• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1-7
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• 2010

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of lumbar stabilization on both trunk and lower limb muscle activity and center of pressure (COP) in single leg standing. Surface electromyography (EMG) was used to collect muscle activity data, the mean velocity of COP was measured using a force plate, and a pressure biofeedback unit was used for lumbar stabilization training. The findings of this study are summarized as follows: 1) The EMG activity of the erector spinae decreased significantly and the activity of the rectus abdominis, internal oblique, external oblique, gluteus maximus, and gluteus medius increased significantly with lumbar stabilization single leg standing. 2) No differences in activity in the tibialis anterior, medial gastrocnemius, rectus femoris, and medial hamstrings were found with single leg standing. 3) The mean velocity of COP in the antero-posterior and medio-lateral directions in the lumbar stabilization single leg standing decreased significantly compared with the preferred single leg standing. The findings of this study therefore indicate that lumbar stabilization can facilitate the co-activation of deep stabilization and global muscles that improve postural control capability during single leg standing.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.129-136
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• 1999

The purpode of this study was to determine the EMG characteristies of 7 subjects with hemiplegic gait receiving therapeautic exercise after stroke. The akin electrode and gait analysis system were used. The normal gait of 6 health volunteers was analysised. The results were following. 1. Gluteus maximus, the extensor of hip joint had high level of activity compared to normal, and had two peak in late stance phase and early Swing phase. 2. Medial hamstring, the flexor of knee joint had low level of activity compared to normal, and had continuous low amplitude pattern. 3. Vastus lateralis, the extensor of knee joint had high level of activity compared to normal, and had not continuous high amplitude. From early stance phase and mid stance phase, activity had high level but after swing phase. similar to normal. 4. Gastrocnemius, plantar flexor of ankle joint had low level of activity compared to normal and had continuous low amplitude. 5. Tibialis anterior, dorsiflexor of ankle joint had similar muscle activity to normal and had continuous low amplitude.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.55-59
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the effect of a water exercise program on the pennation angle of the lower-limb muscle in women in their 20s. Methods: Ten female subjects were randomly divided into two groups, with 5 subjects exercising in water 0.7 m deep and 5 subjects exercising in water 1.4 m deep. They did the water exercising program for 40 minute per day, 3 days per week, for total 6 weeks. We measured the pennation angle of lower-limb muscle using ultrasonography. All measurements for each group were performed at pre-training and after 6 weeks of training. Results: The pennation angle was compared before and after the water exercise period for each group, and statistically significant changes within each group in measurements of the rectus femoris and tibialis anterior (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in muscle architecture by water depth (p>0.05) between the two groups. Conclusion: These results show that the pennation angle of the lower-limb muscle of women in their 20s changed after 6 weeks of participating in a water exercise program, but these changes were not dependent on the depth of the water in which the exercises were performed.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.237-243
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• 2011

This study was to examine on the respiratory variables, heart rate and muscle activity between the static recovery and dynamic recovery after progressive resistance exercise to maximal point. Subjects were 15 students enrolled in N University. All were tested two times (static recovery and dynamic recovery) and were requested to perform a walking on a treadmill after progressive resistance exercise to maximal point. Electromyography(EMG) was used to monitor the muscle activity(TA: Tibialis Anterior, MG: Medial Gastrocnemius) during gait. CPEX-1 was used to measure the respiratory variables and heart rate. The dynamic recovery group was shown the significant lower heart rate than that of static recovery group at during gait. Respiratory rate showed statistically a significant difference. Electromyography(RMS, root mean square) showed a non-significant difference. But the dynamic recovery group of muscle activity was found highly in TA and MG. This study indicated that the dynamic recovery method evidenced more faster than the static recovery method. And this type of dynamic rest by walking can be a help of recovery after exercise.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.843-850
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• 2007

This paper proposes a somatosensory stimulation system for the improvement of postural stability using vibration as somatosensory stimulation. This system consists of vibratory stimulation and postural response measurement. To evaluate this system, the center of pressure(COP) was closely observed in turn with simultaneous or separate mechanical vibratory stimulations to flexor ankle muscles (tibialis anterior, triceps surae) and two plantar zones on both feet while standing on a stable and an unstable support. The simultaneous vibratory stimulations cleared influenced postural stability and the effects of vibrations were higher with the unstable support. In separate vibratory stimulations, the extent of the COP sway reduced when the direction of the vibratory stimulations and that of the inclination of body coincided for flexor ankle muscle stimulations. In the contrary, the extent of the COP sway increased when the direction of the stimulations and that of body inclination coincided for plantar zone stimulations. These results can be useful for the development of rehabilitation systems that utilizes somatosensory inputs for postural balance.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.177-183
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• 2017

Purpose: This study compared and analyzed the effect of the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) arm extension pattern and leg flexion pattern on the contralateral lower extremity muscles when the patterns were applied to the same subject. Methods: In the study, 35 healthy men and women who understood the PNF patterns were selected as participants. The participants completed the PNF arm extension-abduction-internal rotation pattern and leg flexion-adduction-external rotation with knee flexion pattern in the supine position. While the patients' completed each pattern, the contralateral leg muscle activity was measured to examine the irradiation effect. The maximum isometric contraction time of the muscles to be measured was kept for 5 seconds, and the mean value was obtained by repeating the pattern three times. Results: When the leg flexion-adduction-external rotation with knee flexion pattern was completed, the muscle activity in the vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior, and gastrocnemius of the contralateral lower extremity was significantly greater than that found in the PNF arm extension-abduction-internal rotation pattern. Conclusion: The PNF leg flexion pattern showed greater muscle activity on the contralateral lower extremity than the arm extension pattern. Thus, the PNF leg extension pattern is more effective in the activation of the muscles associated with weight-bearing activity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.255-262
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• 2014

PURPOSE: This study was to investigate the effectiveness of TENS on balance in stroke patients by analyzing some components such as foot pressure, limit of stability and velocity sway after providing somatosensroy input using TENS. METHODS: Twenty five subjects participated and were randomly divided into two groups, TENS group (n=13) and control group (n=12) by the computer program. Interventions were given to subjects 5 days a week for four weeks. TENS group were treated with TENS for 60 minutes in addition to the conventional therapy which included 30-minute exercise and rehabilitation ergometer training for 15 minutes. Control group performed only conventional therapy. TENS was applied on the skin of soleus, tibialis anterior, tensor fascia latae and vastus medialis in affected side. Foot pressure, limit of stability and velocity sway for balance test were measured using Biorescue. RESULTS: TENS group was significantly increased limit of stability and foot pressure in affected side more than control group. And in eye closed condition, TENS group was significantly decreased velocity sway more than control group. CONCLUSION: The application of TENS is effective to improve the somatosensory input of affected side and to increase the motor function and balance ability.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.521-528
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• 2009

This study is about to evaluation of postural stability according to characteristics of electrical stimulation on the ankle muscles. We measured body sway(center of pressure, COP) when various parameters of electrical stimulation was applied to ankle muscles in stable and unstable posture. Subjects consisted of 10 young adults, and electrical stimulation was delivered on right and left of tibialis anterior and Achilles tendon. The body sway was measured during electrical stimulation of three duty cycle and frequencies in stable posture and three amplitudes of sensory threshold in unstable posture. Consequently, the COP Shift is higher during electrical stimulation of 1/30(duty ratio) and 100Hz(frequency) in stable posture. In unstable posture, 100% amplitude of sensory threshold induced postural stability. These findings are important for the rehabilitation system of postural stability and the use of electrical stimulation as somatosensory information.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.51-56
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• 2009

Purpose: This study examined the difference in the static balance ability according to the visual cues and postural tasks in normal subjects. Methods: Thirty participants (12 male, 18 female; mean age $24.63\pm1.43$ years) stood barefoot on a force platform in a one-legged stance, tandem Romberg stance and tandem Romberg with neck extension stance with a visual cue open and closes. The static balance was assessed by the center of pressure (CoP), surface electromyography root mean square (RMS) of the leg muscles according to the stance position. Results: In the CoP tests, the difference in the unit path length and circumference area was affected by the visual cue according to the stance posture (p<0.01). In the RMS tests, the difference in the tibialis anterior and medial gastrocnemius muscle was affected by visual cue in accordance with the stance posture (p<0.01). Conclusion: The visual cue and postural task affect the balance ability in normal subjects. Therefore, this study provides clinical evidence that the balance and postural control can be improved. Therapeutic intervention, such as an obstacle course, and a lower leg muscle performance program with a change in the base of support can affect the balance and postural control.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.363-367
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• 2019

Purpose: This study was to investigate the effect of instability on the activation of lower limb muscles during lunge exercise. Methods: The study subjects were healthy twenties and were selected to have no orthopedic or neurological diseases. 1) Flat lunge exercise (Lunge 1, 2) Lunge exercise on TOGU (Lunge 2, 3) Holding the olympic bar and moving the lunge on TOGU (Lunge 3, 4) Holding the Surge and moving the lunge on TOGU (Lunge 4). Through the above four actions, we can see how the top-down instability influences the lower limb unlike the Bottom-up instability. EMG attachment sites were gluteus medius, vastus medialis, gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior. Results: These result suggest that exercise using Lunge 4 activity was the highest in muscle activity compared to other exercises, but vastus medialis showed the highest muscle activity in Lunge 2 exercise(p<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed the muscular activity of the lower extremities according to the lunge exercise using the instability tools.