Previous studies have reported that deep neck flexor (DNF) exercise can improve neck problems, including neck pain, forward head posture, and headache, by targeting the deep and superficial muscles of the neck. Despite the prevailing opinion across studies, the benefits of DNF can vary according to the type of neck problems and the outcome measures adopted, ranging from positive outcomes to non-significant benefits. A meta-analysis was conducted in this study to assess conclusive evidence of the impact of DNF exercise on individuals with neck problems. We used PUBMED, MEDLINE, NDSL, EMBASE, and Web of Science to search for primary studies and the key terms used in these searches were “forward head posture (FHP),” “biofeedback,” “pressure biofeedback unit,” “stabilizer,” “headache,” and “neck pain.” Twenty- four eligible studies were included in this meta-analysis and were coded according to the type of neck problems and outcome measures described, such as pain, endurance, involvement of neck muscle, craniovertebral angle (CVA), neck disability index (NDI), cervical range of motion (CROM), radiographs of the neck, posture, strength, endurance, and headache disability index. The overall effect size of the DNF exercise was 0.489. The effect sizes of the neck problems were 0.556 (neck pain), –1.278 (FHP), 0.176 (headache), and 1.850 (mix). The effect sizes of outcome measures were 1.045 (pain), 0.966 (endurance), 0.894 (deep neck flexor), 0.608 (superficial neck flexor), 0.487 (CVA), 0.409 (NDI), and 0.252 (CROM). According to the results of this study, DNF exercise can effectively reduce neck pain. Thus, DNF exercise is highly recommend as an effective exercise method for individuals suffering from neck pain.

Background: Short foot exercise (SFex) is often prescribed and performed in the sport and rehabilitation fields to strengthen intrinsic foot muscles. However, SFex is difficult to perform because of lack of feedback methods. Objects: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of SFex with and without electromyography (EMG) biofeedback on the medial longitudinal arch (MLA) of healthy individuals who maintained a static standing position. Methods: All participants (14 males and 12 females) were randomly divided into two groups (biofeedback and non-biofeedback groups). The EMG activity of the abductor hallucis (AbdH) and tibialis anterior (TA) and the MLA angle on the dominant leg side were measured with the participant in the standing position in the pre- and post-intervention conditions. The intervention session consisted of 15 minutes of SFex with (biofeedback group) or without (non-biofeedback group) EMG biofeedback. The groups were compared using two-way repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: The post-intervention activities of the AbdH muscle (p<.05) and the AbdH/TA ratio (p<.05) were significantly greater in the biofeedback group than in the non-biofeedback group. The activity of the TA (p<.05) and the MLA angle (p<.05) in the biofeedback group were significantly lower in the post-intervention condition than in the pre-intervention condition. Conclusion: The present findings demonstrate that the combination of SFex and EMG biofeedback can effectively facilitate the muscle activity of the AbdH and strengthen the medial longitudinal arch.

The purpose of this study was to assess visual biofeedback's influence on trunk muscles' (EMG) activity and endurance holding time for correct position during whole-body tilt exercise. For the study, we recruited 14 volunteers who showed no symptom of lumbar disease during medical tests. We measured the EMG activity of their rectus abdominis, external abdominal oblique, internal abdominal oblique and erector spinae muscles, and their endurance holding time for correct position during anterior and posterior whole-body tilt under two conditions: whole-body tilt with and without visual biofeedback. Resistance with gravitational force on the trunk during whole-body tilt was applied by using a device that had a monitor on which the subjects could check their alignment and that sounded an alarm if a subject's alignment collapsed. The study showed an increase in the EMG activity of external abdominal oblique, internal abdominal oblique/rectus abdominis ratio and endurance holding time for correct position during both anterior and posterior whole-body tilt with visual biofeedback compared with without visual biofeedback (p<.05). We suggest that the whole-body tilt exercise with visual biofeedback could be a beneficial strategy for selectively strengthening the internal abdominal oblique muscle and minimizing the rectus abdominis muscle's activity while maintaining correct alignment during whole-body tilt exercise.

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.

최근 기능성 게임 개발의 연구가 활발히 진행되고 있다. 바이오피드백 기술은 인간의 신체적인 신호들로부터 나온 신호들을 통하여 신체의 신호를 제어하고 향상 시킬 수 있는 기술이다. 자율신경계의 컨트롤도 훈련을 통하여 스스로 가능하다는 사실이 입증되면서 감성 분야에서 활발한 연구가 진행 중이다. 본 연구에서는 심전도를 이용하여 스트레스를 측정하고 바이오피드백을 통하여 피험자의 스트레스 해소에 사용되도록 하였다. 피험자의 스트레스를 정략적으로 측정하기 위하여 심전도 신호로 부터 R파를 추출하고 교감 부교감 신경의 활성도를 통하여 스트레스 상태를 추출하였다. 개발된 스트레스 측정 모듈은 바이오피드백 게임에 적용하여 스트레스 해소를 위한 기능성 게임에 활용될 수 있다.

목적 : 본 연구의 목적은 뇌졸중 환자의 손기능에 대한 근전도 바이오피드백 훈련의 효과를 조사하는 것이다. 연구 방법 : 발병 6개월 이상인 뇌졸중 환자 10명을 무작위로 실험군과 대조군으로 각각 5명씩 배정하였다. 실험군은 근전도 바이오피드백 훈련을 1일 1회, 주 5일, 6주 동안 수행하도록 하였다. 훈련의 1회기는 15초의 휴식기와 5초간의 추적과제를 수행하는 활동기로 구성되며 1회 훈련동안 추적과제를 총 40번 시행하였다. 반면, 대조군의 모든 치료 상황은 바이오피드백 훈련을 제외하고는 실험군과 같았다. 손기능을 검사하기 위하여 훈련 전·후에 개정된 Ashworth 척도, Fugl-Meyer 평가, 상자와 나무토막 검사, 뇌졸중 상지기능 검사를 실험군과 대조군 모두에게 실시하였다. 결과 : 실험군은 개정된 Ashworth 척도를 제외한 모든 검사에서 훈련 후의 결과가 훈련 전의 결과와 비교하여 통계적으로 유의한 차이를 보였다(p<.05). 대조군은 모든 검사에서 유의한 차이를 보이지 않았다(p>.05). 또한 집단간 비교에서 실험군의 훈련 후 손기능 향상이 모든 검사에서 대조군에 비하여 통계적으로 유의하게 높았다(p<.05). 결론 : 본 연구는 실시된 근전도 바이오피드백 훈련이 뇌졸중 환자의 손기능 향상에 효과적임을 지지한다.

To reduce winging scapula, various exercise protocols have been widely used by clinicians. Selective serratus anterior strengthening, and restoring balanced function, are especially recommended to reduce winging scapula. The purpose of this study was to investigate visual biofeedback using a real time video camera display system for monitoring scapular winging during arm lowering. For this study, 13 males with winging scapular were recruited during arm lowering. Electromyography (EMG) activity was recorded from the serratus anterior (SA) and upper trapezius (UT) of the right side and compared with normal EMG activity using a paired t-test. The study showed, through visual biofeedback, that EMG activity significantly increased in the SA and significantly decreased in the UT (p<.05). These results suggest that visual biofeedback can be recommended as an effective method for scapular eccentric control, to prevent scapular winging during arm lowering.

The purpose of this study was to determine EMG biofeedback training effect on the muscle activities in 3 unilateral facial palsy patients along with multiple baseline design across subjects. The auditory feedback about facial muscles (orbicularis oris, orbicularis oculi, frontalis) was provided with each patient during facial exercise training. Electromyographic (EMG) activity during maximal voluntary contraction and maximal compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude elected by supramaximal electrical stimulation on facial nerve of facial muscles were measured pre- and post- EMG biofeedback training to evaluate motor learning. EMG activity during maximal voluntary contraction was increased after EMG biofeedback training and CMAP amplitude elected by supramaximal electrical stimulation was not changed in all subjects. The results indicate that EMG biofeedback training is useful method to improve motor learning of facial excercise training in unilateral facial palsy patients.

본 연구는 여자 고등부 공기소총 사격선수 5명을 대상으로 뇌파 바이오피드백 훈련을 실시하였을 때, 경쟁상태불안과 경기력 및 전두부의 뇌파 변화양상을 알아보고자 하였다. 실험은 8주간 주 3회, 회당 30분간을 훈련하였고, 측정시기는 뇌파가 훈련 전․후 2회, 경쟁상태불안과 경기력은 3회를 반복측정 하였다. 뇌파 바이오피드백 훈련 및 측정도구는 뉴로피드백 시스템(Neuro-Feedback system, Braintech Corp., Korea)으로 헤드밴드에 부착된 좌․우 전전두엽 부위의 활성전극(FP1, FP2)을 사용하여 쎄타, 알파, SMR, 저베타, 고베타 파의 좌․우뇌 세기와 알파/SMR파 비율(%)의 상대적 활성도를 분석하였다. 경쟁상태불안 검사는 CSAI-2를 사용하였고, 경기력은 전국 사격대회의 본선결과 점수를 측정하였다. 좌․우 뇌파의 윌콕슨 검정결과, (a) 훈련 직전 안정시의 알파/SMR파 비율은 좌뇌에서 안정상태를 반영하는 알파파가 유의한 증가를 보였으며, 각 대역별 뇌파 세기에서는 유의한 변화가 나타나지 않았다. (b) 집중력 훈련시의 알파/SMR파 비율은 좌뇌에서 주의집중을 반영하는 SMR파가, 우뇌에서는 알파파가 유의한 증가를 보였다. 또한 각 대역별 뇌파 세기에서도 좌뇌의 SMR파, 우뇌의 쎄타파에서 유의한 증가를 보였다. (c) 훈련 직후 안정시의 알파/SMR파 비율은 유의한 변화가 나타나지 않았으며, 각 대역별 뇌파 세기에서는 좌․우뇌의 쎄타파에서만 유의한 증가를 보였다. 경쟁상태불안의 프리드만 검정결과, 하위요인 중 인지적 요인에서만 유의한 감소를 보였으며, 경기력에서는 유의한 차이가 나타나지 않았다.

본 연구의 목적은 뇌파 바이오피드백 기기를 활용한 9주간의 주의집중 훈련 프로그램이 양궁 경기 수행력과 집중력에 효과가 있는지를 규명하는 것이다. 연구 참여자는 8명의 양궁 선수들(남=2, 여=6)로서 본 연구 실시 이전의 양궁 경기에서의 성적 순위별로 실험집단과 통제집단에 각각 4명씩 무선할당하였으며, 실험집단은 9주간 Q-jump 바이오피드백 기기를 활용하여 주의집중 지속력 훈련과 주의집중 전환력 훈련을 실시하였고, 통제집단은 집중력 훈련 프로그램을 제회한 모든 훈련 과정에서 실험집단과 동일하게 통제되었다. 실험 과제는 주의집중 지속력 및 전환력 점수 그리고 양궁 점수이다. 결과 분석을 위해서 사전검사와 사후검사별로 집단간 차이를 살펴보기 위해 독립 t-검정을 실시했으며, 측정 시기별 차이를 규명하기 위해 반복 측정(repeated measure) 방법 중 반복대비분석을 실시하였다. 본 연구의 결과는 다음과 같다. (a) Q-jump 바이오피드백 기기를 활용한 주의 집중력 훈련을 실시한 결과 주의집중 지속력과 주의집중 전환력에서는 집단간 차이가 나타났다. (b) Q-jump 바이오피드백 기기를 활용한 주의 집중력 훈련을 실시한 결과 양궁 시합 점수에서는 집단간에 차이가 없는 것으로 나타났다.