• PNF and Movement
• /
• 제22권2호
• /
• pp.191-199
• /
• 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effects of ankle stretching with intrinsic muscles on ankle range of motion, static and dynamic balance, and gait speed in chronic stroke patients. Methods: The participants were 20 chronic stroke patients, divided into two groups, 10 in the ankle stretching with intrinsic muscles group and 10 in the slant board exercise group. Both groups performed their respective interventions once daily, with three sets per session, five times a week for four weeks. Ankle range of motion, dynamic and static balance, and gait speed were measured before and after the intervention. An independent t-test was used to compare the results between the two groups before and after the intervention. Results: Both groups showed significant improvements in ankle range of motion, dynamic and static balance, and gait speed after the intervention (p < .05). The ankle stretching with intrinsic muscles group showed more significant improvements in ankle range of motion, dynamic and static balance, and gait speed after the intervention compared to the slant board group (p < .05). These results suggest that ankle stretching with intrinsic muscles may be more effective than the slant board for certain outcomes. Conclusion: Ankle stretching with intrinsic muscles is effective in improving ankle range of motion, dynamic and static balance, and walking speed.

• 대한통합의학회지
• /
• 제5권2호
• /
• pp.43-50
• /
• 2017

Purpose : There is no validated method for measuring the toe flexor strength that can isolate the intrinsic muscles of the foot from the extrinsic muscles. This study compared the hallux flexion force (HFF) and muscle activity in the foot and ankle according to ankle position [plantarflexion (PF), neutral, and dorsiflexion (DF)]. Method : The study enrolled 17 subjects. In the sitting position, the HFF and activities of the abductor hallucis (AbdH), tibialis anterior (TA), and gastrocnemius (GCM) muscles were measured using a digital dynamometer and a wireless electromyography system, respectively. Subjects were instructed to flex the great toe maximally in three different ankle positions. Three 5-second trials were performed to measure the HFF and muscle activities in each condition. Repeated-measures ANOVA was used to compare the variables and paired t-tests with the Bonferroni correction were used for post-hoc pair-wise comparisons. The significance level was set at .016. Result : The HFF in DF was significantly greater than in any other ankle position (p<.01). The TA activity was greatest in ankle DF and that of the GCM was greatest in PF (both p<.01). However, there was no significant difference in AbdH activity according to ankle position. Conclusion : These results suggest that selective strength measurement of the foot intrinsic muscles in HFF should be performed with the ankle in the neutral position.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
• /
• 제26권3호
• /
• pp.84-90
• /
• 2019

Background: Ankle evertor muscles are important for preventing lateral ankle sprain. Since, the evertor muscles cross the ankle and toe joints, the position at which the ankle evertor muscle strength is measured is important. However, no studies have previously investigated the effect of ankle and toe positions on the strength of the ankle evertor muscle. Objects: This study is aimed to determine the effect of various ankle and toe joint positions on the strength of the ankle evertor muscles in healthy subjects. Methods: Eighteen healthy subjects participated in this study. Isometric ankle evertor strength of the dominant leg was determined in each subject in different ankle and toe positions (dorsiflexion (DF) with toe extension (TE), DF with toe flexion (TF), plantar flexion (PF) with TE, and PF with TF). A 2 by 2 repeated analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the difference in the evertor strength between the ankle positions (PF and DF) and toe positions (TE and TF). Results: The results indicate that there was no significant ankle position by toe position interaction effect (p=.83). However, the ankle evertor strength was significantly increased in the ankle DF position than in the PF position (p<.01), and the ankle evertor strength during eversion with TE was significantly higher than eversion with TF (p<.01). Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that clinicians should consider the ankle and toe positions when measuring the muscle strength and during performance of selective muscle strengthening exercises of the ankle evertor muscles.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• 제33권2호
• /
• pp.91-96
• /
• 2021

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of cryotherapy on the ankle joint muscle strength and balance ability in stroke patients with ankle joint muscles. Methods: In this study, 20 patients with chronic stroke were recruited from a rehabilitation hospital. The patients were divided into two groups: a cryotherapy group (10 patients) and a control group (10 patients). The cryotherapy group performed sit-to-stand training for 15 minutes and then cryotherapy for the minutes. In the control group, after sit-to-stand training for 15 minutes, blocked cryotherapy was provided for three minutes. In both groups, the interventions were provided five times a week for three weeks. The strength of the ankle joint muscles was measured before and after the training using the Biodex systems 3. The static balance ability was measured using balancia software, and the dynamic balance ability was measured by performing the sit-to-stand test (FTSST) five times. Results: After the training periods, the cryotherapy group showed significant improvement in the ankle dorsiflexor strength, ankle plantarflexor strength, weight distribution of the affected side, and FTSST compared to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Based on these results, cryotherapy could be considered an effective method to improve the strength of ankle joint muscles. Cryotherapy improves muscle strength as it increases the motor neuron excitability. Therefore, cryotherapy may be considered to improve the strength of the ankle joint muscles of stroke patients.

• 한방재활의학과학회지
• /
• 제21권2호
• /
• pp.289-297
• /
• 2011

Objectives : This study was planned to show the influences of acupuncture treatment on peroneus muscles of acute inversion ankle sprain patients. Methods : This study was carried out on the 24 patients who had been treated for their acute inversion ankle sprain from July 1 to December 31, 2010 in the department of oriental rehibilitaion medicine, Dongsuwon oriental medicine hospital. And we divided those 24 patients into 2 groups; group A took near acupuncture point needling treatment on the peroneus muscles along with common treatment, group B took common treatment only. To evaluate the efficiency of each treatment, all patients were examined with visual analogue scale(VAS) and ankle-hindfoot scale(AHS) score before treatment and after the 3rd treatment. Results : On the AHS scores, there's no significant difference between the two groups after the treatment. And on the VAS scores, group A who took near acupuncture point needling treatment on the peroneus muscles along with common treatment showed higher change of VAS than group B who took common treatment only, but it did not show statistical significance in VAS score. Conclusions : In this study, there is no significant effect between common treatment only and near acupuncture point needling treatment on the peroneus muscles along with common treatment for acute ankle sprain.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
• /
• 제31권2호
• /
• pp.151-158
• /
• 2024

Background: In Taekwondo athletes, ankle sprain is the most common risk factor for injury. Repeated ankle injuries lead to weakness and imbalance of the ankle muscles, resulting in chronic ankle instability (CAI). Both the ankle and toe muscles contribute to the inversion and eversion of the foot at the subtalar joint. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the ankle and toe joint positions when measuring ankle invertor and evertor strength. Objects: This study aimed to compare the muscle strength and ratio differences of the ankle invertor and evertor muscles in both the toe and ankle positions between the CAI and uninjured sides in Taekwondo athletes. Methods: Fifteen Taekwondo athletes participated in this study. The isometric strengths of both the ankle invertor and evertor were determined in different ankle and toe positions (dorsiflexion with toe extension, dorsiflexion with toe flexion, plantarflexion with toe extension, and plantarflexion with toe flexion). Paired t-tests were used to determine the differences between the ankle invertor and evertor in strength and ratio according to toe and ankle positions between the ankle CAI side and the uninjured side. Results: The results demonstrated that ankle evertor strength significantly decreased in all ankle and toe positions on the CAI side (p < 0.05). In addition, significant differences were observed in the ratios of the ankle invertor and evertor strengths in the dorsiflexion with toe flexion, plantarflexion with toe extension, and plantarflexion with toe flexion positions (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that athletes, trainers, and clinicians should consider ankle and toe positions when measuring invertor and evertor strength and develop ankle rehabilitation protocols for Taekwondo athletes with CAI.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• 제18권1호
• /
• pp.65-75
• /
• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in muscle thickness and ground reaction force of the vastus medialis oblique and vastus lateral oblique muscles during squats at ankle angles of toe 0°, toe in 10°, and toe out 10°. Methods: In this study, 9 male and 17 female students in their 20s participated in a randomized controlled trial and were compared according to the ankle angles of toe 0°, toe in 10°, and toe out 10°. To determine the reliability and measurement of muscle thickness according to ankle angle using ultrasound equipment and muscle thickness, the participants' ankle angles-toe 0°, toe in 10°, and toe out 10°-were measured three times at the vastus medialis oblique and vastus lateralis oblique muscles during squats. At the same time, the maximum vertical ground reaction force was measured with a force plate. A total of three measurements were taken and averaged, and two minutes of squat movements were assessed between ankle angles to prevent target action. Results: The results of this study illustrated that the reliability of the vastus medialis oblique muscles and vastus lateralis oblique muscles in ankle angle was high. The difference in muscle thickness was significantly greater in comparing the toe out 10° angle with the toe 0° angle than between toe in 10° and toe out 10° in vastus medialis oblique and vastus lateralis oblique (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the ankle angle of toe 0° and toe in 10° (p > 0.05). The maximum vertical ground reaction force was significantly greater at toe out 10° than at the ankle angle of toe 0° and toe out 10° and between toe in 10° and toe out 10° (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the comparison between toe 0° and toe in 10° (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Squatting at an ankle angle of toe out 10° increases the dorsi flexion; thus, the stability of the ankle and the thickness of both oblique muscles increased to perform more effective squats. In addition, as the base of support widens, it is thought that the stability of the posture increases so that squat training can be performed safely.

• 대한물리의학회지
• /
• 제13권4호
• /
• pp.35-42
• /
• 2018

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Kinesio taping and massage application to the calf muscles on ankle stability. METHODS: The study subjects were 66 healthy adults (male: 32, female: 34) who had no instability in their ankles. Subjects were randomly assigned to a Kinesio taping group or a massage group. The research tool used the Y-balance test to measure instability of the ankle. The distance between the right and left foot was measured from the center in the anterior, posterior-medial, and posterior-lateral directions. Massage was applied to the calf muscles three times over two weeks and Kinesio tape was attached to the calf muscle and tibialis anterior for 10 hours twice during the experimental period. RESULTS: The results showed that application of Kinesio taping resulted in increases in the distance between the feet increased in some directions. After the massage, the distance extended from the anterior and posterior-lateral directions was prolonged, and the ankle stability on the right and left sides was partially improved by massage application. CONCLUSION: Kinesio taping and massage applied to the calf muscles are appropriate interventions for the improvement of ankle stability. Based on the application times of massage, Kinesio taping appears to work more effectively for ankle stability.

• 대한물리의학회지
• /
• 제9권4호
• /
• pp.347-354
• /
• 2014

PURPOSE: This study was to examine changes in muscle activity of lower extremity shoes sole form (high heels, shoes with curved out sole, house shoes). METHODS: The subjects of this study were 12 women in their twenties. They put three kinds of shoes (high heels, shoes with curved out sole, house shoes) and walked 5m. The muscles activities of lower extremity muscles (rectus femoris, vastus medialis, tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius medial part) were measured using a wireless electromyogram (EMG). Rectus femoris was attached to 1/2 position at the distance between ASIS and knee bone and vastus medials was attached to 2cm from upper inside of knee bone. Tibialis anterior was attached to 75% position above line connecting knee joint and ankle joint and gastrocnemius medial part was attached to 3 5% position above knee joint and ankle. RESULTS: It was found that there were significant differences in changes of muscles activities of lower extremity muscles (rectus femoris, vastus medialis, tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius medial part) on shoes sole forms (p<.05). All lower extremity muscles were showed high muscles activities, when high heels wear (p<.05). Wearing shoes with curved out sole was showed high muscle activity of tibialis anterior and lower muscle activity of gastrocnemius medial part compared with wearing house shoes (p<.05). CONCLUSION: Shoes sole form should be considered when patients with knee and ankle joint problems choose shoes because muscles were showed different activities according to shoes sole forms.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
• /
• 제33권4호
• /
• pp.163-168
• /
• 2012

Elderly women are reported to have greater risk of falls. The purpose of this paper was to investigate the possible gender differences in the reaction performance of ankle joint muscles, which have dominant role in the control of sagittal plane balance. Twenty-six elderly men and women with comparable mean age participated in this study. Reaction times to the audible beeps were measured in the tibialis anterior muscle and gastrocnemius muscle. Reaction time variables included premotor time, electromechanical delay and total reaction time. Gender difference in each reaction time was investigated by independent t-test. In both muscles, premotor time was longer in men but the electromechanical delay was longer in women (p < 0.05). Resulting total reaction time was longer in men in tibialis anterior muscle (p < 0.01) and it tended to be longer in men also in gastrocnemius muscle (p = 0.25). The results demonstrates that the overall reaction performances of elderly women is better than or comparable to those of elderly men in ankle joint muscles. This suggests that the reaction performance of ankle muscles is hardly the cause of the greater risk of falls in elderly women.