• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.319-328
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to quantitatively assess treatment effect of physical therapy on experimentally-induced masseter muscle fatigue by two parameters of muscle stiffness and elasticity. Three physical therapeutic modalities inducing electroacupunture stimulation therapy(EAST), Microwave diathermy and low-level laser therapy(LLLT) were compared. 10 healthy volunteers with normal occlusion (mean age of $26.3{\pm}1.16$ years, M:F=1:1) were participated in this study. All subjects were asked to chew gum on the right side until they felt pain(more and VAS 5 (0 to 10)) and their masseter muscles were examined with a tactile sensor in order to evaluate changes of stiffness and elasticity according to gum chewing and three physical therapeutic modalities. Subjective discomfort or pain was self-estimated by VAS as well. Unilateral gum chewing increased stiffness and decreased elasticity only on the chewing side but VAS increased on the both sides(p<0.05). EAST or Microwave diathermy greatly decreased stiffness and VAS and increased elasticity(p<0.05) but LLLT did not exhibit significant difference. From the results of this study, it is concluded that both EAST and Microwave diathermy have favorable effect on stiffness and elasticity of muscles and pain relief while effect of LLLT is not reliable. In addition, experimental unilateral gum chewing compromises stiffness and elasticity of masseter muscles only the chewing side while subjective discomfort or pain can be felt on the both sides.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.82 no.6
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• pp.1556-1564
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• 2021

Purpose This study aimed to apply MR elastography (MRE) to achieve in vivo evaluation of the elastic properties of thigh muscles and validate the feasibility of quantifying the elasticity of normal thigh muscles using MRE. Materials and Methods This prospective study included 10 volunteer subjects [mean age, 32.5 years, (range, 23-45 years)] who reported normal activities of daily living and underwent both T2-weighted axial images and MRE of thigh muscles on the same day. A sequence with a motion-encoding gradient was used in the MRE to map the propagating shear waves in the muscle. Elastic properties were quantified as the shear modulus of the following four thigh muscles at rest; the vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, adductor magnus, and biceps femoris. Results The mean shear modulus was 0.98 ± 0.32 kPa and 1.00 ± 0.33 kPa for the vastus medialis, 1.10 ± 0.46 kPa and 1.07 ± 0.43 kPa for the vastus lateralis, 0.91 ± 0.41 kPa and 0.93 ± 0.47 kPa for the adductor magnus, and 0.99 ± 0.37 kPa and 0.94 ± 0.32 kPa for the biceps femoris, with reader 1 and 2, respectively. No significant difference was observed in the shear modulus based on sex (p < 0.05). Aging consistently showed a statistically significant negative correlation (p < 0.05) with the shear modulus of the thigh muscles, except for the vastus medialis (p = 0.194 for reader 1 and p = 0.355 for reader 2). Conclusion MRE is a quantitative technique used to measure the elastic properties of individual muscles with excellent inter-observer agreement. Age was consistently significantly negatively correlated with the shear stiffness of muscles, except for the vastus medialis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.81 no.1
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• pp.176-189
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• 2020

Purpose To evaluate the clinical efficacy of real-time sonoelastography (RTS) for the follow-up of congenital muscular torticollis, based on measurements of muscle elasticity. Materials and Methods Thirty-four infants (23 male, 11 female) with congenital sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle torticollis underwent ultrasonography and elastography between November 2012 and December 2014. We evaluated the thickness, morphology (mass-like, fusiform, or overall thickened shape), and echogenicity of the SCM muscle on grayscale images and color patterns (homogeneous blue, mixed green < 50% and ≥ 50%, and green to red) on elastography. Strain ratios were measured using Q-lab software. A clinician classified the degree of neck rotation and side flexion deficits using a 5-point grade system based on angles of neck rotation and side flexion. Correlations between the ultrasonography and clinical findings were evaluated by statistical analysis. Results Twenty-two infants had right and 12 had left SCM torticollis, respectively. Linear regression analysis showed that involved/contralateral SCM thickness differences, morphology, elasticity color scores, and strain ratios of the affected SCM muscles were significantly correlated with neck rotation and side flexion deficit scores (p < 0.05). The elasticity color score of the affected SCM muscle was the most significant factor. Conclusion RTS might provide a reliable means for evaluating and monitoring congenital muscular torticollis.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.603-610
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to determine how spandex pants affect impact force and muscle activities in the lower extremity. Seven pairs of surface electrodes were attached to the right-hand side of the body. Paired t-test was performed to test if significant difference exist between two conditions(p< .05). The average IEMG activities in the TA, BF, and GM during the landing phase reduced significantly with spandex pants compared to regular pants. All peak IEMG activities except the RF in wearing spandex pants group were significantly greater than the corresponding values in wearing regular pants one. The greater muscle activity recorded in wearing spandex pants can be attributed to the greater motor unit recruitment needed to decelerate and stabilized their bodies. Impact force and loading rate were not significantly decreased with wearing spandex pants. Since the spandex pants used in this study were not custom-fit based on girth of each participants thigh and shank, compression and elasticity for the pants could not be optimized.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.337-344
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• 2005

A tactile sensor employs a piezoelectric element to detect contact frequency shifts and thereby measure the stiffness or softness of material such as tissue, which allows the sensor to be used in many fields of research for urology, cardiology, gynecology, sports medicine and caner detection and especially for cosmetics and skin care. In this study, reliability of the tactile sensor system was investigated with its manual application to the muscles susceptible to temporomandibular disorders. Stiffness and elasticity of anterior temporalis, masseter and trapezius muscles were calibrated bilaterally from 5 healthy men with an average of 24.5$\pm$0.94 years. The tactile sensor used in this study had a computer-controlled and motor-driven sensor unit which automatically pressed down on the skin surface over the muscles being measured and retracted, thereby providing the hysteresis curve. The slope of the tangent of the hysteresis curve (${\Delta}f/{\Delta}x$) is defined as stiffness of the muscle being measured and the distance between the two parts of the curve as its elasticity. To determine inter-examiner reliability, all the measurements were performed by the two examiners A and B, respectively and the same examination were repeated with an interval of 2 days for intra-examiner reliability. The results from this study demonstrated high reliability in measuring stiffness and elasticity of anterior temporalis, masseter and upper trapezius muscles using a tactile sensor system. It is suggested that the tactile sensor system can be a highly reproducible and effective instrument for quantitative evaluation of the muscle in head and neck region.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.317-324
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• 2009

This study aimed to assess stiffness and elasticity of the masticatory muscle in the patients with the masticatory muscle pain using a tactile sensor and to investigate whether the masticatory muscle pain affects the facial expression muscles. From those who visited Department of Oral Medicine in Dankook University Dental Hospital, 27 patients presenting with unilateral muscle pain and tenderness in the masseter muscle (Ms) were selected (mean age: $36.4{\pm}13.8$ years). Exclusion criterion was those who also had temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders or any neurological pain. Muscle stiffness and elasticity for the muscles of mastication and facial expression was investigated with the tactile sensor (Venustron, Axiom Co., JAPAN) and the muscles measured were the Ms, anterior temporal muscle (Ta), frontalis (Fr), inferior orbicularis oculi (Ooci), zygomaticus major (Zm), superior and inferior orbicularis oris (Oors, Oori) and mentalis (Mn). t-tests was used to compare side difference in muscle stiffness and elasticity. Side differences were also compared between diagnostic groups (local muscle soreness (LMS) vs myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) and between acute (< 6M) and chronic ($\geq$ 6M) groups. This study showed that Ms and Zm at affected side exhibited significantly increased stiffness and decreased elasticity as compared to the unaffected side.(p<0.05) There was no significant difference between local muscle soreness and myofascial pain syndrome groups and between acute and chronic groups. The results of this study suggests that masticatory muscle pain in Ms can affect muscle stiffness and elasticity not only for Ms but also for Zm, the facial expression muscle.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.63-72
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze the effects of exercise types on lower extremity muscle activity in stroke patients. For the purpose, the subjects of this study were classified into three groups such as therapeutic exercise group(n=7), elastic band group(n=7), and stretch reflex group(n=7). The three exercise programs were 5 times a week for 8 weeks. The stretch reflex group revealed higher in iliopsoas and biceps femoris %MVIC than the therapeutic exercise group and elastic band group, whereas elastic band group revealed lower in tibialis anterior %MVIC than therapeutic exercise group in the primary single-limb support. The stretch reflex group revealed higher in iliopsoas %MVIC than the therapeutic exercise group and elastic band group, whereas stretch reflex group revealed lower in medial gastrocnemius %MVIC than therapeutic exercise group in the secondary double support phase.

• Journal of the KSME
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.41-45
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• 2016

로봇의 활용도가 높아짐에 따라, 로봇은 단순한 기계가 아니라, 인간처럼 판단하고 행동하도록 지능화되고 있으며, 소프트 지능재료를 활용하여 생체 근육을 모사한 다양한 소프트 로봇에 대한 연구들이 소개 되고 있다. 이 글에서는 소프트 지능재료 중에서, 특히 유전탄성체 기반의 소프트 로봇에 대한 현재 국내외 연구동향을 소개하고 향후 전망에 대해 기술하고자 한다.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.421-429
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• 2007

Some researchers suggested that tactile sensor system would be useful in evaluating masticatory muscles of TMD patients, but there were few studies on the effects of chewing with time. The aim of this study was to investigate the change of elasticity and stiffness for masseter and temporal muscles of normal subjects before, during and after gum chewing and to obtain the baseline data for further researches on the elasticity and stiffness for masticatory muscles of TMD patients. Stiffness and elasticity of their anterior temporalis and inferior masseter muscle were measured bilaterally by a tactile sensor system. Each subject was instructed to sit on a chair for evaluation of masticatory muscles. Before operating the sensor, the thickest skin area over anterior temporalis and inferior masseter muscles were selected as the points to be pressed by a tactile sensor, and marked with a pen. While the teeth of subjects were lightly contacted, the probe of the tactile sensor was placed perpendicularly over the marked point over the skin, followed by computer-controlled movement including gently pressing straight down on the muscle for a second and retracting. All subjects were instructed to chew gum (Excellent Breath, Taiyo Co., Japan) bilaterally with a velocity of 2 times per second for 40 minutes after the first measurement had been performed for the baseline data of all subjects. The measurements had been repeated during chewing with 10 minutes of interval and continued for 40 minutes with same interval after chewing. Resultantly, the decrease of elasticity and the increase of stiffness in masticatory muscles can be seen significantly within 10 minutes after chewing and those were maintained during chewing without significant change with chewing time. The elasticity of muscles was recovered within 10 minutes after stopping chewing, but the stiffness was recovered more lately than elasticity by about 10 minutes. Based on these results, it can be concluded that elasticity and stiffness of muscles would be good indicators to evaluate the masticatory muscles objectively, when more supported by further researches.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2013.05a
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• pp.1357-1358
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• 2013