• 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.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine how the position of tibial rotation affects peak force and hamstring muscle activation during isometric knee flexion in healthy women. Methods: Seventeen healthy women performed maximum isometric knee flexion at 30˚ with three tibial rotation positions (tibial internal rotation, neutral position, and tibial external rotation). Surface electromyographic (EMG) activity was recorded from the medial hamstring (MH) and lateral hamstring (LH) muscles. The strength of the knee flexor was measured with a load-cell-type strength-measurement sensor. Data were analyzed using one-way repeated analysis of variance. Results: The results showed that MH and LH activities and peak force were significantly different among the three tibial rotation conditions (p < 0.01). The post-hoc comparison revealed that the MH EMG activity in tibial neutral and internal rotation positions were significantly greater than tibial external rotation (p < 0.01). The LH activity in tibial external rotation was significantly greater than the tibial neutral position and internal rotation (p < 0.01). The peak force of the knee flexor was also greater in the external tibial rotation position compared with the tibial neutral and internal rotation positions (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that hamstring muscle activation could be changed by tibial rotation.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.2338-2344
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• 2021

Background: The therapeutic exercise method using kinesiology taping (KT) has been reported to be effective in activating the suprahyoid muscle in healthy adults. However, its applicability and effectiveness are not known to the physically vulnerable elderly. Objectives: To investigate the effects of kinesiology taping on the activity of suprahyoid muscles in community-dwelling elderly people. Design: Repeated measure design. Methods: We enrolled 23 healthy elderly adults (age range 60-75 years) with no history of neurologic disease. Participants performed five consecutive spontaneous swallowing actions at 5-second intervals under three conditions (KT with 80% stretch, placebo-KT, and non-KT. Activation of the suprahyoid muscles during swallowing in the three conditions was measured using surface electromyography (sEMG). In addition, a 0-10 numerical rating self-report scale was used to evaluate the required effort and the resistance felt during swallowing. Results: KT with 80% stretch were significantly higher in sEMG mean value, peak value, required effort, and resistance felt during swallowing compared to other two conditions (P<.05, all). KT with 80% stretch required the most effort during swallowing and, consequently, has a positive effect on increasing suprahyoid muscle activation. Conclusion: Our results could be taken into consideration in therapeutic exercise method for suprahyoid muscle in dysphagia rehabilitation.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.591-597
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• 2022

Objective: The sitting and standing are motions that correspond to the previous stage of rehabilitation to go to walking for daily life. The purpose of this study was to measure task times, path length of the center of pressure (COP) and activity on the vastus femoris muscle using surface electromyography (EMG) when standing up and sitting down. Design: One group cross-sectional design Methods: Fifteen elderly subjects (8 male, 7 female) participated. All subjects were tested three times according to four assist levels (non-assist, lower, middle, and maximal assist) using adjusts the length of spring at sit-to-stand and stand to sit on a chair. The task duration, and COP path length were recorded for the balance function on the Nintendo Wii fit board. The activity of the rectus femoris muscle was recorded on both legs using surface EMG. Results: The results showed that the task duration of the sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit were significantly increased compared to without assist (p<.05). The activation of the rectus femoris muscle more significantly decreased compared to without assistance at standing or sitting (p<.05). Conclusions: The assistive chair showed less quadriceps muscle activation during sitting and standing compared to without assistance. We suggest that our assist-standing chair can help with activities of daily living such as standing up and sitting down movements adjusting the spring length for control assist level by safely.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.151-158
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• 2024

Purpose: The present study investigated how variations in diagonal exercises affect shoulder muscle activity, examining changes in neuromuscular activation during scapular and shoulder diagonal patterns of exercises. Furthermore, we explored whether the exercise phase affects muscle activation. Methods: Sixteen asymptomatic male participants were recruited. Four diagonal pattern exercises (scapular anterior elevation, posterior elevation, flexion-adduction-external rotation, flexion, abduction-external rotation), and two exercise phases (concentric and eccentric) were administered. Surface electromyography data were collected. Results: Upper trapezius activity was significantly higher during the concentric phase of scapular posterior elevation exercises compared with the others (p<0.05). The serratus anterior, anterior deltoid, and infraspinatus activities were significantly higher during shoulder diagonal pattern exercises compared with the scapular diagonal pattern exercises (p<0.05). Except for the lower trapezius, muscular activities during the concentric phase were significantly greater compared with the eccentric phase (p<0.05). Conclusion: The current study suggests that the diagonal pattern of exercise may contribute to selective strengthening of the shoulder complex muscles and that the form of exercise should be tailored to the subject. It also suggests that diagonal exercises with concentric contractions tend to be more beneficial than eccentric contractions for overall muscle recruitment, but the effects vary for specific diagonal patterns.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.435-443
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• 2018

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) functions as a metabolic master through regulating and restoring cellular energy balance. In skeletal muscle, AMPK increases myofibril protein degradation through the expression of muscle-specific ubiquitin ligases. Mori Folium, the leaf of Morus alba, is a traditional medicinal herb with various pharmacological functions; however, the effects associated with muscle atrophy have not been fully identified. In this study, we confirmed the effects of AMPK activation by examining the effects of 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide (AICAR), an activator of AMPK, on the induction of atrophy and expression of atrophy-related genes in C2C12 myotubes. We also investigated the effects of the ethanol extract of Mori Folium (EEMF) on the recovery of AICAR-induced muscle atrophy in C2C12 myotubes. It was found that exposure to AICAR resulted in the stimulation of Forkhead box O3a (FOXO3a); an up-regulation of muscle-specific ubiquitin ligases such as Muscle Atrophy F-box (MAFbx)/atrogin-1 and muscle RING finger-1 (MuRF1), and a down-regulation of muscle-specific transcription factors, such as MyoD and myogenin; with the activation of AMPK. In addition, AICAR without cytotoxicity indicated a decrease in diameter of C2C12 myotubes. However, treatment with EEMF significantly suppressed AICAR-induced muscle atrophy of C2C12 myotubes in a dose-dependent manner as confirmed by a decrease in myotube diameter, which is associated with a reversed stimulation of FOXO3a by the inhibition of AMPK activation. These results indicate that the activation of AMPK by AICAR induces muscle atrophy, and EEMF has preeminent effects on the inhibition of AICAR-induced muscle atrophy through the AMPK signaling pathway.

• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2014

Atherosclerosis is a pathologic process occurring within the artery, in which many cell types, including T cell, macrophages, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells, interact, and cause chronic inflammation, in response to various inner- or outer-cellular stimuli. Atherosclerosis is characterized by a complex interaction of inflammation, lipid deposition, vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, endothelial dysfunction, and extracellular matrix remodeling, which will result in the formation of an intimal plaque. Although the regulation and function of vascular smooth muscle cells are important in the progression of atherosclerosis, the roles of smooth muscle cells in regulating vascular inflammation are rarely focused upon, compared to those of endothelial cells or inflammatory cells. Therefore, in this review, we will discuss here how smooth muscle cells contribute or regulate the inflammatory reaction in the progression of atherosclerosis, especially in the context of the activation of various membrane receptors, and how they may regulate vascular inflammation.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.153-161
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• 2011

The maintenance of skeletal muscle mass is very important for the prevention of life style-related diseases and the improvement of quality of life. It is well-known that resistance exercise and nutrition (especially amino acids) are the most effective interventions for maintaining skeletal muscle mass. It has been reported that many molecules are involved in the regulation of protein synthesis in response to resistance exercise and nutrition. Understanding the molecular mechanisms regulating muscle protein synthesis is crucial for the development of appropriate interventions. The role of intracellular signaling pathways through the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a serine/threonine protein kinase in the regulation of muscle protein synthesis, has been extensively investigated for these years. Control of protein synthesis by mTOR is mediated through phosphorylation of downstream targets that modulate translation initiation and elongation step. In contrast, upstream mediators regulating mTOR and protein synthesis in response to resistance exercise and amino acid still needed to be determined. In this brief review, we discuss the current progress of intracellular mechanisms for exercise- and amino acid-induced activation of mTOR pathways and protein synthesis in skeletal muscle.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.413-420
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• 1997

In this paper, we analyzed the contraction patterns of active elbow muscles during isometric, concentric and eccentric contraction. The analysis parameters consist of frequency domain parameters (mean frequency, median frequency, peak frequency, peak power, skewness, kurtosis) and time domain paraseters (zero crossing, positive maxima, integrated EMG). The results of this study were as follows; The BR/BB of isometric contraction appeared to be Venter as the elbow joint was more extended. The BR /BB during concentric and eccentric contraction tended to increase with more extension of the elbow joint angle, but there was no significant difference between concentric and eccentric contraction. Further, the EMG power spectrum due to the type of contraction were different betwen eccentric and concentric contraction. According to the results, it was found that the activation pattern in elbow flexor muscles was different during three different muscle contraction pattern. Therefore, elbow flexor muscles should not be considered a single functioning unit. Especially, at the time domain analysis, IEMG is a dominant parameter for analysis of activation patterns, and the skewness kurtosis can be useful parameters in functional recognition for prosthesis control purpose.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.1140-1147
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• 2003

We have examined the effect on neck-muscle activation of altering whole body posture. A Rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) was trained to produce sinusoidal (0.25 Hz) head tracking movements in the sagittal plane when seated with trunk and head vertical or while standing in the quadrupedal position. Video-fluoroscopic images of cervical vertebral motion, and electromyographic (EMG) responses were recorded simultaneously. Results demonstrated that vertebral motion varied with body posture, occurring synchronously between all joints in the upright position and primarily at skull-$C_1$ when in the quadrupedal position. Muscle EMG activation was significantly greater (P<0.001) in the quadrupedal position than when upright for all muscles except semispinalis cervicis. Peak activation of all the muscles occurred prior to peak head extension in the quadrupedal position, suggesting synchronous activity between muscles. Data suggest that, when upright, muscles were activated in functional groupings defined by their anatomical arrangement. In the quadrupedal position, gravity acting on the horizontally oriented head produced greater activation and a collective response of the muscles.