• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.11-19
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• 2017

Background: Methods for exercising serratus anterior (SA) and upper trapezius (UT) muscles are important for the recovery of patients with various shoulder disorders, yet the efficacy of closed or open kinetic chain exercises have not yet been evaluated. Objects: The purpose of this study was to compare the activation of the SA and UT muscles during scapular protraction considering both closed and open kinetic chain exercises. Methods: Thirty subjects were randomly divided into experimental groups (closed kinetic chain exercise) and control groups (open kinetic chain exercise) in which scapular protraction was performed at $90^{\circ}$ or $125^{\circ}$ shoulder flexion. Electromyographic activity data were collected from the SA and UT muscles per position and exercise method. Results: Separate mixed 2-way analysis of variance showed significant differences in the activation of the SA (F1,28=6.447, p=.017) and the UT (F1,28=35.450, p=.001) muscles between the groups at $90^{\circ}$ and $125^{\circ}$ shoulder flexion. Also, the SA/UT ratio measures at $90^{\circ}$ and $125^{\circ}$ shoulder flexion significantly differed between the groups (F1,28=15.457, p=.001). That is, the closed chain exercise was more effective than open chain exercise for strengthening the SA muscle and controlling the UT muscle, $125^{\circ}$ of shoulder joint was more effective than $90^{\circ}$. Conclusion: The findings suggest that scapular protraction with shoulder $125^{\circ}$ flexion at the closed kinetic chain exercise may be more effective in increasing SA muscle activation and decreasing UT muscle activation as well as increasing the SA/UT ratio than open kinetic chain exercise.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.47-51
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of wearable sensor wear on the muscle contraction of cervical erector spinae and upper trapezius causing the forward head posture induction in order to reduce the stress induced by the use of smartphone. This study was to investigate the muscle activity of healthy adults in the 20th to 30th generations by dividing them into the control group using the smartphone, the non-wearing group conscious the posture of the head posture, and the wearing group wearing the wearable sensor. There were no differences in muscle activity between cervical erector spinae and upper trapezius compared to the control, non - wearing, and wearing groups. In addition, the changes in muscle activity of cervical erector spinae muscles were increased in all groups, but the muscle activity of upper trapezius muscles were in the wear group compared to the non-wear group and the control group, but there was no statistical significance. That is, wear of the wearable sensor may be effective in controlling the conscious posture, but it may cause the compensation of another part.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.287-291
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was conducted to determine the influence of inspiratory muscle exercise using visual biofeedback and inspiratory muscle exercise with diaphragm breathing retraining in stroke patients in regard to inspiratory muscle activity and respiratory function and to provide fundamental information on intervention for improvement of pulmonary function in stroke patients. Methods: The current study measured and analyzed inspiratory muscle activity and pulmonary function of 15 randomly selected subjects in a Biofeedback inspiratory muscle exercise (BIE) group that uses visual feedback and 15 subjects in the Diaphragm breathing exercise (DBE) group that uses breathing retraining before and after intervention. Intervention was performed for 30 minutes, 5 times a week, for 8 weeks. Subjects were measured for muscle activity of upper trapezius muscle and lattisimus dorsi muscle using a surface electromyography system and maximum inspiratory pressure was measured using a respiratory measurement device. For homogeneity test of subjects, independent t-test was performed and ANCOVA was performed for comparison of inspiratory muscle activity and pulmonary function between groups. Results: In the study results, the BIE group showed more significant muscle activity than the DBE group in upper trapezius muscle and lattisimus dorsi muscle (p<0.001). In addition, the BIE group showed more pressure than the DBE group in maximum inspiratory pressure (p<0.001). Conclusion: Based on the current study, performing biofeedback respiration exercise simultaneously with breathing retraining in stroke patients can provide more efficient respiratory physical therapy. In addition, it is considered that consistent study on the effectiveness is necessary to further improve clinical availability.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.297-302
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• 2011

Many WMSDs(work-related-musculoskeletal disorders) have been reported in diverse industries and have also attracted much attention in recent years. Neck-related MSD is generally known as one of common WMSDs, especially it happens to workers who are working at the automobile assembly plants and/or shipyards. The awkward posture is considered as a main cause of neck-related MSDs. A neck supporter was developed to prevent neck-related MSDs, and 10 males were recruited to evaluate the newly developed neck supporter by measuring subjective discomfort ratings of whole body, shoulder, neck and neck-muscle activities. Muscle activities from four neck muscle groups(left/right sternocleidomastoid and upper/middle trapezius) were measured while simulating an automobile assembly task. Results showed that the neck supporter help to significantly improve subjective discomfort for whole-body, shoulder as well as neck body parts. The analyses of muscular activities also showed that the activities of left/right sternocleidomastoid muscles were statistically decreased with the neck supporter in this study. The muscle activities of upper/middle trapezius in case of wearing the neck supporter were not significantly different with the muscle activities in case of no-wearing the neck supporter. Overall findings verified that the neck supporter might help to prevent neck-related MSDs based on the current study.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.301-309
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• 2015

Objective : The purpose of this study was to describe the correlation between the activity of the muscles of upper and lower limbs of a golf driver swing according to shoulder injury. Method : The subjects were 18 professional golfers (7 male in KPGA and 11 female in KLPGA). Using surface electromyography, we evaluated muscle activities during the golf drive swing. Surface electrodes were used to record the level of muscle activity in the left Deltoid(MD), Triceps Brachii(TB), Pectoralis(PM), Trapezius(UT), Rectus Femoris(RF), Vastus Medialis Obilique(VMO), Biceps Femoris(BF), Gastrocnemius(GCM) muscles during the golfer's swing. The golf swing was divided into five phases: take away, forward swing, acceleration, early follow through, late follow through. Results : The results can be summarized as follows: MD, VMO had statistically significant difference in take away phases, GCM had statistically significant difference in acceleration phases, MD, PM, VMO had statistically significant difference in early follow through phases, PM had statistically significant difference in late follow through phases, Conclusion : Muscle activity of the 8 muscles(Deltoid, Triceps Brachii, Pectoralis, Trapezius, Rectus Femoris, Vastus Medialis Obilique, Biceps Femoris, Gastrocnemius) along the shoulder damage or absence of has shown that they are organically connected to each of the phases.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.19-25
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• 1992

The pressure pain thresholds of head and neck muscles of patients suffering from tensiontype headache220, all female, ages ranged from 13 to 50 years (28.4$\pm$9.6) and 39 healthy controls, all female, ages ranged from 14 to 46 years (24.4$\pm$9.2) were recorded by the electronic algometer (Electyronic Algometer Type I, Somedic, Stockholm, Sweden). And the obtained results were as follows : 1. The pressure pain thresholds of patient group were lower than those of controls in superior sternocleidomastoid muscle, middle sternocleidomastoid muscle, and trapezius insertion muscle (P<0.001) 2. The pressure pain thresholds of patient group were not different from those of controls in anterior temporal, middle temporal, posterior temporal, deep masseter, anterior masseter, inferior masseter, medial pterygoid, posterior digastric, splenius capitus and upper trapezius muscle (P>0.05). 3. Seventy-one percent of tension-type headache patients had more than one muscle, of whicb pressure pain threshold was lowered significantly (less than mean of control - 1.5SD). 4. The pressure pain thresholds of head and neck muscles should be considered as a criterion for the diagnosis of tension-type headache.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.1-6
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• 2012

Purpose : The current research examines the muscle activity that happens during scaling practice subject to 20 dental hygienic students with musculoskeletal pain and then propose a basic data according to the working attitude of the Dental Hygienist. Method : The Nordic-style questionnaire is used to define experimental group with musculoskeletal pain and control group. During the scaling the surface EMG device is used to measure the muscle activity of experimental and control group. Study design : The surface EMG is measure RMS(root mean square) of suboccipital muscle, biceps brachii, upper trapezius, and brachioradialis muscle activity. Results : In the experimental group, the RMS of upper trapezius and brachioradialis is increased during scaling practice(p<0.05), but the control group's RMS is not changed(p>0.05). Conclusion : Musculoskeletal pain may contribute to increase muscle activity of neck & arm during scaling practice. In the future we think there is a need to raise the office efficiency by subjecting to dental hyginiest that are in the clinics and performing experiments.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.148-154
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• 2021

Purpose: This study covered the effect of shoulder stabilization exercise on muscle activity, postural alignment and self-efficacy of the elderly people with round shoulders by visiting village hall in rural area. Methods: 40 elderly people with round shoulders were recruited for this study (experimental group: 20 subjects and control group: 20 subjects). The experimental group was asked to perform shoulder stabilization exercise 60 minutes per one time for 8 weeks and three times in a week and the control group was asked to receive education related to pain management for the initial one time. Before and after the experiment, we measured the subjects' muscle activity of upper trapezius, serratus anterior, infraspinatus, pectoralis major and the lower trapezius, then postural alignment of craniovertebral angle and round shoulder posture. In addition, self-efficacy is measured through the questionnaire. Results: Compared to the control group, the experimental group showed significant differences in the muscle activity of all muscles, posture alignment of the craniovertebral angle. round shoulder posture, and improvement of self-efficacy. Conclusion: We found that shoulder stabilization exercise is effective in muscle activity, postural alignment and self-efficacy of the elderly people through visit-rehabilitation service. This study can be used for improving the physical and mental abilities through active visit-rehabilitation service for areas where have poor medical benefits. It is considered that systematic visit rehabilitation service should have institutional framework ultimately.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to compare the immediate effects of upper trapezius muscle stretching in more tensed position (MTP) and less tensed position (LTP) on the change of range of motion (ROM) for neck rotation, and the ROM for conjunct neck motions at end-range of neck rotation toward the painful side in patients with unilateral neck pain. Eighteen patients with unilateral neck pain were recruited for the study's MTP group, and 18 age-, weight- and gender-matched patients with unilateral neck pain were recruited for LTP group. The ROM changes in active neck primary and conjunct motions were measured using a cervical ROM inclinometer in the sitting position. Our results showed that both upper trapezius stretching method in MTP and LTP were significantly effective in increasing the ROM of neck rotation toward painful side in patients with unilateral neck pain. However, a significantly greater increase in the ROM for neck rotation and a further decrease in conjunct neck extension during neck rotation toward the painful side were shown in MTP group, compared to LTP group. The upper trapezius stretching in MTP is useful in increasing the ROM of neck rotation and decreasing the range of conjunct neck extension during neck rotation toward the painful side in patients with unilateral neck pain.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.160-168
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• 2023

Background: Individuals with scapular winging have a weak serratus anterior (SA) muscle, and to compensate, the pectoralis major (PM) and upper trapezius (UT) muscles excessively activate, which can cause upper extremity dysfunction. This study aimed to compare the effects of isometric horizontal abduction (IHA) on SA, PM, and UT muscle activity, as well as the SA/PM and SA/UT muscle activity ratios during knee push-up plus (KPP) at 90° and 120° of shoulder flexion. Objects: This study aimed to compare the effects of IHA on SA, PM, and UT muscle activity, as well as the SA/PM and SA/UT muscle activity ratios during KPP at 90° and 120° of shoulder flexion. Methods: This study, conducted at a university research laboratory, included 20 individuals with scapular winging. Participants performed KPP with and without IHA at 90° (KPP90) and 120° (KPP120) of shoulder flexion. SA, PM, and UT muscle activity were measured using surface electromyography. Results: PM activity in KPP90 with IHA was significantly lower than KPP90 and in KPP120 was significantly lower than KPP90. UT activity was significantly greater with IHA than without IHA and at 120° than 90° of shoulder flexion. SA/PM muscle activity ratio was significantly higher in KPP90 with IHA than without IHA and in KPP120 than in KPP90. SA/UT muscle activity ratio was significantly lower with IHA than without IHA. Conclusion: KPP90 with IHA and KPP120 are effective exercises to reduce PM activity and increase SA/PM muscle activity ratio. However, applying IHA in KPP90 also reduces SA/UT muscle activity ratio, implying that it would be preferable to apply KPP120 in individuals overusing their UT muscles.