• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.118-125
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• 2020

Background: Lateral epicondylitis (LE) is the most common chronic musculoskeletal pain condition of the upper extremities. LE is often related to forceful grip activities that require isometric contraction of the wrist extensors. A previous study evaluated the effect of the diamond taping technique on grip strength and pain; however, there has been no report on the change in the electromyography (EMG) findings of wrist extensors. Objects: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of diamond taping technique, using a rigid tape, on the EMG activities of the extensor carpi radialis (ECR) during grip activities. Methods: Twenty-four healthy subjects (mean age = 21.50 ± 2.76 years) volunteered to participate in this study. The subjects were instructed to perform forceful grip activities with and without diamond-type taping on the origin area of the ECR. Grip strength tests were performed at 100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% for maximal isometric contraction force. EMG data were collected from the ECR. Repeated measure analysis of variance was used to analyze the effect of grip force and taping (with and without). Statistical significance levels were set at α = 0.05. Comparison of the results with and without taping at different grip force were analyzed using independent t-test. Statistical significance levels were set at α = 0.01. Results: Statistically significant association was observed between the taping application and forceful grip activity as revealed by the EMG data of the ECR (p < 0.05). EMG of the ECR significantly reduced for all muscle strength levels (p < 0.01) after taping. Conclusion: This study shows an impressive effect of the diamond taping technique, using rigid tape, on wrist extensors during grip activities. Decreasing muscle activity via this taping approach could be utilized to enhance pain-free grip force and reduce pain in patients with LE. Our study suggested that this taping technique could be considered as an effective management strategy of LE.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.57 no.10
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• pp.1893-1895
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• 2008

In this paper, we investigated the maximum ankle joint plantarflexion moment(MPM) of young and elderly subjects during various modes of isokinetic contractions with special interest in the elderly females who were reported to have higher fall rate than the elderly males. Subjects include the young subjects(14 males: $22.7{\pm}2.5yrs$, 13 females: $20.5{\pm}1.3yrs$) and the elderly subjects(17 males: $65.8{\pm}10.5yrs$, 26 females: $71.4{\pm}5.2yrs$). The MPM was normalized by each subject's body weight. The MPM of elderly females was the weakest among the groups, particularly, at the eccentric contractions. The male-to-female ratio of MPM was greater in the elderly than in the young and the young-to-elderly ratio of MPM was greater in female than in male, both during the eccentric contractions. The result suggests that the decreased muscle force per body weight, especially at the eccentric contraction, may be one reason for the more frequent fall of the elderly female than the elderly male.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.46-52
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• 2018

Background: The hamstring muscles in the lower extremity are highly important for knee joint stability and can be classified into medial and lateral hamstrings according to the anatomical position, which have some different functions. To measure the strength of the individual hamstring muscles, manual muscle testing is clinically performed by dividing rotation postures into internal and external postures. However, this has no sufficient scientific background. Objects: This study aimed to test the difference that the tibial rotation would cause in the muscle activity of the medial and lateral hamstrings. Methods: The muscle activities of the biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus were measured in a total of three different postures (neutral position and internal and external rotations) with 3 replications. During the maximal isometric contraction, resistance was constantly provided by the string attached to the strap, not by manual resistance of the examiner. Before and after electromyography measurements, the participants underwent hamstring flexibility measurement using the active knee extension test in the supine position on the treatment table. Results: The semitendinosus had a 12.56% reduction in muscle activity in external rotation as compared with that in neutral position. The biceps femoris and semimembranosus showed reduced muscle activities in both external and internal rotations as compared with those in neutral position. Only the women showed significant decreases in the comparison between pre and post-active knee extension. Conclusion: Only the semitendinosus muscle was consistent with the anatomical speculation. However, the reduction in the muscle activity of the semitendinosus as compared with that in neutral position was only 12.56%, the clinical value of which may be difficult to justify.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.1-10
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• 2008

Purpose: This study examines the effects of elastic band of resistance exercise for balance control of the elderly. Methods: Thirty of eighty participants in experiment subjects who demonstrated balance-impairment through the use of primary screening tests including the one leg standing test (OLST), functional reach test (FRT) and timed up and go (TUG) were selected as subjects. Fifteen subjects that underwent muscle-strengthening exercise using an elastic band were selected as the exercise group and fifteen subjects were selected as a control group. Subjects undertook a home-based exercise program three times per week for 9 weeks. Muscle strength, functional assessment and a balance test were quantitatively measured before and after the exercise regimen. Results: After muscle strengthening exercises, changes in maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) showed a significant increase in all of the lower extremity muscles of the exercise group subjects. There were statistically significant differences between the exercise and control groups for changes in the OLST, FRT and TUG, which are functional assessments of balance ability, and changes of the unit path length and circumference area, measurement items of quantitative analysis. In addition, from examining correlations between MVIC, balance ability, it was found that an increase of muscle strength in the hip joint group of muscles among the lower extremity muscles had greater improvement in correlation with balance ability in this elderly population. Conclusion: Resistance exercise using elastic bands had significant effects on muscle strengthening in elderly subjects, with a resultant increase of lower extremity muscle strength with significant improvement of balance ability.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.71-82
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• 2015

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to compare changes in the thickness of the gluteus medius muscle fiber between chronic low back pain(clbp) with gluteus medius weakness and healthy subject. METHODS: Ultrasound imaging was used to measure in the thickness of each fiber of the gluteus medius muscle based on maximal muscle contraction during abduction motion of the hip joint in a healthy group (11 subjects) and a chronic CLBP group (21 subjects). An independent t-test was performed to analyze the difference of thickness in each fiber of the gluteus medius muscle and the rate of changes in the fibers in the two groups. RESULTS: The fiber thickness changes in the gluteus medius muscle were significantly lower for the posterior fiber in the CLBP group compared to the healthy group (p<0.01). The changes in rate of difference of thickness the posterior part of the gluteus medius muscle was significantly lower in the CLBP group than in the healthy group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study CLBP patients with weakness of the gluteus medius muscle that lower for the posterior fiber's difference of thickness and rate of change in the CLBP group compared to the healthy group. Indicate that rehabilitation of CLBP patients with weakness of the gluteus medius muscle should consider the functions of posterior fiber of the gluteus medius muscle.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.140-147
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study is to identify the mechanism of changes in maximum voluntary torque with the magnitude and duration of pre-activation torque during voluntary isometric knee extension. Method: 11 male subjects (age: 25.91±2.43 yrs., height: 173.12±3.51 cm, weight: 76.45±7.74 kg) participated in this study. The subjects were required to produce maximal voluntary isometric torque with a particular pre-activation torque condition. The properties of pre-activation torque consisted of the combinations of 1) three levels of magnitude, e.g., 32 Nm, 64 Nm, 96 Nm, and 2) two levels of duration, e.g., 1 sec, and 3 sec; thus, a total of six conditions were given to the subjects. The force and EMG data were measured using the force transducers and wireless EMG sensor, respectively. Results: The results showed that the maximum voluntary torque increased the most with relatively large and fast (96 Nm, 1 sec) pre-activation condition. Similarly, with relatively large and fast (96 Nm, 1 sec) preactivation, it was found that the integrated EMG (iEMG) of the agonist muscles increased, while no significant changes in the co-contraction of the antagonist muscles for the knee extension. Also, the effect of pre-activation conditions on the rate of torque development was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The current findings suggest that relatively larger in magnitude and shorter in duration as the properties of pre-activation lead to a larger magnitude of maximal voluntary torque, possibly due to the increased activity of the agonist muscles during knee extension.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1-11
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• 2006

Purpose: This study compared the effects of non-cold and cold conditions on the viscoelastic properties of tendon structures in vivo. Methods: Seven male subjects perfomed plantar flesion exercise with maximal isokinetic voluntary contraction, which consisted of muscle contraction for 6 see and relaxation for 60 secs, 10 times for 1 set, Totally 10 sets were repeated. Before and after each task, the elongation of the tendon and aponeurosis of the medial gastrocnemius muscle (MG) was directly measured by ultrasonography. (The relationship between the estimated tendon force and tendon elongation.) Tendon cross-sectional area and ankle joint moment arm were obtained from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The tendon force was calculated from the joint moments and the tendon moment arm and stress was obtained by dividing force by cross-sectional areas (CSA). The strain was measured from the displacements normalized to tendon length. Results: After cooling, the tendon force was larger in cold than non-cold. The value of the tendon stiffness of MVC were significantly higher under the cold condition than under the non-cold condition. The maximal strain and stress of $7.4{\pm}0.7%$ and $36.4{\pm}1.8$ MPa in non-cold and $7.8{\pm}8.5%,\;31.8{\pm}1.1$ MPa in cold (P<0.05). Conclusion: This study shows for the first time that the muscle endurance in cooling increases the stiffness and Young's modulus of human tendons. The improvement in muscle endurance with cooling was directly related to muscle and tendon.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.31-43
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• 2002

The subjects of this study were 15 woman soccer players and 15 untrained woman students at H-Cheju University. Each subject was measured on the muscle strength and peak torque of knee extensors and knee flexors with isokinetic load ($60^{\circ}$/sec, $180^{\circ}$/sec). The results were as follows: 1. There was no significant difference between right and left leg strength measured isokinetically in each group. 2. The peak torque of knee extensors and flexors was significantly higher in scoccer players than untrainded students (p<0.001). 3. For the angle of knee joint showing the highest peak torque, there was significant difference between soccer players and untrained students in knee extensors(p<0.05) and right flexors (p<0.01). 4. For knee H/Q ratio, there was significant difference between two groups(p<0.05). 5. For the total work and average power at $180^{\circ}$/sec, there was significant difference between two groups in knee extensors(p<0.001) and flexors(p<0.01). 6. In soccer players at $60^{\circ}$/sec, there were significant correlations between peak torque and height and between peak torque and weight.(p<0.001). 7. For the muscular contraction velocity at $60^{\circ}$/sec, there was significant difference between two groups in flexors (p<0.01). 8. For the muscular indurance at $180^{\circ}$/sec in extensors and flexors, there was no significant difference between two groups(p<0.05). In conclusion, there were significantly higher in peak torque, contraction velocity, knee joint's angle with the highest peak torque, H/Q ratio, total work and average power in woman scoccer player than general students. But there was no significant difference in muscular endurance. Soccer performance is based on the various components including muscular endurance that is one of the most important components. So it is necessary that the training method to improve the various components (especially including muscular endurance) should be done.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.157-162
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• 2020

Purpose: This study was to evaluate several tasks performed at a high intensity in terms of their ability to elicit EMG activity in the serratus anterior by comparing the EMG activities of the serratus anterior, upper trapezius, and lower trapezius muscles during six tasks combined shoulder flexion with rotation. Methods: Fifteen healthy males were recruited to this study. Each subject was instructed to assume a sitting position without back support and asked to flex (90° or 120°) the right shoulder and protract the scapula in the sagittal plane with maximal external rotation; to assume a neutral position; or to internally rotate the glenohumeral joint. The EMG data were collected from the serratus anterior (SA), upper trapezius (UT), and lower trapezius (LT) muscles were normalized to maximum voluntary isometric contraction. The UT/LT and UT/SA muscle activity ratios in each task were assessed by calculating the surface EMG. Data were analyzed by two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance, with the level of significance set at p<0.05. Results: The results of this study, shoulder flexion with external rotation resulted in low upper trapezius/serratus anterior and upper trapezius/lower trapezius ratios and a relatively high level of serratus anterior activation. Conclusion: Shoulder flexion with external rotation used herein may be considered as important for clinical interventions aimed at selectively increasing SA strengthen and clinical selection of exercises for improving glenohumeral joint and scapulothoracic control.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.333-338
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• 2019

Purpose: Although previous studies on the screw-home movement (SHM) for autopsy specimen and walking of living persons conducted, the possibility of acquiring SHM based on inertial measurement units received little attention. This study aimed to investigate the possibility of measuring SHM for the non-weighted bearing using a micro-electro-mechanical system-based wearable motion capture system (MEMSS). Methods: MEMSS and camera-based motion analysis systems were used to obtain kinematic data of the knee joint. The knee joint moved from the flexion position to a fully extended position and then back to the start point. The coefficient of multiple correlation and the difference in the range of motion were used to assess the waveform similarity in the movement measured by two measurement systems. Results: The waveform similarity in the sagittal plane was excellent and the in the transverse plane was good. Significant differences were found in the sagittal plane between the two systems (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the transverse plane between the two systems (p>0.05). Conclusion: The SHM during the passive motion without muscle contraction in the non-weighted bearing appeared in the entire range. We thought that the MEMSS could be easily applied to the acquisition of biomechanical data on the knee related to physical therapy.