Background: Recent research suggests that the most effective and proactive method for correcting excessive pronation, which contributes to the lowering of the medial longitudinal arch, is to enhance both intrinsic and extrinsic foot muscles simultaneously. Objectives: This study aims to compare the effects of intrinsic and extrinsic foot muscle exercises on medial longitudinal arch height, plantar pressure distribution, and lactate levels in university students with flexible flatfoot. Design: Randomized controlled trial study. Methods: Twenty-two students with flexible flat foot participated in this study and were recruited by N University in Korea. The subjects were randomly divided into Intrinsic foot muscle strengthening group (IFG; n=11) that went through Intrinsic foot muscle strengthening exercise, Extrinsic foot muscle strengthening group (EFG; n=11) that went through extrinsic foot muscle strengthening exercise. SPSS was used for statistical analysis. Results: Both groups showed significant increases in medial arch height and first metatarsal bone pressure, while EFG also had increased pressure at the second to fourth metatarsal bones. No significant differences were found in lactate levels. Conclusion: Both intrinsic and extrinsic foot muscle strengthening exercises can be suggested as effective interventions for improving medial longitudinal arch height and plantar pressure.

Background: Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is very common disease. Strength exercise, balance exercise, and proprioceptive exercise were used to improvement of function for CAI. Isokinetic strength and balance are related to functional movement of lower extremity. Objectives: The purpose was to analyze the effect of muscle strengthening exercise, balance exercise, and proprioceptive exercise on isokinetic strength and balance in young adults with CAI. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: The subjects were 30 young adults with CAI. The subjects randomly divided into three groups: strengthening exercise, balance exercise, and proprioceptive exercise. They performed each exercise for 20 minutes, three times a week for four weeks. They measured isokinetic strength of dorsiflexor and plantar flexor of 60°/sec and 120°/sec, static and dynamic balance before and after exercise. Results: The isokinetic strengths of dorsiflexor and plantar flexor of 60°/sec and 120°/sec were significantly higher in the strengthening exercise group than in the balance exercise group. The static and dynamic balance was significantly higher in the balance exercise group than in other two groups. Conclusion: Strengthening exercise, balance exercise, proprioceptive exercise can improve the muscle strength for CAI. Strengthening exercise and balance exercise can more improve balance than proprioceptive exercise for CAI.

Background: Child care center teachers are exposed to musculoskeletal injuries caused by repetitive movements at low heights due to the nature of their jobs. Self-myofascial release (SMFR) improves flexibility, pain, and functional performance. Pectoralis minor self-stretching (PMSS) improves muscle flexibility and postural alignment. PMSS has been commonly used to correct a rounded shoulder posture (RSP). Objectives: To examine the shoulder height, muscle tone, muscle stiffness, and muscle elasticity for women child care center teachers with RSP. Design: Randomized study. Methods: The participants were 20 women child care center teachers with RSP. They were randomly assigned two groups: SMFR group (n=10) and PMSS group (n=10). They performed each exercise for 20 min, 3 times a week for 4 weeks. They measured shoulder height, muscle tone, stiffness, and elasticity of upper trapezius before and after exercise. Results: In the shoulder height, there was no significant difference between two groups. There were significant decreases within both groups. In the muscle tone, stiffness, and elasticity, there was no significant difference between two groups and within two groups. Conclusion: SMFR using a hard massage ball and PMSS have a positive effect on posture correction for child care center teacher with RSP.

The conditions for minimizing dyes and additives when dyeing cellulose fibers such as linen, ramie, and hemp fabrics were obtained using glucose, an organic reducing agent. Dyeability and colorfastness were measured through repeated dyeing. The overall surface dyeing concentration followed the linen>hemp>ramie order, and most of the colors were in the range of PB (PurpleBlue). As the glucose concentration increased, the blue series was strengthened, and the color was dark and clear. It was determined that glucose the concentration of 4g/L was appropriate for minimizing the amount of dye. When the dyeing temperature was 30℃, the surface dyeing concentration was the highest, and the color was dark and clear. Although the dyeing concentration increased as NaOH concentration increased, 3g/L (pH 12.37) was considered appropriate for the minimum NaOH concentration, which becomes gradual after the dyeing concentration increased rapidly. It was found that the surface dyeing concentration, when repeated six times for 5 min, was better than that of dyeing once for 30 min. Washing, rubbing, and perspiration colorfastness were all found to be excellent in grades 4–4-5, and colorfastness to light was excellent in grades 5 of linen and hemp and grade 4 of ramie.

In this study, natural dyeing using Polygonum tinctoria was performed with linen, ramie, and hemp, which are biodegradable cellulose fibers, considering environmental aspects. In particular, the impacts of alkali NaOH and reducing agent Na2S2O4 were examined, and the possibilities of minimizing the use and reusing the dye were explored. The surface dye concentrations were found to be in the following order: hemp>linen>ramie. With the increase in all additives, the L* value decreased, and the ⊿E and K/S values increased gradually. When Na2S2O4 was 1g/L, the surface color of the dye appeared uniformly from the NaOH concentration of 0.4g/L (pH 10.84). When NaOH was 0.4g/L, the K/S values of linen and ramie increased rapidly after 0.4g/L of Na2S2O4, and hemp maintained a stable color from 0.6g/L of Na2S2O4. With the increase in the dye concentration from 1 to 6g/L, all the fibers were dyed uniformly. The K/S value increased or higher doubled upon repeated dyeing six times for 5 min than when dyed only once for 30 min. Therefore, the linen, ramie, and hemp fibers dyed repeatedly exhibited good washing, rubbing, and colorfastness to perspiration, which was rated between 4 and 4–5, and that to light was rated as 5. Moreover, no discoloration due to sunlight was observed. Finally, linen exhibited a bacterial reduction of 99.9%, thereby indicating its excellent antibacterial property.

Background: Chronic ankle instability is a common injury that decreases balance and negatively affects functional movements, such as jumping and landing. Objectives: To analyze the effect of taping types and jump heights on balance with eyes open and closed during jump landings in chronic ankle instability. Design: Within-subject design. Methods: The study involved 22 patients with chronic ankle instability. They performed both double-leg and single-leg drop jump landings using three conditions (elastic taping, non-elastic taping, and barefoot) on three different jump platforms (30, 38, and 46 cm). Balance was measured using the Romberg's test with eyes open and closed. Results: Interaction effect was not statistically significant. Balance with eyes open and closed was significantly improved in both the elastic taping and non-elastic taping conditions compared to the barefoot condition. There was no significant difference according to the jump height. Conclusion: Individuals with chronic ankle instability demonstrated increased balance ability with eyes open and closed when jump landing. Elastic taping and non-elastic taping on the ankle joint can positively affect balance during landing in individuals with chronic ankle instability.