• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.93-107
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• 2010

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of Chuna and taping treatment in patients with genu varum. Methods : Twenty-seven patients(male:10, female:17) with genu varum were recruited in this study. Chuna treatment at pelvic, and taping treatment at both legs were applied to whole participants. Outcomes were assessed using Q-angle(Quadriceps angle, QA), tibiofemoral angle(TFA), width and length of lesser trochanter(LT), pelvic incidence(PI), pelvic(PT), sacral slope(SS), lumber lordosis angle(LLA), meridian-electromyography(MEMG), Korean western ontario and McMaster universities osteoarthritis index(KWOMAC), and distance of femoral intercondylar distance(ICD). Results : 1. QA, LT width and LT length in radiograph were significantly increased. 2. PI, SS, PT and TFA in radiograph were significantly decreased. 3. The left vastus medialis portion contraction of female was significantly decreased after treatment. 4. The left rectus femoris portion fatigue was significantly decreased after treatment in male subjects. 5. The vastus medialis portion fatigue was significantly decreased after treatment in female subjects. 6. The distance of femoral ICD was significantly decreased. Conclusions : This study showed that Chuna and taping treatment could be used as an effective method for the treatment of genu varum.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.115-122
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• 2003

The purposes of this study were to analyze the muscle activities and the characteristics of muscle recruting patterns of lower limb for crouching start technique using four elite splint. The EMG technique was used to record muscle activities of both right and left sides of retus femoris, vastus medialis, biceps femoris, and gastrocnemius. Eight surface electrodes were placed on the surface of the selected muscles and one ground electrode was also attached on the back of neck(C7). One video camera was also used to record the crouching start motion to define 6 events and 5 phases for further analysis. The raw EMG data were filtered with band pass filter(10-350) to remove artifacts and then low pass filtered(4Hz) to find the linear envelope which resemble muscle tension curve. This filter EMG data were normalized to MVIC for the purpose of comparison between right and left sides muscle. The results of this study were as follows. All four subjects showed that vastus medialis muscle activity was comparatively higher than those of retus femoris, biceps femoris, gastrocnemius. And left side of muscle activity was comparatively higher than right side of muscle activity. Therefore, when the subjects starting out crouching start position, we recognized that the muscle of lower limb showed interaction effect by each muscle.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 2015

Background : The purpose of this study was find out more effective method for improving muscle strengthening in lower extremities according squatting exercise method among knee joint angle 45, 60, 90 degree and between gym ball behind back and wall. Methods : Participants were 21 university students(males 10, females 11) who didn't have any problem with orthopedic surgery. We divided participants to two groups with gym ball group and wall group. Gym ball group were performance squatting exercise with gym ball behind back. Each group had performance squatting exercise according knee joint angle 45, 60, 90 degree. We collected data from E.M.G of Biceps femoris, Gastrocnemius, Vastus medialis and lateralis, Tibialis anterior in lower extremity according knee joint angle 45, 60, 90 degree of each groups. We analyzed data using by ANOVA and ANCOVA of SPSS PC ver. 12.0 in order to determine more effective method according various squatting exercise. Results : Each groups show significantly difference value of biceps femoris, vastus lateralis and medialis, tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius lateralis and medialis among knee joint angle 45, 60, 90 degree. But there was no significantly difference value between gym ball group and wall group according knee joint angle. Conclusions : We suggested that squatting exercise with gym ball was more effective method improving lower extremity muscle strengthening, and changing knee joint angle was more effective compared than continued knee joint angle.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.49-59
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• 2005

This study assigns each 8 of 24 normal persons to control group(Group I), strength increase group(Group II) and endurance increase group(Group III) to analyze differences in changes of strength and endurance with surface electromyography and kinetics according to application modes of neuromuscular electrical stimulation(NMES). Group I had not any treatment, group II performed 15 repeated contraction with 60% intensity of maximal voluntary isometric contraction(MVIC) by setting 10-sec on time and 50-sec off time and group III conducted 30 repeated contraction with 30% intensity of MVIC by setting 10-sec on time and 20-sec off time. For neuromuscular electrical stimulation, 2,500 Hz of Russian current, 35 pps of pulse rate and 200 of pulse width. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation was conducted by five times for total 4 weeks. Before and after experimentmotor unit action potential of vastus medialis, rectus femoris and vastus lateralis were measured with sEMG, median frequency(MDF) was analyzed, and thus the following results were obtained. There was significant difference in the period of measuring vastus medialis and rectus femoris in change of MDF and interaction among groups with analysis of surface electromyography before and after neuromuscular electrical stimulation(p<.001) and in particular, there was a remarkable change among groups according to the period of measurement. In conclusion, NMES influenced changes of strength and endurance according to its application modes and in particular, it was found that strength increment application had a significant influence on strength increment in applying short-time NMES.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.347-354
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• 2014

PURPOSE: This study was to examine changes in muscle activity of lower extremity shoes sole form (high heels, shoes with curved out sole, house shoes). METHODS: The subjects of this study were 12 women in their twenties. They put three kinds of shoes (high heels, shoes with curved out sole, house shoes) and walked 5m. The muscles activities of lower extremity muscles (rectus femoris, vastus medialis, tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius medial part) were measured using a wireless electromyogram (EMG). Rectus femoris was attached to 1/2 position at the distance between ASIS and knee bone and vastus medials was attached to 2cm from upper inside of knee bone. Tibialis anterior was attached to 75% position above line connecting knee joint and ankle joint and gastrocnemius medial part was attached to 3 5% position above knee joint and ankle. RESULTS: It was found that there were significant differences in changes of muscles activities of lower extremity muscles (rectus femoris, vastus medialis, tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius medial part) on shoes sole forms (p<.05). All lower extremity muscles were showed high muscles activities, when high heels wear (p<.05). Wearing shoes with curved out sole was showed high muscle activity of tibialis anterior and lower muscle activity of gastrocnemius medial part compared with wearing house shoes (p<.05). CONCLUSION: Shoes sole form should be considered when patients with knee and ankle joint problems choose shoes because muscles were showed different activities according to shoes sole forms.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.49-56
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• 2020

PURPOSE: This study examined the difference in muscle activity of the trunk and legs during flat walking with or without an abdominal drawing-in maneuver. METHODS: This study was conducted on 15 healthy males and eight females who were attending D University in Busan. This experiment was conducted after 15 minutes of abdominal drawing-in training using a pressure biofeedback unit before the experiment, and the difference in the muscle activity of the trunk and legs during flat walking with or without an abdominal drawing-in technique was investigated. Surface electromyography was used, and the electrode attachment site was the right sternocleidomastoid muscle, splenius capitis muscle, rectus abdominis muscle, external abdominal oblique muscle, transverse abdominis muscle, erector spinae muscle, vastus medialis muscle, and vastus lateralis muscle (TM DTS, Noraxon, USA). The data were analyzed statistically using a paired t-test on SPSS version 18.0 (IBM). RESULTS: The muscle activity of the rectus abdominis muscle, external abdominal oblique muscle, transverse abdominis muscle, vastus medialis muscle were increased significantly and maintained more than walking without maintaining an abdominal drawing-in maneuver (p < .05). Moreover, muscle activity of the erector spinae muscle was decreased significantly and maintained more than walking without maintaining an abdominal drawing-in maneuver (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Maintaining an abdominal drawing-in maneuver during flat walking is more effective during walking training.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.17-24
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a combination of isotonic (CI) technique on the balance, muscle fatigue and muscle activities of the quadriceps muscle in the paretic leg of hemiplegic patients. Method: All the subjects received a combined isotonic technique of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) for about 30 minutes 3 times per week for 6 weeks. The root mean square (RMS) and mid frequency (MF) were recorded by surface electromyography (EMG)(EMG/EP system, OXFORD Medelec, UK) during maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVIC). The balance ability was measured by a balance system (BIODEX, USA). Result: The RMS of the quadriceps muscle at post-treatment was significantly increased compared to that at pretreatment (p<0.05). Yet there was no significant difference among the three muscles. There were no significant difference in the MF of the vastus lateralis and rectus femoris between pre- and post-treatment, but the MF of the vastus medialis was significantly decreased (p<0.05). There was a significant difference in the vastus medialis and lateralis between pre- and post-treatment (p<0.05). Moreover, the overall stability index at post-treatment was significantly decreased compared to that at pre-treatment (p<0.05). But there was no significant difference between the anterior/posterior and medial/lateral stability indexes. Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that a CI technique of PNF had an effect to improve the balance and muscle activity in hemiplegic patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.216-222
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• 2012

Purpose: Weight-bearing exercise is a type of physical exercise that is widely performed for rehabilitation after acquiring nervous-system diseases or sports-related injuries. It is one of the most commonly prescribed rehabilitation programs for strengthing of the lower extremities. Weight-bearing exercise is important for the conduct of such activity of daily living (ADLs) as walking, and up and down the stairs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the muscle activities during one-leg standing and one-leg squatting, the two most representative weight-bearing exercises. Methods: A total of 43 elderly (60~70 years old) males who could perform weight-bearing exercises were included in the study. During the one-leg standing and one-leg squatting, the electromyographic (EMG) signals were quantified as maximum voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC) using surface EMG, and then the muscle activities of the lower extremities during the two exercises were compared. For statistical analysis, an independent sample t-test and one-way ANOVA were performed. Results: The results of the study are as follows: (1) in the one-leg standing, the activity of the gluteus medius was the greatest among the vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, bicep femoris, (2) in the one-leg squatting, the activity of the vastus medialis was the greatest; and (3) the activity was greater in the one-leg squatting than in the single-leg standing exercise. Conclusion: The one-leg standing and squatting exercises are suitable for strengthening the muscles for the prevention of and recovery from lower-extremity injury, and for functional ADL in elderly people. In addition, dynamic exercise was shown to be more effective than static exercise for strengthening the muscles.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.111-119
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to compare the differences of hip and thigh muscle activities between subjects with increased and decreased femoral anteversion during stair ascent. Twelve healthy female volunteers participated in this study. The subjects were divided into two groups (group 1 with increased anteversion of the hip, group 2 with decreased anteversion of the hip). This study analyzed differences in each mean peak gluteus maximus (GM), gluteus medius (GD) and tensor fascia lata (TLF) EMG amplitude: composite mean peak hip muscles (GM, GD, TFL) EMG amplitude ratios and in each mean peak vastus medialis oblique (VMO), vastus lateralis (VL), biceps femoris (HM) and semitendinosus (HL) EMG amplitude: composite thigh muscles (VMO, VL, HM, HL) EMG amplitude ratios among subjects with decreased or increased relative femoral anteversion. EMG ratios were compared in the stance and swing phase of stair ascent. Group 1 showed an increased standardized mean GM and GD EMG amplitude and decreased standardized mean TFL to composite mean hip muscles EMG amplitude ratios in stair ascent during both stance and swing phase. Also, group 1 showed an increased standardized mean HL EMG amplitude and decreased standardized mean VL and HM to composite mean thigh muscles EMG amplitude ratios in stair ascent during both stance and swing phases. There was no statistically significant difference in vastus medialis oblique between subjects with increased or decreased relative femoral anteversion. In order to provide rehabilitation professionals with a clearer picture of the specific requirements of the stair climbing task, further research must be expanded to include a wider range of age groups that represent the general public, such as including middle-aged healthy persons.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.82 no.6
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• pp.1556-1564
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• 2021

Purpose This study aimed to apply MR elastography (MRE) to achieve in vivo evaluation of the elastic properties of thigh muscles and validate the feasibility of quantifying the elasticity of normal thigh muscles using MRE. Materials and Methods This prospective study included 10 volunteer subjects [mean age, 32.5 years, (range, 23-45 years)] who reported normal activities of daily living and underwent both T2-weighted axial images and MRE of thigh muscles on the same day. A sequence with a motion-encoding gradient was used in the MRE to map the propagating shear waves in the muscle. Elastic properties were quantified as the shear modulus of the following four thigh muscles at rest; the vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, adductor magnus, and biceps femoris. Results The mean shear modulus was 0.98 ± 0.32 kPa and 1.00 ± 0.33 kPa for the vastus medialis, 1.10 ± 0.46 kPa and 1.07 ± 0.43 kPa for the vastus lateralis, 0.91 ± 0.41 kPa and 0.93 ± 0.47 kPa for the adductor magnus, and 0.99 ± 0.37 kPa and 0.94 ± 0.32 kPa for the biceps femoris, with reader 1 and 2, respectively. No significant difference was observed in the shear modulus based on sex (p < 0.05). Aging consistently showed a statistically significant negative correlation (p < 0.05) with the shear modulus of the thigh muscles, except for the vastus medialis (p = 0.194 for reader 1 and p = 0.355 for reader 2). Conclusion MRE is a quantitative technique used to measure the elastic properties of individual muscles with excellent inter-observer agreement. Age was consistently significantly negatively correlated with the shear stiffness of muscles, except for the vastus medialis.