• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2009

Objective: To report an unsuspected adaptive plasticity of single upper motor neurons and of primary motor cortex found after microsurgical connection of the spinal cord with peripheral nerve via grafts in paraplegics and focussed discussion of the reviewed literature. Methods: The research aimed at making paraplegics walk again, after 20 years of experimental surgery in animals. Amongst other things, animal experiments demonstrated the alteration of the motor endplates receptors from cholinergic to glutamatergic induced by connection with upper motor neurons. The same paradigm was successfully performed in paraplegic humans. The nerve grafts were put into the ventral-lateral spinal tract randomly, with out possibility of choosing the axons coming from different areas of the motor cortex. Results: The patient became able to selectively activate the re-innervated muscles she wanted without concurrent activities of other muscles connected with the same cortical areas. Conclusion: Authors believe that unlike in nerve or tendon transfers, where the whole cortical area corresponding to the transfer changes its function a phenomenon that we call "brain plasticity by areas". in our paradigm due to the direct connection of upper motor neurons with different peripheral nerves and muscles via nerve grafts motor learning occurs based on adaptive neuronal plasticity so that simultaneous contractions of other muscles are prevented. We propose to call it adaptive functional "plasticity by single neurons". We speculate that this phenomenon is due to the simultaneous activation of neurons spread in different cortical areas for a given specific movement, whilst the other neurons of the same areas connected with peripheral nerves of different muscles are not activated at the same time. Why different neurons of the same area fire at different times according to different voluntary demands remains to be discovered. We are committed to solve this enigma hereafter.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.34-42
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• 2008

This study aimed to examine whether McConnell taping for deltoid inhibition affects the Electromyographic (EMG) activity of shoulder girdle muscles during arm elevation. Ten young healthy men were randomly assigned to an experimental and control groups of five men each. For the experimental group, we performed taping for deltoid inhibition on the skin over anterior and posterior deltoids with non-elastic specific tape, and sham-taping with non-elastic under-tape for the control group. Surface EMG measurements were performed three times (before, during and after the tapings) at upper and lower trapezius, mid-deltoid, and serratus anterior muscles while elevating dominant aim with loading and unloading conditions. In deltoid inhibition taping group, there were significant differences in EMG activity of mid-deltoid (p<.05) and serratus anterior (p<.05) muscles during arm elevation with loading. During arm elevation without loading, the EMG activity was significantly decreased for MD in the McConnell taping group (p<.05). The findings indicate that deltoid inhibition taping can modify the activation patterns in shoulder girdle muscles as well as in deltoid muscle. in clinical setting. it may be effectively used for the management of patients with shoulder dysfunction.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.83-91
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• 2016

PURPOSE: There are several methods, such as the abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM), maximal expiration (ME), and Kegel exercise, to strengthen the core muscles. However, to date no study has been conducted to compare the effects of the ADIM, ME, and Kegel exercise on the transverses abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), external oblique (EO), and pelvic floor muscles (PFMs). The purpose of this study was to find out which of the three aforementioned exercises is most effective for contracting the core muscles. METHODS: The thickness of the TrA, IO, EO and PFMs was measured by ultrasonographic imaging during the ADIM, ME and Kegel exercise in 34 healthy participants. RESULTS: There was the significant difference between ADIM and Kegel exercise in the thickness of the TrA (p<0.05). There were the significant differences between ADIM and ME and between ME and Kegel exercise in the thickness of the IO and PFM (p<0.01). There was no significant activation in the thickness of the EO (p>0.05). Measurement reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and the standard error of measurement (SEM). An ICC value of >0.77 indicated that reliability measurements was good. CONCLUSION: Kegel exercise was the most effective exercise for the TrA and the PFM, and ME was the most effective exercise for the IO muscles.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.215-224
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• 2022

Background: The presence of the lumbopelvic-hip neuromuscular chain is essential for dynamic spinal stabilization; its therapeutic effects on dynamic movements of the distal extremity segment and underpinning motor mechanism remain unknown and warrant further study on participants with low back pain (LBP). Objects: We aim to compare the effects of the broken chain exercise (BCE) and connected chain exercise (CCE) on electromyography (EMG) amplitude and onset time in participants with and without LBP. Methods: Randomized controlled clinical trial. A convenience sample of 40 nonathletic participants (mean age: 24.78 ± 1.70) with and without LBP participated in this study. All participants underwent CCE for 30 minutes, 30-minute daily. We measured EMG amplitude and onset times on bilateral erector spinae (ES), gluteus maximus (GM), hamstring (HAM), transverse abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO) during the prone hip extension (PHE) test before and after the BCE and CCE. We used multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) to analyze the amplitude and onset time difference between exercises (BCE and CCE) and Pearson's correlations to determine any synergistic relationship among the HAM, GM, bilateral TrA/IO, and ES muscles. The statistical analyses were used at p < 0.05. Results: MANOVA showed that CCE was more decreased on EMG amplitude in HAM and bilateral ES, while increased GM and contralateral TrA/IO than BCE (p < 0.05). MANOVA EMG onset time data analyses revealed that the main effect of the conditions was significant for all HAM, GM, and bilateral ES muscles, whereas the main effect for the group was significant only for GM and contralateral ES in healthy and LBP groups. Pearson's correlation coefficient was computed to assess the relationship between BCE and CCE on dependent variables. In most of the muscles, there was a strong, positive correlation between the two variables, and there was a significant relationship (p < 0.001). Conclusion: CCE produced more effective and coordinated core stabilization and motor control mechanism in the lumbopelvic-hip muscles in participants with and without LBP during PHE than BCE.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.177-185
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• 2022

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of additional isometric contraction of trunk, shoulder, and hip muscles during abdominal crunch exercise on abdominal muscle thickness and to identify the most effective intervention for core muscle activation. Methods : This study was conducted on 22 healthy male adults. Subjects performed three types of crunch exercises (abdominal crunches accompanied by internal and external isometric rotation of the hip, horizontal shoulder adduction and abduction, and rotation of the trunk). The thickness of the transverse abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO) were evaluated using ultrasonography. The collected data used one-way repeated ANOVA statistics. Wilcoxon signed-rank test of nonparametric statistics was used for post-test analysis. Results : The IO thickness was significantly lower than general abdominal crunch when shoulder adduction was added (p<.05). The crunch with shoulder abduction, hip external rotation, and ipsilateral trunk rotation was significantly higher than the abdominal crunch (p<.05). The EO thickness was significantly greater in the crunch with hip external rotation than in the abdominal crunch (p<.05). Conclusion : The level of contraction in abdominal muscles appears to vary when isometric contractions of the trunk, shoulder, and hip muscles are added to the abdominal crunch exercise. Therefore, the use of isometric contractions of other joints to selectively induce contraction of the abdominal muscles may be considered.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.177-183
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• 2017

Purpose: This study compared and analyzed the effect of the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) arm extension pattern and leg flexion pattern on the contralateral lower extremity muscles when the patterns were applied to the same subject. Methods: In the study, 35 healthy men and women who understood the PNF patterns were selected as participants. The participants completed the PNF arm extension-abduction-internal rotation pattern and leg flexion-adduction-external rotation with knee flexion pattern in the supine position. While the patients' completed each pattern, the contralateral leg muscle activity was measured to examine the irradiation effect. The maximum isometric contraction time of the muscles to be measured was kept for 5 seconds, and the mean value was obtained by repeating the pattern three times. Results: When the leg flexion-adduction-external rotation with knee flexion pattern was completed, the muscle activity in the vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior, and gastrocnemius of the contralateral lower extremity was significantly greater than that found in the PNF arm extension-abduction-internal rotation pattern. Conclusion: The PNF leg flexion pattern showed greater muscle activity on the contralateral lower extremity than the arm extension pattern. Thus, the PNF leg extension pattern is more effective in the activation of the muscles associated with weight-bearing activity.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2016

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of exercise on the neck muscles activities between scapular stability and McKenzie stretch exercise in the forward head posture subjects. Method : After measuring cervical alignment using the Global Posture System, 20 volunteers with forward head posture posture were selected and divided into two groups. The experimental group A(n=15) and Experimental group B(n=15) participated in respectively and McKenzie neck stretching exercise, three times per week for 4 weeks. The scapular stabilization exercise program was comprised middle and lower trapezius strength exercises and the stretching exercise program was comprised levator scapulae and upper trapezius stretching exercise. The activities of the muscles of the posterior neck was then measured using electromyography. Result : After the intervention, there was significant difference of a electromyography activity changes between the pre-test and post-test in the experimental group. Conclusion : This study showed that both scapular stabilization and McKenzie neck stretching exercises are more effective for reducing neck muscles activities.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.367-373
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• 2021

Objective: Short foot exercise(SFE) is frequently used to increase the medial longitudinal arch of the foot, as well as the intrinsic foot muscles. This studyinvestigated the effects of SFE onmuscular activity and the onset of contraction of the quadriceps femoris muscle during squats in healthypeople. It also aimed to compare and analyze the results with those of the general squat method and propose a more efficient squat method. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: This study compared 20 adults (male=10, female=10) who statisfied the inclusion criteria for the muscle activity and onset of the muscle contraction of the quadriceps femoris using surface EMG under two conditions: general squats and SFE squats. Results: Separate analyses and comparisons of the outcomes of the SFE squat and the general squat, showed a significant increase in the muscle activities of the rectus femoris and vastus medial muscles in both males and females (p<0.05). The onset of muscle contraction was significantly delayed for the vastus lateralis relative to that for the vastus medialis (p<0.05). However, it delayed significantly in females, but not in males. Conclusions: The SFE squats induced selective muscular activities of the rectus femoris and vastus medialis muscels and affected the onset of contraction of the vastus medialis and lateralis muscles.

• Archives of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.99-107
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• 2018

Purpose: This study investigated scoliosis muscle activity after the trunk side shift exercise. Methods: Fifty-eight subjects (control group=30, scoliosis group=28) participated in this study. The patients with idiopathic scoliosis were randomly divided into two groups: the side shift exercise (SSE) group and the trunk stabilization exercise (TSE) group. The SSE group performed SSE with chair training for eight weeks. A one-way ANOVA test was carried out to compare the results within the idiopathic scoliosis patient group prior to and after different exercise methods. Result: The muscle activity differences of the TPS, LPS, and latissimus dorsi muscles significantly decreased in all idiopathic scoliosis exercises groups after training. According to the exercise method, the TPS differed between the control group (CG) and TSE group and between the SSC and TSE groups. The LPS and latissimus dorsi muscles showed differences between the CG and TSE groups. Conclusions: This study found that the side shift exercise effectively improve spine muscles. The side shift exercise was performed using chairs that were designed for this study. Thus, this method is easily accessible for busy students who are exposed to scoliosis or spinal disorders that are caused by a pattern of inactivity.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.32-39
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• 2003

In this study we examined connections between vertebral motion and patterns of muscle activation during voluntary head tracking movements. A Rhesus (Maraca mulatta) monkey was trained to produce sinusoidal tracking movements of the head in the sagittal plane while seated. Radio-opaque markers were placed in the cervical vertebrae, and intramuscular patch electrodes were implanted to record from eight neck muscles. Videofluoroscopic images of cervical vertebral motion, and EMG (electromyographic) responses were simultaneously re-corded. Experimental results demonstrated that head and vertebrae moved synchronously and that motion occurred primarily at skull-C$_1$, C$\_$6/-C$\_$7/ and Csub 7/-C$_1$. Our findings illustrate that although the biomechanical constraints of each species may limit the number of solutions available, it is the task requirements that appear to govern CNS (central nervous system) selection of movement behaviors.