• PNF and Movement
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.179-187
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the asymmetrical difference between the use of leg muscles on the surgical and non-surgical sides during initial lower extremity ergometer exercise after unilateral knee arthroplasty. Methods: Twelve elderly patients diagnosed with degenerative arthritis of the knee and who underwent unilateral arthroplasty were included in this study. The leg length of each subject was taken into account when setting the application distance of the lower extremity ergometer. The same pedal resistance, strength, and speed were used for all the subjects. The total angle of use of the ergometer (360°) was analyzed by dividing it into an extension section and a flexion section. Using a surface electromyography system, the activities of the muscles of the surgical and non-surgical sides were converted into maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) and analyzed using the paired t-test. Results: When the activities of the muscles on the surgical and non-surgical sides were compared, it was found that the rectus femoris and biceps femoris had significant differences in the flexion and extension sections (p < .05), and that the tibialis anterior significantly differed in the flexion section (p < .05). There was no significant difference in the extension section of the tibialis anterior muscle, or in the flexion and extension sections of the gastrocnemius (p >.05). Conclusion: The results of this study confirm that the rectus femoris, tibialis anterior, biceps femoris, and gastrocnemius on the surgical side act in an opposite manner to those on the non-surgical side during pedaling in the same section.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.2199-2205
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to find out the effects of depending on variations of speed in backward walking on lower extremities muscle. For this study, 30 members were randomly divided into three groups; groupI(n=10, forward walking: 5km/h), groupII(n=10, backward walking: 5km/h), groupIII(n=10, backward walking: 2.5km/h). This exercise was performed to 30 minutes 4 times a week for 4 weeks. This study was measured before the exercise and after 4 weeks. The result of this study are as follows. The muscle activity of rectus femoRIS was higher in backward walking group(p<.01) than in forward walking group and it was the highest at groupII(p<.001). The quadriceps muscle strength of thigh was higher in backward walking group(p<.01) than in forward walking group and it was the highest at groupII(p<.001). From these results, backward walking training was effective on muscle activity, strength of thigh muscle. Although fast speed backward walking was most effective, low speed backward walking that compare with forward walking was effective.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.53-70
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• 2024

Background: The conventional deadlift is a popular exercise for enhancing trunk, core, and lower extremity strength. However, its use in sports medicine is constrained by concerns of lumbar injuries, despite evidence supporting its safety and rehabilitative benefits. To optimize muscle activation using resistive bands in variable resistance therapy, we explored their feasibility in the deadlift. Design: Comparative experimental design Methods: Surface electromyography recorded muscle activity in the trunk and lower extremities during lifting, with normalization to the isometric Floor Lift using Maximal Voluntary Contraction. Kinematics were measured using inclinometer sensors to track hip and trunk sagittal plane angles. To prevent fatigue, each subject only used one of the three pairs of bands employed in the study. Results: Our study involved 45 healthy subjects (mean age: 30.4 ± 6.3 years) with similar baseline characteristics, except for years of lifting and strength-to-years-of-lifting ratio. Various resistance band groups exhibited significantly higher muscle activity than conventional deadlifts during different phases. The minimal resistance band group had notably higher muscle activity in the trunk, core, and lower extremity muscles, particularly in the end phase. The moderate resistance band group showed increased muscle activity in the mid-and end-phases. The maximum resistance band group demonstrated greater muscle activity in specific muscles during the early phase and overall higher activity in all trunk and lower extremity muscles in the mid and end phases of the deadlift (p<0.05). Conclusion: Our findings provide valuable insights into muscle activation with various resistance bands during deadlift exercise in clinical and gym settings. There appears to be a dose-response relationship between increased resistance bandwidth, external load, myoelectric activation, and range.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.573-581
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• 1998

Gait is a highly complex activity in which many variables can be observed and measured. Walking is a repetitious sequence of limb to move the body and to maintain stability. Normal gait is rhythmic and characterized by alternating propulsive and retropulsive motions of the lower extremities. Pathological gait patterns have four functional categories (deformity, muscle weakness, impaired control, pain). The purpose of this study was to assess the quantitive gait variables(the width of the base, length of a step, stride length, cadence, velocity) in patients with low back pain. Patients walked more slowly, took shorter steps and did not show the symmetrical gait patterns.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.36-41
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• 2013

Purpose: To investigate whether the long-term use of a cane induces pain in the unaffected lower limb of stroke patients. Methods: A total of 107 stroke patients with chronic hemiparesis were recruited in this study and classified into two groups; a cane-use group (n=49) and non-cane-use group (n=58). The existence of pain in the unaffected lower limb was assessed on a visual analog scale in the hip, knee, and ankle joint, and the University of Alabama pain behaviors scale (UAB pain behavior scale) used to measure the intensity of pain. In addition, the Motricity Index (MI) was tested in the upper and lower extremities. Results: The proportion of pain in each joint of the lower limb was significantly higher in the cane-use group, compared to the non-cane-use group (p<0.05). In addition, significant differences were observed on the UAB pain behavior scale between the two groups. The lower MI score was significantly lower in the cane-use group, compared with the control group. However, no difference was observed in MI scores of the upper limb between the two groups. Conclusion: These findings reveal that long-term cane usage can induce pain in the unaffected lower limb of stroke patients. We suggest careful consideration when prescribing a cane, depending on functional ability in hemiparetic patients, and recommend continuous evaluation for pain in the affected lower limb.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.52-60
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• 2006

Muscle weakness in the hemiplegia following stroke is an important factor which determines the quality of life in the future. Therefore, muscle strengthening exercise is essential for functional recovery in hemiplegic patients. Even though the popular conception is that muscle strengthening exercise causes spasticity and associated reaction that hemiplegia patients don't want, and that it disturbs functional recovery, recently there have been many new reports against that opinion. Therefore, the effects of strengthening exercise programs on functional recovery in hemiplegic patients are still controversial. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of strengthening exercise programs for the knee joint using isokinetic exercise on the associated reaction of the upper extremities. Comparing the muscle activities of biceps brachii and triceps brachii during, before, and immediately after 2 and 5 minute intervals of isokinetic exercise, we examined the increase and decrease of associated reaction. Twenty stroke inpatients participated in this study. Surface electromyography was used to get muscle activity data from biceps brachii and triceps brachii. The major findings of this study were as follows: 1. The flexor and extensor peak torque were significantly higher on the sound side than the affected side (p<.05). 2. Before and after strengthening exercise, there was no significant difference in muscle activities (surface electromyographic root mean square values) between the sound and affected side. 3. Muscle activities were examined during, before, and immediately after 2 and 5 minute intervals of isokinetic exercise. There were significant differences in muscle activities between, before and during the exercises, during exercise and 5 minutes after exercise in the biceps brachii (p<.05), and during exercise and 5 minutes after exercise in the triceps brachii (p<.05). In conclusion, there was no relation between strengthening exercise and associated reaction in the upper extremities. Rather, muscle activities after exercise had a tendency to decrease relative to before the exercise. Thus, it is considered that intensive strengthening exercise contributes to improvement of functional recovery without increase in associated reaction in hemiparetic patients.

• 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.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1969-1974
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• 2020

Background: Early rehabilitation after partial meniscectomy is important to recover the balance of the vastus medialis oblique and vastus lateralis and prevent pathological problems in the lower extremities and the whole body. Objective: To compare muscle activations for patients after partial meniscectomy. Design: Dual-group Pretest-Posttest Design from the Quasi-Experimental Research. Methods: Twenty participants after partial meniscectomy were recruited and were randomly divided into a Q-setting sensorimotor training group (QSMTG) and Q-setting exercise group (QSEG). Muscle activity of the vastus medialis oblique and vastus lateralis was measured before and after intervention. Results: In the two groups, the vastus medialis oblique and vastus lateralis activations increased significantly (P<.05). The Q-setting sensorimotor training group showed more increases than the Q-setting exercise group, and there were significant differences between the groups (P<.05). The activation ratio of the vastus medialis oblique and vastus lateralis had increasingly significant differences in the Q-setting sensorimotor training group (P<.05), and there were no significant differences between the groups (P>.05). Conclusion: Q-setting exercise with sensorimotor training was a useful method that improved the balance of vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and vastus lateralis (VL) activity after meniscectomy.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.11-19
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• 2005

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is often attributed to malalignment and maltracking of patella within the patellofemoral joint. Most exercise for PFPS has focused on selectively strengthening the vastus medialis oblique muscle (VMO). This study was designed to identify the effect of medial, lateral wedge and difference of Quadriceps angle (Q-angle) on vastus medialis oblique/vastus lateralis muscle (VL) activity ratios. The subjects were twenty young adult males who had not experienced any knee injury. They were asked to perform isometric contraction exercises in three postures using medial and lateral wedge. The EMG activity of the VL and VMO were recorded in three postures by surface electrodes and normalized by %MVC values derived from seated, isometric knee extensions. The normalized EMG activity levels (%MVC) of the VL and VMO for the three postures of the lower extremities were compared using 2-way repeated measures ANOVA with 1 between-subject factor (group), and 1 within-subject factor (wedge). Results of repeated measures of ANOVA's revealed that the medial wedge isometric contraction exercise produced significantly greater EMG activity of VMO/VL ratios in Group I (Q-angle $18^{\circ}$ or less) (p<.05). But, the medial wedge isometric contraction exercise was no significant difference of VMO/VL ratios in Group II (Q-angle $19^{\circ}$ or more) (p>.05). These results have important implications for selective VMO muscle strengthening exercises in PFPS patients.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.22-30
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• 2005

This study was designed to identify the effect of various decline boards and postures of lower extremities on surface electromyographic (EMG) activity of knee muscles during isometric single-leg decline squat exercises. The subjects were twenty young male adults who had not experienced any knee injury and their Q-angles were within a normal range. They were asked to perform single-leg decline squat exercises in five various conditions. The EMG activities of the gluteus maximus (GM), vastus lateralis (VL), vastus medialis (VMO), tibialis anterior (TA), and gastrocnemius (GCM) muscles were recorded in five various single-leg decline squat exercises by surface electrodes and normalized by maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) values. The normalized EMG activity levels were compared using one-way ANOVA with repeated measures. The results of this study were as follows: 1) Exercises 2 and 4 produced significantly greater EMG activity of VMO than did exercise 1 ($p_{adj}$<.05/10), 2) The VMO/VL ratio of EMG activity of exercise 4 was the highest, producing a significantly greater ratio than exercise 1 ($p_{adj}$<.05/10). These results show that single-leg lateral oblique decline squat exercise is the best exercise for selective strengthening of VMO, and the posture of the contralateral leg does also affect strengthening of VMO, but we'll need to research patellofemoral joint compression for clinical application of single-leg lateral oblique decline squat exercises.