• PNF and Movement
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.233-242
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• 2024

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different types of unstable loads on core and lower limb muscle activity during squatting. Methods: Nineteen subjects (all females) with resistance experience but no unstable resistance experience participated in the study. Subjects performed squats under three load conditions, and core and lower limb muscle activity was measured during eccentric and concentric contractions. Results: During the eccentric contraction, core and hip flexor activity was significantly higher with the aqua bag than with the barbell or resistance band, and for the quadriceps, the resistance band was significantly higher than the barbell. During the concentric contraction phase, core and hamstring muscle activity was significantly higher with the aqua bag than with the barbell and elastic band (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Squats with an aqua bag increase core and biceps brachii activation and can be recommended as a training method to improve trunk stability.

• 한국체육학회지인문사회과학편
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.575-584
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of low intensity resistance training speed on body composition, muscle activity and muscle strength in obese middle-aged women. The subjects (n = 12) were randomly assigned to normal resistance training speed group (NSG, n = 6) and slow resistance training speed group (SSG, n = 6). NSG was performed the for 3 sets ${\times}$ 35 times and total 3-s per repetition (eccentric: 1-s, isometric: 1-s, concentric: 1-s), and SSG performed for 3 sets ${\times}$ 15 times and total 7-s per repetition (eccentric: 3-s, isometric: 1-s, concentric: 3-s). Both groups performed the low intensity resistance training at 30% of 1-RM for 105-s per set, rest for 1 min between sets, rest for 3 min between exercises, and 2~3 times per week, for 4 weeks. The body composition, muscle activity and muscle strength were measured before and 4 week after resistance training. WHR at NSG and body fat at SSG were significantly decreased after resistance training compared with before (P<.05). Ｍuscle activity of biceps brachii, vastus medialis and vastus lateralis at both groups were significantly decreased after resistance training compared with before (P<.05, P<.01). Muscle strength of biceps curl and leg extension at both groups were significantly increased after resistance training compared with before (P<.01). However, body composition, muscle activity and muscle strength did not show statistically significant differences between the groups. Our results suggest that body composition, muscle activity and muscle strength should closely related to the performance time of resistance training (development time of muscle contraction), rather than resistance training speed (repetition frequency).

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.1641-1648
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• 2017

Many researchers had examined the validity of using the high-to-low ratio between two fixed frequency band amplitudes (H/L-FFB) from the surface electromyography of a face and body as the first spectral index to assess muscle fatigue. Despite these studies, the disadvantage of this index is the lack of a criterion for choosing the optimal border frequency. We tested the potential of using the high-to-low ratio between two signal spectral moments (H/L-SSM), without fixed border frequencies, to evaluate muscle fatigue and predict endurance time ($T_{end}$), which was determined when the subject was exhausted and could no longer follow the fixed contraction cycle. Ten healthy participants performed five sets of voluntary isotonic contractions until they could only produce 10% and 20% of their maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). The $T_{end}$ values for all participants were $138{\pm}35s$ at 10% MVC and $69{\pm}20s$ at 20% MVC. Changes in conventional spectral indices, such as the mean power frequency (MPF), Dimitrov spectral index (DSI), H/L-FFB, and H/L-SSM, were extracted from surface EMG signals and were monitored using the initial slope computed every 10% of $T_{end}$ as a statistical indicator and compared as a predictor of $T_{end}$. Significant correlations were found between $T_{end}$ and the initial H/L-SSM slope as computed over 30% of $T_{end}$. In conclusion, initial H/L-SSM slope can be used to describe changes in the spectral content of surface EMG signals and can be employed as a good predictor of $T_{end}$ compared to that of conventional spectral indices.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.148-155
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• 2013

This study is about the development of the wrist rehabilitation system for the patient who has limited capability of movement after stroke. Electromyography triggered training system (ETTS) can play the role between complete passive training and patient activating training system. Surface EMG was measured on pronator teres muscle and biceps brachii muscle for wrist pronation and supination. Our system detects whether the subject makes muscular effort for pronation or supination or nothing in every 50 ms. When the effort level exceeds the preset percentage of maximal voluntary contraction, the motor rotates according to the direction of the intention of the subject. EMG triggers the motor rotation for the wrist rehabilitation training until the preset angle. To evaluate its performance, the maximum voluntary contraction level was measured for 4 subjects at first. With the audio-visual instruction to rotate the wrist (pronation or supination) the subjects made effort to follow the instruction. After calculating root mean square (RMS) for 50 ms, the controller determines whether there was muscular effort to rotate while holding the motor. When there was an effort to rotate, the controller rotates the motor 0.8 degree. By comparing the RMS values from two channels of EMG, the controller determines the rotational direction. The onset delay is $0.76{\pm}0.24$ s and offset delay is $0.65{\pm}0.22$ s for pronation. For supination the onset delay is $1.24{\pm}0.41$ s and offset delay is $0.77{\pm}0.22$ s. The system responded fast enough to be used for rehabilitation training. The controller perceived the direction of rotation 100% correctly for the pronation and 97.5% correctly for supination. ETTS was developed and the fundamental functions were validated for normal subjects. The clinical validation should be done with patients for real world application. With ETTS, the subjects can train voluntarily over the limitation of the range of motion which increases the effectiveness of the rehabilitation training.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.81-92
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• 2011

In this paper, a new method to estimate the number of MU (motor unit) related to the widths and distribution of end plate in NMJ (neuromuscular junction) of biceps brachii is proposed by varying muscle parameter statistically in EMG model. This work is done by designing MU-simulator and EPZ-simulator. The proposed method was compared with the results of previous researchers. The proposed MU-simulator generates SMUAP (single motor unit action potential) and CMAP (compound muscle action potential) signal similar to detected SMUAP and CMAP signal obtained from muscle. The EPZ-simulator estimate the numbers of MU by varying the widths and distribution of end plate in neuromuscular junction of muscle. The results shows that the numbers of MU was estimated about 450 ea. and muscle fibers was about 340 ea., end plate widths was about 6 mm, and end plate was randomly distributed. The proposed method may be comparable with the method of anatomical studies.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.73-79
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• 1997

Complete denervation after severe brachial plexus injury make significant muscle atrophy with loss of proper function. It is much helpful to reconstruct the essential function of the elbow flexion movement in patient with total loss of elbow flexion motion after brachial plexus lesion which was not recovered with nerve surgery or long term conservative treatment from onset. In whole arm type brachial plexus injury, if there were no response to neurotization or neglected from injury, the volume of the denervated muscle is significantely reduced month by month. About 18 months most of the muscle fibers change to fibrous tissues and markedly atrophied irreversibly, further waiting is no more meaningful from that period. Authors performed 14 cases of functioning gracilis muscle transfer from 1981 to 1995 with microneurovascular technique, neuromusculocutaneous free flaps were performed for reconstruction of lost elbow flexion function. Average follow-up period was 5 years and 6 months. We used couple of intercostal nerves as a recipient nerve which were anastomosed to muscular nerve from obturator nerve in all cases. Recipient vessels were three deep brachial artery and eleven brachial artery which were anastomosed to medial femoral circumflex artery with end to end or end to side fashion. Average resting length of the transplanted gracilis were 24 cm. We can get average 54 degree flexion range of elbow with fair muscle power from flail elbow. There were one case of muscle necrosis with lately developed thrombosis of microvascular anastomosed site which comes from insufficient recipient arterial condition, 3 cases of partial marginal necrosis of distal skin of the transplanted part which were not significant problem with spontaneously solved with time goes by gracilis muscle has constant neurovascular pattern with relatively easy harvesting donor with minimal donor morbidity. Especially it has similar length and shape with biceps brachii muscle of upper arm and longer nerve pedicle which can neurorrhaphy with intercostal nerve without nerve graft if sufficient mobilization of the nerves from both sides of gracilis and intercostal region. Authors can propose gracilis muscle transplantation with intercostal nerves neurotization is helpful method with minimal donor morbidity for neglected brachial plexus palsy patients.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.1756-1763
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• 2017

Objective: The study aimed at assessing the effects of frozen storage duration on quality characteristics, lipid oxidation and sensory quality of various horse muscles. Methods: Five representative muscles: longissimus dorsi (LD), gluteus medius (GM), semimembranosus (SM), biceps femoris (BF), and triceps brachii (TB) at 24 h post-mortem obtained from 28-mo-old Jeju female breed horses (n = 8) were used in the present investigation. The muscles were vacuumpackaged and frozen at $-20^{\circ}C$ for 120, 240, and 360 days. All the samples were analyzed for thawing and cooking losses, pH, Warner-Bratzler shear forces (WBSF), color traits, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVBN), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and sensory traits. The muscle samples analyzed on day 0 of frozen storage (fresh, non-frozen) were used for comparison. Results: Results revealed that thawing and cooking losses significantly (p<0.05) increased in all the muscles after 120 days and then remained unchanged up to 360 days of frozen storage. The TBARS and TVBN contents significantly increased as increasing frozen storage time up to 360 days (p<0.05). While, significant decreases in WBSF values were observed for all the muscles with increased frozen storage time (p<0.05). Frozen storage variously affected the color traits of the muscles for instance; the redness of LD, GM, and BF muscles showed a decreasing tendency during frozen storage while it was not changed in TB and SM muscles. Furthermore, the frozen storage did not produce detrimental effects on sensory quality as it did not cause flavor and juiciness defects whereas it partially improved the tenderness of all the muscles studied. Conclusion: Based on the results obtained from our work, it is concluded that frozen storage could be applied to increase the long-term shelf life of horsemeat while still retaining its sensory quality.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.10 no.11
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• pp.218-223
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• 2020

This study was conducted to observe the difference in muscle activity by IASTM between a tool made of PLA made with a 3D printer and a tool made of ready-made stainless steel. This study was attended by 10 adults in their twenties, and all subjects participated in both the PLA group and the Stainless group, received IASTM. %MVIC was measured by measuring muscle activity after intervention, and this was verified through comparison between groups through the Mann-Whitney U test. The results of this study showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups in the %MVIC value of the biceps brachii after intervention. Therefore, in the application of IASTM, there was no difference in muscle activity depending on the material of the tool, which seems to be that the IASTM tool made of PLA made with a 3D printer produced similar results in the ability to control neuromuscular muscles and the ready-made product made of stainless steel. Therefore, in a future study, the effectiveness of the tool will be verified for the various patient group.

• The Journal of Korea Institute of Information, Electronics, and Communication Technology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.178-186
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• 2015

Endurance time is very important indicator to estimate muscle fatigue. In the case of measuring endurance time directly, it is dangerous for subject to perform a test until the point of failure to main time force. Therefore, this paper presents the model to estimate endirance time using indirect measurements such as personal factors and anthropometrical data. Previous studies had shown that personal factors such as gender and age were not related to endurance time, but recently studies have shown that it is estimated by using independent variable or predictor such as GTA (Gravitational Torque of the horizontal, stretched arm) and MVC (Maximum Voluntary Contraction). The present study investigated variables to estimate endurance time using personal factors and anthrometrical data during isotonic contractions. Twenty five healthy subject volunteered for this study, and performed three test sessions of isotonic contraction exercises at 10~50% respectively. Afterward the correlation coefficient and p-values were compared among regression models using personal factors and anthropometrical data. The results demonstrated that multi-regression model had significant coefficient of correlation, and was useful estimate endurance time.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.2012-2020
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• 2020

Background: Multifaceted approaches will be needed, such as global synkinesis (GS) achieve functional improvements in the arms of stroke patients from involuntary movements during exercise. Objective: To identify changes in arm GS and muscle activity, functional evaluation and the correlation with variables through action observation training, combined with functional electrical stimulation (FES), thereby verifying the effect on stroke patients. Design: A quasi-experimental study. Methods: The subjects of this study were 20 stroke patients who were divided into two groups: Control group (n=10) and experimental group (n=10). Before the intervention, arm GS and muscle activity were measured using surface electromyography (EMG), and arm function was evaluated using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) scale. At the end of the intervention, which lasted 4-wk, arm GS and muscle activity were measured again using the same scale. Results: There was a decrease statistically significant difference in GS during the bending action in experimental group (P<.01). Both groups showed a significant difference increased only in the activity of the anterior deltoid (AD) and biceps brachii (BB) (P<.05). The results of the arm functional assessment revealed a significant difference increase in both groups (P<.05). In the between-group comparison, there was a significant difference decrease in GS during the bending action (P<.05). Only the muscle activity of the AD and BB were significantly increase different (P<.05). There was a significant between-group difference increase in the arm functional assessment (P<.05). There was a positive correlation between GS and muscle activity on the FMA in the control group (r=.678, P<.05). In experimental group, GS during the bending arm action exhibited a negative correlation (r=-.749, P<.05), and the muscle activity of the AD and BB showed a positive correlation (r=.701, P<.05). Furthermore, in experimental group, the activity of the extensor carpi radialis increased, and the activity of the flexor carpi radialis decreased, which exhibited a negative correlation (r=-.708, P<.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that brain plasticity could be more efficiently stimulated by combining surface stimulation in the affected arm of stroke patients.