• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.39-43
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• 2013

In this paper, we present a effective method of gait rehabilitation training using critical point of median frequency in muscle fatigue analysis using EMG. To target the five healthy volunteers, EMG signal were measured in the quadriceps femoris muscle and the tibialis anterior muscle in order to determine muscle fatigue. We performed a test targeting three adult male for 30 minutes on a treadmill at a speed of 6km/h same. EMG signal analysis in frequency and median frequency is calculated to quantification of muscle fatigue, and calculated the critical point which is saturated by muscle fatigue during 30 minutes. We set saturated point the threshold which muscle can withstand. The results of this paper, we are able to quantify the threshold of the muscle.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.1-14
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• 1995

Neuromuscular difference between normal subjects and low-back pain patients has been identified in terms of neural excitation signal measured by Electromyography (EMG) under the dynamic flexion/extension trunk motion. Ten healthy subjects and ten low-back pain patients were recruited for this study. New parameters and normalization technique were introduced to quantify the muscle excitation pattern among the flexor-extensor pairs of muscles : rectus abdominis (RA)-erector spinae (ES at L1 and L5 level), external oblique (EO)-internal oblique (IO), rectus femoris (quadricep : QUD)-biceps femoris( hamstring : HAM), and tibialis anterior (TA)-gastrocnemius (GAS). Results indicated that the temporal EMG pattern such as peak timing difference between the hip flexor (QUD) and extensor (HAM) and the duration of coexcitation between ES at L5 and RA muscle pairs showed a statistically significant difference between normal subjects and low-back pain patients. Improtantly, this study presented a new technique to identify the dynamic muscle excitation pattern that canb be least affected by EMG-length-velocity relationship. Further study can performed to validate this method for clinical application to quantitatively identify the low-back pain patients in the future.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.95-100
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• 2016

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to examine muscle activities of trunk and lower limb during squat and 108 bows exercises and to provide objective data for establishing a training method for improving muscle strength of trunk and lower limb. Methods: Twenty normal healthy subjects participated in this study. Each exercise was divided into five periods. Muscle activities of trunk and lower limb in each period of both 108 bows and squat exercises were measured and analyzed by independent t-test. Results: In starting, mid-flexion, mid-extension, and end period muscle activities obtained from 108 bows exercise were significantly higher than those from squat exercise. However, in the final flexion period, muscle activities of multifidus, elector spinae, rectus femoris, biceps femoris, and tibialis anterior from squat exercise were significantly higher than those from bow exercise. Conclusion: In this study, high muscle activities in most muscles of trunk and lower limb were observed from all periods of 108 bows exercise except the final flexion period. Therefore, it is likely that 108 bows exercise rather than squat exercise is more suitable for high strength exercise to improve muscle strength of trunk and lower limb and thus will be applicable for strengthening muscles of trunk and lower limb of patients.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.194-199
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• 2022

Background: Older adults use different ankle muscle activation patterns during difficult static balance conditions. It has been suggested that this is related to a decline in proprioception with age, resulting in reduced postural balance. However, the association between proprioception and ankle muscle activity during quiet standing has not been directly assessed. Objects: This study aimed to investigate the effects of age and sensory condition on ankle muscle activity and the association between ankle proprioception and ankle muscle activity. Methods: We recruited 10 young women and 9 older women. Ankle proprioception was evaluated using joint position sense (JPS) and force sense (FS) divided by dorsiflexion and plantarflexion. The electromyographic activity of the tibialis anterior (TA) and gastrocnemius (GCM) muscles was collected during quiet standing. Results: Older women activated GCM muscle more than young during quiet standing and when performing difficult tasks. Older women had more errors in JPS dorsiflexion and FS plantarflexion than did young. The GCM muscle activity is related to JPS dorsiflexion and FS plantarflexion. Conclusion: Lower proprioception of the GCM with age leads to increased muscle activity, resulting in reduced postural balance. There was no difference in TA proprioception or muscle activity among older women with frequent physical activity.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.51-62
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of microcurrent on fatigue of muscles in people who were flat-footed during gait. Methods: 10 flat-footed university students volunteered to participate in this study. 10 flat-footed subjects were divided into 2 groups, one group was experimental group of 5subjects(This group put on microcurrent induction shoes but the subjects were not able to feel the current.) and the other group was the control group of 5subjects(This group put on the general shoes which were similar in shape but microcurrent was not induced.) to perform double blind test and random sampling. Their gait muscle fatigue of 6 regions (vastus medialis, gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior, biceps femoris, erector spinae, and rectus abdominis muscle.) was measured by EMG MP150, Delsys Inc Boston, USA during walking and then they carried out the Harvard step with a platform (It was a arbitrarily made wooden platform of 100cm long, 50cm wide, 60cm high. They carried out climbing it for one second and descending it for one second by using the Metronome program, total 5minutes) for 5minutes. Right after that, the subjects walked on a treadmill at a speed of 4km/h for 10minutes and then their gait muscle fatigue of 6regions was assessed while they were walking on the ground as equally as before exercise. Results: The experimental group has resulted in lower average differences in gait muscle fatigue before and after exercise than those of the control group average 12.24Hz(P=0.009) at vastus medialis, average 8.52Hz(P=0.016) at gastrocnemius, average 9.16Hz(P=0.009) at tibialis anterior, average 8.66Hz(P=0.047) at biceps femoris, average 7.53Hz(P=0.016) at erector spinae, and average 7.80Hz(P=0.047) at rectus abdominis. All of the assessments of muscles have shown significant difference statistically. Conclusions: This result has shown that the use of micro current could decrease gait muscle fatigue of flat-footed people. It is recommended to use a microcurrent to reduce their gait muscle fatigue.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.99-110
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of three different pelvic tilts on sit-to-stand ativities and to suggest a new therapeutic approach for movement reeducation in patients who have difficulty with sit-to-stand activities. The three different pelvic tilts were: (1) comfortable pelvic tilt sit-to-stand (CPT STS), (2) posterior pelvic tilt sit-to-stand (PPT STS) and (3) anterior pelvic tilt sit-to-stand (APT STS). To analyze the kinematic component of STS, a motion analysis system (Zebris) was applied to the ankle, knee, hip joint, and thigh-off area. Also, to determine the onset time of muscle contraction, surface electrodes were placed to the rectus femoris muscle (RF), the vastus lateralis muscle (VL), the biceps femoris muscle (BF), the tibialis anterior muscle (TA), the gastrocnemius muscle (GCM), and the soleus muscle (SOL). One-way repeated ANOVA was used for the statistical analysis. First, significant differences were found in kinematic variables for the hip, knee, ankle joint, and thigh-off among the three activities. Second, there was significant difference in muscle activation pattern in TA. VL. and BF among three activities. In conclusion, the findings of this study suggest the following evaluative and therapeutic approach for STS activity: (1) Changes in knee and ankle joints should be prioritized and recruitment order differences in VL and RF can be generated to accomplish abnormal STS activity. (2) APT STS can be introduced for movement efficiency and functional advantage when abnormal STS is treated.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.393-398
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare muscle activation patterns of lower extremities in stroke patients during stepper climbing, stair-up, and level-ground gait conditions by surface electromyography (EMG). Methods: Subjects included 19 hemiplegic patients comprehensive rehabilitation center for inpatients with stroke. Surface EMG was used to measure the subjects' medial gastrocnemius (GCM), tibialis anterior (TA), biceps femoris (BF), and rectus femoris (RF) activity as they took six steps during stepper climbing, stair-up, and level-ground gait conditions. Results: There was no significant difference in the BF or RF muscle activity for the stepper climbing, stair-up, and level-ground gait conditions. However, there were significant differences in the medial GCM and TA muscle activity between each condition on the patients' hemiplegic side(p<0.05). There was significant difference in the medial GCM, TA, RF, and BF muscle activity between each condition on the patients' non-hemiplegic side (p<0.05). Conclusion: As a result, the overall muscle activity during the level-ground gait was higher than the stair-up condition, and the muscle activity during the stair-up condition was higher than the muscle activity during the stepper climbing condition. As one of the many methods used for gait training, we suggest that the stepper exercise could be applied at an earlier stage in the gait training process.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.392-399
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• 2015

Purpose: This study investigated whether the strength imbalance between two muscles can affect the score of EMG based biofeedback game, and whether the EMG based biofeedback game score can be used as predictable indicator of the degree of muscle balance alternating the conventional strength measuring equipment. Methods: 40 participated in this study. Biodex was used to measure the peak torque/weight in order to calculate the muscle strength balance index between plantar flexor and dorsiflexor of ankle joint. And muscle balance index (MBI) was calculated. The EMG biofeedback game scores of dorsiflexor and plantar flexor were acquired, so that the EMG electrodes were attached at tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius. The relationship between the game score and the muscle balance index were analyzed. Results: There was negative correlation between the muscle balance index between plantar flexor and dorsiflexor and the peak torque/weight of plantar flexor (r=-0.70). And there was negative correlation between the muscle balance index between plantar flexor and dorsiflexor and the game score of plantar flexor (r=-0.83). Conclusion: The EMG biofeedback game score had significant relationship with muscle imbalance at ankle joint, so it seems that the game score can be used for predicting the degree of muscle imbalance as a parameter.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.151-160
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• 2008

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to know the muscle activation after sub-talar joint mobilition and active exercise, and the low leg muscle activity through the well-balanced interaction of ankle joint around muscle. Methods : For this study 61 experimental subjects are divided into 24 people of supination foot group, pronation foot group 17 people of, 20 people of control group through navicular drop test. Surface EMG was used in order to measure the muscle activities. following is the result of the data analysis about each experiment that has been carried on a week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks before, and even comparing with pre-experimental state. Results : In electromyogram study, the higher muscle activation there was before the experiment, the more muscle activation increase there was after the experiment in Tibialis Anterior, Peroneus Longus, Peroneus Brevis.(p<.05). Conclusion : This study shows the balanced activation of foot and ankle-around muscle. It shows that foot shape affects the balanced activation recovery of lower leg muscles.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.1756-1762
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• 2019

Background: Functional ankle instability (FAI) indicating a decrease in muscle strength, proprioception, neuromuscular control, balance and postural control function. Objective: To investigate the effect of jumping exercise on the supporting surface on the ankle muscle thickness, proprioceptive sensation, and balance in adults with FAI. Design: Randomized Controlled Trial. Methods: Twenty young people with FAI were randomly assigned to the unstable supporting surface jump group (N=10) and the stable supporting surface jump group (N=10). The intervention was conducted three times a week for eight weeks, and for 30 minutes per session. Trampoline was used as an unstable support surface and the stable support surface was carried out on a regular floor. The thickness of the tibialis anterior muscle and medial gastrocnemius muscle was measured by ultrasonography, and the proprioception of dorsiflexion and plantarflexion was measured using an electrogoniometer. The dynamic balance was also measured with a balance meter. Results: The the muscle thickness of the medial gastrocnemius muscle was significantly higher in the stable supporting surface jump group than in the unstable supporting surface jump group (p<.05). Furthermore, the plantar flexion proprioception and dynamic balance were significantly improved in the unstable supporting surface jump group than in the stable supporting surface jump group in the intergroup comparison (p<.05). Conclusions: The conclusion has been reached in this study that the jumping exercise on the unstable supporting surface could be a more effective in improving FAI than the regular surface.