• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.18 no.5
• /
• pp.43-51
• /
• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of static stretching and Evjenth-Hamberg stretching on isokinetic muscle strength of knee flexors and extensors. Methods: The subjects were composed of eighty healthy males without weight-training experience. ROM of knee joint measured active maximal extension and isokinetic Peak Torque measured $60^{\circ}/sec,\;120^{\circ}/sec$ using an the En-Knee. Three tests(Baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, respectively) was operated to examine change of each variable. Data were analyzed with a $2{\times}3$ analysis of variance ($group{\times}test$) for repeated measures on last factor by SPSS package 10.0. The data analysis revealed muscle strength were dependent on stretching method. Results: The results were as follows. First, Evjenth-Hamberg stretching(E-HS) was more effective than static stretching(SS) on ROM. Second, Peak Torque of knee flexors and extensors was improved in both methods by each time. but E-HS was more improved than SS. Conclusion: In conclusion, This study indicates that E-HS is more efficient than SS on muscle strength improvement.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.2331-2337
• /
• 2021

Background: More women than men experience genu recurvatum, which can lead to knee pain and arthritis if left unattended. Pilates combined with taping is a suitable rehabilitation method for women with genu recurvatum. Objectives: To aimed the effect of taping and Pilates stabilization exercise on physical alignment and improvement of genu recurvatum in women with genu recurvatum. Design: A Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Twenty-one women were divided into three groups: taping group (back of knee taping and quadriceps femoris taping, n=7), Pilates exercise group (hip, knee and abdominal muscles exercise, n=7), and combined group (taping with pilates exercise, n=7). The measured variables were sagittal plane alignment and back and abdominal muscle, knee flexor and extensor strength. Results: After the intervention, all sagittal plane alignments were significantly improved in both the Pilates and combined groups. Sagittal plane alignment was significantly improved in the combined group compared with the taping group. Back and abdominal muscle strength were significantly improved in the Pilates and combined groups compared with the taping group. Knee flexor and extensor were significantly improved in the combined group compared with the Pilates group and in the Pilates group compared with the taping group. Conclusion: Pilates exercise with taping or Pilates exercise alone was effective intervention methods to improve physical alignment and strength in women with genu recurvatum.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.85-92
• /
• 2022

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of motion taping during combined lower extremity exercise application on pain, ROM, muscle strength, and WOMAC index in middle-aged women with osteoarthritis of the knee joint METHODS: The subjects were 26 middle-aged women with osteoarthritis in the knee joint. Twenty-six subjects were divided into two groups. Each group contained 13 subjects. Three subjects dropped out in the middle of the experiment. The intervention was six weeks, three times a week. The control group performed traditional physical therapy and lower extremity exercise. The experimental group was motion taping applied to the lower extremity exercise. The measurement factors were knee joint pain, quadriceps muscle strength, and WOMAC index. The pain was measured using the numeric pain scale instrument (NPSI). The quadriceps strength was measured using the 1RM method. RESULTS: In both groups, pain, muscle strength, and WOMAC index showed significant improvement according to the intervention (p < .05). In comparison between groups of the change values pre-post intervention, pain and WOMAC index showed statistically significant differences between the two groups. On the other hand, there was no difference in strength between the two groups. CONCLUSION: When performing a rehabilitation exercise program for middle-aged women with osteoarthritis of the knee, motion taping has a positive effect on pain and the WOMAC index.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.31-39
• /
• 2010

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of sciatic nerve mobilization technique on perceived pain, straight leg raise test (SLR), and strength of knee extensor, location of symptoms (LOS) in patients with chronic low back pain. 22 patients with chronic low back pain were recruited for this study. The subjects were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (EG) or the control group (CG), with 11 patients in each group. All patients received a routine physical therapy (hot pack and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation). The mobilization technique of the sciatic nerve was performed for 10 min in the case of the EG subjects. Outcome measurements included the level of the perceived pain, SLR, and strength of the knee extensor, LOS. The measurements were recorded 3 times: before the intervention, after the intervention, and at 1 hour of follow up. The two groups did not significantly differ with regard to the level of perceived pain, SLR, and strength of the knee extensor, LOS before the test (p>.05). In the case of the EG subjects, all the variables measured after the intervention significantly differed from those measured before the intervention (p<.05). However, in the case of the CG subjects, a significant difference was noted only with regard to the level of perceived pain (p<.05). The findings indicate that sciatic nerve mobilization technique exerts a positive effect on the control of subjective symptoms and knee strength in patients with chronic low back pain. Further studies are required to generalize the result of this study.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.13-19
• /
• 2011

Purpose:This study was designed to investigate difference in isokinetic muscle strength in the knee extensor muscle and characteristic differences in muscle strength between males and females through the ankle joint angles. Methods: Seventy-four subjects participated in this study. There were two groups: 36 males and 38 females. The mean age of the men was 24.58 years and women was 23.74 years. Subjects were seated on a CON-TREX LP (leg press) lean to back of chair, and there bodies were fixed by straps with the hip joint at an angle of $130^{\circ}$. After randomly fixing the ankle joint at $0^{\circ}$, $20^{\circ}$, and $40^{\circ}$ of plantar flexion (PF) in range of full extension of knee joint. We studied force max average, force max average/kg, power average, and total work through the angle of the ankle joint when the knee joint was extended from $90^{\circ}$ to $180^{\circ}$. Results: In the male group, all maximum measured value showed at the ankle joint $0^{\circ}$, all minimum measured value showed at $40^{\circ}$ PF (p<0.01). In the female group, all maximum measured value showed at the ankle joint $20^{\circ}$ PF, especially the power average increased significantly. All minimum measured value showed $40^{\circ}$ PF (p<0.01). Conclusion: There are differences between males and females in isokinetic muscle strength of the knee extensor through ankle joint angles in healthy adults. Males and Females have different characteristics of muscle strength through the ankle joint angles.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.49-60
• /
• 2019

Background: After stroke, in order to improve gait function, it is necessary to increase the muscle strength and to enhance the propriocetive function of the lower extremity. Objects: This study aimed to compare the effects of open kinetic chain (OKC) versus closed kinetic chain (CKC) isokinetic exercise of the hemiparetic knee using the isokinetic equipment on lower extremity sensorimotor function and gait ability in patients with chronic stroke. Methods: Thirty participants with chronic hemiplegia (> 6 months post-stroke) were randomly divided into 2 equal groups: CKC group and OKC group. Patients from both groups attended conventional physiotherapy sessions 3 times a week for 6 weeks. Additionally, subjects from the CKC group performed isokinetic exercise using the CKC attachment, while those from the OKC group performed isokinetic exercise using the OKC attachment. The isokinetic knee and ankle muscles strength, position sense of the knee joint, and spatiotemporal gait parameters were measured before and after interventions. Results: The knee muscles peak torque/body weight (PT/BW) and hamstring/quadriceps (H/Q) ratio significantly increased in both groups (p<.01). In particular, ankle plantarflexors PT/BW, position sense of the knee, gait velocity, and spatial gait symmetry significantly improved in the CKC group (p<.01, p<.05, p<.01, and p<.01, respectively). Conclusion: CKC isokinetic exercise can be an effective therapeutic intervention for the improvement of sensorimotor function of the lower extremity and gait functions, such as gait velocity and symmetry. CKC position in isokinetic strength training is effective to improve functional ability in patients with chronic stroke.

• Clinical Pain
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.105-121
• /
• 2021

Objective: Physiologically, the vastus medialis muscle is the first muscle to undergo muscle atrophy, and it was thought that pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis could be reduced if this muscle could be strengthened and stabilized. The purpose of this study was to prove the effectiveness in knee osteoarthritis using polydioxanone sutures that have been tried in other musculoskeletal areas. Method: Forty knee osteoarthritis patients voluntarily participated in the study, and divided into 30 polydioxanone suture needle (MEST-B2375 produced by Ovmedi Co.) and 10 sham needle (without suture). And the needles were inserted into the vastus medialis muscle. In all patients, safety evaluation including blood tests and ultrasonography as well as efficacy evaluation including isometric maximal contractile strength of quadriceps muscle, weight bearing pain, impression of change, quadriceps angle, rescue drug intake were evaluated up to 30 weeks after the procedure. Results: Isometric maximal contractile strength showed a significant improvement at 4 weeks after the procedure in the polydioxanone suture group, and the weight-bearing pain showed a significant improvement at every visit in the polydioxanone suture group compared with baseline values. Patient global impression of change score showed significant improvement at 20 and 30 weeks, and clinical score showed improvement at every visit. Conclusion: Insertion of polydioxanone sutures showed improvement in muscle strength and knee pain by supporting and fixation of the vastus medialis muscle in patients with degenerative knee osteoarthritis. Insertion of polydioxanone sutures is considered to have a therapeutic effect in knee osteoarthritis patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.168-174
• /
• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the correlation between balance control ability and leg circumference, proprioception, range of motion (ROM), and muscle strength in young adults. Methods: The subjects of this study were 30 university students who were enrolled in D university in Gyeongbuk province. We measured the dynamic balance and static balance using the Biorescue. The muscular strengths of the hip, knee, and ankle joints were measured using a muscle contraction dynamometer. The ROM and proprioception were measured using an inclinometer. Pearson correlation analysis was used to test the correlations between balance control ability and variables. Results: Sway length was significantly correlated with knee and hip joint muscle strength, ROM, and proprioception of hip and ankle joints (p<0.05). Sway speed was significantly correlated with ROM and proprioception in hip joints (p<0.05). Limit of stability was significantly correlated with muscle strength and ROM in ankle joints, and proprioception in hip, knee, and ankle joints (p<0.05). Conclusion: The sway length was most related to hip extension and ankle joint plantar flexion in the range of motion and ankle joint plantar flexion in proprioception. Overall, balance training for young adults will be of effective help if the treatment focuses on the knee and hip joints, range of motion and the ankle and hip joints' proprioception.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.140-148
• /
• 2023

Objective: Meniscal injuries are a common and high-risk condition among military personnel, leading to difficulties in performing missions.The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of combining electrical muscle stimulation therapy with exercise therapy during rehabilitation on pain, muscle strength, and function in patients after meniscectomy. Design: A two-group pretest-posttest design Methods: A total of 30 subjects were included in this study. They were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n=15), which received knee extensor strengthening exercise along with electrical muscle stimulation, or the control group (n=15), which received only knee extensor strengthening exercise. Pre-test was conducted prior to the intervention, which consisted of 30 minutes of treatment five times a week for a total of 20 sessions. Post-test was performed after a 4-week period. Pain, strength, and function were assessed before and after the intervention. Results: The results of the study showed that there was a significant difference in pain reduction and muscle strength improvement in the experimental group, and a significant difference was also found between the experimental group and the control group in terms of functional evaluation. Conclusions: The combination of exercise therapy and electrical muscle stimulation therapy resulted in greater improvements in pain, strength, and function assessment, contributing to improved overall function.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.75-83
• /
• 2006

The purpose of this study was to examine the isokinetic moment of quadriceps and hamstring strength ratio among women of different ages. The study population consisted of 1,184 women referred to the Health Promotion Center at the S district. All subjects were aged 20 to 69 years old and divided into 5 groups; 20s (n=248), 30s (n=255), 40s (n=248), 50s (n=228), and 60s (n=205). The strength of the knee extensor and flexor, quadriceps, and hamstring of all the participants were assessed at 60 degrees/second with an isokinetic machine. We calculated the peak torque, peak torque %BW (%Body Weight), deficit of peak torque and hamstring/quadriceps ratio of the knee. The data were analyzed by one way ANOVA to investigate statistical differences in strength variation between different age groups and were computed by ${\Delta}%$ difference from women in their 20's. The results were obtained as follows: 1. Peak torque of the knee extensor, quadriceps, were significantly reduced in women older than 30, but peak torque of the knee flexor, hamstring, were significantly reduced in women older than 50 compared to women in their 20's. (p<.05). 2. Peak torque %BW of the knee extensor, quadriceps, were significantly reduced in women older than 20, but peak torque %BW of knee flexor, hamstring, were significantly reduced in women older than 40 compared to women in their 30's (p<.05). 3. Compared to the women in their 20's, there was no significant difference among any of the age groups in the deficit of peak torque of the knee extensor and flexor, but the deficit of peak torque of knee extensor among women between 30 and 50showed significant difference within the normal range of deficit. 4. Compared to the women in their 20's, there was no significant difference among any of the age groups in the hamstring/quadriceps ratio These results showed that peak torque, peak torque %BW, deficit of peak torque, and hamstring/quadriceps ratio of the knee were reduced in each age group, but especially among the women over 50. Further longitudinal study may be needed to see if volume of muscle mass and intervention of exercise affect knee strength in spite of aging.