• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.148-155
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• 2013

This study is about the development of the wrist rehabilitation system for the patient who has limited capability of movement after stroke. Electromyography triggered training system (ETTS) can play the role between complete passive training and patient activating training system. Surface EMG was measured on pronator teres muscle and biceps brachii muscle for wrist pronation and supination. Our system detects whether the subject makes muscular effort for pronation or supination or nothing in every 50 ms. When the effort level exceeds the preset percentage of maximal voluntary contraction, the motor rotates according to the direction of the intention of the subject. EMG triggers the motor rotation for the wrist rehabilitation training until the preset angle. To evaluate its performance, the maximum voluntary contraction level was measured for 4 subjects at first. With the audio-visual instruction to rotate the wrist (pronation or supination) the subjects made effort to follow the instruction. After calculating root mean square (RMS) for 50 ms, the controller determines whether there was muscular effort to rotate while holding the motor. When there was an effort to rotate, the controller rotates the motor 0.8 degree. By comparing the RMS values from two channels of EMG, the controller determines the rotational direction. The onset delay is $0.76{\pm}0.24$ s and offset delay is $0.65{\pm}0.22$ s for pronation. For supination the onset delay is $1.24{\pm}0.41$ s and offset delay is $0.77{\pm}0.22$ s. The system responded fast enough to be used for rehabilitation training. The controller perceived the direction of rotation 100% correctly for the pronation and 97.5% correctly for supination. ETTS was developed and the fundamental functions were validated for normal subjects. The clinical validation should be done with patients for real world application. With ETTS, the subjects can train voluntarily over the limitation of the range of motion which increases the effectiveness of the rehabilitation training.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.20-34
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• 2016

Background: It is necessary to find and develop the effective way of intervention for patients with neck pain, since the neck pain is becoming increasingly common throughout the world. To identify the altered motor control in patient with neck pain would be informative to find and develop the effective way of intervention. Objects: The aim of this study was to review literature regarding the altered motor control in patients with neck pain, measured by using surface electromyography (sEMG), ultrasonography, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and to suggest prospective research work on neck pain. Methods: Case-control (neck pain/healthy) studies published between 2004 and 2015 that investigated neck muscle activation, thickness, cross-sectional area, and fat infiltrate were searched in Scopus, PubMed, and ScienceDirect. Twenty-eight articles were included in this study. Results: sEMG, ultrasonography, and fMRI were used complementarily to investigate the altered superficial and deep neck muscle activation, thickness, cross-sectional area, and fat infiltrate in patients with neck pain. They showed the following altered motor control when compared retrospectively with healthy subjects or during specific functional tasks: (1) increased superficial muscle activation, (2) lesser deep muscle thickness, (3) smaller cross-sectional area of the deep muscle, and (4) greater fat infiltrate in deep muscles. In particular, among the women, the office workers showed higher muscle activation of superficial neck muscles during functional tasks, although they did not have neck pain, than those who were not office workers. Conclusion: Studies revealed that patients with neck pain showed an altered motor control when compared with healthy subjects by using various assessment modalities. Understanding this phenomenon would help researchers design an effective intervention for alleviating neck pain or to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. In addition, we recommend that female office workers take measures to care for their necks before developing neck pain.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.14-19
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• 2017

Objective: To investigate the effect of performing three different bridge exercise conditions 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 (10 males, 10 females) voluntarily participated in this study. All subjects randomly performed three different bridge conditions as follows: general bridge exercise, isometric hip abduction (IHAB) with a blue Theraband (Hygenic Corp., USA), and isometric hip adduction (IHAD) with a Swiss ball (Hygenic Corp.). The muscle activities of bilateral erector spinae (ES), gluteus maximus (GM), biceps femoris (BF), and external oblique (EO) muscles during the bridge exercises were measured using sEMG. Subjects performed each of the three bridge conditions three times in random order and mean values were obtained. Results: For bilateral ES and BF, there was a significant increase in muscle activity in the IHAD condition compared to the general bridge and IHAB condition (p<0.05). For bilateral GM, there was a significant increase in muscle activity in the IHAB condition compared to the general bridge condition (p<0.05) and there was a significant increase in muscle activity in the IHAB condition compared to IHAD condition (p<0.05). For left EO, a significant increase was observed in the IHAD condition compared to the general bridge condition (p<0.05). Conclusions: ES and BF muscle activity increases were observed with hip adduction and increased GM activity was observed with hip abduction. These findings may be applicable within the clinical field for selective trunk and lower extremity muscle activation and advanced rehabilitation purposes.

• 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.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.315-319
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of leg-crossing positions on muscle activities of rectus femoris, tensor fascia latae, and hamstring in healthy 20's adults. Methods: Twenty healthy subjects were asked to perform three leg-crossing positions, leg crossing (LC), tailor crossing (TC), and ankle crossing (AC). Surface electromyography (EMG) was used to evaluate the activities of rectus femoris, tensor fascia latae, and hamstring during upright sit posture (UP) and three leg-crossing positions and UP was compared to three leg-crossing positions. Repeated one way ANOVA was used for data analysis. The alpha level was set at 0.05. Results: The results showed significant difference in the muscle activities of rectus femoris, tensor fascia latae, and hamstring among leg-crossing positions. The muscle activity of the rectus femoris was significantly lower in LC and TC positions than UP. The muscle activity of tensor fascia latae was significantly higher in LC position than UP and other leg-crossing positions. The muscle activity of hamstring was significantly higher in LC and TC positions and significantly lower in AC position than in UP. Conclusion: Our study suggests that the activity of hip muscles was affected by pelvic and knee alignment in various leg-crossing positions.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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• v.53 no.12
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• pp.180-190
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• 2016

This prospective pilot clinical trial mainly focuses on developing dual chamber-based assistive cups which are suitable for stroke patients who have struggled with using there affected arms. It is unable to provide motor and sensory enhancement during drinking activities and to examine the feasibility of the devices for acute phase, even for chronic stroke survivors. The stroke patients(n=16; male=8, female=8), in this trial, were provided informed consent to the investigation. All the individuals participated in 1 weeks of training for using cups, randomized over dedicated dual chamber based assistive cups(DC) or placebo-cups(PC) training. All the participants were assessed within 1 week before and after the intervention period. 3-dimensional motion analysis, sEMG(surface electromyography) and 3-dimensional trunk movement were assessed. The result presents DC data group compared with PC showed, they needed lesser ROM(range of motion) at the phase of drinking in shoulder movements and lesser muscle activities on upper trapezius, deltoid middle fiber and triceps brachii muscles, lesser tilting movement on front and back side in drinking phase, the differences were statistically significant(p<.05). Dual chamber-based assistive cup could be one of efficient way to complete ADLs(activities of daily living), especially drinking tasks, and these evidence data may contribute to determine certain rehabilitation policies related to assistive devise usage.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.46-53
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• 2017

Background: The MLA is supported by both the abductor hallucis (ABH) and the extrinsic muscles. Insufficient muscular support may lower the MLA when the body's weight is applied to the foot. The short foot exercise (SFE) is effective in increasing the height of the MLA for people with flat feet. Most of the research related to the SFE has simply evaluated the efficiency of the exercise using enhanced ABH electromyography (EMG) activation. Since the tibialis anterior (TA), peroneus longus (PER), and ABH are all involved in supporting the MLA, a new experiment design examining the EMG of the selected muscles during SFE should be applied to clarify its effect. Objects: Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the effect of the SFE in different ankle position on the MLA angle and the activation of both the intrinsic and extrinsic muscles and to determine the optimal position. Methods: 20 healthy subjects and 12 subjects with flat feet were recruited from Yonsei University. The surface EMG and camera were used to collect muscle activation amplitude of TA, PER, and ABH and to capture the image of MLA angle during SFE. The subjects performed the SFE while sitting in three different ankle positions-neutral (N), dorsiflexion (DF) at 30 degrees, and plantar flexion (PF) at 30 degrees. Results: ABH EMG amplitudes were significantly greater in N and DF than in PF (p<.05). Muscle activation ratio of TA to ABH was the lowest in PF (p<.05). MLA angle in both groups significantly decreased in PF (p<.01). The TA and ABH was activated at the highest level in DF. However, in PF, subjects significantly activated the ABH and PER with relatively low activation of TA. Conclusion: Therefore, researchers need to discuss which SFE condition most effectively use the arch support muscle for flat foot.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2017

PURPOSE: This study was to determine the changes of abdominal muscles activation according to the heel contact methods of stair ascent in healthy young adults. METHODS: 33 healthy young subjects (mean age: $26.37{\pm}9.72$ years, age range: 20-32 years) volunteered under two conditions. They were performed stair ascent with heel contact and without heel contact. The effects of heel contact methods were assessed using the surface electromyography (sEMG) analysis during stair ascent for activation of abdominal muscles (internal oblique; IO, transverse abdominis; TrA, external oblique; EO rectus abdominis; RA). The interventions were conducted over three trials in each method, and measurements were performed on each subject by one examiner in three trials. RESULTS: Our results revealed that there were significantly greater increase in the EMG activation of IO and TrA muscles in the performance of stair ascent with heel contact (p<.05) compared to those of stair ascent without heel contact. The results also showed that there were greater decrease in the ratio of abdominal muscle activation in those of stair ascent with heel contact compared with stair ascent without heel contact. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrated that the method of stair ascent with heel contact would suggest positive evidence for improving activation of abdominal muscles.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.43-52
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• 1988

The author studied masticatory muscle activity and bite force in normal persons without Temporomandibular Disorders(TMD) signs and symptoms, The number of subjects was 15, and the age of them was from 22 to 25 years. Electromyography was used to record the muscle activity in tapping and clenching movement with or without occlusal splint. 3 splints were made from 3 different mandibular position, that if, centric occlusion position, Rocabado's mandibular rest position, Dawson's centric relation position. The thickness of splint was 3.0-3.5㎜ at molar region. The muscle examined were Masseter and Anterior Temporalis attached with surface electrodes and the device used to measure the EMG level was Bioelectric processor Model EM2. After recording the EMG, the author measured the bite force level in clenching movement with bite force meter Model MPM-3000 in the dame position used in the EMG experiment. The obtained results were as follow : 1. With occlusal splints insetion, the amount of decreased muscle activity in Anterior Temporalis was more than those in Masseter. 2. In the three maxillomandibular relationships with occlusal splints, Masseter showed slightly increased level of muscle in centric occlusion but Ant. Temporalis showed decreased level of muscle activity reversely in that position. 3. Muscle activities between Rocabado's rest position and Dawson's centric relation position were generally similar whatever the muscles or the movements the author examined. 4. Bite force in clenching movement increased with splints insertion, especially with the splint registered in centric occlusion position.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.710-720
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• 2014

Movements of the upper and lower limb muscles during five common gardening tasks were analyzed by using electromyography (EMG). Twenty adults aged in their twenties (mean age, $24.8{\pm}2.4$ years) were recruited. On two separate occasions, subjects visited a garden plot to perform digging, raking, troweling, weeding, and hoeing; all tasks were performed three times with 20 s intervals for each trial. To measure muscle activation during the five gardening tasks, surface EMG was used. Bipolar surface EMG electrodes were attached to eight upper limb muscles (bilateral anterior deltoid, biceps brachialis, brachioradialis, and flexor carpi ulnaris) or eight lower limb muscles (bilateral vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, biceps femoris, and gastrocnemius) on both sides of the body, for a total of 16 muscles. During the five tasks, photographs were taken of movement phases using a digital video camera. The right flexor carpi ulnaris and brachioradialis showed higher activation than the other upper and lower limb muscles measured during the tasks. All 16 upper and lower limb muscles were actively used only during digging. According to movement analysis of each activity, digging was classified into four movement phases, whereas raking, troweling, weeding, and hoeing each were divided into three movement phases. In each activity, there were high-impact phases in terms of muscle activation; the flexor carpi ulnaris and brachioradialis were identified as major muscles in each impact phase. This analysis may be used to generate biomechanical profiles of gardening tasks for practitioners when designing efficient gardening interventions for physical health or rehabilitation.