• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.209-219
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• 2019

This study analyzed and compared wearer mobility for different types of clothing that also included the potential to develop firefighter station uniforms using range of motion (ROM) and electromyography (EMG). This study focused on a comparison of wearer mobility affected by different materials and shapes of the station uniforms worn under firefighter turnout gear. Japanese standard uniform (UNI), stretch-wear (ST), and compression-wear (CP) were used as station uniforms for the experiment. This study analyzed wearer movements and quantified ROM and EMG. In addition, the subjective evaluation of wearer mobility and comfort were assessed for comparisons. Nine healthy male students participated in the experiment. Wearer mobility was analyzed using ROM and EMG data obtained by measuring five motions; in addition, subjective evaluations were also obtained. As compared with the standard station uniform, ROM increased 6.8 % and 7.2 % due to stretch-wear and compression-wear. The benefits of wearing stretch material or compression material to improve muscle performance (such as reduced percent of maximum voluntary contraction) were not proven. Differences between materials and designs influenced subjective wearer comfort. In particular, the wearing of compression materials was shown best in terms of wearer comfort that may also allow greater wearer mobility.

• International Neurourology Journal
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.295-304
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• 2018

Purpose: To compare the effects of intra-anal biofeedback (BF) and intra-anal electrical stimulation (ES) on pelvic floor muscles (PFMs) activity, nocturnal bladder capacity, and frequency of wet night episodes in children with refractory primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (PMNE). Methods: Ninety children of both sexes aged 8-12 years with refractory PMNE participated in this study. They were randomly assigned to 3 groups of equal number: control group (CON) that underwent behavioral therapy and PFM training, and 2 study groups (BF and ES) that underwent the same program in addition to intra-anal BF training and intra-anal ES, respectively. PFMs activity was assessed using electromyography, nocturnal bladder capacity was evaluated by measuring the first morning voided volume, and a nocturnal enuresis diary was used for documenting wet night episodes before treatment and after 3 months of treatment. Results: After training, all groups showed statistically significant improvements in all measured outcomes compared to their pretreatment findings. The ES group showed significantly greater improvements in all measured outcomes than the CON and BF groups. Conclusions: Both intra-anal BF training and ES combined with behavioral therapy and PFMs training were effective in the treatment of PMNE, with intra-anal ES being superior to BF training.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.1-7
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• 2019

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate effects of shoulder adduction load on rotator cuff muscles, including the infraspinatus, during the external rotation exercise of shoulder. METHODS: This study investigated 16 healthy university students from Daegu University. Before the study started, all participants understood the content of this study. They signed an informed consent form. Five electrodes for surface electromyography (sEMG) were attached to their infraspinatus, middle deltoid, posterior deltoid, upper trapezius and pectoralis major. The participants then underwent the shoulder external rotation exercise with the shoulder adduction at three loads (0 mmHg, 20 mmHg and 40 mmHg) that were controlled using a stabilizer Pressure $Bio-feedback^{TM}$ device. The surface electrodes recorded the electromyographic data during the external rotation exercise of shoulder. RESULTS: The infraspinatus was most activated when the shoulder adduction pressure was 40 mmHg during the external rotation exercise of shoulder. The infraspinatus activation significantly increased when the shoulder adduction pressure intensity increased, while the middle deltoid activation and the posterior deltoid activation significantly decreased (p<.05). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, increases in shoulder adduction load intensity during shoulder external rotation exercises can have a positive effect on the infraspinatus, which consists of rotator cuff muscles, with minimal activity in the middle and posterior deltoid.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.134-139
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• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the most effective exercise while performing shoulder abduction below ninety degrees. Methods: Thirty two healthy individuals (17 males, 15 females) participated and performed four exercises, 1) Posterior fly, 2) Prone row, 3) Modified prone cobra, and 4) External rotation in the prone position. Surface electromyography (sEMG) was used to measure the electrical activities for the lower, middle and upper fiber of trapezius and serratus anterior. Results: A significant difference in the muscle activities of the upper/middle/lower trapezius and serratus anterior was observed among the three different positions in terms of the PF (posterior fly), PR (prone row), and MPC (modified prone cobra) (p<0.05). In post-hoc analysis, the activities of the lower and upper trapezius were significantly higher than those of the upper trapezius and serratus anterior (p<0.05). In addition, in ERP (external rotation in prone), there was a significant difference in each activity of the muscles. Post-hoc results indicated that the upper trapezius showed greater EMG activity than the other three muscles. Conclusion: External rotation in the prone position revealed the highest activation of the lower trapezius compared to upper trapezius muscle activity. This may be particularly useful in isolating the lower trapezius in cases where excessive scapular elevation is noted. Therefore, the most effective lower trapezius exercise should be performed below ninety degrees of shoulder abduction.

• Journal of Electrodiagnosis and Neuromuscular Diseases
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.130-134
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• 2018

A 36-year-old male patient developed diffuse low back pain. His past medical history was unremarkable and had no family history of neuromuscular disease. He had no bladder and bowel problems. Creatine kinase was 172 U/L (normal < 170). Other fluid and blood chemistry tests were normal. Manual muscle test grades of extremities and sensory examination were normal. Muscle stretch reflexes were normal. Fasciculations and myotonia were not detected. Straight leg raising test was negative. There was no spinal root compression, spinal stenosis, or signal intensity change of spinal cord on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Fatty change and atrophy of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar paraspinal muscles were noted on MRI. Nerve conduction studies were normal. Electromyography showed 1+ positive sharp waves in the lumbar paraspinal muscles. Electromyography of upper and lower extremity muscles revealed no abnormal spontaneous activity. We report a rare case of severe paraspinal muscle atrophy with fatty degeneration in a Young Adult.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.1818-1822
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• 2019

Background: Ipsilateral pelvic elevation has been reported as a common compensatory movement during side-lying hip abduction. It has been reported that pelvic elevation inhibits sufficient contraction of gluteus medius. However, few studies have identified the effects of controlled pelvic elevation on the trunk and hip muscles. Objective: To examine the effects of controlled pelvic elevation using visual biofeedback on the muscle activity of the trunk and hip muscles. Design: Crossover study. Methods: Twelve healthy males performed side-lying hip abduction exercises with and without visual biofeedback for pelvic elevation. Electromyography (EMG) activities of the gluteus medius, quadratus lumborum, and multifidus were analyzed using a wireless EMG system while the ipsilateral pelvic elevation angle was measured using a motion sensor during side-lying hip abduction exercises. Results: EMG activities of the gluteus medius (p = .002), quadratus lumborum (p = .022), and multifidus (p = .020) were significantly increased and ipsilateral pelvic elevation was significantly decreased (p = .001) during side-lying hip abduction with visual biofeedback compared to without visual biofeedback. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that the application of biofeedback for pelvic motion could improve the trunk and hip muscle activation pattern and decrease compensatory pelvic motion during side-lying hip abduction exercise.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2021

Background: The serratus anterior and upper trapezius muscles act synergistically to allow for an appropriate scapulothoracic rhythm. However, a decrease in serratus anterior activation causes the upper trapezius to become overactivated, resulting in dysfunction. This study compared serratus anterior and upper trapezius muscle activity according to sling angle and compared serratus anterior strength between healthy adults and patients with shoulder instability. Methods: Twenty participants (10 healthy adults and 10 patients with shoulder instability) were included in this study. The participants had their arms extended at sling angles of 30°, 60°, and 90° in reach forward with shoulder flexion using goniometer. Serratus anterior strength was measured three times while the participants were supine. The outcome measures were surface electromyography amplitude of the upper trapezius and serratus anterior and serratus anterior strength. Results: The Wilcoxon signed-rank test indicated that the upper trapezius was significantly different between healthy group and shoulder instability group at a sling angle of 60°, and both the upper trapezius and serratus anterior exhibited significant differences at 90°. Moreover, a significant difference was noted in the muscle strength of the serratus anterior. Conclusion: Our results provide novel and promising clinical evidence that patients with shoulder instability have decreased serratus anterior activation and upper trapezius overactivation, resulting in muscle imbalance. In addition, there was a significant difference between the healthy group and shoulder instability group in the serratus anterior muscle strength

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.2308-2313
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• 2021

Background: Although the scapular posterior tilt movement could facilitate the lower trapezius (LT) muscle activity, no study identified the effects of the scapular posterior tilt movement on the selective activation of the LT muscle during prone shoulder extension. Objectives: To examine the influences of additional scapular posterior tilt on electromyography (EMG) of the upper trapezius (UT) and the LT muscles during prone shoulder extension. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: There were 15 asymptomatic male participants in this study who performed prone shoulder extension with and without scapular posterior tilt movements. For the scapular posterior tilt movements, participants performed visual biofeedback training for scapular movement using motion sensor. During the exercises, the EMG activity of the UT and LT was recorded using surface EMG system. Results: The EMG activity of the LT significantly increased during prone shoulder extension with scapular posterior tilt compared to that of general prone shoulder extension, whereas that of the UT was not significantly different between the two exercises. Moreover, scapular posterior tilt application significantly decreased UT/LT muscle activity ratio. Conclusion: Scapular posterior tilt movement may be emphasized during exercise when facilitating LT muscle activation.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.2338-2344
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• 2021

Background: The therapeutic exercise method using kinesiology taping (KT) has been reported to be effective in activating the suprahyoid muscle in healthy adults. However, its applicability and effectiveness are not known to the physically vulnerable elderly. Objectives: To investigate the effects of kinesiology taping on the activity of suprahyoid muscles in community-dwelling elderly people. Design: Repeated measure design. Methods: We enrolled 23 healthy elderly adults (age range 60-75 years) with no history of neurologic disease. Participants performed five consecutive spontaneous swallowing actions at 5-second intervals under three conditions (KT with 80% stretch, placebo-KT, and non-KT. Activation of the suprahyoid muscles during swallowing in the three conditions was measured using surface electromyography (sEMG). In addition, a 0-10 numerical rating self-report scale was used to evaluate the required effort and the resistance felt during swallowing. Results: KT with 80% stretch were significantly higher in sEMG mean value, peak value, required effort, and resistance felt during swallowing compared to other two conditions (P<.05, all). KT with 80% stretch required the most effort during swallowing and, consequently, has a positive effect on increasing suprahyoid muscle activation. Conclusion: Our results could be taken into consideration in therapeutic exercise method for suprahyoid muscle in dysphagia rehabilitation.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.315-321
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• 2020

Purpose: Recent studies have indicated that applying different inclination angles and suspension devices could be a useful way of performing exercises that include the co-activation of the trunk muscles. Present study was to examine the influences of changes in the inclination angle during trunk muscle activity while engaging in a bridge exercise with a suspension device. Methods: 18 healthy, physically active male volunteers completed three trunk inclination angles (15°, 30°, and 45°) for bridge exercise variations. The surface electromyography responses of the rectus abdominis, internal oblique (IO), erector spinae (ES), and rectus femoris (RF), as well as the subjective difficulty (Borg RPE score), were investigated during these bridge exercises. Results: The bridge with a 45° inclination angle suspension significantly increased the muscular activities of the RA and RF and increased the Borg RPE scores (p<0.05). The bridge with a 15° suspension significantly elevated the ES activities when compared to the other conditions. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that a higher inclination angle could not activate the overall trunk muscles during the bridge exercise. The RA and RF produced greater activation during the bridge exercise with the higher inclination angle. On the other hand, the activities of the erector spine were greater during the bridge exercise with the lower inclination angle. The present study suggests that applying a low trunk inclination angle for the supine bridge exercise is suitable for activating the erector spine muscles.