• PNF and Movement
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.321-329
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the immediate effect on the change in muscle stiffness in the common extensor muscle (CEM) when using the spiral taping method to promote proprioception. Methods: There were 18 participants in this study. CEM stiffness was measured using a MyotonePRO device with the subject in a sitting position and according to the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) arm pattern. Elastic tape was used as the material for the three taping methods employed in the study: kinesiotaping (KT), right spiral taping (RST), and left spiral taping (LST). The taping methods were applied to the wrist extensor muscle with elongation position. Additionally, when performing PNF arm patterns, spiral taping in diagonal and spiral directions was used to promote CEM proprioceptors. The change in CEM stiffness was compared with the initial data values. Results: The results of this study were obtained by comparing and measuring changes in CEM stiffness using three different tapings. It was found that the stiffness change of the CEM was significant compared to the initial value, and the increase in stiffness of the CEM after RST application was also significant. Conclusion: The results of this study show that by affecting the strength and activation of the extensor muscle, taping performed through the RST method had the most positive effect on the change in CEM stiffness.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.2317-2323
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• 2010

When the muscle is contracted by continuous and same, the force takes fatigue and stiffness. The aim of this study was to know how the fatigue and muscle stiffness change during an isometric contraction. Surface Electro myography(EMG) signal monitoring system and ultrasonic transducer set up the same muscle stem, subjects contract his right femoris muscle by submaximal isometric contraction(50% of MVC) until exhaustion. Before and after the test, muscle stiffness was measured and EMG was measured during the contraction. As time goes by, muscle fatigue was increased. and the stiffness was shown strongly after the contraction. These results show if the muscle becomes more and more fatigued, the circulation of muscle is delayed although the contraction doesn't happen. So muscle stiffness is increased.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 2014

Tendon elasticity is an important factor affecting muscle function and thus human movements. It has been reported that the mechanical properties of tendon are adaptable to external loading condition. Based on the adaptability of muscle and tendon to external loading conditions, one can assume that there might be an optimum ratio between muscle strength and tendon stiffness. The present study aimed to investigate whether there is correlation between plantar flexor muscle strength and stiffness of the achilles tendon (AT). Twenty two male subjects (age: $23.2{\pm}1.5yrs$, height: $175.5{\pm}6.2cm$, weight: $75.4{\pm}9.8kg$) performed maximum voluntary isometric plantarflexion on a custom-built dynamometer and muscle-tendon junction of the medial gastrocnemius muscle was simultaneously monitored using a real-time ultrasound imaging machine. The averages of muscle force and tendon stiffness were $366.38{\pm}79.37N$, $35.34{\pm}10.42N/mm$, respectively. Significant positive correlation was observed between muscle strength and tendon stiffness (r=0.8507), indicating that the muscle force is proportional to tendon stiffness. The results might have been used in computational modeling and criterion of training progress level in the fields of training and rehabilitation.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.91-99
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• 2018

The aim of this study was to investigate the short-term effects of combined postural correction exercises (CPCE) on muscle stiffness and muscle activity in children with cerebral spastic diplegia(CSD). The subjects were 3 children (2 male and 1 female) with CSD from 4 to 7 years old. The measurement sites were upper trapezius muscle(UT), rectus abdominis muscle(RA), and gluteus maximus muscle(Gmax), muscle stiffness and muscle activity were measured using Myoton and surface EMG, and the symmetry of both sides was also examined. As a result, children with severe compensatory action showed decreased muscle stiffness and muscle activity in UT and RA and increase in Gmax after CPCE intervention. Especially, the left and right symmetry of the muscles was decreased. In this study, despite some limitations, CPCE have shown a positive effect in posture correction of children with CSD.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.43-52
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• 2017

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the impact of exercise with that of functional electrical stimulation (FES) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on muscle tone, calf muscle stiffness, and balance ability in patients with stroke. METHODS: Thirty patients with stroke were randomly divided into an FES group (n=15) and a TENS group (n=15), and a progressive task-oriented exercise was assigned to them. These exercises were performed non-synchronously from December 5, 2016 to January 31, 2017. Patients underwent TENS and simultaneously exercised for 30 minutes daily, 5 times a week for 4 weeks. To determine the effect of the interventions, muscle tone and stiffness of the medial and lateral region of gastrocnemius muscle were measured using the MyotonPRO instrument and balance was assessed using the Berg Balance Scale. RESULTS: Both groups revealed a significant decrease in muscle tone and stiffness of the medial part of gastrocnemius muscle before and after the interventions (p<.05). Berg Balance Scale scores increased significantly (p<.05). However, none of the other parameters were significantly different (p>.05). CONCLUSION: Our results prove that progressive task-oriented exercise along with FES and TENS decreases muscle tone and stiffness of the gastrocnemius muscle in patients with stroke and improves balance. TENS could serve as a complementary replacement for functional electrical stimulation for in-house training, as TENS poses less risk of muscle fatigue and has lesser contraindications than does functional electrical stimulation.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.431-439
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• 2019

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of motion taping on muscle stiffness, muscle tone, and pain in middle-aged women with shoulder impingement syndrome. Methods: The participants comprised 30 middle-aged women with shoulder impingement syndrome. This study measured muscle stiffness, muscle tone, and pain. In the experimental group, the tape was attached after physical therapy; the control group only received physical therapy. In the intervention period, the treatment program was conducted three times a week for a total of four weeks, and the values before and after the intervention were compared and analyzed. For statistical processing, a correspondence test was performed before and after the intervention at a significance level of 0.05, and the comparison between the groups, before and after the intervention, was made using an independent test. Results: In the experimental group, there was a difference in muscle stiffness, muscle tone, and intensity of pain. In addition, there was a significant difference between the control group's emotional domain regarding muscular stiffness and pain and the experimental group. However, there was no significant difference in muscle tone and grade of pain, and intensity of pain for the control group. Conclusion: This study showed that, when physical therapy and motion taping were administered to middle-aged women with shoulder impingement syndrome, it had a more positive affect on the sensory and emotional parts of the muscle tone and pain compared to physical therapy alone.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.125-130
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• 2020

This study is to investigate the effects of stretching of hospital office employees on muscle stiffness. A total of 40 healthy young women voluntarily participated in the study. The participants were randomized to the stretching groups and control groups. Before stretching, the participants measured muscle stiffness of sternocleidomastoid muscle, upper trapezius muscle suboccipital muscles and pectoralis minor. And then applied stretching to stretching group. Muscle stiffness remeasured five minutes later in each group. In all muscles, muscle stiffness of stretching group were significant decreased(p<.05), but control group were no significant difference between pre and post. therefore appropriate stretching is expected to prevent and reduce musculoskeletal diseases caused by increased muscle stiffness in hospital office employees.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.57-68
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• 2019

Purpose: This study is an investigation of the effects of long-term smart phone usage and of stretching on muscle stiffness, concentration, and visual acuity. Methods: Forty healthy young adults voluntarily participated in the study and were measured for muscle stiffness, concentration, and visual acuity before smartphone usage and after 30 minutes, 60 minutes, and 90 minutes of smartphone usage. The participants were randomly allocated to the intervention group (n=20) and the control group (n=20). Five minutes after the stretching exercise and eye exercise intervention, the participants were remeasured. Results: After long-term smartphone usage, increases in muscle stiffness and concentration were statistically significant (p<0.05), whereas decreases in visual acuity were statistically significant (p<0.05). After the stretching exercise and eye exercise intervention, muscle stiffness significantly decreased (p<0.05) and visual acuity significantly increased (p<0.05). Concentration, according to the stretching exercise and eye exercise intervention, showed no significant pre- or post-test difference. Conclusion: The results from this study indicate that long-term smartphone usage effectively improved concentration but increased muscle stiffness and decreased visual acuity. Appropriate stretching and eye movement during long-term smartphones usage should mitigate the effects on muscle stiffness and visual acuity. Furthermore, smartphones should be considered an effective tool for concentration training when coupled with the development of appropriate applications.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.43-47
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• 2017

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of physical therapy plus Kinesio taping (KT) on muscle tone and stiffness in patients with shoulder pain. METHODS: This study included 22 participants who were divided into the experimental group (n=11) who underwent a routine physical therapy with KT and the control group (n=11) who received the same physical therapy only. The physical therapy consisted of heat application and electrical stimulation. Heat was applied for 10 minutes and electrical stimulation was conducted for 20 minutes. Intervention was provided over a 1-week period, and frequency for muscle tone and stiffness was measured to determine changes in shoulder muscle status. The muscles were supraspinatus and deltoid. Measurements were taken before, after 1day, 3day and after 1 week to identify time-dependent effects of intervention. RESULTS: The effects of the intervention were significant in both groups, and effects were greater in the experimental group. Changes in muscle tone and stiffness were statistically significant in both groups and at varying time points (p<.05). CONCLUSION: Based on the improved muscle performance found in this study, KT is considered an effective intervention strategy for patients with shoulder pain when it is combined with conventional physical therapy.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.199-208
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• 2022

Purpose : The study aimed to examine gender-differences in muscle tone, elasticity, and stiffness of the erector spinae in young and old subjects. This study also aimed to assess the effect of aging on muscle tone, elasticity, and stiffness of the erector spinae in men and women, and compare the trend of the aging effect between the two gender groups. Methods : With the muscle in the relaxed state and subjects in the prone position, a myotonometer was used to quantify muscle tone, elasticity, and stiffness, of the erector spinae in 102 participants[46 males (29 young subjects, aged 22.48±2.23 years and 17 old subjects, aged 76.35±3.71 years), 56 females (40 young subjects, aged 20.38±1.43 years and 16 old subjects, aged 74.56±5.40 years)]. Results : The tone and stiffness of the erector spinae muscles were greater in men than in women for both age groups (p<.001-.01), while elasticity did not show a significant difference between men and women. For the direction of change, both male and female groups showed significantly increased tone and stiffness, and decreased elasticity with increasing age (p<.001). For age-related changes, a different tendency was observed between men and women. Men showed a greater increase in tone than women with aging. in contrast, both men and women exhibited a similar decrease or increase in elasticity and stiffness. Conclusion : Gender-differences in the erector spinae in terms of muscle tone and stiffness were observed. Regardless of the age, men had higher muscle tone and stiffness than women, but not elasticity. The erector spinae muscles showed age-related changes in all aspects of muscle tone, elasticity, and stiffness, in both men and women. Notably, men presented greater variation than women in the amount of increase of muscle tone with aging. These findings have implications for musculoskeletal therapeutic approaches, and gender-customized tuning may be indicated for designing exercise interventions to prevent and manage gender-sensitive muscular injuries or diseases and frailty.