• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.31-39
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• 2012

The lower trapezius muscle is an important stabilizer and primary mover of the scapula. The potential use of ultrasound imaging to evaluate scapular muscle function warrants investigation. The purpose of this study is to use ultrasound imaging for determining the effectiveness of 4 different isometric exercises for maximally activating the lower trapezius muscles in healthy subjects. Twenty-eight (14 men and 14 women) volunteers were recruited for this study. Thickness measurements of the lower trapezius muscles were recorded during 4 exercises: latissimus pulldown (LP), prone V-raise (PV), prone row (PR), and modified prone cobra (MP). Lower trapezius muscle thickness was measured 3 times by 2 investigators at a point 3 cm lateral to the lateral edge of the T8 spinous process. The order of 4 exercise execution was randomized for each participant. To identify statistical significance, one-way ANOVA with repeated measures was used with the significance level of .05. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for intra-reliability was .86~.98 and inter-rater reliability .83~.96 for the lower trapezius, respectively (p<.01). Thickness changes in the lower trapezius muscles between the relaxed and contracted states in men were as follows: LP ($7.37{\pm}2.68mm$, 182%), MP ($4.69{\pm}1.74mm$, 167%), PV ($4.52{\pm}1.47mm$, 149%), and PR ($3.84{\pm}1.72mm$, 133%). In women the values were as follows: LP ($4.64{\pm}1.24mm$, 163%), MP ($2.79{\pm}.81mm$, 131%), PV ($2.78{\pm}.85mm$, 129%), and PR ($2.21{\pm}1.26$ mm, 100%). Thickness of the lower trapezius muscles significantly differed between exercises in both the gender (p<.01). The LP was the most effective exercise for increasing the activation of the lower trapezius muscle in both the gender. We recommend performing the LP exercise for strengthening the lower trapezius muscles.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.399-405
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to compare the shoulder stabilizer muscle activity during a push up plus on a different conditioning surface. Eighteen healthy volunteers were tested. Surface EMG was recorded from the upper trapezius(UT), pectoralis major(PM), and serratus anterior(SA) using surface differential conditions. Measurements were performed for 7 days. The mean root mean square (RMS) of EMG activity was calculated. A one-way repeated measures analysis of variance was performed to compare RMS normalized values. The UT and PM did not show significant differences of electric activation amplitude in relation to different surface conditions(p>.05). However, the SA showed greater mean electric activation amplitude values on the push up plus exercise on a upper and lower unstable surface(p<.05). These results suggest that to improve SA EMG activity is more useful when performed on a upper and lower unstable surface conditions than on a stable surface conditions.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.88-94
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare therapeutic climbing exercise and general isometric exercise in patients with shoulder impingement syndrome. Methods: Among 20 adults, study subjects were arbitrarily classified into an experimental group of 10 and a control group of 10. The control group performed general isometric exercise (ISE) and the experimental group performed therapeutic climbing exercise (TC) (3 sets, 3 times per week for 8 weeks). To evaluate the effects of exercise, subjects were evaluated using a Disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand score (DASH), a goniometer for range of motion, and shoulder activity measured serratus anterior, upper trapezius, and lower trapezius. Independent and paired t-test were used for comparison of the effect between groups. Results: DASH scores showed a significant decrease in both groups after 8 weeks of treatment (p<0.001) and significant difference was observed between the TC groups (p<0.01). Flexion and abduction were significantly increased after 8 weeks of treatment in the ISE group (p<0.001) and flexion, abduction, external and internal rotation were significantly increased after 8 weeks of treatment in the TC group (p<0.001). Serratus anterior and lower trapezius activity were significantly increased after 8 weeks of treatment (p<0.001) and upper trapezius activity was not significantly increased after 8 weeks of treatment in the ISE group (p>0.05). Serratus anterior, lower trapezius, and upper trapezius activity were significantly increased after 8 weeks of treatment in the TC group (p<0.001). Conclusion: Scapular stabilizing exercise using a therapeutic climbing exercise increases range of motion and decreases DASH, and increases activity of shoulder muscles in patients with impingement syndrome.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.75-80
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• 2018

PURPOSE: Scapular stability is very important to arm function during activities of daily living. The push-up plus exercise is commonly used to stabilize the shoulder muscles. In the present study, we designed an elastic shoulder band (ESB) that could be used with the push-up plus exercise and studied muscle activities of the serratus anterior (SA) and the lower and the upper trapezius (LT and UT) on stable and unstable support. METHODS: Fifteen healthy people participated in this study. Three muscles were investigated using surface EMG with and without the ESB on stable and unstable support. All subjects performed each trial three times for 7 seconds per set and rested for 30 seconds. Repeated one-way ANOVA was used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: The EMG activity of the SA was significantly different during the push-up plus exercise on stable support with the ESB compared with that on unstable support without the ESB (p<.05). However, there were no differences in the activities of UT and LT on stable and unstable support (p>.05). CONCLUSION: The ESB was effective for the activity of SA during the push-up plus exercise on stable support; therefore, it has the potential for use by people during push-up plus exercises. However, further studies are required to investigate the rehabilitation tools for patients with shoulder instability.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.907-915
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• 2001

The purpose of this study is to effectively treat low back pain for the out patients who have been treated at the oriental hospital. Sorting the low back pain patients into four types based on scapular and ilium tilting hyper/hypo mobility characteristics, it has used several kinds of acupuncture stimuli on the 4 motor points of limb skeletal muscles, analyzing the acupuncture treatment on the 12 acupuncture points with which oriental hospitals has given to the low back pain patients and comparing with this effect. It has been analyzed how effectively the acupuncture stimuli has been contributed to the low back pain patients who suffered from skeletal muscles of spinal limb thorax abdominal and spinal skeletal system. The results are as follows. 1. There has been changes after treatment in both the control and experimental groups for low back pain patients, but the latter has been more increased in changes than the former. 2. There were much effects on the balanced restorations for spinal skeletal muscle in both the control group and experimental one, but on terms of restoration degree, the degree of the experimental group was higher than that of the control group. 3. Both the contrastive treatment and the experimental one have been contributed to the balanced restoration for all of the limb thorax abdominal muscles, but there were a few differences in terms of the way for restoration and the effects for improvement according to body types. 4. On both the control and the experimental group, spinal skeletal system has been restored with balance, but the experimental group has been higher effective on the balanced restoration than the one of the control group. Considering these results both the control and the experimental treatments have been contributed to the balanced restorations for all of low back pain patients who were suffering from skeletal muscles of spinal limb thorax abdominal and spinal skeletal system, but the contribution degree for the experimental group has been higher than that of the control group.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.379-385
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was to determine the immediate effects of pulsed magnetic field (PMF) in subjects with upper trapezius (UT) trigger point (TrP). Methods: Fifteen subjects with UT TrP were recruited for the study's PMF group (pain threshold=$2.29kg/cm^2$), and 15 age-, weight-, and gender-matched subjects with UT TrP were recruited for control group (pain threshold=$2.25kg/cm^2$). Pressure algometer was used to measure pressure pain threshold on UT TrP and, cervical range of motion (ROM) inclinometer was used to measure cervical ROM. Surface electromyography was used to record UT, lower trapezius, and serratus anterior muscle activity and relative ratio during scapular plane abduction between pre- and post-treatment. Results: The PMF effectively improved pain threshold and concurrently increased ROM (rotation to the painful side, lateral flexion to the nonpainful side). In addition, the PMF may effectively deactivate UT activity during abduction and the muscle activity ratio between UT and serratus anterior. Conclusion: These findings provided empirical evidence that PMF can be an effective treatment method to reduce pain threshold, to increase cervical ROM, and deactivate UT activity in individuals with TrP.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.121-138
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• 1996

Impingement syndrome is mechanical impingement between the greater tubercle of the humerus and the under surface of the coracoacromial arch, is a common source of shoulder pain in the athletes as well as non-athletes. Several factors contribute to shoulder impingement syndrome, including rotator cuff weakness, capsular tightness, poor scapulohumeral rhythm, and muscle imbalance of the scapular upward rotation force couple. The purpose of this article is to review current concepts of anatomy and biomechanics and the underlying pathomechanics as it relates to evaluation and treatment of shoulder impingement syndrome.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.76-83
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• 2019

Background: The hyoid bone is the only non-jointed structure among the skeletal tissues of the head and neck region, and its movement and posture depend on the attached muscle, ligament, and fascia. The location of the hyoid bone is important for airway maintenance, vocalization, chewing, swallowing, breathing, and head and scapular position. In general, the location of the hyoid bone is measured using radiographs and 3D computed tomography, and no studies have reported on clinical measurement methods. Objects: This study was performed to suggest clinical measurement methods for lateral deviation of the hyoid bone and to evaluate their reliability. Methods: In this study, 24 healthy volunteers (12 males, 12 females) in Cheongju-si participated. Two examiners performed the center point test and lateral motion test twice each to measure the lateral displacement of the hyoid bone. The reliability of the center point test was analyzed using intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC), and the reliability of the lateral motion test was analyzed using Cohen's kappa coefficient. Results: The intra-rater reliability of the center point test was good, and the inter-rater reliability was moderate. The intra- and inter-rater reliability of the lateral motion test showed substantial reliability. Conclusion: Based on these results, the center point test and the lateral motion test can be used as an alternative methods of the measurement of lateral deviation of the hyoid bone for people who have musculoskeletal disorders of the head, neck, and scapula.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.45-48
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• 2013

A 12-year-old male poodle weighing 2.0 kg presented for evaluation of right thoracic limb lameness. The owner reported that the dog showed recurrent bilateral shoulder joint luxation after a car accident for a year. Recently, the left shoulder joint appeared well maintained, but right shoulder joint luxation was exacerbated. On physical examination, the dog showed non-weight bearing lameness on the right thoracic limb. Craniocaudal radiographic views revealed medial displacement of the right humerus. Mediolateral radiographic views revealed overlap of the glenoid cavity and humeral head. Muscle atrophy of the right thoracic limb, reduced biceps brachii muscle tendon tone, a tear of the medial glenohumeral ligament, and a rupture of the subscapularis tendon were identified intraoperatively. Transposition of the biceps muscle tendon was performed. However, at 7 days, there was evidence of right shoulder reluxation on radiographs. The second surgery was performed with two $2mm{\times}6mm$ cortical bone anchors and a $4mm{\times}6mm$ cancellous bone anchor placed in the cortical bone of the distal scapula and the cancellous bone of the proximal humerus respectively. Two scapular bone anchors were then connected with a humeral bone anchor using heavy nylon suture to minimize shoulder abduction range of motion. On radiographs right after surgery and 6 weeks after surgery, the affected limb revealed no evidence of medial shoulder luxation. At 6 months, no evidence of lameness was noted on the right thoracic limb.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.67-72
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of computer game usage time on trunk muscle thickness and pressure pain threshold. The 33 study participants were divided into Group A, which spent less than 10 hours per week playing computer games; Group B, which spent between 10 and 20 hours per week playing computer games; and Group C, which spent more than 20 hours per a week playing computer games. The thickness of the participants' upper trapezius (UT), pectoralis minor (PM), anterior scalene (AS), and middle scalene (MS) muscles as well as the pressure pain threshold of their UT, PM, AS, MS, and levator scapular (LS) were measured. The study found that the PM, AS, and MS muscle thickness in group C was significantly greater than in the other groups (p<.05), and the UT, AS, PM, and LS pressure pain threshold in group C was significantly lower than in other groups (p<.05). Therefore, those who use computers for a long period of time during the week should recognize that their computer usage may cause musculoskeletal disorders.