Background: Shoulder impingement syndrome, a major cause of shoulder pain, involves weakness of the scapular retractor muscles. The major scapular retractor muscles are the middle trapezius and rhomboid major muscles; however, the latter is excluded in most studies. Objects: We aimed to measure the thickness of the middle trapezius and rhomboid major muscles using an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system while performing four different shoulder retraction exercises and comparing the thicknesses and ratio of the thicknesses of these muscles. Methods: The thickness of the middle trapezius and rhomboid major muscles was measured in 24 healthy adults using ultrasound. Muscle thickness was measured three times in the Reference posture and four times while performing four different exercises that involved scapular retraction. The averages and standard deviations of the measured muscle thicknesses were obtained and compared. The ratio of muscle thickness and rate of changes in muscle thickness between the reference posture and the four exercises were compared. Results: For both, male (n = 10) and female (n = 14), there was a significant difference in the thickness of the middle trapezius muscle between the reference posture and the four exercises (p < 0.05) and in the thickness of the middle trapezius and rhomboid major muscles between male and female (p < 0.05); however, there was no significant difference in the ratio of the thicknesses of these muscles. Although a significant difference in the rate of change in muscle thickness during the four exercises was noted, there was no significant difference in the ratio of change in muscle thickness. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the ratio of the thicknesses of the middle trapezius and rhomboid major muscles and the rate of change in their thickness during exercises involving scapular retraction in healthy people in their 20s–30s.

Background: Neck pain is a major health problem in developed countries and has a lifetime prevalence of 50%. Major problems include a reduced cervical range of motion, muscle stiffness, dysfunction, postural changes, and decrease in psychosocial level. Objects: This study aimed to investigate the effects of applying the upper trapezius inhibition dynamic taping to patients with chronic neck pain on their neck pain, functional level, cervical range of motion, psychosocial level, and neck posture. Methods: The study design was a randomized controlled trial. A total of 40 patients with neck pain participated in this study and were randomly assigned to a Dynamic Taping group (n = 20) or Sham Taping group (n = 20). In both groups, basic intervention cervical pain control therapy and shoulder stabilization exercise program were performed. In addition, dynamic taping and sham taping were applied to participants in the Dynamic Taping and Sham Taping groups to inhibit the trapezius muscle, respectively. All interventions were performed three times a week and a total of 12 times for 4 weeks, and the participants’ neck pain, functional impairment level, cervical range of motion, psychosocial level, and neck posture were measured and compared before and after the intervention. Results: Both groups showed significant differences in neck pain, functional level, cervical range of motion, psychosocial level, and neck postural before and after the intervention (p < 0.05). Moreover, there were significant differences between the two groups regarding the functional level and neck posture (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Inhibition dynamic taping of the upper trapezius muscle suppression is an effective method with clinical significance in reducing pain in individuals with chronic neck pain and improving the functional level, cervical range of motion, psychosocial level, and neck posture.

Winged scapular (WS) causes muscle imbalance with abnormal patterns when moving the arm. In particular, the over-activation of the upper trapezius (UT) and decrease in activity of the lower trapezius (LT) and serratus anterior (SA) produce abnormal scapulohumeral rhythm. Therefore, the SA requires special attention in all shoulder rehabilitation programs. In fact, many previous studies have been devoted to the SA muscle strength training needed for WS correction. Objects: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of shoulder girdle muscle and ratio according to the angle of shoulder abduction and external weight in supine position. Methods: Twenty three WS patients participated in this experiment. They performed scapular protraction exercise in supine position with the weights of 0 ㎏, 1 ㎏, 1.5 ㎏, and 2 ㎏ at shoulder abduction angles of 0˚, 30˚, 60˚, and 90˚. The angle and weight applications were randomized. Surface electromyography (EMG) was used to collect the EMG data of the SA, pectoralis major (PM), and UT during the exercise. The ratio of PM/SA and UT/SA was confirmed. Two-way repeated analyses of variance were used to determine the statistical significance of SA, PM, and UT and the ratios of PM/SA and UT/SA. Results: There was a significant difference in SA according to angle (p<.05). Significant differences were also identified depending on the angle and weight (p<.05). The angle of abduction at 0˚, 30˚ and weight of 2 ㎏ showed the highest SA activity. However, there was no significant difference between PM and UT (p>.05). There was a significant difference between PM/SA and UT/SA in ratio of muscle activity according to angle (p<.05). Significant differences were found at PM/SA angles of 30˚, 60˚ and 90˚ (p<.05). For UT/SA, significant difference was only observed at 90˚ (p<.05). Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, in order to strengthen the SA, it was found to be most effective to use 1 and 1.5 ㎏ weights with abduction angles of 0˚ and 30˚ at shoulder protraction in supine position.

The aim of this study was to compare the electromyographic (EMG) activity levels of the scapular upward rotators [upper trapezius (UT), lower trapezius (LT), and serratus anterior (SA)] and other scapular muscles [posterior deltoid (PD), levator scapulae (LS), and infraspinatus (IS)] during isometric lower trapezius exercises. Twenty males with no medical history of shoulder pain or upper extremity disorders were recruited for this study. EMG activity was recorded from the UT, LT, SA, PD, LS, and IS while subjects performed three different exercises: Prone arm lift (PAL), Backward rocking diagonal arm lift (BRDAL), Modified Prone Cobra (MPC). One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine any significant differences among the three exercises. A lower relative activation of UT, LT, and SA was seen with the MPC than with the other exercises (p<.05). The relatively lower activation of the UT identified, the MPC exercise as the preferred choice for preferential strengthening the LT (p<.05). However, a higher activation in the PD, LS, and IS occurred with the MPC than with the other exercises (p>.05). The recruitment pattern of synergist varied depending on the exercise posture. These findings suggest that exercise posture is an important factor in the selection of strengthening exercise for weak muscle.

The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of scapular alignment on the electromyographic (EMG) activity of the trapezius in people with a short pectoralis minor muscle. For the study, we recruited 15 volunteers who had positive results for short on a pectoralis minor muscle length test. We measured the EMG activity of the upper, middle and lower trapezius muscles. The participants lifted their dominant arm to ear level with the thumb up toward the ceiling in the prone position on a table with the shoulder at a flexion angle of 180 degrees and a horizontal abduction angle of 120 degrees. Scapula was manually aligned by an experienced physical therapist prior to arm lift for the scapular alignment condition. A paired t-test was used to compare the effects of scapular alignment on the EMG activity of the trapezius muscles. The EMG activity of the lower trapezius muscle was significantly increased during the test with the scapular alignment compared to that without scapular alignment (p<.05), while the upper trapezius and middle trapezius exhibited no significant difference between the two conditions (p>.05). The findings of this study suggest that a scapular alignment may alter the recruitment of the lower trapezius muscle during arm lifting in the prone position in people with a short pectoralis minor muscle.

한우 이력추적제에 적용되는 11개의 MS marker (TGLA227, BM2113, TGLA53, ETH10, SPS115, TGLA126, TGLA122, ETH3, ETH225, BM1824 and INRA23)와 성감별을 위한 2개의 sexing primer로 조합된 하나의 Multiplex PCR set를 이용하여 모근에서 추출한 genomic DNA를 이용해 3510두의 대량 시료를 분석한 결과 3.93%의 genotyping 실패율로 성공적인 분석결과를 얻었다. 무작위교배집단으로 가 정 시 동일개체출현확률 (PI)은 1.31×10-23, 반형매교배집단으로 가정 시 동일개체출현확률 (PIhalf-sibs)은 2.52×10-16 그리고 전형매교배집단으로 가정 시 동일개체출현확률 (PIsibs)은 1.09×10-6으로 나타나 현재 사용 중인 11종의 MS marker는 범용적으로 사용하여도 무방할 것으로 재확인 되었다. 또한 생산 및 사 육단계의 생우의 경우 모근을 이용하여 DNA를 추출하는 것은 시료 채취 시 소에게 주어지는 스트레스를 최소화 시킬 수 있을 뿐만 아니라 대립유전자형 분석에 있어서 시간적, 경제적인 효율성을 높일 수 있었 다. 또한 모근 채취 부위 중 등, 배, 꼬리상부와 꼬리하부를 이용하여 검정한 결과 꼬리하부의 모근을 이 용하여 5~13가닥을 사용했을 때 최적의 분석결과를 보였다. 최종적으로 한우의 사육단계 대량 유전자형 분석에 적용 가능한 96 well 단위를 기본으로 하는 모근 DNA분리 체계를 확립하였다.

본 연구는 319두의 서로 다른 품종에서 PSE육을 생산하는 PSS 돼지 출현빈도를 조사하였다(Yorkshire 150; Landrace 89 and Duroc 80). PCR-RFLP법을 이용하여 돼지의 모근을 DNA sample로 사용하여, PCR로 증폭된 유전자는 Cfo I 제한 효소로 절단하여 종돈에 존재하는 ryanodine receptor (RYR 1) 돌연변이 유전자의 출현빈도를 조사한 결과를 요약하면 다음과 같다. 모근에서 추출한 DNA를 주형으로 한 Primary PCR을 수행한 결과 ryanodine receptor 유전자 중 659bp의 증폭산물을 얻었으며, second PCR을 수행한 결과에서는 522 bp의 증폭산물을 얻었다. 이 증폭산물은 porcine ryanodine receptor 유전자의 exon 영역 중 PSS를 유발하는 point mutation(C→T; Arg→Cys) 부분을 포함하고 있으므로 Cfo I 제한효소에 의해 분석될 수 있으며, agarose gel 전기영동에 의하여 세 가지의 유전자형으로 분류할 수 있다. 정상 homotype(NN)은 두 개의 DNA band(439, 83bp)로 나타나며, 열성 homotype(nn)은 552 bp의 단일 밴드로 출현한다. 그리고 세 개의 밴드(522, 439 그리고, 83 bp)는 heterotype(Nn)의 잠재성 돼지로 표현된다. Yorkshire종에서는 정상돼지가 98.00%로 나타났으며, hetero 돼지는 2.00% 그리고, PSS돼지는 출현하지 않았다. Landrace 돼지에서는 정상돼지가 87.64%로 나타났으며, hetero 돼지와 PSS패지가 각각 11.24와 1.12%로 나타났으나, Duroc종에서는 정장돼지(NN)만이 출현하였다. 대립 유전자 빈도는 Yorkshire종은 정상 N유전자가 0.990의 비율로 나타났으며, 열성 n 유전자는 0.010의 비율로 출현하였으며, Landrace종에서는 N유전자와 n유전자가 각각 0.933과 0.067의 빈도로 출현하였으며, Duroc종에서는 N 유전자의 빈도가 1.000의 빈도로 나타났으나, n유전자의 빈도는 0.000의 빈도로 나타났다. 3품종 집단 모두에서 Hardy-Weinberg 법칙과 일치하여 유전적 평형을 이루고 있었다.