Background: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is associated with trunk and lower extremity muscle weakness. Kneeling squat (KS) is a hip-focused exercise commonly used in the activities of daily living. However, research on trunk and lower extremity muscle activity across movement phases (ascending, holding, and descending) during KS remains limited and warrants further investigation. Objects: To determine the muscle activity of transversus abdominis/internal oblique (TrA/IO), erector spinae, gluteus maximus (Gmax), gluteus medius (Gmed), rectus femoris (RF) in the contraction phases of KS in individuals with CLBP. Methods: Surface electromyography data were recorded during KS across the ascending, holding, and descending phases on the side with CLBP. A 60-bit metronome was used to control the exercise speed. Results: The muscle activity of the TrA/IO was significantly higher during the holding phase than during the ascending and descending phases. The Gmax and Gmed were significantly higher during the holding phase than during the descending phase, whereas, RF was significantly higher during the ascending phase than during the holding and descending phases. Conclusion: The holding phase of KS may be recommended as a trunk and lower extremity exercise to increase in TrA/IO, Gmax, and Gmed muscle activity. Additionally, the ascending phase activates RF muscle in individuals with CLBP.
The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of lower extremity resistance training using elastic bands on balance in elderly people. Eight elderly persons each were randomly assigned to a test group(resistance exercise group, REG) or a control group(CG). FRT and TUG test were used to compare balance before and after exercise. Exercise programs were implemented three times a week for 40 minutes for nine weeks. They did warm-up exercise for 5 minutes and then lower extremity resistance exercise using elastic bands for 30 minutes. And then they did cool-down exercise for 5 minutes. TUG and FRT significantly decreased but in the control group it did not significantly decrease. In comparison between the groups, TUG and FRT significantly reduced in the resistance exercise group compared to the control group. Lower extremity resistance training using elastic bands performed by elderly persons are considered to be effective in improving balance.
The purpose of this study is to measure the effect of change in heel height on lower extremities activity of young women on high-heeled shoes that young women prefer from more kinetic and realistic perspective as this study changes the degree of slope on a treadmill. The study subjects are 15 young and healthy women who do not have any external injuries or problem with walking and understand the purpose of this study clearly. They wore three different height of heels(1cm, 7cm, 12cm) and walked on a treadmill at a constant speed of 3km/h. EMG value of four muscles (anterior tibial muscle, gastrocnemius muscle, straight muscle of thigh, and biceps muscle of thigh) were collected when walking and the change according to the height of heels were analyzed using one-way ANOVA. Multiple comparison analysis on anterior tibial muscle and heel height showed that the group with 12cm heel showed significantly high muscle activation compared to the groups with 1cm and 7cm heels. The result of this study can be used for various perspectives from inferring and mediating problems caused by wearing high heels on different ground slopes for a long time