• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1105-1113
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• 2017

The Purpose of this study was to determine the effects of sciatic nerve mobilization on pain and lower back muscle strength in female patients in their 40s who have been diagnosed with lumbar radiculopathy. Using a simple blinded method, 20 female patients with neuropathy in the nerve segments between L4-S1 were randomly divided into one group (n=10) that would undergo sciatic nerve mobilization, and another group (n=10) that would perform lower back segment stabilization exercises. The two groups attended 3 sessions per week, with each session taking 30 minutes, for a duration of 4 weeks. In the preliminary examinations, the pain index as well as the isometric muscle strength of the lower back extensor and flexor muscles were measured. After the passing of 4 weeks. The same method of measurement was used for the concluding examinations. Comparison of the pain indices in the two groups revealed that they both experienced a statistically significant decrease, and further inspection revealed that the there was a more substantial difference in the sciatic nerve mobilization group. Results of comparing changes in the Isometric Muscle Strength lower back muscle and bending muscle by group, In comparison between groups, the isometric strength of the lower back extensor showed a more significant difference in the sciatic nerve mobilization group (p <.05). Conclulsion, it can be inferred that application of sciatic nerve mobilization has a positive effect on the pain index and isometric muscle strength of the lower back in female patients with lumbar radiculopathy in their 40s.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2017

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI) for measurement of muscle thickness with changes in angles of the gluteus maximus (GM) at rest and during contraction. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Twenty-two healthy men volunteered for this study. GM muscle images were obtained in the resting position and during prone hip extension with knee flexion at hip abduction angles of $0^{\circ}$ and $30^{\circ}$, respectively. Two examiners randomly measured the thickness of the GM twice in three different positions. The first position was a comfortable prone position. The second position was prone hip extension with knee flexion (PHEKF) to $90^{\circ}$. The third position was achieved by hanging a 1-kg weight on the ankle of the lifted leg during PHEKF with the angle of the lifted leg the same as the second position. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs), standard error measurements, and minimal detectable changes were used to estimate reliability. Results: The intra-rater reliability ICCs (95% confidence interval) of the GM were >0.870, indicating good reliability. Inter-rater reliability ICCs ranged from 0.668 to 0.913. The reliability of measurements of muscle thickness at each position was similar to the reliability of the angle change. Differences in muscle thickness and ratios for each position with $0^{\circ}$ and $30^{\circ}$ of hip abduction were not statistically significant. Conclusions: In the present study, the intra-rater reliability of muscle thickness measurements of the GM was good, and the inter-rater reliability was moderate to good. Reliable RUSI measurements of wide and large muscles, such as the GM muscle at rest and during contraction, are feasible. Further investigation is required to establish the reproducibility of the protocols presented in this study.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2001

Hyperpolarization of arterial smooth muscle by acetylcholine is considered to be produced by the release of an unidentified chemical substance, an endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF). Several chemicals have been proposed as the candidate for EDHF. However, none of them fulfil completely the nature and property of EDHF. Ultrastructural observation with electron microscope reveals that in some arteries, gap junctions are formed between endothelial and smooth muscle cells. In small arterioles, injection of gap junction permeable dyes into an endothelial cell results in a distribution of the dye to surrounding cells including smooth muscle cells. These observations allow the speculation that myoendothelial gap junctions may have a functional significance. Simultaneous measurement of the electrical responses in both endothelial and smooth muscle cells using the double patch clamp method demonstrates that these two cell types are indeed electrically coupled, indicating that they behave as a functional syncytium. The EDHF-induced hyperpolarization is produced by an activation of $Ca^{2+}-sensitive\;K^+-channels$ that are inhibited by charybdotoxin and apamin. Agonists that release EDHF increase $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in endothelial cells but not in smooth muscle cells. Inhibition of gap junctions with chemical agents abolishes the agonist-induced hyperpolarization in smooth muscle cells but not in endothelial cells. All these observations can be explained if EDHF is an electrotonic signal propagating from endothelium to smooth muscle cells through gap junctions.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.67-74
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• 2020

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the change of lower limb muscle activation according to the use of arm sling in normal subjects. Design: Cross-sectional Study Methods: Seven healthy subjects (6 males and 1 female, 25.42 years, 173.57 cm, 71.71 kg) were recruited on a voluntary basis. To measure the lower limb muscle activation during walking with and without arm sling, we used a wireless surface electromyography (sEMG) (FreeEMG1000, BTS Bioengineering, Milano, Italy). Six wireless sEMG electrodes were attached to the following three major muscle groups of the both side lower limb: rectus femoris, biceps femoris, medial gastrocnemius. All subjects wore arm sling on their right side during measurement. Results: In the stance phase, there was a significant increase in right side rectus femoris muscle activation in walking without arm sling compared to the walking with arm sling (p<.05). Additionally, In the stance phase, there was a significant increase in left side tibialis anterior muscle activation in walking without arm sling compared to the walking with arm sling (p<.05). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that there is a significant association between the arm swing restriction and lower limb muscle activation. Therefore, it seems that it can be applied as basic data for gait training with an arm slings.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.199-207
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• 2022

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of shoulder stabilization exercise accompanied by application of a pelvic compression belt on the muscle activity, pain and function of the muscles around the shoulder in subjects with round shoulders. Methods : For the study method, 28 students who were enrolled in K University with a distance of 1 cm or more between the clavicle of the peak and the outer ear path were selected through GPS 400 global postural analysis system measurement. The subjects were randomly assigned to 14 participants in the group wearing a pelvic compression belt and 14 patients in the group not wearing a pelvic compression belt. In all subjects, the muscle activities of the middle trapezius, lower trapezius, and serratus anterior muscles and the shoulder pain disorder index (SPADI) were measured. The intervention was performed 3 times a week for 4 weeks, and the applied intervention was push-up plus and modified prone cobra exercise. The muscle activities of the middle trapezius, lower trapezius, and serratus anterior muscles and SPADI score were compared using dependent t test before and after intervention. Results : In this study, both groups showed that the muscle activity of the middle trapezius, lower trapezius, and serratus anterior significantly increased after the intervention compared to before the intervention. On the other hand, SPADI showed no significant difference. Conclusion : The results of this study showed that muscle activity in the peri-shoulder joint was increased after push-up plus and modified prone cobra exercise in both groups, regardless of whether pelvic compression was applied or not. Therefore, it was found that shoulder stabilization exercise using the pelvic compression belt also contributed to the enhancement of muscle activity in the joints around the shoulder.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.307-312
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of wearing functional clothing over calf muscles on the muscle function of the calf and to verify whether functional clothing can increase calf muscle function. The participants of the study were 21 male students from University B who had no lower extremity abnormality. The measurement method was measured at 30°/sec and 120°/sec angle speed before and after wearing functional clothing on the right and left calves using Humac Norm of CSMI, a constant speed muscle function measuring instrument. No significant difference was observed during dorsiflexion when wearing functional clothing, but in plantar flexion, muscle strength and muscle endurance were significantly increased. Therefore, wearing functional clothing over the calves showed a positive effect on improving exercise function, and future research suggests a study comparing the degree of muscle function improvement between those wearing functional clothing and those not wearing it for athletes training ahead of the competition.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.512-530
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• 2023

The present study evaluated the effects of fermented whey protein using kimchi lactic acid bacteria Lactobacillus casei DK211 on skeletal muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance in healthy middle-aged males performing regular resistance exercises. Effective protein supplementation and regular exercise are two important factors for improving muscle health. Therefore, in this study, the effects of consuming fermented whey protein twice a day were investigated and compared with that of non-fermented supplementation. Forty-eight males (average age 44.8) were randomly assigned to two groups: Fermented whey protein supplementation (FWPS) and non-fermented whey protein concentration supplementation (WPCS) groups. Each group ingested 37 g of FWPS or WPCS twice a day for eight weeks. Body composition, muscle strength, and physical performance were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Independent t-tests or chi-square tests for the categorical variables were performed for analyzing the observations. FWPS was effective in promoting the physical performance in dynamic balance measurement and muscle health, indicated through the increment in grip strength (left), upper arm circumference, and flat leg circumference from the baseline. However, similar improvements were not observed in the WPCS group. These results imply that whey protein fermented by L. casei DK211 is an effective protein supplement for enhancing muscle health in males performing regular resistance exercises.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.17-26
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• 2022

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of heel raising with kinesio taping (HRKT) on triceps surae muscle activity and balance in 20s adults. Design: Two groups pre-post randomized controlled design. Methods: The total of 40 subjects were randomly divided in the HRKT group (experimental group, n=21) and heel raising with sham kinesio taping (control group, n=19). Both groups receive heel raising with kinesio taping and sham kinesio taping for 20 minutes a day, five day per week, for four weeks. Measurement were performed before training and 4 weeks after training. The triceps surae muscle activity was measured using the EMG. A functional reach test (FRT) was used to evaluate balance ability. The independent t-test was conducted to compare exercise methods depending on the taping effect on each group. Results: The both group showed significant differences in muscle activity of lower extremity and functional reach test in the pre-post intervention comparison (p<0.05). The experimental group showed significantly more improvement in triceps surae muscle activity and functional reach test compared to the control group(p<0.05). Conclusion: We confirmed that the effects of heel-raising with kinesio taping group on triceps surae muscle activity and balance ability in 20s adults. The result suggest that heel raising with kinesio taping for 20s adults should be further studied and considered.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.147-157
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• 2023

Purpose : Stroke patients exhibit considerable variations in gait patterns. Stroke patients generally show abnormal muscle tone and gait. This study was performed to evaluate the effects of treadmill gait training combined with muscle tone control technique (TM) on gait ability in patient with chronic stroke. Methods : A single-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted with 36 patient with chronic stroke. They were randomly allocated 2 groups; treadmill gait training combined with muscle tone control technique group (TM group; n=18) and conservative treatment group (CG group; n=18). The TM group received 15 minutes muscle tone control technique and 15 minute treadmill gait training. In the conservative treatment group received 30 minutes conservative physical therapy. Each group performed 30 minutes a day 3 times a week for 8 weeks. The primary outcome gait ability were measured by gait measurement system (Optogait, Microgate, Italy) and 10 m walking test (10MWT). An independent t-test was used to statistically analyze the pre-test and pos-ttest gait ability results. Results : Both groups demonstrated significant improvement of outcome in gait ability during intervention period. TM group showed significant differences in gait ability as compared to the CG groups (p<.05). TM group showed significant differences in 10MWT as compared to the CG groups (p<.05). Our results showed that TM was more effective on gait ability in patients with chronic stroke. Conclusion : Our findings of this study confirmed that the treadmill gait training combined with muscle tone control technique provided significant improvements on gait ability in patient with chronic stroke. Therefore treadmill gait training combined with muscle tone control technique may positive influenced gait ability. This study will be able to be used as an intervention data for recovering gait ability in patients with chronic stroke.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.71-80
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• 2022

Background: This study investigated the effect of robot-assisted arm training on muscle activity of arm and weight bearing in stroke patients. Methods: The study subjects were selected 20 stroke patients who met the selection criteria. 10 people in the robot-assisted arm training group and 10 people in the task-oriented arm training group were randomly assigned. The experimental group performed robot-assisted arm training, and the control group performed task-oriented arm training for 6 weeks, 5 days a week, 30 minutes a day. The measurement tools included surface electromyography and smart insole system. Data were analyzed using independent sample t-test and the paired sample t-test. Results: Comparing the muscle activity of arm within the group, the experimental group and the control group showed significant differences in muscle activity in the biceps brachii, triceps brachii, anterior deltoid, upper trapezius, middle trapezius, and lower trapezius. Comparing the muscle activity of arms between the groups, the experimental group showed significant difference in all muscle activity of arm compared to the control group. Comparing the weight bearing within the groups, the experimental group showed significant difference in the affected side and non-affected side weight bearings and there were significant differences in anterior and posterior weight bearing. The control group showed significant difference only in the non-affected side weight bearing. Comparing the weight bearings between groups, the experimental group showed significant difference in the affected side and non-affected side weight bearings compared to the control group. Conclusion: This study confirmed that robot-assisted arm training applied to stroke patients for 6 weeks significantly improved muscle activity of arm and weight bearing. Based on these results, it is considered that robot-assisted arm training can be a useful treatment in clinical practice to improve the kinematic variables in chronic stroke patients.