• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.283-289
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• 2021

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of mid frequency electrical stimulation during squat exercise on the muscle activity and muscle activity ratio of vastus medialis oblique and vastus lateralis, and to prepare scientific basic data for exercise intervention using mid frequency electrical stimulation. Methods : This study was conducted with students from University C located in Busan, and among a total of 123 subjects, 12 subjects who complained of knee joint dysfunction between 80 and 90 points using the Kujala patellofemoral score (KPS) were used. All subjects participated in the experiment for 3 days, and MVIC values were measured for normalization of muscle activity values on the first day. For the two days, participants participated in the experiment and performed squat exercise or squat exercise receiving mid-frequency electrical stimulation in random order. Measurements were taken in the squat position immediately after the squat exercise, and muscle activities of vastus medialis oblique and vastus lateralis were measured. The measured data were compared through the dependent t test, and the statistical significance level was set to .05. Results : According to the results of this study, in the case of applying mid-frequency electrical stimulation together in the ratio of vastus medialis oblique and vastus lateralis muscle activity during squat exercise, higher values were observed compared to the case of not applying mid-frequency electrical stimulation together, and statistically significant. Also, when mid-frequency electrical stimulation was applied to both vastus medialis oblique and vastus lateralis activities during the squat exercise, higher values were shown compared to the case where the mid-frequency electrical stimulation was not applied together, but there was no statistically significant difference. Conclusion : The results of this study reported that mid-frequency electrical stimulation provided to vastus medialis oblique increased the muscle activity ratio of vastus medialis oblique and vastus lateralis. Therefore, the improvement of coordination due to the enhancement of the activity of vastus medialis oblique through mid-frequency electrical stimulation will be more helpful in the treatment of patellofemoral pain syndrome patient. In addition, it is hoped that the electrical stimulation method applied to exercise will be widely used.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.231-241
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• 2023

Purpose: Weakness of the vastus medialis oblique muscle (VMO), or the imbalance between VMO and vastus lateralis muscle (VL) activity, is one of the most important factors in knee joint problems. Rigid taping techniques, such as patellar inhibition taping and VL inhibition taping, are frequently used in clinical practice to treat knee joint problems. The purpose of this study was to compare the acute effect of three different types of taping (patellar inhibition taping (PIT), distal VL inhibition taping (DVLIT), and proximal VL inhibition taping (PVLIT)) on electromyography (EMG) activity of VMO, VL, and VMO:VL ratio during walking. Methods: Thirty-eight normal healthy subjects (38 males; mean age = 31.00 years) voluntarily participated in this study. EMG was applied to investigate muscle activation during walking. Repeated measures of ANOVA and one-way ANOVA compared the three different conditions (PIT, DVLIT, and PVLIT) for each variable. Results: VMO and VL activation were significantly increased after PTIT application, and VMO and VL activation were significantly decreased after DVLIT and PVLIT application. The VMO:VL ratio increased after the three types of taping application, but there were no significant differences among the three types of taping. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, PTIT is more effective than DVLIT and PVLIT in increasing the muscle activation of the VMO and VL during walking. Also, DVLIT is more effective for increasing the VMO:VL ratio and has beneficial effects on the imbalance between VMO and VL activity.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 2024

Background: The serratus anterior (SA) is a muscle that performs protraction of the scapulothoracic joint and plays a role in stabilizing the scapula. Imbalances or weaknesses in SA activation are associated with a variety of shoulder dysfunctions, making selective SA strengthening important for rehabilitation. Objects: We aimed to compare the muscle activation of the pectoralis major (PM), SA, external oblique (EO), and internal oblique (IO) during the push-up plus (PUP) exercise with isometric hip adduction (HA) and abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM). Methods: Nineteen healthy male participants performed three PUP exercises: standard PUP, PUP with ADIM, and PUP with HA. Surface electromyography was used to measure and analyze the muscle activity for PM, SA, EO, and IO. Results: PUP with HA showed the lowest PM activity and highest SA activity, and no significant difference was observed between PUP and PUP with ADIM. PUP with ADIM showed significantly the highest EO and IO activity, followed by PUP with HA and PUP. Additionally, PUP with HA showed the lowest PM/SA ratio, and no significant difference was noted between PUP and PUP with ADIM. Conclusion: PUP with HA was able to show high SA muscle activity while reducing PM muscle activity. In addition, PUP with HA can lead to higher EO and IO muscle activity than standard PUP. This exercise could be used as a practical exercise method to selectively strengthen SA and improve scapular muscle stability during early shoulder rehabilitation.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.8-16
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• 2008

The aim of this study was to evaluate the motor recovery in 4 chronic hemiparetic patients with Fugl-Meyer (FM) and EMG characteristics before and after the training program. The training was performed at 1hr/day, 5days/week during 6 weeks in 4 chronic stroke patients. Electromyographic activities of the affected hand were recorded during isometric wrist flexion/ extension movements. In all patients, FM was significantly improved after the 6-week training. Onset/offset delay of muscle contraction significantly decreased in the affected wrist after the training. The co-contraction ratio of flexor/extensor muscles decreased significantly. Also, onset/offset delay of muscle contraction and co-contraction ratio correlates significantly with upper limb motor impairment and motor recovery. This EMG technique allows an objective evaluation of changes in muscle activity in post-stroke patients, providing easily measurable, quantitative indices of muscle characteristics.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.237-244
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• 2023

Background: The external rotation (ER) exercise in performed at a 90° abduction of the shoulder joint is an effective to strengthen the infraspinatus. However, failure of the humeral head to control axial rotation during exercise can be increased the posterior deltoid over activity. Biofeedback training is an effective method of promoting motor learning and control it could look forward to activate the infraspinatus selectively by controlling the humeral head during exercise. Objects: The aim of this study was investigated that whether biofeedback for axial rotation was effective to activate selectively the infraspinatus during ER exercise. Methods: The 15 healthy males participated, and all subjects performed both ER exercise in a sitting position with shoulder abducted 90° under conditions with and without axial rotation biofeedback. Exercise was performed in a range of 90° ER, divided into three phases: concentric, isometric, and eccentric. The infraspinatus and posterior deltoid muscle activity were observed using surface electromyography. Results: Both infraspinatus activity (p < 0.01) and infraspinatus to posterior deltoid activity ratio (p = 0.01) were significantly higher with biofeedback however, posterior deltoid activity was significantly lower with biofeedback (p = 0.01). The infraspinatus muscle activity and muscle activity ratio were the highest in the isometric contraction type, and there were significant differences for all contraction types (p < 0.05). Whereas, the posterior deltoid activity was the lowest in the isometric contraction type, and showed a significant difference between isometric and other two contraction types (p < 0.05), but no significant different between concentric and eccentric contraction. Conclusion: Our results indicate that the axial rotation biofeedback during sitting ER exercise might be effective method to activating selective infraspinatus muscle and recommended to enhance the dynamic stability of the shoulder joint.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.81-88
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of normal timing according to angular motion in PNF patterns on electromyography (EMG) activity in rectus abdominis, internal oblique abdominal muscle, external oblique abdominal muscle, and erector spinae. Methods: Ten healthy adults volunteered to participate in this study. The participants were required to complete following two PNF extremity patterns; upper extremity extension- adduction-internal rotation pattern with $180^{\circ}$, $90^{\circ}$, $30^{\circ}$ and lower extremity flexion- adduction-external rotation pattern with $0^{\circ}$, $60^{\circ}$, $90^{\circ}$. A paired t-test was used to determine the influence of the two PNF patterns on muscle activity in each muscle. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the ratio of local muscle activity to global muscle activity. Results: In terms of their effect on applied normal timing, the upper and lower extremity pattern significantly affected the rectus abdominis, internal oblique, external oblique, and erector spinae (p < .05). The upper extremity pattern (at an extension angle of $30^{\circ}$) and the lower extremity pattern ((at a flexion angle of $90^{\circ}$) influenced the rectus abdominis, internal oblique, external oblique, and erector spinae (p < .05). Conclusion: The effect of the upper and lower extremity patterns on applied normal timing was significant in that these patterns increased trunk muscle activation. The upper extremity pattern (at an extension angle of $30^{\circ}$) and the lower extremity pattern (at a flexion angle of $90^{\circ}$) increased trunk muscle activation. Normal timing is required to increase trunk muscle strength and extremity movement.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.106-111
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• 2016

Purpose: The aim of this study is to determine the effect of glenohumeral (GH) rotation position in modified knee push-up plus exercise (MKPUP) by examining the surface electromyography (EMG) amplitude in serratus anterior (SA), pectoralis major (PM), and upper trapezius (UTz) and the activity ratio of each muscle. Methods: A total of 22 healthy subjects volunteered for the study. Each subject performed the MKPUP at $0^{\circ}$, $45^{\circ}$, and $90^{\circ}$ of GH joint internal rotation. EMG of the SA and PM, UTz was compared between GH rotation positions and each muscle activity ratio. EMG was used to measure the muscle activity in terms of ratios to maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC). Results: The difference in EMG activity during the exercise in three GH joint internal rotation positions was observed with the SA and the PM. The greater the GH joint internal rotation angle was, the lower the activity of the PM. In contrast, the SA showed higher activity. However, the activity of UT was similar under all conditions. The ratio of the SA and the PM was considerably greater at $90^{\circ}$ GH joint internal rotation than at $0^{\circ}$ and $45^{\circ}$. Conclusion: When excessive activation of the PM or imbalanced activation between the PM and the SA occurs, the MKPUP exercise is most effective at $90^{\circ}$ of GH joint internal rotation. Use of this position would be a beneficial strategy for selective strengthening of the SA and minimizing PM activation.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.57-61
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• 2017

Purpose : The purpose of study was to find out the environmental risk factor that can be easily occurred imbalance muscle activities according to direction for using the ramp during one legged standing. Method : The subjects were 20 normal adults with a mean age of $23.15{\pm}2.14years$ and a Body Mmass Index (BMI) of $22.74{\pm}1.07$. Participants were measured muscle activities on vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, tibialis anterior, peroneus longus during one legged stance at four conditions ramp (down ramp, up ramp, medial ramp, lateral ramp). The statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS(Ver. 23) and p-value less than .05 were considered statistically significant for all cases. Result : In this study, the activity of the lower extremity muscle and the ratio of the vastus medial and lateral muscles according to the direction of use of the ramp were investigated. The changes in the muscle activity of the lower limbs along the direction of the ramp were significantly different between the vastus medial muscle and the peroneus longus muscle. Conclusion : For a short time on a ramp or a pedestrian crossing, a clerk in a ramp can move or stand by placing the lower limbs in various directions, but if performed in consideration of the individual's disease characteristics or unstable foot position, It is thought that there will be an effect to prevent on the ankle and knee unstability.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.23-32
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• 2021

Background: The purpose of this study was to find out how the lumbar instability during clam exercise causes changes in pelvic rotation and hip joint abductor muscle activity. Design: Case-control study. Methods: Twenty male participated in this study. The amount of pelvic rotation was measured using myomotion during the clam exercise in a normal group and a group of patients with low lumbar instability, and the muscle activity of the muscle gluteus medius and the tensor fasciae latae using an EMG device. Results: The amount of pelvic rotation that occurred during the clam exercise was statistically significantly greater in the lumbar instability group than in the normal group (p<.05), and the ratio of muscle activity of the muscle gluteus medius/the tensor fasciae latae was statistically significantly higher in the normal group than in the lumbar instability group (p<.05). Conclusion: In order to stabilize the lumbo-pelvic and strengthen the strength of the hip joints, it is believed that it is necessary to apply exercise while controlling the lumbo-pelvic movement during clam exercises, and various studies will be needed.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.59-66
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to examine the activity ratios of global trunk muscles and local trunk muscles in relation to adjustments in the level of task difficulty while performing stability exercises in easily applied bridging lumbar stabilization exercise. Twenty healthy subjects performed bridging lumbar stabilization exercise while the level of task difficulty was plate was used in the same posture for all the exercises. EMG was used to examine the activity ratios of the global muscles and multifidus in relation to the level of task difficulty. Moreover, the activity ratios of the multifidus muscle, the erector spinae and the gluteus maximus muscle were measured. A one-way ANOVA with repeated measures was used, and a Bonferroni correction was conducted (${\alpha}$=.05). When the bridging lumbar stabilization exercise were performed at different difficulty levels, the activity of the multifidus muscle, which is a local muscle, was high in all three exercises. Also, compared to low intensity and intermediate intensity exercises, high intensity exercises showed more significant differences (${\alpha}$=.05). Among all the muscles, the multifidus showed the highest activity at intermediate intensity. Based on these results, we suggest that in the case of bridging lumbar stabilization exercise, low intensity or intermediate intensity exercises are more suitable and efficient for local muscle stabilization.