falls in elderly females.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.9-19
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• 2010

Purpose : To identify whether isometric shoulder horizontal extension (ISHE) exercise could sufficiently activate the lumbar multifidus muscle, and to determine appropriate exercise intensity to increase muscle strength. Methods : Twenty healthy volunteers (10 males and 10 females) participated in this study. ISHE exercises on the dominant side were performed with $90^{\circ}$ shoulder abduction held in $90^{\circ}$ elbow flexion so that their arms were in the horizontal plane. Electromyographic (EMG) measurements of multifidus activation were performed in standing and supine positions, and were taken under four strength conditions: 75%, 50% and 25% of maximum shoulder horizontal extension strength, and maximum strength. Results : The EMG activations of both lumbar multifidus increased significantly with ISHE exercises of larger % strength (p<.05). In their multifidus EMG data measured in standing and supine positions, men differed significantly in their 75%, 50% and 25% strength for both sides (p<.05), and women differed significantly in their 75%, 50% and 25% strength on their 5th lumbar vertebrae's left side, but 75% only for their 5th lumbar vertebrae's right side (p<.05). The EMG data of 5th lumbar vertebrae's left and 5th lumbar vertebrae's right sides appeared to differ significantly at all strength levels for men while standing, but only at the 25% level for women in the supine position (p<.05). These findings indicate that ISHE exercises can be considered a beneficial method to enhance the multifidus strength. Conclusion : This study provides useful information for further study in this field.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2011

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of a core stability exercise program using Swiss Ball on muscle activity, muscle thickness, maximum muscular strength, and pain in the trunk region during a 6-weeks program involving participants who have lower back pain. Methods : A total of 21 males between the ages of 20 and 33 years old were divided into 3 Swiss Ball exercise groups. Group 1 performed isometric exercises, group 2 performed isotonic exercises, and group 3 performed mixed exercises. Measurements were taken prior to starting the exercise program and after completing the program at the 6-week period using ME6000 to measure muscle activity and VAS to measure pain reduction. Comparisons were made using a paired t-test and ANOVA on SPSS 10.0. Results : There was a statistically significant effect in muscle activity for group 1 and group 3. Secondly, there was a statistically significant effect in pain reduction for group 1, group 2, and group 3. Conclusion : We found that isometric exercises performed by group 1 were effective in improving muscle activity and pain reduction.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.1-10
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• 2008

Purpose: This study examines the effects of elastic band of resistance exercise for balance control of the elderly. Methods: Thirty of eighty participants in experiment subjects who demonstrated balance-impairment through the use of primary screening tests including the one leg standing test (OLST), functional reach test (FRT) and timed up and go (TUG) were selected as subjects. Fifteen subjects that underwent muscle-strengthening exercise using an elastic band were selected as the exercise group and fifteen subjects were selected as a control group. Subjects undertook a home-based exercise program three times per week for 9 weeks. Muscle strength, functional assessment and a balance test were quantitatively measured before and after the exercise regimen. Results: After muscle strengthening exercises, changes in maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) showed a significant increase in all of the lower extremity muscles of the exercise group subjects. There were statistically significant differences between the exercise and control groups for changes in the OLST, FRT and TUG, which are functional assessments of balance ability, and changes of the unit path length and circumference area, measurement items of quantitative analysis. In addition, from examining correlations between MVIC, balance ability, it was found that an increase of muscle strength in the hip joint group of muscles among the lower extremity muscles had greater improvement in correlation with balance ability in this elderly population. Conclusion: Resistance exercise using elastic bands had significant effects on muscle strengthening in elderly subjects, with a resultant increase of lower extremity muscle strength with significant improvement of balance ability.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.9 no.10
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• pp.423-432
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in upper and lower strengths and symmetry between upper body injury group, lower body injury group and non-injury group of bowling athletes. The subjects were the upper body injury group (UG), n = 16, the low body injury group (LG), n = 8, the non injury group, [NG], n = 15). The isometric strength of the bowler was measured using Manual Muscle Tester 01165 (Lafayette Instrument Company, USA) and the symmetry index (SI) was calculated. The results were as follow. The symmetry index of hip extension strength and hip external rotation strength was statistically larger in NG than LG (p <.05). The above results suggest that lower body strength and bilateral symmetry was closely related to injuries of the lower body. In order to prevent injury of the bowler, strengthening of lower body strength and symmetrical training are needed.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.46-52
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• 2018

Background: The hamstring muscles in the lower extremity are highly important for knee joint stability and can be classified into medial and lateral hamstrings according to the anatomical position, which have some different functions. To measure the strength of the individual hamstring muscles, manual muscle testing is clinically performed by dividing rotation postures into internal and external postures. However, this has no sufficient scientific background. Objects: This study aimed to test the difference that the tibial rotation would cause in the muscle activity of the medial and lateral hamstrings. Methods: The muscle activities of the biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus were measured in a total of three different postures (neutral position and internal and external rotations) with 3 replications. During the maximal isometric contraction, resistance was constantly provided by the string attached to the strap, not by manual resistance of the examiner. Before and after electromyography measurements, the participants underwent hamstring flexibility measurement using the active knee extension test in the supine position on the treatment table. Results: The semitendinosus had a 12.56% reduction in muscle activity in external rotation as compared with that in neutral position. The biceps femoris and semimembranosus showed reduced muscle activities in both external and internal rotations as compared with those in neutral position. Only the women showed significant decreases in the comparison between pre and post-active knee extension. Conclusion: Only the semitendinosus muscle was consistent with the anatomical speculation. However, the reduction in the muscle activity of the semitendinosus as compared with that in neutral position was only 12.56%, the clinical value of which may be difficult to justify.