• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.1037-1040
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• 2016

This study aims to investigate the effects of ankle foot orthosis(AFO) on the activities of tibialis anterior(TA), soleus(Sol), rectus femoris(RF) and biceps femoris(BF) during stairs descending. The activities of TA, Sol, RF and BF were initially measured while descending 4 stairs without using AFO. The activities of the same muscles were then measured again while descending 4 stairs while using AFO. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to analyze the results in order to examine the differences between the with using AFO and without using AFO. Although the activities of TA, Sol and RF were relatively lower while using AFO than without using AFO, only the differences in Sol and RF activities were significant(p<0.05). The activity of BF was relatively higher while using AFO compared to the activity of BF observed without using AFO. However, difference was not significant(p>0.05). Conclusion of this study was observed since AFO's ground reaction force absorption during stairs descending reduced the need to use So and RF that is related to shock absorption. BF activity was increased with AFO than without during standing forward to correct the trunk stability.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2015.07a
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• pp.1425-1426
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• 2015

Core spine muscle are related are associated with trunk stability and play a main role for the prevention of low back pain. In this study, it was investigated the effect of spine stabilization exercise device on core spinal muscles using a musculoskeletal model The forward direction of the tilt mainly induced the activation of long and superficial back muscles and the backward affected the front muscles. It was shown that spine stabilization exercise device can induce significant core muscle exercise effect.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.30-40
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• 2024

Background: The purpose of this study is to identify the difference in muscle activity and muscle contraction onset time according to a LLD and object weight When subjects performed a lifting task. Design: Repeated measure design Methods: 15 male adults participated in this study. When subjects performed a lifting task, we measured a difference of muscle activity and muscle contraction onset time in the rectus abdominis(RA), the erector spinae(ES), and the rectus femoris(RF) between both legs using the surface electromyogram (Telemyo DTS, Noraxon Inc., USA). When subjects performed a lifting task, the weight of the object was set to 0% kg, 10% kg, and 20% kg of the subject's body weight, excluding the weight of the box. Results: The difference in muscle activity in the RA, the ES, and the RF between both legs when lifting an object was larger in LLD condition than in non-LLD condition(p<0.05). In all of muscles, the difference of contraction onset time was generally increased as the object's weight increased. Specially, the difference in muscle contraction onset time in the RA, the ES between both legs was larger in the LLD condition than in the non-LLD condition(p<0.05). Conclusion: This study suggests that LLD affects the muscle activity and muscle contraction onset time during lifting objects. It can be used as data to prevent joint damage and muscle due to the LLD during work and movements of daily living.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.6 no.5
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• pp.123-130
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• 2015

This study examines the effects of different types of bridge exercises on the thickness of trunk muscles through ultrasound fusion imaging on 32 students. The thickness of the internal oblique (IO), external oblique (EO), transverse abdominis (TrA), and multifidus (Mf) muscles were measured in three different bridge exercises. The exercises included a supine bridge exercise, which was performed on a fixed support surface (Exercise A), a gym ball bridge exercise (Exercise B), and a sling bridge exercise (Exercise C). There were significant differences among the three bridge exercises in the IO, TrA, and Mf muscles. The IO was thickest in Exercise B followed by Exercise A and C. In contrast, the TrA and the Mf muscles were thickest in Exercise C followed by Exercise A and B. Therefore, the sling bridge exercise may be a more effective method of enhancing trunk muscle thickness than the exercises performed in other positions. Until recently, no previous studies had observed substantial changes in muscle thickness using ultrasound fusion imaging. This study suggests that sling bridge exercises contribute most to the activation of trunk muscles. Therefore, the research can contribute to the prescription and application of bridge exercises in clinical practices.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.115-122
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• 2011

Recently, we have proposed a hypothesis that spinal structures have a stress sensor driving feedback mechanism, In the human spine, spinal structure could react to modify muscular action in such a way so as to equalize stress at the disc, therefore reduce the risk of injury, In this analysis, abdominal muscle and abdominal pressure, which were not included in the previous study, were added to identify those effects in spine stability during upright stance posture for the case where the intervertebral disc plays the role of mechanoreceptor, The musculoskeletal FE model was consisted with detailed whole lumbar spine, pelvis, sacrum, coccyx and simplified trunk model. Muscle architecture with 46 local muscles containing paraspinal muscle and 6 rectus abdominal muscles were assigned according to the acting directions. The magnitude of 4kPa was considered for abdominal pressure. Minimization of the nucleus pressure deviation and annulus fiber average tension stress deviation was chosen for cost function. Developed model provide nice coincidence with in-vivo measurement (nucleus pressure). Analysis was conducted according to existence of co-activation of abdominal muscle and abdominal pressure. Antagonistic activity of abdominal muscle produced stability of spinal column with relatively small amount of total muscle force. In contrast to the abdominal muscle, effect of abdominal pressure was not clear that was partly depending on the assumption of constant abdominal pressure.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.308-313
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different kettlebell mass (30%, 40%, and 50% of the body mass) on kinematics and kinetic variables of kettlebell swing. Method: Total of 16 healthy male who had at least 1 year of kettlebell training experience were participated in this study (age: 31.69 ± 3.46 yrd., height: 173.38 ± 4.84 cm, body mass: 74.53 ± 6.45 kg). In this study, a 13-segments whole-body model (upper trunk, lower trunk, pelvis, both side of forearm, upperarm, thigh, and shank) was used and 26 reflective markers were attached to the body to identify the segments during the movement. A 3-dimensional motion analysis with 8 infrared cameras and 4 channeled EMG was performed to find the effect of kettlebell mass on its swing. To verify the kettlebell mass effect, a one-way ANOVA with a repeated measure was used and the statistical significance level was set at 𝛼=.05. Results: Firstly, in all lower extremity joints and thoracic vertebrae, a statistically significant change in angle was shown according to an increase in kettlebell mass during kettlebell swing (p<.05). Secondly, in both the up-swing and down-swing phases, the knee joint and ankle joint ROM showed a statistically significant increase as the kettlebell mass increased (p<.05) but no statistically significant difference was found in the hip joint and thoracic spine (p>.05). Lastly, the hamstrings muscle activity was statistically significantly increased as the kettlebell mass increased during up-swing phases (p<.05). Also, as the kettlebell mass increased in P4 of the down swing phase, the gluteus maximus showed a statistically significantly increased muscle activation, whereas the rectus femoris showed a statistically significantly decreased muscle activation (p <.05). Conclusion: As a result of this study, hip extension decreased and knee extension increased at 40% and 50% of body mass, and the spine also failed to maintain neutrality and increased flexion. Also, when kettlebell swings are performed with 50% of body mass, synergistic muscle dominance appears over 30% and 40% of body mass, which is judged to have a risk of potential injury. Therefore, it is thought that for beginners who start kettlebell exercise, swing practice should be performed with 30% of body mass. In addition, even in the case of experienced seniors, as the weight increases, the potential injury risk may increase, so it is thought that caution should be exercised when performing swings with 40% and 50% of body mass. In conclusion, it is thought that increasing the weight after sufficiently training with 30% of the weight of all subjects performing kettlebell swing is a way to maximize the exercise effect as well as prevent injury.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.55-60
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• 2013

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a difference in activation of the rectus femoris, vastus medialis oblique, vastus lateralis, semitendinosus, and biceps femoris when performing normal free squat with standinding position and free squat with $30^{\circ}$ flexed hip joint. Methods: Electromyograph surface electrodes were placed on the rectus femoris, vastus medialis oblique, vastus lateralis, semitendinosus, and biceps femoris of 19 healthy college students. The participants performed standing bilateral squats and standing bilateral squats with $30^{\circ}$ flexed hip joint with EMG measures taken upon initiation of muscle activity as confirmed by an electronic goniometer. Participants completed one trial with the EMG time measurements on each type. Results: There was a significant difference between normal squats(standing squats) and normal squats with $30^{\circ}$ flexed hip joint. The normal squat exercise was statistically higer than normal squat exercise with $30^{\circ}$ flexed trunk except for semitendinosus and biceps femoris that shown slightly high. Conclusions: As a result of this study, there were increases of muscle activity in both ways. In particular, it may be more beneficial for knee joint stabilization to perform normal squat exercise with standing position relatively.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.2178-2183
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• 2020

Background: Trunk flexor-extensor muscles' co-activation and upright posture are important for spinal stability. Abdominal bracing and maximal expiration are being used as exercises to excel torso co-contraction. However, no study has on comparison of the effect of this exercise on multifidus in the upright sitting posture. Objectives: This study aims to verify the effectiveness of abdominal bracing and expiration maneuvers in lumbo-pelvic upright sitting. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Eighteen healthy women were recruited for this study. The multifidus muscle thickness of all subjects was measured in three sitting conditions (lumbo-pelvic upright sitting, lumbo-pelvic upright sitting with abdominal bracing, and lumbo-pelvic upright sitting with maximum expiration) using ultrasound. One-way repeated measure analysis of variance was used for the evaluation. Results: Compared to lumbo-pelvic upright sitting, lumbo-pelvic upright sitting with abdominal bracing and lumbo-pelvic upright sitting with maximum expiration were associated with significantly increment of muscle thickness. There was no significant difference in muscle thickness between lumbo-pelvic upright sitting with abdominal bracing and lumbo-pelvic upright sitting with maximum expiration. Conclusion: Abdominal bracing and maximum expiration could be beneficial to increasing lumbar multifidus thickness in lumbo-pelvic upright sitting.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.144-151
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• 2023

Background: The gluteus maximus (GM) muscle comprise the lumbo-pelvic complex and is an important stabilizing muscle during leg extension. In patients with low back pain (LBP) with weakness of the GM, spine leads to compensatory muscle activities such as instantaneous increase of the erector spinae (ES) muscle activity. Four-point kneeling arm and leg lift (FKALL) is most common types of lumbopelvic and GM muscles strengthening exercise. We assumed that altered hip position during FKALL may increase thoraco-lumbar stabilizer like GM activity more effectively method. Objects: The purpose of this study was investigated that effects of the three exercise postures on the right-sided GM, internal oblique (IO), external oblique (EO), and multifidus (MF) muscle activities and pelvic kinematic during FKALL. Methods: Twenty eight healthy individuals participated in this study. The exercises were performed three conditions of FKALL (pure FKALL, FKALL with 120° hip flexion of the supporting leg, FKALL with 30° hip abduction of the lifted leg). Participants performed FKALL exercises three times each condition, and motion sensor used to measure pelvic tilt and rotation angle. Results: This study demonstrated that no significant change in pelvic angle during hip movement in the FKALL (p > 0.05). However, the MF and GM muscle activities in FKALL with hip flexion and hip abduction is greater than pure FKALL position (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our finding suggests that change the posture of the hip joint to facilitate GM muscle activation during trunk stabilization exercises such as the FKALL.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2017

Objective: There are many types of exercises with upper and lower-limb action for activation of abdominal muscles for trunk stabilization. A comparison of the different exercise methods been very useful to enhance the result from the exercise for treatment. The purpose of this study was to investigate through surface electromyography (EMG) the changes in abdominal muscle activity during the performance of three different dead-bug exercise methods performed at three different speeds. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: The subjects were 30 healthy adults (13 males and 17 females). We instructed the subjects to perform three different dead-bug exercises. We also applied three different speeds to the dead-bug exercises; 60 bpm, 90 bpm, and 120 bpm with use of a metronome. The assessment of EMG was percentage of maximal voluntary isometric contraction on the rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), and internal oblique (IO). Results: EMG activation of the RA, EO and IO muscles was significantly greater at the higher speed (p<0.05). There was a significant increase in abdominal muscle activity during the dead-bug exercise performed with both the upper and lower extremities compared to that with only the upper extremity or the lower extremities (p<0.05). Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that the performance of the dead-bug exercise with both the upper and lower extremities combined at a high speed is more effective compared to other exercises. Therefore, it is suggested that more favourable and effective outcomes may occur when the type and speed of the exercise is chosen appropriately.