• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2022

Background: Neck pain is a major health problem in developed countries and has a lifetime prevalence of 50%. Major problems include a reduced cervical range of motion, muscle stiffness, dysfunction, postural changes, and decrease in psychosocial level. Objects: This study aimed to investigate the effects of applying the upper trapezius inhibition dynamic taping to patients with chronic neck pain on their neck pain, functional level, cervical range of motion, psychosocial level, and neck posture. Methods: The study design was a randomized controlled trial. A total of 40 patients with neck pain participated in this study and were randomly assigned to a Dynamic Taping group (n = 20) or Sham Taping group (n = 20). In both groups, basic intervention cervical pain control therapy and shoulder stabilization exercise program were performed. In addition, dynamic taping and sham taping were applied to participants in the Dynamic Taping and Sham Taping groups to inhibit the trapezius muscle, respectively. All interventions were performed three times a week and a total of 12 times for 4 weeks, and the participants' neck pain, functional impairment level, cervical range of motion, psychosocial level, and neck posture were measured and compared before and after the intervention. Results: Both groups showed significant differences in neck pain, functional level, cervical range of motion, psychosocial level, and neck postural before and after the intervention (p < 0.05). Moreover, there were significant differences between the two groups regarding the functional level and neck posture (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Inhibition dynamic taping of the upper trapezius muscle suppression is an effective method with clinical significance in reducing pain in individuals with chronic neck pain and improving the functional level, cervical range of motion, psychosocial level, and neck posture.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.219-229
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• 2015

Objective : The purpose of this study was to analyze EMG according to surface type and elastic band usage during the pilates Superman movement. Method : The subjects were 10 female university students with a mean age of 27. The independent variables were surface type (yoga mat, air filled equipment, elastic mat) and elastic band usage. In order to measure muscle activity, the Noraxon(USA) was used. Eight muscles (upper trapezius, lower trapezius, thoracic spine, lumbar spine, gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, biceps femoris, semitendinosus) activation were analyzed. For the statistical analysis, MANOVA, independent t-test and Scheffe test for the post-hoc via SPSS 20.0 was used. Results : The left and right upper trapezius muscle activities were significantly reduced when using the elastic bands. In addition gluteus medius muscle activities significantly increased with the elastic band as well. Conclusion : According to the usage of the elastic band and the different types of surfaces, different muscle groups were recruited. Elastic bands were found to have more activation on the gluteus medius muscle meanwhile there was less activation on the upper trapezius during the pilates Superman movement.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.2203-2211
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• 2020

Background: Backpacks are one of the most widely used accessories in modern society. However, previous studies have shown that carrying a backpack can cause various musculoskeletal problems. Objectives: To investigate the effects of a body-adhesive backpack on craniovertebral angle, sagittal shoulder angle and the muscle fatigue in the upper extremity. Design: Randomized cross-over design. Methods: For this study, 36 healthy university students participated in this study. The experiment was conducted three times using common backpack, and body-adhesive backpack condition. The angles of the cervical spine and shoulder joints of the subjects were calculated without the backpack. Electrodes were placed at upper trapezius, lower trapezius, rectus abdominis and erector spinae to check for muscle fatigue. Subjects carried a backpack and walked on a treadmill for 15 minutes at 4 km/h. The muscle fatigue signal was also measured while walking. After walking, the craniovertebral and sagittal shoulder angles were measured again while subjects carried backpack. Results: As a result of this study, body-adhesive backpack condition showed significant decrease and significant increase in craniovertebral angle and sagittal shoulder angle than common backpack (P<.05). Body-adhesive backpack condition showed significant decrease in upper trapezius, lower trapezius, erector spinae, and rectus abdominis when compared to a common backpack (P<.05). Conclusion: This study suggests that a body-adhesive backpack is more beneficial in correcting body posture than a common backpack.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.95-100
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• 2016

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of hand grip strength on the muscle activation of shoulder joint in breast cancer patients. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Ten breast cancer patients who agreed to active participation were included. These patients were operated with either conservative surgery or segmental mastectomy, and then were treated with radiation therapy and chemotherapy. The activity of the upper trapezius, lower trapezius, supraspinatus and serratus anterior muscle were measured using surface electrodes during 4 hand gripping tasks (lowered their arms in standing position, 0%, 30%, and 50% of maximum voluntary contraction) in the scapular abduction plane. Results: The results were analyzed using a one-way repeated measures ANOVA. There was a significant difference in the lower trapezius and supraspinatus muscles according to grip strength, lower trapezius and supraspinatus muscles showed significantly difference according to grip strength (p<0.05). The result of the muscle activation according to hand strength (0%, 30%, and 50%) it showed a significant difference between the upper trapezius and supraspinatus in 0% grip strength (p<0.05). In addition, it did not show a significant difference between muscles in 30%, 50% hand strength. Conclusions: This study showed an increase in shoulder muscle activation with increasing hand grip strength with the upper trapezius muscle being more activated than other muscles in 0% grip strength. The finding of this study suggests usefulness for development of preventative measures and rehabilitation strategies for increasing shoulder motor function in patients with breast cancer.

• 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 Integrative Medicine
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.1-8
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• 2015

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to find out the effect of shoulder exercise program for improving forward head posture. Method : Subjects were divided into two groups. The experimental group(15 people) participated in strength exercise and stretching exercise, three times every week, during 4 weeks. And the control group(the other 15 people) didn't participate in exercises. Exercise program was composed of strength exercise of middle and lower trapezius and stretching exercise of levator scapulae and upper trapezius. And then we measured cervical alignment with GPS and muscular activity by EMG. Result : The results of this study were as follows; 1. After the intervention, experimental group was significantly decreased in cervical alignment than control group(p<.05). 2. After the intervention, experimental group was significantly increased in middle lower trapezius musclar activity than control group(p<.05). Conclusion : Strength exercise of middle and lower trapezius and stretching exercise of levator scapulae and upper trapezius were considered a efficient for improving forward head posture.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.27-35
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to compare the electromyographic (EMG) activity levels of the scapular upward rotators [upper trapezius (UT), lower trapezius (LT), and serratus anterior (SA)] and other scapular muscles [posterior deltoid (PD), levator scapulae (LS), and infraspinatus (IS)] during isometric lower trapezius exercises. Twenty males with no medical history of shoulder pain or upper extremity disorders were recruited for this study. EMG activity was recorded from the UT, LT, SA, PD, LS, and IS while subjects performed three different exercises: Prone arm lift (PAL), Backward rocking diagonal arm lift (BRDAL), Modified Prone Cobra (MPC). One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine any significant differences among the three exercises. A lower relative activation of UT, LT, and SA was seen with the MPC than with the other exercises (p<.05). The relatively lower activation of the UT identified, the MPC exercise as the preferred choice for preferential strengthening the LT (p<.05). However, a higher activation in the PD, LS, and IS occurred with the MPC than with the other exercises (p>.05). The recruitment pattern of synergist varied depending on the exercise posture. These findings suggest that exercise posture is an important factor in the selection of strengthening exercise for weak muscle.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.11 no.12
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• pp.194-200
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• 2021

Recently, incorrect and unhealthy postures have become increasingly prevalent due to reasons such as smartphone use. Consequently, imbalanced muscle contraction occurs. In particular, if the oblique muscle is contracted, the accessory nerve will be compressed, causing ischemic pain in the upper trapezius muscle. To investigate the effect on pain in the upper trapezius muscle, this study applied the ischemic compression method to the accessory nerve capture point at the 1/3-point of the oblique cervical muscle. In this study, the ischemic compression method was applied to eight women twice a week for four weeks, and pain was evaluated before, immediately after, and three weeks after application. The visual analogue scale, McGill Pain Questionnaire, and pressure dynamometer were used to evaluate subjects' pain. As a result of this study, it was confirmed that the pain was significantly reduced after treatment, and that the pain reduction was still effective three weeks after completion of the intervention, indicating that the intervention on the accessory nerve compression point on the oblique cervical muscle was both effective and long-lasting for pain reduction in the upper trapezius muscle. Future studies should increase the number of subjects to check not only pain reduction in the upper trapezius muscle, but also improvement of neck function.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.111-116
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• 2018

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of tote bag weight on muscle thickness of pectroalis minor and tone of upper trapezius in young adult women. 27 women habitual of carrying tote bags. The subjects were measured the tone of the upper trapezius muscle and the thickness of the pectoralis minor muscle while carrying tote bags with the weight of 0%, 5%, 7.5% and 10% of the subjects' body weight. As the weight load increased, the upper trapezius muscle demonstrated significantly increased muscle tone (p<.05). additionally, a significantly increased thickness in the pectoralis minor muscle was noted(p<.05). These findings suggest that the habit of carrying a tote bag on the wrist may be disadvantageous to improving the two muscles in young women. Therefore, this study recommend women who likely used tote bag decrease the weight of the bag.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.57-69
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to know the effects of the bee venom pharmacopuncture on muscle activity and pain reception of trapezius and deltoid the upper limbs muscles. Methods : We allocated healthy volunteers into two groups. After having exercise with barbell for load to trapezius and deltoid, we measured sEMG(surface electromyography) and VAS(visual analogue scale). In a moment, inject bee venom pharmacopuncture and saline each group. After 30 minutes, we measured sEMG and VAS again. We compared before and after sEMG and VAS data. Results : On sEMG data, bee venom pharmacopuncture had effects on muscle fatigue on left trapezius, muscle fatigue and fatigue and recovery on right trapezius and both deltoid. On VAS data, values of bee venom pharmacopuncture decreased more than that of saline. Conclusions : These results show that bee venom pharmacopuncture have effects on muscle activity aid pain reception of trapezius and deltoid the upper limbs muscle. But further studies should be carried out to verify the exact effects of bee venom.