• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.131-139
• /
• 2022

Background: Shoulder impingement syndrome, a major cause of shoulder pain, involves weakness of the scapular retractor muscles. The major scapular retractor muscles are the middle trapezius and rhomboid major muscles; however, the latter is excluded in most studies. Objects: We aimed to measure the thickness of the middle trapezius and rhomboid major muscles using an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system while performing four different shoulder retraction exercises and comparing the thicknesses and ratio of the thicknesses of these muscles. Methods: The thickness of the middle trapezius and rhomboid major muscles was measured in 24 healthy adults using ultrasound. Muscle thickness was measured three times in the Reference posture and four times while performing four different exercises that involved scapular retraction. The averages and standard deviations of the measured muscle thicknesses were obtained and compared. The ratio of muscle thickness and rate of changes in muscle thickness between the reference posture and the four exercises were compared. Results: For both, male (n = 10) and female (n = 14), there was a significant difference in the thickness of the middle trapezius muscle between the reference posture and the four exercises (p < 0.05) and in the thickness of the middle trapezius and rhomboid major muscles between male and female (p < 0.05); however, there was no significant difference in the ratio of the thicknesses of these muscles. Although a significant difference in the rate of change in muscle thickness during the four exercises was noted, there was no significant difference in the ratio of change in muscle thickness. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the ratio of the thicknesses of the middle trapezius and rhomboid major muscles and the rate of change in their thickness during exercises involving scapular retraction in healthy people in their 20s-30s.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.79-84
• /
• 2014

Background : This study is for respiratory muscle activity and chest expansion through practice abdominal breathing exercises. Methods : The subjects were consisted normal 30 persons(15 males and 15 females). The control group to 15 people to compare group and 15 people for the abdominal breathing exercise group through lip retraction movement of the therapist with the resistance of mediated abdominal breathing exercises. For 8 weeks EMG was used to know the changes in respiratory muscle. We also found out the changes in chest expansion. And the t-test was conducted to analyze among the compared group, the abdominal breathing group the differences between before and after the experiment. Results : On the changes in respiratory muscle muscular activity in the transverse abdominis have shown significant results(p<.05), and the change in chest expansion was no significant(p>.05). Conclusion : Various breathing exercises in future research on intervention programs can be studied to promote the public if the functional status is considered to be of much help.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.29-36
• /
• 2019

Background: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of leg lift difference on the serratus anterior muscle and the upper trapezius muscle when a subject with winged scapula performs a scapula protraction exercise in a four-leg crawling posture. Method: Twenty normal adults and 20 subjects with winged scapula participated in the experiment. Surface EMG recordings were collected from serratus anterior muscle and back trapezius muscle during scapula protraction exercises. Scapular winging is measured with the lifting distance of scapula retraction to the back using an electronic digital caliper. In two groups of four-leg crawling posture, the two legs support, the dominant leg lifting, and the non-dominant leg lifting, including the scapula protraction, were performed. To examine the difference between groups in the variance analysis, the Bonferroni correction was used (significance level ${\alpha}=.017$). Statistical significance level ${\alpha}$ was .05. Results: There was a significant difference in serratus anterior muscle and upper trapezius muscle during push-up plus exercise in leg lifting in four-leg crawling posture, but there were no significant differences in muscle activity between serratus anterior muscle and upper trapezius muscle, and there was no significant difference according to the presence or absence of scapular winging. Conclusion: For the shoulder stability of the ipsilateral side with the serratus anterior muscle, the leg-lifting posture is effective in the four-leg crawling, and also when a subject with winged scapula chooses an exercise, lifting the ipsilateral side of leg with scapula protraction exercises at the same time may have a positive effect on scapula dysfunction.