• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.156-160
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• 2021

Objective: Low back pain easily becomes chronic and has a high recurrence rate. Therefore, it is most important to prevent chronicity and reduce the risk of recurrence in the early stages of back pain or at the stage with mild pain. Therefore, this study was conducted to compare hip joint muscle strength, trunk muscle endurance, and pelvic alignment between subjects with mild low back pain and subjects without back pain. Design: Crossed-sectional study Methods: The study was conducted by recruiting 30 students in their twenties who are enrolled in K University in Gyeongsangnam-do, and classifying them into 15 patients with mild back pain and 15 patients with normal. The subjects who participated in the experiment were measured for hip flexor and extensor muscle strength, trunk flexion and extension muscle endurance, and pelvic alignment. To measure hip joint muscle strength, biodex was used, and muscle endurance of the trunk was recorded at the end range of the trunk flexion and extension. And pelvic alignment was measured using Formetric 4D. Results: There were no significant differences in hip joint muscle strength, pelvic alignment, and trunk extension muscle endurance. The retention time was found to be significantly shorter in the mild low back pain group than in the normal group for trunk flexion muscle endurance. Conclusions: In the early stages of back pain or in the mild pain stage, training to increase muscle endurance of the flexor muscles may be helpful.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.20-28
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• 2019

Background: The wall squat exercise has been recommended for strengthening of the lower extremity muscles with maintaining lumbar lordosis. Although squat has been studied to be related to lower extremity extensor strength, the relationship between wall squat and lower extremity extensor strength unclear. Because squat and wall squat are biomechanically different, study on the relationship is needed. Objects: The purpose of this study was to determine the lower extremity extensor strength associated with wall squat performance. Methods: 74 healthy volunteers were recruited to participate in this study. The volunteers were measured hip and knee extensors strength and then performed wall squat exercise for maximum count. Results: We found significant relationships between wall squat performance and hip extensor strength normalized by body weight, knee extensor strength normalized by body weight and the composite value. In a regression analysis, hip extensor strength normalized by body weight explained 29% of the variation in wall squat performance in males and 35% in females. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that hip extensor strength normalized by body weight is critical to wall squat performance in both sexes.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.11-19
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• 2012

This study aimed to investigate whether isometric lower limb exercise can activate contralateral trunk muscles and whether the magnitude of muscle activation is related to lower limb movement in sitting. This study included 25 healthy young subjects (20 males and 5 females). The magnitude of trunk muscle activation was measured using surface electromyography (EMG) during hip flexion, extension, adduction, and abduction, and a significant difference was observed in the activation levels of trunk muscles among the tests (p<.01). The EMG activity of the multifidus (MF) and erector spinae (ES) muscles on the contralateral side were significantly greater during hip extension. However, the activation levels of the contralateral internal oblique (IO) and rectus abdominis (RA) muscles were greatest during hip flexion. The MF : ES EMG ratio was significantly greater during hip isometric during hip isometric flexion and abduction compared to hip extension and adduction. There was no significantly difference in the IO : RA ratio during the isometric contractions toward different directions. These findings indicate that isometric lower limb exercise can elicit trunk muscle contraction on the contralateral side and may therefore be helped for developing contralateral trunk muscle strength in individuals undergoing rehabilitation.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.296-301
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of strengthening exercises of hip abductors on muscle strength and ambulation for patients with ACL reconstruction. Methods: The subjects were randomly assigned to the intervention group (general exercise plus strengthening of hip abductors) or the control group (general exercise without the strengthening of hip abductors). Both groups participated in a six-week exercise protocol after the surgery for ACL reconstruction. The knee strength test (quadriceps, hamstring, hip abductor) and gait analysis were performed in pretest and post-test. Results: Muscle strength was measured using the Biodex system III model (Biodex Medical System, Inc, NY, US). The results showed no significant difference in knee strength (quadriceps, hamstring) between the two groups (p>0.05), however, there was a significant difference in hip abductors (p<0.05). The gait analysis was measured with Gaitrite system (CIR System Inc, US). Results of comparison between groups showed a significant increase in the step length of both groups. (p<0.05), and there was a significant difference in the affected leg of the intervention group(p<0.05). Conclusion: Exercise of hip abductors for patients with ACL reconstruction provides significant benefits with respect to improvement of muscle strength in hip abductors, increasing the stride. This result indicates that a training program designed for ACL reconstruction patients should include strengthening of the hip abductor. We think that further study is needed to determine the relationship of hip muscles and knee joint for patients with ACL reconstruction.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 2018

Background: In most human lives, 80 percent have problems with the ankle and can be solved with a treatment that is objective in proper assessment. Discrepacts in the ankle are also associated with walking patterns and affect hip and knee joints. An evaluation of hip flexion and extensor muscles was performed to check the strength of hip joints after ankle sprain patients application of arthesis. Methods: In the hospital in Bucheon, 20 outpatients who visited the hospital for treatment with ankle sprain were tested with 10 male and 10 female patients. The criteria for selection of the study subjects were randomly divided into those with joint movement techniques applied to the ankle joints and those with conservative physical therapy. Results: In applying arthrography and preservation physical therapy to patients with ankle sprain, a difference in muscle strength between hip flexion and extensor was noted in post-evaluation comparisons. There were significant differences in the assessment of walking speed and walking time between the two counties in the gait analysis assessment (p<.05). Conclusion: Studies have shown that applying arthrography to people with ankle sprain has a greater therapeutic effect than using conservative physical therapy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.111-121
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• 2021

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of core stability exercise on the strength, activation of the trunk muscle, and pulmonary function in a Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) patient. METHODS: A 38-year-old male with GBS was enrolled in the study. A core stability exercise program was implemented for four weeks with a duration of 30 min/day and a frequency of three days/week. The program consisted of abdominal crunch, Swiss ball crunch, bicycle crunch, medicine ball sit-up with a toss, medicine ball rotational chest pass, raised upper body and lower body, and dead bug. Measurements of the strength of the trunk muscle (trunk flexion and hip flexion), activation of trunk muscles (rectus femoris; RA, external oblique abdominal; EOA, internal oblique abdominal; IOA, erector spinae; ES), and pulmonary function (forced expiratory capacity; FVC, forced expiratory volume at one second; FEV1) were taken before and after four weeks of core stability exercise. RESULTS: The strength of trunk muscles increased in the trunk and hip flexion after four weeks of core stability exercise, respectively, compared to the baseline levels. Activation of the trunk muscles increased in RA, EOA, and IOA after four weeks of core stability exercise compared to baseline levels, but decreased in ES after four weeks of core stability exercise compared to the baseline levels. The pulmonary function increased in FVC and FEV1 after four weeks of core stability exercise compared to the baseline levels. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that core stability exercise improves strength, Activation of the trunk muscle, And pulmonary function in patients with GBS.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2023

Background: Excessive hamstring (HS) activation due to the weakness of the gluteus maximus (GM) causes pain in the hip joint. A single-leg deadlift is a hip extensor exercise, especially GM, that includes functional movements in daily life and complex multi-joint training. In single-leg deadlift, the muscle activity depends on the forward trunk lean angle, and it's necessary to study which muscles are used dominantly depending on the angle. Objects: The purpose of this study was to compare the effect on the muscle activity of the GM and HS during single-leg deadlift according to different forward trunk lean angles and the ratio of the GM vs HS (GM/HS). Methods: Twenty-one healthy female participants were recruited. The muscles activities of the GM, HS and the GM/HS ratio were measured through electromyography during single-leg deadlift according to three condition of forward trunk lean angles (30°, 60°, and 90°). Results: The GM and HS activities significantly differed among three conditions (p < 0.05). GM/HS ratio was significantly higher at 30° and 60° of forward trunk lean compared to 90°. Moreover, the GM activity was significantly higher at 60° of forward trunk lean than at 30° (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The single-leg deadlift at 60° of forward trunk lean is a proper GM muscle strengthening exercise.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.55-64
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the strength and walking ability of chronic stroke patients following either proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) pattern training with pressure biofeedback units (feedback group) or PNF pattern training without pressure biofeedback units (control group). Methods: Eighteen participants with chronic stroke were recruited from a rehabilitation hospital. They were divided into two groups: a feedback group (n = 8) and a control group (n = 10). They all received 30 minutes of neurodevelopmental therapy and PNF training for 15 minutes five times a week for three weeks. Muscle strength and spatiotemporal gait parameters were measured. Muscle strength was measured by hand-held dynamometer; gait parameters were measured by the Biodex Gait trainer treadmill system. Results: After the training periods, the feedback group showed a significant improvement in hip abductor muscle strength, hip extensor muscle strength, step length of the unaffected limb, and step time of the affected limb (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern training with pressure biofeedback units was more effective in improving hip muscle strength and walking ability than the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern training without pressure biofeedback units. Therefore, to strengthen hip muscles and improve the walking ability of stroke patients, using pressure biofeedback units to improve trunk stability should be considered.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the differences in biomechanical variables of golf driving motion according to gender. Method: A total of 21 healthy golfers (11 men and 10 women) who have more than 5 years of professional experience and have been registered in the Korea Golf Association was recruited. A 250-Hz 8-camera motion capture system (MX-T20, Vicon, LA, USA) was used to capture the motion trajectories of a total of 42 reflective markers attached to the golfer's body and club. Moreover, two 1,000-Hz AMTI force plates (AMTI OR6-7-400, AMTI, MA, USA) were used to measure the ground reaction force. The mean and standard deviation for each parameter were then calculated for both groups of 21 subjects. SPSS Windows version 23.0 was used for statistical analysis. The independent t-test was used to determine the differences between groups. An alpha level of .05 was utilized in all tests. Results: There were differences in joint angles according to gender during golf driver swing. Men showed a statistically significantly higher peak joint angle and maximum range of angle in sagittal and frontal axis of the pelvis, hip, and knee. Moreover, women's swing of the pelvis and hips was found to have a pattern using the peak joint angle and range of angle in the vertical axis of the pelvis and hip. There were the differences in peak joint moment according to gender during golf driver swing. Men used higher joint moment in the downswing phase than women in the extensor, abductor, and external rotator muscles of the right hip; flexor and adductor muscles of left hip joint; and flexor and extensor muscles of the right knee. Conclusion: This result reveals that male golfers conducted driver swing using stronger force of the lower body and ground reaction force based on strength of hip and thigh than female golfers.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.84-91
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• 2021

Background: A hip fracture may occur spontaneously prior to the hip impact, due to the muscle pulling force exceeding the strength of the femur. Objects: We conducted falling experiments with humans to measure the activity of the hip muscles, and to examine how this was affected by the fall type. Methods: Eighteen individuals fell and landed sideways on a mat, by mimicking video-captured real-life older adults' falls. Falling trials were acquired with three fall directions: forward, backward, or sideways, and with three knee positions at the time of hip impact, where the landing side knee was free of constraint, or contacted the mat or the contralateral knee. During falls, the activities of the iliopsoas (Ilio), gluteus medius (Gmed), gluteus maximus (Gmax) and adductor longus (ADDL) muscles were recorded. Outcome variables included the time to onset, activity at the time of hip impact, and timing of the peak activity with respect to the time of hip impact. Results: For Ilio, Gmed, Gmax, and ADDL, respectively, EMG onset averaged 292, 304, 350, and 248 ms after fall initiation. Timing of the peak activity averaged 106, 96, 84, and 180 ms prior to the hip impact, and activity at the time of hip impact averaged 72.3, 45.2, 64.3, and 63.4% of the peak activity. Furthermore, the outcome variables were associated with fall direction and/or knee position in all but the iliopsoas muscle. Conclusion: Our results provide insights on the hip muscle activation during a fall, which may help to understand the potential injury mechanism of the spontaneous hip fracture.