In this study, we evaluated the scent intensity, emotional response, and EEG response according to the concentration of bergamot scent inhaled by young women whose average age was 18, and analyzed the correlation between these factors. The correlation between bergamot concentration (P, vol %) and odor intensity (I) was [I] = 1.22 + 0.86P (r2 = 0.99). The scent intensity of bergamot was about 3.8. The emotional response to the scent of bergamot was rated as pleasant, fresh, refreshing and feminine. Inhaling bergamot decreased the α waves in the brain and increased the θ, β, and γ waves. Additionally, the edge frequencies of the SEF50 and SEF90 were increased by 0.14 Hz to 0.59 Hz and 0.75Hz to 1.26 Hz respectively by bergamot. The odor intensity (concentration) and emotional response regarding bergamot showed a weak correlation with the amount of change in the edge frequency (ΔSEF50 and ΔSEF90). These results suggest that bergamot is a refreshing, feminine fragrance with an arousing effect that activates the brain.

Background: High-heeled shoes can change spinal alignment and feet movement, which leads to muscle fatigue and discomfort in lumbopelvic region, legs, and feet while walking. Objects: This study aimed to identify the effects of different shoe heel heights on the walking velocity and electromyographic (EMG) activities of the lower leg muscles during short- and long-distance walking in young females. Methods: Fifteen young females were recruited in this study. The experiments were performed with the following two different shoe heel heights: 0 ㎝ and 7 ㎝. All participants underwent an electromyographic procedure to measure the activities and fatigue levels of the tibialis anterior (TA), medial gastrocnemius (MG), rectus femoris (RF), and hamstring muscles with each heel height during both short- and long-distance walking. The walking velocities were measured using the short-distance (10-m walk) and long-distance (6-min walk) walking tests. Results: Significant interaction effects were found between heel height and walking distance conditions for the EMG activities and fatigue levels of TA and MG muscles, and walking velocity (p<.05). The walking velocity and activities of the TA, MG, and RF muscles appeared to be significantly different between the 0 ㎝ and 7 ㎝ heel heights during both short- and long-distance walking (p<.05). Significant difference in the fatigue level of the MG muscle were found between the 0 ㎝ and 7 ㎝ heel heights during long-distance walking. In addition, walking velocity and the fatigue level of the MG muscle at the 7 ㎝ heel height revealed significant differences in the comparison of short- and long-distance walking (p<.05). Conclusion: These findings indicate that higher shoe heel height leads to a decrease in the walking velocity and an increase in the activity and fatigue level of the lower leg muscles, particularly during long-distance walking.

Background:Research efforts to improve the pulmonary function of people with limited chest function have focused on the diaphragmatic ability to control breathing pattern. Real-time ultrasonography is appropriate to demonstrate diaphragmatic mechanism during breathing.Objective:The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of diaphragmatic breathing training using real-time ultrasonographic imaging (RUSI) on the chest function of young females with limited chest mobility.Methods:Twenty-six subjects with limited chest mobility were randomly allocated to the experimental group (EG) and control group (CG) depending on the use of RUSI during diaphragmatic breathing training, with 13 subjects in each group. For both groups, diaphragmatic breathing training was performed for 30-min, including three 10-min sets with a 1-min rest interval. An extra option for the EG was the use of the RUSI during the training. Outcome measures comprised the diaphragmatic excursion range during quiet and deep breathing, pulmonary function (forced vital capacity; FVC, forced expiratory volume in 1-sec; FEV1, tidal volume; TV, and maximal voluntary ventilation; MVV), and chest circumferences at upper, middle, and lower levels.Results:The between-group comparison revealed that the diaphragmatic excursion range during deep breathing, FVC, and middle and lower chest circumferences were greater at post-test and that the changes between the pretest and post-test values were greater in the EG than in the CG (p<.05). In addition, the subjects in the EG showed increased post-test values for all the variables compared with the pretest values, except for TV and MVV (p<.05). In contrast, the subjects in the CG showed significant improvements for the diaphragmatic excursion range during quiet and deep breathings, FVC, FEV1, and middle and lower chest circumferences after the intervention (p<.05).Conclusion:These results indicate that using RUSI during diaphragmatic breathing training might be more beneficial for people with limited chest mobility than when diaphragmatic breathing training is used alone.

Background:Limitation of hamstring extensibility is often associated with various musculoskeletal problems such as alterations in posture and walking patterns. Thus, certain appropriate strategies need to be established for its management.Objects:The aim of this study was to compare the effects of the neural mobilization technique and static stretching exercises on popliteal angle and hamstring compliance in young women with short hamstring syndrome (SHS).Methods:Thirty-three women with SHS were randomly assigned to either group-1 (n1=17) that underwent the neural mobilization technique or group-2 (n2=16) that underwent the static stretching exercises. Outcome measures included the active popliteal angle (APA) and a hamstring’s electromyographic (EMG) activity at a maximum popliteal angle of the baseline. Intervention for each group was performed for a total time of 3-min (6 sets of a 30-sec application).Results:There were significant interactions between time and group in the APA [group-1 (pre-test to post-test): 69.70±8.14° to 74.14±8.07° and group-2: 68.66±7.42° to 70.52±7.92°] (F1,31=6.678, p=.015) and the EMG activity of the hamstring (group-1: 1.12±.30μV to .69±.31μV and group-2: 1.19±.49μV to 1.13±.47 μV)(F1,31=6.678, p=.015). Between-group comparison revealed that the EMG activity of the hamstring was significantly different at post-test between the groups (p<.05). Furthermore, in within-group comparison, group-1 appeared to be significantly different for both variables between pre- and post-test (p<.05); however, group-2 showed significant difference in only the APA between pre- and post-test (p<.05).Conclusion:These findings suggest that the neural mobilization technique and static stretching exercises may be advantageous to improve hamstring compliance in young women with SHS, resulting in a more favorable outcome in the neural mobilization technique.

This study aimed to investigate the influence of shoe heel height and muscle fatigue on static and dynamic balance in young women. Thirty women who were used to wearing high heels volunteered to participate in this study. The shoe heel heights were 0 ㎝ and 7 ㎝. And ankle plantar flexor fatigue was experimentally induced. Static and dynamic balance were measured using the one leg standing test (OLST) and the star excursion balance test (SEBT) in anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral directions, respectively. Values in the OLST (shoe heel height 0 ㎝, 28.83±3.24 sec to 26.12±6.13 sec; and 7 ㎝, 24.75±7.09 sec to 16.86±9.32 sec) and the SEBT in anterior (shoe heel height 0 ㎝, 71.02±4.57% to 69.50±3.66%; and 7 ㎝, 64.17±3.53% to 59.61±4.06%) and posteromedial (shoe heel height 0 ㎝, 92.01±5.61% to 90.38±7.10%; and 7 ㎝, 83.09±7.29% to 76.83±9.28%) directions were significantly reduced when fatigue-inducing exercise was performed (p<.05). Furthermore, within these parameters, there were significant interaction effects between shoe heel height and fatigue condition (p<.05). These findings suggest that shoe heel height and muscle fatigue contribute to some changes in static and dynamic balance in young women, probably leading to negative effects on physical function during a variety of activities of daily living.

This study investigated gait characteristics, kinematics, and kinetics in the lower extremities between two different shoe conditions (high heeled shoes (7 cm), and high heeled shoes with a total contact insert (TCI)) after lower extremity muscle fatigue. Although TCI shave been applied in high heeled shoes to increase comfort and to decrease foot pressure, no study has attempted to identify the effects of TCI in fatigue conditions. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of walking in high heeled shoes with TCI after lower extremity muscle fatigue was induced. This study was carried out in a motion analysis laboratory at Hanseo University. A volunteer sample of 14 healthy female subjects participated. All in fatigue conditions, the subjects were divided into two groups. The muscle fatigue was induced by 40 voluntary dorsi- and plantar-flexion exercises and 40 heel-rise exercises of the dominant foot. Surface electromyography was used to confirm the localized muscle fatigue using power spectral analysis of three muscles (tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius medialis and lateralis). The results were as follows: (1) In muscle fatigue conditions, the use of TCI decreased the peak flexion angle of the hip joint significantly in the early stance phase (p<.05) and increased the peak hip flexion moment in the terminal stance phase (p<.05). (2) In muscle fatigue conditions, the application of TCI also increased peak hip power generation in the early stance phase and peak hip power absorption in the terminal stance phase (p<.05). (3) In muscle fatigue conditions, the use of TCI reduced the impact force significantly and increased the secondary peak vertical GRF. These findings suggest that the TCI may provide beneficial effects when muscle fatigue occurs for a high heeled shoe gait. Future research employing the patient population and various types of TCI materials are required to clarify the effects of TCI.

이 연구의 목적은 젊은 아시아인과 코카시아 여성의 보행패턴 중 보폭시간(step time) 과 보폭 (step length)을 비교하고 두 집단의 골반넓이와 보폭과 상관관계가 있는지 알아보는 것이다. 연구대상자는 15명의 아시아인과 15명의 코카시아 여성이었으며 나이는 23세에서 35세 범위에 있었다. 보행분석을 위해서는 GAITRite System을 사용하였으며 분석방법으로는 인종(아시아인대 코카시아인)과 신체부위(좌측, 우측)를 요인으로 하여 반복측