• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.57 no.12
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• pp.2336-2344
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• 2008

In this paper, muscular activity and muscle fatigue of FDI(first dorsal interosseous muscle) and thenar muscle of hand was analyzed with surface EMG signal based on four kinds of attitudes(grip, tip, key and palmar) to measure grip strength and pinch strength after hand operation and rehabilitation treatment. The normative data are needed to interpret evaluation data to assess a patient's ability to return to labor environment. The preceding researchers proposed the standard data only by studying on maximum grip strength and the maximum pinch strength followed by each attitude of subjects' hands. But in this study, the muscle activity and muscle fatigue were considered under the various attitude to propose normative data. As a results, the muscle fatigue may be used only for presentation of normative data in labor environment.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.198-202
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• 2020

Purpose: This study examined the effects of a paraffin treatment with exercise on the muscle strength and fatigue of the hand according to the use of smartphones. Methods: The measurement subjects were 30 healthy males in their 20s who were divided randomly into the control and paraffin treatment groups. A typing exercise using a smartphone was performed. The pinch grip force was measured to evaluate the muscle strength of the thumb, and muscle fatigue analysis using electromyography was performed to analyze muscle fatigue. Results: The functional changes to the arm and the fatigue of the hand through the use of a smartphone were examined to determine the effects of the paraffin treatment. The dominant hand-pinch grip force test did not show a significant difference, but the non-dominant hand-pinch grip force test showed a significant difference between the groups (p=0.030). In the dominant hand fatigue test, there was a significant difference between the groups (p=0.037). In the non-dominant hand, there was a significant difference between time (p=0.012) and the groups (p<0.001). Conclusion: The effects of paraffin intervention on the hand muscle strength and fatigue due to repeated use of the smartphone were confirmed. These results can be used as a basis for clinical use and can be a guide for the correct use of smartphones, which are essential in modern life.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.117-125
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• 2022

PURPOSE: This study was carried out to examine the changes in the trunk control ability and hand grip when the abdominal draw-in maneuver using breathing was applied to stroke patients, and provide basic data regarding the trunk stabilization exercise. METHOD: After randomly placing patients in group I-applying the existing abdominal draw-in exercise and group II -applying the abdominal draw-in exercise using breathing, the intervention program was performed ten times per set (five sets per session), once a day, four times a week, for a total of four weeks. For the pre-tests before the intervention, trunk damage and hand grip were measured. After the four weeks of intervention, post-tests were conducted in the same way as the pre-tests for analyzing the study results. RESULTS: Both groups had significant differences in trunk control ability and hand grip (p < .05). The comparison between the two groups showed, significant differences only in the trunk control a ability(p < .05). CONCLUSION: The abdominal draw-in exercise using breathing led to the efficient contraction of abdominal muscles, which implies this is a more effective intervention to improve the trunk control ability.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.87-94
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a 16-week Self-help Tai Chi for Arthritis (SHTC) combined with health education for Korean American older women. Methods: This research was a designed quasiexperimental pre-posttest. Forty one women aged 55~79 were recruited 20 in SHTC group 21 in control group and, but twelve in SHTC group and thirteen in control group were left after 16 weeks. SHTC group was educated for 1 hour health education and 1hour TCA, once a week during 16 wks. Measurements for comparison were taken three times, at baseline, 8 wks and 16wks. The effect were evaluated with self-efficacy, shoulder flexibility, back flexibility, both hand grip strength and standing balance with closed eyes. Results: All variables except for left hand grip strength at baseline had significant homogeneity between both groups. After 16 weeks intervention, there was a significant interaction effect of time and group on right hand grip strength by repeated measure of ANOVA (F=3.398, p=.044). No significant interaction effects were found on self-efficacy, shoulder and back flexibility, left hand grip strength and standing balance with closed eyes. Conclusion: I can suggest this self-help Tai Chi program may be effective partially, but further research is needed to establish the best times and periods to intervene for a better effect.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.603-614
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• 2002

In this study, the nutrient intakes, dietary quality, and muscle strength of elderly women in a social-welfare center of a large city were compared with those of elderly women at home in a large city. Also, the relationships between muscle strength and nutrient intake status were investigated in both elderly group. The results of this study were as follows: The ages of elderly in the social welfare center and of elderly in general home residing elderly were 68.2 and 70.3 years, respectively. The average energy and nutrient intakes of both groups were lower than the Korean RDA. There were no differences between the groups in terms of macro-nutrient composition and quantity. The elderly in center showed significantly lower intakes of vitamin $B_2$, niacin and calcium than the home-residing elderly. The hand grip strength and back muscle strength were lower in the elderly of social welfare center, but a significant difference was found only in the left hand grip strength. The muscle strength, especially the left hand grip strength of those in social welfare center, showed significant correlations with various nutrient intakes. In contrast, generally no relationship between muscle strength and nutrients intakes status could be found in the home residing elderly. The variances in the mean hand grip strength and the left hand grip strength 19.0% and 18.6% respectively, were explained by their ages. This is in contrast to 22.3% and 32.4% of calorie intake and vegetable protein intake in the elderly of the social welfare center. In conclusion, the status of nutrient intake in those in the social welfare center seems to be low, and it is assumed that the low calorie and vegetable protein intake may contribute to the muscle strength decline in the socioeconomically high risk elderly.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.381-387
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• 2011

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the maximal grip strength for the combinations of resting time and trial and to provide guideline of resting time for the maximum gripping task associated with the number of trials. Background: Despite many previous researches for the maximal grip strength, few studies have considered the effect of both trials and rest time on the maximum grip strength. Methods: A total of thirty subjects participated in the study. The average of maximum grip strength was measured using JAMAR hydraulic hand dynamometer. The testing position was same as the position recommended by the American Society of Hand Therapists. The between-subject experimental design has been conducted in this study. Trials(1~20 trials) and rest time(2, 3, and 4min) were considered as independent variables, and the maximum grip strength was considered as dependent variable, respectively, in this study. Results: According to the result of the number of trials, the maximal grip strength decreased gradually as the number of trials increased. The ANOVA result showed that the main effect was significant for both resting time(p<.0001) and trial(p<.0001), and the interaction was significant(p<0.0086). Conclusions: The maximal grip strength decreased gradually as the number of trials increased. Thus, basic guideline of resting time was suggested for the number of trials of maximal grip strength tests in this study.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.361-370
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• 2016

Objective:The aim of this study is to evaluate contributions of individual finger forces associated with various levels of submaximal voluntary contraction tasks. Background: Although many researches for individual finger force have been conducted, most of the studies mainly focus on the maximal voluntary contraction. However, Information concerning individual finger forces during submaximal voluntary contraction is also very important for developing biomechanical models and for designing hand tools, work equipment, hand prostheses and robotic hands. Due to these reasons, studies on the contribution of individual finger force in submaximal grip force exertions should be fully considered. Method: A total of 60 healthy adults without any musculoskeletal disorders in the upper arms participated in this study. The young group (mean: 23.7 yrs) consisted of 30 healthy adults (15 males and 15 females), and the elderly group (mean: 75.2 yrs) was also composed of 30 participants (15 males and 15 females). A multi-Finger Force Measurement (MFFM) System developed by Kim and Kong (2008) was applied in order to measure total grip strength and individual finger forces. The participants were asked to exert a grip force attempting to minimize the difference between the target force and their exerted force for eight different target forces (5, 15, 25, 35, 45, 55, 65, and 75% MVCs). These target forces based on the maximum voluntary contraction, which were obtained from each participant, were randomly assigned in this study. Results: The contributions of middle and ring fingers to the total grip force represented an increasing trend as the target force level increased. On the other hand, the contributions of index and little fingers showed a decreasing trend as the target force level increased. In particular, Index finger exerted the largest contribution to the total grip force, followed by middle, ring and little fingers in the case of the smallest target force level (5% MVC), whereas middle finger showed the largest contribution, followed by ring, index and little fingers at the largest target force levels (65 and 75% MVCs). Conclusion: Each individual finger showed a different contribution pattern to the grip force exertion. As the target force level increase from 5 to 75% MVC, the contributions of middle and ring fingers showed an increasing trend, whereas the contributions of index and little fingers represented a decreasing trend in this study. Application: The results of this study can be useful information when designing robotic hands, hand tools and work equipment. Such information would be also useful when abnormal hand functions are evaluated.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.73-83
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• 1997

It is improtant to get accurate information about the grip strength for designing ergonomic grips and handles. It has been known that the excessive and repetitive use of grip force and unnatural posture of the wrist may cause cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs) such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tendrome, tendonitis, DeQuervan's disease, etc. In this paper we have measured the grip strength for sitting and standing posture for Korean adults ; 114 males and 105 females aged from the 20's to above the 50's. And this paper performed statistical analysis for deriving characteristics between grip strength and anthropometric data. The results are as follows ; (1) The maximum grip strength posture is exerted under standing posture with the elbow in full extension (180 .deg. ) for both males and females (2) There is significant difference among posture, sex and right and/or left handedness (3) Grip strength decreases with age for male, but it traces an inverted U curve for female (4) Grip strength has corre- lations with the age, weight, height, BSA, forearm length, hand length, thickness of wrist, circumference of wrist, and breadth of wrist for males.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.2644-2651
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate difference between grip strength, upper limb dexterity, and hand function according to touch and heat sensory stimulus. Forty healthy men were recruited. After obtaining subjects characteristics, examined grip strength, upper limb dexterity, and hand function, then we made touch sensory input using soft brush and tried the test again. Next day, we made thermal input using hot pack and did retest, too. The result showed significant differences appeared on every variable in grip strength and upper limb dexterity test (p<.001), and significant differences appeared on every variable except lifting small objects in hand function (p<.01). In conclusion, sensory input is to increase grip strength, upper limb dexterity, and hand function. The thermal sensory input has a tendency to increase grip strength, upper limb dexterity, and hand function than that of touch sensory input in effect of stimulus classification. The application of proper stimulus helps to facilitate upper limb and hand function in rehabilitation and in industrial field. So it is necessary to try more tests of frequency and intensity of stimulus.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.214-221
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• 2007

This paper presents a myoelectric hand prosthesis(MHP) with two degree of freedom(2-DOF), which consists of a mechanical hand, a surface myoelectric sensor(SMES) for measuring myoelectric signal, a control system and a charging battery. The actuation for the 2-DOF hand functions such as grasping and wrist rotation was performed by two DC-motors, and controlled by myoelectric signal measured from the residual forearm muscle. The grip force of the MHP was automatically changed by a mechanical automatic speed reducer mounted on the hand. The skin interface of SMES was composed of the electrodes using the SUS440 metal in order to endure a wet condition due to the sweat. The sensor was embedded with a amplifier and a filter circuit for rejecting the offset voltage caused by power line noises. The control system was composed of the grip force sensor, the slip sensor, and the two controllers. The two controllers were made of a RISC-type microprocessor, and its software was executed on a real-time kernel. The control system used Force Sensing Resistors, FSR, as slip pick-ups at the fingertip of a thumb and the grip force information was obtained from a strain-gauge on the lever of the MHP. The experimental results were showed that the proposed control system is feasible for the MHP.