• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 2018

Objective: To investigate the effect of performing three different toe touch (TT) task condition on the activities of four different muscles using surface electromyography (sEMG) in healthy young adults. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: A total of 20 healthy young adults (6 males, 14 females) voluntarily participated in this study. All subject randomly performed three different TT task conditions as follows: general toe-touch (GTT) task, one side toe touch (TT) task during weight bearing, and one side foward toe touch (FTT) task during weight bearing. The muscle activities of erector spinae (ES), gluteus maximus (GM), hamstring (HAM), tibialis anterior (TA) muscles during the TT task were measured using sEMG. Subject performed each of the three conditions three time in random order and mean values were obtained. Results: With the trunk flexion period, the TT and FTT showed significantly greater muscle activity in the GM, HAM and TA compared to the GTT task (p<0.05). The TT position showed significantly greater HAM muscle activity than the GTT position. The dominant and nondominant ES muscle activity was significantly greater in the FTT compared to the GTT position (p<0.05). The dominant GM, HAM, and TA was significantly greater in the TT and FTT compared to the GTT position (p<0.05). Although the dominant ES was significantly greater in the TT and FTT compared to the GTT position (p<0.05), the dominant GM muscle activity was signifcantly greater in the TT compared with the GTT position (p<0.05). Conclusions: These findings may be applicable within the clinical field for selective trunk and lower extremity muscle activation and basic biomechanics purpose.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.84-90
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• 2019

Background: Ankle evertor muscles are important for preventing lateral ankle sprain. Since, the evertor muscles cross the ankle and toe joints, the position at which the ankle evertor muscle strength is measured is important. However, no studies have previously investigated the effect of ankle and toe positions on the strength of the ankle evertor muscle. Objects: This study is aimed to determine the effect of various ankle and toe joint positions on the strength of the ankle evertor muscles in healthy subjects. Methods: Eighteen healthy subjects participated in this study. Isometric ankle evertor strength of the dominant leg was determined in each subject in different ankle and toe positions (dorsiflexion (DF) with toe extension (TE), DF with toe flexion (TF), plantar flexion (PF) with TE, and PF with TF). A 2 by 2 repeated analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the difference in the evertor strength between the ankle positions (PF and DF) and toe positions (TE and TF). Results: The results indicate that there was no significant ankle position by toe position interaction effect (p=.83). However, the ankle evertor strength was significantly increased in the ankle DF position than in the PF position (p<.01), and the ankle evertor strength during eversion with TE was significantly higher than eversion with TF (p<.01). Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that clinicians should consider the ankle and toe positions when measuring the muscle strength and during performance of selective muscle strengthening exercises of the ankle evertor muscles.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.61-68
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• 2019

Background: Forward head posture (FHP) is a postural alignment of the cervical vertebrae that leads to increased gravitational load on cervical segmental motions. The overhead arm lift test assesses the ability to actively dissociate and control low cervical flexion and move the shoulders through overhead flexion. Objects: The purpose of this study was to explore muscle activities in the upper trapezius (UT), serratus anterior (SA), sternocleidomastoid (SCM), and lower trapezius (LT) alongside changes in head position during the overhead arm lift test in individuals with FHP. Methods: Fifteen subjects with forward head posture and fifteen subjects with normal subjcects were enrolled in this study. The patients performed the overhead arm lift test, and muscle activities of the UT, SCM, SA, and LT were measured using surface electromyography and by evaluating changes in head position. Independent t-tests were used to detect significant differences between the two groups and Cohen's d was calculated to measure the size of the mean difference between the groups. Results: The FHP group demonstrated significantly increased muscle activity of the UT ($32.46{\pm}7.64$), SCM ($12.79{\pm}4.01$), and LT ($45.65{\pm}10.52$) and significantly decreased activity in the SA ($26.65{\pm}6.15$) than the normal group. The change in head position was significantly higher in the FHP group ($6.66{\pm}2.08$) than the normal group. Effect sizes for all parameters assessed were large between the two groups. Conclusion: The subjects with excessive FHP displayed were unable to fix their heads in position during the overhead arm lift test. The overhead arm lift test can thus be used in clinical settings to confirm control of the neck in these subjects.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.311-325
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• 2003

A relation between the movement range of arms and arising moment has been studied to find out efficient movement range to minimize impact concerning arm landing in sports aerobics. Four male athletes who won top three in national-level sports aerobics competition were chosen for the experiment. They were allowed to jump in between two force platform so that the right hand and the right leg could land onto the front and rear force platform, respectively. The sampling frequency was 200 Hz. The main conclusions based on the analysis of the angle and joint moment parameters of wrist, elbow, and shoulder are as follows: 1. The wrist moment was small when its angle was small, indicating that the dorsi-flexion of the wrist joint offered a positive influence to reduce wrist moment. 2. The elbow angle increased as wrist angle decreased and vice versa. This means that the movement range of the wrist joint affects that of the elbow joint. The darsi-flexion of the wrist is the position to absorb the impact of the elbow effectively rather than to absorb the impact of the wrist itself. The impact is absorbed by the flexion of wrist joint rather than the wrist. 3. The degree of moment transfer of the shoulder joint, having absorbed the impact from the elbow and elbow joint, became dependent on the efficiency of the fore-joints impact absorption.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.83-88
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• 2023

Purpose: This study was to investigate the effect of forward head posture (FHP) and round shoulder posture (RSP) on changes in muscle activities according to shoulder flexion and abduction tasks. Methods: Twenty-two male subjects with no history of neurological, musculoskeletal surgery or injuries, or pain in the spine region within the previous 3-month periods were recruited for this study. Craniovertebral angle (CVA) and Scapula Index were measured before performing 90° abduction and flexion tasks holding a 3kg dumbbell. Muscle activities were measured during the tasks. All measurements except height of the acromion were carried out in a sitting position at the height of the subject's knee angle of 90 degrees, and two tasks were randomly performed with the arm that the subject mainly use to throw the ball. The abduction and flexion angles were checked by the examiner using a goniometer beside the subject. Results: Correlation coefficient analysis between Scapular Index and upper trapezius muscle activity during shoulder abduction task showed significant positive correlation. No significant correlation was observed between CVA, Scapular Index, and other muscle activities. Conclusion: FHP showed increased muscle activation, making it difficult to change muscle activity under lower loads, and RSP was correlated with UT activation in shoulder abduction. Therefore, in the RSP, the loaded shoulder abduction is considered a potential risk factor for increasing shoulder muscle tension. This paper proposes an approach to treating RSP before FHP.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.44-50
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• 1995

The purpose of this study was to investigate which of 4 positions produced the highest action potential in the rectus femoris muscle of normal adult subjects. Testing was performed in supine with the right leg performing a simple straight leg raise with the knee fully extended. The left leg, however, was placed in 4 different positions: 1. Full support with $0^{\circ}$ flexion. 2. Flexed on the plinth with $60^{\circ}$ knee flexion and foot flat. 3. Same as N0.2 but with $90^{\circ}$ knee flexion. 4. Left leg hanging over the end of the plinth with $90^{\circ}$ knee flexion, $0^{\circ}$ hip flexion and no foot support. This study was designed to compare the level of electromyographic activity of the rectus femoris under 4 positions. Fourty-three healthy young adults performed three trials of each exercise condition in random order in the supine position. Electromyographic activity was recorded from surface electrodes. Rectus femoris action potentials in all 4 positions were significantly different. The highest action potential at the end of movement of the right leg occurred with the left leg hanging over the end of the plinth with $90^{\circ}$ knee flexion. It is therefore recommended the straight leg raising be performed with the contralateral leg flexed at $90^{\circ}$ over the end of the supporting surface to obtain a maximum rectus femoris isometric contraction.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.109-114
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• 2018

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study conducted the experiment to check change of ability to grip depending on normal male adult's elbow flexion angle and the effect of kinesiology tape application. METHODS: Normal male adults who studies in H university where located in Kyoungbook state and did not have any factors like fracture, osteoarthritis, deformities and non-neurologic issue which might influence the result of this study were selected as subjects. Elbow of subjects were applied by 5cm wideness kinesiology tape and elbow's angle was selected by $0^{\circ}$, $45^{\circ}$, $90^{\circ}$, $135^{\circ}$ using Goniometer. The change of ability to grip depending on flexion was measured by an electronic dynamometer before and after taping. RESULTS: Before and after taping elbow joint, both ability to grip decrease in more flexion angle and $135^{\circ}$ of elbow flexion was lowest value, 299.84N. Using kinesiology tape, neutral position $0^{\circ}$ was the highest value, 352.26N. The lowest was 331.68N on $135^{\circ}$. According to verifying the change of ability to grip depending on elbow flexion and the change of ability to grip after taping with paired t-test, the result was p<.05, there was significant difference. CONCLUSION: Using electronic dynamometer and estimating the ability to grip after and before kinesiology tape, the ability to grip decrease in more elbow flexion. The ability to grip after using kinesiology tape was relatively higher than before taping.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.57-67
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• 2016

Background: Many previous studies recommended the side-lying hip abduction (SHA) exercise for targeting the gluteus medius (Gmed) and gluteus maximus (Gmax) muscle activity while the decreasing tensor fasciae latae (TFL) activation. Mischoice of hip position and angle in SHA may increase the risk of lower extremity injuries and undesirable muscle activation. However, information is limited on the effect of composite hip flexion angles and hip rotation on the gluteal muscle activity during SHA. Objects: This study aimed to compare muscle activity (Gmed, TFL, and Gmax) and activity ratios (Gmed/TFL, Gmax/TFL, and Gmed/Gmax) using surface electromyography (EMG) during SHA exercise at three different hip flexion angles either with or without internal rotation (IR) in subjects with Gmed weakness. We hypothesized that applying hip flexion and IR during SHA would increase gluteal muscle activity and decrease TFL activity. Methods: Muscle activity and activity ratios in 20 volunteers with Gmed weakness during 6 different SHA were investigated with surface EMG. One-way repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to determine the statistical significance. Results: Significant differences were found among the six different exercises for Gmed ($F_{2,41}=11.817$, p<.001) and Gmax ($F_{3,52}=5.513$, p=.003) muscle activity, and Gmed/TFL ($F_{3,54}=8.735$, p<.001) and Gmax/TFL ($F_{2,37}=4.019$, p=.028) activity ratios. Conclusion: Applying hip flexion is an effective method for increasing gluteal activity, and it elicits great Gmed/TFL and Gmax/TFL activity ratios during SHA in subjects with Gmed weakness.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.2212-2218
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of different sitting postures on range of motion, strength and proprioceptive sense of neck. Fifteen healthy university students participated in the study. Depending on upright sitting position and slump sitting position, range of motion and joint position sense were measured by using Dualer IQ. Also, the maximum isometric strength and force sense were measured by using linear force. As a result, we found that the maximum angle of neck extension and the maximum isometric strength at flexion were significantly higher in upright posture than in slump posture. Also, the maximum angle of neck flexion and the maximum isometric strength at extension were higher in slump posture than in upright posture. According to the result, proper proprioception can have an beneficial effect on postural revision of neck and body by providing the information that cognize the position of head through and sustain upright posture.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.27-33
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate influence of wrist position on the electromyographic(EMG) activities of the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) and extensor digitorum (ED) during drilling and pinch grip. Eighteen healthy subjects had been recruited and each subject performed two tasks (drilling and pinch grip) at three different wrist positions ($30^{\circ}$ flexion, neutral, $30^{\circ}$ extension). The EMG amplitude of each muscle was normalized to the amplitude in the maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). Repeated one-way ANOVA was used to compare the differences of EMG across wrist positions. The FDS EMG activity in both drilling and pinch grip was lowest at $30^{\circ}$ wrist extension and the highest at $30^{\circ}$ wrist flexion. The ED EMG activity was lowest when the wrist was neutral in both tasks. From the results of this study, we can conclude that the desirable wrist positions for drilling and pinch grip tasks are slightly extended or neutral position. Therefore, flexed wrist position should be avoided to reduce the excessive work load on the finger muscles during the tasks.