• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 2021

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to provide fundamental clinical data to be used in therapeutic approach to patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome by administrating the squat exercise combined with whole body vibration exercise to them and investigating the effect of such exercise to leg muscle activity and muscle fatigue. METHODS: The patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome were randomly assigned to experimental group I (n = 9) where only squat exercise was administered and experimental group II (n = 9) where the squat exercise combined with whole body vibration exercise was provided. The intervention program was administered for two weeks, four days a week, one session a day, three set a session, and 20 reps a set. The pre- and post-test were performed to measure muscle activity and muscle fatigue of vastus medialis and vastus lateralis. RESULTS: The muscle activity significantly changed in both group (p < .05, p < .01, respectively) and the muscle fatigue showed significant change only in group I (p < .05). In addition, there was significant difference between groups in change of muscle fatigue of both muscles (p < .05) but not in change of muscle activity. CONCLUSION: The results showed that both exercise are effective in improving muscle activity, however, that the squat exercise combined with whole body vibration exercise is more effective in preventing muscle fatigue.

• Archives of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.1-8
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• 2018

Purpose: This study investigated the effect of the augmented reality (AR)-based knee joint short period exercise program and used a motion analyzer with a 3D camera to determine the range of motion and dynamic balance and further investigate the effects of therapeutic exercise on patients. Methods: This study used AR-based motion analysis and a Y-balance test to measure the range of motion (ROM) of each joint: the hip joint and the knee joint. After the measurements, an exercise program was applied to the subjects, using the knee motion program function, and the muscles of the quadriceps femoris and the hamstring were stretched or strengthened. Results: Our results showed knee joint extension at the dominant hip joint flexion position. While there was no significant difference (p>.05) at this position, there were significant differences in the non-dominant hips, unbalanced knee joint flexion, and superior knee joint flexion (p<.05). The Y-balance test using the non-dominant leg supported by the dominant legs showed that the absolute reach was $69.70{\pm}7.06cm$ before the exercise, and the absolute reach after the exercise was $77.56{\pm}6.09cm$ (p<.05). Conclusions: There was a significant difference when the movement of the lower limbs supported the superior limbs, and a significant difference was found in the ROM when the non-dominant side supported the dominant side. Therefore, the AR-based exercise program improves the balance of the human body and the range of motion of the joints, and research that aims to improve patients abilities should continue.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.809-818
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• 2022

Background: The non-saponin fraction (NSF) of Korean Red Ginseng is a powder in which saponin is eliminated from red ginseng concentrate by fractionation. In this study, we examined the effect of NSF on age-associated sarcopenia in old mice. Methods: NSF (50 or 200 mg/kg/day) was administered orally daily to young (3-6-month-old) and old (20-24-month-old) C57BL/6 J mice for 6 weeks. Body weight and grip strength were assessed once a week during the oral administration period. The gastrocnemius and quadriceps muscle were excised, and the muscle fiber size was compared through hematoxylin and eosin staining. In addition, the effect of NSF on sarcopenia and inflammation/oxidative stress-related factors in hindlimb muscles was investigated by western blotting. Flow cytometry analysis was conducted to investigate the effect of NSF on immune homeostasis. Blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture, and the serum levels of insulin-like growth factor 1, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and glutathione were evaluated. Results: NSF significantly alleviated muscle strength, mass, and also fiber size in old mice. Age-associated impairment of immune homeostasis was recovered by NSF through retaining CD11b⁺F4/80⁺ macrophages and regulating inflammatory biomarkers. NSF also decreased the age-induced expression of oxidative stress factors. Taken together, NSF showed the effect of improving sarcopenia by inhibiting low-grade chronic inflammatory/oxidative stress factors. Conclusion: NSF exhibited anti-sarcopenia effects by regulating chronic inflammation and oxidative stress in old mice. Thus, we suggest that NSF is a promising restorative agent that can be used to improve sarcopenia in the elderly as well as maintain immune homeostasis.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.31-37
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• 2023

Objective : This study was conducted to investigate the muscle-improving and therapeutic effects of Boehmeria platanifolia (BP) in a mouse model of dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy. Methods : Muscle atrophy was induced in C57BL/6 mice by intraperitoneal administration of dexamethasone for 12 days. BP extract was administered orally at doses of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg for 19 days, starting 7 days before the intraperitoneal administration of dexamethasone. Mice were weighed during the experimental period, and muscle strength and muscle weight were measured at the end of the experiment. The gastrocnemius (GASTROC) muscles of mice were isolated and the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the muscle fibers was measured after H&E staining. Results : Dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy mice had a decrease in body weight compared to normal mice, and BP-administrated mice did not show significant change in body weight compared with a control group. Muscle strength in mice with induced muscle atrophy was reduced compared to normal and significantly increased with BP administration and positive control. In addition, the weight of the quadriceps (QUAD) muscle and fiber size of the GASTROC muscle, which was reduced in sarcopenia-induced mice, was increased by BP. Conclusion : BP extract increased muscle strength, muscle weight, and muscle fiber size in dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy mice. This suggests that the efficacy of BP extracts in improving muscle strength and preventing and treating sarcopenia may be beneficial for the development of potential therapeutic or functional products.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.39-51
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• 2023

The purpose of this study was to effectively improve the thigh muscles of adult women working from home due to COVID-19. In this study, ten adult women working from home performed 1) an electromyography test, 2) a static balance test on a balance board, and a 3) dynamic balance test by squatting on a Bosu ball four times: before electric muscle stimulation (EMS), after EMS, after high-intensity circuit training (HICT), and after EMS plus HICT. For this test, EMS was attached to a medical knee support to manufacture an EMS knee band that could be easily worn regardless of the location. For the experiment, EMS(electric muscle stimulation) was attached to the medical knee protector to manufacture an EMS knee band that can be easily worn regardless of location, and was measured based on the right foot. The study results confirmed that in all tests (electromyography test, static balance test on the balance board, and dynamic balance test by squatting on a Bosu ball), thigh strength improved in the order of treatment before EMS, after EMS, after HICT, and after EMS plus HICT. The study showed that people working from home or with activity restrictions due to COVID-19 had better exercise effects when wearing the EMS knee band and performing HICT, even in a small space.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.93-107
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• 2023

This study aimed to design a knee brace with dry electrode EMS (Electrical Muscle Stimulation) for elite badminton players suffering from knee pain and assess its effectiveness in relieving pain and improving mobility. The assessment measured knee joint range of motion (ROM), Sargent jump height, and pain perception using a visual analog scale (VAS). Four experimental groups were established: stability, pain induction after 100 squats, muscle soreness induction with a regular knee brace, and muscle soreness induction with the EMS knee brace. The most suitable knee brace was selected from four samples to design the EMS knee brace. The conductive fabric was integrated into the inner surface of the knee brace to enhance EMS conductivity for the quadriceps muscles. Tensile strength tests showed that the dry electrode did not significantly affect the physical functionality of the knee brace.Regarding knee joint ROM and Sargent jump height, the EMS knee brace outperformed muscle soreness induction with a regular knee brace and wearing a standard knee brace. VAS measurements demonstrated that the EMS braces effectively alleviated pain perception in most cases. The results indicate the potential for developing EMS braces to alleviate pain and prevent injuries for athletes across various sports.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.336-345
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• 2023

The present study was designed to evaluate changes in neuromuscular properties and the structural and qualitative characteristics of muscles during submaximal isometric contractions at low-to-relatively vigorous target forces and to determine their influence on force steadiness (FS). Thirteen young adult males performed submaximal isometric knee extensions at 10, 20, 50, and 70% of their maximal voluntary isometric contraction using their non-dominant legs. During submaximal contractions, we recorded force, EMG signals from vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis (VL), and rectus femoris (RF), and ultrasound images from the distal RF (dRF). Force and EMG standard deviation (SD) and coefficient of variation (CV) values were used to measure FS and EMG steadiness, respectively. Muscle thickness (MT), pennation angle (PA), echo intensity (EI), and texture features were calculated from ultrasound images to assess the structural and qualitative characteristics of the muscle. FS, neuromuscular properties, and texture features showed significant differences across different force levels. Additionally, there were significant differences in EMG_CV among the quadriceps at the 50% and 70% force levels. The results of correlation analysis revealed that FS had a significant relationship with EMG_CV in VM, VL, and RF, as well as with the texture features of dRF. This study's findings demonstrate that EMG steadiness and texture features are influenced by the magnitude of the target force and are closely related to FS, indicating their potential contribution to force output control.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.132-140
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• 2024

Background: This study aimed to identify exact anatomical landmarks and ideal injection volumes for safe adductor canal blocks (ACB). Methods: Fifty thighs from 25 embalmed adult Korean cadavers were used. The measurement baseline was the line connecting the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) to the midpoint of the patellar base. All target points were measured perpendicular to the baseline. The relevant cadaveric structures were observed using ultrasound (US) and confirmed in living individuals. US-guided dye injection was performed to determine the ideal volume. Results: The apex of the femoral triangle was 25.3 ± 2.2 cm distal to the ASIS on the baseline and 5.3 ± 1.0 cm perpendicular to that point. The midpoint of the superior border of the vasto-adductor membrane (VAM) was 27.4 ± 2.0 cm distal to the ASIS on the baseline and 5.0 ± 1.1 cm perpendicular to that point. The VAM had a trapezoidal shape and was connected as an aponeurosis between the medial edge of the vastus medialis muscle and lateral edge of the adductor magnus muscle. The nerve to the vastus medialis penetrated the muscle proximal to the superior border of the VAM in 70% of specimens. The VAM appeared on US as a hyperechoic area connecting the vastus medialis and adductor magnus muscles between the sartorius muscle and femoral artery. Conclusions: Confirming the crucial landmark, the VAM, is beneficial when performing ACB. It is advisable to insert the needle obliquely below the superior VAM border, and a 5 mL injection is considered sufficient.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.485-492
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• 2001

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus has been rapidly increased in parallel with the westernization of eating behavior in Korea. Increased consumption of animal fat and simple sugar can be potential contributors for insulin resistance. The purpose of the study was to determine whether Western-(WD) and Korean-style(KD) diets altered insulin secretion and insulin resistance in male Sprague Dawley rats. Rats weighing 98$\pm$5g were provided by KD(77 En% of starch, 5 En% of corn oil and 13 En% of gluten plus 5 En% of casein), WD(42 En% of starch, 40 En% of butter and 18% of casein) or control diet(62 En% of starch, 20 En% of corn oil and 18% of casein) for 12 weeks. Body weights were lower in KD compared to WD. Fasting blood glucose levels were not different among diets. Insulin secretion from the beta cells was higher by 2.2$\pm$0.4 folds in WD than KD at baseline. In hyperglycemic clamp insulin secretion was higher in WD than KD and CD. Whole body glucose disposal rates referred to the state of insulin sensitivity were lowest in WD among groups. Glycogen deposits in soleus and quadriceps muscles were lowest in WD among all groups, but their triglyceride contents were highest. GLUT4 contents and glycogen synthase were lowest in WD in both muscles. In conclusions, westernization of diets needed more insulin to normalization of blood glucose levels due to increased insulin resistance. Thus, WD would lead to increased prevalence of diabetes mellitus when increased insulin resistance could not be compensated by insulin secretion in the case of elevated blood glucose levels. (Korean J Nutriton 34(5) : 485~492, 2001)

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.309-314
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• 2003

Color and its stability in venison, longissumus dorsi (LD) and quadriceps femoris (QF) muscles, from 8 wild Cervus nippon yesoensis (Japanese Yeso Deer) were investigated by means of the CIE L$^{*}a{*}b{*}$ measurement and autoxidation rate recorded using partially purified myoglobin. It was observed a common feature of the change of three mean values($L^{*}$, $a^{*}$ and $b^{*}$) in both LD and QF that mean value increased at 1 or 2 day post-mortem and then decreased during storage. The differences between 1 and 7 days was the largest in $a^{*}$ value than those in $L^{*}$ and $b^{*}$ values. The mean differences among storage days were only significant in $a^{*}$ except for $b^{*}$ of LD. It was same tendency that the mean difference of CIE $L^{*}$, $a^{*}$ and $b^{*}$ values during refrigerator storage was larger in $a^{*}$ than both in $L^{*}$ and $b^{*}$ reported in beef(Sekikawa et al., 1995) and venison(Stevenson et al., 1989) during storage. The smaller $a^{*}$ value was indicated that bright red of meat changed to dull red, brown red causing met-Mb formation. To compare of color stability with respects to the Mb autoxidation rate, we measured this rate of deer and horse muscles, because horse Mb was considered to have the fastest autoxidation rate among domestic animals, and we used crude Mb and pH 6.0, which might be reflected to the intact meat. Mean value of the autoxidation rate measured in this study in deer was 0.037 and that was 0.026 in horse(sigma). Although there was no significant mean difference and were different Mb purity between deer(A409/A 280 nm = 4.0) and horse(5.6), in generally Mb purity was the higher and the faster autoxidation rate, but this rate in deer was faster than in horse. These results might indicate that venison meat discolors at faster rate compared with beef.