• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.29-38
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• 2012

This study aimed to identify the asymmetry observed in the electromyography (EMG) activity patterns of selected trunk and thigh muscles between the affected and unaffected sides during the sit-to-stand movement in ambulatory patients with post-stroke hemiparesis. This study included 20 patients with post-stroke hemiparesis. The differences between stroke fast walkers (${\geq}8m/s$, 11 subjects) and stroke slow walkers (<8 m/s, 9 subjects) were compared. The activation magnitude and onset time of the multifidus, lumbar erector spinae, hamstrings, and quadriceps during the sit-to-stand movement were recorded through surface EMG. Moreover, the EMG activation magnitude and onset time ratios of each bilateral corresponding muscle from the trunk and leg were measured by dividing the relevant values of the unaffected side by those of the affected side. In all the subjects, the activation magnitudes of the multifidus, hamstring, and quadriceps on the affected side significantly decreased compared to those on the unaffected side (p<.05). The onset time of muscle activity in the affected side was markedly delayed for the multifidus and quadriceps during the task (p<.05). The activation magnitude ratios of the quadriceps were markedly decreased in the stroke slow walkers as compared to those in the stroke fast walkers. These findings indicate that the asymmetry in the multifidus, hamstring, and quadriceps muscle activation patterns in patients with post-stroke hemiparesis may be due to the excessive muscle activation in the unaffected side to compensate for the weakened muscle activity in the affected side. Our findings may provide researchers and clinicians with information that can be useful in rehabilitation therapy.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.235-245
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• 2004

The purposes of this study are to develop 'Squat Scoring Scale' and identify relationship between squatting score and flexibility of the lower extremity muscles such as quadriceps femoris and soleus in terms of relationship between squatting and functions of lower extremity. Subjects have normal gait patterns only with or without musculoskeletal problems of lower extremities, lumbar and pelvis and gender. There are sixty subjects who participated in this study. The scoring are checked after squatting posture according to 'Squat Scoring Scale', and measured ROM of the ankle dorsiflexion and knee flexion for flexibility of the soleus and quadriceps femoris, respectively. Fourteen of sixty subjects have 10 score, seventeen subjects have 9 score, seven subjects have 8, 7 and 6 scores, three subjects have 5 score, and five subjects have 4 score. The gap between 10 to 9, 9 to 8 and 8 to 7 score in all values of angles has the statistical significance for t-test(p<.05). This information indicates that flexibility of quadriceps femoris and soleus acts as important factors in squatting.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.541-550
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• 2012

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was compare quadriceps femoris muscle activity while performing wall slide squats of four methods. METHODS: Forty subjects, with no history of patellofemoral pain, quadriceps injury, or other knee injury volunteered for this study. Muscle activation of the vastus medialis obliquus, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis muscles were recorded while subjects performed 10 consecutive wall slide squats. Subjects performed the wall slide squats during four different methods: (1) basic wall slide squat, (2) keep back upright against fitness ball, (3) standing of unstable surface, (4) squeezing ball between both knees. Statistical analysis were accomplished by utilizing the one-way ANOVA(Bonferroni's post-hoc test) by SPSS 20.0 program. Significance level was set at p<.05. RESULTS: Muscle activations induced wall slide squats of four methods compared and results showed that there was significant difference only in vastus medialis obliquus and rectus femoris but there was no significant difference in vastus lateralis. The vastus medialis obliquus was significantly different only keep back upright against fitness ball at post-hoc test. The rectus femoris was significantly different keep back upright against fitness ball and standing of unstable surface at post-hoc test. CONCLUSION: Based on these results, we conclude that quadriceps femoris muscle activations are differenced by performing wall slide squats of four different methods in healthy subjects. These data suggest that for quadriceps muscle strengthening, exercise professionals can perform the wall slide squats by altering several task variables. Further research is needed to determine the exact mechanism by which quadriceps function is altered.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.42-49
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• 2009

This study examined the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and the vastus lateralis (VL) onset time differences (OTD) during quadriceps contraction in different hip positions. Twelve healthy subjects were recruited (four men, eight women). Surface EMG activities of the VMO and VL were measured during a quadriceps strengthening exercise in a long sitting condition and in a sitting at a chair with feet hanging condition. For each condition, subjects were tested in two hip positions (neutral and adduction). The OTD between the two muscles was calculated for each condition, by subtracting the onset time of the VL from the VMO. Therefore, the negative value of OTD represent earlier EMG onset of the VMO compared to the VL. The OTD was not significantly different between the hip neutral and the hip adduction position in the long sitting condition (p=.064). However, the OTD was significantly different between the hip neutral position ($15.83{\pm}109.51$ ms) and hip adduction position ($-5.58{\pm}121.08$ ms) during the sitting at a chair with feet hanging condition (p=.047). The negative OTD value in the hip adduction condition during quadriceps strengthening exercises is the result of earlier onset of the VMO than VL. Therefore, quadriceps contraction in the hip adduction position can prevent the risk of patella lateral tracking. We expect that quadriceps strengthening exercise in the hip adduction position will be a safe way to prevent patellofemoral pain syndrome resulting from abnormal patella lateral tracking.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.9-17
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• 2018

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to compare the effects of the Graston-based massage method and microcurrent application on muscle fatigue after causing muscle fatigue of the quadriceps femoris by applying high-intensity exercise. METHODS: Study subjects (56 healthy subjects in their 20s) were randomized into a microcurrent group (MG), Graston group (GG), and control group (CG). To induce fatigue of the quadriceps femoris, the subjects performed squats 100 times without a break within about 5 minutes. Muscle fatigue was measured immediately after performing squats and 15 minutes after intervention. To measure muscle fatigue, surface electromyogram (EMG) was used to obtain and compare the median frequency. Microcurrent or Graston massage was applied to their quadriceps muscles 15 minutes after performing the squats. RESULTS: Muscle fatigue increased significantly in the vastus lateralis before and after intervention in the Graston group (p<.05), while no significant difference was observed in the rectus femoris and vastus medialis (p>.05). There were also no significant differences in the microcurrent group or the control group. CONCLUSION: Both the microcurrent group and Graston group showed a tendency for increasing median frequency values compared to the control group, but there was no significant difference except in the vastus lateralis treated with the Graston technique. Although there was no significant difference, the Graston technique could be utilized to reduce the occurrence of DOMS by preventing muscle fatigue in clinical practice or sports medicine.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.10-16
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• 2023

Objective: The purpose of this was to find out the muscle activity of the quadriceps femoris by gender when sitting on a chair while performing stairs gait (US; Up-stairs, DS; Down-stairs). Method: 13 male subjects (age: 22.00 ± 1.68 yrs, height: 174.85 ± 6.10 cm, weight: 68.15 ± 9.83 kg) and 15 female subjects (age: 21.17 ± 1.58 yrs, height: 168.20 ± 5.55 cm, weight: 55.73 ± 6.94 kg) participated in this study. The study used wireless three channel EMG. Results: In this study, there was no gender difference in quadriceps femoris activity during the US and DS periods, and there was no significant difference between the male group before and after postural maintenance during the US and DS periods. The quadriceps muscle of the female group also did not show a significant difference before and after US sitting. However, the vastus medialis muscle activity during DS in the female group was significantly lower after application than before application of maintaining a sitting posture (p<.05). There was no interaction effect between the 15-minute sitting position application and gender. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that sitting in a chair affects the transient functioning of the quadriceps muscle in women. Therefore, emphasize the need for active rest when sitting in a chair for long periods of time.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.769-772
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• 2022

Femoral nerve injuries are devastating injuries that lead to paralysis of the quadriceps muscles, weakening knee extension to prohibit ambulation. We report a devastating case of electrical injury-induced femoral neuropathy, where no apparent site of nerve disruption can be identified, thus inhibiting the traditional choices of nerve reconstruction such as nerve repair, grafting, or transfer. Concomitant spinal cord injury resulted in spastic myopathy of the antagonist muscles that further restricted knee extension. Our strategy was to perform (1) supercharge end-to-side technique (SETS) to augment the function of target muscles and (2) fractional tendon lengthening to release the spastic muscles. Dramatic postoperative improvement in passive and active range of motion highlights the effectiveness of this strategy to manage partial femoral nerve injuries.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.165-175
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• 2011

Purpose: This study examined the effect of the strengthening exercise and stretching exercise to decrease symptom patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). Methods: The Anterior Knee Pain Scale (AKPS) and Clark's test performed for diagnosis of intrinsic PFPS among young adults. Selected thirty young adults subjects who aged 20~26 years participated in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to strengthening, stretching, or control groups. Strengthening group consisted of quadriceps, hamstring and iliotibia band training used elastic band. Stretching group consisted of quadriceps, hamstring and iliotibia band trainings used stretching exercises program. Participants received 50-minute individualized exercise sessions, 3 times a week for 6 weeks. Results: The results were as follow: there were significantly difference stretching exercise group by all muscles on muscular strength test (p<.05). there were significantly difference both strengthening and stretching exercise group by all muscles on flexibility test (p<.05). There were significantly difference stretching exercise group by all muscles on step-down test (p<.05). There were significantly difference both strengthening and stretching exercise group by all muscles on visual analog scale (p<.05). Conclusion: Results suggest important implications for exercise programs of PFPS that stretching exercise is more improved knee pain, functional performance, patella mobility than strengthening exercise.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.1-12
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• 1999

The aim of this study is to examine the sensitivity and characteristics of electromyography abnormalities detected by using various paramenters in patients with lumbosacral radiculopathies. EMG is widely used for disgnosing and localizing the level of radiculopathy. The results of the study were as follow : 1. In electromyography, L5 radiculopathy usa 95 cases(51.690). S1 radiculopathy was $45m(24.5\%)$ L4 radiculopathy was 18cases $(9.8\%)$, and L2, 3 radiculopathy was 8cases$(4.3\%)$. Remains 18cases$(9.8\%)$ had no definite radiculopathy. 2. Peroneal and tibial motor nerve conduction velocity studies were not significant as compared to the side to side. 3. Latency of H-reflex in L5 radiculopathy was $30.55\pm2.47$ in affected side, $29.47\pm2.29$ in unaffected side, in S1 radiculopathy was $33.00\pm2.03$ in affected side, R30.18\pm2.21$ in unaffected side. It was statistically significant(p<0.01). H-reflex mean difference of S1 radiculopathy group was significantly prolonged as compared to the L5 and S1 radiculopathies(p<0.001). 4. In L2, 3 radiculopathy, abnormal spontaneous activities and motor unit action potentials were showed high sensitivity in upper lumber paraspinal, hip adductors, quadriceps and iliopsoas muscles. 5. In L4 radiculopathy, lower lumbar paraspinal, tibialis anterior, quadriceps muscles were showed high sensitivity. 6. In L5 radiculopathy, lower lumbar paraspinal, extensor hallucis longus, extensor digitorum longus, peroneus longus, extensor digitorum brevis, gluteus maximus, tensor fasciae latae muscles were showed high sensitivity. 7. In S1 radiculopathy, lower lumbar paraspinal, gluteus maximus, peroneus longus, soleus, abductor hallucis, hamstrings, extensor digitorum brevis, extensor hallucis lognus, gastrocnemius muscles were showed high sensitivity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.21-28
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• 2022

PURPOSE: This study examined the effect of changes in the knee angle and weight shifting of the sole on the activity of the lower extremity muscles during bridge exercise. METHODS: The subjects of this study included 20 healthy adult women (mean age 29.8 ± 4.32). The subjects performed the bridge exercise under three weight-shifting conditions general bridge (GB), hindfoot press bridge (HPB), and fore-foot bridge (FPB) and at two knee angles (90° and 60°). During the bridge exercise, the activity of the quadriceps femoris (rectus femoris, vastus medialis oblique, and vastus lateralis) and biceps femoris muscles were measured using an electromyography sensor. RESULTS: In the quadriceps femoris, the muscle activity of HPB and FPB was significantly higher than that of the GB at knee angles of 90° and 60° (p < .05). In the biceps femoris, the muscle activity increased significantly in the order of GB < HPB < FPB, and the knee angle increased significantly at 60° rather than at 90° (p < .05). There was no significant difference according to the knee angle in all muscles except for the biceps femoris. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the weight-shifting bridge of sole bridge exercise was more effective in increasing the activation of the lower extremity muscles than the GB.