• International journal of advanced smart convergence
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.185-193
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• 2024

This study aimed to investigate the immediate physiological responses, including heart rate, blood pressure, and rate pressure product (RPP), following squat exercises performed at three water depths (ground, knee depth, waist depth) and two speed conditions (60bpm speed, Max speed). The participants consisted of 10 men in their 20s with over 6 months of resistance exercise experience. For the 60bpm speed squats, participants performed 30 repetitions in 1 minute at a rate of 2 seconds per repetition, while for Max speed squats, they performed at Max speed without a set limit on the number of repetitions for 1 minute. All experiments were conducted with a random assignment. The study results showed that immediately after the aquatic squat exercise, the average heart rate, blood pressure, and cardiac load were higher in the order of knee depth, ground level, and waist depth at both 60bpm speed and Max Speed. At 60bpm speed, the heart rate was higher in the order of ground level, knee depth, and waist depth. Overall, exercise in an aquatic environment was considered to impose relatively lower physical burden compared to land-based exercise. Therefore, it is suggested that depending on individual fitness levels and exercise goals, appropriately combining aquatic exercise, which imposes lower immediate physiological burden, and land-based exercise may lead to safer and more effective exercise methods.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.23-30
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• 2024

Background: Following lower limb strength training exercises, patients with stroke often experience muscle fatigue, which can frequently lead to falls. Therefore, this study aims to explore how lower limb muscle fatigue caused by squats affects the strength and balance of healthy individuals before extrapolating it to patients with stroke. Design: Cross-sectional study Methods: The study followed a cross-sectional design. The study was conducted on 30 healthy adults. Strength and balance were measured before and after performing wall squat exercises. Muscle strength was measured using a dynamometer, while balance was assessed with the S3 check system. A paired t-test was used for the analysis. Results: The knee extensor and hip extensor showed a significant decrease after wall squat (p < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference observed in knee flexor and hip abductor between before and after wall squat. Balance did not show a significant difference between before and after wall squat. Conclusion: Muscle fatigue caused by wall squats was found to reduce the strength of the knee and hip extensors, while having no impact on balance. The results of this study may serve as foundational data for future research targeting patients with stroke.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.65-75
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in muscle thickness and ground reaction force of the vastus medialis oblique and vastus lateral oblique muscles during squats at ankle angles of toe 0°, toe in 10°, and toe out 10°. Methods: In this study, 9 male and 17 female students in their 20s participated in a randomized controlled trial and were compared according to the ankle angles of toe 0°, toe in 10°, and toe out 10°. To determine the reliability and measurement of muscle thickness according to ankle angle using ultrasound equipment and muscle thickness, the participants' ankle angles-toe 0°, toe in 10°, and toe out 10°-were measured three times at the vastus medialis oblique and vastus lateralis oblique muscles during squats. At the same time, the maximum vertical ground reaction force was measured with a force plate. A total of three measurements were taken and averaged, and two minutes of squat movements were assessed between ankle angles to prevent target action. Results: The results of this study illustrated that the reliability of the vastus medialis oblique muscles and vastus lateralis oblique muscles in ankle angle was high. The difference in muscle thickness was significantly greater in comparing the toe out 10° angle with the toe 0° angle than between toe in 10° and toe out 10° in vastus medialis oblique and vastus lateralis oblique (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the ankle angle of toe 0° and toe in 10° (p > 0.05). The maximum vertical ground reaction force was significantly greater at toe out 10° than at the ankle angle of toe 0° and toe out 10° and between toe in 10° and toe out 10° (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the comparison between toe 0° and toe in 10° (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Squatting at an ankle angle of toe out 10° increases the dorsi flexion; thus, the stability of the ankle and the thickness of both oblique muscles increased to perform more effective squats. In addition, as the base of support widens, it is thought that the stability of the posture increases so that squat training can be performed safely.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.383-391
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• 2015

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of dynamic squats with slope-whole body vibration (WBV) on the trunk and lower limb in muscle activities. Method : 9 healthy women (age: $21.1{\pm}0.6years$, height: $160.5{\pm}1.4cm$, body weight: $50.5{\pm}2.4kg$) were recruited for this study. Muscle activities in the trunk and lower limb muscles, including biceps femoris (BF), rectus femoris (RF), rectus abdominum (RA), gastrocnemius (GCM), iliocostalis lumborum (IL) and tibialis anterior (TA), were recorded using an EMG measurement system. The test was performed by conducting dynamic squats with slope-WBV using frequency (10Hz, 50Hz), amplitude (0.5mm), and degree ($0^{\circ}$, $5^{\circ}$). Experimental method consisted of 2-pre-sessions and 1-test-session for 20 seconds. Results : The results showed that the muscle activities of the trunk and low limb muscles increased significantly with the $5^{\circ}$ slope and lower frequency (10Hz) except for in the TA. From this result, we confirmed that the slope and WBV could efficiently affect stimulation, enhancing muscle activities by facilitating neural control trail and muscle chain tightness. Conclusion : Utilizing the slope-WBV device while squatting could give positive effects on muscle activation in the trunk and lower limb muscles and provide neural stimulation, enhancing muscle chain of control subsystem through TVR (tonic vibration reflex).

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.311-319
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• 2020

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine of this study is to study the effect of squat exercise on muscle activation in a sling device using various types of ropes and to propose an effective sling exercise method for strengthening the lower extremity strength. Method: 20 adult male subjects (age: 25.2±2.4 yrs, height: 176.5±3.2 cm, weight: 77.2±4.5 kg) participated in this study. In the experiment, a total of four squats were conducted: squat [SE], sling squat using inelastic rope [IR], sling squat using elastic rope [ER], and sling squat using two elastic ropes [TER]. Squats were performed 5 times for each condition, and a 60-second break was given for each condition to minimize muscle fatigue. The activation of biceps brachii, rectus femoris, gastrocnemius, and tibialis anterior muscles was measured. Results: It was found that the activation of all muscles was the lowest during the squat exercise [SE]. During the sling squat using inelastic rope [IR], the muscle activation of the biceps brachii was the highest. During the sling squat using elastic rope [ER], the activation of the rectus femoris, gastrocnemius, and tibialis anterior muscles was found to be the highest. In the sling squat using two elastic ropes [TER], most of the muscle activation was similar to that of the sling squat using inelastic rope [IR]. Conclusion: Our results of the experiment, it was found that sling squat exercise using elastic rope had a positive effect on the activation of all muscles. It is thought that performing a squat exercise under moderate weight load and unstable conditions, such as sling squat exercise using elastic rope, can increase the muscle activity of the lower limbs and perform more effective exercise effect than performing a conventional squat exercise under stable conditions. In the future, if research is conducted not only on adult men, but also on various ages and patients, it will be able to provide positive help in improving balance, stability and stamina through squat exercise.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2022

Background: Plyometric exercise is an exercise exerting forceful power in a brief period using isotonic activation. It is effective to improve reaction of muscle, agility, endurance and athletics performance. Weight training is an exericse improving muscular strength, endurance and respirating ability applying diversely in frequency and load of exercise Plyometric exercise and Weight training is to facilitate the athletics performance though improving the function of lower limb muscle, there is a difference that Plyometic jump squats is the way to improve agility and Weight training is the way to improve muscular strength. Therefore, it is necessary to know how this difference effects on athletics performance as measuring ankle, ROM, and jumping ability. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Method: This study was conducted with the voluntary participation of 40 university students, who were randomly assigned to jump squat and calf raise groups (n=20 per group). For each subject, we measured the range of motion of the ankle joint before and after exercise, as well as a standing broad jump and vertical jump test performance. We compared the performance indices before and after exercises using paired t-tests, and between groups using independent-samples t-tests. Conclusions: Both jump squat and calf raise exercises improved ankle joint dorsiflexion and plantar flexion, as well as standing broad jump and vertical jump height performance. However, there were no significant differences before versus after exercise, or between exercise types. Although jump squats and calf raises have different purposes, it is thought that, in combination, these exercises improve performance more effectively than either alone, and that such a combined exercise program improves the quality of training in both the general public and athletes in various sports.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.49-55
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• 2022

Objective: This study aims to verify the front squat motions using by two different surfaces, thereby elucidating the grounds for effective training environment that can minimize the risk of injury. Method: Total of 10 healthy male crossfit athletes were recruited for this study (age: 32.30 ± 3.05 yrs., height: 173.70 ± 5.12 cm, body mass: 82.40 ± 6.31 kg, 1RM: 160 ± 13.80 kg). All participants are those who know how to do front squats well with more than five years of crossfit athlete experience. All participants have sufficient experience in front squats on two types of surface which are soft surface (SS) and hard surface (HS). In each surface, participant perform 10reps of the front squat with 80% of the pre-measured 1RM. A 3-dimensional motion analysis with 8 infrared cameras and 2 channels of EMG was performed in this study. Paired sample t-test was used for statistical verification between two surfaces. The significant level was set at α=.05. Results: The significantly decreased rectus femoris muscle activation was found in SS compared with that of HS on phase 1 (p<.05). Also, ROM of ankle joint was significantly increased in the SS compare with that of HS on phase 1 (p<.05). The muscle activity ratio of gluteus maximus/rectus femoris showed a significant difference only in SS compared with that of HS on phase 1 (p<.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, Korean crossfit boxes should consider the use of hard surface, which has a relatively less risk of injury than soft surface, in selecting flooring materials. For the Crossfit athletes, they are also considered appropriate to train on a relatively hard surface.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.233-242
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• 2024

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different types of unstable loads on core and lower limb muscle activity during squatting. Methods: Nineteen subjects (all females) with resistance experience but no unstable resistance experience participated in the study. Subjects performed squats under three load conditions, and core and lower limb muscle activity was measured during eccentric and concentric contractions. Results: During the eccentric contraction, core and hip flexor activity was significantly higher with the aqua bag than with the barbell or resistance band, and for the quadriceps, the resistance band was significantly higher than the barbell. During the concentric contraction phase, core and hamstring muscle activity was significantly higher with the aqua bag than with the barbell and elastic band (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Squats with an aqua bag increase core and biceps brachii activation and can be recommended as a training method to improve trunk stability.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2011.10a
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• pp.637-642
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• 2011

Rails are subjected to damage from rolling contact fatigue, which leads to defects such as cracks. Rolling contact fatigue damages on the surface of rail such as head check, squats are one of growing problems. Another form of rail surface damage, known as "Ballast imprint" has become apparent. This form of damage is associated with ballast particles becoming trapped between the wheel and the surface of rail. These defects are still one of the key reasons for rail maintenance and replacement. In this study, we have investigated whether the ballast imprint is an initiator of head check type cracks and effect of defect size using Finite element analysis. The FE analysis were used to investigate stresses and strains in subsurface of defects according to variation of defect size. Based on loading cycles obtained from FE analysis, fatigue analysis for each point was carried out.

• International Journal of Railway
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.129-134
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• 2012

Contact fatigue damages on the rail surface, such as head checks and squats are a growing problem. The fatigue cracks forming on the contact surface grow according to load and lubricating conditions and may end up breaking the rail. Rail fracture can be avoided by preventing the cracks from reaching the critical length. Therefore, the crack growth rate needs to be estimated precisely according to the conditions of the track and load to develop a maintenance plan against rail damages. Therefore, it is important to understand the mechanism of cracks initiation and growth on a rail due to repetitive rolling contact. In this study, we have investigated the crack growth behavior on the rail surface by using the twin-disc tests and the finite element analysis.