• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.292-296
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the exercise effect of two types of training with a recumbent cycle ergometer on ankle muscle strength (dorsiflexor strength, DFS; dorsiflexor strength/weight, DFS/kg; plantar flexor strength, PFS; and plantar flexor strength/weight, PFS/kg) in healthy male subjects. Methods: Twenty-three healthy males (27.91±8.66 yr) were randomly allocated into two groups (high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and aerobic exercise training (AET) after the first measurement. The subjects were trained for 24 sessions (40 min/rep, three times/week) and ankle strength was measured for a second time. Two-way mixed model analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to identify significant differences between changes in ankle muscle strength between before and after training (within factors) in the HIIT and AET groups (between factors). The statistical significance level was set at α=0.05. Results: In both HIIT and AET groups, all variables of ankle muscle strength were significantly increased after training compared to before training (p=0.001). However, there were no differences in all variables of ankle strength between the HIIT and AET group (p>0.05). Conclusion: Both types (HIIT and AET) of recumbent cycle exercise training could be effective training methods to increase ankle muscle strength in healthy individuals, and the HIIT type with high intensity and low frequency pedaling could be recommended more to strengthen ankle muscles.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.71-81
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• 2024

Purpose : In this study, we compared the effects of ankle, McKenzie, and cervical stabilization exercises in individuals with a forward head posture. Outcome measures investigated included the neck disability index, craniovertebral angle (CVA), cranial rotation angle (CRA), and thickness of the longus colli muscle (LC) and carotid artery (CA) post-intervention. Methods : The study included 20 individuals with a forward head posture, who were assigned to an experimental group (EG, individuals performed ankle exercises) or control group (CG, individuals performed McKenzie and cervical stabilization exercises). The EG intervention was specifically designed to enhance proprioception in the ankle joint and strengthen the ankle muscles to improve overall stability and function. In contrast, CG interventions aimed to improve neck muscle balance and cervical spine alignment. Paired t-tests were used to analyze intragroup changes and independent t-tests to determine intergroup differences pre-and post-intervention. The significance level for all statistical tests was set at α=.05. Results : We observed significant post-intervention improvements in both groups, specifically, in the CVA, CRA, and LC and CA thickness (p<.05). These results indicate that ankle, McKenzie, and cervical stabilization exercises were useful for neck posture correction, improved muscle balance, and enhanced blood flow to the neck. Conclusion : This study underscores the positive effects of ankle, McKenzie, and cervical stabilization exercises in individuals with a forward head posture. Our study highlights the benefits of these exercises for posture correction and overall neck health and the clinical effectiveness and usefulness of ankle exercises as an important intervention to improve forward head posture.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.199-203
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• 2019

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of shoulder protraction exercise according to weight by examining the surface electromyography (EMG) amplitude in the serratus anterior (SA), upper trapezius (UT), and pectoralis major (PM) as well as the activity ratio of each muscle. Methods: Twenty three winging scapula subjects participated in the study. The subjects performed scapula protraction at shoulder $90^{\circ}$ flexion and $60^{\circ}$ horizontal abduction with up to four (none, 1kg, 1.5kg, and 2kg) dumbbells in the supine position. The EMG data were collected from the dominant side muscles during a shoulder protraction exercise according to weight in the supine position. One way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the normalized activities of the SA, UT, and PM and the ratios of PM/SA and UT/SA. Results: The results showed that the activities of both the SA and UT were highest for the shoulder protraction exercise at 2kg in the supine position. The UT/SA ratio also was the lowest for exercise at 2kg. On the other hand, the activities of both the UT and PM/SA ratio were similar under all conditions. Conclusion: These results show that there is a need to selectively strengthen the SA muscle in the case of patients with the shoulder dysfunction. In particular, it is necessary to weigh 2kg when performing shoulder protraction exercises in the supine position to activate the SA muscle in patients with a winging scapula.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.363-375
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• 2015

Objective: This study aims to recognize the risk of current traffic systems and to investigate a method to decrease risk by doing exercise using an elastic-band and cognitive rehabilitation. Background: The existing traffic system usually focuses on the ordinary citizens, which may not be appropriate to the elderly. It may affect the cognition and walking speed of the elderly. This study tries to examine whether cognition and muscle training is appropriate to improve their vulnerability. Therefore this study will provide human ergonomics - based basic data in relation to the elderly to identify the risk of current signal system and to mitigate the risk. Method: A total of 30 elderly participants were divided into two groups: experimental and control groups. Experimental group (n=15) was trained to strengthen their muscles and to promote cognition, whereas control group (n=15) was not. The training was conducted twice a week for three weeks. To strengthen muscles, a yellow colored elastic-band was used, and a computer program for cognitive rehabilitation was used to develop cognition. In the experimental group, there were significant differences between pre and post exercises However, the control group didn't show any significant difference. The increase in cognition and walking speed was found in the experimental group, whereas there were no differences in the control group. Statistically there was no significant difference between the two groups. Results: The results of this study show that the exercise program using the elastic-band gave a positive effect on gait training thanks to the development of muscle power and balance. Conclusion: This study did not show any statistical difference or significant differences between the two groups, since time was restricted, we believe. Application: The results of the walking speed will help to prevent traffic collision.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 2013

PURPOSE: This study was to determine the effect of the plane of movement (sagittal plane vs. scapular plane) and shoulder flexion angle ($90^{\circ}$ vs. $130^{circ}$) during scapular protraction exercises in healthy subjects by investigating the elecromyographic (EMG) activities of the serratus anterior (SA), upper trapezius (UT), and pectoralis major (PM). METHODS: Twenty-one healthy subjects participated in this study. Subjects performed maximal scapular protraction at the $90^{\circ}$ or $130^{\circ}$ shoulder flexion angles in the sagittal or scapular planes. Surface EMG was recorded from the SA and UT, and PM muscles. Dependent variables were examined by 2 (plane) ${\times}$ 2 (angle) repeated measures of analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULTS: Significantly increased EMG activities in the SA and UT were found during scapular protraction exercise at the $130^{\circ}$ shoulder flexion angle in the sagittal and scapular plane. Also, EMG activity of the PM significantly decreased at the $130^{\circ}$ shoulder flexion angle in the sagittal plane and the $90^{\circ}$ and $130^{\circ}$ shoulder flexion in the scapular plane. CONCLUSION: we recommend scapular protraction exercise at the $90^{\circ}$ shoulder flexion in the sagittal plane to selectively strengthen the SA muscle with limitation of upper trapezius activity and at the $130^{\circ}$ shoulder flexion in the scapular plane to selectively strengthen the SA muscle with limitation of pectoralis major activity.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 2017

Background: Short foot exercise (SFex) is often prescribed and performed in the sport and rehabilitation fields to strengthen intrinsic foot muscles. However, SFex is difficult to perform because of lack of feedback methods. Objects: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of SFex with and without electromyography (EMG) biofeedback on the medial longitudinal arch (MLA) of healthy individuals who maintained a static standing position. Methods: All participants (14 males and 12 females) were randomly divided into two groups (biofeedback and non-biofeedback groups). The EMG activity of the abductor hallucis (AbdH) and tibialis anterior (TA) and the MLA angle on the dominant leg side were measured with the participant in the standing position in the pre- and post-intervention conditions. The intervention session consisted of 15 minutes of SFex with (biofeedback group) or without (non-biofeedback group) EMG biofeedback. The groups were compared using two-way repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: The post-intervention activities of the AbdH muscle (p<.05) and the AbdH/TA ratio (p<.05) were significantly greater in the biofeedback group than in the non-biofeedback group. The activity of the TA (p<.05) and the MLA angle (p<.05) in the biofeedback group were significantly lower in the post-intervention condition than in the pre-intervention condition. Conclusion: The present findings demonstrate that the combination of SFex and EMG biofeedback can effectively facilitate the muscle activity of the AbdH and strengthen the medial longitudinal arch.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.425-433
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 7Hz vibration on the thickness of the rectus femoris, medial femur, rectus femoris tendon, and Achilles tendon. Methods: The statistical methods before and after working around the average value of each of the legs included repeated measures ANOVA. The subjects were 26 males residing in the N area, and we measured the change in muscle thickness and tendon thickness before, four weeks, and eight weeks after the experiment in two groups of 13 subjects each. The analysis method was a two-way repeated measurement variance analysis (ANOVA) with a significance level of 0.05 Results: The rectus femoris, medial broad muscle, rectus femur, and Achilles tendon showed significant increases in the interaction between the periods as well as between the periods and groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion: As a result of this study, the 7Hz vibration had a positive effect on the thickness of the rectus femoris and the vastus medialis muscle as well as the thickness of the rectus femoris tendon and Achilles tendon. It is expected to be used as basic data for vibrational exercises in the future studies and is expected to be used as an exercise to strengthen the leg muscles and tendons.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.91-99
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• 2019

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate the activity of trunk muscles according to width of the foot and posture of the arm during sit to stand (STS). METHODS: Thirty subjects were recruited and examined for variation in muscle activity of the erector spine, gluteus maximus, gluteus medius and external oblique during different STS conditions; namely, the cross arm basic sit to stand (CBSTS), overhead basic sit to stand (OBSTS), cross arm wide sit to stand (CWSTS), and overhead wide sit to stand (OWSTS). Repeated measures ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) was used for analysis. RESULTS: Erector spinae muscle activity showed a significant increase in the OBSTS condition (p<.05) and external oblique muscle activity showed a significant increase in the OWSTS condition ((p<.05). There was no significant difference in the activity of the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius under any conditions (p>.05). CONCLUSION: During evaluation of the performance of the STS, the CWSTS condition will be useful to decrease the muscle activity of the erector spinae and the OWSTS condition will be useful to increase the muscle activity of the external oblique. The results of this study can be used as an index to find a suitable exercise method for subjects who have back pain or to strengthen the abdomen.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.48-56
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• 2014

The aim of this study to investigate the effects of craniocervical flexion on muscle activities of scapular upward rotators during push-up plus exercise in subjects with winging scapula. Eighteen males with scapular winging were recruited, and each subject performed knee push-up plus and other exercises, in two conditions (craniocervical flexion vs. natural head positions). A surface electromyography (EMG) was used to measure upper trapezius (UT), serratus anterior (SA), and lower trapezius (LT) muscle activity. A paired t-test was used to determine the statistical significance between the different condition with/without applying of craniocervical flexion. UT EMG activity significantly decreased and SA EMG activity significantly increased during knee push-up plus involving the craniocervical flexion compared to the natural head position. However, no significant differences (p>.05) were found in the activity of the LT muscle. The UT/SA ratios with and without craniocervical flexion showed a significant difference (p<.05). These results showed that the knee push-up plus other exercises performed with craniocervical flexion could strengthen the serratus anterior muscle and minimize the activity of the UT muscle.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.303-310
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• 2019

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the correlation between abdominal muscle strength and measures of respiratory function in stroke patients. Methods: The study participants comprised 17 (male: 12, female: 5) stroke patients hospitalized at W rehabilitation hospital in Busan, South Korea. Abdominal muscle strength was assessed using a digital manual dynamometer for 5 seconds contacting the sternal notch of the participants to bend the trunk. Respiratory function (forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second, forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity, and peak expiratory flow) was assessed using a spirometer. The collected data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation analysis, and the significance level was set 0.05. Results: A statistically significant correlation was found between abdominal muscle strength and forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second, and peak expiratory flow. However, abdominal muscle strength and forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity were not significantly correlated. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that there is a relationship between abdominal muscle strength and respiratory function. Exercise programs to strengthen the abdominal muscles are therefore necessary to improve respiratory function in stroke patients.