• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.163-171
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• 2016

As most infections by the helminth parasite elicit the recruitment of $CD4^+CD25^+Foxp3^+$ T ($T_{reg}$) cells, many scientists have suggested that these cells could be used for the treatment of immune-mediated inflammation and associated diseases. In order to investigate the distribution and alteration of activated $T_{reg}$ cells, we compared the expression levels of $T_{reg}$ cell activation markers in the ileum and gastrocnemius tissues 1, 2, and 4 weeks after infection. The number of $T_{reg}$ cells was monitored using GFP-coded Foxp3 transgenic mice. In mice at 1 week after Trichinella spiralis infection, the number of activated $T_{reg}$ cells was higher than in the control group. In mice at 2 weeks after infection, there was a significant increase in the number of cells expressing Foxp3 and CTLA-4 when compared to the control group and mice at 1 week after infection. At 4 weeks after infection, T. spiralis was easily identifiable in nurse cells in mouse muscles. In the intestine, the expression of Gzmb and Klrg1 decreased over time and that of Capg remained unchanged for the first and second week, then decreased in the 4th week. However, in the muscles, the expression of most chemokine genes was increased due to T. spiralis infection, in particular the expression levels of Gzmb, OX40, and CTLA-4 increased until week 4. In addition, increased gene expression of all chemokine receptors in muscle, CXCR3, CCR4, CCR5, CCR9, and CCR10, was observed up until the 4th week. In conclusion, various chemokine receptors showed increased expressions combined with recruitment of $T_{reg}$ cells in the muscle tissue.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.57-62
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• 2014

Most analytical models of the human body have focused on conscious responses. A patellar tendon reflex, a representative example of spinal reflexes, occurs without a neural command. Muscle forces and activation of the quadriceps femoris muscles in healthy adults during patellar tendon reflex are identified in this study. The model is assumed to move in the sagittal plane, and the thigh and the trunk are assumed to be fixed in a sitting position so that the shank can move similar to a pendulum. The knee joint is modeled as a revolute joint, and the ankle joint is modeled as a fixed joint so that the shank and the foot can be regarded as one rigid body. Muscle forces are calculated following the inverse dynamic approach. Kinematic data obtained from an experiment (Mamizuka, 2007) are used as input data. Muscle activations are identified using a Hill-type muscle model. The obtained simulation results are compared with experimental results for validating the model and the underlying assumptions.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.197-200
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• 2020

Objective: The purpose of this study was to develop and investigate the feasibility of a sit-to-stand assistive chair using a pneumatic cylinder. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: The sit-to-stand assistive chair was developed to assist the sit-to-stand movement by rising up of the chair by a pneumatic cylinder. After the user is seated on the chair, if the pneumatic cylinder pulls the seat plate when standing up, the spring of the pneumatic cylinder, which has been stretched, assists in rising the rear end of the seat plate so that the user can stand conveniently and comfortably. A feasibility test was performed in 10 heathy adults. The electromyographic muscle activation of the trunk and lower extremity muscles was analyzed, which included the erector spinae, rectus abdominis, quadriceps, tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius when standing up from sitting using the developed chair and standing up without using the developed chair. Results: As a result, the sit-to-stand assistive chair using a pneumatic cylinder was developed. In the feasibility test, the use of the developed chair had a decrease in rectus abdominis, quadriceps, tibialis anterior activation compared to those who did not use the device in the healthy adults. Conclusions: The sit-to-stand assistive chair using a pneumatic cylinder may be helpful to reduce the activation of the rectus abdominis, quadriceps, tibialis anterior muscles when performing a sit-to-stand movement. Through the results, the efficacy of the sit-to-stand assistive chair can be confirmed. In the future, further studies are warranted to investigate for the safety and efficacy of its use in the elderly population or those who are disabled.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.72-80
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to verify the effects on fine motor, muscle strength (hand-grip), explosive muscular strength (vertical jump) and muscular endurance (sit-up) after ingesting coffee. Hence this study targeted a sample group of 38 healthy men in their twenties, without cardiac disorders and muscle disorders and none of them were hypersensitive to caffeine with symptoms such as palpitation and dyspnea. Nineteen of them ingested coffee, whereas the other nineteen men ingested decaffeinated coffee at the same amount. The amount of coffee was controlled by weight so as to regulate intake to 6 mg caffeine per kg. Research material was evaluated through O'Conner's finger dexterity test, hand-grip strength test, vertical jump test and sit-up test. The data were analyzed by means of paired t-test and ANCOVA. The material was then, analyzed by means of two-way ANOVA in order to verify the effect of one or two cups of coffee on fine motor and hand-grip strength. All parameters were measured by an independent observer. The results were as follows: There were no significant differences to fine motor, hand-grip strength, vertical jump, sit-up before and after drinking decaffeinated coffee, but there was a difference to those before and after drinking caffeine coffee. There was no significant difference to hand dexterity and hand-grip strength in one or two cups of coffee. Intake of a certain dosage of caffeine effects activation of muscles working in a short period based on the results. As a consequence, intake of certain dosages of caffeine was beneficial to enhance efficiency of activity during exercises, but it is will be difficult to obtain the desired result with only one or two cups of coffee.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.51-59
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• 2005

To examine the influence of aging on the mechanism of muscle fatigue, we compared the magnitude of central and peripheral fatigue in young and old women before, during and after a sustained submaximaI isometric contraction of elbow flexor muscles. Twelve women (6 young. $20.7{\pm}1.2$ years and 6 old, $68.8{\pm}29$ years) performed a contraction at 20% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) torque with their non-dominant arm. The old women were weaker than the young women, however their endurance time for the 20% contraction was longer compared with the young women ($1822{\pm}444$ vs. $1061{\pm}678$ sec, P <. 05). Both groups had a similar reduction in voluntary activation ratio (VA) during and after the fatiguing contraction. However, the old women showed much greater variability in VA before and after the contraction ($91.61{\pm}4.54%$ and $76.70{\pm}19.55\;%$ range of $79{\sim}99$ to $87{\sim}99%$ respectively) compared with the young women ($95.71{\pm}1.86\;%$ and $83.46{\pm}7.57\;%$ range of $39{\sim}75$ to $69{\sim}90%$, respectively). Furthermore, the EMG activity of the elbow flexor muscles and triceps brachii was greater for the old women compared with the young women throughout the fatiguing contraction, indicating different activation strategies with age. Indices of peripheral fatigue including twitch properties, showed that fatigue within the muscle was more rapid for the young women compared with the old women. These results suggest that although old women are weaker than young women, they have greater endurance due to mechanisms within muscle. Furthermore, old women showed great variability in their ability to optimally activate all muscle fiber compared with young women for an isometric contraction.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.97-106
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• 2020

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the most effective way to facilitate the abductor hallucis muscle during PNF leg pattern-emphasized hallux abduction. Methods: The study recruited 18 healthy adults. All participants agreed voluntarily to take part in the study following an explanations of its purpose and procedures. They randomly performed the PNF leg pattern-emphasized hallux abduction variations in a hook-lying or sitting position. Activation of the abductor hallucis (AbH), adductor hallucis (AdH), extensor hallucis longus (EHL), and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles, and the ratio of AbH/AdH, were measured during PNF exercises using electromyography. One-way repeated ANOVA was used to compare the activation of foot intrinsic and extrinsic muscles during the four PNF exercises. Results: PNF leg pattern-emphasized hallux abduction using normal timing was significantly higher in TA compared to PNF leg pattern-emphasized hallux abduction using timing for emphasis, regardless of the starting position. The PNF leg pattern-emphasized hallux abduction using timing for emphasis in the hook-lying position was significantly higher in AbH than in other exercises. Although there was no statistically significant difference in the ratio of AbH/AdH, it was higher in the hook-lying position. Conclusion: PNF leg pattern-emphasized hallux abduction using timing for emphasis in the hook-lying position can be recommended as a method to optimize the activation of AbH and the ratio of AbH/AdH.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.215-223
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the contraction ratios of the abdominal muscles and the preferential activation ratios of the transversus abdominis muscle (TrA) during the abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) in the hook-lying, sitting, and standing positions. Methods: This study included 30 healthy participants. The thicknesses of the TrA, internal oblique muscle (IO), and external oblique muscle (EO) were measured at rest and during the ADIM in the hook-lying, sitting, and standing positions using B-mode ultrasound imaging. The contraction ratios of these muscles and the preferential activation ratios of the TrA were calculated for each position. Results: The contraction ratio of the TrA and preferential activation ratio of the TrA during the ADIM in the hook-lying position were significantly higher than those in the sitting and standing positions (p < 0.05). The contraction ratio of the TrA during the ADIM in the sitting position was significantly higher than that in the standing position (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The hook-lying position tended to facilitate TrA activity better than the sitting position. Furthermore, the sitting position tended to facilitate TrA activity better than the standing position. These findings suggest that the ADIM in the hook-lying position should be implemented before that in the sitting position and that the ADIM in the sitting position should be implemented before that in the standing position.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.84-91
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• 2021

Background: A hip fracture may occur spontaneously prior to the hip impact, due to the muscle pulling force exceeding the strength of the femur. Objects: We conducted falling experiments with humans to measure the activity of the hip muscles, and to examine how this was affected by the fall type. Methods: Eighteen individuals fell and landed sideways on a mat, by mimicking video-captured real-life older adults' falls. Falling trials were acquired with three fall directions: forward, backward, or sideways, and with three knee positions at the time of hip impact, where the landing side knee was free of constraint, or contacted the mat or the contralateral knee. During falls, the activities of the iliopsoas (Ilio), gluteus medius (Gmed), gluteus maximus (Gmax) and adductor longus (ADDL) muscles were recorded. Outcome variables included the time to onset, activity at the time of hip impact, and timing of the peak activity with respect to the time of hip impact. Results: For Ilio, Gmed, Gmax, and ADDL, respectively, EMG onset averaged 292, 304, 350, and 248 ms after fall initiation. Timing of the peak activity averaged 106, 96, 84, and 180 ms prior to the hip impact, and activity at the time of hip impact averaged 72.3, 45.2, 64.3, and 63.4% of the peak activity. Furthermore, the outcome variables were associated with fall direction and/or knee position in all but the iliopsoas muscle. Conclusion: Our results provide insights on the hip muscle activation during a fall, which may help to understand the potential injury mechanism of the spontaneous hip fracture.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.205-211
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• 2021

Objective: This study aimed to identify the effects of assuming different knee angles and hip abduction during bridge exercise and hip thrust exercise on lower body muscle activity. Design: Cross-sectional study Methods: Thirty-three healthy adults (18 men and 15 women) were instructed to perform the bridge and hip thrust exercises while randomly assuming 120°, 90° and 60° of knee flexion and 0° and 30° of hip abduction. EMG data (%maximum voluntary isometric contraction) were recorded three times from the erector spinae (ES), gluteus maximus (GM) and biceps femoris (BF) muscles of participant's dominant side and the mean values were analyzed. Results: The results showed that, during the hip thrust compared to the bridge exercise, there was significantly greater gluteus maximus muscle activity in all hip conditions while the biceps femoris activity was significantly less, and the erector spinae muscle activity was significantly greater with 30° of hip abduction (p<0.05). With all exercises, the erector spinae and the biceps femoris exhibited significantly greater muscle activity with 60° of knee flexion compared to 90° and 120° of knee flexion (p<0.05), and significantly greater muscle activity with 90° compared to 120° of knee flexion (p<0.05). In the case of the gluteus maximus, greater muscle activity was exhibited with 120° compared to 60° of knee flexion with all hip abduction conditions (p<0.05). Conclusions: It was effective for muscle activation of main agonists such as the gluteus maximus and erector spinae during thrust exercise, and the change in knee flexion angle was effective for muscle activation of the gluteus maximus. Therefore, it is considered that this study can be used as a selective indicator of the target movement angle during hip strengthening exercise for specific muscles.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.341-349
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare the muscle activity of the hip abductors and the ratio between the hip abductor muscle group according to the range of hip abduction during the clam exercise. Methods: This study was conducted on 18 healthy men in their aged 20 to 29 who had not been diagnosed with spine-related diseases. The subjects performed a clam exercise without rotation of the pelvis in a state of 60° hip flexion and 90° knee joint flexion in the side-lying position. Using Myomotion equipment and EMG, the muscle activity of the hip abductor muscles and the activity ratio between the hip abductor muscle group were measured during the clam exercise by dividing the range into initial, mid-range, and terminal sections. Repeated measures analysis of variants was employed to compare the activity and use of hip abductor muscles according to range of motion during the clam exercise. Results: Gluteus medius muscle activation was significantly increased in the comparison of muscle activity in the initial, mid-range, and terminal sections of hip abduction. Tensor fasciae latae muscle activation was significantly increased in the comparison of muscle activity in all range of motion sections as well. The gluteus medius-tensor fasciae latae muscle activation ratio was significantly increased in the terminal section compared to the initial section. Conclusion: The gluteus medius and tensor fasciae latae had higher muscle activities as they approached the terminal section during the clam exercise, and the hip abduction activity ratio of the gluteus medius and tensor fasciae latae was higher as the range of motion approached the terminal section.