• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.2140-2146
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• 2020

Background: Stroke patients exhibit arm global synkinesis (GS), involuntary movement due to muscle weakness and irregular muscle tension. But currently there are few studies examined the effects of GS on activates of daily living in stroke patients. Objectives: To investigate the effects the effects of task-oriented bilateral movements, which promote brain plasticity and are based on neurological theory, using the unaffected arm and the affected arm. Design: Quasi-randomized trial. Methods: Twenty stroke patients were randomly assigned to experimental group I (n=10) and experimental group II (n=10). Before the intervention, arm GS was measured using surface electromyography, and the Motor Activity Log evaluated the quantitative and qualitative uses of the affected arm in daily life. The same items were measured four weeks later. Results: The changes in the GS of the arm of experimental group I showed statistically significant differences only in bending motions (P<.05). Both groups showed statistically significant differences in the amount of use (AOU) and the quality of movement (QOM) scores (P<.01). Comparing the groups, statistically significant differences in GS appeared during bending motions (P<.05), and in the AOU (P<.01) and the QOM scores (P<.05). Conclusion: The intervention in GS reduced the abnormal muscle tension of the affected side by increasing the use of the ipsilateral motor pathway, indicating its effectiveness in improving upper limb functions with smooth contraction and relaxation of the muscles.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.355-363
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to obtain detailed and quantified data concerning the effects of plantarflexor muscle fatigue induced in the non-paretic side on the spatial and temporal gait parameters of the bilateral lower extremities during walking in stroke patients. Methods: This study was conducted on 20 patients with chronic stroke. The load contraction fatigue test was applied to induce muscle fatigue in the non-paretic plantarflexor muscle. Step length, stride length, double support, gait velocity and cadence, and functional ambulatory profile (FAP) score in the bilateral lower extremities were measured using a gait analysis system in order to investigate changes in temporal and spatial gait parameters caused by muscle fatigue on the non-paretic side. The statistical significance of the results was evaluated using a paired t-test. Results: A review of the results for gait parameters revealed a significant increase in double support (p<0.05) and a significant decrease in step length, stride length, gait velocity and cadence, and FAP score (p<0.05). Conclusion: These results indicate that the muscle fatigue in the non-paretic side of the stroke patients also affected the paretic side, which led to a decrease in gait functions. This implies a necessity to perform exercise or training programs in a range of clinical aspects not causing muscle fatigue.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.121-127
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• 2022

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate potential effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on bimanual force control capabilities in healthy young adults. Method: Eighteen right-handed healthy young adults (10 females and 8 males; age: 23.55 ± 3.56 yrs) participated in this crossover design study. All participants were randomly allocated to both active-tDCS and sham-tDCS conditions, respectively. While receiving 20 min of active- or sham-tDCS interventions, all participants performed bimanual isometric force control tasks at four submaximal targeted force levels (i.e., 5%, 10%, 15, and 20% of maximal voluntary contraction: MVC). To compare bimanual force control capabilities including force accuracy, variability, and regularity between active-tDCS and sham-tDCS conditions, we conducted two-way repeated measures ANOVAs (2 × 4; tDCS condition × Force levels). Results: We found no significant difference in baseline MVC between active-tDCS and sham-tDCS conditions. Moreover, our findings revealed that providing bilateral tDCS including anodal tDCS on left primary motor cortex (M1) and cathodal on right M1 while conducting bimanual force control trials significantly decreased force variability and regularity at 5%MVC. Conclusion: These findings suggest that providing bilateral tDCS on M1 areas may improve bimanual force control capabilities at a relatively low targeted force level.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.71-78
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• 2017

Background: Muscle weakness and impaired trunk muscle control are common in stroke patients. The bridging exercise (BE) is generally used for trunk stabilization and improving the overall function of stroke patients. The effectiveness of the BE with hip adductor contraction (BEHA) in facilitating trunk muscle activation has been well studied in healthy adults. However, the impact of BEHA in sub-acute stroke patients has not yet been investigated. Objects: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of BEHA on the electromyography (EMG) activities and the asymmetry of the rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO) and internal oblique (IO) abdominal muscles. Methods: Twenty participants with sub-acute stroke (11 males and 9 females) were recruited. Each participant was asked to perform bridging exercises for five seconds under three different conditions: BE in a neutral position (BEN), BEHA with a large ball (BEHAL) and BEHA with a small ball (BEHAS). The EMG amplitudes of the bilateral RA, EO and IO and the asymmetry of the EMG activity between the sound and affected sides were compared among the conditions. The significance level was set at ${\alpha}=.05$. Results: The EMG activities of RA, EO and IO were significantly greater during BEHAL and BEHAS than during BEN (p<.05); the asymmetry of the RA, EO and IO decreased significantly during BEHAL and BEHAS compared to BEN (p<.05). However, no measured variables showed any significant differences between BEHAL and BEHAS (p>.05). Conclusion: This study compared the EMG activities of the RA, EO and IO on both sides and the asymmetry of the RA, EO and IO during BEN, BEHAL and BEHAS. Our findings suggest that BEHA was more effective for individuals with hemiplegic stroke at facilitating and normalizing abdominal muscle control than BEN.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.31-40
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• 1982

The present experiment was carried out to elucidate interrelation between the vestibular canals and the extraocular oblique muscles. In urethane anesthetized rabbits, excitatory or inhibitory effect of the canal was produced by three different methods; selective electrical stimulation of the ampullary nerve, bidirectional (ampullofugal or ampullopetal) lymphatic fluid flow, and rapid freezing of the canal. Changes of isometric tension as well as electro-myographic activity of the oblique muscles were recorded in the ipsilateral and contralateral eyes, by means of a polygraphic recorder, and the following results were obtained. 1) Electrical stimulation of a unilateral vertical or horizontal nerve caused contraction of superior oblique muscle and relaxation of inferior oblique muscle in the ipsilateral eye, and contraction of inferior oblique muscle and relaxation of superior oblique muscle in the contralateral eye. 2) Ampullofugal flow in a vertical canal and ampullopetal flow in a horizontal canal caused the oblique muscle responses which were identical to those responses produced by the electrical stimulation of the same canal nerve. 3) Rapid freezing of a vertical canal elicited the oblique muscle responses which were opposite to those caused by electrical stimulation of the same canal nerve. From the above experimental results, functional interrelation between the individual vestibular canal and bilateral extraocular oblique muscles were better elucidated. When these results were compared to those reported by previous investigators (Utzumi, Suzuki et al.), some important discrepancies were found between them. We ascribed such discrepancies to experimental errors of the previous investigators, since their results reflected theoretical contradictions in terms of vestibular eye movements.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.115-123
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• 2015

Purpose: The aim of this study was to elucidate the coordination patterns of the sternocleidomastoid and posterior cervical muscles in response to symmetrical and asymmetrical jaw functions in normal adults. Methods: Twenty-seven healthy volunteers (8 females, 19 males; mean age, $30.4{\pm}2.5$ years) participated in this study. Surface electromyography (EMG) was used to record activities in the masseter, suprahyoid, sternocleidomastoid, and posterior cervical muscles at rest and during maximum tooth clenching, biting of a cotton roll with the anterior teeth, unilateral biting of a cotton roll with the posterior teeth, bilateral biting of cotton rolls with the posterior teeth, and jaw opening while seated. Normalized amplitude, activity indices, and asymmetry indices were compared between the muscles and the jaw tasks. Results: During symmetrical jaw functions (e.g., tooth clenching, biting with the anterior teeth, bilateral biting with the posterior teeth, jaw opening), the sternocleidomastoid and posterior cervical muscles showed elevated EMG amplitudes compared with the resting condition. The co-activation pattern of the sternocleidomastoid muscle was more pronounced than those of the posterior cervical muscles during these tasks. During asymmetrical jaw functions (e.g., unilateral biting with the posterior teeth), the ipsilateral sternocleidomastoid and masseter muscles showed higher contraction activity than did the contralateral muscles, but the contralateral posterior cervical muscles were more active than the ipsilateral muscles. Conclusions: The sternocleidomastoid and posterior cervical muscles were shown to be co-activated and coordinated anteroposteriorly or bilaterally according to symmetrical or asymmetrical jaw function. These results suggest an integrated neural control mechanism for the jaw and neck muscles, and provide further evidence supporting the intimate functional coupling between the trigeminal and cervical neuromuscular systems.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.268-273
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• 2000

Velocity-dependent increase in tonic stretch reflexes is one of the prominent characteristics of spasticity. It is very important to evaluate spasticity objectively and quantitatively before and after treatment for physicians. An accurate quantitative biomechanical evaluation for the spasticity which is caused by the disorder of central nervous system is made in this study. A sudden leg dropper which is designed to generate objective testing environment at every trial gives very effective environment for the test. Kinematic data are archived by the 3-dimensional motion analysis system($Elite^{(R)}$, B.T.S., Italy). Kinematic data are angle and angular velocity of lower limb joints, and length and lengthening velocity of lower limb muscle. A program is also developed to analyze the kinematic data of lower limb, contraction and relaxation length of muscles, and dynamic EMG data at the same tim. To evaluate spasticity quantitatively, total 31 parameters extracted from goniogram, EMG and muscle model are analyzed. Statistical analysis are made for bilateral correlations for all parameters. The described instrumentation and parameters to make quantitative and objective evaluation of spasticity shows good results.

• Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.122-125
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• 2007

Avulsion of the ischial tuberosity is an acute injury caused by sudden contraction of the hamstrings, typically occurs in early adolescence, whereas ischial apophysitis has a more insidious onset during times of increased activity and its diagnosis is often missed. Authors present a rare case of having neglected avulsion fracture of the the ischial tuberosity in one side and ischial apophysitis in the other side with characteristic radiological features in a 16-year-old male who was an active Tae-Kwon-Do player.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.270-274
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the electromyographic (EMG) activity of the abdominal muscles and to compare the activity ratios of the bilateral rectus abdominis (RA) to oblique abdominal muscles during shoulder abduction in opposite directions with single leg raising (SLR) performed in the supine position on a foam roller. Methods: Fifteen healthy subjects were recruited to the study. Each subject lay on the foam roller and performed left single leg raising with right or left shoulder $90^{\circ}$ abduction (Abd); performed in a random order. Surface EMG recordings of selected abdominal muscles (i.e., the RA, external oblique abdominis [EO], internal oblique abdominis [IO], and transverse abdominis [TrA]) were normalized to maximum voluntary isometric contraction. EO/RA and IO and TrA/RA ratios were determined with surface EMG. Data were analyzed by Independent t-test. The statistical significance level was p<0.05. Results: The results were as follows: (1) the right RA, left EO, and right IO and TrA muscle activities increased significantly at the left SLR with left Abd compared to the left SLR with right Abd (p<0.05); and (2) the ratio of right EO/RA activity increased significantly at the left SLR with right Abd compared to left Abd (p<0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that left SLR with left Abd on a foam roller is an appropriate exercise for activation of specific oblique abdominal muscles.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.496-500
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• 2023

Fournier's gangrene is a life-threatening infection which requires prompt recognition, early surgical debridement of unhealthy tissue, and initiation of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Relook debridement are usually performed until all the devitalized tissue has been removed. Involvement of the anal sphincter may result in significant morbidity such as permanent incontinence. Dynamic reconstruction of the anal sphincter has always been one of the holy grails in the field of pelvic reconstruction. We demonstrate a new method of camera shutter style double-opposing gracilis muscle flaps that allows dynamic sphincteric function without the need for electrostimulation. The bilateral gracilis muscles are inset in a fashion that allows orthograde contraction of the muscle to narrow and collapse the neoanal opening. With biofeedback training, the patient is able to regain dynamic continence and return to function without a stoma. There was also no need for neurotization or microsurgery techniques to restore sphincteric function to the anus. The patient was able to reverse his stoma 14 months after the initial insult and reconstruction with biofeedback training without the use of electrostimulation.