• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.27-37
• /
• 2018

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate and evaluate muscle activity and foot pressure during gait, and isokinetic strength and balance in persons with functional ankle instability (FAI). METHODS: Nine healthy subjects (CON, n=9) without FAI and 11 patients (FAI, n=11) with FAI participated in the study after having been screened with an ankle instability instrument and a balance error scoring system. In addition, FAI was classified as non-involved (FAI-N) or involved (FAI-I), and CON was classified as dominant or non-dominant. All subjects were evaluated for isokinetic strength (plantar flexion, dorsiflexion, inversion and eversion of $30^{\circ}/sec$ and $60^{\circ}/sec$), balance (static and dynamic), muscle activity (tibialis anterior, peroneus longus and gastrocnemius) and foot pressure (static and dynamic) during gait. RESULTS: Results showed that plantar flexion (p<.05), dorsiflexion (p<.05), inversion (p<.01) and eversion (p<.00) of $60^{\circ}/sec$ were significantly decreased in FAI-I compared to those in FAI-N and CON. C 90 of static balance with eyes open (p<.01) and closed (p<.00) were significantly increased in FAI compared to those in CON. Forward position of dynamic balance (p<.01) was significantly decreased in FAI compared to that in CON. Gastrocnemius and peroneus longus of dynamic muscle activity (p<.01), left and right weight distribution of static foot pressure (p<.00) and pressure distribution of dynamic foot pressure (p<.00) were significantly decreased in FAI-I compared to those in FAI-N. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that ankle strength, balance, muscle activity and foot pressure were significantly correlated with FAI.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.331-339
• /
• 2013

The Interest in disease prevention and rehabilitation is increasing depending on increase of patients with spinal. This is being developed using the spine stabilization device is being studied. So far studies have only evaluated the effect on trunk stabilization exercises but analysis of human movement patterns for active movement and passive movement did not. We assessed the muscle activity of trunk and leg muscle during passive and active tilt mode on eight tilt directions at tilt angle of $30^{\circ}$ using 3-D dynamic postural balance training system. We performed experimental study on the muscular activities of trunk muscle about rectus abdominis, external obliques, latissimus dorsi, erector spinae, and leg muscle about rectus femoris, Biceps femoris, Tibialis Anterior, gastrocnemius. As a result, muscle activation was different depending on the direction of movement and pattern. The results indicate that various patterns of spinal stabilization exercise system could be applied to an effective training of chronic low back pain patients.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.113-121
• /
• 2012

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of forefoot rocker shoes equipped with a metatarsal bar on lower extremity muscle activity and plantar pressure distribution. Ten healthy women in the age of twenties were participated in this study as the subjects. All subjects walked on a treadmill(Gait Trainer, BIODEX, USA) wearing normal shoes and metatarsal bar shoes, during which the plantar pressure distribution and muscle activity were measured. Using Pedar-X system(Novel Gmbh, Germany), the plantar pressure was measured for six regions of the foot: forefoot, midfoot, rearfoot, 1st metatarsal, 2-3th metatarsal, and 4-5th metatarsal, and for each sub-region, 4 features such as maximum force, contact area, peak pressure, and mean pressure were analyzed based on the plantar pressure. EMG(Electromyography) activity was measured by attaching surface electrodes to the rectus femoris, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior, and gastrocnemius medial head, and magnitude of muscle contraction was analyzed in IEMG(Integrated EMG) value. The results show that the maximum force, contact area, peak pressure, and mean pressure in the midfoot all increased while maximum force, peak pressure, contact area, mean pressure in the 1st metatarsal and 2-3th metatarsal all decreased when wearing functional shoes. Also, muscle activities in the four muscles were all decreased when wearing the functional shoes. This paper suggests that forfoot rocker shoes equipped with a metatarsal bar can help disperse the high pressure and absorb the shock to the foot as well as give positive influence on gait pattern and postural stability by reducing muscle fatigue during walking.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.81-86
• /
• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigated the muscle activity difference of lower extremity by abdominal co-contractive activation. 30 healthy women without pain in the low back and lower extremity were conducted. Muscle activities of lower extremity were measured with the active straight leg raise (ASLR) in 20cm raised from the floor without bending the knee at rest, abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) and abdominal bracing maneuver (ABM), respectively. Hip adductor longus (HadL), rectus femoris (RF), and biceps femoris (BF) muscle activity in the Abdominal bracing maneuver were statistically significantly higher, also gluteus medius (Gmed) and tibialis anterior (TA) muscle activity in the ADIM were higher. We provide the evidence to the positive effects of individual abdominal co-contractive activation training which can enhance postural stability and lower extremity strengthening with volitional preemptive abdominal contraction.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.13-18
• /
• 2010

Purpose : This study investigates the effects on balanced ability and ankle joint muscle following balance pad and trampoline training periods in order to report a clinical directing about this matter. Methods : A total of nine members participated in a balance training program that put a balance pad and trampoline to use. Participants trained three times a week for thirty minutes in groups of six. Resting time was set for two minutes. EMG (median frequency and root mean square) was used to measure muscle activity at 3 weeks and 6 weeks, respectively. The tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius muscles were measured. Participants were measured with eyes open and closed. Results : The median frequency showed a significant difference according to the change in time in both muscles. Also, results showed a significant interaction between eyes open and closed in the gastrocnemius muscle. The root mean square only showed a significant difference according to the change in time in the gastrocnemius muscle. Conclusion : We suggest that the balance pad and trampoline training influence a decrease in the recruitment rate of slow twitch muscles through an improvement in balance ability; however, the training did not show a statistically significant difference with regards to eyes open and closed.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.37-43
• /
• 2018

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze muscle activation of the lower extremities as a function of changes of the center of pressure (CoP) of the foot during squats in order to provide quantitative information to trainers who would like to teach correct movements for developing muscles. Method: Ten men with over three years of weight training experience participated in this study (age: $26.1{\pm}0.8yrs$, height: $171.2{\pm}3.9cm$, body mass: $71.1{\pm}5.7kg$, 60%RM: $84{\pm}9kg$, career: $4.0{\pm}0.7yrs$). The participants were instructed to perform a squat in each of 3 conditions, with different CoP's (the front, middle, and rear of the foot). Results: The position of the CoP showed significant differences according to instructions in both the eccentric and concentric contraction phases (p < .05). The range of movement of the hip and ankle joints showed significant differences corresponding to changes of the CoP position (p < .05). The rectus femoris and gluteus maximus muscle showed significant differences for different CoP positions only in the concentric contraction phase, while the gastrocnemius and anterior tibialis were significantly different in both the concentric and eccentric contraction phase (p < .05). Conclusion: When the target muscle of squat training is the gastrocnemius, the CoP should be located in the front of the foot for effective muscle training. When the target muscles of squat training are the gluteus maximus and quadriceps femoris, the CoP should be located on the rear of the foot.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.45-50
• /
• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the spatiotemporal and kinematic gait parameters and muscle activity of the lower extremities between forward walking on sand (FWS) and backward walking on sand (BWS) in normal adults. Methods: This study was conducted on 13 healthy adults. Subjects performed FWS and BWS and the spatiotemporal and kinematic gait parameters of stride time, stride length, velocity, cadence, step length, stance, swing, double support, and hip range of motion (ROM), knee ROM were measured by a wearable inertial measurement unit system. In addition, the muscle activity of the rectus femoris (RF), biceps femoris (BF), tibialis anterior (TA), and gastrocnemius (GA) was measured. Results: The stride length, stride velocity, cadence, and step length in the BWS were significantly lower than FWS (p<0.05), and stride time was significantly greater (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the ratio of stance, swing, and double support between the two (p>0.05). The kinematic gait parameters, including hip and knee joint range of motion in BWS, were significantly lower than FWS (p<0.05). The muscle activity of the RF in BWS was significantly higher than FWS (p<0.05), but the muscle activity of the BF, TA, GA did not show any significant differences between the two movements (p>0.05). Conclusion: A strategy to increase stability by changing the gait parameters is used in BWS, and this study confirmed that BWS was a safe and effective movement to increase RF muscle activity without straining the joints. Therefore, BWS can be recommended for effective activation of the RF.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.127-137
• /
• 2022

PURPOSE: This study sought to evaluate muscle activity and foot pressure during gait, and balance in female college students with genu valgum. METHOD: Participants were assigned based on their Q-angle to genu valgum group greater than 20° (GVG, n = 12), unilateral genu valgum group greater than 20° (UVG, n = 11), and control group (CON, n = 13). All subjects were evaluated for balance (Trace length, C90 area, C90 angle, and the Romberg test), muscle activity (gluteus medius; GM, tensor fasciae latae; TFL, vastus medialis; VM, vastus lateralis; VL, biceps femoris; BF, gastrocnemius; GCM and tibialis anterior; TA) and foot pressure (F/F ratio, R/F ratio, Hallux, 2~5 toe, 1st MT, 2~4 MT, 5th MT, Midfoot, M/heel, and L/heel) during gait. RESULTS: Romberg test showed significantly increased loss of balance in the UVG group compared with the CON. In the forward position, the imbalance was significantly increased in the UVG and GVG groups compared to the CON. Muscle activity of VL, GCM, and TA significantly increased in the GVG group compared with the CON. Static foot pressure, 1st MT significantly increased in the GVG compared to the CON group. The 5th MT significantly decreased in the CON compared with the GVG group. The R/F ratio significantly decreased in the GVG compared to the CON group. In dynamic foot pressure, the 2~5 toe significantly increased in the GVG compared with the UVG group. The left 5th MT significantly decreased in the UVG compared with the CON and GVG groups. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that genu valgum has a negative effect on balance, muscle activity, and foot pressure during gait in female college students.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.31-41
• /
• 2024

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare lower extremity muscle activities and ankle joint angles between different foot strike patterns (forefoot strike, heelfoot strike) during stair ascent walking. Methods: The subjects of this study were 22 males who walked in each foot strike pattern on ascent stairs at a speed of 85 beats/min. During stair walking with the two types of foot strike patterns, the muscle activities of the rectus femoris, tibialis anterior, medial gastrocnemius, hamstring, and gluteus medius were measured. Additionally, ankle joint angles for inversion, eversion, dorsi flexion, and plantar flexion were recorded. Each participant underwent the experiment three times, with the foot strike pattern randomized. Results were averaged according to the foot strike pattern. Results: Significant differences in ankle angles were observed across all phases according to foot strike pattern. Muscle activities in the lower extremities showed significant differences in all phases except the swing 1 phase. Moreover, differences in foot movement trajectory were noted depending on the foot strike pattern. Conclusion: Walking on ascent stairs elicited differences in lower extremity muscle activities and ankle joint angles based on foot strike pattern. These findings can serve as foundational data for selecting a suitable foot strike pattern tailored to individual patient conditions when training patients in walking on ascent stairs.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.51-56
• /
• 2009

Purpose: This study examined the difference in the static balance ability according to the visual cues and postural tasks in normal subjects. Methods: Thirty participants (12 male, 18 female; mean age $24.63\pm1.43$ years) stood barefoot on a force platform in a one-legged stance, tandem Romberg stance and tandem Romberg with neck extension stance with a visual cue open and closes. The static balance was assessed by the center of pressure (CoP), surface electromyography root mean square (RMS) of the leg muscles according to the stance position. Results: In the CoP tests, the difference in the unit path length and circumference area was affected by the visual cue according to the stance posture (p<0.01). In the RMS tests, the difference in the tibialis anterior and medial gastrocnemius muscle was affected by visual cue in accordance with the stance posture (p<0.01). Conclusion: The visual cue and postural task affect the balance ability in normal subjects. Therefore, this study provides clinical evidence that the balance and postural control can be improved. Therapeutic intervention, such as an obstacle course, and a lower leg muscle performance program with a change in the base of support can affect the balance and postural control.