• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.132-137
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• 2021

Background: Flat feet can be identified by assessing the collapse of the medial longitudinal arch (MLA) and these conditions can trigger epidemiological changes in the feet. Many of previous studies compared the muscle activity of lower body in terms of intervention and dynamics to treat the structural defect of flat feet. However, few studies have investigated or analyzed the muscle activity of gastrocnemius muscle in the subjects with flat feet. Objects: This study investigated the differences in changes of medial and lateral plantar flexors in subjects with flat feet during bipedal heel-rise (BHR) task and analyzed the differences in muscle activity between two groups by measuring the electromyography (EMG) of abductor hallucis (AH), tibialis anterior (TA), medial gastrocnemius (MG), lateral gastrocnemius (LG). Methods: A total of Twenty one adult females participated in this experiment. Subjects were assigned to groups according to the navicular drop test. The task was applied to the leg, where the heel lifting action prevailed. The muscle activity of the medial and lateral feet plantar flexors was evaluated, and the % maximum voluntary isometric contractions (%MVIC) of these were compared. Results: For the difference between groups the muscle activity (%MVIC) of LG muscle was statistically significantly low in flat feet group compared to healthy feet group (flat feet: 64.57, healthy feet: 90.17; p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study will contribute to identifying the muscle activities of medial and lateral feet plantar flexors among subjects with flat feet, which can cause abnormal epidemiological changes in the feet.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.207-214
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• 2019

Purpose: Although multi-directional reaching exercises are commonly used clinically, the effects of specific movement directions on the muscle systems of the lower extremities have not been explored. We therefore investigated lower extremity muscle activity during reaching exercises with different sagittal and horizontal plane movements. Methods: The surface electromyography responses of the bilateral rectus femoris, tibialis anterior, peroneus longus, and gastrocnemius muscles were measured during reaching exercises in three directions in the horizontal plane (neutral, $45^{\circ}$ horizontal shoulder adduction, and $45^{\circ}$ abduction) and three directions in the sagittal plane (neutral, $120^{\circ}$ flexion, and $60^{\circ}$ flexion). A total of 20 healthy, physically active participants completed six sets of reaching exercises. Two-way repeated ANOVA was performed: body side (ipsilateral and contralateral) was set as the intra-subject factor and direction of reach as the inter-subject factor. Results: Reaching at $45^{\circ}$ horizontal shoulder adduction significantly increased the activity of the contralateral rectus femoris and gastrocnemius muscles, while $45^{\circ}$ horizontal shoulder abduction activated the ipsilateral rectus femoris and gastrocnemius muscles. The rectus femoris activity was significantly higher with reaching at a $120^{\circ}$ shoulder flexion compared to the other conditions. The gastrocnemius activity decreased significantly as the shoulder elevation angle increased from $60^{\circ}$ to $120^{\circ}$. Conclusion: Our results suggest that multi-directional reaching stimulates the lower extremity muscles depending on the movement direction. The muscles acting on two different joints responded to the changes in reaching direction, whereas the muscles acting on one joint were not activated with changes in reaching direction.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.167-174
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• 2021

Objective: Single leg bridge exercise (SLBE) improves trunk muscle activation and provides muscle stability by aligning joints related to posture. This preliminary study aimed to investigate the effects of SLBE on abdominal muscle activation in subacute stroke patients. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Fifteen subacute stroke patients (9 males, 6 females) voluntarily participated in this study. SLBE was performed on the affected side. Each individual patient performed an SLBE ten times in three sets and was asked to hold their position for 5 s. Muscles activity was recorded using a surface electromyography (EMG) system before and after the SLBE. A surface EMG system was used to analyze the muscle activity during general bridge exercise, including the rectus abdominis (RA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO) abdominal muscles. Results: Muscle activity of both EO and IO on the affected side significantly increased (p<0.05), whereas the muscle activity of the RA and the three muscles on the unaffected side did not show a significant difference. In addition, improvement in muscle asymmetry of the EO and IO showed a significant change after SLBE (p<0.05). Conclusions: SLBE is effective in activating the abdominal muscles of stroke patients on the affected side and is a helpful exercise intervention that activates the muscles to transform asymmetric abdominal muscles into symmetric patterns.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.21-29
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• 2011

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of the lower extremity muscle activity on bridging exercise according to the knee joint angle. Methods : Twenty-five healthy adults volunteered to participate in this study. Subjects were required to complete following four bridging exercises; knee joint flexion $120^{\circ}$, $90^{\circ}$, $60^{\circ}$, $45^{\circ}$. Surface electromyography from selected lower extremity muscles was normalized to maximum voluntary isometric contraction. Muscle activity was measured by QEMG-4 system (LXM 3204, Laxtha Korea). A repeated measures of one-way ANOVA was used to determine the influence of bridging exercise on muscle activity for each muscle and descriptive statistics was used to determine muscle ratio. Results : The biceps femoris of all bridging exercises showed significantly(p<.05). The vastus medialis and lateralis of all bridging exercises showed significant excepted $120^{\circ}$(p<.05). The rectus femoris of all bridging exercises showed no significant. Median of vastus medialis/rectus femoris ratio of $120^{\circ}$ was 2.03, $90^{\circ}$ was 2.16, $60^{\circ}$ was 2.67, $45^{\circ}$ was 4.10. Median of vastus lateralis/rectus femoris ratio of $120^{\circ}$ was 1.70, $90^{\circ}$ was 1.70, $60^{\circ}$ was 2.08, $45^{\circ}$ was 2.58. Median of vastus medialis/vastus lateralis ratio of $120^{\circ}$ was 1.26, $90^{\circ}$ was 1.50, $60^{\circ}$ was 1.52, $45^{\circ}$ was 1.47. Conclusion : Angular motion decreasing with knee joint flexion made increase biceps femoris and vastus medialis activation. This result will be use knee joint stabilizing exercises during bridging or unstable surface training and biceps femoris strength training.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.1129-1130
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• 2012

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.156-162
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate muscle activation related to postural stability depending on different head positions with whole body vibration (WBV) in standing. Methods: Eighteen healthy subjects voluntarily participated in this single-group, repeated-measures study in which the surface electromyography (EMG) data from upper trapezius, rectus abdominis, external oblique abdominis, erector spinae, gluteus maximus, rectus femoris, semitendinosus, medial gastrocnemius were collected over 3 different frequencies (0-10-20Hz) and 4 different head positions (neutral, flexion, extension, chin tuck) for each subject on WBV while standing. Results: The results of this study demonstrated that the EMG activity of all recorded muscles shows significant difference between three different frequencies and four head positions of WBV while standing (p<0.05). In the multiple comparison, significant differences could be observed for most of different frequency conditions except 0-10Hz of RA, 10-20Hz of ST. In contrast, no significant difference showed the comparison of the EMG activity depending on different head positions (p<0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that different head positions on WBV do not activate muscles related to postural stability. However, higher frequency on WBV is highly effective to activate whole body muscles included postural muscles regardless of different head positions.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.31-42
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• 2012

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine the psychological fatigue and analyze muscle activity of production workers who are performing processes jobs while standing for prolonged time periods. Methods: The psychological fatigue experienced by the workers was obtained through questionnaire surveys. Meanwhile, muscle activity has been analyzed using surface electromyography (sEMG) measurement. Lower extremities muscles include: erector spinae, tibialis anterior, and gastrocnemius were concurrently measured for more than five hours of standing. Twenty male production workers in a metal stamping company participated as subjects in this study. The subjects were required to undergo questionnaire surveys and sEMG measurement. Results: Results of the questionnaire surveys found that all subjects experienced psychological fatigue due to prolonged standing jobs. Similarly, muscle fatigue has been identified through sEMG measurement. Based on the non-parametric statistical test using the Spearman's rank order correlation, the left erector spinae obtained a moderate positive correlation and statistically significant ($r_s$ = 0.552, p < 0.05) between the results of questionnaire surveys and sEMG measurement. Conclusion: Based on this study, the authors concluded that prolonged standing was contributed to psychological fatigue and to muscle fatigue among the production workers.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.197-205
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to analyze the muscle activations and Ground Reaction Force(GRF) in university judo players, and provide the guide of training in Judo. Using surface electrode electromyography(EMG), we evaluated muscle activity in 5 university judo players during the Judo Uke Movements. Surface electrodes were used to record the level of muscle activity in the Tibialis Anterior, Rectus Femoris, Elector Spinae, Gluteus Maximus, Gastrocnemius muscles during the Uke. These signals were compared with %RVC(Reference voluntary contraction) which was normalized by IEMG(Integrated EMG). The Uke was divided into four phases : Kuzushi-1, Kuzushi-2, Tsukuri, Kake. The results can be summarized as follows: 1. The effective Uke Movements needs to short time in the Kake Phase 2. The Analysis of Electromyography of Uke Movements in Supporting Leg; TA(Tibialis anterior) had Higher %RVC in the Kuzushi Phase, RF(Rectus Femoris) had Higher %RVC in the Tsukuri Phase, GM(Gluteus Maximus) had Higher %RVC in the Kake Phase 3. The ground reaction force for Z(vertical) direction was showed increase tendency in Kuzushi phase, Tsukuri phase and decrease tendency in Kake phase.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.167-178
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to describe and compare the selected electromyographical muscle activities of trunk and hip during Professional and Amateur golfer's Iron swing. Using surface electromyography, we evaluated muscle activities in 6 male professional golfers and 6 male amateur golfers during the golf iron swing. Surface electrodes were used to record the level of muscle activity in the right abdominal oblique, left abdominal oblique, right erector spinae, left erector spinae, right rectus abdominis, left rectus abdominis, right gluteus maximus, left gluteus maximus muscles during the golfer's swing. These signals were compared with IEMG(Integrated EMG) which was normalized by %RVC(Reference voluntary contraction). The golf swing was divided into three phases: take away, forward swing-acceleration, follow-through. We observed patterns of trunk muscle activity throughout three phases of the golf swing. The results can be summarized as follows: LES(Left Erector spinae) had statistically significant difference in take away and forward swing-acceleration phases. It was showed no significant difference in follow-through phase.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2016

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of exercise on the neck muscles activities between scapular stability and McKenzie stretch exercise in the forward head posture subjects. Method : After measuring cervical alignment using the Global Posture System, 20 volunteers with forward head posture posture were selected and divided into two groups. The experimental group A(n=15) and Experimental group B(n=15) participated in respectively and McKenzie neck stretching exercise, three times per week for 4 weeks. The scapular stabilization exercise program was comprised middle and lower trapezius strength exercises and the stretching exercise program was comprised levator scapulae and upper trapezius stretching exercise. The activities of the muscles of the posterior neck was then measured using electromyography. Result : After the intervention, there was significant difference of a electromyography activity changes between the pre-test and post-test in the experimental group. Conclusion : This study showed that both scapular stabilization and McKenzie neck stretching exercises are more effective for reducing neck muscles activities.