• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.51-58
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to compare the postural muscle activity during wearing a lead apron with and without applying waist belt at working posture. Ten healthy male subjects were recruited for this study. Electromyography using a surface EMG recorded the activity of the splenius capitis, trapezius, and erector spinae. EMG activity was recorded at quiet standing, 45 degrees of neck flexion, 45 degrees of neck flexion with 15 degrees of trunk flexion. The testing order was selected randomly. The subjects were asked to maintain the each posture for 3 minutes. The mean root mean square (RMS) of EMG activity was calculated. EMG activity was normalized using the maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) elicited using a manual muscle testing technique. Two-factor repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the average RMS value of EMG activity for each condition. The EMG activity of trapezius muscle was significantly decreased with applying waist belt (p<.05). The muscle activity of splenius capitis and erector spinae showed significant difference according to postures (p<.05). These results suggest that applying waist belt during wearing a lead apron will be useful to prevent shoulder pain.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to compare EMG activity for pectoralis major muscle during shoulder movement with various abduction angle and rotation position in supine position. Fifteen healthy subjects were recruited for this study. All subjects performed shoulder horizontal adduction holding a 2 kg dumbbell in shoulder abduction $40^{\circ}C$, $70^{\circ}C$, $90^{\circ}C$, $130^{\circ}C$, $160^{\circ}C$ with shoulder neutral, internal rotation (IR), and external rotation (ER). Surface EMG activity was recorded from pectoralis major clavicle part and pectoralis major sternum part for 5 seconds and EMG activity was normalized to the value of maximal voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC). Dependent variables were examined with 3 (Neutral, IR, ER) ${\times}$ 5 ($40^{\circ}C$, $70^{\circ}C$, $90^{\circ}C$, $130^{\circ}C$, $160^{\circ}C$) analysis of variance with repeated measures. The EMG activity of pectoralis major muscle was significantly different between shoulder abduction angles and between shoulder rotation positions (p<.05). The highest value of EMG activity of pectoralis major clavicle part among shoulder abduction angles was in $70^{\circ}C$ and, $90^{\circ}C$ in that order. The highest value of EMG activity of pectoralis major sternum part among shoulder abduction angles was in $130^{\circ}C$ and, $90^{\circ}C$ in that order. According to the rotation degree, shoulder ER showed the highest value and IR showed the lowest value in both muscle parts. These results suggest that shoulder abduction $70^{\circ}C$, $90^{\circ}C$, $130^{\circ}C$ will be effective during manual muscle testing (MMT) and strengthening exercise for pectoralis major muscle. It is also supposed that shoulder ER is the efficient posture for strengthening of pectoralis major muscle.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.537-542
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• 2008

BSSRO is most frequently operated among orthognathic surgery techniques for repairment of maxillofacial deformities. In case of patients with maxillofacial asymmetry accompanying mandibular protrusion who are operated by BSSRO, this study considers the recovering time for masticatory force of each tooth and Masseteric EMG and the adequate time enabling normal occlusion. The patients who are operated with BSSRO under general anesthesia in Dankook Dental Hospital, Department of OMS are selected for this study. The control group is devided into 2. 26 patients with facial asymmetry accompanying mandibular protrusion are selected for group 1 and their maximum voluntary bite force and masseteric EMG are measured. Group 2 is formed by volunteers with healthy dentition who are measured maximum bite force and masseteric EMG on both sides of the mouth. At the week of 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th and 11th, Mann-Whitney U test is carried on for statistical analysis and the result is as follows. 1. Patients with mandibular protrusion showed apparently low maximum bite force and masseteric EMG than patients with normal occlusion. 2. In comparison with control group 1, Occlusal force is regained in incisors and canines at the 9th week and in premolars and molars, 11th week and masseteric EMG is regained at 11th week. 3. Comparing to normal occlusal patients, no recovery could be found in experimental group in every parts of the mouth.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.43-50
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• 2002

This study was designed to identify the effects of walking conditions (normal walking vs. toe-walking) on electromyographic (EMG) activity of gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior, and soleus muscle. Seven healthy adult males participated in this study. The exclusion criteria were orthopedic or neurologic disease, congenital anomaly or acquired deformity, or pain in low back or lower extremities. The maximal voluntary isometric contraction for each muscle was used for the reference contraction, and EMG activity of each muscle during normal walking and toe-walking was expressed as a percentage of reference contraction. The gait cycle was determined with two foot switches, and gait was normalized as 100% gait cycle for each condition. The maximal values of EMG activity in terminal stance (30~50% of gait cycle) of each condition were compared for data analysis. No significant differences were found in EMG activity of the tibialis anterior and soleus (p>.05), whereas significant decrement was found in EMG activity of gastrocnemius during toe-walking compared to normal walking (p<.05). There is a limitation to generalize the results of this study, because small number of subjects participated for this study and only EMG was used for data collection. The treatment methods should be developed to improve gait efficiency by substituting the weakened muscles secondary to upper motor neuron, or by strengthening the distal muscles in lower extremity.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.93-101
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• 2020

Background: For performing various movements well, cooperation between the muscles around the scapula and shoulder has been emphasized. Taping has been widely used clinically as a helpful adjunct to other physiotherapy methods for shoulder pathology and dysfunction treatment. Previous studies have evaluated the effect of taping techniques using dynamic tapes on shoulder function and pain. However, no study investigated the electromyographic (EMG) changes in the shoulder muscles. Objects: This study aimed to investigate the effect of the upper limb offload taping technique using a dynamic tape on EMG activities of the upper trapezius (UT), lower trapezius, serratus anterior (SA), and middle deltoid (MD) muscles during scaption plane elevation. Methods: A total of 26 healthy subjects (19.85 ± 6.40 years, male = 20) volunteered to participate in this study. The subjects were instructed to perform scaption elevation with and without dynamic taping on the shoulder. Shoulder elevation strength tests were performed at 100%, 75%, 50%, and 25%, for the maximal isometric contraction force. Results: There were statistically significant interaction effects between the taping application and shoulder scaption elevation force in EMG activities in the UT (p < 0.05) and MD (p < 0.05). EMG activities in the UT showed significant increases in 50%RVC (reference voluntary contraction, p < 0.05) and 25%RVC (p < 0.01). Furthermore, the EMG activity of the SA significantly increased in 50%RVC (p < 0.01) and 25%RVC (p < 0.01) after dynamic taping. For the MD, the EMG activity level significantly decreased in 100%RVC (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These results indicated that upper limb offload dynamic taping application affects the muscle activities of some shoulder muscles depending on different scaption elevation strength levels. Therefore, we suggest that the upper limb offload dynamic taping can be applied to the shoulders when patients need middle deltoid inhibition or upper trapezius facilitation, such as patients with shoulder impingement syndrome.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to compare the change in electromyography (EMG) activity in the gluteus maximus (G-max) and the gluteus medius (G-med) in subjects with and without chronic ankle instability (CAI) during three functional postures. Twenty four females were recruited for this study. Subjects were assigned into two groups: with CAI ($n_1=12$) and without CAI ($n_2=12$). The assessment postures were rotational squat, one leg stand above a gradient and crossed leg-sway. Electromyographic activities of the G-max and the G-med were recorded using surface EMG and was normalized using the maximal voluntary isometric contraction elicited using a manual muscle testing. Independent t-test was used to determine the statistical differences between two groups during the three functional postures. The comparisons of the three posture between two groups were performed using a one-way repeated analysis of variance. A Bonferroni adjustment used for post hoc analysis. The activation of EMG on G-max performing the one leg stand above a gradient and crossed leg-sway in subjects with CAI is significantly higher than normal group (p<.05). The activation of EMG on the G-max during the rotational squat was significantly increased, compared to those of the one leg stand above a gradient and crossed leg-sway (p<.05). The activation of EMG on G-med performing three exercise at CAI is significantly higher than normal group (p<.05). The activation of EMG on the G-med during the crossed leg-sway was significantly increased, compared to the rotational squat (p<.05). This study provides valuable information for clinician who research CAI.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.37-46
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate intra-rater reliability and determine the validity of electromyography (EMG) measurements to represent muscle activity and ultrasonography (US) to represent muscle thickness during manual muscle testing (MMT) to external abdominal oblique (EO) and lumbar multifidus (MF). Twenty healthy subjects were recruited for this study and asked to perform MMT at differing levels. The subjects' muscle activity using EMG was measured by a ratio to maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) and root mean square (RMS) methods. The subjects' muscle thickness using US was measured by raw muscle thickness and change ratio of thickness to maximum (MVC) or resting condition. In three trials, measurements were performed on each subject by one examiner. The intra-rater reliability of measurements of EMG and US to EO and MF was calculated using intra-class coefficients. The intra-rater reliability of all measurements was excellent (ICC=.75~.98) in EMG and US. The conduct validity was calculated by one-way ANOVA with repeated measurements to compare whether the EMG and US measurements were different between MMT at different levels. There was only a significant difference between all grades at %MVC thickness measurement of US. These results suggest that a %MVC thickness measurement of US was a more sensitive and discriminate in all manual muscle testing grades. This information will be useful for the selection of US measurement and analysis methods in clinics.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.26-36
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• 2010

Purpose: The study compared the muscle activity and ratio of upper trapezius (UT) to lower trapezius (LT) activity between acute and chronic whiplash-associated disorder (WAD) patients. Methods: Twelve healthy (male: 7), 14 acute WAD (male: 7), and 11 chronic WAD (male: 3) volunteers participated in this study. Electromyography using a surface EMG recorded the activity of the upper trapezius and lower trapezius of both shoulders (dominant and non-dominant) during $120^{\circ}$ elevation when standing and shoulder depression when sitting. The testing order was selected randomly. Subjects were asked to maintain each experimental position for 5 seconds at end range. EMG activity was normalized using the maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) elicited using a manual muscle-testing technique. One-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the average root mean square (RMS) value of EMG activity for each condition. Results: The EMG activity of the dominant UT for chronic WAD subjects was significantly higher than for acute WAD subjects during $120^{\circ}$ elevation (p<.05). The EMG activity of the dominant LT for acute WAD subjects was significantly lower than for the control group (p<.05) during $120^{\circ}$ elevation. The EMG activity of the dominant LT for WAD patients was significantly lower than for the control group during shoulder depression (p<.05), and the chronic WAD patients scored significantly the lowest (p<.01). The dominant UT/LT for chronic WAD patients was significantly higher than the ratio for acute WAD subjects during shoulder depression (p<.05); this result was higher than for the control group (p<.01). The non-dominant UT/LT (ratio) for chronic WAD patients was significantly higher than the ratio for acute WAD subjects during shoulder depression (p<.05). Conclusion: The UT for chronic WAD subjects was hyperactive when compared to the acute WAD subjects, and the was hypoactive for both acute and chronic patients, therefore intra-trapezius imbalance was more prevalent during shoulder depression.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.223-229
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• 2019

The number of knee-related disease patients and knee joint surgeries is steadily increasing every year, and for knee rehabilitation training for these knee joint patients, it is necessary to strengthen the muscle of vastus medialis and quadriceps femoris. However, because of the cost and time-consuming difficulties of receiving regular hospital treatment in the course of knee rehabilitation, we developed knee exoskeleton using rapid prototype for knee rehabilitation with feedback from the electromyogram (EMG) and inertia motion unit (IMU) sensor. The modules was built on the basis of EMG and an IMU sensor applied complementary filter, measuring muscle activity in the vastus medialis and the range of joint operation of the knee, and then performing the game based on this measurement. The IMU sensor performed up to 97.2% accuracy in experiments with ten subjects. The functional game contents consisted of an exergaming platform based on EMG and IMU for the real-time monitoring and performance assessment of personalized isometric and isotonic exercises. This study combined EMG and IMU-based functional game with knee rehabilitation training to enable voluntary rehabilitation training by providing immediate feedback to patients through biometric information, thereby enhancing muscle strength efficiency of rehabilitation.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.809-816
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• 2007

This paper presents an analysis of the SEMG signal quantitatively and automatically using spike variables : MSF, MSA, MSS, and MSD. The SEMG signals were recorded in three muscle parts, first dorsal interosseus, biceps brachii and abductor policis brevis, from 14 normal subjects. Emphasis was placed on the following 3 points in the experiments. 1) Suggest proper window length to estimate the spike variables 2) Investigate variation of the spike variables to varying %MVC. 3) Investigate variation of the spike variables to the sustained contraction for 30 minutes. Quantitative results were showed and examined in point of practical clinical application.