Background: Hip flexor muscles are very important in the hip joint structure as a mover and stabilizer. In addition, isometric hip flexor strength in the supine position needs to be considered with isometric core strength (WICS) to measure a precise strength in a clinical way. Objects: We compared isometric hip flexor strength in the supine position in subjects with and without WICS (between factors) and conditions with and without an external support (within factors). Methods: A total of 34 subjects (16 with WICS, 18 without WICS) participated in this study. We used the double-bent leg-lowering test to divide the subjects in two groups according to the presence of WICS. Isometric hip flexor strength was evaluated in the supine position both with and without an external support condition. The two-way mixed analysis of variance was applied to identify significant differences between groups (with vs. without WICS: between factors) and conditions (with vs. without an external support: within factors). Statistical significance was set at α = 0.05. Results: In subjects with WICS, isometric hip flexor strength was greater with an external support than without it (p = 0.0064). In subjects without WICS, there were no significant differences in isometric hip flexor strength in the presence or absence of an external support (p = 0.075). The isometric hip flexor strength was significantly greater with an external support condition in particular in subjects with WICS. Conclusion: The findings of this study reported that an external support condition in individuals with WICS may contribute to the improvement of isometric hip flexion strength in the supine position. Therefore, isometric core strength should be evaluated to distinguish the weakness between core region and hip flexors.

The Purpose of this study was to determine the effects of sciatic nerve mobilization on pain and lower back muscle strength in female patients in their 40s who have been diagnosed with lumbar radiculopathy. Using a simple blinded method, 20 female patients with neuropathy in the nerve segments between L4-S1 were randomly divided into one group (n=10) that would undergo sciatic nerve mobilization, and another group (n=10) that would perform lower back segment stabilization exercises. The two groups attended 3 sessions per week, with each session taking 30 minutes, for a duration of 4 weeks. In the preliminary examinations, the pain index as well as the isometric muscle strength of the lower back extensor and flexor muscles were measured. After the passing of 4 weeks. The same method of measurement was used for the concluding examinations. Comparison of the pain indices in the two groups revealed that they both experienced a statistically significant decrease, and further inspection revealed that the there was a more substantial difference in the sciatic nerve mobilization group. Results of comparing changes in the Isometric Muscle Strength lower back muscle and bending muscle by group, In comparison between groups, the isometric strength of the lower back extensor showed a more significant difference in the sciatic nerve mobilization group (p <.05). Conclulsion, it can be inferred that application of sciatic nerve mobilization has a positive effect on the pain index and isometric muscle strength of the lower back in female patients with lumbar radiculopathy in their 40s.

The lumbrical muscles contribute to the intrinsic plus position, that is simultaneous metacarpophalangeal (MCP) flexion and interphalangeal (IP) extension. The strength of the lumbrical muscles is necessary for normal hand function. However, there is no objective and efficient method of strength measurement for the lumbrical muscles. In addition, previous studies have not investigated the measurement of the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the lumbrical muscles using ultrasonography (US) and the relationship between lumbrical muscle strength in the intrinsic plus position and the CSA. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify the measurement method of the CSA of the lumbrical muscles using US and to examine the relationship between maximal isometric strength and the CSA of lumbrical muscles. Nine healthy males participated in this study. Maximal isometric strength of the second, third, and fourth lumbrical muscles was assessed using a tensiometer in the intrinsic plus position which isolated MCP flexion and IP extension. The CSA of the lumbrical muscles was measured with an US. The US probe was applied on the palmar aspect of the metacarpal head with a transverse view of the hand in resting position. There was no significant difference between maximal isometric strength of the lumbrical muscles, but the fourth lumbrical muscle was stronger than the others. The CSA of the lumbrical muscles was significantly different and the fourth lumbrical muscle was significantly larger than the second lumbrical muscle. There was moderate to good correlation between maximal isometric strength and the CSA of the lumbrical muscles. Therefore, we conclude that maximal isometric strength of the lumbrical muscles was positively correlated to the CSA of the lumbrical muscle in each finger, while the measurement of the CSA of the lumbrical muscles, using US protocol in this study, was useful for measuring the CSA of the lumbrical muscles.

The purpose of this study was to suppose basis data the influence of different chair type and pelvic control on quadriceps muscle activity and strength during knee joint extension isometric exercise in hemiplegic patients. This research were investigated in ten healthy adults and tens hemipelgic patients. Surface electromyography (EMG) and Biodex system were used to collect kinematic data and muscle activity, respectively. Independent t-test, paired t-test and one-way repeated ANOVA were used to determine a statistical significance. The results showed as follows: (1) Posterior pelvic angles in healthy group and hemiplegic group were significantly different on isokinetic equipment (p<.05). (2) Different chair type and pelvic control on quadriceps muscle activity and strength were significantly different in hemiplegic patients (p<.05). From the result of this research, posterior pelvic angle control during knee joint extension isometric exercise in hemiplegic patients on isokinetic equipment is necessary to increase quadriceps muscle strength in hemiplegic patients.

In dancers, intact muscular coordination is a well balanced antagonist, which could be a decisive factor in protection against injury as dancers often have hypermobile joints and their ankle joints often bear their full body weight in extreme positions. The purposes of this study were to identify the isokinetic strength to the knee and ankle and the isometric strength of the trunk in female collegiate dancers and controls. Furthermore, the study aimed to investigate the peak torque ratio of knee extension to flexion, ankle plantarflexion (PF) to dorsiflexion (DF), and dominant legs to nondominant. Twenty-one female collegiate dancers (20.0 years of age) and twenty-one female collegiate students (19.3 years of age) performed isokinetic maximum efforts of the knee extensors and flexors at and , the ankle plantarflexors and dorsiflexors at and and isometric maximum efforts of the lumbar extensors at 0˚, 12˚, 24˚, 36˚, 48˚, 60˚, and 72˚. The results were as follows: The isokinetic peak torque of the knee extensors and the ratio of knee extensors to flexors of dancers were significantly higher than those of controls (p<.01). However, the isometric peak torque of the back extensors (p<.01) and isokinetic peak torque of the ankle plantarflexors and dorsiflexors (p<.05) of dancers were significantly lower than those of controls. Further studies are needed to identify the difference in proprioception of the joints between dancers and controls.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate isometric trunk extension strength in hemiplegic patients, and to compare that with normal subjects to find a correlation between trunk extension strength and the functional independent degree in hemiplegic patients. Fifteen hemiplegic male patients (mean age 55.2±10.2 years) and twenty-five healthy male subjects (mean age 54.6±10.3 years) completed isometric trunk extension. Strength was measured at 0, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 degrees of trunk flexion. The functional independent degree was assessed by Functional Independence Measure (FIM). Mean isometric trunk extension strength was 91.2 ft-lbs, 120.7 ft-lbs, 142.3 ft-lbs, 156.4 ft-lbs, 173.5 ft-lbs, 184.1 ft-lbs, and 195.3 ft-lbs in the hemiplegic patients group, and 135.6 ft-lbs, 175.6 ft-lbs, 204.4 ft-lbs, 221.9 ft-lbs, 231.2 ft-lbs, 246.8 ft-lbs, and 259.7 ft-lbs in the normal subjects group. The values of isometric trunk extension strength had a descending linear correlation pattern from trunk flexion angle to extension angle. Trunk extension strength in hemiplegic patients was significantly lower than that of normal subjects (p<.05) but did not correlate with the FIM total score (p>.05). Therefore, the isometric trunk extension strength in hemiplegic patients was lower than that of normal subjects and did not correlate with the functional independent degree.

Our purpose of this study was to determine the most effective cool-down exercise. The recovery times of dynamic strength after isometric and isotonic cool-down exercise were measured immediately post cool-down exercise, 30 seconds later and 60 seconds later in 30 normal, healthy men from 19 to 29 years, using dumbells(Model, Iron). The recovery time of dynamic strength had a significant positive correlation with isotonic and isometric cool-down exercise using the Chi-square method (p<0.01). Sources of significant differences were determined by the Wilcoxon signed-ranks test (p<0.01). The isometric cool-down exercise significantly shortened the recovery time of dynamic strength. We suggest that the isometric cool-down exercise may be more effective than isotonic cool-down exercise in shortening the recovery time of dynamic strength.