• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.233-237
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• 2020

Purpose: This study compared the electromyographic activity of the tibialis anterior (TA) and isometric dorsiflexor strength during dorsiflexion according to the toe postures in individuals with ankle dorsiflexor weakness. Methods: Twenty subjects with ankle dorsiflexor weakness participated in this study. The electromyographic activity of the TA and isometric dorsiflexor strength during dorsiflexion between with toe flexion, extension, and neutral postures were measured using an electromyography device and a hand-held dynamometer in individuals with ankle dorsiflexor weakness. One-way repeated measured analysis of variance, and a Bonferroni post hoc test was used. The level of statistical significance was set to α=0.01. Results: The electromyographic activity of the TA was greater with toe flexion during dorsiflexion than with toe extension and neutral postures (p<0.01). The isometric dorsiflexor strength was smaller with toe flexion during dorsiflexion than with toe extension and neutral postures (p<0.01). Conclusions: In individuals with ankle dorsiflexor weakness, the dorsiflexion with toe flexion can help improve the TA electromyographic activity. The toe posture during dorsiflexion for selective TA activation should be considered, especially in individuals with ankle dorsiflexor weakness.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.12-17
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• 2022

Purpose: Ankle dorsiflexion is an essential element of normal functions, including walking, activities of daily living and sport activities. The tibialis anterior (TA) muscle functioned as a dorsiflexor and as a dynamic stabilizer of the ankle joint during walking and jumping. This study aimed to compare TA muscle thickness using ultrasonography according to the four different toe and ankle postures for the selective TA strengthening exercise. Methods: This study were recruited 26 (males: 15, females: 11) aged 20-30 years, with no injury ankle and calf in the medical history, had normal dorsiflexion and inversion range of motion (ROM). The thickness of the TA muscle was measured by ultrasonography in the four different toe and ankle postures: 1. Ankle dorsiflexion with all toe extension and ankle inversion (ITEDF); 2. Ankle dorsiflexion with all toe flexion and ankle inversion (ITFDF); 3. Ankle dorsiflexion with all toe extension and neutral position (NTEDF); 4. Ankle dorsiflexion with all toe flexion and neutral position (NTFDF). One-way repeated analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bonferroni correction were used to confirm the significant difference among conditions. The level of statistical significance was set at α=0.01. Results: TA muscle thickness with ITFDF was significantly greater than in any other ankle positions, including ITEDF, NTFDF, and NTEDF (p<0.01). Conclusion: Among the four toe and ankle postures, isometric contraction in ITFDF postures showed the greatest increase in thickness of TA rather than ITEDF, NTEDF, and NTFDF postures. Based on these results, ITFDF can be recommended in an efficient way to selectively strengthen TA muscle.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.83-91
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• 2007

This experiment studied the change in a human's control of his or her static posture by analyzing the stabilogram diffusion and, by using the said study, evaluated the control ability of different groups with different experiences. The postures had a rising requirement of heel-rise according to three conditions: heel-toe, ball, toe; the groups were divided into dance major student and non-dance majors. The results of the critical points according to posture did not show a direct relation with the change in postures that had a rising requirement of heel-rise. The diffusion coefficient(D) had greater stochastic activity for short-term regions that utilize open-loop controls without feedback than for long-term regions that used closed-loop controls with feedback to maintain balance. The directional results of the body undergoing disturbance showed that A/P direction's diffusion coefficient (D) was larger than that of M/L direction. Both feet's planar diffusion coefficients were a linear combination of the diffusion coefficients calculated for the x and y axis. In studying the different abilities to control posture between a dance major student and a non-dance majors, a comparison of open-loop control's diffusion coefficient(D) was effective, and dance major student had superior control ability to that of non-dance majors.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.25-29
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of two different lifting posture on the plantar foot pressure, force and COP(center of pressure) trajectory path during object lifting. Fourteen healthy adults who had no musculoskeletal disorders were instructed to lift with two postures(stoop and squat) and two object weights(empty box and 10 kg box). Plantar foot pressures, forces and COP trajectory path were recorded by the F-mat system(Tekscan, Boston, USA) during object lifting with barefoot. Plantar foot surface was defined as seven regions for pressure measurement; two toe regions, three forefoot regions, one midfoot region and one heel region. Paired t-test was used to compare the outcomes of peak pressure and maximum force with different two lifting postures and two object weights. Plantar peak pressure and maximum force under hallux was significantly greater in squat posture than stoop posture during the two different boxes lifting(p<.05). During the empty box lifting, maximum force under lessor toes was significantly less and plantar peak pressure under second metatarsal region was significantly greater in squat than stoop(p<.05). Maximum force under heel was significantly less in squat than stoop posture during 10kg box lifting(p<.05). Finally, COP trajectory path was significantly greater in squat than stoop(p<.05). These findings confirm that there are significantly change in the structure and function of the foot during the object lifting with different posture. Future studies should focus on the contribution of both structural and functional change to the development of common foot problems in adults.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.1-15
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to investigate the kinematic variables of the upper part of the body for 8 elderly men during walking. For this study, kinematic data were collected using a six-camera (240Hz) Qualisys ProReflex system. The room coordinate system was right-handed and fixed in space, with righted orthogonal segment coordinate systems defined for the head, trunk, and pelvis. Based on a rigid body model, reflective marker triads were attached on the 3 segments. Three-dimensional Cartesian coordinates for each marker were determined at the time of recording using a nonlinear transformation(NLT) technique with ProReflex software (Qualisys, Inc.). Coordinate data were low-pass filtered using a fourth-order Butterworth with cutoff frequency of 6Hz. Three-dimensional angles of the head, trunk, and pelvis segment were determined using a Cardan method. On the basis of each segment angle, angle-angle plot used to estimated the movement coordinations between segments. The conclusions were as follows; (1) During the support phase of walking, the elderly people generally kept their, head the flexional and abductional posture. Particularly, the elderly displayed little internal/external rotation. (2) The elderly people showed extensional and external rotation postures in the trunk movement. Particularly, It showed the change from adduction into abduction at the heel contact event of the stance phase. (3) The elderly people showed almost same pelvis movement from the flexion into extension, from the abduction into adduction, and from internal rotation into external rotation at the mid stance and toe off of the stance phase.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.381-384
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• 2016

Purpose: Previous studies reported changes in the first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint angle in relation with and without weight bearing, but it is unclear whether sesamoid bone of the great toe changes in weight bearing conditions particularly in subjects with hallux valgus (HV). To investigate how weight bearing conditions can affect the position of the medial sesamoid bone (MSB), first MTP joint angle, and second intermetatarsal angle (IMA) in the recruited subjects. Methods: Subjects were recruited 24 with HV and 21 without HV in study. X-rays were taken in the weight bearing and non-weight bearing conditions. The distance of the MSB, first MTP joint angle, and second IMA were measured from the radiographs. Data were analyzed by paired and Independent t-test. The statistical significance level was p<0.05. Results: In both groups, the first MTP joint angles and the distance of the MSB were significantly smaller, while the second IMA was significantly greater in the weight bearing condition. The difference in the distance of the MSB between the two postures was significantly greater in the group with HV. Conclusion: Weight bearing can affect the first MTP joint angle, second IMA, and position of the MSB; the change in the position of the MSB in weight bearing was greater in the group with hallux valgus. The difference in these variables between weight bearing and non-weight bearing conditions may be considered when measuring HV.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.197-204
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• 2019

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of high-heels (HH) modification on metatarsal stress in female workers. Method: Seven females who work in clothing stores ($heights=160.4{\pm}3.9cm$; $weights=47.4{\pm}4.1kg$; $age=31.3{\pm}11.1yrs$; $HH\;wear\;career=8{\pm}6.5yrs$) wore two types of HH (original and modified). The modified HH had been grooved with 1.5 cm radius and 0.2 cm depth around the first metatarsal area inside of the shoes using the modified shoe-last. Participants were asked to walk for 15 minutes on a treadmill and to stand for 10 minutes with original and modified HH, respectively. Kinetics data were collected by the F-scan in-shoe system. After each test, participants were asked to rate their perceived exertion using the Borg's 15-grade RPE scale and interviewed about their feeling of HH. Nonparametric Wilcoxon signed-rank test and effect size (Cohen's d) were used to determine the difference of the variables of interest between the original and modified HH. Results: In the present study, modified HH of the peak contact pressure of 1st metatarsal (PCP) left, PCP right, pressure time integral (PTI) left, peak pressure gradient (PPG) left during standing and PPG right during walking are greater than original HH. And even it didn't show statistically significant, the average in all pressure values of modified HH showed bigger than original HH. It surmised to be related to awkward with modified HH. Even though they said to feel the comfortable cause of big space inside of HH in the interview, they seemed to be not enough time to adapt with new HH. So their walking and standing postures were unstable. Conclusion: Modified the fore-medial part of HH can reduce the stress in the first metatarsal head and big toe area during standing and walking.