• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.6-11
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• 2022

Purpose: This study investigated the muscle activity of the lower trapezius (LT) during three different shoulder flexion exercises. Methods: Twenty-three subjects between 20 and 25 years of age were enrolled. The subjects were asked to perform three different shoulder flexion exercises: 1) shoulder flexion in prone (SFP), 2) shoulder flexion in push-up with a swiss ball (SFPUS) and 3) shoulder flexion in a quadruped position with a swiss ball (SFQPS) in random order. The muscle activity of LT during each shoulder flexion exercise was measured by using surface electromyography. The muscle activity of LT was compared using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bonferroni post hoc test among three different shoulder flexion exercises. The statistical significance level was set at α=0.01. Results: The muscle activity of LT was significantly different among three different shoulder flexion exercises (SFP, SFPUS, and SFQPS). The LT muscle activity with SFQPS exercise was greater than SFP and SFPUS exercises (p<0.01). There was no significant difference in LT muscle activity between SFP and SFPUS exercises (p>0.01). Conclusion: The LT muscle activity was greater during SFQPS than SFP and SFPUS. Therefore, SFQPS exercise can be recommended for selectively activation of LT muscle.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.47-56
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to compare electromyography (EMG) activity for the middle and lower trapezius muscle according to various shoulder abduction angles. Thirty healthy male subjects were recruited for this study. Each subject performed three repetitions of horizontal abduction at $75^{\circ}$, $90^{\circ}$, $125^{\circ}$, $160^{\circ}$, and $180^{\circ}$ of shoulder abduction angle in a prone position. Surface EMG activity was recorded from the middle and lower trapezius while the subjects held for five seconds at a predetermined position. The EMG activity was normalized using the maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) elicited using a manual muscle testing technique. A repeatedly measured ANOVA was performed by Bonferroni's post hoc test. The EMG activity of the middle and lower trapezius was significantly different among shoulder abduction angles (p<.05). The greatest level of muscle activity for the middle and lower trapezius were demonstrated at $90^{\circ}$ and $160^{\circ}$ of shoulder abduction angle, respectively. These results suggest that middle and lower trapezius strengthening exercise and manual muscle testing should be performed at different shoulder abduction angles.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2019

Purpose: This study verifies the muscle activity around the amputation site during proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) pattern exercise for the upper extremities on the non-amputated part in upper extremity amputees and provides basic data on effective exercise around an amputation site. Methods: Manual resistance was applied to the PNF upper extremity pattern of the non-amputated part to generate muscle activity around the amputation site. The resistance was adjusted to an intensity that could cause maximal isometric contraction. The muscle activity of the amputation site and the non-amputated part was measured using a surface electromyogram for the upper trapezius, middle trapezius, infraspinatus, serratus anterior, and pectoralis major. Results: During the scapular exercise in the painless range, the amputated side showed significantly lower muscle activity and a lower muscle contraction ratio compared with the non-amputated side. During the PNF pattern exercise in the painless range, the amputated side showed lower muscle activity and a lower muscle contraction ratio compared with the non-amputated side. When the direct scapular exercise of the amputated side was compared with the PNF pattern exercise of the non-amputated side, their muscle contraction ratios were similar. Conclusion: This study confirmed the effectiveness of the PNF pattern exercise of the non-amputated part as a way to indirectly train the injured site with no pain for rehabilitation of patients with serious body injuries, such as amputation. It is necessary to develop effective exercise programs for the rehabilitation of the amputation site based on the results of this study.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.749-754
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to conduct a comparative analysis of the right shoulder's muscle activity when lifting ipsilateral and contralateral legs during the Push Up Plus (PUP) exercise, which is a typical shoulder stabilizing exercise, and to provide effective data for a shoulder stabilization exercise. Upper trapezius, lower trapezius, levator scapula, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, deltoid posterior, serratus anterior and pectoralis major, which are eight main muscles of a shoulder, were analyzed for the left and right leg lifting by using an electromyogram (EMG). The study revealed that the muscle activities of the right shoulder's upper trapezius, levator scapula, supraspinatus, serratus anterior and pectoralis major were higher when lifting an ipsilateral (right side) leg, compared to lifting a contralateral (left side) leg. Therefore, lifting an ipsilateral leg can be an effective method for enhancing the maneuverability (mobility) of the right shoulder when lifting a single leg.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.107-116
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• 2020

Purpose: To investigate the effects of electromyography (EMG) biofeedback on the muscle activity of the trapezius, shoulder pain, function, and range of motion (ROM) in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome (SAIS). Methods: Sixteen patients (9 males and 7 females) with SAIS participated voluntarily. The main outcome measures were muscle activity of the trapezius, shoulder pain (VAS), ROM, and the shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI). Exercises with EMG biofeedback consisted of shoulder flexion in a standing position, shoulder external rotation in a side-lying position, and shoulder horizontal abduction in a prone position. Post measurements were taken immediately after EMG biofeedback training. Results: Middle and lower trapezius activity, as well as ROM, was significantly increased by exercise with EMG biofeedback (p<0.05). In addition, VAS and SPADI scores significantly decreased post-EMG biofeedback training (p<0.05). Conclusion: EMG biofeedback intervention is an effective exercise for SAIS patients to restore activity of the middle and lower trapezius and to improve pain, shoulder function, and ROM.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2016

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of exercise on the neck muscles activities between scapular stability and McKenzie stretch exercise in the forward head posture subjects. Method : After measuring cervical alignment using the Global Posture System, 20 volunteers with forward head posture posture were selected and divided into two groups. The experimental group A(n=15) and Experimental group B(n=15) participated in respectively and McKenzie neck stretching exercise, three times per week for 4 weeks. The scapular stabilization exercise program was comprised middle and lower trapezius strength exercises and the stretching exercise program was comprised levator scapulae and upper trapezius stretching exercise. The activities of the muscles of the posterior neck was then measured using electromyography. Result : After the intervention, there was significant difference of a electromyography activity changes between the pre-test and post-test in the experimental group. Conclusion : This study showed that both scapular stabilization and McKenzie neck stretching exercises are more effective for reducing neck muscles activities.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.37-46
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• 2021

Background: The increase in the activity of the upper trapezius (UT) muscle and decrease in the activity of the serratus anterior (SA) and lower trapezius (LT) muscle produce an abnormal scapulohumeral rhythem. Therefore, the SA is the focus of therapeutic exercise protocols for the rehabilitation. This study aimed to compare the activity of the muscles according to resistance levels during protraction exercise. Methods: Thirteen healthy 20 to 30 years old male and female subjected participated in the study. All subjects performed the scapular protraction exercise with the weights of 0, 5, and 10kg, combined with horizontal shoulder abduction and adduction. The electromyography data of the SA, UT, and pectoralis major (PM) during the exercise were recorded using surface electrodes. The ratios of PM/SA and UT/SA were calculated. Repeated one-way ANOVA was used to determine the statistical significance. Results: There was a significant difference in the muscle activity of the SA and PM (p<.05). Specifically, SA had the highest activity and PM had the lowest activity at an abduction resistance 10kg (p<.01). There was a significant difference in the ratios of UT/SA and PM/SA (p<.05). The ratio of PM/SA was the lowest at the abduction resistance of 10kg (p<.01). Conclusion: According to this study, for the selective activation of the serratus anterior, protraction exercises should be applied as a method of adding resistance to protraction and horizontal abduction.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.9-16
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare modified sling exercise and general isometric exercise in patients with shoulder impingement syndrome. Methods: Twenty subjects were studied. The control group, n1 = 10, received instructions for doing general isometric (ISO) exercise. An experimental group, n2 = 10, received instructions for doing push-ups from standing and sitting positions and modified scapular exercises using a sling (3 sets, 3 times per week for 6 weeks). To evaluate the effects of exercise, subjects were evaluated using a visual analog scale for pain, a goniometer for range of motion, and electromyography for onset time of muscle contraction. Statistical analysis was done using the Wilcoxon Signed rank and Mann-Whitney U tests. Results: Pain in the sling group was significantly decreased after 6 weeks of treatment (p<0.05) pain in the general ISO exercise group was not significantly decreased (p>0.05). Flexion and external rotation were significantly increased after 6 weeks of treatment in both groups (p<0.05) and the change in the Sling group was greater than in the ISO group (p<0.05) in the flexion test. Time of onset of contractions in the Sling group for the upper trapezius, lower trapezius and serratus muscle were significantly decreased after 6 weeks of treatment (p<0.05), but the onset time for the middle trapezius did not significantly decrease (p>0.05). Conclusion: Scapular stabilizing exercise using a sling increases range of motion and decreases pain, and onset time of muscle contraction in patients with impingement syndrome.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.194-199
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• 2021

Background: The scapulo-thoracic musculatures including serratus anterior (SA), upper trapezius and lower trapezius can provide shoulder stability and functional shoulder movement. Objects: The muscle activities of upper and lower SA were compared during three different scapular protraction exercises in healthy individuals in sitting position. Methods: Twenty-five healthy subjects were participated. Electromyography device was used to measure muscle activity of upper and lower SA and trapezius muscles. Each subject was asked to perform three different scapular protraction exercises (scapular protraction [SP], SP with self-resistance [SPSR], SPSR with hand-exerciser [SPSRH]) in random order. One-way repeated measures analysis of the variance and a Bonferroni post hoc test were used. Results: The muscle activity of lower SA muscle was significantly different among three conditions (SP vs. SPSR vs. SPSRH) (p < 0.01). The lower SA muscle activity was significantly greater during SPSRH compared to SP and SPSR, which required joint stability more than SP and SPSR (p < 0.01). Conclusion: SPSRH exercise can be recommended to facilitate the muscle activity of lower SA. In addition, the intramuscular variation in the upper and lower SA during scapular protraction exercise is required to consider the effective rehabilitation.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.2308-2313
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• 2021

Background: Although the scapular posterior tilt movement could facilitate the lower trapezius (LT) muscle activity, no study identified the effects of the scapular posterior tilt movement on the selective activation of the LT muscle during prone shoulder extension. Objectives: To examine the influences of additional scapular posterior tilt on electromyography (EMG) of the upper trapezius (UT) and the LT muscles during prone shoulder extension. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: There were 15 asymptomatic male participants in this study who performed prone shoulder extension with and without scapular posterior tilt movements. For the scapular posterior tilt movements, participants performed visual biofeedback training for scapular movement using motion sensor. During the exercises, the EMG activity of the UT and LT was recorded using surface EMG system. Results: The EMG activity of the LT significantly increased during prone shoulder extension with scapular posterior tilt compared to that of general prone shoulder extension, whereas that of the UT was not significantly different between the two exercises. Moreover, scapular posterior tilt application significantly decreased UT/LT muscle activity ratio. Conclusion: Scapular posterior tilt movement may be emphasized during exercise when facilitating LT muscle activation.