Background: Elastic and non-elastic taping are widely used in clinical practice, but there are various methods of attachment. Objectives: To investigate the effect of the type and intensity of taping on the muscle strength and muscle endurance of healthy adults. Design: Experimental research. Methods: 38 healthy adults participated in this experiment. Before applying the taping to each participant, the muscle strength and endurance of the quadriceps femoris were measured. After applying three different taping intervention methods, muscle strength and muscle endurance changes were measured. Muscle strength and endurance were measured through CSMI. Repeated measures ANOVA was used for statistics on participant measurements. Results: All intervention methods influenced the muscle strength improvement of the quadriceps femoris. Elastic tape with 50% elasticity had a greater impact on muscle strength than 33% elastic tape and non-elastic tape, and secondly, elastic tape with 33% elasticity was effective, and non-elastic tape had the least impact. Muscle endurance improvement was affected by the order of 50% elasticity taping, 33% elasticity taping, and non-elastic taping. Conclusion: All three taping intervention methods showed significant effects on improving muscle strength and muscle endurance of the wide-legged quadruple muscles, but the best effect was to apply 50% elastic taping.

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a representative disease, and LBP is characterized by muscle dysfunction that provides stability to the lumbar spine. This causes physical functional problems such as decreased posture control ability by reducing the muscular endurance and balance of the lumbar spine. Pelvic compression using instruments, which has been used during recent stabilization exercises, focuses on the anterior superior iliac spine of the pelvis and puts pressure on the sacroiliac joint during exercise, making the pelvis more symmetrical and stable. Currently, research has been actively conducted on the use of pelvic compression belts and non-elastic pelvic belts; however, few studies have conducted research on the application effect of pelvic compression using instruments. Objects: This study aimed to investigate whether there is a difference in trunk muscular endurance and dynamic and static balance ability levels by applying pelvic stabilization through a pelvic compression device between the LBP group and the non-LBP group. Methods: Thirty-nine subjects currently enrolled in Daejeon University were divided into 20 subjects with LBP group and 19 subjects without LBP (NLBP group), and the groups were compared with and without pelvic compression. The trunk muscular endurance test was performed with 4 movements, the dynamic balance test was performed using a Y-balance test, and the static balance test was performed using a Wii balance board. Results: There was a significant difference the LBP group and the NLBP group after pelvic compression was applied to all tests (p < 0.05). In the static and dynamic balance ability test after pelvic compression was applied, there was a significant difference in the LBP group than in the NLBP group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These results show that pelvic compression using instruments has a positive effect on both those with and without LBP and that it has a greater impact on balance ability when applied to those with LBP.

The purpose of this study was to compare the static balance in a sitting position between a group with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and a normal aged-matched group. Forty-nine subjects were included in this study. Thirty-one healthy subjects and eighteen AIS subjects were participated. Each group was tested with the Lumbar Trunk Muscle Endurance Test (LTMET) and Balance Performance Monitor (BPM). The parameters for static balance were sway area, sway path, mean balance, maximum velocity, anterior-posterior angle, and left-right angle of each group with eyes opened and closed. Results from the LTMET showed significantly more increase in the normal group than in the AIS group in the flexor and extensor endurance. The BPM tested showed significantly difference beteen the groups in parameters of sitting balance such as maximum velocity and anterior-posterior sway angle. For the AIS subjects, there were no significant differences in all parameters of sitting balance between eyes opened and eyes closed. In comparisons of the groups with eyes opened there were no significant differences in all parameters of sitting balance. In comparisons of the groups with eyes closed there were significant differences in the sway area, maximum velocity, anterior-posterior sway angle and left-right sway angle. These results suggest that the AIS group relies much more on proprioception than on vision, and develops compensatory passive postures of the spine. Further study is needed to measure many AIS patients with morphologic and electromyographic data for clinical application.

Muscle strength and endurance activities of Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer; KG) were compared with those of wild simulated cultivation ginseng (WCG) in mice. Fifty male ICR mice were divided into five groups: A (vehicle); B (WCG 100 mg/kg); C (WCG 500 mg/kg); D (KG 100 mg/kg); E (KG 500 mg/kg). Subsequently, the mice were subjected to the forced swimming test (FST) and treadmill test at the 4th and 7th weeks. The glycogen content in the muscle and blood analysis (levels of glucose, triglyceride (TG), IGF-1) were also performed immediately after the last FST and treadmill test at the 7th week. Immobility times in FST were shorter in WCG- than KG-treated groups, and the results of the treadmill tests were also significant except for KG-treated at 100 mg/kg. The glycogen content was increased in both groups with a peak at 500 mg/kg of WCG groups. Serum concentrations of TG and glucose were decreased by administration of KG and WCG and all treated groups showed increase in the level of IGF-1 in serum. These results suggest that KG and WCG supplementations are effective in escalating the muscle strength and endurance.