• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.23-32
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• 2017

PURPOSE: Flexibility and range of motion are very important factors in sports performance, rehabilitation, and musculoskeletal pain. The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of cupping therapy on flexibility, muscle activity, and pain threshold of hamstring muscle compared to passive stretching in healthy subjects. METHODS: Thirty healthy subjects were randomly assigned in a crossover design to cupping therapy and passive stretching. Subjects were tested to compare their effects according to the intervention such as Passive range of motion (PROM) (straight leg raising) and active range of motion (AROM). And algometer (pain) testing and MVC assessment using EMG were performed as dependent variables. RESULTS: The cupping therapy group and passive stretching group showed significant differences in all variables including PROM (p=.00, p=.00), AROM (p=.00, p=.03), Pain Threshold (p=.03, p=.08), Semitendinosus MVC (p=.01, p=.00), and Biceps femoris MVC (p=.01, p=.16). There were no significant differences between the two groups in all variables. CONCLUSION: These findings of this study suggested that cupping therapy has as much positive effect on flexibility, pain threshold, and muscle contraction as passive stretching. Also, it is more convenient and easier to work on patients than passive stretching. Therefore, cupping therapy should be considered as another option to treat range of motion, pain, and muscle activity in the clinical field.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2008

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of passive stretching, active stretching, and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation(PNF) for hamstring flexibility. Methods : Fifty-two college students volunteered for this study. Subjects were randomly devided into three groups : passive stretching, active stretching, PNF. Range of knee extension was measured with the subjects in the 90-90 straight leg raising at before and 1, 2, 3, 4 weeks after intervention. Results : In ROM changes 1st week, 3 groups were significant difference(p<.05). In ROM changes 3rd week, PNF group was significant difference(p<.05). ROM changes 1st week were significantly decreased from ROM changes 2nd week and 3rd week in all 3 groups(p<.05). Conclusions : The results of this study suggest that PNF is more effective method on hamstring flexibility than passive stretching or active stretching.

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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• 2004.08c
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• pp.867-871
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• 2004

In this paper, a new analytic approach for shape preserving contrast enhancement is presented. Contrast enhancement is achieved by means of segmental histogram stretching modification which preserves the given image shape, not distorting the original shape. After global stretching, the image is partitioned into several level-sets according to threshold condition. The image information of each level-set is represented as typical value based on grouped differential values. The basic property is modified into common local schemes, thereby introducing the enhanced effect through extreme discrimination between subsets. The scheme is based on stretching the histogram of subsets in which the intensity gray levels between connected pixels are approximately same In spite of histogram widening, stretched by local image information, it neither creates nor destroys the original image, thereby preserving image shape and enhancing the contrast. By designing local histogram stretching operations, we can preserve the original shape of level-sets of the image, and also enhance the global intensity. Thus it can hold the main properties of both global and local image schemes, which leads to versatile applications in the field of digital epigraphy.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.59-64
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• 2011

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the stretching of the calf muscles on foot pressure and contact area in young adult. Participants stood on a wedge board that was sloped between 15~25 degree for 15min. After stretching participants stood quietly on force plate, result was recorded. Participants stood on a force plate for 1 min in eye closed condition, and them the foot pressure and area was recorded. The following variables were calculated off-line: anterior and posterior foot pressure and contact area, medial and lateral foot pressure and contact area. Results showed that anterior pressure change due to stretch, but mediolateral was not significant. This result suggested that stretching of the calf muscle has the effect of increasing anterior pressure by flexibility change on calf muscle, so this effects might be effective intervention for reduce of serious problem to neurologic patients in therapy session.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to compare the duration of hamstring flexibility improvement after 3 stretching interventions in people with limited hamstring flexibility. Twenty-two subjects (12 men, 10 women) with limited hamstring flexibility of the dominant leg received 3 stretching interventions- modified dynamic stretching (MDS), hold-relax (HR), and static stretching (SS)-in a random order. All the subjects received all 3 interventions at intervals of at least 24 hours to minimize any carry-over effect. Modified dynamic stretching was applied as a closed kinetic chain exercise in the supine position by using the sling suspension system (Redcord Trainer(R)). The SS and HR interventions were individually performed in the straight leg raising (SLR) position, and all 3 interventions were performed for 3 minutes. Outcome measures included passive knee extension (PKE) measurements. Five post-test measurements were recorded for all subjects at 3, 6, 9, 15, and 30 minutes after the interventions. MDS was associated with a significant increase in knee extension range of motion even at 30 minutes post-treatment. In contrast, the HR and SS stretching methods showed increased hamstring flexibility for only 6 minutes post-treatment. Improvements in the range of motion of knee extension (indicating enhancement in hamstring flexibility) with MDS were maintained longer than those with the HR and SS interventions. Therefore, MDS may be more effective than the other interventions for maintaining hamstring flexibility.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.51-59
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• 2020

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to provide clinical basic data to reduce pain and improve function by comparing neck muscle activity and neck alignment using self-stretching and passive stretching exercises for chronic neck pain caused by forward head posture. METHODS: The subjects were divided into 15 subjects assigned to perform self-stretching exercise and 15 subjects assigned to perform passive stretching exercise. The intervention was conducted for a total of 4 weeks. The muscle activity in the neck was measured by surface electromyography (EMG) before intervention, and craniovertebral and cranial rotation angles were measured by X-ray. The 4-week intervention was conducted and the above items re-measured in the same manner and analyzed. RESULTS: Muscle activity within both groups after intervention using self-stretching or passive stretching exercise was significantly different (p < .05)(p < .01). Neck alignment of both groups was significantly different (p < .001)(p < .01). Further, muscle activities of the upper trapezius and splenius capitis muscles showed significant differences (p<.05). Lastly, neck alignment showed statistically significant difference (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Self-stretching exercise activated motor nerves as a posture correction exercise, thereby improving inhibition of muscle activity, muscle contraction delay, and pathological conditions of the muscle. For future research, interventions of self-stretching exercise will be needed for patients with chronic back pain accompanied by forward head posture, and various clinical studies on postural improvement of forward head posture by maintaining a normal muscle tone state are needed.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.793-809
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• 2015

In this scientific work, constructing of a novel shear deformation beam model including the stretching effect is of concern for flexural and free vibration responses of functionally graded beams. The particularity of this model is that, in addition to considering the transverse shear deformation and the stretching effect, the zero transverse shear stress condition on the beam surface is assured without introducing the shear correction parameter. By employing the Hamilton's principle together with the concept of the neutral axe's position for such beams, the equations of motion are obtained. Some examples are performed to demonstrate the effects of changing gradients, thickness stretching, and thickness to length ratios on the bending and vibration of functionally graded beams.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.829-841
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• 2015

In this paper, a refined exponential shear deformation beam theory is developed for bending analysis of functionally graded beams. The theory account for parabolic variation of transverse shear strain through the depth of the beam and satisfies the zero traction boundary conditions on the surfaces of the beam without using shear correction factors. Contrary to the others refined theories elaborated, where the stretching effect is neglected, in the current investigation this so-called "stretching effect" is taken into consideration. The material properties of the functionally graded beam are assumed to vary according to power law distribution of the volume fraction of the constituents. Based on the present shear deformation beam theory, the equilibrium equations are derived from the principle of virtual displacements. Analytical solutions for static are obtained. Numerical examples are presented to verify the accuracy of the present theory.

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.99-114
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• 2015

In this paper, a refined exponential shear deformation beam theory is developed for bending analysis of functionally graded beams. The theory account for parabolic variation of transverse shear strain through the depth of the beam and satisfies the zero traction boundary conditions on the surfaces of the beam without using shear correction factors. Contrary to the others refined theories elaborated, where the stretching effect is neglected, in the current investigation this so-called "stretching effect" is taken into consideration. The material properties of the functionally graded beam are assumed to vary according to power law distribution of the volume fraction of the constituents. Based on the present shear deformation beam theory, the equations of motion are derived from Hamilton's principle. Analytical solutions for static are obtained. Numerical examples are presented to verify the accuracy of the present theory.

• 한국전산유체공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.1-13
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• 2005

Fluid flows within microchannels are characterized by low Reynolds numbers. Therefore the effect of mixing is a crucial factor in design of the channels. Since the action of the electro-osmotic or magnetic forces used in the mixing enhancement is usually periodic in the three-dimensional channel configuration, use of the various concepts of chaotic advection is reasonable in the quantification of the stirring effect. In this paper, the details of the method of material-stretching mapping is explained. The actual application of the method to the screw extruder is also presented.