• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.194-201
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• 2012

This study was designed to investigate the effect of a combined stimulus which was composed of chiropractic massage and thermotherapy on the relief of mental and physical stress. Fifteen healthy male subjects were treated with three type of stimuli; control (without any stimulus), a single stimulus (only chiropractic) and a combined stimulus. To evaluate the effects of stimuli, visual analogue scale (VAS), trunk extension, electromyogram (EMG) on erector spinae muscle and electrocardiogram (ECG) were measured and analyzed before and after stimuli. In the control group, there were no significant changes in EMG root mean square (RMS) value and low Frequency/high Frequency (LF/HF) ratio (p > 0.05, p > 0.05). However, both stimulus groups showed significant increases in trunk extension and EMG RMS values (p < 0.05, p < 0.05), but significant decreases in LF/HF ratios (p < 0.05). Particularly the decrement rate in LF/HF ratio was significantly higher in the combined stimulus group than that in the single stimulus group (p < 0.05). Also, a significantly lower VAS was recorded after combined stimulus. Our findings indicate that the combined stimulus might not only improve flexibility and strength of muscle, but also active parasympathetic nerve activity. The combined stimulus may thus contribute to relieve the stress and to enhance the muscle function.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.1-10
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• 2017

PURPOSE: This study assessed the effect of the pelvic compression belt on the electromyographic activity of erector spinae (ES), internal oblique (IO), rectus femoris (RF), and biceps femoris (BF) after bridge exercise with pelvic belt compression in subjects with lumbar instability. METHODS: Forty subjects with lumbar instability volunteered for this study. We asked them to perform the bridge exercise while wearing a pelvic belt compression for 30 minutes five times weekly over a six week period. The pelvic compression belt was adjusted just below the anterior superior iliac spines with stabilizing pressure using elastic compression bands during bridge position. Surface electromyographic data were collected from the erector spinae (ES), internal oblique (IO), rectus femoris (RF) and biceps femoris (BF). RESULTS: After the six week intervention, the experimental group improved significantly. Muscle activation significantly decreased in the erector spinae, rectus femoris, and biceps femoris, and increased in the internal oblique muscle in bridge position while wearing a PCB (P <.01). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the bridge exercise with pelvic belt compression is helpful to reduce activation in superficial muscles and lower extremity muscles such as erector spinae (ES), rectus femoris (RF), biceps femoris (BF) and increase activation in deep trunk muscle such as the internal oblique (IO).

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.7-20
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• 1998

Activity of the trunk muscles is essential for maintaining stability of the lumbar spine because of the unstable structure of that portion of the spine. The central nervous system deals with stabilization of the spine by contraction of the abdominal and multifidus muscles in anticipations of reactive forces produced by limb movement. Recent evidence indicates that the lumbar multifidus muscle and transversus abdominis muscle may be involved in controlling spinal stability. Stabilization training in neutral spine is an integrated approach of education in proper posture and body mechanics along with exercise to improve strength, flexibility, muscular and cardiovascular endurance, and coordination of movement.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.115-122
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• 2011

Recently, we have proposed a hypothesis that spinal structures have a stress sensor driving feedback mechanism, In the human spine, spinal structure could react to modify muscular action in such a way so as to equalize stress at the disc, therefore reduce the risk of injury, In this analysis, abdominal muscle and abdominal pressure, which were not included in the previous study, were added to identify those effects in spine stability during upright stance posture for the case where the intervertebral disc plays the role of mechanoreceptor, The musculoskeletal FE model was consisted with detailed whole lumbar spine, pelvis, sacrum, coccyx and simplified trunk model. Muscle architecture with 46 local muscles containing paraspinal muscle and 6 rectus abdominal muscles were assigned according to the acting directions. The magnitude of 4kPa was considered for abdominal pressure. Minimization of the nucleus pressure deviation and annulus fiber average tension stress deviation was chosen for cost function. Developed model provide nice coincidence with in-vivo measurement (nucleus pressure). Analysis was conducted according to existence of co-activation of abdominal muscle and abdominal pressure. Antagonistic activity of abdominal muscle produced stability of spinal column with relatively small amount of total muscle force. In contrast to the abdominal muscle, effect of abdominal pressure was not clear that was partly depending on the assumption of constant abdominal pressure.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.914-924
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to provide the basic data for the shoulder strengthening exercise by analyzing the% MVIC of the muscle activity in the shoulder rotator cuff by the difference of the stance posture and the anatomical plane. 8male subjects were randomly assigned to perform the shoulder rotation exercise 10 times on the frontal plane, the horizontal plane, the sagittal plane and the two legs stance posture, the one leg stance posture, the lunge posture. Measured muscle activity of supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, anterior deltoid, rectus abdominis, erector supinea, pectoralis major, lattisimus dorsi during exercise. A repetitive one-way ANOVA was performed using the SPSS 22.0 statistical program. First, during the external rotation on the frontal plane, the erector spinea was higher in the lunge posture than in the two legs stance posture and the one leg stance posture, And during the internal rotation on the frontal plane, the muscle activity of suprapinatus was higher in one leg stance posture than in the two legs stance posture and more so in the lunge posture. Second, during the external rotation on the horizontal plane, the muscle activity of deltoid anterior was higher in the one legs stance posture and in the lunge posture than in the two legs stance posture, and during the internal rotation on the horizontal plane, the muscle activity of infraspinatus was higher in the lunge posture than in the two legs stance posture and one leg posture, and the muscle activity of pectoralis major was higher in two leg stance posture than in the one legs stance posture and more so in the lunge posture. Third, during the external rotation on the sagittal plane, muscle activity of rectus abdominis was higher one leg stance posture in the lunge posture than in two leg stance posture. During the internal rotation on the sagittal plane, muscle activity of supraspinatus was higher one leg stance posture in the lunge posture than in two leg stance posture. And muscle activity of infraspinatus was higher in the lunge posture than in two leg stance posture, one leg stance. And muscle activity of Rectus abdominis was higher in the lunge posture and one leg stance posture than in the two legs stance posture. And muscle activity of Erector spinea was higher in the two legs stance postur and lunge posture than in the one leg stance posture. In conclusion, the differences in stance and shoulder anatomy have different effects on the muscle activity of the shoulder rotator exercises, and this is expected to be a more positive exercise program when applied to the shoulder strengthening exercise program.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.15 no.11
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• pp.6767-6773
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• 2014

The study examined the effects of trunk pattern exercise in proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) integrated transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the muscle activity and balance, walking speed in stroke patient. Thirty-one patients with hemiplegia due to stroke were assigned to either the experimental group (n=15) or control group (n=16). Both groups performed trunk pattern training in PNF for 3 times per week over a 6 week period for 20 minutes per session. The experimental group performed additional tDCS for 20 minutes. A comparison of the two groups after the intervention showed that the exercise program in experimental group had a more significant on the gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior and balance than the control group (p<.05). This showed that trunk pattern exercise in PNF integrated tDCS had a positive effect on the functional recovery of the lower extremity in stroke patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.103-109
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was conducted in order to suggest an effective method of daily life movement training for stroke patients by comparison and analysis of the biomechanic characteristics of sitting up from a lying posture in stroke patients and healthy elderly participants. Methods: Fifteen stroke patients and 15 age-matched elderly participants were included in the study. The movement of sitting up from a lying posture was divided into three stages, and the differences in muscle activity in the sternocleidomastoid (SCM), rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), and rectus femoris (RF) during the movement were analyzed. Results: Subjects in the experimental group showed slower speed than those in the control group. In the neck joint, the change of angle in movement showed a larger decrease at all stages in the experimental group than in the control group; the movement also decreased in stages I and II in the upper trunk joint. The movement also showed a statistically significant decrease in stage II in the lower trunk, pelvic, and hip joints. The SCM showed higher activity in the control group than in the experimental group, showing a statistically significant difference; the RA showed high activity in the experimental group. The RF showed higher activity in the control group than in the experimental group, showing a statistically significant difference. Conclusion: From the results obtained above, increasing movements in the neck, pelvic, and hip joints and strengthening of lower body muscles are required in order to improve the ability for getting up from a lying posture in stroke patients.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2017

Objective: There are many types of exercises with upper and lower-limb action for activation of abdominal muscles for trunk stabilization. A comparison of the different exercise methods been very useful to enhance the result from the exercise for treatment. The purpose of this study was to investigate through surface electromyography (EMG) the changes in abdominal muscle activity during the performance of three different dead-bug exercise methods performed at three different speeds. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: The subjects were 30 healthy adults (13 males and 17 females). We instructed the subjects to perform three different dead-bug exercises. We also applied three different speeds to the dead-bug exercises; 60 bpm, 90 bpm, and 120 bpm with use of a metronome. The assessment of EMG was percentage of maximal voluntary isometric contraction on the rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), and internal oblique (IO). Results: EMG activation of the RA, EO and IO muscles was significantly greater at the higher speed (p<0.05). There was a significant increase in abdominal muscle activity during the dead-bug exercise performed with both the upper and lower extremities compared to that with only the upper extremity or the lower extremities (p<0.05). Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that the performance of the dead-bug exercise with both the upper and lower extremities combined at a high speed is more effective compared to other exercises. Therefore, it is suggested that more favourable and effective outcomes may occur when the type and speed of the exercise is chosen appropriately.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.128-133
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• 2022

Objective: This study was executed to compare and analyze shoulder muscle activation while using an inelastic bar and elastic bar during overhead press exercise. The stability and coordination of shoulder joints will be investigated by measuring and analyzing the EMG of the upper and lower arm muscles. Method: A total of 20 university male students were recruited by dividing into 2 groups; 10 elastic bar participants (age: 20.17 ± 0.41 yrs, height: 174.31 ± 3.34 cm, weight: 74.68 ± 5.65 kg) and 10 inelastic bar participants (age: 20.09 ± 0.23 yrs, height: 173.53 ± 4.11 cm, weight: 75.32 ± 3.31 kg) participated in this study. Results: The EMG analysis results of the four muscles measured in this study showed that there was no difference between the left and right muscles between the groups in Upper Trapezius muscle. In Deltoid, Infraspinatus, and Rectus Abdominis muscles, the elastic bar group was significantly higher than the inelastic bar group between groups, and there was no difference between left and right. Conclusion: Among the four muscles measured in this study, there was no difference between left and right in Deltoid, Infraspinatus, and Rectus Abdominis, but the elastic bar showed significantly higher muscle activity than the inelastic bar. Therefore, it was found that the elastic bar increases muscle activation during exercise than the inelastic bar, and in particular, it further increases muscle activation of the arms and torso, and exercise using the elastic bar can increase neuromuscular stabilization.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.224-230
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of height of the shoe heel in a one leg standing posture on the muscle activity of the rectus abdominis, erector spinae, hamstring, and rectus femoris. Twenty healthy female subjects were asked to perform a one leg standing posture with three types of shoes, which had different heights of shoe heel, 0cm, 3cm, and 7cm. Surface electromyography was used to evaluate the activities of the right rectus abdominis, erector spinae, hamstring, and rectus femoris muscles. The data was analyzed by repeated one-way ANOVA and the muscle activities among three heights of shoe heel were compared. The results showed that the muscle activities of the erector spinae and rectus femoris increased significantly according to increase height of shoe heel (p<0.05). The activity of the rectus abdominis and hamstring were not significantly different among the three height of shoe heel (p>0.05). These results suggest that the height of shoe heel affects the lumbo-pelvic alignment and center of mass; therefore, high-heeled shoes lead to musculoskeletal pain in the lumbopelvic, hip, and knee areas.