• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.1492-1497
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• 2005

The goal of the trial was to evaluate the effects of ractopamine (20 ppm in the ration) given pregnant sows during three different pregnancy stages (T1: 25 to 50 d; T2: 50 to 80 d; T3: 25 to 80 d of gestation, and T4: control-no ractopamine) on fetal muscle development (through counts of the number of fibers of the semitendinosus muscle), on the growth and carcass characteristics of the progeny. Forty eight weaned piglets (12 per treatment) were assessed for number of muscle fibers, while performance and carcass characteristics were evaluated on a separate 48 animals (12 per treatment) grown to 100 kg. Animals produced by sows treated from 25 to 50 d of pregnancy (T1) resulted in non-significant increase of 6.85% in the number of muscle fibers in the semitendinosus muscle when compared to animals from the control group. Performance results were significantly different (p<0.05), and animals produced by sows from the T1 group gained more weight during the growth I stage (25 to 50 kg) and during the total period (6 to 100 kg) (991 vs. 903 grams, and 844 vs. 772 grams, respectively) when compared to controls. For carcass characteristics, results showed that animals produced by the T1 group of sows were heavier at slaughter (p<0.05) when compared to the controls (T4) (100.17 vs. 93.09 kg). There was a positive correlation between number of muscle fibers and bodyweights, carcass weights, Longissimus dorsi muscle depth and dressing out (0.80, 0.86, 0.67, and 0.50, respectively). Sows treated with ractopamine between 25 to 50 d of pregnancy produced piglets that performed better and had superior carcass characteristics than those produced by untreated sows. The ractopamine used for pregnancy sows (25 to 50 d) can be indicated as a device to increase the progeny performance.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.583-593
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• 2016

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of morphological characteristics of porcine muscle fibers on growth performance, muscle fiber characteristics, and pork quality taken from the longissimus dorsi muscle. A total of 239 crossbred pigs (164 castrated males and 75 females) were used in this study. Experimental pigs were categorized by the total number of muscle fiber (TNF: High and Low) and cross sectional area of muscle fiber (CSAF: Large, Middle, and Small). Their combinations were classified into six groups (High-Large, HL; High-Middle, HM; High-Small, HS; Low-Large, LL; Low-Middle, LM; Low-Small, LS). The TNF and CSAF were significantly (p<0.05) correlated with growth rate and carcass productivity, while the only of the type I number had no meaningful relationships excluding the correlation with loin area (p<0.001). The proportion of type I area was positively correlated with pH_{45 min} while the proportion of type IIB area was negatively correlated with pH_{45 min} and pH_{24 h} (p<0.05). Drip loss and protein denaturation had strong relationships with the proportion of type IIB number or area. The HL group exhibited the greatest growth performance. In addition, the HL group had significantly greater values in protein solubility than the other groups. In conclusion, this study suggest that high TNF combined to large CSAF improve the ultimate lean meat productivity and assure normal meat quality simultaneously with increased both proportion of number and area of type I, type IIA muscle fibers and lowered proportion of number and area of type IIB.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of endurance training and prolonged L-arginine supplementation on blood glucose, blood insulin, muscle glycogen, muscle glycogen synthase (GS), muscle nitric oxide (NO), muscle nitric oxide synthase (NOS), endurance performance. We equally divided 36 Sprague-Dawley mice to be distributed into control group, L-NMMA treated group and L-arginine treated group. The L-arginine treated group and L-NMMA treated group consumed 10 mg/kg/day of L-arginine and 5 mg/kg/day of L-NMMA for 6 weeks period. Mice of control group, L-arginine treated group, and L-NMMA treated groups performed swimming exercise training for 60 min once a day, 5 days per week for 6 weeks. Blood glucose had tendency to increase in L-arginine treated group than the control group, and insulin significantly increased in L-arginine treated group than the control group. L-arginine treated group showed significant increase in glycogen, GS, NO and NOS in the gastrocnemius muscle and soleus muscle compared to the control group. Whereas L-NMMA treated group showed the lowest glycogen, GS, NO and NOS in the gastrocnemius muscle and soleus muscle compared to control group and L-arginine treated group. Exhaustive swimming time had tendency to increase in L-arginine treated group compared to the value for control group. These reults indicate that endurance training and prolonged L-arginine supplementation appear to be effective in exhancing nitric oxide production, glycogen concentration and endurance performance.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.15-27
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• 2024

Background: This study examined the effects of the muscle energy technique and cervical traction after applying conservative physical therapy to patients with cervical radiculopathy. Methods: Twenty-six patients with cervical radiculopathy were randomized into two groups: the experimental group (n=13) and the control group (n=13). The two groups performed the muscle energy technique and for 4 weeks, 3 times a week, in 70-minute sessions. Pain, range of motion, function, and muscle performance were assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS), cervical range of motion (CROM) goniometer, neck disability index (NDI), and stabilizer pressure biofeedback, before and after training. Results: After four weeks of therapy, the VAS (p<.001), NDI (p<.01), and the maximum strength of the deep neck flexion muscles significantly decreased (p<.01) and CROM significantly increased in both groups (p<.05). Conclusion: The muscle energy technique and therapeutic modalities such as cervical traction are effective in reducing VAS and NDI and increasing CROM and muscle performance in patients with cervical radiculopathy.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.273-282
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• 2019

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to provide the effective method for exercise therapy in soccer player. Methods : 30 soccer players were recruited for subjects. The subjects were divided to dynamic stretching exercise combined tDCS (Group I), dynamic stretching exercise combined Sham-tDCS (Group II) of which 15 subjects were randomly allocated. The subjects were given 3 hour of soccer skill and performance and additionally given 20 minutes of dynamic stretching exercise combined tDCS and sham-tDCS for each group, five times a week, for 6 weeks. Their muscle activity and jump performance were analyzed before the intervention. After 6 weeks of the intervention, the mentioned parameters were measured once more for between-group analysis. Results : Comparative analysis of the muscle activity and jump performance between the groups I and groups II showed statistically significant difference. Conclusion : Such results revealed that dynamic stretching exercise combined with tDCS is effective in muscle activity and jump performance. Based on the current study, more effective program is to be proposed for neurologic and musculoskelectal disorder as well as soccer player. Based on the current study, studies that incorporates various combine of variable is required for development of effective tDCS program.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.115-118
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• 2013

Objective: Whole body vibration training is a relatively new approach for enhancement of muscle strength, physical performance, and balance. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of unilateral whole body vibration training. Design: One group pretest-posttest design. Methods: Sixteen healthy, physically active volunteers participated in this study. Whole body vibration was applied with a frequency of 20 Hz and an amplitude of 3 mm for 3 minutes. Muscle performance and static balance were assessed before and after unilateral whole body vibration training. One leg standing broad jump test was measured to determine muscle performance which is closely linked to lower extremity muscle function. The good balance system was used in evaluation static balance. All test were measured 3 times and the average value was analyzed. Results: Jumping length was significantly improved by 0.11m in all participants after intervention (p<0.05). Among static parameters, significant results were observed where in the eyes opened condition, X-speed (medial-lateral sway) changed from 4.20 mm/s to 4.95 mm/s, Y-speed (anterior-posterior sway) changed from 5.77 mm/s to 6.54 mm/s and velocity moment changed from $12.77mm^2/s$ to $13.57mm^2/s$ (p<0.05). In the eyes closed condition, X-speed changed from 4.34 mm/s to 4.85 mm/s, Y-speed changed from 7.84 mm/s to 8.16 mm/s and velocity moment changed from $16.03mm^2/s$ to $16.11mm^2/s$ (p<0.05). Conclusions: Immediate unilateral whole body vibration improved muscle performance but impaired static balance in young adults.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.30 no.6 s.249
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• pp.662-669
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• 2006

The pneumatic muscle actuator consists of an air bellows tube with two end-flanges. The air bellows tube is made from rubber layers and flexible sheathing formed from nylon 6 fibers. This structure can be stretched or compressed to convert the radial expansive forces into contractile forces. We performed the finite element analysis and the performance test of pneumatic muscle actuator. Also, the pneumatic muscle actuator was manufactured and tested by home-made tester. The results of FEA was similar with performance test below the maximum error of 42 %.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.15-19
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• 2021

[Purpose] Skeletal muscle glycogen is a determinant of endurance capacity for some athletes. Ginger is well known to possess nutritional effects, such as anti-diabetic effects. We hypothesized that ginger extract (GE) ingestion increases skeletal muscle glycogen by enhancing fat oxidation. Thus, we investigated the effect of GE ingestion on exercise capacity, skeletal muscle glycogen, and certain blood metabolites in exercised rats. [Methods] First, we evaluated the influence of GE ingestion on body weight and elevation of exercise performance in rats fed with different volumes of GE. Next, we measured the skeletal muscle glycogen content and free fatty acid (FFA) levels in GE-fed rats. Finally, we demonstrated that GE ingestion contributes to endurance capacity during intermittent exercise to exhaustion. [Results] We confirmed that GE ingestion increased exercise performance (p<0.05) and elevated the skeletal muscle glycogen content compared to the nonGE-fed (CE, control exercise) group before exercise (Soleus: p<0.01, Plantaris: p<0.01, Gastrocnemius: p<0.05). Blood FFA levels in the GE group were significantly higher than those in the CE group after exercise (p<0.05). Moreover, we demonstrated that exercise capacity was maintained in the CE group during intermittent exercise (p<0.05). [Conclusion] These findings indicate that GE ingestion increases skeletal muscle glycogen content and exercise performance through the upregulation of fat oxidation.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.169-173
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• 2023

Background: In terms of physical performance, elastic tape (ET) is known to contribute to injury prevention and performance enhancement. Objects: This study aimed to compare and analyze the effect on lower extremity muscle activity of young adult women with and without ET during squats. Methods: In this study, six healthy, young women were recruited as participants in a university laboratory. Participants were allocated to two groups of three after measuring muscle activity in a pre-test, and the experiment was conducted for a total of two weeks (two sessions). First, 10 half squats were taped once in the first week, and 10 half squats were performed without taping in the second week. The other group did this in reverse and measured muscle activity after the squat was over. Results: As a result of this study, there was no significant difference in the quadriceps with or without ET (Z = -0.11, p > 0.05). Similarly, no significant difference was found in hamstring (Z = -0.31, p > 0.05). Conclusion: No beneficial effect was found on changes in muscle activity following ET application during squats. Further studies require randomized controlled trials that increase the number of participants and the intensity of the intervention, and measure pain, function, and performance rather than muscle properties depending on the biomechanical lifting mechanism.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.82-93
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Moxibustion on urinary incontinence, voiding performance, muscle strength of the hip and ADL in stroke patients. The subjects of this study were 20 stroke patients hospitalized at the division of oriental medicine in K university Hospital in the period from December 26, 2001 to March 15, 2002. The research design was one group pretest-posttest design. The pretest and posttest included measuring frequency of incontinence, voiding performance score, healthy and paralytic muscle strength of the hip, and the performance level for ADL after Moxibustion for one week. Data was analyzed using the SPSS package program with Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test. The result of this study were as follows : 1) The frequency of incontinence was decreased from 3.80(SD=3.41) to 2.10(SD=2.10) after Moxibustion, and that was statistically significant(z=-3.803, p=.000). 2) The score of voiding performance was increased from 22.15(SD=12.04) to 30.65(SD=14.73) after Moxibustion, and that was statistically significant(z=-3.828, p=.000). 3) The healthy muscle strength of the hip was increased from 25.97(SD=26.87) to 46.00 (SD=40.75) after Moxibustion, and that was statistically significant(z=-3.183, p=.001). 4) The paralytic muscle strength was increased from 17.42(SD=27.04) to 33.58(SD=37.28) after Moxibustion, and that was statistically significant(z=-2.315, p=.021). 5) The performance level for ADL was increased from 17.15(SD=9.52) to 24.60(SD=13.38) after Moxibustion, and that was statistically significant(z=-3.416, p=.001). According to the results of this study, Moxibustion is effective for decreasing urinary incontinence, and improving voiding performance, muscle strength of the hip and ADL. Consequently, these findings showed that Moxibustion is effective in improvement of urinary incontinence in stroke patients.