• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.302-308
• /
• 2020

Objective: The endurance and strength of deep neck flexor (DNF) muscles have a major role on the function and stability of the cervical spine. In recent years, there has been a lack of research that have investigated the muscle tone of the superficial neck muscles. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of between contraction ratio of the DNF and sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscles, DNF endurance, and muscle tension of the neck muscles. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Forty-seven subjects (male=20, female=27) participated in this study. The muscle tone of the upper trapezius (UT), SCM, and suboccipital (SO) muscle was measured using a contact soft tissue tone-measuring instrument. For the contraction ratio of the SCM and longus colli muscle, the thickness of the relaxation and maximum contraction state of the SCM and longus colli muscles were assessed using a diagnostic ultrasound measuring instrument and a pressure biofeedback unit. The deep neck flexor endurance test (DNFET) was performed in a cranio-cervical flexion posture. The correlations between the measured variables were investigated. Results: The relationship between the DNFET and SO tone showed a significant negative correlation (p<0.05). The relationship between the DNFET and contraction ratio showed a significant positive correlation (p<0.01). There was no significant correlation between the DNFET and SCM and UT tone. Conclusions: This study confirmed that there is a relationship between DNF endurance, DNF activation, and SO tone. The information on the results of this study may be used as a reference that can be actively applied in the clinical environment.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.46-53
• /
• 2021

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of taping applied to the lower trapezius on the upper trapezius muscle tone, pain intensity, cervical rotation range of motion in chronic upper trapezius pain patients. Design: Case-control study. Methods: Twenty subjects with chronic upper trapezius pain were classified into an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group applied lower trapezius facilitation taping and the control group applied sham taping. Taping Before and after the application of taping, muscle tone, pain intensity, and cervical rotation range of motion of the upper trapezius were measured. Results: In the experimental group, there were significant differences in the pressure pain threshold and muscle tone before and after taping. In the comparison between groups, there was a significant difference in muscle tone between the experimental group and the control group. Conclusion: The application of the lower trapezius facilitation taping was found to be effective in reducing the pressure threshold and muscle tone of the upper trapezius. Therefore, it is expected that more effective treatment can be provided by adding lower trapezius facilitation taping to the treatment protocol for patients with chronic shoulder pain.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.48-53
• /
• 2022

Background: The gastrocnemius tightness can easily occur. Gastrocnemius tightness results in gait disturbance. Thus, various interventions have been used to release a tight gastrocnemius muscle and improve gait performance. Moreover, focal muscle vibration (FMV) has recently been extensively researched in terms of tight muscle release and muscle performance. However, no study has investigated the effects of FMV application on medial gastrocnemius architectural changes. Objects: In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of FMV on medial gastrocnemius architecture in persons with limited ankle dorsiflexion. Methods: Thirty one persons with <10° of passive ankle dorsiflexion participated in this study. We excluded persons with acute ankle injury within six months prior to study onset, a history of ankle fracture, leg length discrepancy greater than 2 cm, no history of neurological dysfunction, or trauma affecting the lower limb. The specifications of the FMV motor were as follows: a fixed frequency (fast wave: 150 Hz) and low amplitude (0.3-0.5 mm peak to peak) of vibration; the motor was used to release the medial gastrocnemius for 15 minutes. Each participant completed three trials for 10 days; a 30-second rest period was provided between each trial. Medial gastrocnemius architectural parameters [muscle thickness (MT), fiber bundle length (FBL), and pennation angle (PA)] were measured via ultrasonography. Results: MT significantly decreased after FMV application (p < 0.05). FBL significantly increased from its baseline value after FMV application (p < 0.05). PA significantly decreased from its baseline value after FMV application (p < 0.05). Conclusion: FMV application may be advantageous in reducing medial gastrocnemius excitability following a decrease in the amount of contractile tissue. Furthermore, FMV application can be used as a stretching method to alter medial gastrocnemius architecture.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.133-139
• /
• 2020

Background: The gastrocnemius (GCM) is one of the lower extremity muscles that tend to tighten easily. GCM tightness results in limited ankle dorsi-flexion (DF), especially when the knee joint is fully extended. Joint flexibility is determined by the morphological and physiological characteristics of joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Impaired joint flexibility can be attributed to increased susceptibility to muscle injury. High-frequency diathermy is clinically used to reduce pain and muscle tightness and to improve limited range of motion. Objects: This study aimed to investigate the immediate effects of high-frequency therapy in subjects with GCM tightness. Methods: The study was designed as a one-group before-after trial. The subjects included 28 volunteers with GCM tightness (an active ankle DF angle of less than 12°) without any known neurological and musculoskeletal pathologies in the ankle and calf areas. WINBACK Transfer Electrode Capacitive and Resistive Therapy equipment was used to apply high-frequency therapy to the subjects' GCMs for 10-15 minutes. The pennation angle and the fascicle length of the GCM were measured using ultrasonography. The flexibility of the ankle joint, peak torque to the passive ankle DF (Biodex), and soft tissue stiffness (MyotonPRO) were also measured. Results: The pennation angle was significantly decreased following the treatment; however, no significant difference in the fascicle length was found (p < 0.05). The flexibility was significantly increased and both the passive peak torque to passive ankle DF and the soft tissue stiffness significantly decreased (p < 0.05). Conclusion: High-frequency therapy is immediately effective for improving the muscle's architectural properties and functional factors in subjects with GCM tightness. Further longitudinal clinical studies are required to investigate the long-term effects of high-frequency therapy on subjects with GCM tightness from various causes.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.25-32
• /
• 1970

Decursin, decursinol and nodakenin which were isolated from the root of Angelica gigas $N_{AKAI}$ (Umbelliferae) that is used as a botanical drug Dang-Gui (當歸) in Korea show following general pharmacologic activities. Decursin and decursinol increased the motility of the excised duodenum of the rabbit, but nodakenin did not. All of these three compounds depressed the heart contraction of the frog and blood pressure of the carotid artery and respiration of the rabbit. Decursin increased uterus contraction of the rabbit, but decursinol depressed it. And the tonus of the muscle of the earth worm was increased by decursinol, but was decreased by decursin.

• Journal of TMJ Balancing Medicine
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 2021

Dystonia is a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary and uncontrollable muscle tonus abnormalities. It is a huge burden not only to the patients and their families, but also to the field of medicine, in that there has hardly been any substantial change in the concept of and approach to this intractable disorder and therefore no breakthrough to its diagnosis, evaluation and treatment. As an effort to solve the current impasse, this review briefly summarizes the current concept, etiology, diagnosis, treatment and management, and then suggests a rather new therapeutic approach to this disorder, based on the concept of neurological balance and TMJ integrative approach. These new approaches will provide a platform for the clinicians and researchers to have a leap in the concept, diagnosis and therapeutics.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
• /
• v.16 no.2 s.27
• /
• pp.25-29
• /
• 1980

Etomidoline ($Nonspa^{\circledR}$), which is chemically related to tertiary amine, is new synthetic antispasmodic agent with analgesic action. Antispasmodic effect of this agent is stronger than hyoscine butylbromide ($Buscopan^{\circledR}$), quaternary amine, and the absorption from intestine is also much higher. This study was undertaken to determine the effect of etomidoline on duodenal motility and other smooth muscles of rabbit. Strips of various isolated smooth muscle, 2 cm long from adult rabbits weighting about 2 kg, were suspended in a muscle chamber containing Tyrode's solution, which was bubbled with oxygen gas, and the temperature of the solution was kept constant at $38^{\circ}C$. After being washed with fresh solution several times the strips of smooth muscle attained constant motility and tonus. Etomidoline and other drugs were added in various concentrations to the chamber. Contractility of the strips was measured by using polygraph (Grass, model 7). The results are as follows: 1) In isolated rabbit atrium etomidoline produces a slight depression of contractility and the rate is also decreased. 2) On the other hand, etomidoline relaxed isolated strips of stomach, duodenal, and detrusor of rabbit. This relaxing effect of etomidoline on isolated duodenal strip of rabbit was not blocked by ${\alpha}$-adrenergic blocking agent, phenoxybenzamine, but by ${\beta}$-adrenergic blocking agent, propranolol. 3) Etomidoline did not exert any effect on isolated aorta, gall bladder, and trigone of rabbit. From the above results, it may be concluded that the relaxing effect of etomidoline on duodenal strip is related ${\beta}$-adrenergic receptor.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.65-71
• /
• 2021

Background: The hamstring is a muscle that crosses two joints, that is the hip and knee, and its flexibility is an important indicator of physical health in its role in many activities of daily living such as sitting, walking, and running. Limited range of motion (ROM) due to hamstring tightness is strongly related to back pain and malfunction of the hip joint. High-frequency diathermy (HFD) therapy is known to be effective in relaxing the muscle and increasing ROM. Objects: To investigate the effects of HFD on active knee extension ROM and hamstring tone and stiffness in participants with hamstring tightness. Methods: Twenty-four participants with hamstring tightness were recruited, and the operational definition of hamstring tightness in this study was active knee extension ROM of below 160° at 90° hip flexion in the supine position. HFD was applied to the hamstring for 15 minutes using the WINBACK device. All participants were examined before and after the intervention, and the results were analyzed using a paired t-test. The outcome measures included knee extension ROM, the viscoelastic property of the hamstring, and peak torque for passive knee extension. Results: The active knee extension ROM significantly increased from 138.8° ± 9.9° (mean ± standard deviation) to 143.9° ± 10.4° after the intervention (p < 0.05), while viscoelastic property of the hamstring significantly decreased (p < 0.05). Also, the peak torque for knee extension significantly decreased (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Application of HFD for 15 minutes to tight hamstrings immediately improves the active ROM and reduces the tone, stiffness, and elasticity of the muscle. However, further experiments are required to examine the long-term effects of HFD on hamstring tightness including pain reduction, postural improvement around the pelvis and lower extremities, and enhanced functional movement.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.97-107
• /
• 2023

PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore the effect of applying elastic taping and passive stretching exercises simultaneously on the muscle tone of the upper trapezius. METHODS: Thirty healthy adults were randomly divided into two groups: the 'passive stretching exercise' group (n = 15) and the 'passive stretching exercise with elastic taping' group (n = 15). Muscle tone was measured using the MyotonPRO®. The muscle tension was measured immediately after the stretching exercises and taping intervention, and again 5 minutes after the intervention. RESULTS: Within each group, there was a significant reduction in muscle tone in the upper trapezius after treatment (p < .05). However, there was no significant difference in the muscle tone reduction between the groups (p > .05). Both experimental and control groups showed a significant decrease in muscle tone in both the upper trapezius muscles over time, i.e., immediately after treatment and five minutes later (p < .05). The main effect of time was identified in the repeated measures analysis, while there was no main effect attributed to the treatment method (group) (p < .05). CONCLUSION: The simultaneous application of stretching exercises and taping as an intervention to reduce muscle tension in the upper trapezius is still considered challenging and not yet widely regarded as an essential intervention method.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.163-169
• /
• 2013

The purpose of this study was to verify exercise effect of horse riding exercise according to estimate basal physical fitness and activities of daily living(ADL) function in the aged. Participants were nineteen peoples who have no impediment of activity. They performed horse riding exercise using SRider(Neipplus, Co., Korea) at sixty minutes a day. Exercise has progressed three days a week for eight weeks. We measured trunk flexion, sit up, whole body reaction, leg strength and maximal oxygen uptake as basal physical fitness. Also three meter gait, single stance with eyes opened and single stance with eyes closed as ADL function were estimated once a month. The result of legs strength and whole body reaction showed the higher significantly than before the exercise. Moreover, the result of three meter walking ability only increased significantly among the ADL function. This means that horse riding exercise might be activated continuous muscular contraction with maintained tonus of muscle. We thought that continuous movement of horse riding could be lead to isometric muscle contraction in lower limbs. Our study found that horse riding exercise could improve lower strengths and muscle reaction for exercise effect. Also we suggested that horse riding exercise could be adapted to exercise methods that could provide rehabilitation and treatment enough for the aged or disabled person.