• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.217-223
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was to investigate whether the two different head postures, natural and ideal head posture, affect head/shoulder posture and muscle activity. Methods: Thirty healthy subjects with the forward head and round shoulder posture were participated in this study. This study utilized a within-subjects design with subjects being positioned into two sitting positions: natural head posture (NHP) and ideal head posture (IHP). Forward head angle (FHA) and forward shoulder angle (FSA) of each subject were measured for assessing the head/shoulder posture and muscle activities of upper trapezius (UT), lower trapezius (LT), and serratus anterior (SA) during the forward overhead reaching. Results: There were significant increases in both FHA and FSA after taking IHP, which showed greater angles than in taking NHP. In change of muscle activities, there were significant decreases in both LT and SA after taking IHP, which showed lower activities than in taking a NHP, whereas there was no significant change in UT. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that postural alterations associated with forward head and rounded shoulder postures could alter scapular kinetics and muscle activity during the forward overhead reaching.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.101-109
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• 2011

The purpose of this article is to introduce the Sports, Play, and Active Recreation for Kids (SPARK) physical education curriculum. SPARK is a model for health-related, research-based and evidence-based physical education programs in the United States. The outcome of school physical education can relate to public health, but there exists few evidence-based physical education programs reporting health-related variables. School physical education can provide more opportunities for children and adolescents to be physically active and to learn more about healthy lifestyles. However, physical education programs have been cut and eliminated due to lack of funding in the U.S. as in South Korea. Although facing these problems, SPARK programs have been implemented in over 50% of schools, after school programs and coordinated school health programs in the U.S. This article reviewed: (a) background information of the SPARK program, (b) examples of effective interventions, and (c) methods of dissemination to schools nationally in the U.S. The methods showed in SPARK may use as a model for researching, developing and implementing new physical education(PE) program and after school programs in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.1-12
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• 2016

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the association between sitting time and BMI-defined low weight and overweight/obesity in Korean adolescents. Methods: Data were from Adolescent Health Behavior Online Survey (KYRBS) in 2015 including 63,345 adolescents aged 12-18 years. The analysis investigated low-weight and overweight/obesity odds ratio(OR) according to study sitting time and leisure sitting time adjusted for sex, school grade, social-economic status(SES), physical activity and sleeping time. Results: After adjusting for sex, school grade, SES, physical activity and sleeping time, study sitting time and leisure sitting time were not significantly associated with low-weight. However, leisure sitting time was positively associated with overweight/obesity. Conclusions: Health program to less sitting time should be established with consideration for differences in risk according to sex, age, SES and active leisure time through the school physical class should be provided to adolescents. Additionally, strategies to promote healthy weight are required to integrate sitting time, physical activity and sleeping time in Korean adolescents.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.10-15
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• 2013

Purpose: Low back pain occurs and frequently recurs in many people. An imbalance of paraspinal muscle activity can cause low back pain. Mulligan's concept of mobilizations with sustained natural apophyseal glides (SNAG) is a common method for treating low back pain. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of this method on paraspinal muscle activity in patients with chronic low back pain. Methods: Twenty-one patients with low back pain participated in this study. Patients were classified using the Oswestry disability index. The subjects' paraspinal muscles were measured by surface electromyography both before and after the SNAG mobilization. We measured the root mean square value of the paraspinal muscles during lumbar flexion and extension. Results: Paraspinal muscle activity in patients with chronic low back pain was different between the right and left sides. Importantly, paraspinal muscle activity significantly decreased after using the SNAG mobilization method. Conclusion: This study shows a difference between paraspinal muscle activity in chronic low back pain patients and finds that the Mulligan's concept of SNAG mobilization is effective at reducing imbalances in paraspinal muscle activity in low back pain patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.312-316
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a kettlebell complex program according to the support surface on the lower extremity muscle activity and balance of baseball players. Methods: The participants were divided into two groups; unstable support surface group 1 (11 people) performed the kettlebell complex program on an unstable support surface, and stable support surface group 2 (10 people) performed the kettlebell complex program on a stable support surface. Muscle activity was measured by surface electromyography. Dynamic balance was measured with a balance-measuring equipment. A paired t-test was used to compare groups before and after the experiment. An independent t-test was performed to determine the difference in the degree of change between the two groups before and after the experiment. Results: The intragroup comparison between stable support surface group 1 and 2 showed significant differences in muscle activity and sense of balance. In the comparison between the groups, the difference in muscle activity in unstable support surface group1 was significant in the biceps femoris and rectus femoris muscles, and significant differences were also found in the sense of balance. Conclusion: These results suggest that a kettlebell exercise on an unstable support surface is more effective in improving muscle activity and sense of balance than a kettlebell exercise on a stable support surface.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.113-119
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• 2020

Objective: The vibration device is one of the most commonly used warm-up devices not only for healthy athletes but also for healthy individuals. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the immediate effects of local vibration on ankle plantar flexor muscle activation and peak torque in healthy adults. Design: One-group pretest-posttest design. Methods: This was a single-group study comprising a total of 36 (16 males and 20 females) participants. The average age of the 36 participants was 22.3 years. All the participants' concentric and eccentric peak torques of the gastrocnemius lateralis muscle were measured using an isokinetic device. Simultaneously, the participants' muscle activity was measured by surface electromyography. After the pre-experimental data were collected, the participants comfortably sat on the prepared chair with their hips and knees flexed to 90°. While in sitting position, local vibration was applied for 10 minutes using a 1:1 ratio intermittent pulsing mode device based on a previous study. Then, the post-experimental data were collected immediately after the local vibration by performing a similar process performed during the pre-experimental data collection. Results: The results showed a significant difference in muscle activity and eccentric peak torque (p<0.05). On the contrary, concentric peak torque values showed an insignificant difference with pre- and post-value. Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrated that local vibration can be possibly considered as one of the effective ways to increase ankle plantar flexor muscle activity and muscle performance, specifically the eccentric peak torque, in healthy adults.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.167-174
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• 2021

Objective: Single leg bridge exercise (SLBE) improves trunk muscle activation and provides muscle stability by aligning joints related to posture. This preliminary study aimed to investigate the effects of SLBE on abdominal muscle activation in subacute stroke patients. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Fifteen subacute stroke patients (9 males, 6 females) voluntarily participated in this study. SLBE was performed on the affected side. Each individual patient performed an SLBE ten times in three sets and was asked to hold their position for 5 s. Muscles activity was recorded using a surface electromyography (EMG) system before and after the SLBE. A surface EMG system was used to analyze the muscle activity during general bridge exercise, including the rectus abdominis (RA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO) abdominal muscles. Results: Muscle activity of both EO and IO on the affected side significantly increased (p<0.05), whereas the muscle activity of the RA and the three muscles on the unaffected side did not show a significant difference. In addition, improvement in muscle asymmetry of the EO and IO showed a significant change after SLBE (p<0.05). Conclusions: SLBE is effective in activating the abdominal muscles of stroke patients on the affected side and is a helpful exercise intervention that activates the muscles to transform asymmetric abdominal muscles into symmetric patterns.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.76-83
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• 2011

The aim of this study was to determine the immediate effects of single treatment of strain-counter strain (SCS) on pressure pain threshold (PPT) and muscle activity during scapular plane abduction with 3% body weight load. Fifteen asymptomatic male adults with upper trapezius latent trigger point (LTrP) (PPT<2.9 $kg/cm^2$) participated in this study. Pressure algometer was used to measure PPT and surface electromyography was used to record upper, middle arid lower trapezius, serratus anterior, infraspinatus and middle deltoid muscle activity and relative ratio during scapular plane abduction between pre- and post-intervention. There was a significant increase in upper trapezius PPT after a 90-second SCS (p<.05). The activity of the upper trapezius and middle deltoid was significantly decreased (p=.014, p=.001), coupled with a decreased muscle activity ratio between the upper and lower trapezius (p<.05). These results indicate that the SCS may effectively deactivate upper trapezius activity, thereby alleviating muscle balance and reducing pain sensitivity.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.393-397
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• 2012

Purpose: We investigated to identify the effect of robo-horseback riding exercise (RHRE) on trunk muscle activity ratios for patients with low back pain. Methods: Twelve patients with low back pain and twelve healthy adults were recruited for this study. Subjects performed the RHRE with the neutral spine position. The amplitude of electromyography activity was recorded from the selected trunk muscles (internal oblique [IO], rectus abdominis [RA], multifidus [MF], the thoracic part of the iliocostalis lumborum [ICLT]). The ratios of the relative local muscle activity to the global muscle activity in abdominal and lumbar parts were calculated. Results: There were significant differences in the change values of the IO/RA and the MF/ICLT between low back pain (LBP) patients and healthy adults. The IO/RA ratio and the MF/ICLT ratio showed significant increase in LBP patients after training. Conclusion: The RHRE improved the trunk muscle activity ratio in patients with low back pain. The information presented here is important for investigators who use lumbar stabilization exercises as a rehabilitation exercise.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.273-289
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• 2013

The goal of this study was to analyze the demands of parents of an after-school program. In order to do this, we looked at cultural centers and their curriculums. Cultural centers are one of the most popular private education centers for preschoolers, and are used for the operation of special activities. The research was conducted on preschool curriculums of 300 cultural centers, including cultural centers of department stores and supermarkets. The curriculum analysis was conducted for 400 preschool curriculums of three cultural centers, which had the most programs of all. The scope of the curriculum analysis was based on the 3rd Childcare Standard Curriculum for infants and Nuri Curriculum for preschoolers. As a result of the analysis, there were 12,286 programs for infants. The most popular topics for programs were comprehensive activity, physical activity, and music activity. There were 15,310 programs for preschoolers. Physical activity was the most popular topic among them. It was followed by drawing activity and number and operating activity. Analyzing the contents of these programs, we found that 'participating in physical activity' of physical exercise, and 'expressing artistically' of artistic experience were the most popular contents of infants. 'Expressing artistically' of artistic experience and 'control of body and basic exercise' of physical exercise were most popular contents for preschoolers. The results show that parents demand physical activity programs for infants and artistic activity programs for preschoolers. The results of the research should be considered when childcare centers try to make a special after-school program.