• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.361-368
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of isometric hip adduction and abduction on the muscle activities of vastus medialis oblique(VMO) and vastus lateralis(VL) during leg squat exercises. This study consisted of 21 healthy subjects who had no medical history of anterior knee pain or lower extremity disorders. The ball and belt were used to isometrically adduct and abduct the hip joint during the leg squat exercise, respectively. The surface electromyograms of VMO and VL were analyzed, and the findings were used to calculate the VMO:VL ratio during 3 different quadriceps-strengthening exercises(leg squat, LS leg squat with isometric hip adduction, LSHD leg squat with isometric hip abduction, LSHB). The muscle activities of VMO and VL and the VMO:VL ratios were compared using the paired t-test with Bonferroni adjustment. The results showed that the muscle activities of VMO and VL during LSHD were greater than those during LSHB. The VMO:VL ratio was the highest during LSHD. This finding suggests that LSHD using a ball is more effective than LS and LSHB in selectively increasing the muscle activities of VMO. Therefore, we suggest that leg squat exercise with isometric hip adduction using a ball would be useful for maintaining correct patella tracking and for selectively strengthening VMO.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.1-9
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• 2004

Most exercise for Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) has focused on selectively strengthening the vastus medialis oblique muscle (VMO). Although open chain knee extension exercises are effective for increasing overall quadriceps strength, they are not always indicated for PFPS rehabilitation. This study was designed to identify the effect of combined posture of lower extremity on Electromyographic (EMG) activity of the vastus lateralis muscle (VL) and VMO during static squat exercises. The subjects were twenty young adult males who had not experienced any knee injury and their Q-angle was within a normal range. They were asked to perform static squat exercises in five various postures using their lower extremities. The EMG activity of the VL and VMO were recorded in five exercises by surface electrodes and normalized by %MVC values derived from seated, isometric knee extensions. The normalized EMG activity levels (%MVC) of the VL and VMO for the five postures of the lower extremities were compared using one way ANOVA with repeated measures. Results of repeated measures of ANOVA's revealed that exercise 3 and exercise 5 produced significantly greater EMG activity of VMO/VL ratios than exercise 1 (p<.05). When the static squat exercise was combined with hip adduction and toes pointed outwardly, the EMG activity of VMO/VL rates was increased. The EMG activity of VMO/VL ratio was highest during static squat exercises performed on a decline squat. These results haveimportant implications for progressive and selective VMO muscle strengthening exercises in PFPS patients.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.153-160
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• 2017

Gait analysis has been conducted in various environments, but the biomechanics during the transition from uphill walking to downhill walking have not been reported. The purpose of this study is to investigate the knee and ankle joint kinematics and kinetics during walking on a triangle-shaped slope compared with those during level walking. Kinematic and kinetic data of eighteen participants were obtained using a force plate and motion capture system. The greater peak ankle dorsiflexion angle and moment and the peak knee extension moment were observed (p<0.05) during both uphill and downhill walking on the triangle-shaped slope. In summary, uphill walking on a triangle-shaped slope, which showed a peak knee flexion of more than $50^{\circ}$ with greater peak knee extension moment, could increase the risk of patellofemoral pain syndrome. Downhill walking on a triangle-shaped slope, which involved greater ankle dorsiflexion excursion and peak ankle dorsiflexion, could cause gastrocnemius muscle strain and Achilles tendon overuse injury.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.192-204
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• 2004

The surface electromyographic(sEMG) analyses were knee joint angle during open kinetic chain exercise (OKC) and close kinetic chain exercise (CKC) in vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis (VL), and rectus femoralis (RF). Ten subjects with normal , aged 20 to 30(X=27.4, SD=3.23), were randomized Statistical techniques for data analysis were applied paired t-test. The 0.05 level of significane was used as the critical level for rejection of the null hypotheses for the study. And the results were: 1) Both OKC and CKC improved the strength of quadriceps muscle as the knee joint flexion was increased. 2) In OKC, the strength of VM was improved the most at the 30 degree angle. 3) In CKC, the strength of VM was improved the most at the 30 degree angle. 4) The VM/VL ratio was the largest at the 10 and 20 degree angles in OKC and CKC. 5) The VM/VL ratio at 10, 20, and 30 degree angles was significantly different between OKC and CKC (P < 0.05). Base on the results, the OKCE is recommended for the knee joint patients, especially for the patellofemoral pain syndrome patients, during the early phase of rehabilitation. In order to improve strength of the quadriceps, muscle strength training at 30 degree angle is recommended. In order to improve VM/VL ratio, 10 and 20 degree angles are recommended during OKCE and CKCE, respectively. Future researches are warranted comparing electromyographic analysis between OKCE and CKCE in the quadriceps at a certain work lead, and muscle strength performance in the quadriceps at different positions of foot.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.443-449
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aims to identify the differences in the muscle activity of the ankle joint muscle depending on the type of footwear (sneakers, mule sneakers, slippers) worn while walking on a slope. Methods: The subjects wore each shoe (sneakers, mule sneakers, and slippers) and walked on an 18-degree slope at a speed of 110 beats/min. While walking, the muscle activities of the tibialis anterior and medial gastrocnemius were measured. Of the three walking cycles, the second walking cycle was measured except for the first and third walking cycles, which are the beginning and end, and a three-minute break was taken to prevent muscle fatigue when the type of footwear was changed. Results: When walking on a slope, there was no significant difference in the muscle activity of the tibialis anterior according to the type of footwear. However, when walking on a slope, the difference in muscle medial gastrocnemius muscle activity was significant between sneakers and mule sneakers. There was also a significant difference between sneakers and slippers, but there was no significant difference between slippers and mule sneakers. Conclusion: There was no significant statistical difference between sneakers and mule sneakers, but there was a numerical difference. Therefore, the presence or absence of the shoe collar may affect the muscle activity of the medial gastrocnemius when walking on a slope. This can lead to patellofemoral pain syndrome caused by the excessive use of the quadriceps, so it must be considered that caution is needed.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.54-63
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the hip internal rotation on knee extensor and hip abductor electromyographic (EMG) activity during stair up and stair down mobility. Eighteen healthy subjects were recruited. All subjects performed stair up and down movements on a step of 30cm height while maintaining the hip in neutral (condition 1) and hip in internal rotation (condition 2). Surface EMG activity was recorded from five muscles (gluteus maximus, vastus lateralis (VL), vastus medialis oblique (VMO), posterior gluteus medius (Gmed), and tensor fascia latae (TFU)) and hip internal rotation angle was measured using a three dimensional motion analysis system The time period for stair up and down was normalized using the MatLab 6.5 program, and EMG activity was normalized to the value of maximal voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC). The EMG activities according to the hip rotation (neutral or internal rotation) during the entire time period of stair up and down in each phase were compared using a paired t-test. During the entire period of stair up, the EMG activities of VL and TFL in condition 2 were significantly greater than in condition 1 (p<.05). During the entire period of stair down, the EMG activities of VL and TFL in condition 2 were significantly greater than in condition 1 (p<.05). However, the EMG activities of the other muscles were not significantly different between the conditions (p>.05). These results suggest that the stair up and down maintaining hip internal rotation was could be a contributing factor on patellar lateral tracking.