• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.443-448
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• 2013

PURPOSE: In recent years, senior friendly device is growing rapidly because of population aging The study was designed to investigate the effects of table height of electronic bed on upper extremity and trunk EMG in elderly. METHODS: Thirty right-handed elderly without history of neurological and musculoskeletal dysfunction were participated in this study. Three heights of the table (3/3 height, 2/3 height, and 1/3 height between top of the shoulder and olecranon) were provided. During the eating performance, surface electromyography (EMG) was used to measure muscle activity, and electrodes were attached to the deltoid middle fiber, serratus anterior, suprapinatus, upper trapezius, rhomboideus, cervical part of longissimus, thoracic part of longissimus, lumbar part of longissimus on right. One way ANOVA was conducted for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: There were significant differences in deltoid middle fiber, suprapinatus, upper trapezius, rhomboideus, lumbar part of longissimus in the 3 different height of table (p<.05). The deltoid middle fiber, suprapinatus, upper trapezius, and lumbar part of longissimus were significantly increased in higher table than lower table(p<.05). And the rhomboideus was significantly decreased in higher table than lower table(p<.05). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that different height of table affect upper extremity and trunk muscle activity. The table height of olecranon is the best for elderly.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.81-91
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• 2019

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of Kinesiology taping followed by pectoralis minor muscle self-stretching on the rounded shoulder posture, neck range of motion, and upper trapezius muscle tone in subjects with a rounded shoulder posture. METHODS: Thirty adults with a rounded shoulder posture were assigned randomly to one of two groups, either one that only performed pectoralis minor muscle self-stretching or a group that performed pectoralis minor muscle self-stretching after applying Kinesiology taping ; the subjects underwent four weeks of intervention. Three rounds of intervention were carried out over four weeks, and before and after the experiment, rounded shoulder posture, neck range of motion, and upper trapezius muscle tone creep were measured. RESULTS: Following the interventions, both the experimental and control groups showed significant improvement in the rounded shoulder posture, neck range of motion, upper trapezius muscle tone, stiffness, relaxation, and creep. Significant differences in the post training gains in the rounded shoulder posture and neck range of motion were observed between the experimental and control groups. CONCLUSION: These results showed that a combination of Kinesiology taping and pectoralis minor muscle self-s tretching led to more significant improvement than that seen when only utilizing the application of pectoralis minor muscle self-stretching to change the posture of the subjects with a rounded shoulder posture.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.37-46
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• 2021

Background: The increase in the activity of the upper trapezius (UT) muscle and decrease in the activity of the serratus anterior (SA) and lower trapezius (LT) muscle produce an abnormal scapulohumeral rhythem. Therefore, the SA is the focus of therapeutic exercise protocols for the rehabilitation. This study aimed to compare the activity of the muscles according to resistance levels during protraction exercise. Methods: Thirteen healthy 20 to 30 years old male and female subjected participated in the study. All subjects performed the scapular protraction exercise with the weights of 0, 5, and 10kg, combined with horizontal shoulder abduction and adduction. The electromyography data of the SA, UT, and pectoralis major (PM) during the exercise were recorded using surface electrodes. The ratios of PM/SA and UT/SA were calculated. Repeated one-way ANOVA was used to determine the statistical significance. Results: There was a significant difference in the muscle activity of the SA and PM (p<.05). Specifically, SA had the highest activity and PM had the lowest activity at an abduction resistance 10kg (p<.01). There was a significant difference in the ratios of UT/SA and PM/SA (p<.05). The ratio of PM/SA was the lowest at the abduction resistance of 10kg (p<.01). Conclusion: According to this study, for the selective activation of the serratus anterior, protraction exercises should be applied as a method of adding resistance to protraction and horizontal abduction.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2004

Altered scapular kinematics in the scapular joint is commonly believed to be a factor contributing to trunk posture. The purpose of this study was to analyze the muscle activity with several changes of the shoulder angle. Tests were performed on 10 male subjects by repeated measures. Each subject was measured while sitting in both erect and slouched trunk positions. In each sitting posture, a three-dimensional motion analysis measurement was used to measure thoracic angle and shoulder abduction angle. Measurements were taken with the shoulder abdcution angle at $0^{\circ}$, $30^{\circ}$, $60^{\circ}$, $90^{\circ}$, $120^{\circ}$, and $150^{\circ}$. By using surface Electromyography (EMG) electrodes, we recorded the activity of the upper trapezius, middle trapezius, lower trapezius, middle deltoid, and serratus anterior muscle while the subject held a 4 kg weight at each angle. The mean of root mean square (RMS) of EMG activity was calculated. The middle trapezius, lower trapezius, and middle deltoid muscle activity showed significantly higher results but serratus anterior muscle activity showed significantly lower results (p<.05). With the shoulder angle increased, the muscle activity was also significantly increased (p<.05). In conclusion, the thoracic spine posture significantly affects the scapular muscle during scapular plane abduction, and the slouched posture is associated with increased trapezius muscle activity and with decreased serratus anterior muscle activity.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.25-35
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• 2013

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to compare the muscle activities of infraspinatus, serratus anterior, upper trapezius, and triceps brachii in different supporting surface intervals during push-up exercise. Method : Subjects of the study were 18 healthy male students without any orthopedic or neurological injuries including neck and shoulder surgeries and can perform a push-up exercise required for the study. EMG was used to measure the muscle activities of four muscles. Result : There were statistically significant differences of all the muscles in three different supporting surface intervals(p<0.5). Muscle activity of upper trapezius was the highest(MVIC 39.40%) in the narrowest width and the lowest in the widest width. In infraspinatus, muscle activity was the highest(MVIC 36.23%) in the narrowest width and the lowest in the widest width. In serratus, muscle activity is the highest(MVIC 58.04%) in the widest width and the lowest in the narrowest width. In triceps brachii, muscle activity is the highest(MVIC 68.51%) in the widest width and the lowest in the narrowest width. Conclusion : Muscle activities are at the highest with the narrowest width in the upper trapezius and the infraspinatus. In the serratus and triceps brachii, however, muscle activities are at the highest with widest width.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.39-46
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of slump sitting postures on the masticatory, neck, shoulder, and trunk muscles associated with work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMD). Eleven healthy adults (age, $23.3{\pm}2.7$ yrs; height, $174.0{\pm}4.1$ cm; weight, $61.4{\pm}6.6$ kg) participated in this study. The participants were free of injury history and neurologic deficits in the masticatory, neck muscles and upper extremities at the time of participation. The subjects were asked to perform erect and slump sitting postures under the guidance of physical therapists. The surface electromyography (EMG) was recorded from the anterior temporalis, masseter, upper trapezius, serratus anterior, middle trapezius, L3 paraspinal, external abdominal oblique, gluteus maximus muscles of 11 adults as they performed visual terminal display work, which are known as the weakened and tightened muscles owing to WRMD. The recorded signals were averaged and normalized to the mean amplitude of the EMG signal obtained during submaximal reference voluntary contractions. The results of study were as follows: The masseter, upper trapezius, serratus anterior, middle trapezius, L3 paraspinal, external abdominal oblique muscles significantly differed in the slump sitting posture (p<.05). The muscle activities of the serratus anterior, middle trapezius muscle, and external abdominal oblique were significantly lower and that of the masseter, upper trapezius, L3 paraspinal muscles were significantly higher. Further research is needed to assess the motor control problems and the function of the deep muscles in posture stability of patients with WRMD.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.69-78
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• 2021

Background: Approximately 30% of people suffer from chronic neck and shoulder pain. Chronic neck and shoulder pain arise due to the exposure to continuous low loading and monotonous work. This is a common musculoskeletal disorder in a society. As physical therapists, we should give appropriate treatment to these people. Methods: A total of 26 patients with chronic neck and shoulder myalgia were randomly allocated into two experimental groups. First, 13 patients received shoulder strength training, while the other 13 patients received cervical mobilization. Outcome measures included bilateral pressure pain threshold by using an algometer at upper trapezius, visual analogue scale (VAS) to express their pain scale, and muscle tension by using myoton pro device pre-intervention and after the final treatment. Results: The VAS and muscle tension in upper trapezius significantly decreased (p<.05) in both groups; however, no differences between two groups were observed (p>.05). The pressure pain threshold in upper trapezius significantly increased (p<.05) in both groups; yet, again, the differences between the groups did not reach statistical significance (p>.05). Conclusion: As methods of treatment, shoulder-specific strength training and cervical mobilization can be appropriate approaches to the treatment of neck and shoulder musculoskeletal disorder.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.815-823
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• 2015

This study aimed to examine the most effective exercise method for shoulder joint rehabilitation by comparatively observing activity of shoulder stabilizer muscles during push up and push up plus exercises under diverse stable conditions. The subjects were 20 healthy adults students who went to M university. While the subjects conducted push up and push up plus exercises under diverse stable conditions(a stable surface, a support of 25cm height, a support of 30 cm height and a balance pad), activities of the upper trapezius muscle, pectoralis major muscle, serratus anterior muscle, and triceps brachii muscle were recorded. During push up and push up plus exercises, activities of the stabilizer muscles were higher when the stable condition was changed rather than on the stable surface. In particular, when the support of 30cm height and balance pads were applied, activity of the shoulder stabilizer was highest. There were significant differences in the upper trapezius muscle and triceps brachii muscle during the push up exercise(p<.05) and in the serratus anterior muscle during the push up plus exercise(p<.05). Activities of the shoulder stabilizers were higher when the upper and lower limbs' surface stable conditions were changed than the stable surface. Therefore, when programs for rehabilitation of shoulder joints are applied, provision of diverse stable conditions according to patients' conditions will be effective methods.

• 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.18 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2011

Push-up plus has been advocated for increasing the activity of the serratus anterior muscle, the most critical scapular stabilizer. However, no previous study has reported the possibility of compensatory motion on the part of the pectoralis major, which could substitute for the action of the serratus anterior during push-up plus. The aim of the current study was to investigate the immediate effect of electromyography (EMG) biofeedback of the pectoralis major muscle on the pectoralis major, upper trapezius, and serratus anterior muscles during push-up plus. Fourteen healthy young subjects voluntarily participated in this study; each subject performed push-up plus from the quadruped position, in two conditions (i.e., with or without visual and auditory biofeedback). Surface EMG was used to measure pectoralis major, serratus anterior, and upper trapezius activity. A paired t-test was used to determine any statistically significant difference between the two conditions. Additionally, effect size was calculated to quantify the magnitude of EMG biofeedback in each muscle. Visual and auditory feedback reduced pectoralis major muscle activity significantly (p=.000) and increased the serratus anterior muscle activity significantly (p=.002), but did not induce a significant difference in upper trapezius muscle activity (p=.881). Thus, it is concluded that the visual and auditory feedback of pectoralis major muscle activity can be used to facilitate serratus anterior muscle activity during push-up plus.