• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.25-33
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• 2024

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the lower extremity muscle activity and knee joint load according to movement speed conditions during the barbell back squat. Method: Nine males with resistance training experience participated in this study. Participants performed the barbell back squat in three conditions (Standard, Fast, and Slow) differing movement speed. During the barbell back squat, muscle activity of the rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL), vastus medialis (VM), biceps femoris long head (BFL), semitendinosus (ST), gluteus maximus (GM), gastrocnemius (GCN), and tibialis anterior (TA) was collected using an 8 channel wireless EMG system. The peak flexion angle of the lower extremity joints and the peak resultant joint force in each direction of the knee joint were calculated using eight motion capture cameras and ground reaction force plates. This study was to used the Friedman test and the Wilcoxon signed rank test, to compare lower extremity muscle activity and peak resultant joint force at knee joint according to movement speed conditions during the barbell back squat, and the statistical significance level was set at .01. Results: In the downward phase of the barbell back squat, the RF and TA showed the higher muscle activity in the fast condition, and in the upward phase, RF, VL, VM, BFL, ST, GM, and TA showed the higher muscle activity in the fast condition. As a results, analyzing of the load on the knee joint, in the downward phase, and in the upward phase, the higher peak compressive force of the knee joint was showed in the fast condition. Conclusion: The barbell back squat with fast movement speed was more effective due to increased muscle activity of lower extremity, but one must be careful of knee joint injuries because the load on the knee joint may increase during the barbell back squat with fast movement speed.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2024

Objective: The purpose of this study is to apply 8-week velocity-based training to domestic professional athletes and the kinematic and kinetic analysis of the 1-RM improvement of back squat and power clean, which can represent strength-power ability, to verify the effectiveness of velocity-based training in Korea and to establish a basic basis. Method: The subjects who participated in this study were 10 professional athletes from K University (age: 21.40 ± 0.97 yrs., height: 179.90 ± 3.54 cm., body mass: 71.298 ± 2.98 kg). All subjects performed back squat and power clean 1-RM before and after 8-weeks of velocity-based training. A 3-dimensional motion analysis with 8 infrared cameras and 4 channels of EMG was performed in this study. A paired t-test was used for statistical verification. The significant level was set at α=.05. Results: Both Back squat and Power Clean 1-RM showed statistically significant increases (p<.05). In the case of back squat, there was no statistically significant difference in both kinematic and kinetic variables (p>.05). In the case of Power Clean, only the quadriceps of Phase 1 showed a statistically significant decrease (p<.05). Conclusion: Domestic professional athletes can improve their strength-power ability through velocity-based training, and such training for at least 8-weeks is considered a way to improve their performance.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.139-151
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• 2021

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of wall-squat with short-foot exercise on pain, dysfunction, and pelvic alignment in chronic low back pain patients. METHODS: Thirty outpatients diagnosed with chronic low back pain and pronated foot were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided randomly into a wall-squat with short-foot exercise group (WS; n = 15) and a normal wall-squat exercise group (NW; n = 15). These groups performed their respective exercises 15 times, for three sets, three times a week over six weeks. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to measure the subjects' pain, and the Roland-Morris disability questionnaire (RMDQ) was used to measure the subjects' dysfunction. A navicular drop test (NDT) was used to measure the subjects' arch height. To assess the patients' pelvic alignment, their lordosis, sacral tilt, lumbar width, sacral width, ilium length, and ilium width were measured by X-ray imaging. RESULTS: Both the WS and NW groups exhibited significant decreases in their VAS and RMDQ scores after exercise (p < .05). The WS group exhibited significant increases in their arch height (p < .05). Significant differences in the VAS, sacral tilt, sacral width, and ilium length were observed between the WS and NW groups (p < .05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that wall-squat exercise is effective in decreasing the level of pain and dysfunction in chronic low back pain patients. In addition, the wall-squat with short-foot exercise is considered more effective in improving the pelvic alignment than without short-foot exercise. This can be an effective method for the non-pharmacological and non-surgical treatment of chronic low back pain

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.216-221
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• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the effect of visual feedback squat on the core muscle thickness of young adults experiencing back pain. Methods: Thirty adult men and women who experienced back pain were assigned randomly to 15 members of the visual feedback squat group (VSG) and 15 of the normal squat group (NSG) to train three times a week for a total of eight weeks. The core muscle thickness was compared prior to the test for four weeks and eight weeks after the test by dividing it into warm-up exercise, main exercise, and 10 minutes finishing exercise. Before, and four weeks and eight weeks later, the thickness of the core muscle was compared using an ultrasonic imaging system. Repeated measured ANOVA was performed to compare the groups, and a Bonferroni test was performed as a post-hoc test to assess the significance of the timing of the measurements in each group according to the periods. An independent t-test was conducted to test the significance between the groups according to the measurement points. Results: A significant change in the main effects of time and interactions of the time difference in muscle thickness of transvers abdominis were observed between the visual feedback squat and control groups according to the measurement point (p<0.05). No significant difference in the muscle thickness of both muscles was observed between the groups with the exception of the right abdominis (p>0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that visual feedback squat exercise is expected to have positive effects on the development of transverse abdominis in core muscles.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.134-140
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• 2022

Objective: This study aims to verify effect of 1-RM direct measurement method of back squat on beginners. Method: Total of 8 healthy adults were recruited for this study (age: 29 ± 3.81 yrs., height: 174 ± 3.83 cm., body mass: 74 ± 11.63 kg., 1RM: 96 ± 19.78 kg). All participants performed the back squat with 80%, 90% and 100% of the pre-measured 1RM. A three-dimensional motion analysis was performed with 8 infrared cameras and 3 channels of EMG were used for this study. One-way ANOVA with repeated measure was used for the statistical analysis with the significant level set to α=.05. Results: The ankle joint ROM in the transverse plane was significantly increased as the weight increased during the concentric contraction phase 2 (p < .05). In addition, the erector spinae and the gluteus maximus, which are synergist for the motion, showed a significant difference according to the increased weight (p < .05). Conclusion: Our results revealed that beginners increase potential dynamic knee valgus as weight increased. Therefore, it is thought that field coaches should pay attention to this to minimize and prevent injuries when measuring 1-RM for beginners.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.463-471
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of muscle imbalance on motion of back squat. The isokinetic muscle strength of the 8 subjects was recorded for the knee flexion/extension by the cybex 770 dynamometer. Each subject performed 3 back squats with the long barbell with an intensity of 25% body weight(BW), 50%BW, 100%BW, 125%BW. During the back squat through the recorded kinematic data the subjects' maximum flexion and extension knee angle, center of mass displacement and V-COP were calculated for evaluation of the stability of the movement. For the statistical analysis independent t-test was used. Knee flexion angle and COM displacement are dominated by the reciprocal muscle ratio. V-COP factor was dominated by bilateral extension deficit. Based on the results we can know that as the intensity of the squat increased to a level control was difficult because the muscles' imbalance influenced the movement.

• Proceedings of the ESK Conference
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• 1997.04a
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• pp.90-94
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• 1997

Many workers like welders are working in squat sitting postures with te object on the ground for an entire work shift. It is suspected that such prolonged squat sitting without any supporting stool would gradually cause musculoskeletal injuries to workers. This study is to quantitatively evaluate the physical stress caused by the prolonged squat sitting and to recommend a safe work/rest schedule for the task with squat sitting posture based on the lab experiment. In this study, 8 healthy student subjects participated in the experiment. They maintained a squat sitting posture for 16 minutes with 4 different stool height conditions: no stool, 10cm hight, 15cm height, 20cm height. Every 2 minutes, the discomfort was subjectively assessed using the magnitude estimation method for the whole body, lower back, upper leg and lower leg. Based on discomfort rating, we found that 10cm height stool relieved the workload most. Discomfort rating results also indicated that 20cm height stool showed the heghest workload, and that there was no difference in workload between 15cm height and no stool. We recommend to provide the workers with 10cm height stool for prolonged squat sitting tasks.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.891-897
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• 2013

This study is purposed to propose indices in order to achieve goals such as preventing one-sided movement of balance, preventing injuries to joints of legs, improving muscular strength of legs, and maximizing sporting achievement. In terms of methodology, this study has compared foot pressure distribution during squat exercise. This study targets 10 male students in their 20s of Department of Physical Education and 10 male students in their 20s of other departments of P University located in B City. Skilled members have been selected out of those who have had regular weight training experiences for last 3 years. As a result of analysis on impact of squat exercise on foot pressure, conclusions have been obtained as shown below. As a result of analysis on foot pressure distribution of back feet of skilled members and unskilled members during squat exercise, it was found out that foot pressure of left foot of skilled members was 0.13kgf/s, and that of unskilled members was 0.28kgf/s, showing significant difference (p<.01). As a result of analysis on foot pressure ratio of back feet of skilled members and unskilled members during squat exercise, it was found out that foot pressure ratio of left foot of skilled members was 50.03%, and that of unskilled members was 67.18%, showing significant difference(p<.01).

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.2253-2260
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• 2020

Background: Patients with low back pain (LBP) experience misalignments in the center of pressure (COP) and muscle imbalances due to frequent onesided posture adjustments to avoid pain. Objectives: To identify the effects of Squat Exercises with Vertical Whole-Body Vibration on the Center of Pressure and Trunk Muscle Activity. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Thirty LBP patients with an imbalance in the COP were sampled and randomly assigned to an experimental group of 15 patients who under went an intervention involving squat exercises with vertical WBV and a control group of 15 patients who were treated via a walking intervention. As pretests before the interventions, the subjects' COP was identified by measuring their stability index (ST), and erector spinae, rectus abdominis, transverse abdominis, gluteus medius muscle activity was analyzed by determining the % reference voluntary contraction (%RVC) value using surface electromyography while sit to stand. After four weeks, a post test was conducted to remeasure the same variables using the same methods. Results: Statistically significant differences were found in the ST (P<.01) and trunk muscle (P<.05, P<.001) in the experimental group before and after the intervention. In terms of the differences between the left- and right-side (RL) muscle activity, only the transverse abdominis (TrA) and gluteus medius (GM) exhibited statistically significant increase (P<.05). A comparison of the groups showed statistically significant differences in the TrA with respect to muscle activity (P<.05) and in the RLTrA and RLGM in terms ofthe difference between left- and right-side muscle activity (P<.01). Conclusion: Squat exercises with vertical WBV produced effective changes in the COP of patients with LBP by reducing muscle imbalances through the delivery of a uniform force. In particular, strengthening the TrA and reducing an imbalance in the GM were determined to be important factors in improving the COP.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.107-118
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• 2008

In this study, lower extremity joint kinematics and kinetics and lumbar lordosis were investigated for two different symmetrical lifting techniques(squat and stoop) using the three-dimensional motion analysis. Twenty-six male volunteers lifted boxes weighing 5, 10 and 15kg by both squat and stoop lifting techniques. There were not significant differences in maximum lumbar joint moments between the two techniques. The hip and ankle contributed the most part of the support moments during squat lifting, and the knee flexion moment played an important role in stoop lifting. The hip, ankle and lumbar joints generated power and only the khee joint absorbed power in the squat lifting. The knee and ankle joints absorbed power, the hip and lumbar joints generated power in the stoop lifting. The bi-articular antagonist muscles' co-contraction around the knee joint during the squat lifting and the eccentric co-contraction of the gastrocnemius and semitendinosus were found to be important for straightening up during the stoop lifting. At the time of lordotic curvature appearance in the squat lifting, there were significant correlations in all three lower extremity joint moments with the lumbar joint. Differently, only the hip moment had significant correlation with the lumbar joint in the stoop lifting. In conclusion, the knee extension which is prominent kinematics during the squat tilling was produced by the contributions of the kinetic factors from the hip and ankle joints(extensor moment and power generation) and the lumbar extension which is prominent kinematics during the stoop lifting could be produced by the contributions of the knee joint kinetic factors(flexor moment, power absorption, bi-articular muscle function).