• International Journal of Contents
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.1-5
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• 2010

Kinesio Taping (KT) is widely used by physical therapists to treat a variety of neuromusculoskeletal disorders. In this study it was examined whether or not KT has an effect on the peak torque and muscle activity of the quadriceps muscles in healthy subjects. KT was applied to the anterior thigh and tibia of fifteen healthy males (mean age, 25.42${\pm}$1.38 years, mean body height 178.58${\pm}$3.03 cm, mean body weight 71.58${\pm}$6.42 kg) who have no problem within past 2 months. The quadriceps peak torque was assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer while the mean data of muscle activity was measured by surface electromyography (EMG). The maximal voluntary isometric contraction was carried out on all subjects at $0^{\circ}$, $30^{\circ}$ and $60^{\circ}$ before, during, and after KT. There were no significant differences in the peak torque and mean data of quadriceps muscle(vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, and vastus medialis oblique) activity at $0^{\circ}$, $30^{\circ}$ and $60^{\circ}$ before, during and after application of KT (p>.05). From this study it could be concluded that the application of KT to the anterior thigh and tibia doesn't affect the peak torque and the muscle activity.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.37-44
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• 2011

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of an exercise program using a virtual reality game and a gait exercise program using a treadmill on % maximum voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC) and static and dynamic balancing capabilities. Methods: A total of 26 elderly women were included in the study. 13 women were assigned to an exercise program using a virtual reality game, and 13 to a gait exercise program using a treadmill. The subjects performed the exercise for 40 min per session, three sessions per week, for eight weeks. Results: The %MVIC of the vastus medialis was significantly increased from $28.91{\pm}2.03%$ to $32.98{\pm}2.6%$ in the virtual reality game exercise group (p<0.00). The %MVIC of the vastus lateralis was significantly increased from $27.17{\pm}1.93%$ to $31.50{\pm}2.18%$ (p<0.00) in the gait exercise program group. The whole path length with both feet on the floor and eyes open was significantly decreased from $1570.92{\pm}820.6mm$ to $1343.62{\pm}242.41mm$ (p<0.00). The whole path length with both feet on the floor and eyes closed was significantly decreased from $1819.85{\pm}361.14mm$ to $1581.05{\pm}285.11mm$ (p<0.00). The length of a functional reach was significantly increased from $25.2{\pm}4.23cm$ to $27.68{\pm}4.04cm$ (p<0.00). Conclusion: The exercise program using a virtual reality game is effective for improving the %MVIC and static and dynamic balancing capabilities in elderly women aged 65 years and more.

• 한국운동역학회지
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.9-16
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze muscle function and EMG of the trunk and the lower extremity in short and long distance athletes and in order to determine difference in peak torque per unit weight, muscle power per unit weight, endurance ratio, and %MVIC classified by muscle. For that purpose, isokinetic muscle function tests for waist, knee, and ankle joints and EMG measurements for the trunk and the lower extremity muscle with running motion were conducted for 7 short and long distance high school athletes respectively. The study over muscle function of waist, knee, and ankle joints indicates that peak torque per unit weight of short distance athletes is higher than that of long distance athletes in extension and flexion of waist joint, plantar flexion of right ankle joint, and dorsi flexion of left ankle joint. In case of the muscle power per unit weight of short distance athletes is also higher than long distance athletes in waist, knee, and ankle joints. No difference in endurance ratio of waist, knee, and ankle joints between the two groups was founded. The results of the test over EMG of the trunk and the lower extremity show that %MVIC of erector spinae, rectus femoris, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, and tibialis anterior is higher than that of long distance athletes in support phase. The above results proved to be the same in flight phase except for %MVIC of medial gastrocnemius. In other words, %MVIC of medial gastrocnemius for short distance athletes turned out to be higher than that of long distance athletes in flight phase.

• 대한통합의학회지
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• 제4권4호
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• pp.67-75
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare Hip-Knee-Ankle(HKA) angle and muscle activation ratio between vastus medialis(VM), rectus femoris(RF), and vastus lateralis (VL), and by this, to examine their relationship. It is aimed to explore how the activation ratio among the muscles involved in patellofemoral kinetics would vary in relation with the frontal alignment of the lower extremity. Subjects and Methods: 26 healthy subjects were recruited for the study. The HKA angles were measured with radiograph. The VM, RF, VL muscle activation level were measured by surface electromyography while each participant performed 4 different types of movement (isometric knee extension, squat, ambulation, step-up) and VM/RF, VM/VL, RF/VL ratios were calculated. Pearson correlation was used to estimate the relationship between the HKA angle and the muscle ratio. Results: There was significant moderate correlation between HKA angle and VM: RF on the left side during ambulation (p<0.05). Moderate correlations were also observed during step-up and squat with less significance (p<0.1). Conclusion: The frontal alignment of the knee measured by the HKA angle was conditionally associated with muscle activation ratio between VM and RF (VM:RF); On the left, during ambulation, step-up, and squat, the more valgus knee tended to correlate with the more VM muscle activation ratio, which is expected to induce more stabilizing effect to the patella and its tracking. It suggests that the frontal alignement measured by the HKA-angle can affect PF kinetics. It also indicates a possibility that increase in valgus alignment of the knee, by the HKA measurement, may not act unfavorably to generate PFP.

• 대한통합의학회지
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.97-107
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• 2020

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of squat exercise using a ball on the gap between knees and Q angle of a subject with a genu-varum, and to prove the effect, to provide a clinical basis for developing into a knee correction exercise program. Methods : As a result of posture measurement through GPS, 26 female with genu-varum with a knee length of 5 cm or more were studied. The group was randomly assigned to 13 squat exercise group using ball (experimental group) and 13 general squat exercise groups (control group). The experimental group placed the ball between both knees in a position where the distance between both feet was slightly wider than the shoulder width on a flat support surface, and fixed the ball, and then squat with the start signal. The control group squats without a ball. Each group performed three sets of exercise three times a week for six weeks. Before their exercise, after three and six weeks, EMG, GPS, digital goniometer measurement, the vastus medialis (VM), the vastus lateralis (VL), and the Q-angle were measured in the squat exercise posture. EMG was measured in squat exercise posture. Results : The distance between the knees was reduced. EMG is activated in group A, the group B experimental results showed the high activity of the VL. Q-angle had increased. But the experimental group increased more than the control group. Conclusion : We have confirmed through our experiments that the distance interval between the knees during squat exercises using a ball can be reduced. Furthermore, it would also be helpful to ensure the treatment of genu-varum.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.192-204
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• 2004

The surface electromyographic(sEMG) analyses were knee joint angle during open kinetic chain exercise (OKC) and close kinetic chain exercise (CKC) in vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis (VL), and rectus femoralis (RF). Ten subjects with normal , aged 20 to 30(X=27.4, SD=3.23), were randomized Statistical techniques for data analysis were applied paired t-test. The 0.05 level of significane was used as the critical level for rejection of the null hypotheses for the study. And the results were: 1) Both OKC and CKC improved the strength of quadriceps muscle as the knee joint flexion was increased. 2) In OKC, the strength of VM was improved the most at the 30 degree angle. 3) In CKC, the strength of VM was improved the most at the 30 degree angle. 4) The VM/VL ratio was the largest at the 10 and 20 degree angles in OKC and CKC. 5) The VM/VL ratio at 10, 20, and 30 degree angles was significantly different between OKC and CKC (P < 0.05). Base on the results, the OKCE is recommended for the knee joint patients, especially for the patellofemoral pain syndrome patients, during the early phase of rehabilitation. In order to improve strength of the quadriceps, muscle strength training at 30 degree angle is recommended. In order to improve VM/VL ratio, 10 and 20 degree angles are recommended during OKCE and CKCE, respectively. Future researches are warranted comparing electromyographic analysis between OKCE and CKCE in the quadriceps at a certain work lead, and muscle strength performance in the quadriceps at different positions of foot.

• 원예과학기술지
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• 제32권5호
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• pp.710-720
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• 2014

Movements of the upper and lower limb muscles during five common gardening tasks were analyzed by using electromyography (EMG). Twenty adults aged in their twenties (mean age, $24.8{\pm}2.4$ years) were recruited. On two separate occasions, subjects visited a garden plot to perform digging, raking, troweling, weeding, and hoeing; all tasks were performed three times with 20 s intervals for each trial. To measure muscle activation during the five gardening tasks, surface EMG was used. Bipolar surface EMG electrodes were attached to eight upper limb muscles (bilateral anterior deltoid, biceps brachialis, brachioradialis, and flexor carpi ulnaris) or eight lower limb muscles (bilateral vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, biceps femoris, and gastrocnemius) on both sides of the body, for a total of 16 muscles. During the five tasks, photographs were taken of movement phases using a digital video camera. The right flexor carpi ulnaris and brachioradialis showed higher activation than the other upper and lower limb muscles measured during the tasks. All 16 upper and lower limb muscles were actively used only during digging. According to movement analysis of each activity, digging was classified into four movement phases, whereas raking, troweling, weeding, and hoeing each were divided into three movement phases. In each activity, there were high-impact phases in terms of muscle activation; the flexor carpi ulnaris and brachioradialis were identified as major muscles in each impact phase. This analysis may be used to generate biomechanical profiles of gardening tasks for practitioners when designing efficient gardening interventions for physical health or rehabilitation.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.63-70
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• 2005

To compare the effects of forward walking and backward walking on surface electromyographic analysis of quadriceps muscles at treadmill grades of 0%, 5% and 10%, subjects were randomized to eleven athletics (5 females, 6 males), with a mean age of 17.8 years, and a SD of 4.66 years. The values of the surface electromyographic (SEMG) activity of the rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL) and vastus medialis oblique (VMO) were measured during forward walking and backward walking on a treadmill at grades of 0, 5 and 10%. The subjects walked for approximately 10 seconds at 4.0 km/h. The data were analyzed by repeated measuring of the two-way ANOVA and analyzed by a paired t-test between forward walking and backward walking. The SEMG activity levels of the RF, VL and VMO were the highest when both the forward walking and backward walking increased incrementally for treadmill grades of 0% to 10%, but the VMO/VL ratio had no significant changes. The SEMG activity levels of the RF, VL and VMO were significantly different between directions. However, SEMG activity levels of the RF, VL, VMO and VMO/VL ratio did not show significant difference among the treadmill grades. No statistically significant interactions were detected between the direction of walking and treadmill grade. Backward walking on the treadmill at 4 km/h and grades of 0%, 5%, 10% elicited a greater SEMG activity on the quadriceps muscles than did forward walking under the same conditions. The results suggest that the quadriceps may be effectively activated by performance at treadmill grades of 10%. This investigation confirms that backward walking up an incline may place additional muscular demands on individuals.

• PNF and Movement
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.255-263
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) lower extremity pattern on the dominant leg on muscle activity of the lower extremity supported by the ground. Methods: The subjects were 20 healthy males living in Busan. All subjects performed four direction PNF lower extremity patterns, and data were collected by surface electromyography from the gluteus medius (GM), tensor fascia latae (TFL), vastus medialis oblique (VMO), vastus lateralis oblique (VLO), and semitendinosus (STD) muscles of the opposite lower extremity during PNF lower extremity pattern. The PNF lower extremity pattern applied to the dominant leg was (1) flexion/adduction/external rotation with knee flexion; (2) extension/abduction/internal rotation with knee extension; (3) flexion/abduction/internal rotation with knee flexion; and (4) extension/adduction/external rotation with knee extension pattern, repeated 3 times per pattern and using the average value of the collected results. Collected muscle activity values were analyzed by one-way ANOVA, and post-hoc Tukey testing was performed to check between-group differences. The statistical significance level was set at α = 0.05. Results: GM and TFL flexion/abduction/internal rotation pattern with knee flexion was significantly higher than other patterns. VMO and VLO extension/adduction/external rotation pattern with knee extension was significantly higher than other patterns. STD flexion/adduction/external rotation pattern with knee flexion was significantly higher than other patterns. Conclusion: The study confirms differences in lower extremity muscle activity for the PNF lower extremity pattern, indicating that selective muscle contraction induction is possible using a pattern appropriate to the purpose of treatment.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.1-16
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• 2001

This study was designed to identify the effects of foot position on electromyographic (EMG) activity of the quadriceps femoris during maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) in standing. Twenty young adults who had not experienced any knee injuries were recruited. Their Q-angles were within a normal range. They were asked to stand in five different foot positions ($40^{\circ}$ externally rotated, $30^{\circ}$ internally rotated, neutral, $20^{\circ}$ plantarflexed, and $10^{\circ}$ dorsiflexed foot position). The EMG activities of the vastus lateralis (VL), rectus femoris (RF), and vastus medialis oblique (VMO) were recorded in standing by surface electrodes and normalized by MVC EMG values derived from manual muscle test. The normalized EMG activity levels (%MVC EMG) of muscles in the five foot positions were compared using repeated measures ANOVA. The EMG activity levels of the VL, RF, and VMO were the highest when foot was externally rotated. The EMG activity levels of the VL and RF were significantly different among the foot positions (p<.05). However, EMG activity levels of the VL, RF, VMO, and VMO/VL ratio did not show significant differences in each foot position (p> .05). The results suggest that the quadriceps femoris may be effectively activated by performing MVC at an externally rotated foot position. Therefore, the externally rotated foot position can be considered as an effective foot position for quadriceps femoris strengthening exercise. Further studies are needed to identify whether there are differences in the effects of foot position on muscle strength after MVC exercise of quadriceps femoris in standing.