• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.51-59
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• 2020

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to provide clinical basic data to reduce pain and improve function by comparing neck muscle activity and neck alignment using self-stretching and passive stretching exercises for chronic neck pain caused by forward head posture. METHODS: The subjects were divided into 15 subjects assigned to perform self-stretching exercise and 15 subjects assigned to perform passive stretching exercise. The intervention was conducted for a total of 4 weeks. The muscle activity in the neck was measured by surface electromyography (EMG) before intervention, and craniovertebral and cranial rotation angles were measured by X-ray. The 4-week intervention was conducted and the above items re-measured in the same manner and analyzed. RESULTS: Muscle activity within both groups after intervention using self-stretching or passive stretching exercise was significantly different (p < .05)(p < .01). Neck alignment of both groups was significantly different (p < .001)(p < .01). Further, muscle activities of the upper trapezius and splenius capitis muscles showed significant differences (p<.05). Lastly, neck alignment showed statistically significant difference (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Self-stretching exercise activated motor nerves as a posture correction exercise, thereby improving inhibition of muscle activity, muscle contraction delay, and pathological conditions of the muscle. For future research, interventions of self-stretching exercise will be needed for patients with chronic back pain accompanied by forward head posture, and various clinical studies on postural improvement of forward head posture by maintaining a normal muscle tone state are needed.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.156-162
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate muscle activation related to postural stability depending on different head positions with whole body vibration (WBV) in standing. Methods: Eighteen healthy subjects voluntarily participated in this single-group, repeated-measures study in which the surface electromyography (EMG) data from upper trapezius, rectus abdominis, external oblique abdominis, erector spinae, gluteus maximus, rectus femoris, semitendinosus, medial gastrocnemius were collected over 3 different frequencies (0-10-20Hz) and 4 different head positions (neutral, flexion, extension, chin tuck) for each subject on WBV while standing. Results: The results of this study demonstrated that the EMG activity of all recorded muscles shows significant difference between three different frequencies and four head positions of WBV while standing (p<0.05). In the multiple comparison, significant differences could be observed for most of different frequency conditions except 0-10Hz of RA, 10-20Hz of ST. In contrast, no significant difference showed the comparison of the EMG activity depending on different head positions (p<0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that different head positions on WBV do not activate muscles related to postural stability. However, higher frequency on WBV is highly effective to activate whole body muscles included postural muscles regardless of different head positions.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.39-49
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was done to develop a postural-stability patient transfer technique for care helpers in nursing homes and to evaluate its effectiveness. Methods: Four types of patient transfer techniques (Lifting towards the head board of the bed, turning to the lateral position, sitting upright on the bed, transferring from wheel chair to bed) were practiced in accordance with the following three methods; Care helpers habitually used transfer methods (Method 1), patient transfer methods according to care helper standard textbooks (Method 2), and a method developed by the author ensuring postural-stability (Method 3). The care helpers' muscle activity and four joint angles were measured. The collected data were analyzed using the program SPSS Statistic 21.0. To differentiate the muscle activity and joint angle, the Friedman test was executed and the post-hoc analysis was conducted using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank test. Results: Muscle activity was significantly lower during Method 3 compared to Methods 1 and 2. In addition, the joint angle was significantly lower for the knee and shoulder joint angle while performing Method 3 compared to Methods 1 and 2. Discussion: Findings indicate that using postural-stability patient transfer techniques can contribute to the prevention of musculoskeletal disease which care helpers suffer from due to physically demanding patient care in nursing homes.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.175-180
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• 2022

Purpose: Leg length discrepancy causes the posture deformation, gait asymmetry, and lower back pain. The purpose of this study is to investigate the correlation among functional leg length discrepancy (FLLD), muscle activity, muscle contraction onset time and vertical ground reaction force (vGRF) during simple lifting task. Methods: Thirty-nine subjects participated in this study. FLLD was measured from the umbilicus to medial malleolus of left and right leg using a tape. The subjects performed to lift a 10 kg box from the floor to chest. The muscle activity and muscle contraction onset time of rectus abdominis, erector spinae and rectus femoris was measured using EMG system and vGRF was measured by two force plate. Pearson correlation was used to fine out the correlation among FDDL, muscle activity, muscle contraction onset time and vGRF during simple lifting task. Results: Correlation between FLLD and difference of muscle activity of short-long side was very high (r>0.9) during simple lifting task. Correlation between FLLD and difference of muscle contraction onset time of short-long side was very high (r>0.9) during simple lifting task. And correlation between FLLD and difference of vGRF of short-long side was high (r>0.7) during simple lifting task. Conclusion: This study suggests that there is high correlation between FLLD and muscle activity, muscle contraction onset time, and ground reaction force during simple lifting task. Therefore, FLLD could negatively affect the postural balance.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.655-666
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• 2013

PURPOSE: The main objective of this study is observing the effects of the functional postural trunk exercise (FPTE) on deep cranio-cervical flexor (CCF) muscle endurance applied on neck pain patients suffering from the acute whiplash-association disorder (WAD). METHODS: The study was tested with 47 patients with neck pain. All patients were equally treated with the ordinary therapy, only experimental group (n=23) was treated with FPTE: assumption of an upright lumbo-pelvic and spinal postural position, adding a neck lengthening manoeuvre in addition. Patients attended physical therapy for 3 times a week, for 4 weeks. Visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, neck disability index (NDI), range of motion (ROM), were recorded both before and after the intervention. Also muscle activity in the CCF test was employed to analyze the changes between before and after. RESULT: After 4 weeks of training intervention, a remarkable increase in muscle endurance, rotation, extension ROM (p<.05) and decrease in pain and NDI (p<.05) in both groups. Further, the differences between groups were muscle endurance (F=60.350, p<.01), pain, and the left rotation ROM (p<.05). CONCLUSION: From the results, the experimental group had significant the increase in muscle endurance, and the significant decrease in pain. Whilst further research in this category is necessary, these observations suggest that applying exercise in early diagnosis can be of help to treat the neck pain patients suffering from the WAD.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.321-326
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• 2019

Background: Performing cognitive tasks and muscular fatigue have been shown to increase muscle activity of the lower extremity during quiet standing. A common intervention to reduce muscular fatigue is to provide a softer shoe-surface interface. However, little is known regarding how muscle activity is affected by softer shoe-surface interfaces during static standing. The purpose of this study was to assess lower extremity muscular activity during erect standing on three different standing surfaces, before and after an acute workload and during cognitive tasks. Methods: Surface electromyography was collected on ankle dorsiflexors and plantarflexors, and knee flexors and extensors of fifteen male participants. Dependent electromyography variables of mean, peak, root mean square, and cocontraction index were calculated and analyzed with a $2{\times}2{\times}3$ within-subject repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: Pre-workload muscle activity did not differ between surfaces and cognitive task conditions. However, greater muscle activity during post-workload balance assessment was found, specifically during the cognitive task. Cognitive task errors did not differ between surface and workload. Conclusions: The cognitive task after workload increased lower extremity muscular activity compared to quite standing, irrespective of the surface condition, suggesting an increased demand was placed on the postural control system as the result of both fatigue and cognitive task.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.151-156
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• 2019

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the immediate effects of posture correction and real-time visual feedback using a video display on muscle activity and change of head position during overhead arm lift test in individuals with forward head posture. Methods: Fifteen subjects with forward head posture and fifteen normal subjects who volunteered were included in this study. During both groups performed the overhead arm lift test, the muscle activity of the upper trapezius, serratus anterior, sternocleidomastoid, and lower trapezius muscle were measured using electromyography, and head position change was measured using photographs. Then, forward head posture group was asked to perform overhead arm lift test again after posture correction and real-time visual feedback using a video display respectively. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze four conditions: pre-test, posture correction, real-time visual feedback, and the control group. Results: The upper trapezius and lower trapezius muscle activity significantly decreased posture correction, real-time visual feedback, and control group than pre-test of forward head posture group (p<0.05). The sternocleidomastoid muscle significantly decreased real-time visual feedback and control group than pre-test of forward head posture group. Head position change significantly decreased three conditions than pre-test of forward head posture group and real-time visual feedback and control group significantly decreased than posture correction. Conclusion: This study recommend for maintaining cervical stability during the overhead arm lift test, postural control using real-time visual feedback is more effective in subjects with forward head posture.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.215-222
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of passive scapular upward rotation and posterior tilt and active scapular posterior tilt on the muscle activity of the upper trapezius (UT), lower trapezius (LT), and serratus anterior (SA). Methods: Fifteen healthy subjects performed general arm elevation, arm elevation with passive scapular upward rotation and posterior tilt, and arm elevation with active scapular posterior tilt. For active scapular posterior tilt, the subjects were trained in this movement using visual biofeedback and a motion sensor. During each arm elevation condition, electromyography was used to measure the muscle activity of the UT, LT, and SA. The measured data were analyzed using a one-way repeated ANOVA. Results: LT muscle activity was significantly increased during arm elevation with active scapular posterior tilt compared to both general arm elevation and arm elevation with passive scapular upward rotation and posterior tilt (p < 0.05). SA muscle activity was greater during arm elevation with passive scapular upward rotation and posterior tilt than during general arm elevation (p < 0.05). There was no significant change in UT muscle activity among the tested arm elevation conditions (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Performing arm elevation with active scapular posterior tilt and performing arm elevation with passive scapular upward rotation and posterior tilt may be useful strategies for increasing muscle activation of the LT and SA, respectively.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.28-36
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes in the electromyographic (EMG) activity of the trunk and the lower limb muscles during quiet standing on an unstable surface while wearing low-heeled shoes (3 cm), high-heeled shoes (7 cm) and without footwear (0 cm) in 20 young healthy women. The subjects stood on an unstable surface for 30 seconds. We examined the differences in the EMG data of the erector spinae, rectus abdominis, biceps femoris, rectus femoris, tibialis anterior, and the gastrocnemius medialis muscle. A one-way repeated analysis of variance was used to compare the effects of shoe heel height on the EMG activity with the level of significance set at ${\alpha}=.05$. The EMG activity of the erector spinae and the rectus femoris were significantly increased (p<.05) in the subjects who wore elevated heel height, while the tibialis anterior and the gastrocnemius medialis were significantly decreased (p<.05). However, the rectus abdominis and the biceps femoris exhibited no significant difference among the three conditions. The above results indicate that wearing high-heeled shoes may change the postural strategy. The findings of this study suggest that excessive heel height could contribute to an increased fall risk during quiet standing.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.47-54
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of active and passive postural perturbation on ankle dorsiflexor responses in stroke patients. The subjects consisted of 13 stroke patients. Using wireless electromyography, the patients' ankle dorsiflexor muscle responses were measured under the following conditions: active dorsiflexion (AD), active perturbation (AP), and passive perturbation (PP). Tibialis anterior muscle activity increased most significantly during PP of the affected side ($118.64{\pm}56.28$). The most significant increase for the non-affected side was in AD ($72.64{\pm}24.56$). Tibialis anterior muscle activity was compared under each condition. The affected side showed significant differences between PP and AD and between PP and AP (p<.05). The non-affected side showed not significant differences between each condition. The ratios of tibialis anterior muscle activity under AP to that under AD were 1.00 on the affected side and .75 on the non-affected side and the difference was not significant (p>.05). The ratios of tibialis anterior muscle activity under PP to that under AD were 3.30 on the affected side and 1.14 on the non-affected side and the difference was significant (p<.05). Passive perturbation improved tibialis anterior muscle activity on the affected side, and training based on this approach may have the potential to improve the ankle dorsiflexion of people with stroke.