Background: A decrease in physical activity has been observed due to the global pandemic, resulting in the onset and progression of musculoskeletal disorders as chronic diseases. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the difference in the degree of contraction of the lower limb muscles between the existing vertical vibration method and a new cross-vibration method. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: The exercise program using whole-body vibration equipment was conducted for 12 sessions, 25 min per session, three times per week for 4 weeks. Results: The changes over time showed a significant difference in cross-alternating vibrations (P<.05), except for the lateral gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior, with no significant difference in sonic vertical vibration (P>.05). The interaction between time and group was significant for all muscles (P<.05), except for the biceps femoris, with differences between before the program and at 2 and 4 weeks after the program revealed in the post-hoc analysis. Conclusion: Future studies should further evaluate the use of CAV exercise devices as auxiliary equipment in exercise by assessing different groups and variations in intensity.

Background: Bird dog exercise (BDE) is one of the lumbar stabilization exercises that rehabilitate low back pain by co-contraction of the local and global muscles. Previous studies have reported the effect of various type of BDEs (for example, practicing the exercises on various surfaces and changing the limb movement) for muscle co-contraction. Objects: This study aimed to investigate the effect of knee joint flexion position of the raised lower limb on abdominal and back muscle activity during BDE in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). Methods: Thirteen males participated in this study (age: 32.54 ± 4.48 years, height: 177.38 ± 7.17 cm). Surface electromyographic (SEMG) data of the internal abdominal oblique (IO), external abdominal oblique (EO), lumbar multifidus (MF), and thoracic part of the iliocostalis lumborum (ICLT) were collected in two knee joint flexion positions (90° flexion versus 0° flexion) during BDE. The SEMG data were expressed as a percentage of root mean square mean values obtained in the maximal voluntary isometric contraction. Results: Greater muscle activity of the IO (p = 0.001), MF (p = 0.009), and ICLT (p = 0.021) of the raised lower limb side and the EO (p = 0.001) and MF (p = 0.009) of the contralateral side were demonstrated in the knee joint flexion position compared to the knee joint extension position. Greater local/global activity ratios of the abdominal muscle (i.e., IO and EO) of the raised lower limb (p = 0.002) and the back muscle (i.e., MF and ICLT) of the contralateral side (p = 0.028) were also noted in the knee joint flexion position. Conclusion: BDE with a knee joint flexion position might be recommended as an alternative lumbar stabilization exercise to enhance muscle activity in both the raised lower limb and the contralateral sides of the trunk for individuals with CLBP

목적 : 본 연구는 스마트 글러브를 이용한 가상현실 기반의 상지재활훈련이 뇌졸중 환자의 상지기능, 상지의 근 활성도, 일상생활 활동과 삶의 질에 미치는 효과를 분석하고자 한다. 연구방법 : 선착순 무작위 대조 실험연구 방식으로 연구를 진행하였다. 의료연구협의회 지표(medical research council scale), 한국판 간이정신상태검사(Korean version of Mini-Mental State Examination; MMSE-K)로 대상자를 선별하여 뇌졸중 환자 31명을 무작위로 스마트 글러브를 이용한 가상현실 기반의 상지재활훈련군과 일반적 작업치료군으로 나눈 뒤, 주 5회 하루 30분씩 총 25회기 동안 실험을 진행하였다. 중재 전ᆞ후 비교 분석을 하기 위해서 뇌졸중 상지 기능평가(Manual Function Test; MFT), 표면 근전도 검사(Surface Electromyography; EMG), 한국판 수정된 바델지수(Korean version of Modified Barthel Index; K-MBI), 뇌졸중 영향 척도 3.0(Stroke Impact Scale 3.0; SIS)을 사용하였다. 결과 : 첫째, 실험군과 대조군에서 상지의 기능향상(MFT)이 있었고, 실험군에서 위팔노근의 근 활성도에 유 의한 향상이 있었다. 둘째, 일상생활활동에서는 실험군과 대조군에서 유의한 향상을 보였다. 셋째, 삶의 질 에서는 실험군에서 유의한 향상이 있었다. 결론 : 스마트 글러브를 이용한 가상현실 기반 상지재활훈련은 뇌졸중 환자의 상지기능, 근 활성도, 일상생활 활동과 삶의 질을 향상하는 효과적인 작업치료 방법이다.

Background: For performing various movements well, cooperation between the muscles around the scapula and shoulder has been emphasized. Taping has been widely used clinically as a helpful adjunct to other physiotherapy methods for shoulder pathology and dysfunction treatment. Previous studies have evaluated the effect of taping techniques using dynamic tapes on shoulder function and pain. However, no study investigated the electromyographic (EMG) changes in the shoulder muscles. Objects: This study aimed to investigate the effect of the upper limb offload taping technique using a dynamic tape on EMG activities of the upper trapezius (UT), lower trapezius, serratus anterior (SA), and middle deltoid (MD) muscles during scaption plane elevation. Methods: A total of 26 healthy subjects (19.85 ± 6.40 years, male = 20) volunteered to participate in this study. The subjects were instructed to perform scaption elevation with and without dynamic taping on the shoulder. Shoulder elevation strength tests were performed at 100%, 75%, 50%, and 25%, for the maximal isometric contraction force. Results: There were statistically significant interaction effects between the taping application and shoulder scaption elevation force in EMG activities in the UT (p < 0.05) and MD (p < 0.05). EMG activities in the UT showed significant increases in 50%RVC (reference voluntary contraction, p < 0.05) and 25%RVC (p < 0.01). Furthermore, the EMG activity of the SA significantly increased in 50%RVC (p < 0.01) and 25%RVC (p < 0.01) after dynamic taping. For the MD, the EMG activity level significantly decreased in 100%RVC (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These results indicated that upper limb offload dynamic taping application affects the muscle activities of some shoulder muscles depending on different scaption elevation strength levels. Therefore, we suggest that the upper limb offload dynamic taping can be applied to the shoulders when patients need middle deltoid inhibition or upper trapezius facilitation, such as patients with shoulder impingement syndrome.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of squat exercises with an upper limb resistance movement on the vastus medialis oblique, vastus lateralis, and gluteus maximus. This study recruited 16 healthy men. All subjects performed squat exercises with and without upper Limb resistance movements by using elastic tubing band. Electromyography (EMG) activity of the vastus medialis oblique, vastus lateralis, and gluteus maximus was recorded using a surface EMG system during these isometric squat exercises in both experimental conditions. The different muscle activation of the vastus medialis oblique, vastus lateralis, and gluteus maximus between the squat exercises with and without the upper limb resistance movement was analyzed using a paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed rank test. Our findings showed that the vastus medialis oblique, vastus medialis oblique/vastus lateralis ratio and gluteus maximus muscle activity was significantly increased during the squat exercise with upper limb resistance movements, as compared to the squat exercise without this component (p < .05). Based on our findings, the additional upper limb resistance movement may be a useful strategy to facilitate the vastus medialis oblique and gluteus maximus muscle activation during a squat exercise.

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.