• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.24-31
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• 2009

This study aimed to investigate the effect of differing heel heights on the electromyographic (EMG) activity in vastus medialis (VM) and vastus lateralis (VL) during stair ascending and descending activities. A total of 26 healthy women volunteered to perform stair-ascending and stair-descending tasks with 3 heel heights: barefoot, 3 cm, and 7 cm. The EMG activities of the VM and VL were recorded during the tasks. During the stair ascending and descending tasks, the EMG activities of both VM and VL significantly changed with differing the heel heights (p<.05). Moreover, the EMG activities of VM and VL during the stair ascending task were significantly higher than the corresponding values during the stair-descending task (p<.05). However, there were no significant differences between the VM:VL EMG ratios for the 3 heel heights (p>.05). The VM:VL EMG ratios between the 2 tasks differed significantly in the 7 cm high heel condition (p<.05). Despite an increase in the EMG activities in both VM and VL during stair ascending and descending tasks, there was no change in the relative EMG intensities of VM and VL, which was measured by calculating the VM:VL ratio this result indicates that no VM:VL imbalances were elicited. The relative EMG intensities of VM and VL during stair descent were lower than the corresponding values during the ascent, suggesting that VM and VL may show an imbalance in the eccentric activation during the weight-acceptance phase. This study provides useful information that will facilitate future research on how heel height affects muscle activity around the knee joint.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.67-75
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare Hip-Knee-Ankle(HKA) angle and muscle activation ratio between vastus medialis(VM), rectus femoris(RF), and vastus lateralis (VL), and by this, to examine their relationship. It is aimed to explore how the activation ratio among the muscles involved in patellofemoral kinetics would vary in relation with the frontal alignment of the lower extremity. Subjects and Methods: 26 healthy subjects were recruited for the study. The HKA angles were measured with radiograph. The VM, RF, VL muscle activation level were measured by surface electromyography while each participant performed 4 different types of movement (isometric knee extension, squat, ambulation, step-up) and VM/RF, VM/VL, RF/VL ratios were calculated. Pearson correlation was used to estimate the relationship between the HKA angle and the muscle ratio. Results: There was significant moderate correlation between HKA angle and VM: RF on the left side during ambulation (p<0.05). Moderate correlations were also observed during step-up and squat with less significance (p<0.1). Conclusion: The frontal alignment of the knee measured by the HKA angle was conditionally associated with muscle activation ratio between VM and RF (VM:RF); On the left, during ambulation, step-up, and squat, the more valgus knee tended to correlate with the more VM muscle activation ratio, which is expected to induce more stabilizing effect to the patella and its tracking. It suggests that the frontal alignement measured by the HKA-angle can affect PF kinetics. It also indicates a possibility that increase in valgus alignment of the knee, by the HKA measurement, may not act unfavorably to generate PFP.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.192-204
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• 2004

The surface electromyographic(sEMG) analyses were knee joint angle during open kinetic chain exercise (OKC) and close kinetic chain exercise (CKC) in vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis (VL), and rectus femoralis (RF). Ten subjects with normal , aged 20 to 30(X=27.4, SD=3.23), were randomized Statistical techniques for data analysis were applied paired t-test. The 0.05 level of significane was used as the critical level for rejection of the null hypotheses for the study. And the results were: 1) Both OKC and CKC improved the strength of quadriceps muscle as the knee joint flexion was increased. 2) In OKC, the strength of VM was improved the most at the 30 degree angle. 3) In CKC, the strength of VM was improved the most at the 30 degree angle. 4) The VM/VL ratio was the largest at the 10 and 20 degree angles in OKC and CKC. 5) The VM/VL ratio at 10, 20, and 30 degree angles was significantly different between OKC and CKC (P < 0.05). Base on the results, the OKCE is recommended for the knee joint patients, especially for the patellofemoral pain syndrome patients, during the early phase of rehabilitation. In order to improve strength of the quadriceps, muscle strength training at 30 degree angle is recommended. In order to improve VM/VL ratio, 10 and 20 degree angles are recommended during OKCE and CKCE, respectively. Future researches are warranted comparing electromyographic analysis between OKCE and CKCE in the quadriceps at a certain work lead, and muscle strength performance in the quadriceps at different positions of foot.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.59-71
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• 2023

Background: This study was to investigate the effects of coordinative locomotor training(CLT) using elastic bands on pain, dynamic balance, muscle strength, and muscle activity of female college students with patellofemoral pain syndrome(PFPS). Design: Randomized Controlled Trial Methods: Twenty-six female college students with PFPS were assigned randomly to an experimental(n=13) or control(n=13) group. The experimental group performed CLT using an elastic band. The control group performed squat exercises to strengthen muscle strength. The 30-minute inter- vention was applied a total of twelve times, three times a week for four weeks. All subjects measured the pain, the muscle strength, the dynamic balance, and the muscle activity(VL/VM ratio) before and after intervention. A paired t-test was used for the determination of differences before and after treatment, and an independent t-test was used for the determination of differences between treatment groups. Results: As a result of comparison within groups, the experimental group showed significant differences in pain, muscle strength, dynamic balance, and VL/VM ratio after the experiment(p<0.05), and the control group showed significant differences in pain, muscle strength, and dynamic balance after the experiment(p<0.05). In comparison between the two groups, the experimental group showed more significant differences in pain, dynamic balance, and VL/VM ratio than the control group(p<0.05), and the control group showed more significant differences in muscle strength than the experimental group(p<0.05). Conclusion: Based on these results, CLT using elastic bands effectively improved the pain, muscle strength, dynamic balance, and VL/VM ratio of female college students with PFPS.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.125-132
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• 2018

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the isolated activation ratio of the quadriceps femoris muscle on different support surfaces during squat exercise. Methods: Twenty participants (10 males and 10 females) voluntarily agreed to participate in the research after receiving an explanation about the purpose and process of the study. Each participant performed squat exercises on three different support surfaces (a flat surface, a form roller, and an unstable surface). Muscle activities of the rectus femoris (RF), vastus medialis (VM), and vastus lateralis (VL) were measured by electromyography. The isolated activation ratio of the quadriceps femoris muscle was calculated using the %isolation formula. Results: For the squat exercise, the %isolation value of the VM was significantly higher on the unstable surface than on the flat surface and form roller. In contrast, the %isolation values for the RF for the squat exercise were significantly higher on the flat surface and form roller than on the unstable surface. There was no significant differences in the %isolation values of the VL on the three different surfaces. Conclusion: The findings indicate that squat exercise on different surfaces results in differential activation of the quadriceps femoris muscle, which suggests that squat exercise on a multi-directional unstable surface could increase the isolated activation ratio of the VM.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.441-450
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• 2019

Purpose: This study identified the co-activation of quadriceps and hamstring muscles during hamstring strengthening exercises in healthy adults. Methods: Twenty-one participants were required for the present study design to achieve 80% power, 0.8 effect size (η2), and an alpha level of 0.05. Thus, this study recruited 21 healthy adults. All participants performed Nordic exercises, bridge exercises, and one-leg deadlifts randomly. The activity of the rectus femoris, vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis (VL), biceps femoris (BF), and semitendinosus (SM) were measured. In addition, the ratios of VM/VL and hamstring/quadriceps (HQ) were measured during the three hamstring strengthening exercises using electromyography. One-way ANOVA was used to compare the co-activation of quadriceps and hamstring muscles in the three exercises. Results: The activity of VM and VL during the performance of one-leg deadlifts was significantly higher than the other two exercises. The BF had significantly higher activity during the Nordic exercises compared to the other two exercises. In addition, the SM activation was significantly greater during Nordic exercises than one-leg deadlifts. Additionally, there was significant difference in HQ ratio among hamstring strengthening exercises. In specific, the one-leg deadlifts yielded a significantly lower HQ ratio. Conclusion: This study revealed that one-leg deadlifts are effective in rehabilitation for anterior cruciate ligament injury. In addition, Nordic exercises can be recommended to facilitate hamstring muscle activation.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.79-86
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate muscle activity according to knee flexion angle during single-limb-deadlift exercises. Methods: In total, 26 healthy volunteers participated. The single-limb-deadlift consisted of 0˚, 15˚, and 30˚ knee joint bending. The electromyography data were collected from the semitendinosus (SM), the biceps femoris (BF), the rectus femoris (RF), the vastus lateralis (VL), and the vastus medialis (VM). In addition, hamstrings and quadriceps (HQ) ratio was measured during the single-limb-deadlift using electromyography. Results: During the single-limb-deadlift, RF, VL, and VM were significantly higher at 30˚ bending angles compared to muscle activity of 0˚ and 15˚ knee-joint bending. The HQ ratio had significant differences in all three knee joint bending angles. In particular, the single-limb-deadlift carried out to a 30˚ knee-joint bend showed the closest value to 1. Conclusion: The most balanced coactivation ratios were observed during a single-limb-deadlift to a 30˚ knee-joint bend angle. A single-limb-deadlift at a knee-bend angle of less than 30˚ could be used as an exercise to prevent ACL injury. It could also be used for post-injury rehabilitation programs by increasing knee-joint stability.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 2023

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of different frequency on of knee extensors muscle function during electrical muscle stimulation (EMS). Method: In this research, 40 subjects who have no musculoskeletal disorder, and less than a year workout experience were recruited in order to analyze effects of EMS with different stimulus frequency. Forty subjects were randomly divided into four groups of ten subjects in each group. A EMS training program with different frequencies (without EMS [WE], EMS with frequency 30 Hz [E30], EMS with frequency 60 Hz [E60], EMS with frequency 90 Hz [E90]) was assigned to each group. Throughout eight weeks of training, test subjects were simultaneously carried out knee extension exercises such as squat, leg extension, and leg-press while using EMS with different frequency (20 min, pulse width 250 ㎲, on-off ratio 1:1). Isokinetic knee extension strength, muscle activity of the rectus femoris (RF), the vastus medialis (VM), and the vastus lateralis (VL), and the median frequency of the RF, the VM, and the VL were collected and compared between pre and post training in order to find effects of applying EMS with different frequencies. For each dependent variable, a one-way ANOVA was to determine whether there were significant differences among four different conditions (p<.05). When a significant difference was found, post hoc analyses were performed using the contrast procedure. Results: When compared to WE and E90, E30 causes significant increase in isokinetic knee extension strength. No significant differences were found in EMG values across different EMS conditions. However, the median frequency of the VM in E30 was significantly increased than the corresponding value for WE. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that EMS training with 30 Hz frequency had positive effect on knee extensor. Based of the findings of the present study, EMS training with lower frequency may help the performer to focus on developing strength in knee extensor muscles.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.127-137
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• 2022

PURPOSE: This study sought to evaluate muscle activity and foot pressure during gait, and balance in female college students with genu valgum. METHOD: Participants were assigned based on their Q-angle to genu valgum group greater than 20° (GVG, n = 12), unilateral genu valgum group greater than 20° (UVG, n = 11), and control group (CON, n = 13). All subjects were evaluated for balance (Trace length, C90 area, C90 angle, and the Romberg test), muscle activity (gluteus medius; GM, tensor fasciae latae; TFL, vastus medialis; VM, vastus lateralis; VL, biceps femoris; BF, gastrocnemius; GCM and tibialis anterior; TA) and foot pressure (F/F ratio, R/F ratio, Hallux, 2~5 toe, 1st MT, 2~4 MT, 5th MT, Midfoot, M/heel, and L/heel) during gait. RESULTS: Romberg test showed significantly increased loss of balance in the UVG group compared with the CON. In the forward position, the imbalance was significantly increased in the UVG and GVG groups compared to the CON. Muscle activity of VL, GCM, and TA significantly increased in the GVG group compared with the CON. Static foot pressure, 1st MT significantly increased in the GVG compared to the CON group. The 5th MT significantly decreased in the CON compared with the GVG group. The R/F ratio significantly decreased in the GVG compared to the CON group. In dynamic foot pressure, the 2~5 toe significantly increased in the GVG compared with the UVG group. The left 5th MT significantly decreased in the UVG compared with the CON and GVG groups. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that genu valgum has a negative effect on balance, muscle activity, and foot pressure during gait in female college students.