• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.175-186
• /
• 2019

Objective: Non-specific chronic low back pain (NS-CLBP) has been related to abnormal trunk muscle activations, but literature reported considerable variability in muscle amplitudes of NS-CLBP patients during prolonged sitting periods. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the differences among homogenous NS-CLBP subgroups in muscle activity, using muscle co-contraction indices as a more objective approach, and their roles on pain development during a 1-hour period of prolonged sitting. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Twenty NS-CLBP subjects with motor control impairment (MCI) [10 classified as having flexion pattern disorder, and 10 with active extension pattern disorder], and 10 healthy controls participated in the study. Subjects followed a 1-hour sitting protocol on a standard office chair. Four trunk muscle activities including amplitudes and co-contraction indices were recorded using electromyography over the 1-hour period. Perceived back pain intensity was recorded using a numeric pain rating scale every 10 minutes throughout the sitting period. Results: All study groups presented with no significantly distinctive trunk muscle activities at the beginning of sitting, nor did they change over time when pain increased to a significant level. Both MCI subgroups reported a similarly significant increase in pain behavior through mid-sitting (p<0.001). However, after mid-sitting, they significantly differed from each other in pain (p<0.01) but did not differ in the levels of muscle activation. Conclusions: This study was the first to highlight the similarities in trunk muscle activities among homogenous NS-CLBP patients related to MCI and compared them to healthy controls while sitting for an extended period of time, and the significant increase in pain over the 1-hour sitting might not be attributed to trunk muscle activation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2015

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of distal movement on shoulder muscle activation during diagonal pattern of exercises. METHODS: Seventeen healthy male participants volunteered to participate. Five muscles of shoulder were investigated during standing performance of diagonal shoulder exercises with and without visual trace. Two patterns of the diagonal exercises were used as diagonal 1 flexion and extension (D1F-E), and diagonal 2 flexion and extension (D2F-E). Two way repeated measures analysis of variance was used, which the factor was the presence of distal movement and exercise variations. RESULTS: The average muscle activity values of the lower trapezius and anterior deltoid are higher with the D2F-E, compared to the D1F-E (p<.05). The distal movement effect was observed within included all muscles except the lower trapezius, which the values are significantly greater in exercise with distal movement (P<.05). All significant increase of the muscles during the exercise with distal movement condition showed over 0.9 for the observed power in present study. CONCLUSION: Present result suggested that the diagonal pattern of exercise with distal movement has additional advantages of activating the scapulothoracic muscle as well as glenohumeral muscles. In addition, the D2F-E exercise pattern is effective for activating lower trapezius and anterior deltoid muscles.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.59-67
• /
• 2022

PURPOSE: This study examined the effectiveness of task gait exercise combined with self-observation training to provide basic clinical data by analyzing the factors that task gait exercise combined with self-observation training has on the leg muscle activity and gait improvement in stroke patients. METHODS: The subjects were assigned randomly to experimental Group I, which mediated task gait exercise combined with self-observation training, and experimental Group II, which mediated task-walking movement. They received 30-minute interventions three times a week for four weeks. The leg muscle activity and 10 m walking test (10MWT) were conducted as pre-intervention tests, and they underwent a post-test four weeks later in the same manner as the pre-test. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was observed in all muscles and 10MWT (p < .01) in experimental group I (p < .05), while there were significant differences only in the rectus femoris, biceps femoris, and 10MWT (p < .05). In a comparison of the changes between groups, there were statistically significant differences only in the tibialis anterior, soleus muscle, and 10MWT (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Self-observation training in experimental group I was effective in increasing the leg muscle activity and improving walking speed by discovering and correcting incorrect movements and following a normal gait pattern using the ankle joint. Therefore, the task gait exercise combined with self-observation training should be introduced and actively utilized for the rapid social recovery of stroke patients.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
• /
• v.6 no.3
• /
• pp.221-231
• /
• 2006

The aim of the present study is to investigate central nervous system (CNS) activity of the methanol extracts of leaves of Caesalpinia bonducella (MECB) and stem bark of Bauhinia racemosa (MEBR) (Caesalpinaceae) in Swiss albino mice and Wistar albino rats. General behavior, exploratory behavior, muscle relaxant activity and phenobarbitone sodium-induced sleeping time were studied. The results revealed that the methanol extracts of leaves of Caesalpinia bonducella at 100 - 200 mg/kg and stem bark of Bauhinia racemosa 100 - 200 mg/kg caused a significant reduction in the spontaneous activity (general behavioral profile), remarkable decrease in exploratory behavioral pattern (Y-maze and head dip test), a reduction in muscle relaxant activity (rotarod and traction tests), and also significantly potentiated phenobarbitone sodium-induced sleeping time. The results suggest that MECB and MEBR exhibit CNS depressant activity in tested animal models.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.99-110
• /
• 2003

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of three different pelvic tilts on sit-to-stand ativities and to suggest a new therapeutic approach for movement reeducation in patients who have difficulty with sit-to-stand activities. The three different pelvic tilts were: (1) comfortable pelvic tilt sit-to-stand (CPT STS), (2) posterior pelvic tilt sit-to-stand (PPT STS) and (3) anterior pelvic tilt sit-to-stand (APT STS). To analyze the kinematic component of STS, a motion analysis system (Zebris) was applied to the ankle, knee, hip joint, and thigh-off area. Also, to determine the onset time of muscle contraction, surface electrodes were placed to the rectus femoris muscle (RF), the vastus lateralis muscle (VL), the biceps femoris muscle (BF), the tibialis anterior muscle (TA), the gastrocnemius muscle (GCM), and the soleus muscle (SOL). One-way repeated ANOVA was used for the statistical analysis. First, significant differences were found in kinematic variables for the hip, knee, ankle joint, and thigh-off among the three activities. Second, there was significant difference in muscle activation pattern in TA. VL. and BF among three activities. In conclusion, the findings of this study suggest the following evaluative and therapeutic approach for STS activity: (1) Changes in knee and ankle joints should be prioritized and recruitment order differences in VL and RF can be generated to accomplish abnormal STS activity. (2) APT STS can be introduced for movement efficiency and functional advantage when abnormal STS is treated.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.37-44
• /
• 1991

The author has synchronously recorded average electromyographic activities of temporalis anteriors and masseter muscles and the maximum bite force on the mandibular first molar on the prferred chewing side. These activities were recorded in order to study the EMG activity pattern of the working side and the balancing side to maximum bete force and functioning state of muscle in 30 patients with TMD and in 30 healthy subjects as controls. The results were as follows : 1. The maximum bite force on the mandibular first molar on the preferred chewing side was 20.63kg in TMD patients and 53.30kg in the healthy subjects(p<0.01). The maximum bite force in TMD patients was 38.7% of the healthy subjects. 2. The average electromyographic activities of temporalis anterioris and masseter muscles on the working side and the balancing side during maximum bite force were lower in TMD patients than in the healthy subjects(p<0.01). The average electromyographic activities of each muscle in TMD patients were 61.0%-62.8% of the healthy subjects. 3. The proportionalities of average electromyographic activities of temporalis anteriors and masseter muscles on the working side and the balancing side to maximum bite force were greater in TMD patients than in the healthy subjects(p<0.01). 4. Between the working side and the balancing side, the proportionality of average electromyographic activity of temporalis anterior to maximum bite force on the working healthy subjects (p<0.01). The proportionality of average electromyographic activity of working side and the balancing side in both groups (p<0.05).

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.79-88
• /
• 1983

There has been some evidence concerning the fact that trihalomethanes(THMs), toxic chlorinated compounds, may be present in drinking water. One of the important methodologies to evaluate the toxicity of THMs is to determine enzyme alteration in experimental animal tissues after treatment. This study was intended to investigate how lactic dehydrogenase(LDH) of rat tissues is affected by administration of chloroform($CHCl_3$) and dichloromonobromomethane($CHCl_2\;Br$). THMs, high dose(1/10 LD50) or low dose(1/50 LD50) of $CHCl_3$ or $CHCl_{2}Br$ were administered orally to experimental rats for 4 or 8 weeks. The treated groups of rats were sacrificed to determine LDH specific activity and isozyme pattern in various organs which were liver, thigh muscle, kidney and brain. The conclusions were obtained as follows: 1. Alteration of LDH activities and isozyme patterns were revealed before morphologic changes in tissues. 2. The LDH specific activities were increased significantly in liver and brain after administration of high concentrations of $CHCl_3$ and $CHCl_{2}Br$ for 4 weeks respectively. Otherwise, they were decreased significantly in liver, muscle and kidney after administration for 8 weeks. 3. The isozyme activities of LDH-4 and LDH-5 were increased in muscle, brain, and especially the liver. 4. It was more distinct for the decrement of LDH H-type isozyme than the increment of M-type isozyme in muscle.

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.73-81
• /
• 2010

In this study, monoclonal antibodies against lysosomal acid phosphatase (LAP) of a salamander, Hynobius leechii, were used to determine the spatial and temporal expression of the LAP in the regenerating limbs. The Western blot and immunohistochemical analysis in the limb regeneration revealed that LAP was highly expressed at the dedifferentiation stage, especially in the wound epidermis and dedifferentiating limb tissues such as muscle and cartilage. With RA treatment, the LAP expression became upregulated in terms of both level and duration in the wound epidermis, blastemal cell and dedifferentiating limb tissues. In addition, in situ activity staining of LAP showed a similar result to that of immunohistochemistry. Thus, the activity profile of LAP activity coincides well with the expression profile of LAP during the dedifferentiation period. Furthermore, to examine the effects of lysosomal enzymes including LAP on salamander limb regeneration, lysosome extract was microinjected into limb regenerates. Interestingly, when the lysosome extract was microinjected into limb regenerates with a low dose of RA($50\;{\mu}g/g$ body wt.), skeletal pattern duplication occurred frequently in the proximodistal and transverse axes. Therefore, lysosomal enzymes might cause the regenerative environment and RA plays dual roles in the modification of positional value as well as evocation of extensive dedifferentiation for pattern duplication. In conclusion, these results support the hypothesis that dedifferentiation is a crucial event in the process of limb regeneration and RA-evoked pattern duplication, and lysosomal enzymes may play important role(s) in this process.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.429-438
• /
• 1994

An electrical stimulator was designed to induce locomotion for paraplegic patients caused by central nervous system injury. Optimal stimulus parameters, which can minimize muscle fatigue and can achieve effective muscle contraction were determined in slow and fast muscles in Sprague-Dawley rats. Stimulus patterns of our stimulator were designed to simulate eleclromyographic activity monitored during locomotion of normal subjects. Muscle types of the lower extremity were classified according to their mechanical property of contraction, which are slow muscle (msoleus m.) and fast muscle (medial gastrocnemius m., rectus femoris m., vastus lateralis m.). Optimal parameters of electrical stimulation for slow muscles were 20 Hz, 0.2 ms square pulse. For fast muscle, 40 Hz, 0.3 ms square pulse was optimal to produce repeated contraction. Higher'stimulus intensity was required when synergistic muscles were stimulated simultaneously than when they were stimulated individually. Electrical stimulation for each muscle was designed to generate bipedal locomotion, so that individual muscles alternate contraction and relaxation to simulate stance and swing phases. Portable electrical stimulator with 16 channels built in microprocessor was constructed and applied to paraplegic patients due to lumbar cord injury. The electrical slimulator restored partially gait function in paraplegic patients.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
• /
• 2005.10a
• /
• pp.522-525
• /
• 2005

The purpose of this study was to analyze the pattern of muscle usage during swing motion with a soft golf club in comparison with that with a normal golf club. The subjects were normal healthy young adults. The subjects performed swing motion using normal and soft golf clubs in turn. Then, we compared and analyzed the muscular activities for the two cases. The muscular activities of the subject was measured using MP100(BIOPAC Systems, Inc.). For the analysis of muscular activities, we measured EMG(Electromyography) of the subjects during swing motion. The muscles analyzed were deltoid, latissimus dorsi, external oblique, and rectus abdominis of the upper limbs and rectus femoris, biceps femoris, gastrocnemius, and soleus of the lower limbs. The result of the experiment showed that the pattern of muscle usage with soft golf club was similar to that with a normal golf club but the muscular activities with the soft golf was smaller than that with the normal golf club.