• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.35-40
• /
• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the immediate effects of using the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) contract-relax technique in the close kinetic chain position on the gait ability and gastrocnemius muscle tone of stroke patients. Methods: The subjects were patients who had strokes due to cerebrum infarction and hemorrhage. The subjects participated in exercise with the PNF contract-relax technique in the standing-on-elbow position with a high table, and the affected lower leg was placed in the posterior position. The PNF contract-relax technique was applied at the position in which the ankle plantar-flexors were in a sufficiently elongated position. After performing twice in each range, while the muscle was elongated, the affected side was moved further back and a new range was set. In each session, the time of contraction was set to 8 seconds, and the resting time was set to 5 seconds; however, if the patient felt tired, they received more resting time during the intervention. The Myoton Pro and 10 m walking test were used to measure the muscle tone and gait ability both pre- and post-intervention. Results: After participating in the program, the muscle tone decreased and the gait ability improved in the ankle plantar-flexors, as determined by the Myoton Pro and 10 m walking test. Conclusion: The PNF contract-relax technique can help to decrease muscle tone in ankle plantar-flexors with hypertonus and increase the gait ability in stroke patients.

• Journal of Auto-vehicle Safety Association
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.48-57
• /
• 2023

With the advance of autonomous vehicle technology various sitting posture is possible like relax position (inclined seating posture). Parametric study was done with MADYMO, a mutibody dynamics solver, to investigate the effect of sitting posture in different frontal crash modes, full frontal, 40% offset, and angled rigid barrier crash as well as various impact speeds. Hybrid III 50th male and 5th female dummies were used to figure out the difference induced by occupant weight and dimension. Restraint system parameters complying to current safety protocols like NCAP are studied if they still work effectively in relax position which is feasible with autonomous vehicles.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.22-31
• /
• 2000

Despite research to treat delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), no effective treatment has been reported. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of a hold-relax technique and cryotherapy on DOMS. Thirty-three subjects were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: control, hold-relax technique, or hold-relax technique and cryotherapy. DOMS was induced in the non-dominant biceps muscle through repeated eccentric contractions. Resting elbow joint position, flexion and extension (universal goniometer), pain (Visual Analogue Scale; VAS), and WBC count (blood analysis) were measured one hour before DOMS was induced and 24, 48, and 72 hours after DOMS was induced. The data were analyzed by repeated measure of two-way ANOVA. The results of this study were summarized as follows: 1) While analysis showed no significant differences between groups in relation to a resting elbow joint position, there were significant differences over time, especially at 24, 48 hours after DOMS was induced compared with resting elbow joint position before DOMS was induced. 2) While analysis showed no significant differences between groups in relation to range of flexion, there were significant differences between range of flexion before DOMS was induced and range of flexion 72 hours after DOMS was induced. 3) There were no significant differences between groups or over time in relation to range of extension. 4) While analysis showed no significant differences between groups in relation to VAS, there were significant differences over time in different hours. 5) There were no significant differences between groups or over time in relation to WBC count. 6) There were no interactions between groups or over time in all variables. This results suggested that hold-relax technique and cryotherapy were not effective to reduce DOMS.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.51-58
• /
• 2018

Backdround: Using RUSI (Rehabilitation Ultra Sound Imiging) method, which showed high reliability in soft tissue measurements, we compared the muscle relax and contraction, sex, and physical characteristics of the activity of the multifidus muscle in patients with chronic low back pain and normal subjects. Methods: In this study, 16 patients (male: 8, female: 8) with chronic low back pain and 16 healthy adult (male: 8, female: 8) were participated. Subjects lied prone posture on the table with elbow flexed $90^{\circ}$ and shoulder abducted $120^{\circ}$ (starting position). Test was applied two types that muscle relax position and muscle contraction position. Muscle relax position is equal to starting position and muscle contraction position is that upper extremity lift up about 5cm from the table. We measured the thickness of the multifidus muscle in each position by ultrasound. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in deviation of Both Side Difference of Activated resting-Arm Lifting Ratio according to posture change between the chronic low back pain patient group and the normal group. Conclusion: The result of this study support previous study showing that there is an imbalance in the activity of multifidus in patients with chronic low back pain.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.229-238
• /
• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the immediate effects of various contract-relax (CR) techniques on the peck force and passive range of motion (ROM) of knee extension. Methods: This study recruited 17 adult males and females who obtained below $90^{\circ}$ in straight leg raising. The subjects randomly performed one of three different CR techniques (direct CR, indirect CR, and modified CR) on the right knee extension four times per day for three days. The subjects' peck force during each CR and their passive knee extension on the hip at a $90^{\circ}$ flexed position before and after each CR were measured. Results: The peck force was significantly higher in the direct and modified CR than in the indirect CR. The ROM in the passive knee extension significantly increased after direct and indirect CR. Comparing between each CR, the passive knee extension range was significantly more improved in the direct and indirect CR than in the modified CR. Conclusion: Direct and indirect CR are more effective than modified CR in the ROM of passive knee extension. The study results suggest that the modified CR did not have the same effect on the ROM of the knee extension as the direct and indirect CR and that further research is needed to recruit more subjects and to determine the effects on different muscles after modified CR.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.7-14
• /
• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of direct and indirect methods of contract-relax techniques in proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching for improving hamstring flexibility. Methods: Twenty-six subjects were randomly assigned to either a direct contract-relax technique group or an indirect contract-relax group. For each group, stretching intervention was performed three times a week for a period of two weeks, with 12 seconds for the contraction and 10 seconds for the relaxation per once. The direct contract-relax technique for hamstring flexibility was applied by asking the subject to press down on the shoulder of the trainer in the straight leg-raising position. Conversely, the indirect contract-relax technique was performed by raising the leg with resistance. To facilitate a comparative analysis of hamstring flexibility between the two groups before and after the stretching intervention, two-way repeated ANOVA was performed. Hamstring flexibility for each group was measured using a passive straight leg-raising test. Results: The results showed significant improvement in hamstring flexibility for all subjects in the two groups. However, there was no significant difference between the groups. Conclusion: In conclusion, both direct and indirect contract-relax techniques are confirmed to be useful for improving hamstring flexibility. The choice of suitable technique has to be made individually according to the condition of each subject.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.55-60
• /
• 1994

Thirty healthy adults aged 20 to 29 with no history of musculoskeletal or neurogenic disorder volunteered for this study. The contract-relax with agonist contration(CRAC) was applied to the right hamstring muscles with the subject in the supine position. Each hamstring group was stretched on three sucessive days with several repetitions of the technique lasting 1min, 3min, and 5min. respectively. Hamstring extensibility at the knee(ROM) was measured before and after stretching using on electronic digital inclinometer(EDI). The results, namely the increase in ROM, were analysed using one-way repeated ANOVA at p<0.05. The differences were not significant. Possible factors influencing the results are excessive sensitibility of the measuring instrument, the psychological and physical status of the subjects, and the level of muscle fatigue. The mean increases in ROM were 3.0 at 1min., 2.6 at 3min, and 2.1 at 5min. Inclusion of a control group would have further defined the effects of the stretching technique.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.47-54
• /
• 2014

The aim of this study was to compare the duration of hamstring flexibility improvement after 3 stretching interventions in people with limited hamstring flexibility. Twenty-two subjects (12 men, 10 women) with limited hamstring flexibility of the dominant leg received 3 stretching interventions- modified dynamic stretching (MDS), hold-relax (HR), and static stretching (SS)-in a random order. All the subjects received all 3 interventions at intervals of at least 24 hours to minimize any carry-over effect. Modified dynamic stretching was applied as a closed kinetic chain exercise in the supine position by using the sling suspension system (Redcord Trainer(R)). The SS and HR interventions were individually performed in the straight leg raising (SLR) position, and all 3 interventions were performed for 3 minutes. Outcome measures included passive knee extension (PKE) measurements. Five post-test measurements were recorded for all subjects at 3, 6, 9, 15, and 30 minutes after the interventions. MDS was associated with a significant increase in knee extension range of motion even at 30 minutes post-treatment. In contrast, the HR and SS stretching methods showed increased hamstring flexibility for only 6 minutes post-treatment. Improvements in the range of motion of knee extension (indicating enhancement in hamstring flexibility) with MDS were maintained longer than those with the HR and SS interventions. Therefore, MDS may be more effective than the other interventions for maintaining hamstring flexibility.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.263-274
• /
• 2019

Purpose: This article was conducted to determine the immediate effects of unilateral contract-relax (CR) stretching on contralateral knee extension range and to compare both sides of the knee extension range between experimental and control groups. Methods: This study recruited 16 adult males and females with straight leg raising abilities below $90^{\circ}$. The subjects were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group comprising 8 subjects each. The experimental group performed direct CR stretching on the right hamstring muscles with straight hip extension adduction, and the control group performed indirect CR stretching on the right hamstring muscles with straight hip flexion abduction. Each group performed CR stretching 4 times with 4 repetitions comprising 10 sec of contraction and a 10 sec break between repetitions. Before and after the CR stretching exercises, the subjects' passive knee extensions were measured at the hip in a $90^{\circ}$ flexed position. The subjects' peak force on the right leg and peak pressure on the left leg during each CR stretching exercise were also measured. Results: After doing CR stretching 4 times, each group showed a significantly increased passive knee extension range on both sides, and there was no difference in the passive knee extension ranges between the groups. The peak force on the right leg was significantly higher in the experimental group than the control group. There was no difference in peak pressure between the groups. Conclusion: After applying unilateral CR stretching, the study subjects experienced a significantly increased passive knee extension range on the contralateral side. For patients who find it difficult to apply stretching techniques to knee joints directly, the use of the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation technique of CR stretching may be useful in improving the range of the knee joint on the contralateral side without direct treatment.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.73-86
• /
• 1980

Recently, the controversy continues as to whether maximum intercuspation of teeth should occur at the terminal hinge position(the condylar theory) or at the myo-co(the neuromuscular theory). There is also much controversy regarding the antero-posterior position of myo-co. The object of this study was to measure and compare with the positional relations of centric relation, centric occlusion and myo-co, and free-way space using Mandibular Kinesiograph and Myo-monitor in the 40 subjects without stomatognathic problems. Mandibular Kinesiograph(M.K.G.) was originally conceived as a research instrument to track mandibular movement and position. As its use in research progressed, its great diagnostic value became apparent in case by case. And Myo-monitor was developed as a means of applying the neuromuscular approach to occlusion. Thus the Myo-monitor technique is an intra-systemic approach to occlusal positioning using patient's own musculature, and Myo-monitor is used to relax the musculature by a light myopulse induced electronically. From this experiment, the following results were obtained. 1. The adaptive free-way space before muscle relaxation was an average of $1.6{\pm}60mm$, and the true free-way space after muscle relaxation using Myo-monitor was an average of $2.4{\pm}0.74mm$. 2. It took an average of $25{\pm}3.11$ minutes to relax the mandibular musculature by Myo-monitor and administration of 5mg. Diazepam and an average of $38{\pm}4.73$ minutes by Myo-monitor without administration of Diazepam. 3. Myo-co existed anterior to centric occlusion, with an average of $0.53{\pm}0.31$ mm, and centric relation existed posterior to centric occlusion, with an average of $0.57{\pm}0.58mm$ before muscle relaxation and with an average of $0.57{\pm}0.43mm$ after muscle relaxation. 4. Centric relation coincided with centric occlusion in 5 of 40 subjects(12.5%), and posterior to centric occlusion in the rest of cases (87.5%). 5. Myo-co existed anterior to centric occlusion in 38 of 40 subjects(95%), except 1 subject that coincided with centric occlusion and 1 subject that existed posterior to centric occlusion. 6. Myo-co and centric relation existed inferior to centric occlusion and the lateral displacement was various with individual difference. 7. The total displacement from centric occlusion to centric relation was an average of $0.74{\pm}0.64mm$ before muscle relaxation, and an average of $0.68{\pm}0.53mm$ after muscle relaxation, and the total displacement from centric occlusion to myo-co was an average of $1.07{\pm}0.58mm$.