• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.299-309
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• 2021

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to compare the ankle pronation squat with the general squat and investigate the effect on the geun varum and the muscles around the knee. Methods : Subjects were chosen as the target for squat exercise with the distance between the knees more than 5 cm. The selected 30 students were randomly divided into 15 pronation squat group and 15 general squat group, and performed five sets movements 20 times. Global postural system (GPS) and digital goniometer were used to check the distance between the knees and the Q angle, and muscle activity was measured with EMG during squat exercise. Results: The result is as follows. First, as a result of analyzing the change in the distance between the knees, the distance between the knees decreased and the Q angle increased in the pronation squat group after exercise. Second, as a result of analyzing the change in muscle activity of the peroneus longus, the muscle activity increased in the pronation squat group after exercise, and it was more effective than the general squat group. Third, as a result of analyzing the change in the VMO (vastus medialis oblique) and VL (vastus lateralis) muscle activity ratio, the activity ratio of the pronation squat group increased after exercise, and the imbalance in the VMO/VL muscle activity was decreased. Conclusion: The pronation squat exercise applied to the ankle will greatly affect what is made into a balanced leg as decreased of the distance between knees, increased of Q angle, increased of the muscle activity of the peroneus longus and the ratio of VMO/VL.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.151-160
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• 2008

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to know the muscle activation after sub-talar joint mobilition and active exercise, and the low leg muscle activity through the well-balanced interaction of ankle joint around muscle. Methods : For this study 61 experimental subjects are divided into 24 people of supination foot group, pronation foot group 17 people of, 20 people of control group through navicular drop test. Surface EMG was used in order to measure the muscle activities. following is the result of the data analysis about each experiment that has been carried on a week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks before, and even comparing with pre-experimental state. Results : In electromyogram study, the higher muscle activation there was before the experiment, the more muscle activation increase there was after the experiment in Tibialis Anterior, Peroneus Longus, Peroneus Brevis.(p<.05). Conclusion : This study shows the balanced activation of foot and ankle-around muscle. It shows that foot shape affects the balanced activation recovery of lower leg muscles.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.99-110
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of three different pelvic tilts on sit-to-stand ativities and to suggest a new therapeutic approach for movement reeducation in patients who have difficulty with sit-to-stand activities. The three different pelvic tilts were: (1) comfortable pelvic tilt sit-to-stand (CPT STS), (2) posterior pelvic tilt sit-to-stand (PPT STS) and (3) anterior pelvic tilt sit-to-stand (APT STS). To analyze the kinematic component of STS, a motion analysis system (Zebris) was applied to the ankle, knee, hip joint, and thigh-off area. Also, to determine the onset time of muscle contraction, surface electrodes were placed to the rectus femoris muscle (RF), the vastus lateralis muscle (VL), the biceps femoris muscle (BF), the tibialis anterior muscle (TA), the gastrocnemius muscle (GCM), and the soleus muscle (SOL). One-way repeated ANOVA was used for the statistical analysis. First, significant differences were found in kinematic variables for the hip, knee, ankle joint, and thigh-off among the three activities. Second, there was significant difference in muscle activation pattern in TA. VL. and BF among three activities. In conclusion, the findings of this study suggest the following evaluative and therapeutic approach for STS activity: (1) Changes in knee and ankle joints should be prioritized and recruitment order differences in VL and RF can be generated to accomplish abnormal STS activity. (2) APT STS can be introduced for movement efficiency and functional advantage when abnormal STS is treated.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.155-161
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• 2024

Purpose : Wearing high-heeled shoes leads to foot and ankle instability, which requires leg muscles to remain in constant contraction. In order to adapt to the instability of the feet and ankles caused by wearing high heels, the muscles of the legs continuously repeat contraction and relaxation. Previous studies of the impact of stair climbing in high-heeled shoes have involved placing the entire stepping area of the shoe on the stair. However, high-heeled shoe wearers sometimes unconsciously contact the stair using only half of the stepping area. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine differences in leg and ankle muscle activation according to stepping area during stair climbing in high-heeled shoes. Methods : Twenty young women in their early 20s voluntarily agreed to participate in this study. We used surface electromyography to measure gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior activation in the right leg during stair climbing under three conditions: barefoot, using half of high-heeled shoe stepping area, and using the total of high-heeled shoe stepping area. Barefoot, half of high heeled shoe, and total of high-heeled shoe were used to evaluate the effects of different areas of the foot or high heels touching the stairs. Results : Both muscles showed significant activity differences among the three stair climbing conditions. Gastrocnemius activity was significantly different between the high-heeled shoe conditions (p= .032), and tibialis anterior activity was significantly different between barefoot stair climbing and climbing with half of the high-heeled shoe stepping area (p= .021). Conclusion : The stepping area increased as heel size increased, thus increasing excessive gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior activity to control excessive ankle joint movement. We infer that using half of the high-heeled shoe stepping area prevents muscle fatigue by reducing excessive leg and ankle muscle activation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.65-72
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• 2023

PURPOSE: This study assessed the influence of bilateral coordination exercises on unstable support surfaces on leg muscle activation and balance in stroke patients. METHODS: Two groups were recruited for comparison: an experimental group of 10 individuals who performed bilateral coordination exercises on unstable surfaces and a control group of 10 individuals who performed the same exercises on stable surfaces. All participants were assigned randomly. Pre-tests were conducted to measure the leg muscle activation and balance levels of the participants prior to the experiment. The intervention was comprised of three 30-minute weekly sessions for four weeks, followed by a post-test after the four-week period. RESULTS: Significant differences were identified within the experimental group in relation to all muscles (p < .01) and balance (p < .05). Within the control group, significant differences were identified in relation to the rectus femoris muscle, biceps femoris muscle, and balance (p < .05). Significant differences between the two groups were only observed in relation to the tibialis anterior and soleus muscles (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Only the tibialis anterior and soleus muscles showed significant differences between the two groups. This effectiveness may be attributed to using an ankle strategy to maintain body balance during exercise on unstable surfaces.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.259-266
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• 2017

Purpose: This study aimed to compare muscle activities in the right leg during squatting on an angle-adjustable inclined wooden plate at three different angles. Methods: The subjects were 19 healthy adult men and women. An angle-adjustable inclined wooden plate was used for the experiment, and the subjects performed squatting at three adjusted angles of $0^{\circ}$ ankle angle, $10^{\circ}$ ankle flexion, and $10^{\circ}$ plantar flexion. Squatting was randomly performed without a sequence. The knee angle was set at $45^{\circ}$, and a goniometer was used to measure the angles accurately. Electromyography was employed to measure and compare muscle activity in the right leg in each condition. The measured data were converted to root mean square values to calculate the muscle activities. Results: This study showed no statistically significant difference at a $0^{\circ}$ ankle angle, but a statistically significant difference was found in the vastus medialis at $10^{\circ}$ of ankle flexion. Moreover, statistically significant differences were observed in the vastus medialis and lateralis at $10^{\circ}$ of plantar flexion. Conclusion: This study showed a statistically significant difference in the vastus medialis at $10^{\circ}$ of ankle flexion and statistically significant differences in the vastus medialis and lateralis at $10^{\circ}$ of plantar flexion. Therefore, it may be effective to perform squatting at $10^{\circ}$ of ankle flexion when intending to selectively strengthen the vastus medialis and at $10^{\circ}$ of plantar flexion when intending to strengthen both the vastus medialis and lateralis.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.105-112
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• 2019

Objective: The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of wearing an ankle weight belt while performing gait in water by focusing on the effect of using ankle weights have on the gait kinematics and the muscle activities for developing optimum training strategies. Method: A total of 10 healthy male university students were recruited for the study. Each participant was instructed to perform 3 gait conditions; normal walking over ground, walking in water chest height, and walking in water chest height while using ankle weights. All walking conditions were set at control speed of $4km/h{\pm}0.05km/h$. The depth of the swimming pool was at 1.3 m, approximately chest height. The motion capture data was recorded using 6 digital cameras and the EMG was recorded using waterproof Mini Wave. From the motion capture data, the following variables were calculated for analysis; double and single support phase (s), swing phase (s), step length (%height), step rate (m/s), ankle, knee, and hip joint angles ($^{\circ}$). From the electromyography the %RVC of the lower limb muscles medial gastrocnemius, rectus femoris, erector spinae, semitendinosus, tibialis anterior, vastus lateralis oblique was calculated. Results: The results show significant differences between the gait time, and step length between the right and left leg. Additionally, the joint angular velocities and gait velocity were significantly affected by the water resistance. As expected, the use of the ankle weights increased all of the lower leg maximum muscle activities except for the lower back muscle. Conclusion: In conclusion, the ankle weights can be shown to stimulate more muscle activity during walking in chest height water and therefore, may be useful for rehabilitation purposes.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.133-142
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of balance using ankle strategy during adjusted balance training and muscle training in normal young female adults. Methods: There were eighteen participants. All subjects were randomly assigned to three groups, the control group (n=6), the adjusted balance training group (n=6) and the muscle training group (n=6). Subjects were assessed for each subject by a pretest and a posttest at 1 week, 2 weeks, and 3 weeks, measuring the anterior-posterior limit of stability, trace length and EMG data for the tibialis anterior and lateral gastrocnemius. Results: The anterior-posterior limit of stability significantly increased in the training group (p<0.05). The trace length significantly decreased in the training group (p<0.05). The muscle activity of the tibialis anterior and lateral gastrocnemius also significantly decreased in the training group (p<0.05). Conclusion: We confirmed that both the balance training group and the muscle training group significantly increased the anterior-posterior limit of stability and decreased trace length and muscle activity. Further studies are needed to analyze the long-term effects on subjects resulting from these changes.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.21-26
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• 2024

Purpose: The study was undertaken to investigate the electromyographic activities of the gluteus maximus (GM), hamstring (HAM), and multifidus (MF) in three different sling locations during bridge exercise in the supine position. Methods: Twenty healthy male subjects participated. An electromyography device was used to measure the muscle activities of the GM, HAM, and MF muscles. Subjects were asked to perform bridge exercises with three different sling locations as follows: 1) Bridge exercise with an ankle sling; BEAS, 2) Bridge exercise with a calf sling; BECS, and 3) Bridge exercise with a knee sling; BEKS in random order. The analysis was conducted using one-way repeated ANOVA and the Bonferroni post hoc. Significance was set at α=0.01. Results: HAM muscle activity was significantly different in the three conditions (BEAS, BECS, BEKS) (adjusted p-value [p_adj]<0.01), and HAM muscle activity was significantly smaller during BEKS than during BEAS or BECS (p_adj<0.01). Muscle activity ratio (GM/HAM) during BEKS was significantly greater than muscle activity ratios during BEAS or BECS (p_adj<0.01). Conclusion: BEKS is recommended to inhibit HAM muscle activity and improve the GM/HAM muscle activity ratio.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.49-56
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the kinematic characteristics and muscle activities during the following two conditions: transition from half-kneel to standing on the affected leg and non-affected leg. Methods: Twenty-one hemiplegic patients participated in the study. A motion analysis system was used to record the range of motion and angle velocity of the hip, knee and ankle from the half-kneel to the standing position. Electromyography was used to record the activity of 4 muscles. Results: The statistical analysis showed that the minimum ROM of the hip joint was less on the affected leg during transition from half-kneel to standing. However, the minimum ROM of the knee and ankle joints was less on the non-affected leg during transition from half-kneel to standing. The angle velocity of the knee and ankle joints was less during transition from half kneeling to standing on the non-affected leg. Muscle activity of the rectus femoris and tibialis anterior was less while moving from half-kneel to the standing position on the affected leg. Conclusion: These results show that greater active ROM of the knee and ankle was required on the affected leg for transition from half-kneel to the standing position than for normal gait. Muscle activity of the rectus femoris and tibialis anterior is normally required for movement from the half-kneel to the standing position during normal gait. Further studies are needed to investigate the antigravity movement in healthy subjects and hemiplegic patients in order to completely understand the normal and abnormal movement from the half-kneel to the standing position.