Foot posture is important in the development of the musculoskeletal structure in the lower limbs because it can change the mechanical alignment. Although foot orthotics are widely used for the correction of malalignments in the lower extremities, the biomechanical effects of wedges have not yet been cleared. The aim of this study was to investigate whether medial wedges affect the electromyographic (EMG) activity of the knee and hip joints in healthy adults that are performing one leg standing. Seventeen healthy volunteers performed the one leg standing under two foot conditions: A level surface, and a medial wedge. The subjects' EMG data for the gluteus maximus (Gmax), gluteus medius (Gmed), tensor fasciae latae (TFL), biceps femoris (BF), vastus lateralis (VL), and vastus medialis oblique (VMO) were recorded, along with the surface EMG, and all were analyzed. The EMG activity of the Gmed and TFL had significantly decreased under the medial wedge condition during one leg standing. Further study is needed in order to investigate whether medial wedges influence the EMG activity and kinematic data of the knee and hip joints as well as the ankle joints in adults with flexible flatfoot, while they are performing one leg standing.

The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of manual facilitation and a stick on lumbar and hip joint flexion angles in subject with lumbar flexion syndrome during forward bending from a sitting position. Fifteen subjects with lumbar flexion syndrome were recruited for this study. As a pretest, all subjects performed three repetitions of bending the trunk forward until the tips of their fingers touched the target bar. After this pretest, the subjects practiced the forward bending of the trunk 10 times, using either manual facilitation or a stick. Then, as a posttest, all subjects repeated the pretest procedure. The flexion angles of lumbar spine and hip joint during forward bending in a sitting position were measured using a three-dimensional motion analysis system. A paired t-test was used to determine the statistical differences between pre-test and post-test flexion angles and pre- and post-test flexion angle differences between forward bending with manual facilitation and forward bending with a stick. The level of statistical significance was set at p=.05. The results of the study showed that the angle of the lumbar flexion decreased significantly and the bilateral hip flexion angle increased significantly when performing forward bending with stick and manual facilitation. Furthermore, the angle of lumbar flexion decreased significantly and the angle of bilateral hip flexion increased significantly in forward bending with a stick compared to forward bending with manual facilitation. The findings of this study indicate that both forward bending with manual facilitation and sticks could be used to prevent excessive lumbar flexion and increase hip flexion, and that forward bending with a stick is more effective than forward bending with manual facilitation for inducing lumbar spine and hip joint angle changes.

The purpose of this study was to establish a baseline in order that individuals may exercise safely. Sixty healthy students who were divided into two groups participated in the experiment. One group exercised both arms and legs at 60 rpm and the other at 90 rpm. There was a significant difference between arm and leg exercise in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and time to target heart rate (tTHR). DBP decreased more in the upper (U//E) than the lower extremity (L/E), but tTHR increased more in the L/E than the U/E (p < 0.05). Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was similar for both arm and leg exercise (p > 0.05). There was also no significant difference between 60 rpm and 90 rpm in SBP, DBP or tTHR in either arm or leg exercise (p > 0.05). In conclusion, the slope of the linear increase in heart rate was steeper for U/E than L/E work. Therefore L/E exercise is safer than U/E exercise.