• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.1-10
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• 2019

Background: Winged scapular (WS) causes muscle imbalance with abnormal patterns when moving the arm. In particular, the over-activation of the upper trapezius (UT) and decrease in activity of the lower trapezius (LT) and serratus anterior (SA) produce abnormal scapulohumeral rhythm. Therefore, the SA requires special attention in all shoulder rehabilitation programs. In fact, many previous studies have been devoted to the SA muscle strength training needed for WS correction. Objects: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of shoulder girdle muscle and ratio according to the angle of shoulder abduction and external weight in supine position. Methods: Twenty three WS patients participated in this experiment. They performed scapular protraction exercise in supine position with the weights of 0 kg, 1 kg, 1.5 kg, and 2 kg at shoulder abduction angles of $0^{\circ}$, $30^{\circ}$, $60^{\circ}$, and $90^{\circ}$. The angle and weight applications were randomized. Surface electromyography (EMG) was used to collect the EMG data of the SA, pectoralis major (PM), and UT during the exercise. The ratio of PM/SA and UT/SA was confirmed. Two-way repeated analyses of variance were used to determine the statistical significance of SA, PM, and UT and the ratios of PM/SA and UT/SA. Results: There was a significant difference in SA according to angle (p<.05). Significant differences were also identified depending on the angle and weight (p<.05). The angle of abduction at $0^{\circ}$, $30^{\circ}$ and weight of 2 kg showed the highest SA activity. However, there was no significant difference between PM and UT (p>.05). There was a significant difference between PM/SA and UT/SA in ratio of muscle activity according to angle (p<.05). Significant differences were found at PM/SA angles of $30^{\circ}$, $60^{\circ}$ and $90^{\circ}$ (p<.05). For UT/SA, significant difference was only observed at $90^{\circ}$ (p<.05). Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, in order to strengthen the SA, it was found to be most effective to use 1 and 1.5 kg weights with abduction angles of $0^{\circ}$ and $30^{\circ}$ at shoulder protraction in supine position.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.475-482
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• 2020

The abdominal drawing-in maneuver(ADIM), which is performed to strengthen the stabilization muscles of the lumbar, is an exercise method that selectively contracts the TrA and IO by increasing intra-abdominal pressure. In order to check the effect of ADIM in sitting position, which is the most frequently used posture in everyday life, on how to grip power, ADIM was conducted in a sitting position for 30 healthy adults, and then the state was not performed. In each, the grip power was measured to determine how ADIM performed in the sitting position had an effect on grip power and which muscles had the most influence. The muscles mobilized for the electromyography(EMG) measurement were RA, EO, IO/TrA, and ES, which were the most activation lumbar stabilization muscles when ADIM was applied. As a result of the study, the activity on muscles of the lumbar stabilization was significantly increased and the grip power of the muscles was significantly increased than the ADIM in the sitting position. By comparing the measured difference value of each muscle, it was found that any muscle had a greater effect on grip power, but no muscle showed a significant correlation. It is thought that the increase of intra-abdominal pressure did not affect the grip power of a specific muscle. Therefore, if ADIM is performed in a sitting position that is frequently used in everyday life through this study, it will be more effective in increasing the grip power and lumbar stabilization.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.53-60
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• 2024

PURPOSE: The study aimed to analyze the effect of pillow height on upper trapezius and sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle activity and overall human body comfort to determine the optimal pillow height. METHODS: The study included 32 healthy college students, of both genders, who provided prior consent. It examined three pillow heights (flat, 6cm, 12cm) and measured the upper trapezius and SCM muscles using ultrasonography, myotone, and electromyography(EMG). Muscle activation, thickness, and fatigue were assessed. RESULTS: The study found significant differences in muscle thickness and muscle tone based on the pillow heights (flat, 6cm, and 12cm) with a p < .05. The SCM and upper trapezius muscles were thinnest at a pillow height of 6cm. Muscle tone in the SCM was lower at both 6cm and 12cm pillow heights. Post-hoc measurements showed significant differences in both the SCM and upper trapezius muscles thickness at the 6cm pillow height (p < .05). Also, significant differences in muscle tone were observed only in the SCM, particularly between the 6cm and 12cm pillow heights. CONCLUSION: The ultrasonography and myotone measurements showed a significant difference in muscle thickness and muscle tension, both of which were above 6cm, while there was no difference in muscle activation. Based on the strong correlation between muscle tension and muscle thickness with pillow height, this study concluded that the human body feels comfortable with a 6cm pillow height. Therefore, it is recommended to use a pillow height of 6cm when lying in a supine position.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.91-99
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the muscular activity and muscle strength for swing track of upper limbs during rowing exercise. Subject was all twenty healthy adults and they were divided into linear exercise group and elliptical exercise group in random. Subjects performed rowing exercise 3-times for a week and performed all 8-weeks. We measured realtime-surface EMG. Also we measured joint torque of elbow, ankle and lumbar in subjects using BIODEX. The result showed that when rowing exercise, elliptical track exercise had higher muscular activity in trapezius, deltoid, erector spinae, rectus femoris, biceps femoris, gastronemius than linear track exercise on more many muscle of upper and lower limbs. Also elbow joint torque and lumbar joint torque was more higher too. but linear exercise also had higher muscular activity in multifidus, tibilalis anterior than elliptical track exercise. According to this experiment, we found out that elliptical track was more efficient than linear track.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate how different knee alignments (genu varum and genu valgum) affected activations of quadriceps muscles with measurements of onset-time differences between vastus medialis and vastus lateralis during isometric contractions at both 30 and 60 degree knee flexion. Methods: Fifty-two adults (20 genu varum, 12 genu valgum, and 20 control) were enrolled in this study. Subjects with over 4cm distance between knee medial epicondyles were assigned to Genu varum, while subjects with over 4cm distance between ankles medial malleolus were considered as genu valgum group. Surface EMG was used to measure onset time of both vastus medialis and vastus lateralis during isometric contraction at 30 and 60 degree knee flexion. Results: The onset time of vastus lateralis was delayed in genu varum group, and that of vastus medialis was delayed in genu valgum group at both 30 and 60 degree knee flexions. Moreover, onset time difference at $30^{\circ}$ knee flexion between muscles was larger in genu valgum group than genu varum group. Conclusion: Subjects with genu varum or valgum activated quadriceps muscles with different orders pending on flexion degrees. Therefore, when quadriceps training program were planned to prevent pain or deformities, the findings that quadriceps were activated with different orders affected by knee alignments and joint degree at which trainings were performed, must be considered. If the selective training programs of quadriceps femoris are planned to prevent pain or deformities due to poor knee alignments, these should consider the subject's knee alignment condition.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.825-831
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• 2007

An elbow orthosis with a pneumatic rubber actuator has been developed to assist and enhance upper limb movements and has been examined for the effectiveness. The effectiveness of the elbow orthosis was examined by comparing muscular activities during alternate dumbbell curl exercises with and without the orthosis. The subjects participated in the experiment were younger adults in their twenties. The subjects were instructed to perform dumbbell curl motion in a sitting position with and without orthosis in turn and a dynamometer was used to measure elbow joint torque outputs in an isovelocity mode. The measurements were done with four various dumbbell loads: 0 kg, 1 kg, 3 kg, and 5 kg. The orthosis was pneumatically actuated and controlled in a passive mode. The most comfortable air pressure to the pneumatic actuator was determined to be 0.294MPa. Electromyography(EMG) was also measured during curl exercises. The muscles of interest were biceps brachii(BB), triceps brachii(TB), brachioradialis(Bo), and flexor carpi ulnaris(FCU) in the upper limbs. The experimental results showed that the muscular activities themselves significantly reduced with elbow orthosis on in performing similar activities without orthosis. As a result of this experiment, the effectiveness of the developed upper limb orthosis was confirmed and the level of assistance was quantified.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.259-266
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• 2005

The function of the masseter and anterior temporal muscles was assessed by electromyography in 30 patients with mandibular prognathism (20 patients with facial asymmetry and 10 patients without facial asymmetry) before orthognathic surgery and 4weeks afterwards. Electromyogram(EMG) recordings were made during resting, clenching and swallowing. We compared with right-left difference of this recording and asymmetry index before and after orthognathic surgery. The result of this study was as follows. 1. There was no significant right-left difference in muscle activities of masticatory muscles both asymmetric groups and controls and many variable change after orthognathic surgery.(P>0.05) 2. The mean electric activity of the masticatory muscles was found to have decreased during more clenching than resting, but there was no statistically significant difference because of individual difference of measuring values.(P>0.05) 3. The asymmetry index of masticatory muscles in asymmetric groups was significantly greater during clenching compared with controls.(P<0.05) In conclusion, no right-left difference of muscle activities was found in patients with facial asymmetry before orthognathic surgery and 4weeks afterwards. Not only muscular functioning but also many other factors, such as occlusion, temporomandibular joint disorder and trauma, probably affect facial asymmetry and will be analyzed in future studies. And we will need long term follow-up after orthognathic surgery.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2010

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of supporting surface instability to trunk and lower extremity muscle activities during bridging exercise combined with core-stabilization exercise. Thirty young healthy adults (15 males and 15 females) voluntarily participated in this study. Each subject was asked to perform bridging exercise combined with core-stabilization exercise on three different supporting surfaces (stable ground surface, the wooden balancing board, and the air cushion). The muscle activities were measured using surface electromyography (EMG) during performing exercise. To test statistical significance, one-way ANOVA with repeated measures was used with the significance level of .05. The findings of this study are summarized as follows. (1) There were significant differences in muscle activities on internal oblique, external oblique, gluteus medius, semitendinosus, biceps femoris, medial gastrocnemius and lateral gastrocnemius during exercise (p<.05). (2) The biceps femoris and lateral gastrocnemius showed significantly higher muscle activity on the wooden balancing board rather than on the ground, and semitendinosus, biceps femoris, medial gastrocnemius and lateral gastrocnemius showed significantly higher muscle activity on the air cushion rather than on the ground (p<.05). Therefore, it is concluded that muscle activities in the trunk and the lower limbs during bridging exercise combined with core-stabilization exercise was affected with instability of supporting surface. Further researches are needed to investigate the long term effect of bridging exercise on muscle activity with patient group.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.676-680
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• 2010

Purpose: Median nerve entrapment syndrome within carpal tunnel is usually called carpal tunnel syndrome and it is the most common form of peripheral nerve entrapment syndrome. Many factors such as diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, hormonal replacement theraphy, corticosteroid use, rhematoid arthritis and wrist fractures may cause carpal tunnel syndrome. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of median nerve entrapment syndrome due to adhesion of laceration wound after suicidal attempt. Methods: A 28-year-old woman presented with a sensory change and thenar hypotrophy on her left hand. On her history, she attempted suicide by slashing her wrist. Initial electromyography (EMG) showed that the nerve conduction velocities of median nerve was delayed. Therefore, we performed surgical procedures. When exploration, Fibrous scar tissue observed around the median nerve but nerve had not been injured. Transcarpal ligament was completely released and adjacent fibrous tissue was removed to decompress the median nerve. Results: The postoperative course was uneventful until the first year. Opposition difficulty and thenar hypotrophy were improved progressively after the surgery. Sensory abnormality was slowly improved over one year. Conclusion: We report a case of median nerve entrapment syndrome that was caused by adhesion of laceration wound after suicidal attempt. This is an unusual cause of median nerve entrapment syndrome, the symptoms were relieved after transcarpal ligament release and fibrous scar tissue removal.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.149-154
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• 2016

Purpose: The aim of this study is to suggest an intervention method for clinical use in the future by analyzing the effect of breathing exercise on activity of sternocleidomastoid muscle and scalenus anterior muscle, which are respiratory synergist muscles, and pulmonary functions in patients with forward head posture. Methods: Prior to the experiment, 12 patients (experimental group) performed feedback exhalation exercise along with conventional deep neck exercise, and 11 subjects (control group) performed feedback deep neck exercise along with conventional deep neck exercise. The intervention programs were performed for 40 minutes once a day (three times a week for four weeks). Results: Before intervention, %RMS was measured for surface electromyography (sEMG), and FVC, FEV1, and FEV1/FVC were measured using a spirometer. After four weeks, these items were re-measured under the same condition and analyzed. In within-group comparison of the experimental group, activity of sternocleidomastoid muscle and scalenus anterior muscle showed a significant decrease (p<0.05)(p<0.001), and forced vital capacity (FVC) showed a significant increase (p<0.05). In within-group comparison of the control group, activity of sternocleidomastoid muscle and scalenus anterior muscle showed a significant decrease (p<0.05), and in between-group comparison, there were significant differences in activity of sternocleidomastoid muscle and FVC (p<0.05). Conclusion: Long-term forward head posture restrains exercise performance of the neck and leads to exercise avoidance of the neck during daily activities, thus restraint factors might be created even while breathing. To cut off this link, a constant effort is required and diversified research on the correlation between neck functions and breathing should be conducted.