• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.467-477
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• 2013

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of backward pedaling ergometer training on ankle ROM, lower extremities strength, foot pressure in hemiplegia. METHODS: The subjects consisted of control group(n=10) and experimental group(n=10), subjects were trained 5 times a week for 2 weeks each group. Control group were trained forward, experimental group were trained backward pedaling with physical therapy in both groups. Each group measured ankle joint ROM with DUALER IQ and ankle and knee joint flexor and extensor muscle strength by Manual Muscle Test System and foot pressure by Gait view system. RESULTS: The result of this study between pre and post test that experimental group had statistically significantly differences in ankle joint range of motion and lower extremities strength. But foot pressure had not statistically significant differences. There was not significantly difference of variation between groups. CONCLUSION: Therefore these results mean that backward and forward pedaling ergometer training effected an improvement of lower extremities function in hemiplegia.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.386-391
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• 2015

Purpose: This study investigated whether the strength imbalance between two muscles can affect the score of EMG based biofeedback game, and whether the EMG based biofeedback game score can be used as predictable indicator of the degree of muscle balance alternating the conventional strength measuring equipment. Methods: 40 participated in this study. Biodex was used to measure the peak torque/weight in order to calculate the muscle strength balance index between plantar flexor and dorsiflexor of ankle joint. And muscle balance index (MBI) was calculated. The EMG biofeedback game scores of dorsiflexor and plantar flexor were acquired, so that the EMG electrodes were attached at tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius. The relationship between the game score and the muscle balance index were analyzed. Results: There was negative correlation between the muscle balance index between plantar flexor and dorsiflexor and the peak torque/weight of plantar flexor (r=-0.70). And there was negative correlation between the muscle balance index between plantar flexor and dorsiflexor and the game score of plantar flexor (r=-0.83). Conclusion: The EMG biofeedback game score had significant relationship with muscle imbalance at ankle joint, so it seems that the game score can be used for predicting the degree of muscle imbalance as a parameter.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.107-118
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• 2000

This study was designed to contribute to the right development of children's physical strength and growth by making a comparative analysis of 6 graders' physical strength with the help of the 6 events of physical strength tests according to sex and trying to work out some relationship between obese children and normal ones. With this in mind, the subjects were 400 elementary students, obese and normal, who reside in Seoul. The results were made by means of the average records and standard deviation test of 6-event physical strength tests per sex and group. The conclusions were as follows; 1. The normal children's average score was better than those of their counterparts, showing a significant difference in the 6-event of physical strength tests. 2. There was a little difference per sex. And there was a significant static interrelations in 4 events except a 100 m race and a standing broad jump when the subjects do well in the two afore-mentioned events. All the other groups minus female normal one show a low interrelations in such events as a 100 m race, a chin-up, and hanging down from the horizontal bar. 3. The obese group was inferior to the normal one regardless of sex. In terms of the physical interrelations, there was no difference among the three groups minus the female normal one.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2021

Background: This study is goal to explore the effects of swiss ball exercise on muscular strength, flexibility, and balance in healthy adults with and without pelvic compression belts. Design: Randomized Controlled Trial. Methods: This study randomly divided the experimental and control groups in 24 healthy adults wearing pelvic compression belts, and they conducted Swiss ball exercise programs, 5 times for 40 minutes a week during 3 weeks in conclusion 15 times. Results: The results showed that the experimental groups have increased significantly in muscle strength and flexibility (p<.05). Conclusion: This study showed that pelvic compression belts and Swiss ball exercise programs will help health improvements such as muscle strength, flexibility, and balance in normal adults, and it is also thought to be worth applying to patients with back pain.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.272-277
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• 2020

Background: Forward head posture (FHP) is common postural malalignment. FHP is described relatively extension to upper cervical and lower cervical is relatively flexion. Although several researchers mentioned the lower cervical flexion posture in FHP, most of the studies related to FHP is focused on the deep cervical flexor function. Objects: The purposes of present study is to compare the cervical strength (upper cervical extension [UCE], lower cervical extension [LCE], upper cervical flexion [UCF], lower cervical flexion [LCF]) between individuals with and without FHP. Methods: Fifty-one participants are recruited. Participants who have the craniovertebral angle (CVA) less than 48 degree were classified to the FHP group (n = 24) and the others were included in without FHP group (n = 27). The cervical strength (UCE, LCE, UCF, LCF) were measured using Smart KEMA strength sensor and the strength data was normalized by body weight. All strength measurement conducted at head and neck neutral position in sitting. Independent t-test was used to compare the cervical strength between individuals with and without FHP. Results: The mean value of CVA was greater in without FHP group than with FHP group (p < 0.000). The strength value of UCF (p < 0.002) and LCE (p < 0.001) was significant less in FHP group than without FHP group. But no significant differences were seen in the LCF and UCE strength between two groups. Conclusion: UCF and LCE weakness in FHP group should be considered to evaluate and manage the individuals with FHP.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.2090-2095
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• 2020

Background: Spinal Mobilization is one of the manual therapy technique that clinicians have used to treat pain, however, there is still a lack of research on changes in strength in healthy people. Objectives: To investigate the effect of posterior-anterior lumbar mobilization on lower limb strength in healthy individuals. Design: Two-group pretest-posttest design. Methods: In this study, 23 healthy subjects aged 20 years were assigned to 12 lumbar mobilization group (LMG) and 12 sham group (SG) to perform intervention and measurement through pre- and post-design. Intervention was performed in LMG with grade III~IV on L3-5 of the lumbar spine, and lumbar mobilization was performed for each segment. After intervention, knee flexion and extension strength were measured. To measure the main effect on muscle strength, a comparative analysis was conducted using paired t-test and independent t-test. Results: In LMG, knee flexor and extensor strength were increased significantly at 60°/s (P<.05). In addition, the extensors of LMG and SG were significantly different only at 60°/s, and the flexors were significantly different between groups at both 60°/s and 180°/s (P<.05). Conclusion: In healthy individuals, lumbar mobilization results in improvement of strength of knee flexor and extensor, and additional experiments on the effect of mobilization on the lumbar spine on functional changes in the lower limbs will be needed.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.262-268
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• 2022

Background: Virtual reality (VR) programs based on motion capture camera are the most convenient and cost-effective approaches for remote rehabilitation. Assessment of physical function is critical for providing optimal VR rehabilitation training; however, direct muscle strength measurement using camera-based kinematic data is impracticable. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a method to indirectly estimate the muscle strength of users from the value obtained using a motion capture camera. Objects: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the pedaling speed converted using the VR engine from the captured foot position data in the VR environment can be used as an indirect way to evaluate knee muscle strength, and to investigate the validity and reliability of a camera-based VR program. Methods: Thirty healthy adults were included in this study. Each subject performed a 15-second maximum pedaling test in the VR and built-in speedometer modes. In the VR speedometer mode, a motion capture camera was used to detect the position of the ankle joints and automatically calculate the pedaling speed. An isokinetic dynamometer was used to assess the isometric and isokinetic peak torques of knee flexion and extension. Results: The pedaling speeds in VR and built-in speedometer modes revealed a significantly high positive correlation (r = 0.922). In addition, the intra-rater reliability of the pedaling speed in the VR speedometer mode was good (ICC [intraclass correlation coefficient] = 0.685). The results of the Pearson correlation analysis revealed a significant moderate positive correlation between the pedaling speed of the VR speedometer and the peak torque of knee isokinetic flexion (r = 0.639) and extension (r = 0.598). Conclusion: This study suggests the potential benefits of measuring the maximum pedaling speed using 3D depth camera in a VR environment as an indirect assessment of muscle strength. However, technological improvements must be followed to obtain more accurate estimation of muscle strength from the VR cycling test.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.63-72
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• 2022

Purpose : Several studies have investigated the effects of dynamic stretching (DS) and self-mobilization (SM), however, studies comparing the two interventions are rare. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the effects of DS and SM on ankle strength, dorsiflexion range of motion (DFROM), and balance to determine which is superior. Methods : Thirty-two healthy young adults participated in this study. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups (SM and DS). DS was performed for the purpose of stretching the medial gastrocnemius muscle. For the SM group, ankle joint SM was performed in three ways. For all participants, the following measurements were performed as pre- and post-tests: isometric strength of dorsiflexor and plantar flexor, weight-bearing lunge test (WBLT) to evaluate DFROM, Tetrax system to evaluate static balance, and y balance test (YBT) to evaluate dynamic balance. Differences before and after the intervention within each group were compared using paired t-test. Also, the variable's variation was compared between groups using an independent t-test. Results : Significant differences were found in ankle dorsiflexor strength, WBLT, YBT, weight distribution index (WDI) (pillow and opened eyes; PO), and stability index (ST) (normal and closed eyes; NC) before and after intervention in the SM group (p<.05). In the DS group, significant differences were found in ankle dorsiflexor and plantar flexor strength, WBLT, YBT anterior, WDI (normal and opened eyes; NO, PO), and ST (NO, NC, PO, pillow and closed eyes) before and after the intervention (p<.05). Ankle plantar flexor strength and WDI (PO) were significantly different between groups. Conclusion : Based on the results of this study, DS or SM can be considered as a possibility for selective use according to variables for improving ankle joint function (DFROM, muscle strength, balance).

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.222-228
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• 2023

Objective: Training-related injuries and attrition put an additional burden on police and military institutions. Preventing and minimizing musculoskeletal injuries is the primary concern of the Abu Dhabi Police. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the correlation between functional movement screen, lower-limb strength, Y-balance test, grip strength and vertical jump and the incidence of musculoskeletal injuries among Abu Dhabi police recruits. Design: Observational analytical study. Methods: An observational study was conducted on 400 male police recruits of Abu Dhabi Police Academy. Physical performance was assessed before the 16-weeks basic police training. Spearman's correlation evaluated the correlation between the performance parameters and the outcome measures and logistic regression predicted the risk factors associated with musculoskeletal injuries. Results: 149 (34.4%) participants reported at least one injury during the basic police training. Comparison between injured and non-injured participants showed significant difference in mean right Y-balance, back-leg-chest dynamometer, and vertical jump (p=0.02, p=0.02, and p=0.04, respectively). Spearman's correlation showed a significant negative correlation between risk of injury and back-leg-chest dynamometer and right Y balance (ρ= -0.11, p=0.03). Logistic regression showed that back-leg-chest dynamometer and right Y balance were significant predictors of injury (p =.036 and p=0.037; Odds ratio=0.96; 95% CI (0.92, 0.99) and Odds ratio=0.99; 95% CI (0.98,0.99). Conclusions: Our findings suggest functional movement screen and grip strength may not independently predict injury rates, balance and lower-limb strength needs to be considered in injury prevention strategies to reduce musculoskeletal injuries.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.194-201
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• 2023

Background: Falls are a common and serious problem in the elderly population. Muscle strength and balance are important factors in the prevention of falls. The Y-balance test (YBT) is used to assess dynamic postural control and shows excellent test-retest reliability. However, no studies have examined the relationship between lower-limb strength and YBT scores in elderly women. Objects: This study aimed to examine the relationship between lower-limb strength and YBT scores in elderly women. Methods: Thirty community-dwelling elderly women participated in the study. Lower-limb strength including hip flexor, hip extensor, hip abductor (HAB), hip adductor (HAD), knee flexor, knee extensor, ankle dorsiflexor, and ankle plantar flexor (PF) muscles was examined using a smart KEMA strength sensor (KOREATECH Inc.), and the YBT was used to assess dynamic balance. Relationship between lower-limb strength and YBT was demonstrated using a Pearson's correlation coefficient. Results: HAB strength (r = 0.388, p < 0.05), HAD strength (r = 0.362, p < 0.05), and ankle PF strength (r = 0.391, p < 0.05) positively correlated with the YBT-anterior direction distance. Ankle PF strength was positively correlated with the YBT-posteromedial direction distance (r = 0.396, p < 0.05) and composite score (r = 0.376, p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that HAB, HAD, and ankle PF strengths should be considered for dynamic postural control in elderly women.