In this paper, the basic and the extensional meaning of the Chinese word, shui (水), and the Korean word, mul (물), were compared for their similarities and differences, based on the different word meaning characteristics. Both words have the basic meaning of “water.” The extensional meaning and usage of these two words overlap semantically under certain conditions, but they have different characteristics in the two languages from the perspective of word formation, reflecting the differences in thinking and cognitive framework of the different cultural backgrounds. The research also found that the words differ greatly in terms of semantic extension. Mul in particular had a far richer and more diverse extended semantic meaning than shui.

Background: Physical activity and quality of life (QOL) influence the health status of older adults. Recently, the use of wearable devices to monitor physical activity has increased. Objects: This study examined the relationship between the amount of physical activity, measured using a wearable device, and QOL among older adults. Methods: In total, 71 older adults (aged ≥ 65 years) were enrolled. The amount of physical activity was measured using a wearable device with a wrist strap, and daily physical activity was classified according to intensity (sedentary, light, moderate, or very active). Self-reported QOL was evaluated using the Short Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire. Pearson and Spearman correlation analyses were conducted to analyze parametric and non-parametric variables, respectively. The relationship between amount of daily physical activity and SF-36 scores was assessed. Results: The correlation analyses revealed positive correlations between the amount of moderate- intensity and very active physical activity (minutes/day) and SF-36 scores (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Physical activity of at least moderate intensity is associated with better QOL in older adults. Further studies are required to verify the effects of increased physical activity on QOL in older adults.

Background: Although symmetry of spatio-temporal parameter and center of pressure (COP) shift during walking is associated with knee adduction moment, research on clinical association with knee osteoarthritis (OA)-related knee pain and functional scores is lacking. Objects: The aims were 1) to compare symmetry of gait parameters and COP-shift in patients with unilateral knee OA and pain and matched controls, and 2) to investigate the relationship between symmetry of gait parameters and COP-shift, and clinical measures. Methods: Female subjects (n = 16) had with unilateral radiological knee OA and pain. Healthy controls (n = 15) were age-matched to OA group. Symmetry of foot rotation, step length, stance and swing phase, lateral symmetry of COP and anterior/posterior symmetry of COP during walking was assessed. To assess the clinical variables, pain intensity, pain duration and function using Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Survey (KOOS) subscales were collected. We compared symmetry between groups using Mann–Whitney U-test or independent t-test. Relationships between clinical measures and symmetry index measured using Spearman’s correlation test. Statistical significance was set at α = 0.05. Results: Knee OA group showed significantly greater values of only lateral symmetry of COP (p < 0.01) than healthy group. Values of lateral symmetry of COP had moderate or strong correlation significantly with the intensity of knee pain, pain duration, and scores of all KOOS subscales (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Patients with unilateral knee OA and pain showed more asymmetry of lateral COP-shift during walking compared with matched healthy controls. In addition, larger asymmetry of lateral COP-shift has the moderate or strong association with worse of knee pain, worse in KOOS scores and longer duration of knee pain. Asymmetry of lateral COP-shift during walking may be one of the characteristics of unilateral knee OA as the compensatory strategy response to unilateral OA of the knee.

Background: Although magnetic resonance imaging is accurate, it is expensive to measure the movement of temporomandibular joint. The three-dimensional (3D) motion analysis system is an inexpensive measurement tool. Objects: This study examined the reliability of quantifying the mouth opening and lateral mandibular shift and differences between individuals with and without temporomandibular disorder (TMD) using the hygienic method of surface markers on the skin with 3D ultrasound-based motion analysis. Methods: This study included 24 subjects (12 with and 12 without TMD). Temporomandibular joint motion during mouth opening was recorded using two surface markers with 3D ultrasound-based motion analysis. An intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC (3,k)] was used to confirm the intrarater reliability of quantifying kinematic temporomandibular joint motion, and an independent t-test was used to evaluate differences in maximal mouth opening and lateral mandibular shift between the two groups. Results: Assessment of mouth opening and lateral mandibular shift showed excellent test–retest reliability with low standard error of measurement. The lateral mandibular shift and opening-lateral mandibular shift ratio were significantly increased in the TMD group during maximum mouth opening (p<.05). However, no significant difference in maximal mouth opening was observed between the groups with and without TMD (p>.05). Conclusion: This hygienic and simple surface marker method can be used to quantify the mouth opening and lateral mandibular shift at the end-range of mouth opening. The TMD group showed an increased lateral mandibular shift movement at the end-range of mouth opening. The lateral mandibular shift movement can be regarded as a symptom in the diagnosis and treatment of TMD.

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) diagnosis using Kellgren-Lawrence scores is commonly used to help decision-making during assessment of the severity of OA with assessment of pain, function and muscle strength. The association between Kellgren-Lawrence scores and functional/clinical outcomes remains controversial in patients with knee OA. Objects: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between Kellgren-Lawrence scores and knee pain associated with OA, function during daily living and sports activities, quality of life, and knee muscle strength in patients with knee OA. Methods: We recruited 66 patients with tibiofemoral knee OA and determined knee joint Kellgren-Lawrence scores using standing anteroposterior radiographs. Self-reported knee pain, daily living function, sports/recreation function, and quality of life were measured using the knee injury and OA outcome score (KOOS). Knee extensors and flexors were assessed using a handheld dynamometer. We performed Spearman’s rank correlation analyses to evaluate the relationships between Kellgren-Lawrence and KOOS scores or muscle strength. Results: Kellgren-Lawrence scores were significantly negatively correlated with KOOS scores for knee pain, daily living function, sports/recreation function, and quality of life. Statistically significant negative correlations were found between Kellgren-Lawrence scores and knee extensor strength but not flexor strength. Conclusion: Higher Kellgren-Lawrence scores were associated with more severe knee pain and lower levels of function in daily living and sports/recreation, quality of life, and knee extensor strength in patients with knee OA. Therefore, we conclude that knee OA assessment via self-reported KOOS and knee extensor strength may be a cost-effective alternative to radiological exams.

Background: A limited hip rotational range of motion (ROM) has been considered to be one of characteristics of low back pain (LBP) in athletes. Although LBP frequently occurs in jiu-jitsu athletes, no previous has compared hip rotational ROM between jiu-jitsu athletes with and without LBP. Objects: The aim of the study was to compare ROM for hip internal rotation (IR) and external rotation (ER), and total hip rotation between jiu-jitsu athletes with and without LBP. Methods: Jiu-jitsu athletes were recruited for the LBP group (n1=15) and control group without LBP (n2=15). IR, ER, and total rotational range of hip joint were measured using a goniometer. Analysis of variance was used to compare the ROM between groups and sides. Results: The LBP group showed a significantly lower range of passive hip IR, passive total rotation, active IR, active ER, and active total rotation than the control group (p<.05). Dominant side of passive hip IR and active IR had a significantly lower ROM than non-dominant side (p<.05). In passive ER ROM, non-dominant side was significantly greater than dominant side (p<.05). Conclusion: Compared to jiu-jitsu athletes without LBP, athletes with LBP exhibit a loss of hip rotational ROM. Based on these results, clinicians and athletic trainers should measure hip rotational ROM when designing the management plan for jiu-jitsu athletes with LBP.

The aim of this study was to compare the activity of the upper trapezius (UT) and serratus anterior (SA) and ratio of UT to SA during shoulder elevations. Ten subjects with UT pain (UTP) and 13 subjects without UTP participated in this study. Subjects with a UTP of over five in a pain intensity visual analogue scale (0-10 ㎝) for more than 2 months and latent myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) in the UT muscle were included in the UTP group. Electromyography (EMG) data of UT and SA at 1st and 10th elevations were analyzed. Two-way repeated analyses of variance were used to compare the EMG activity of UT and SA and the ratio of UT to SA during shoulder elevations between groups with and without UTP. There was a significant increase in UT/SA ratio in the group with UTP compared to the group without UTP (p=.01). The activity of UT and SA measured at the 10th elevation was significantly greater than that in the first elevation (p<.05). The activity of SA was significantly greater in the group without UTP than the group with UTP (p=.03). However, there was no significant difference between groups with and without UTP in terms of UT activity (p=.28). These results indicate that UTP may have relevance to the increased muscle activity ratio of UT to SA during shoulder elevations.

Asymmetric sitting posture may cause asymmetric buttock pressure and unilateral low back pain (LBP). The purpose of this study was to compare the differences of buttock pressure between both sides, and pelvic angle (sagittal and coronal planes) during typing in a sitting position on a pressure mat (Baltube) in individuals with and without unilateral LBP. Ten subjects with unilateral LBP and ten subjects without unilateral LBP were recruited for this study. Buttock pressure was measured using a pressure mat and pelvic angles were measured using a palpation meter. The subjects performed typing in a sitting posture for 30 minutes. Pressure data were collected and averaged at initial term (from start to first minutes) and final term (last minutes of 30 minutes). Angles of pelvic tilting were measured after 30 minutes typing. Pressure asymmetry values (difference in pressure between both sides) were calculated at the initial and final terms. A two-way analysis of variance was used to compare the differences between the initial and final pressure asymmetry values in subjects with and without unilateral LBP. An independent t-test was applied to compare the pelvic tilt angles between the two groups. To compare the change of pressure from the initial term to the final term between the symptomatic and asymptomatic sides in the unilateral LBP group, a paired t-test was applied. In the unilateral LBP group, the pressure asymmetric value at the final term was significantly greater than that of the initial term (p<.05). The angle of pelvic tilting in coronal plane was significantly greater in the unilateral back pain group compared to the without unilateral LBP group (p<.05), however, there was no significant difference in the angle of pelvic tilting in the sagittal plane between the two groups (p>.05). In the unilateral LBP group, the change of pressure from the initial term to the final term was significantly less in the symptomatic side (-6.90 ㎜Hg) than the asymptomatic side (5.10 ㎜Hg). This asymmetric sitting posture may contribute to unilateral LBP in the sitting position. Further studies are needed to determine if asymmetric weight bearing in sitting causes unilateral LBP or if unilateral back pain causes asymmetric weight bearing, and if the correction of asymmetric weight bearing in sitting can reduce unilateral LBP.

The purpose of this study was to compare the immediate effects of upper trapezius muscle stretching in more tensed position (MTP) and less tensed position (LTP) on the change of range of motion (ROM) for neck rotation, and the ROM for conjunct neck motions at end-range of neck rotation toward the painful side in patients with unilateral neck pain. Eighteen patients with unilateral neck pain were recruited for the study's MTP group, and 18 age-, weight- and gender-matched patients with unilateral neck pain were recruited for LTP group. The ROM changes in active neck primary and conjunct motions were measured using a cervical ROM inclinometer in the sitting position. Our results showed that both upper trapezius stretching method in MTP and LTP were significantly effective in increasing the ROM of neck rotation toward painful side in patients with unilateral neck pain. However, a significantly greater increase in the ROM for neck rotation and a further decrease in conjunct neck extension during neck rotation toward the painful side were shown in MTP group, compared to LTP group. The upper trapezius stretching in MTP is useful in increasing the ROM of neck rotation and decreasing the range of conjunct neck extension during neck rotation toward the painful side in patients with unilateral neck pain.

Ely's test is commonly used to assess rectus femoris muscle flexibility. however, a reliability limit of this test was demonstrated by a previous study. In this study, we present an alternative method using an application for a digital horizontal level in a smartphone (DHLS) to complement the reliability limit of Ely's test. The aim of this study was to examine the reliability of Ely's test using DHLS on the pelvis, compared to using visual observation (VO) of pelvic and hip motions. Nineteen patients with lumbar extension-rotation syndrome were recruited for this study. An examiner examined the rectus femoris flexibility (both pass/fail and goniometer scoring) through Ely's test using both DHLS and VO. A retest session was completed two hours later for within-day reliability and seven days later for between-day intra-rater test-retest reliability. Results showed higher Kappa values for pass/fail scoring and higher intraclass correlation coefficient values for goniometer scoring in Ely's test using DHLS, compared to using VO. Measurement error and Bland and Altman plots further demonstrated the degree of intra-rater variance during Ely's test using DHLS in a clinical setting, compared to using VO. These results demonstrated that Ely's test using DHLS showed acceptable reliability compared to using VO. Ely's test using DHLS could be widely used for measuring the rectus femoris muscle flexibility in patients with lumbar extension-rotation syndrome, although the inter-rater reliability needs to be established first.

This study compared the stability of the cervical spine according to the presence of neck pain and deep neck flexor performance. Thirty subjects with neck pain, and thirty subjects without neck pain were recruited for this study. The Cranio-cervical flexion (CCF) test was applied using a pressure biofeedback unit to classify the subjects into four subgroups; no cervical pain and good deep neck flexor performance (NG group), no cervical pain and poor deep neck flexor performance (NP group), cervical pain and good deep neck flexor performance (PG group), and cervical pain and poor deep neck flexor performance (PP group). The head sway angle was measured using a three-dimensional motion analysis system. A 3-kg weight was used for external perturbation with the subject sitting in a chair in the resting and erect head positions with voluntary contraction of the deep neck flexors. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed with a Bonferroni post hoc test. The deep neck flexor performance differed significantly among the four groups (p<.05). The NG group had significantly greater deep neck flexor performance than NP and PP groups. The stability of the cervical spine also differed significantly among the four groups in the resting head position (p<.05). The head sway angle was significantly smaller in NG group as compared with the other groups. The PP group had the greatest head sway angle in the resting head position. However, there was no significant difference in the stability of the cervical spine among the groups in the erect head position with voluntary contraction of deep neck flexors (p=.57). The results of this study suggest that the deep neck flexor performance is important for maintaining the stability of cervical spine from external perturbation.

The aim of this study was to compare electromyography activity for long and lateral heads of triceps brachii muscle according to forearm positions during different triceps strengthening exercises. The muscle activities for long and lateral head of triceps brachii were measured by surface electromyography. Fifteen healthy volunteers participated for this study and performed elbow extension in three different elbow extension exercises (elbow extension in a supine position; EES, elbow extension with shoulder abduction at 90 degrees in a prone position; EESA, and elbow extension with one arm at the side of the trunk in a prone position; EESP) and forearm positions (supination, neutral, and pronation). A two-way repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare the effects of the exercise positions and forearm positions. The EMG activities of the long head of the triceps brachii increased significantly during EESP with forearm supination, whereas the activity of the lateral head of the triceps brachii increased significantly during EESA with the forearm in a neutral position (p<.05). The results of this study suggest that exercise positions and forearm positions should be considered for selectively strengthening the long and lateral heads of triceps brachii muscles.

Push-up plus has been advocated for increasing the activity of the serratus anterior muscle, the most critical scapular stabilizer. However, no previous study has reported the possibility of compensatory motion on the part of the pectoralis major, which could substitute for the action of the serratus anterior during push-up plus. The aim of the current study was to investigate the immediate effect of electromyography (EMG) biofeedback of the pectoralis major muscle on the pectoralis major, upper trapezius, and serratus anterior muscles during push-up plus. Fourteen healthy young subjects voluntarily participated in this study; each subject performed push-up plus from the quadruped position, in two conditions (i.e., with or without visual and auditory biofeedback). Surface EMG was used to measure pectoralis major, serratus anterior, and upper trapezius activity. A paired t-test was used to determine any statistically significant difference between the two conditions. Additionally, effect size was calculated to quantify the magnitude of EMG biofeedback in each muscle. Visual and auditory feedback reduced pectoralis major muscle activity significantly (p=.000) and increased the serratus anterior muscle activity significantly (p=.002), but did not induce a significant difference in upper trapezius muscle activity (p=.881). Thus, it is concluded that the visual and auditory feedback of pectoralis major muscle activity can be used to facilitate serratus anterior muscle activity during push-up plus.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a workplace-based work-conditioning program (WCP) on the management of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMDs) in an automobile-parts manufacturing company. In total, 1,110 subjects with WRMDs participated in workplace-based WCP emphasizing function-centered management and ergonomics. We investigated the incidence of WRMDs variables (number of persons diagnosed with industrial accident-related WHMDs, number of cases of WRMD) and financial benefits (cost of workers' compensation insurance and lost work days related to WRMDs) per year before and after WCP. Additionally, we compared self-reported pain intensity and functional disability in subjects with musculoskeletal pain before and after the WCP. Pain intensity was measured using a visual analog scale (VAS), and functional disability was measured by the neck disability index (NDI) and the Oswestry disability Index (ODI). The number of person diagnosed with industrial accident-related WRMDs, the number of cases of WRMD, the cost of workers' compensation insurance and lost work days related to WRMDs per year decreased by 51%, 37%, 34%, and 47%, respectively, and VAS, NDI, and ODI scores decreased significantly after implementation of WCP (p<.05). Thus, the results of the present study suggest that function-centered, workplace-based WCP was effective in managing WRMDs at an automobile-parts manufacturing company.

Stiffness of the posterior deltoid is as a causative factor in the limited range of glenohumeral horizontal adduction and various other shoulder pathologies including shoulder impingement syndrome, frozen shoulder, and humerus anterior glide syndrome. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of two techniques (soft tissue massage and cross-body stretch) on increasing the range of horizontal adduction. Thirty-two subjects with a or greater difference between the right and left sides in horizontal adduction were selected. Sixteen subjects from each group were allocated randomly. Interventions were applied on six occasions for 2 weeks, and the range of horizontal adduction was measured using an inclinometer at pre-and post-intervention. A analysis of variance (interventiontime) was used to compare the effects of the two techniques. In the soft tissue massage group, the angle of horizontal adduction significantly increased compared with the cross-body stretch group. These findings indicate that the soft tissue massage of the posterior deltoid muscle is a more effective method to increase the flexibility of the glenohumeral horizontal adduction.