• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.66-74
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• 2024

This study analyzed the occurrence of abnormal muscle coactivations based on the assistance of upper limb weight during reaching task in stroke patients. Nine chronic stroke survivors with hemiplegia performed reaching tasks using a programmable haptic robot. Electromyography (EMG) coactivation levels in the upper limb muscles were analyzed using a linear model describing the activation levels of two muscles when the patient's upper limb weight was assisted at 0%, 25%, and 50%. As the upper limb weight assistance of the haptic robot decreased, the magnitude of the EMG signal in both the deltoid and biceps muscles increased simultaneously on both the paretic and non-paretic sides. However, no difference was found between the paretic and non-paretic sides when comparing the slope of the linear model describing the activation relationship between the deltoid and biceps. The aforementioned results suggest that in some stroke survivors, the deltoids, triceps, and biceps on the paretic side may not be abnormally coupled when supporting the upper limbs against gravity. Furthermore, these results suggest that the combination of haptic robots and EMG analysis might be utilized for evaluating abnormal coactivations in stroke patients.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.79-86
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate muscle activity according to knee flexion angle during single-limb-deadlift exercises. Methods: In total, 26 healthy volunteers participated. The single-limb-deadlift consisted of 0˚, 15˚, and 30˚ knee joint bending. The electromyography data were collected from the semitendinosus (SM), the biceps femoris (BF), the rectus femoris (RF), the vastus lateralis (VL), and the vastus medialis (VM). In addition, hamstrings and quadriceps (HQ) ratio was measured during the single-limb-deadlift using electromyography. Results: During the single-limb-deadlift, RF, VL, and VM were significantly higher at 30˚ bending angles compared to muscle activity of 0˚ and 15˚ knee-joint bending. The HQ ratio had significant differences in all three knee joint bending angles. In particular, the single-limb-deadlift carried out to a 30˚ knee-joint bend showed the closest value to 1. Conclusion: The most balanced coactivation ratios were observed during a single-limb-deadlift to a 30˚ knee-joint bend angle. A single-limb-deadlift at a knee-bend angle of less than 30˚ could be used as an exercise to prevent ACL injury. It could also be used for post-injury rehabilitation programs by increasing knee-joint stability.

• Transactions on Control, Automation and Systems Engineering
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 2002

We show that humans execute the postural control ingeniously by regulating the impedance properties of the musculo-skeletal system as the motor command against the alteration of the environment. Adjusting muscle activity can control the impedance properties of the musculo-skeletal system. To quantify the changes in human arm viscoelasticity on the vertical plane during interaction with the environment, we asked our subject to hold an object. By utilizing surface electromyographic(EMG) studies, we determined a relationship between the perturbation and a time-varying muscle co-activation. Our study showed when the subject lifts the object by himself the muscle stiffness increases while the torque remains the same just before the lift-off. These results suggest that the central nervous system(CNS) simultaneously controls not only the equilibrium point(EP) and the torque, but also the muscle stiffness as themotor command in posture control during the contact task.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.71-82
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• 2018

Stress involves changes in behavior, autonomic function and the secretion of hormones. Autonomic nervous system (ANS) contributes to physiological adaptive process in short durations. In particular, heart rate variability (HRV) analysis is commonly used as a quantitative marker depicting the ANS activity related to mental stress. The aim of this study is to investigate correlations between psychological responses to stress and HRV indices induced by the cognitive stressor. Thirty-three participants rated their mental and physical symptoms occurred during the past two weeks on Stress Response Inventory (SRI), which is composed of seven stress factors that may influence the status of mental stress levels. Then, they underwent the psychophysiological procedures, which are collected electrocardiogram (ECG) signals during a cognitive stress task. HRV indices, the standard deviation of R-R interval (SDNN), root mean square of successive R-R interval difference (RMSSD) and low frequency (LF)/high frequency (HF) ratio were extracted from ECG signals. Physiological responses were calculated stress responses by subtracting mean of the baseline from the mean of recovery. Stress factors such as tension, aggression, depression, fatigue, and frustration were positively correlated to HRV indices. In particular, aggression had significant positive correlations to SDNN, RMSSD and LF/HF ratio. Increased aggressive responses to stress correlated with the increases of all HRV indices. This means the increased autonomic coactivation. Additionally, tension, depression, fatigue, and frustration were positively associated with RMSSD reflecting increases in parasympathetic activation. The autonomic coactivation may represent an integrated response to specific cognitive reactions such as the orienting response.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.327-333
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of different types of attentional focus(internal focus vs. external focus) on the dart throwing mechanics. Seven expert dart throwing athletes were assigned to an internal focus group and other seven athletes were assigned to an external focus group. Each group was asked to throw dart either under verbal instruction or without instruction. During dart throwing, accuracy(radial error), consistency(bivariate variable error), dart velocity, acceleration, elbow joint ROM, elbow joint angular velocity, EMD(electromechanical delay), iEMG of biceps brachii and triceps brachii, and CI(coactivation index) were collected and analyzed. Nither instruction type nor instruction itself affected in accuracy and consistency. However, in dart velocity and acceleration, there was an interaction between instruction and attentional focus types. Velocity and acceleration increased in the internal condition, where as they decreased in the external condition. The ROM of elbow joint did not affected by instruction and attention type. However, similar to dart velocity and acceleration, angular velocity increased in internal focus group, while it decreased in external focus group. EMG showed no difference with any condition. In conclusion, internal focus is better than external focus for dart throwing.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.61-70
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• 2005

This study investigated the spinal loads(L5/S1 disc compression and shear forces) predicted from four biomechanical models: one EMG model and three optimization models. Three objective functions used in the optimization models were to miminize 1) the cubed muscle forces : MF3, 2) the cubed muscle stress : MS3, 3) maximum muscle intensity : MI. Twelve healthy male subjects participated in the isometric voluntary exertion tests to six directions : flexion/extension, left/right lateral bending, clockwise/ counterclockwise twist. EMG signals were measured from ten trunk muscles and spinal loads were assessed at 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90%MVE(maximum voluntary exertion) in each direction. Three optimization models predicted lower L5/S1 disc compression forces than the EMG model, on average, by 31%(MF3), 27%(MS3), 8%(MI). Especially, in twist and extension, the differences were relatively large. Anterior-posterior shear forces predicted from optimization models were lower, on average, by 27%(MF3), 21%(MS3), 9%(MI) than by the EMG model, especially in flexion(MF3 : 45%, MS3 : 40%, MI : 35%). Lateral shear forces were predicted far less than anterior-posterior shear forces(total average = 124 N), and the optimization models predicted larger values than the EMG model on average. These results indicated that the optimization models could underestimate compression forces during twisting and extension, and anterior-posterior shear forces during flexion. Thus, future research should address the antagonistic coactivation, one major reason of the difference between optimization models and the EMG model, in the optimization models.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.11-16
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• 2015

Objective: Prone bridge exercise is one of the core strengthening exercise for improving abdominal, lower and upper extremity muscles. In addition, coactivation of the trunk muscles and extremities is important for treatment of low back pain. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between the thickness, cross-sectional area of the target muscle, and endurance during prone bridge exercise. Our hypothesis was that an increase in muscle thickness is positively related to the hold time for the static prone bridge exercise. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Fourteen healthy university students (8 men and 6 women) voluntarily participated in the study at Sahmyook University. Hold time for the prone bridge with one and both legs was measured. The resting and contracted thickness of the lateral abdominal, rectus femoris, and triceps muscles was measured using rehabilitative ultrasound imaging. The correlation between muscle thickness and endurance for maintenance time was evaluated. Results: The prone bridge with both legs and the contraction thickness of the triceps muscle showed a positive correlation (r=0.692, p<0.05); the prone bridge with one leg and the contraction thickness of the internal oblique and transversus abdominis muscles showed a positive correlation (r=0.545, 0.574, p<0.05, 0.05, respectively). Conclusions: Endurance for the prone bridge exercise with a stable support surface is correlated with the contraction thickness of arm muscles; the prone bridge exercise with an unstable support surface is correlated with the contraction thickness of the deep abdominal muscles.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.39-46
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• 2000

본 연구는 강직성 편측 뇌성마비 환자의 보행 기시(gait initiation)의 특성을 파악하고, 동적 단하지 보조기(dynamic ankle foot orthosis : DAFO)가 이런 환자들의 보행 기시에 미치는 영향을 알아보기 위하여 실시하였다. 연구대상자는 19세 선천성 강직성 우측 뇌성마비를 가진 여자 대학생이었다. 연구대상자는 4개의 다른 보행 기시 조건에서 각 조건당 7회의 보행 기시를 하였는데, 각각의 보행 기시 조건은: 1) 보조기 없이 좌측 하지로 보행 기시; 2) 우측 하지 보조기 착용 상태에서 좌측하지로 보행 기시; 3) 보조기 없이 우측 하지로 보행 기시; 4) 우측 하지 보조기 착용 상태에서 우측 하지로 보행 기시였다. 두개의 힘 판(force plate) 위에서 본인이 선택한 가장 편안한 방법과 속도로 2 m를 걷도록 하였다. 연구대상자가 보행 기시를 하는 동안 양쪽 가자미근과 앞정강근에 부착된 4개의 표면 전극으로부터 근 전도 신호와 보행 기시를 하는 연구 대상의 양 발 아래 놓인 두개의 힘 판의 자료를 분석하여 체중(body weight : BW)으로 정량화 하였다. 실험결과는 각 조건마다 7회 실시된 측정값들의 평균을 이용하였다. 본 사전연구의 결과는 다음과 같다. 1. 보행 기시 전 양다리로 선 상태에서 환측보다 건측으로 많은 체중지지를 하였으나(환측 42.57%BW, 건측 58.03%BW) 보조기의 착용이 환측으로의 체중지지를 향상시켰다(환측 44.46%BW, 건측 55.54%BW). 2. 보행 기시 중 가자미근과 앞정강근의 동시수축(coactivation)이 계속되었는데 이러한 양상은 보조기의 착용 유무에 따라 크게 달라지지 않았다. 3. 힘 판에서 들어온 지면 반발력(ground reaction force)의 수직 분력(vertical element, Fz)과 전후 분력(anterior-posterior element, Fx)을 분석한 결과, 건측 다리로 보행 기시를 할 때 보조기 착용은 가속을 촉진시켜 역학적으로 유리하였다. 이상의 연구 결과는 보조기의 착용이 건측 다리로 보행 기시를 할 때 미치는 신경학적, 역학적 장점들에 대한 구체적 연구의 필요성 및 근거를 제시하고, 환자들의 보행훈련 접근에 보다 효율적인 보행방법을 소개하는데 이용될 수 있다.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.1532-1537
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different arthroplasty designs on knee kinematic and lower limb muscular activation for up-stair and down-stair movement. 3-D video analysis of whole body and joint kinematics and EMG analysis of quadriceps and hamstrings were conducted. One-way ANOVAs were used for statistical analyses (p=0.05). The single-radius group exhibited more arthroplasty limb quadriceps EMG and hamstring coactivation EMG than the multi-radius group. Single-radius demonstrated more abduction angular displacement and reached peak abduction earlier than the multi-radius arthroplasty limb. The single- radius the percent body fat showed similar values in the Elderly, Single and Multi-radius group among the periods, however Control group was Lowered among the periods. Single-radius group limb also increased the quadriceps muscle activation level to produce more knee extension moment to compensate for the short quadriceps moment arm. Resting metabolic rate was significantly increased in control group in the period of LI. Energy expenditure was extremely increased in all groups except control group among the periods. We can say this is the exercise effects.