The purpose of this study was to investigate the variations in gait parameters in terms of the type of arm sling used in hemiplegic patients. Ten patients with hemiplegia and ten healthy adults participated in this study and walked at self-selected speeds on a GAITRite-instrumented carpet. The activities of the opposite shoulder girdle muscle including the latissimus dorsi, anterior deltoid, and posterior deltoid were simultaneously recorded using surface EMG during gait. They were randomly assigned a condition: without an arm sling, a single strap arm sling, a Harris hemi arm sling, a Rolyan humeral cuff arm sling, and a Bobath roll arm sling. The following gait variables were analyzed: the temporo-spatial parameters of velocity, step length, stride length, swing phase, stance phase, single support, step time and toe in/toe out. The statistical analysis was one-way ANOVA with repeated measures to compare the variation of each variable. In comparison of parameters in each trial in the hemiplegia group, the non-affected side stride length, single support, and toe in/toe out resulted in statistically significantly changes (p<.05). But without an arm sling group did not show any gait parameter differences with arm slings. This study found that several arm slings varied gait patterns in patients with hemiplegia and in healthy adults. In the EMG analysis, the Rolyan humeral cuff arm sling and the Bobath roll arm sling were higher muscle activity for the latissimus dorsi muscle than did the single strap ann sling. Further study should examine the problems that appeared in patients who worn arm slings by focusing on a larger number of subjects and by studying the variety of responses in more detail using an assessment tool that measures variation.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorder has been associated with long hours of computer work and prolonged periods of static posture. In clinical settings, postural correction is a common treatment approach for individuals with neck, shoulder, and back pain. This study was designed to identify the effect of Forward Head Posture Correctional Device during computer work. Twelve healthy adults (mean age, 27.4 yrs; mean height, 165.0cm mean weight, 65.8 kg) participated in the study. They had no medical history of neurological or surgical problems with their upper extremity. The subjects were asked to perform Head Forward Posture under the guidance of physical therapists and the measured angles were analyzed using a 3-D motion analysis system. Markers were placed on the C7 spinous process, tragus of the ear and forward head angle was between the line from the tragus to the C7 line and the Y-axis at the C7. The statistical significance of difference between, "without" and "with" correctional device was tested by paired t-test. A level of significance was set at α=.05. In comparison of the computer work between "without" and "with" correctional device, Forward Head Angle was showed significant difference (p<.05). In conclusion, the range of Forward Head Angle was significantly decreased during computer work with the correctional device. Further research is needed to understand the nature of motor control problems in deep muscles in patients with neck, shoulder, and back pain.

목적 : 본 연구는 양측 팔뻗기 과제를 수행하는 동안 팔뻗기 속도의 변화와 수직이동거리를 알아보기 위해 정상 성인을 대상으로 책상위에서의 4가지의 다양한 팔뻗기 과제 수행시 최대 속도와 수직이동거리를 측정하였다. 연구방법 : 연구대상자는 상지에 선천적인 기형, 심각한 외과적 혹은 신경학적 질환이나 지난 1년 동안 상지의 외상이나 통증을 경험했던 사람은 제외한, 우세 손이 오른손인 건강한 성인 30명을 대상으로 실시하였다. 상지움직임의 변화는 실시간 삼차원 동작분석 장치인 CMS-HS를 사용하였다. 연구에 적용된 4가지 양측 팔뻗기 과제는 다음과 같다. 과제 1은 왼손으로 컵을 지정된 위치에 옮기는 단순 뻗기 작업을 수행, 과제 2는 왼손과 동시에 오른손도 같은 컵으로 같은 작업을 수행, 과제 3은 왼손은 같은 작업을 수행하는 동안 오른손은 얇은 펜을 옮기는 작업을 수행, 과제 4는 왼손은 같은 작업을 수행하는 동안 오른손은 높이가 10cm 높은 상자위에 같은 컵을 올리는 작업을 수행하였다. 결과 : 왼손과 동시에 오른손도 같은 컵으로 같은 작업을 수행하는 과제 2는 왼손으로 컵을 지정된 위치에 옮기는 단순 뻗기 작업을 수행하는 과제 1과 비교시 최대속도가 더 유의하게 증가하였다(p<0.05). 그러나 왼손은 같은 작업을 수행하는 동안 오른손은 얇은 펜을 옮기는 작업을 수행하는 과제 3은 과제 1과 유의한 차이가 없었고(p>0.05), 같은 컵을 옮기는 과제 2보다는 유의하게 감소하였다(p<0.05). 또한 수직이동거리에 대한 짝비교 검정을 실시한 결과, 양손에 같은 작업을 수행하는 동안 왼손의 수직이동거리는 56.8mm였고, 과제 2와 같은 작업을 하는 동안 오른손에 10cm 높이 위에 컵을 올리는 작업을 적용하였을 때 왼손의 수직이동거리는 68.4mm로 유의하게 증가되었다(p<0.05). 결론 : 본 연구는 치료적인 팔뻗기 과제 수행시 팔뻗기 속도와, 공간적 동기화가 가능한 양측 팔뻗기의 적용의 필요성을 알아보기 위해 다양한 팔뻗기 과제에 대한 최대 속도와 수직이동거리를 측정하였다. 양측 팔뻗기 과제는 한측 팔뻗기 과제 수행시보다 최대 속도가 높게 나타났고, 반대편 쪽 작업 수행 난이도가 어려울 경우, 속도가 감소되는 결과를 통해 시간적 동기화를 예측할 수 있었으며, 반대편 쪽 작업대 높이 변화를 통해 공간적인 동기화를 알 수 있었다. 이런 결과는 뇌졸중 환자의 상지 재활시 양측 팔뻗기 과제를 이용한 치료에 기초자료가 될 것이라 사료된다.

This study was designed to identify the effect of various decline boards and postures of lower extremities on surface electromyographic (EMG) activity of knee muscles during isometric single-leg decline squat exercises. The subjects were twenty young male adults who had not experienced any knee injury and their Q-angles were within a normal range. They were asked to perform single-leg decline squat exercises in five various conditions. The EMG activities of the gluteus maximus (GM), vastus lateralis (VL), vastus medialis (VMO), tibialis anterior (TA), and gastrocnemius (GCM) muscles were recorded in five various single-leg decline squat exercises by surface electrodes and normalized by maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) values. The normalized EMG activity levels were compared using one-way ANOVA with repeated measures. The results of this study were as follows: 1) Exercises 2 and 4 produced significantly greater EMG activity of VMO than did exercise 1 (<.05/10), 2) The VMO/VL ratio of EMG activity of exercise 4 was the highest, producing a significantly greater ratio than exercise 1 (<.05/10). These results show that single-leg lateral oblique decline squat exercise is the best exercise for selective strengthening of VMO, and the posture of the contralateral leg does also affect strengthening of VMO, but we'll need to research patellofemoral joint compression for clinical application of single-leg lateral oblique decline squat exercises.

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is often attributed to malalignment and maltracking of patella within the patellofemoral joint. Most exercise for PFPS has focused on selectively strengthening the vastus medialis oblique muscle (VMO). This study was designed to identify the effect of medial, lateral wedge and difference of Quadriceps angle (Q-angle) on vastus medialis oblique/vastus lateralis muscle (VL) activity ratios. The subjects were twenty young adult males who had not experienced any knee injury. They were asked to perform isometric contraction exercises in three postures using medial and lateral wedge. The EMG activity of the VL and VMO were recorded in three postures by surface electrodes and normalized by %MVC values derived from seated, isometric knee extensions. The normalized EMG activity levels (%MVC) of the VL and VMO for the three postures of the lower extremities were compared using 2-way repeated measures ANOVA with 1 between-subject factor (group), and 1 within-subject factor (wedge). Results of repeated measures of ANOVA's revealed that the medial wedge isometric contraction exercise produced significantly greater EMG activity of VMO/VL ratios in Group I (Q-angle or less) (p<.05). But, the medial wedge isometric contraction exercise was no significant difference of VMO/VL ratios in Group II (Q-angle or more) (p>.05). These results have important implications for selective VMO muscle strengthening exercises in PFPS patients.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether gender differences existed in knee valgus kinematics in college students when performing a vertical drop landing. The hypothesis of this study was that females would demonstrate greater knee valgus motion. These differences in knee valgus motion may be indicative of decreased dynamic knee joint control in females. This study compared the initial knee valgus angle and maximum knee valgus angle at the instant of impact on vertical drop landings between healthy men and women. In this study, 60 participants (30 males, 30 females) dropped from a height of 43 cm. A digital camera and two-dimensional video motion analysis software were used to analyze the kinematic data. There was significant difference in the mean knee valgus angle at initial contact landing between the two groups (Mean=, SD= in males, Mean=, SD= in females). The range of knee valgus angle on landing (Mean=, SD= in males, Mean=, SD= in females) was differed significantly (p<.05). The maximal angle of knee valgus on landing (Mean=, SD= in males, Mean=, SD= in females) was also differed significantly (p<.05). The females landed with a larger range of knee valgus motion than the males and this might have increased the likelihood of a knee injury. The absence of dynamic knee joint stability may be responsible for increased rates of knee injury in females. No method for accurate and practical screening and identification of athletes at increased risk of ACL injury is currently available to target those individuals that would benefit from neuromuscular training before sports participation.

목적 : 본 연구는 뻗기 과제를 수행하는 동안 팔과 체간의 움직임에 있어서의 차이를 알아보고자 실시하였다. 정상 성인을 대상으로 책상 위에서의 팔뻗기 과제 수행시 거리에 따른 팔의 움직임에 대한 체간의 움직임을 알아보기 위하여 대상자의 팔의 길이에 비례하여 다양한 거리에서의 팔뻗기 과제를 실시하였다. 연구방법 : 연구대상자는 상지에 선천적인 기형, 심각한 외과적 혹은 신경학적 질환이나 지난 1년 동안 상지의 외상이나 통증을 경험했던 사람은 제외한, 우세 손이 오른손인 건강한 성인 20명을 대상으로 실시하였다. 상지움직임의 변화는 실시간 삼차원 동작분석 장치인 CMS-HS를 사용하였다. 팔길이에 대한 50%, 70%, 90%, 110%, 130% 거리의 작업수행시 체간의 움직임이 측정되었고, 단일 표식자에서 얻어진 속도와 움직인 거리 그리고 체간과 상지의 최대속도시간을 나누어 처리하였다. 결과 : 거리가 증가하는 동안 체간의 움직임은 팔의 길이의 90%의 거리에서부터 체간의 움직임이 유의하게 증가됨을 보였다(p.<05). 팔의 움직임에 대한 체간의 회전은 팔길이의 70% 거리에서부터 유의한 회전을 나타내기 시작했다(p.<05). 팔과 체간의 최대속도 도달시간은 팔길이의 70%, 90% 110%의 거리에서는 팔의 최대속도 도달시간이 먼저 나타났고, 팔길이의 130%의 거리에서는 체간의 최대속도 도달시간이 팔보다 먼저 나타남을 보였다. 결론 : 본 연구의 결과 거리에 따라 팔의 움직임에 대한 체간의 회전과 굴곡이 유의하게 일어나는 거리를 알 수 있었고, 거리에 따른 체간의 운동속도에 있어서의 움직임 패턴을 예측할 수 있었다. 따라서 상지 손상이 있는 환자들의 책상 위에서의 작업 수행이나 작업치료시 작업이 일어나는 거리에 따라 체간의 올바른 움직임을 위한 더 많은 연구가 필요할 것이다.

Most exercise for Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) has focused on selectively strengthening the vastus medialis oblique muscle (VMO). Although open chain knee extension exercises are effective for increasing overall quadriceps strength, they are not always indicated for PFPS rehabilitation. This study was designed to identify the effect of combined posture of lower extremity on Electromyographic (EMG) activity of the vastus lateralis muscle (VL) and VMO during static squat exercises. The subjects were twenty young adult males who had not experienced any knee injury and their Q-angle was within a normal range. They were asked to perform static squat exercises in five various postures using their lower extremities. The EMG activity of the VL and VMO were recorded in five exercises by surface electrodes and normalized by %MVC values derived from seated, isometric knee extensions. The normalized EMG activity levels (%MVC) of the VL and VMO for the five postures of the lower extremities were compared using one way ANOVA with repeated measures. Results of repeated measures of ANOVA's revealed that exercise 3 and exercise 5 produced significantly greater EMG activity of VMO/VL ratios than exercise 1 (p<.05). When the static squat exercise was combined with hip adduction and toes pointed outwardly, the EMG activity of VMO/VL rates was increased. The EMG activity of VMO/VL ratio was highest during static squat exercises performed on a decline squat. These results haveimportant implications for progressive and selective VMO muscle strengthening exercises in PFPS patients.

Back extension exercises have been used for rehabilitation of the injured low back, prevention of injury, and fitness training programs. However, excessive loading on low back can exacerbate existing structural weakness. The purpose of this study was to compare muscle activity of low back muscles during back extension exercises. Twenty healthy male subject s were evaluated. Electromyographic (EMG) activities of low back muscles at L1 and L5 level were recorded during seven different back extension exercises and two reference tasks by surface EMG and saved for data analysis. Reference tasks of lifting 20% and 40% of their body weight were included for comparison. The result were as follows: 1) Single-arm extension and single-leg extension exercises on quadruped position appeared to constitute a low-risk exercise for initial extensor strengthening. 2) When arm extension was combined with contralateral leg extension on quadruped position, EMG activities of low back muscles were increased. 3) EMG activity of low back muscles was highest during the trunk extension exercises on prone position. 4) EMG activities of low back muscles during arm and leg extension exercises on quadruped position were less than those of reference task of lifting 40% of their body weight. These result s have important implications for progressive back extensor muscle strengthening exercises in patients with back pain.