• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.411-419
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• 2017

This study was to investigate whether a trunk correction taping plus scapular setting exercises has an effect on trunk muscle activation and trunk balance and upper extremity function in patients with stroke. Twenty stroke patients were randomly divided into a trunk correction taping with scapular setting exercise group (n=10) and a scapular setting exercise group (n=10), and each group performed given interventions for 30 minutes for 4 weeks. In the experimental group, there were significant increases in muscle activation, K-TIS, and MFT (p<.05), and a significant improvement was detected in K-TIS and MFT compared to the control group (p<.05). This study suggests that a trunk correction taping with scapular setting exercises was more effective on trunk muscle activation, trunk balance, and upper extremity function in stroke patients compared to a scapular setting exercise. It could be clinically more significant if the change in the onset time of muscle activity is confirmed in the further researches.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.67-74
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• 2018

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of vibration frequency and amplitude on scapular winging during the knee push-up plus exercise. METHODS: A total of 26 female subjects with scapular winging were evaluated while performing the knee push-up plus exercise with no vibration, low-frequency/low-amplitude (5 Hz/3 mm) vibration, low-frequency/high-amplitude (5 Hz/9 mm) vibration, high-frequency/low-amplitude (15 Hz/3 mm) vibration, and high-frequency/high-amplitude (15 Hz/9 mm) vibration. The surface EMG of the serratus anterior (SA) muscle was compared between the vibration frequency and amplitude. The EMG amplitude was normalized using the maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC). The statistical significance of the results was evaluated using one-way ANOVA. RESULTS: The SA muscle EMG values increased at low-frequency/low-amplitude vibration and at low-frequency/high-amplitude vibration compared to no vibration. Furthermore, the same values increased at high-frequency/low-amplitude vibration and high-frequency/high-amplitude vibration compared to no vibration. In general, a higher vibration frequency and amplitude was associated with higher EMG values of the SA muscle, with particularly greater increases observed during high-frequency/high-amplitude vibration. There was also a significant difference between each condition with a high-frequency/high-amplitude vibration (p<.05). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that there were remarkable clinical effect of the knee push-up plus exercise with vibration, which enhanced the SA muscle activation in persons with scapular winging. Furthermore, applying a higher vibration frequency and amplitude more effectively increased for increasing SA muscle activation.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.14-22
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• 2023

Background: This study was to investigate the relationship between scapular downward rotation ratio (SDRR), lower trapezius (LT) muscle, and rounded shoulder angle (RSA) on each side in subjects with scapular downward rotation syndrome (SDRS). Design: Cross-sectional Study Methods: Fifteen subjects have participated in this study. The RSA and SDRR were assessed using a tape measure in standing posture. The RSA was computed by the angle made by two lines: one was the distance between the root of the scapula and the acromion, and the other was the distance between the acromion and the horizontal line in the root of the scapula. The SDRR was computed by two horizontal lines: one was the distance between the mid-line and root of the scapula, and the other was the distance between the mid-line and inferior angle of the scapula. LT muscle strength was performed in a prone position by the hand-held dynamometer. Results: There was a positive correlation between SDRR and LT strength in the less affected sides (r=.59; p=.02), however, there was no correlation between RSA and LT strength in the more affected sides (p>.05).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 2013

PURPOSE: This study was to determine the effect of the plane of movement (sagittal plane vs. scapular plane) and shoulder flexion angle ($90^{\circ}$ vs. $130^{circ}$) during scapular protraction exercises in healthy subjects by investigating the elecromyographic (EMG) activities of the serratus anterior (SA), upper trapezius (UT), and pectoralis major (PM). METHODS: Twenty-one healthy subjects participated in this study. Subjects performed maximal scapular protraction at the $90^{\circ}$ or $130^{\circ}$ shoulder flexion angles in the sagittal or scapular planes. Surface EMG was recorded from the SA and UT, and PM muscles. Dependent variables were examined by 2 (plane) ${\times}$ 2 (angle) repeated measures of analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULTS: Significantly increased EMG activities in the SA and UT were found during scapular protraction exercise at the $130^{\circ}$ shoulder flexion angle in the sagittal and scapular plane. Also, EMG activity of the PM significantly decreased at the $130^{\circ}$ shoulder flexion angle in the sagittal plane and the $90^{\circ}$ and $130^{\circ}$ shoulder flexion in the scapular plane. CONCLUSION: we recommend scapular protraction exercise at the $90^{\circ}$ shoulder flexion in the sagittal plane to selectively strengthen the SA muscle with limitation of upper trapezius activity and at the $130^{\circ}$ shoulder flexion in the scapular plane to selectively strengthen the SA muscle with limitation of pectoralis major activity.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.310-319
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• 2023

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a combination of progressive scapular stabilization exercises, neck and thoracic spine mobilization, and thermoelectric physical therapy on pain, range of motion, muscle strength, and function in patients with acute whiplash injury. Design: A randomized controlled trial design. Methods: A total of 24 subjects were included in this study. They were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n=12) that performed scapular stabilization exercises, neck and thoracic spine mobilization, and physiotherapy, and a control group (n=12) that only performed neck and thoracic spine mobilization and physiotherapy. The pre-test was conducted before the intervention and consisted of a total of 12 treatment sessions of 60 minutes each, three times a week. A posttest was conducted 4 weeks later. Pain, range of motion, muscle strength, and function were assessed before and after intervention. Results: The results of the study showed that there was a significant difference in pain reduction and range of motion and muscle strength improvement in the experimental group, and a significant difference was also found between the experimental group and the control group in terms of functional evaluation. Conclusions: The combination of exercise therapy and joint mobilization technique and physical therapy resulted in greater improvements in pain, range of motion, strength, and function assessment, contributing to improved overall function.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.151-158
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• 2024

Purpose: The present study investigated how variations in diagonal exercises affect shoulder muscle activity, examining changes in neuromuscular activation during scapular and shoulder diagonal patterns of exercises. Furthermore, we explored whether the exercise phase affects muscle activation. Methods: Sixteen asymptomatic male participants were recruited. Four diagonal pattern exercises (scapular anterior elevation, posterior elevation, flexion-adduction-external rotation, flexion, abduction-external rotation), and two exercise phases (concentric and eccentric) were administered. Surface electromyography data were collected. Results: Upper trapezius activity was significantly higher during the concentric phase of scapular posterior elevation exercises compared with the others (p<0.05). The serratus anterior, anterior deltoid, and infraspinatus activities were significantly higher during shoulder diagonal pattern exercises compared with the scapular diagonal pattern exercises (p<0.05). Except for the lower trapezius, muscular activities during the concentric phase were significantly greater compared with the eccentric phase (p<0.05). Conclusion: The current study suggests that the diagonal pattern of exercise may contribute to selective strengthening of the shoulder complex muscles and that the form of exercise should be tailored to the subject. It also suggests that diagonal exercises with concentric contractions tend to be more beneficial than eccentric contractions for overall muscle recruitment, but the effects vary for specific diagonal patterns.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.38-46
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• 2016

Background: Shoulder stabilization commonly involves two components: the glenohumeral stabilization exercise (GSE) and scapular stabilization exercise (SSE). Despite the fact that the shoulder stabilization has advantageous merit, to our knowledge, only a few studies have compared the superior of the GSE and the SSE. Objects: The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of GSE in patients with nonspecific shoulder pain. Methods: Thirty subjects with nonspecific shoulder pain were randomly divided into an experimental group and control group, each with 15 patients. The experimental group used an GSE, whereas the control group did SSE. All subjects were measured in shoulder stability, scapular symmetric alignment, pain, muscle power, and range of motion before and after the intervention. Results: GSE resulted in significantly better shoulder stability (p=.046, from $8.67{\pm}7.54$ score to $13.93{\pm}9.40$) in the experimental group compared with SSE in the control group. However, no significant effects were observed for scapular symmetric alignment including the angles of inferior scapular distance (p=.829) and inferior scapular height difference (p=.735), pain (p=.113), muscle power including shoulder flexion (p=.723) and abduction (p=.897) and range of motion including shoulder flexion (p=.853) and abduction (p=.472). Conclusion: These findings suggest that GSE may be more effective in increasing the shoulder stability than the SSE in patients with nonspecific shoulder pain, probably through a centralization effect on the shoulder mechanism.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.48-56
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• 2014

The aim of this study to investigate the effects of craniocervical flexion on muscle activities of scapular upward rotators during push-up plus exercise in subjects with winging scapula. Eighteen males with scapular winging were recruited, and each subject performed knee push-up plus and other exercises, in two conditions (craniocervical flexion vs. natural head positions). A surface electromyography (EMG) was used to measure upper trapezius (UT), serratus anterior (SA), and lower trapezius (LT) muscle activity. A paired t-test was used to determine the statistical significance between the different condition with/without applying of craniocervical flexion. UT EMG activity significantly decreased and SA EMG activity significantly increased during knee push-up plus involving the craniocervical flexion compared to the natural head position. However, no significant differences (p>.05) were found in the activity of the LT muscle. The UT/SA ratios with and without craniocervical flexion showed a significant difference (p<.05). These results showed that the knee push-up plus other exercises performed with craniocervical flexion could strengthen the serratus anterior muscle and minimize the activity of the UT muscle.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.1-6
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• 2012

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to examine activities of the scapular stabilizers during push-up plus and PNF backward rocking exercises. Methods : 9 subjects performed randomly push-up plus and PNF backward rocking exercises in four point kneeling. The activities of 4 scapular stabilizing muscles were compared between push-up plus and PNF backward rocking exercises. Results : PNF backward rocking exercise showed significantly higher lower trapezius and lower serratus anterior activations compared to push-up plus exercise. Push-up plus exercise showed significantly higher middle serratus anterior activation than PNF backward rocking exercise. Conclusion : PNF backward rocking exercise facilitates the lower trapezius and serratus anterior activations compared to push-up plus exercise.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.58-65
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of serratus anterior strengthening exercises on scapular position and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain measurements taken at the resting position in young adults with adducted scapular. The exercise program included stretching of the scapular retractor and strengthening of the serratus anterior muscle. We measured the distance from the midline of the thorax to the vertebral border of the scapular with a tape line (Superior Kibler), and the distance from the 7th cervical spinous process to the acromial angle with 3-dimension motion analysis system, to compare the resting scapular position before and after exercise. Fifteen subjects with adducted scapular were recruited to compare the resting scapular position and VAS. The distance from 7th cervical spine process to acromial angle of the scapular and VAS decreased significantly (p<.01) after exercise, while the distance from the midline of the thorax to vertebral border of the scapular increased (p<.05). The conclusion is that the serratus anterior exercise program altered the resting scapular position and decreased VAS.