Background: Lateral epicondylitis (LE) is the most common chronic musculoskeletal conditions of the upper extremity with pain and wrist extension disability. The tendon which is most affected is the extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB). Previous study evaluated the effect of taping technique on patient with LE, but no study investigated the changes of electromyography (EMG) on ECRB when using dynamic taping (DT) technique. Objects: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of DT technique using dynamic tape on muscle activity of ECRB during wrist isometric extension, isotonic extension and flexion. Methods: Twenty-one healthy subjects volunteered to participate in this study. Subjects were instructed to perform wrist isometric extension, isotonic extension and flexion without and with DT on origin area of ECRB. Wrist isometric extension was performed at 75%, 50% and 25% (%maximal voluntary contraction force), respectively, based on maximum contraction force. Isotonic extension and flexion test used dumbbell. EMG data was collected from ECRB. Results: EMG of ECRB were statistically significant decrease in wrist isotonic extension after DT (p < 0.05). Significant increase in wrist isometric extension during 25% and 50% force task (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study applied DT technique to suppress the wrist extensor muscles in 21 healthy adults in their twenties. Change in muscle activity was compared in the ECRB muscle during wrist isometric extension, isotonic extension and flexion task. Based on the results of this study, the DT technique applied to the wrist and forearm area can reduce the load on the wrist extensors when the wrist performs various movements during daily life movements or repetitive tasks, and by using these effects, excessive stress is applied to tennis elbow patients.

Background: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) recovers the alignment of the knee joint, but fails to automatically restore the alignment and function of the hip and ankle joints. It may affect the alignment and stability of the knee joint, therefore therapeutic intervention in hip and ankle joint is necessary for the rehabilitation process after TKA. Objects: The aim of this study was to comparison of the effects of the two exercise methods on the coronal plane alignment after TKA. This study conducted an experiment by dividing subjects into a lower extremity isometric co-contraction group (LEIC) and a quadriceps isolated isometric contraction (QIIC) group. Methods: A total of 37 subjects were randomly assigned to the LEIC (n1=19) or the QIIC (n2=18). Exercise was applied to five times per week for three weeks, starting on the eighth day after surgery. Range of motion exercises were performed as a common intervention and then each group performed quadriceps isometric contraction exercises with 10 sets of 5 repetitions. Radiological imaging was performed prior to surgery, one month and six months after surgery. In addition, the hip-knee-ankle angle (HKA) and tibiotalar angle (TTA) were measured. Results: The HKA was close to neutral in the LEIC rather than the QIIC (p<.05). The LEIC showed varus and the QIIC exhibited valgus TTA (p<.05). In a comparison of HKA and TTA over time, there was no significant change in either group (p>.05). According to the comparison of the TTA before surgery, the LEIC showed significant changes in the varus direction (p<.05), while there was no significant change in the QIIC (p>.05). Conclusion: The LEIC method triggered changes in the TTA and brought the HKA close to the neutral. Thus, LEIC is more effective than QIIC in creating stability in the coronal plane alignment of the knee and ankle joints after TKA.

Hip muscle activation and strengthening exercise programs are often used to prevent and treat various lower extremity injuries. Common exercise programs include squat exercises. The purposes of this study were to investigate gluteus medius (GMED) and tensor fasciae latae (TFL) muscle activity, and to assess the GMED/TFL ratio during squat exercises involving different isometric hip contraction conditions. Different types of isometric hip contraction were standard squat without hip contraction, squats with isometric hip adduction, and squats with isometric hip abduction. Twenty (10 males and 10 females) healthy subjects (23.7±2.8 years old) were recruited. Subjects performed the squat exercises with the back supported by a wall and knees flexed to 60°. Surface electromyography (EMG) was used to measure GMED and TFL activity. One-way repeated analysis of variance was used to compare GMED and TFL muscle activity and the GMED/TFL ratio. GMED and TFL EMG activity was significantly higher during squats with isometric hip adduction and abduction compared with the standard squat without hip contraction (p<.05). Between the isometric hip adduction and abduction contraction conditions, only the TFL EMG activity was significantly higher during squats with isometric hip adduction than isometric hip abduction (p<.05). The GMED/TFL ratio was significantly higher during squats with isometric hip adduction than isometric hip abduction (p<.05). Squats with isometric hip adduction and abduction improved GMED and TFL muscle activity. Furthermore, the GMED/TFL ratio was higher during isometric hip adduction than isometric hip abduction. Our data indicate that squat exercises involving isometric hip adduction enhance GMED muscle activity.

This study aimed to investigate whether isometric lower limb exercise can activate contralateral trunk muscles and whether the magnitude of muscle activation is related to lower limb movement in sitting. This study included 25 healthy young subjects (20 males and 5 females). The magnitude of trunk muscle activation was measured using surface electromyography (EMG) during hip flexion, extension, adduction, and abduction, and a significant difference was observed in the activation levels of trunk muscles among the tests (p<.01). The EMG activity of the multifidus (MF) and erector spinae (ES) muscles on the contralateral side were significantly greater during hip extension. However, the activation levels of the contralateral internal oblique (IO) and rectus abdominis (RA) muscles were greatest during hip flexion. The MF : ES EMG ratio was significantly greater during hip isometric during hip isometric flexion and abduction compared to hip extension and adduction. There was no significantly difference in the IO : RA ratio during the isometric contractions toward different directions. These findings indicate that isometric lower limb exercise can elicit trunk muscle contraction on the contralateral side and may therefore be helped for developing contralateral trunk muscle strength in individuals undergoing rehabilitation.

To develop effective training methods for strengthening a weakened quadriceps femoris muscle in hemiplegic patients, we examined the effects of maximal isometric contraction of the nonparalyzed knee joint on the electromyographic activities of the paralytic muscle. An electromyogram (EMG) was used to record the electromyographic activities of the paralytic quadriceps femoris muscle in 27 hemiplegic patients. The maximal isometric contraction was measured for each subject to normalize the electromyographic activities. The maximal isometric extension and flexion exercises were randomly conducted when the knee joint angles of the nonparalyzed knees were 0˚, 45˚, and 90˚. The patients were encouraged to maintain maximal isometric contractions in both knee joints during each measurement, and three measurements were taken. A one-minute rest interval was given between each measurement to minimize the effects of muscle fatigue. An average from the three values was taken as being the root mean square of the EMG and was recorded as being the maximal isometric contraction. The electromyographic activity obtained for each measurement was expressed as a percentage of the reference voluntary contraction, which was determined using the values obtained during the maximal isometric contraction. The results of this study are summarized as follows: First, when the knee joint angle of the nonparalyzed knee was 0˚, the electromyographic activities of the paralytic medial aspect of rectus femoris were related to measurement by a maximal isometric flexion exercise than by an extension exercise (p<.05). Second, when the knee joint angle of the nonparalyzed knee was 90˚, the electromyographic activities of the paralytic lateral aspect of rectus femoris were related to measurement by a maximal isometric flexion exercise than by an extension exercise (p<.05). The results show that myoelectrical activities of paralytic quardriceps were not related to measurement angles and exercise directions of the nonparalized knee joint. Studies on various indirect intervention to improve muscular strength of patients with nervous system disorders of the weakened muscle should be constantly conducted.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of concurrent and reciprocal isometric contraction and angle of ankle joint on fatigue of concentrically contracting contralateral dorsiflexor and plantar flexor. Seventeen able-bodied subjects participated in the study. Concurrent and reciprocal isometric contraction were performed under three different ankle joint angles (dorsiflexion, neutral position, plantar flexion). During concurrent or reciprocal isometric contraction. fatigue of concentrically contracting contralateral tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius, and soleus was investigated and compared. There was no interaction between different ankle joint angles and direction of isometric contraction (p<.05). No significant differences were found among three different ankle joint angles (p<.05). Contralateral muscle fatigability was lower in reciprocal isometric contraction than that in concurrent isometric contraction (p<.05). Therefore, the findings of this study suggest that reciprocal isometric contraction is more beneficial than concurrent isometric contraction inducing less fatigability during contralateral concentric contraction.

The purpose of this study was to compare the relative accuracy of a range of computer-based analysis with respect to EMG onset determined visually by an experienced examiner. Ten healthy students (6 male, 4 female) were recruited and three times randomly selected trials of isometric contraction of wrist flexion and extension were evaluated using four technique. These methods were compared which varied in terms of EMG processing, threshold value and the number of samples for which the mean must exceed the defined threshold, and beyond 7% of maximum amplitude. To identify determination of onset time, ICCs(Intraclass Correlation Coefficients) was used and inter-rater arid intra-rater reliability ranged good in visually derived onset values. The results of this study present that in wrist flexion and extension, the reliability of the inter and intra-examiner muscle contraction onset times through visual analysis showed beyond .971 with ICCs. The reliability of the muscle contraction onset time decision through visual reading, tested with computer analysis, showed a relationship of all the selected analysis methods with ICCs .859 and .871. The objective computer-based analysis comparing with visual reading at the same time is the effective and qualitative data analysis method, considering the specificity of each study method.