• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.2317-2323
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• 2010

When the muscle is contracted by continuous and same, the force takes fatigue and stiffness. The aim of this study was to know how the fatigue and muscle stiffness change during an isometric contraction. Surface Electro myography(EMG) signal monitoring system and ultrasonic transducer set up the same muscle stem, subjects contract his right femoris muscle by submaximal isometric contraction(50% of MVC) until exhaustion. Before and after the test, muscle stiffness was measured and EMG was measured during the contraction. As time goes by, muscle fatigue was increased. and the stiffness was shown strongly after the contraction. These results show if the muscle becomes more and more fatigued, the circulation of muscle is delayed although the contraction doesn't happen. So muscle stiffness is increased.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.129-135
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of the head posture with the tone and stiffness of the cervical extensor muscles. Eighty adults in their twenties were chosen as subjects, and the tone and stiffness of the cervical extensor muscles were measured, with their usual head posture in the sagittal plane. For the measured head posture, the craniovertebral angle (CVA), craniorotation angle (CRA), and forward shoulder angle (FSA) were analyzed using Image J. It was observed that the tone and stiffness of the upper trapezius muscle increased significantly with a decrease in the CVA as well as with an increase in the CRA (p < 0.05). As a result of further classification into the normal and forward head postures based on the CVA of the subjects, the forward head posture was characterized by a significant increase in the tone and stiffness of the upper trapezius muscle (p<.05). The results of this study are expected to be used as basic data for the evaluation of the forward head posture and posture education in clinical practice.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.165-172
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to identify differences in the muscle tone and stiffness of neck muscles according to levels of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skill. The subjects were 30 female students in their 20s who were divided into a skilled group (n=15) and an unskilled group (n=15). According to the results, the skilled group showed statistically significant decreases in the stiffness of the lower cervical muscle and the muscle tone of the upper trapezius on the above hand side of hand grips after CPR (p<.05). The unskilled group exhibited a statistically significant difference in both the muscle tone and stiffness of the upper trapezius muscle on both sides after CPR (p<.05). However, no statistically significant differences were found between the two groups. In addition, the non-skilled group showed statistically significant lower values than the skilled group in the mean compression rate, total number of compressions, accuracy of chest compression, and accuracy of chest relaxation (p<.05). This study confirmed that CPR has a myophysiological effect on the neck muscles of those who perform CPR. However, it found that no differences result from individual CPR skill levels that are an important element for the accuracy of CPR.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.326-333
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• 2016

This case study identified the effects of joint mobilization on knee pain, isokinetic strength, muscle tone, and muscle stiffness in an elite volleyball player with a knee injury. The subject had experienced cartilage defects of the left knee joint and underwent surgery to correct the condition. The patient complained of continuous pain in the left knee joint in daily life in addition to pain during exercise. The study was conducted from August 5 to 12, 2015 and joint mobilization was applied to the left knee joint for 15 minutes once a day for 8 days. Knee pain was measured using a visual analogue scale, and the concentric peak torque of the quadriceps and hamstring muscles was measured using an isokinetic muscular strength measurement device. The muscle tone and stiffness of the rectus femoris muscle, vastus medialis, and vastus lateralis on the injured side were measured using a myotonometer. All the measurements were conducted before and after the intervention. Joint mobilization was effective in reducing knee pain on the injured side, increasing the concentric peak torque of the quadriceps and hamstring muscles on both sides, and increasing the muscle stiffness of the quadriceps muscle on the injured side. Concentric peak torque of the quadriceps muscle on the injured side increased a great deal as the number of joint mobilizations was increased, largely diminishing the difference in concentric peak torque between the normal side and injured side. On the other hand, joint mobilization was ineffective in improving the hamstring to quadriceps strength ratio on the injured side. While this study suggests that joint mobilization can be an effective intervention to improve the knee pain, isokinetic strength, and muscle stiffness of elite volleyball players, it should be performed alongside training for an appropriate strength ratio.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.262-270
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• 2011

This study examines the effects of spasticity, equilibrium and gait ability at lower extremity on lumbar stabilization exercise(LSE) with Swiss ball. This experiment was conducted to compare BBS, FRT, MAS and TUG by Swiss ball LSE with 34 stroke patients. equilibrium by BBS or FRT, spasticity by MAS and gait ability by TUG were measured after a 8-week traditional exercise physical therapy(17 subject of stroke patient) and a Swiss ball LSE(17 subject of stroke patient). These result lead us to the conclusion that BBS & FRT were statistically increased and MAS and TUG were decreased on Swiss ball LSE group. there were statistically differential effect between each group on FRT and MAS. These results suggest that Swiss ball LSE has the capability to improve spasticity, equilibrium and gait ability at lower extremity. Consequently, Swiss ball LSE would be lead to restoration of muscle spasticity, equilibrium and gait ability on stroke patients.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.263-268
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to provide basic data on the thera-tainment intervention method and to relieve dysmenorrhea by identifying the effects of silver spike point therapy on menstrual pain, muscle tone, and muscle stiffness among 30 women in their 20s. The subjects had a regular menstrual cycle, had a visual analog scale score of more than 4 for dysmenorrhea pain, and did not have any gynecological disease. SSP therapy was applied for 20 minutes on San-Yin-Jiao on the first day of their menstrual cycles. Muscle tone and stiffness were measured with Myoton before treatment, immediately after treatment, and 3 hours after treatment. SPSS version 19 was used to analyze the collected data. Using Friedman test, muscle tone and stiffness were measured before treatment, immediately after treatment, and 3 hours after treatment. The results indicate that after treatment dysmenorrhea pain steadily decreased and muscle tension and stiffness decreased significantly. This shows that using SSP therapy is effective on reducing primary dysmenorrhea and improving women's health care. This shows that using SSP therapy is effective at reducing primary dysmenorrhea and improving women's health care.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.783-790
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of passive upper arm exercise on range of motion, muscle strength, and muscle spasticity in hemiplegic patients with cerebral vascular disease. Methods: A quasi-experimental design with nonequivalent control group was utilized. According to inclusion criteria, 25 patients were assigned to the control group with routine care, followed by 25 to the intervention group with passive exercise for 30 minutes per session, twice a day for 2 weeks. Eighteen patients in the intervention group and 17 in the control group completed the posttest measurement, including range of motion for upper arm joints, manual muscle test, and Modified Ashworth Scale for muscle spasticity. Results: The intervention group had a significantly improved range of motion in the shoulder and wrist joints. No interaction effect was found for the elbow joint. No significant differences were found in muscle strength or muscle spasticity between the groups. Conclusion: Results of the study indicate that passive exercise safely applied for two weeks improves range of motion in joints of the upper arm in these patients. Further study with long-term follow-up is needed to verify the role of passive exercise in preventing muscle spasticity in this population.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.431-439
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• 2019

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of motion taping on muscle stiffness, muscle tone, and pain in middle-aged women with shoulder impingement syndrome. Methods: The participants comprised 30 middle-aged women with shoulder impingement syndrome. This study measured muscle stiffness, muscle tone, and pain. In the experimental group, the tape was attached after physical therapy; the control group only received physical therapy. In the intervention period, the treatment program was conducted three times a week for a total of four weeks, and the values before and after the intervention were compared and analyzed. For statistical processing, a correspondence test was performed before and after the intervention at a significance level of 0.05, and the comparison between the groups, before and after the intervention, was made using an independent test. Results: In the experimental group, there was a difference in muscle stiffness, muscle tone, and intensity of pain. In addition, there was a significant difference between the control group's emotional domain regarding muscular stiffness and pain and the experimental group. However, there was no significant difference in muscle tone and grade of pain, and intensity of pain for the control group. Conclusion: This study showed that, when physical therapy and motion taping were administered to middle-aged women with shoulder impingement syndrome, it had a more positive affect on the sensory and emotional parts of the muscle tone and pain compared to physical therapy alone.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.57-68
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• 2019

Purpose: This study is an investigation of the effects of long-term smart phone usage and of stretching on muscle stiffness, concentration, and visual acuity. Methods: Forty healthy young adults voluntarily participated in the study and were measured for muscle stiffness, concentration, and visual acuity before smartphone usage and after 30 minutes, 60 minutes, and 90 minutes of smartphone usage. The participants were randomly allocated to the intervention group (n=20) and the control group (n=20). Five minutes after the stretching exercise and eye exercise intervention, the participants were remeasured. Results: After long-term smartphone usage, increases in muscle stiffness and concentration were statistically significant (p<0.05), whereas decreases in visual acuity were statistically significant (p<0.05). After the stretching exercise and eye exercise intervention, muscle stiffness significantly decreased (p<0.05) and visual acuity significantly increased (p<0.05). Concentration, according to the stretching exercise and eye exercise intervention, showed no significant pre- or post-test difference. Conclusion: The results from this study indicate that long-term smartphone usage effectively improved concentration but increased muscle stiffness and decreased visual acuity. Appropriate stretching and eye movement during long-term smartphones usage should mitigate the effects on muscle stiffness and visual acuity. Furthermore, smartphones should be considered an effective tool for concentration training when coupled with the development of appropriate applications.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.181-189
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the effect of sling-applied plank exercise on the frequency, stiffness, and decrement of the rectus abdominis and longissimus muscles of the trunk according to the stability of the base of support. Methods: Thirty-three young adults volunteered to participate and were randomly assigned to one of three groups (SS, stable support; LES, lower extremity support; and ULES, upper and lower extremity support) according to the stability of the base of support. The muscular properties of the rectus abdominis and longissimus muscles during sling-assisted plank exercise according to the stability of the base of support. were measured by using Myoton PRO (Myoton AS, Tallinn, Estonia). Statistical analysis was performed MANOVA to determine the effect of sling-assisted plank exercise on the muscular properties of the rectus abdominis and longissimus muscles according to the stability of the base of support. Post hoc analysis was conducted using Bonferroni. The level of statistical significance was set at α = 0.05. Results: When comparing the muscular properties, the muscle frequency and stiffness of the left rectus abdominis of ULES were significantly decreased compared to that of SS (p < 0.05). In the measurement time, the muscle frequency and the muscle stiffness of the right rectus abdominis increased significantly after the intervention (p < 0.05). Conclusion: It was concluded that the more unstable the base of support (ULES), the higher the exercise strength, and the muscle frequency and stiffness decreased on the rectus abdominis at rest.