• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.167-172
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• 2019

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of midsole hardness of running shoe on muscle fatigue and impact force during distance running. Method: Ten healthy college recreational runners who were performing distance running at least three times a week participated in this experiment. They were asked to run for 15 minutes in the treadmill at 10 km/h with running shoes having three different types of midsole hardness (Soft, Medium, Hard). EMG signal and insole pressure were collected during the first and last one minute for each running trials. Data were analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures. Results: Midsole hardness did not affect the consistency of stride length. For the median frequency of the EMG signal, only VL was affected by midsole hardness; that of medium was greater than other midsoles (p<.05). The loading rate of impact forces increased by midsole hardness (p<.01). Conclusion: Although soft midsole could attenuate impact forces at heel contact, it might have a negative effect on the fatigue of muscle which could decelerate the body after heel contact. Therefore, it is necessary to select the optimum hardness of midsole carefully for both reduction impact forces and muscle fatigue.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.832-839
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• 2007

In this study, a new bicycle system was developed to improve muscular strength using the Magneto-Rheological(MR) rotary brake. The friction load of the MR rotary brake is adjusted according to muscle strength of the subjects. The characteristic of muscular strength was studied with various friction loads of MR rotary brake. The friction load was occurred with the current, applied to the MR. rotary brake. Experiments was composed of several cycling trials for various friction loads. In training programs involving muscle improvement, it is necessary to confirm muscle activity and fatigue. To measure the muscle activity and fatigue, EMG signals of rectus femoris (RF), biceps femoris (BF), tensor fasciae latae (TFL), vastus lateralis (VL), vastus medialis (VAS), gastrocnemius (GAS), tibialis anterior (TA) and soleus (SOL) muscles were collected with surface electromyography and analyzed into time and frequency domain. The experimental results showed that the muscle activity according to the applied current to the MR rotary brake was significantly different. The more the current was applied, the higher value of the integrated EMG (IEMG) was obtained. Especially, the magnitude of IEMG of the RF, BF, TFL and VL varied in direct proportion to the current. However, there was not significant in the median frequency as the cycling time continue.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.57-69
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to know the effects of the bee venom pharmacopuncture on muscle activity and pain reception of trapezius and deltoid the upper limbs muscles. Methods : We allocated healthy volunteers into two groups. After having exercise with barbell for load to trapezius and deltoid, we measured sEMG(surface electromyography) and VAS(visual analogue scale). In a moment, inject bee venom pharmacopuncture and saline each group. After 30 minutes, we measured sEMG and VAS again. We compared before and after sEMG and VAS data. Results : On sEMG data, bee venom pharmacopuncture had effects on muscle fatigue on left trapezius, muscle fatigue and fatigue and recovery on right trapezius and both deltoid. On VAS data, values of bee venom pharmacopuncture decreased more than that of saline. Conclusions : These results show that bee venom pharmacopuncture have effects on muscle activity aid pain reception of trapezius and deltoid the upper limbs muscle. But further studies should be carried out to verify the exact effects of bee venom.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.319-325
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• 2018

Background: Prolonged neck flexion during smartphone use is known as a factor of neck pain and alteration of neck muscle activity. Studies on the effects of shoulder taping on neck discomfort and neck muscle responses while texting on a smartphone are still lacking. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of shoulder taping on neck discomfort using a numerical rating scale, and neck muscle activity and fatigue using a surface electromyography during a texting task on a touchscreen smartphone. Methods: Twenty-five healthy adolescents used the dominant hand to perform a 30-minute texting task using a touchscreen smartphone at two separate times under one of the following two conditions: taping across the upper trapezius muscle and no taping. Neck discomfort, normalized root mean square, and normalized median frequency slopes for upper trapezius, cervical erector spinae, and sternocleidomastoid muscles were recorded. Results: The results revealed that shoulder taping provided significantly lower neck discomfort than no taping (p < 0.001). However, shoulder taping did not significantly alter normalized root mean square and normalized median frequency slope values of all muscles when compared with no taping controls. Conclusion: Shoulder taping reduces neck discomfort but does not affect neck muscle activity and fatigue while texting on a touchscreen smartphone.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1434-1440
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• 2011

In this paper, we assessed muscular activities of lower limbs and foot pressure for car and bus drivers according to operating three electronic pedals that we developed. To analyze drivers' physical exhaustion, muscular fatigue of lower limbs was evaluated. Eleven car drivers and six urban bus drivers were participated in this experiment. The virtual driving system was used for the real driving environment. The virtual driving system was comprised of a spring seat, a steering wheel, pedals (clutch, excel and brake pedals), a manual transmission and a virtual driving simulation. For the real vibration like situation on the road, six degree of freedom motion base system was used. Measured muscles were rectus femoris (RF), biceps femoris (BF), tibialis anterior (TA) and gastrocnemius (Gn) muscles. For the quantitative muscular activities, integrated electromyography (IEMG) was analyzed. Muscular fatigues also were analyzed through the analysis of the median frequency. In addition, foot pressures were analyzed and compared through the peak and averaged pressure during the operating three developed electronic pedals. The experiments are conducted with total 17 drivers, 11 general public and 6 drivers. As a result of the analysis, electromyogram and fatigue analysis through intermediate frequency reduction for pedal-1 more efficient than other pedals. And foot pressure also was decreased. Consequently, we suggested the most efficient pedal and method to minimize the amount of cumulative fatigue.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.487-497
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• 2019

Purpose: This tutorial review investigated the effect of prior fatigue and passive stretches on eccentric contraction-induced muscle injuries, as well as the underlying mechanisms of eccentric contraction-related injuries. Methods: Contraction-induced muscle damage is the most common disabling problem in sports and routines. The mechanisms underlying the pathology and prevention of muscle damage lessened by prior fatigue or stretches are critical in assessing musculoskeletal injuries. Even though there are treatments to reduce eccentric contraction-induced muscle injuries, fatigue negatively influences them. Therefore, we reviewed previous studies on eccentric contraction-induced muscle injuries with prior treatments using the MEDLINE and PubMed databases. Results: Prior passive stretching had a preventative and therapeutic effect, but prior lengthening contractions did not. On the other hand, prior isometric contractions involving relatively small forces may not provide a sufficient stimulus to induce protection. As a result, high force isometric contractions may be necessary. The studies supported the positive effects of prior fatigue, concluding that it was a factor in determining the amount of damage caused by eccentric exercise. This was due to a reduction in force and increased temperature. Studies that did not support the positive effects of prior fatigue concluded that a shift in optimal length to a longer length and reduced energy absorption during lengthening are evidence that fatigue is not related to muscle injuries induced by lengthening. Conclusion: The variability of the experiment models, conditions, muscles, and treatment methods make it necessary to interpret the conditions of previous studies carefully and draw conclusions without making direct comparisons. Thus, additional studies should be carefully conducted to investigate the positive effect of fatigue on lengthening.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.185-198
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• 2023

The purpose of this study is to obtain information necessary for the development of patient clothes that can reduce physical fatigue of caregivers by quantitatively measuring the muscle load and fatigue. The patient clothes used in this study can be broken down into three types: A type (back center zipper open suit), B type (top-to bottom separated patient clothes), and C type (front zipper open suit). The EMG measurement sites are as follows: hand muscle (brachioradialis), upper arm (biceps, triceps), shoulder (anterior deltoid, medial deltoid, posterior deltoid, upper trapezius), and waist (erector spinae); additionally, the EMG signals were measured. Through this experiment, muscle load, muscle energy consumption, and muscle fatigue generation tendency were analyzed. The results of the study revealed that the C type patient clothes required the most strength in the muscles of the shoulders, upper arms, hands, and back when being put on and taken off compared to other patient clothes. The A type clothes required a relatively large force in opening the zipper. In terms of muscle energy consumption, B type generally called for more strength when it came to the zip-up and putarmsup motions. With regard to the cover the body and put legs/hips up motions, C type used the highest amount of muscle energy, whereas A type used relatively little energy. In terms of the occurrence of muscle fatigue during the putting on and taking off of the patient's clothing, there was a difference in the area and degree of muscle fatigue in the A, B, and C types, and there was also a tendency for muscle fatigue to occur when performing repetitive movements.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.271-284
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to analyse the EMG activity of selected muscles with balance taping treatment and blood fatigue makers which accumulated during exercise of progressive maximal intensity. Ten male college students who did not experience any cardiovascular and musculo-skeletal disease were participated in this study. Balance taping were applied to rectus femoris, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, semitendinous, semimembranous, and around knee joint. Isokinetic knee joint flexion/extension force, EMG activity, lactate and ammonia as blood fatigue makers during progressive maximal intensity exercise were measured for with/without applying balance taping. The results indicated that although flexion force of total work at $60^{\circ}/sec$ with taping was increased applied taping did not affect to the aerobic exercise ability parameters. Lactate level as blood fatigue makers during progressive maximal intensity exercise after taping was decreased but the ammonia level did not change with same treatment. In isokinetic knee joint test at the angular velocity of $60^{\circ}/sec$, $180^{\circ}/sec$, and $240^{\circ}/sec$ the taping treatment did not affect to any selected muscle EMG activities except maximal EMG of vastus lateralis at $240^{\circ}/sec$.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2000

When standing, walking, or running for extended periods of time, fatigue occurs in the legs. Although there are many ways, to release tense or fatigued leg muscles, in the case that there is insufficient time to relax, an easy way to release leg fatigue is using an inclined step (about 3 minutes). This method was more effective than performing stretching exercises as studied. An experiment was conducted on a golf course in the Kangwon province in Korea. Subjects were chosen randomly and consisted of 5 females and 4 males golf caddies. Their main tasks consisted of pulling golf carts to the bottom of a hill for 8 to 10 hours and sometimes lifting and lowering golf clubs during the duration of one day. EMG was measured after work and after using the previously mentioned inclined Steps for the lower legs using ME3000P. This study investigated the types of inclined Steps which would be most effective and appropriate for golf caddies, whether sex difference had any influence existed between male and female workers. The results showed that a step with a $20^{\circ}$ angle was most effective for males and a step with a $25^{\circ}$ angle was most effective for females. Females showed faster recovery from fatigue than males. However, there were no statistical significance between males and females.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.427-433
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• 2015

Hot forging industry workers are prone to encounter several health risks due to lack of automation and poor working environment conditions. These workers particularly suffer from muscle fatigue owing to the constant handling of heavy products during the forging process. Thus we developed an assistant robot for workers who carry out hot forging tasks. The purpose of a robot is to compensate gravity-loads for heavy products. To verify the functionality of a robot, we performed a muscle fatigue analysis using Electromyography (EMG) signals. Four muscles of the upper extremity were chosen to measure muscle activity. And experiment conditions were setup to imitate the hot forging process. Post experimental analysis of the captured muscle activity revealed a reduction in the median frequency of the EMG signals, which means clear fatigue reduction due to a robot's assistance. The developed assist robot with compact and economical components can be efficiently utilized at forging work sites to create better working conditions for operators.