Background: Whole body-electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) is widely used for the rehabilitation and recovery of patients with various neuromusculoskeletal disorders. Objects: To objectively measure changes in lower extremity and abdominal muscles after sit-to-stand dynamic movement training using WB-EMS. Methods: A total of 46 healthy adults (23 experimental and 23 control subjects) performed sit-to-stand exercise; the experimental group with WB-EMS, and the control group without WB-EMS. The muscle activity of the lower extremity, and the muscle thickness of the lower extremity and abdominal muscles were measured before and after the intervention. Results: In terms of electromyographic activity, there was a significant interaction effect for the rectus femoris (RF) muscle (F=30.212, p=.000). With regards to ultrasonographic imaging, the muscle thickness of the RF muscle had a significant interaction effect at the muscle contraction ratio (F=8.071, p=.007). The deep abdominal muscles, such as the transverse abdominal (TrA) and internal oblique (IO) muscles, also showed significant interaction effects at the muscle contraction ratio (F=5.474, p=.024, F=24.151, p=.000, respectively) Conclusion: These findings suggest that WB-EMS may help to improve the muscular activity of the RF muscle, and the muscle thickness of the RF muscle and deep muscles such as the TrA and IO muscles.

Background: Alignment of the lower limb is an important factor, influencing balance and gait in kinematics and kinetics, in patients with and without a flat arched foot. Flat arched foot are associated with the range of motion (ROM) of the hip and alignments of the knee joints, is strongly influenced. Objects: The purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship between hip joint ROM and quadriceps angle (Q-angle), by dividing them into two groups according to the presence or absence of flat feet, using a navicular drop test (NDT) and resting calcaneal stance position (RCSP). Methods: Forty elderly patients were allocated to the experimental group (flat foot group, n1=20) or the control group (non-flat group, n2=20). Universal and digital goniometer, tractograph and tape measure were used to determine the related changes in the hip ROM, Q-angle, NDT and RCSP. joint (right, r=.803, p<.001), (left, r=.951, p<.001) were highly correlated with NDT, and also, was moderately correlated with Q-angle (right, r=.562, p=.019), (left, r=.757, p<.001). Passive internal ROM of the hip joint (right, r=.742, p=.001), (left, r=.922, p<.001) were highly correlated with NDT, and also, was moderately correlated with RCSP (right, r=-.530, p=.029) and with Q-angle (right, r=.710, p=.001), (left, r=.698, p=.002) in the flat foot group. However, no strong correlation among the hip ROM, NDT, RCSP and Q-angle were found in the non-flat foot group. Conclusion: This research may provide evidence of the correlations between hip internal ROM and flat foot.