• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.83-90
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• 2017

Objective: To investigate the effect of short-term vibration frequencies on muscle force generation capabilities. Method: Six healthy participants were recruited for this study and only their dominant leg was tested. The subjects were tested under five conditions of vibration frequencies with constant amplitude: 0 Hz (no vibration), 30 Hz, 60 Hz, and 90 Hz, and the vibration amplitude was 10 mm for all frequency conditions. The vibration was applied to the rectus femoris (RF). The subjects were then instructed to maintain a steady-state isometric knee joint torque (100 Nm) for the first 6 s. After the steady-state torque production, the subjects were required to produce isometric knee joint torque by leg extension as hard as possible with a start signal within the next 3 s. The vibration was applied for ~4 s starting from 1 s before initiation of the change in the steady-state knee joint torque. Results: The results showed that the maximum voluntary torque (MVT) of the knee joint increased with the vibration frequencies. On average, the MVTs were 756.47 Nm for 0 Hz (no vibration) and 809.61 Nm for 90 Hz. There was a significant positive correlation (r = 0.71) between the MVTs and integrated electromyograms (iEMGs). Further, the co-contraction indices (CCIs) were computed, which represent the ratio of the iEMGs of the antagonist muscle to the iEMGs of all involved muscles. There was a significant negative correlation (r = 0.62) between the CCIs and MVTs, which was accompanied by a significant positive correlation (r = 0.69) between the iEMGs of the vibrated muscle (RF). There was no significant correlation between the MVTs and iEMGs of the antagonist muscle. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the short-term vibration on the muscle increases the level of muscle activation possibly owing to the increased Ia afferent activities, which enhances the muscle force generation capability.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.73-81
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of strength training on knee joint torque during walking in an adolescent with trisomy-21 Down syndrome. One adolescent with Down syndrome and one normal child participated in this study. Strength training consisted of eight exercises: squat, hamstring curl, hip adduction, hip abduction, knee extension, toe raise, sit-ups, and hyperextension of the waist. The participant with Down syndrome was participated in strength training for 12 weeks, three times a week, three sets, 10-15 RM; resistance was adjusted according to the principle of progressive overload. To measure the effect of strength training, isokinetic strength variables and knee joint torques were measured before training and after 12 weeks of training. The participant with Down syndrome had some abnormalities in controlling knee motion during walking due to muscle hypotonia, ligament laxity, and weakness of muscles. Post-training isokinetic strength increased compared to pre-training measurements. Knee range of motion were increased after strength training. Strength training did not affect ad/adduction and in/exteranl moments but did have an effect on flexor/extensor moment and timing.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2021

Objective: The objective of the present study was to analyze the relationship between strength of the lower extremity's joints and their local dynamic stability (LDS) of gait in elderly women. Method: Forty-five elderly women participated in this study. Average age, height, mass, and preference walking speed were 73.5±3.7 years, 153.8±4.8 cm, 56.7±6.4 kg, and 1.2±0.1 m/s, respectively. They were tested torque peak of the knee and ankle joints with a Human Norm and while they were walking on a treadmill at their preference speed for a long while, kinematic data were obtained using six 3-D motion capture cameras. LDS of the lower extremity's joints were calculated in maximum Lyapunov Exponent (LyE). Correlation coefficients between torque of the joints and LyE were obtained using Spearman rank. Level of significance was set at p<.05. Results: Knee flexion torque and its LDS was negatively associated with adduction-abduction and flexion-extension movement (p<.05). In addition, ratio of the knee flexion torque to extension and LDS was negatively related to internal-external rotation. Conclusion: In conclusion, knee flexion strength should preferentially be strengthened to increase LDS of the lower extremity's joints for preventing from small perturbations during walking in elderly women.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.25-33
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• 2009

In dancers, intact muscular coordination is a well balanced antagonist, which could be a decisive factor in protection against injury as dancers often have hypermobile joints and their ankle joints often bear their full body weight in extreme positions. The purposes of this study were to identify the isokinetic strength to the knee and ankle and the isometric strength of the trunk in female collegiate dancers and controls. Furthermore, the study aimed to investigate the peak torque ratio of knee extension to flexion, ankle plantarflexion (PF) to dorsiflexion (DF), and dominant legs to nondominant. Twenty-one female collegiate dancers (20.0 years of age) and twenty-one female collegiate students (19.3 years of age) performed isokinetic maximum efforts of the knee extensors and flexors at $60^{\circ}/sec$ and $120^{\circ}/sec$, the ankle plantarflexors and dorsiflexors at $30^{\circ}/sec$ and $120^{\circ}/sec$ and isometric maximum efforts of the lumbar extensors at $0^{\circ}$, $12^{\circ}$, $24^{\circ}$, $36^{\circ}$, $48^{\circ}$, $60^{\circ}$, and $72^{\circ}$. The results were as follows: The isokinetic peak torque of the knee extensors and the ratio of knee extensors to flexors of dancers were significantly higher than those of controls (p<.01). However, the isometric peak torque of the back extensors (p<.01) and isokinetic peak torque of the ankle plantarflexors and dorsiflexors (p<.05) of dancers were significantly lower than those of controls. Further studies are needed to identify the difference in proprioception of the joints between dancers and controls.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.43-51
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of static stretching and Evjenth-Hamberg stretching on isokinetic muscle strength of knee flexors and extensors. Methods: The subjects were composed of eighty healthy males without weight-training experience. ROM of knee joint measured active maximal extension and isokinetic Peak Torque measured $60^{\circ}/sec,\;120^{\circ}/sec$ using an the En-Knee. Three tests(Baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, respectively) was operated to examine change of each variable. Data were analyzed with a $2{\times}3$ analysis of variance ($group{\times}test$) for repeated measures on last factor by SPSS package 10.0. The data analysis revealed muscle strength were dependent on stretching method. Results: The results were as follows. First, Evjenth-Hamberg stretching(E-HS) was more effective than static stretching(SS) on ROM. Second, Peak Torque of knee flexors and extensors was improved in both methods by each time. but E-HS was more improved than SS. Conclusion: In conclusion, This study indicates that E-HS is more efficient than SS on muscle strength improvement.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.145-152
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• 2000

Pcak torque. angle of peak torque occurrence. total work, average power. endurance of the ankle plantar flexors were studied with the knee positioned $0^{\circ}\;and\;90^{\circ}$ flexion. Plantar flexors of 20 students were tested on Cybex 6000 dynamometer. The results were as fallows ; 1. The peak torque values were significantly higher with knee extension than knee $90^{\circ}$ flexion. 2. The angle of peak torque occurrence were earlier with knee extension than knee $90^{\circ}$ flexion, but no significant. 3. The total work were significantly higher with knee extension than knee $90^{\circ}$ flexion. at$30^{\circ}/sec$, but no significant at $90^{\circ}/sec$ 4. The endurance ratio were higher significantly with knee $90^{\circ}$ flex ion than knee extension 5. The mean average power were significantly higher with knee extension than knee $90^{\circ}$ flextion

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.1-10
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• 2015

The common features of walking in patients with stroke include decreased gait velocity and increased asymmetrical gait pattern. The purpose of this study was to identify important factors related to impairments in gait velocity and asymmetry in chronic stroke patients. The subjects were 30 independently ambulating subjects with chronic stroke. The subjects' impairments were examined, including the isokinetic peak torque of knee extensors, knee flexors, ankle plantarflexors, and ankle dorsiflexors. Passive and active ranges of motion (ROM) of the ankle joint, ankle plantarflexor spasticity, joint position senses of the knee and ankle joint, and balance were examined together. In addition, gait velocity and temporal and spatial asymmetry were evaluated with subjects walking at their comfortable speed. Pearson correlations and multiple regressions were used to measure the relationships between impairments and gait speed and impairments and asymmetry. Regression analyses revealed that ankle passive ROM and peak torque of knee flexors were important factors for gait velocity ($R^2=.41$), while ankle passive ROM was the most important determinant for temporal asymmetry ($R^2=.35$). In addition, knee extensor peak torque was the most significant factor for gait spatial asymmetry ($R^2=.17$). Limitation in ankle passive ROM and weakness of the knee flexor were major contributors to slow gait velocity. Moreover, limited passive ROM in the ankle influenced the level of temporal gait asymmetry in chronic stroke patients. Our findings suggest that stroke rehabilitation programs aiming to improve gait velocity and temporal asymmetry should include stretching exercise for the ankle joint.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.23-29
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• 2007

The purpose of this study were to investigate the differences between female and male basketball players in knee neuromuscular biomechanical factors during basketball rebound jump. Twelve high school female ($17.9{\pm}0.8years$) and twelve male ($19.0{\pm}1.6years$) basketball players rebound jumped for maximal vertical height to sufficiently stress the anterior cruciate ligament. Kinematic and ground reaction data were collected and combined with inverse dynamics to estimate the knee extensor and abductor torque. The EMG data from the biceps femoris and rectus femoris was used to estimate the ratio of quadriceps muscle activity. Female athletes showed more reduced knee flexion at foot contact, more increased knee abduction, extensor and abductor knee joint torque at foot contact, and quadriceps ratio at stance phase than those of male athletes. In conclusion, Female athletes showed differences in knee neuromuscular biomechanical factors than male athletes during basketball rebound jump.

• Journal of Advanced Technology Convergence
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.33-42
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• 2022

The flexors and extensors of the knee joint are essential for maintaining body stability. The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between the isokinetic parameters of the knee flexor and extensor muscles and the function of the lower extremity muscles. Twenty-two healthy adults participated in this study. The time to peak torque (TTP), acceleration time (AT), and peak torque (PT) of the knee flexor and extensor muscles were measured. A 20m sprint, Sargent jump, one leg hop test, and side shuffle were measured to evaluate lower extremity function. The correlation between each variable was analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient. PT of the knee flexor showed a significant correlation with single leg hops and 6M hops in a single leg. PT of knee extensors was found to be significantly correlated with Sargent jumps and triple hops. Based on the results of this study, we suggest that the strength of the knee flexor and extensor muscles has the potential to be used to predict lower extremity function.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 1998

Since isokinetic concise can give an evaluation of muscle strength with great accuracy and objectively, it is widely used as the one of the important methods for evaluation of muscle performance. The purpose of this investigation was to compare values uncorrected for gravity with values corrected for gravity and to determine the effect of making this correction on knee flexors and extensors at three speeds. This investigation measured values isokinetically at $60^{\circ}/sec,\;120^{\circ}/sec,\;and\;180^{\circ}/sec$ in 14 male and 17 fermale university students. The gravity effect torque(GET) is the torque resulting from the effect of gravity on the combined weight of the leg and dynamometer arm. The GET was added to the measured extensors peak torque and subtraced from the flexors peak torque to yield gravity corrected values. Failure to consider GET greatly underetimated extensors torque and overtestimated flexors torque. Physical therapists must remember the importance of making the gravity correction in patients with reduced torque output where the gravitational torque is a greater percentage of the measured torque to ascertain correctly the relative strength of antagonists inversely affected by gravity.