Background: Effective trunk stabilization has been a cornerstone in physiotherapy, particularly for individuals with lower back issues. While bridging exercises were traditionally employed for this purpose, there has been a growing interest in their modified versions to optimize therapeutic benefits. Objectives: To investigated the differential effects of traditional and modified bridging exercises, particularly when varying leg support and integrating abduction maneuvers during sling-assisted exercises, on trunk muscle responsiveness. Design: Cross-Sectional study. Methods: A group of twenty participants was subjected to three exercise protocols: Bilateral Limb Bridging (BLB), Single Limb Bridging (SLB), and Single Limb Bridging combined with Hip Abduction (SLBHA). Using Surface Electromyography (EMG), the study captured the activation patterns of the Internal Oblique (IO), Erector Spinae (ES), and Multifidus (MF) muscles. Statistical analysis was conducted using the Kruskal-Wallis test, with post-hoc examination for detailed insights. For data consistency, normalization was executed based on Maximum Voluntary Isometric Contractions, and EMG data interpretation was conducted using the RMS technique. Results: The most prominent variations in muscle activation were identified in the IO muscles on both sides. The left IO displayed marked activation disparities between BLB vs. SLB and SLB vs. SLBHA. Analogous observations were made for the right IO when comparing BLB to SLBHA and BLB to SLB. Conversely, ES and MF muscle activations remained consistent across the different exercises. Conclusion: Modified bridge exercises with sling-assisted leg supports with abduction can selectively activate IO muscles, with a noticeable asymmetrical effect favoring the left side.

Background: Early rehabilitation after partial meniscectomy is important to recover the balance of the vastus medialis oblique and vastus lateralis and prevent pathological problems in the lower extremities and the whole body. Objective: To compare muscle activations for patients after partial meniscectomy. Design: Dual-group Pretest-Posttest Design from the Quasi-Experimental Research. Methods: Twenty participants after partial meniscectomy were recruited and were randomly divided into a Q-setting sensorimotor training group (QSMTG) and Q-setting exercise group (QSEG). Muscle activity of the vastus medialis oblique and vastus lateralis was measured before and after intervention. Results: In the two groups, the vastus medialis oblique and vastus lateralis activations increased significantly (P<.05). The Q-setting sensorimotor training group showed more increases than the Q-setting exercise group, and there were significant differences between the groups (P<.05). The activation ratio of the vastus medialis oblique and vastus lateralis had increasingly significant differences in the Q-setting sensorimotor training group (P<.05), and there were no significant differences between the groups (P>.05). Conclusion: Q-setting exercise with sensorimotor training was a useful method that improved the balance of vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and vastus lateralis (VL) activity after meniscectomy.

거친 해상 조건에서 운항하는 선박은 파도와의 상대운동으로 인해 슬래밍 하중에 노출된다. 특히 선수가 자유수면으로 입수하는 과정에서 선체부는 일시적으로 큰 슬래밍 충격하중을 받게된다. 일반적으로 대형 컨테이너선박의 경우, 큰 플레어를 가지는 특징이 있으며, 이로 인해 플레어 슬래밍 충격하중으로 인한 구조적 손상이 발생할 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 슬래밍 수치시뮬레이션을 위해 먼저 신뢰할 만한 실험결과와의 비교검증을 수행하였으며, 선수 및 사파에서 선수플레어 슬래밍 하중을 추정하였다. 그 결과 슬래밍 하중이 발생 되는 위치는 0.975st이며, 최대 충격 하중은 선수파 조건에서 약 475kPa임을 확인하였다.

Background: The Microsoft Kinect which is a low-cost gaming device has been studied as a promise clinical gait analysis tool having satisfactory reliability and validity. However, its accuracy is only guaranteed when it is properly positioned in front of a subject. Objects: The purpose of this study was to identify the error when the Kinect was positioned at a 45˚ angle to the longitudinal walking plane compare with those when the Kinect was positioned in front of a subject. Methods: Sixteen healthy adults performed two testing sessions consisting of walking toward and 45˚ obliquely the Kinect. Spatiotemporal outcome measures related to stride length, stride time, step length, step time and walking speed were examined. To assess the error between Kinect and 3D motion analysis systems, mean absolute errors (MAE) were determined and compared. Conclusion: Based on our study experience, positioning the Kinect directly in front of the person walking towards it provides the optimal spatiotemporal data. Therefore, we concluded that the Kinect should be placed carefully and adequately in clinical settings.

The aim this study was to examine the effect of general squat and wall squat exercises on the muscle activity of the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and vastus lateralis (VL), and the muscle activity of the VMO and VL during squat exercises depending on the flexion angle of the knee joint. Thirty adults in their 20s participated in the study, and subjects were divided into the general squat group, and the wall squat group, and their electromyographic (EMG) was monitored and collected during squat exercises. The muscle activity of the VL during squat exercises was compared between the two groups, and that of the wall squat group was higher than that of the general squat group, indicate a statistically significant difference (p<.05). The muscle activity of the VMO of the wall squat group was also higher than that of the general squat group, indicate a statistically significant difference (p<.05). The muscle activity depending on the angle of the knee joint was compared between the two groups, and that of the VL showed a statistically significant difference between different angles of the knee joint (p<.05). That of the VMO also showed a statistically significant difference between different angles of the knee joint (p<.05). The findings of the present study suggest that wall squat is more effective in improving the muscular strength of the VL and VMO than general squat, and that maintaining the angle of the knee joint at 60° is more effective in improving the muscular strength than maintaining it at 15° or 45°

목 적 : 후방십자인대는 무릎 관절의 안정화를 위한 중요한 인대로 인체의 균형을 유지하는데 매우 중요한 역할을 한다. 본 연구에서는 후방십자인대의 해부학적 구조에 따라 사방향 관상면 영상과 이중 사방향 시상면 영상을 획득하여 그 유용성을 평가하고자 한다. 대상 및 방법 : 2016년 12월부터 2017년 1월까지 환자 20명을 대상으로 검사하였고 SIEMENS사의 Skyra 3.0T에서 knee coil을 사용하였다. 검사 방법은 T2 COR, PD SAG을 획득하고 원위부 후방십자인대의 해부학적 구조를 고려한 PD OBL COR과 전체적인 구조를 고려한 PD Dual OBL SAG을 획득하였다. PCL의 관상면 비교를 위하여 밑단점의 길이와 폭을 측정하여 비교하였고, 시상면 평가를 위하여 기시점, 중간지점, 밑단점을 측정하여 비교하였다. 측정결과를 Mann-Whitney 방법을 사용하여 통계적 유의성을 검정하였다. 정성적 방법은 기존의 관상면, 시상면 영상과 사방향 관상면, 이중 사방향 시상면 영상에서 후방십자인대를 비교하여 미흡, 대등, 우월 세 단계로 평가하였다. 결 과 : 검사를 진행한 결과 기존 관상면 영상보다 사방향 관상면 영상에서 원위부 후방십자인대의 길이는4 7.9%, 폭 14.9% 증가하였고, 기존 시상면 영상보다 이중 사방향 시상면 영상에서 기시점 19.8%, 중간지점 18.3%, 끝단점 33%의 증가된 것 으로 측정되었다. 결 론 : 사방향 관상면 영상과 이중 사방향 시상면 영상 모두 기존 영상보다 우월한 영상 검사방법으로 평가되었다. 이에 슬 관절 후방십자인대의 해부학적 관찰에는 기존 검사 방법에 사방향 관상면 영상 검사와 이중 사방향 시상면 영상 검사를 병 행하는 것이 유용할 것으로 사료된다.

목 적 : 2014년 우리나라의 3대 사망원인 중 하나는 뇌혈관 질환이다. 그 중 큰 비중을 차지하고 있는 뇌혈관 폐색은 venogram으로 진단을 할 수 있다. venogram은 크게 PC기법과 TOF기법으로 나뉘는데 우리는 TOF기법에 대해 연구해 보았다. 2D TOF-MRA는 검사방향과 혈류의 방향이 같을 경우 계속되는 RF pulse의 영향으로 혈액 내 spin들이 포화되어 혈류신호가 감쇄하게 된다. 그래서 2D TOF-MRA검사시 oblique angle을 주고 검사를 진행한다. 이에 본 연구에서는 oblique angle의 유용성을 평가하고자 angle을 0°, 10°, 20°로 변화시켜 가며 각각의 영상을 비교 분석하여 보았다. 대상 및 방법 : 2015년 5월부터 2015년 10월까지 본원 내원해 Brain MRI을 시행한 환자중 뇌에 질병이 없는 30명(남성12명, 여성18, 연령분포 20~55세, 평균연령 35세)을 대상으로 하였다. 사용된 장비는 Skyra 3T(Siemens, Germany)이고 신호수집은 20 channel Head/Neck coil을 사용하였다. TR은 19ms, Thickness는 2.5mm, Matrix는 256×256, TE는 4.56ms, Bandwidth는 219kHz으로 설정하여 사용하였다. axial 단면에서 oblique angle을 0°, 10°, 20°로 주면서 sagittal단면으로 영상을 획득하였다. 결과 분석은 정량적과 정성적 두 가지로 하였다. 정량적 분석은 검사 후 얻은 영상에 세 곳을 정해 SNR을 측정하여 비교하였다. 정성적 분석은 영상의학과 전문의 1명과 전공의 1명 그리고 방사선사 1명이 3가지 평가항목에 대하여 Likert’s 5-point scale로 분석을 하였다. 통계분석은 SPSS 19K를 사용하였다. 결 과 : 정량적 분석의 결과 SSS의 SNR측정치 평균값은 0°-27.4155, 10°-35.4500, 20°- 44.3650으로 각도가 커질수록 SNR값도 증가 되었다. 다중비교결과 세 경우 모두 유의확률이 0.05이하로 각각의 값들이 유의한 차이를 보였다. SSC의 SNR측정치 평균값은 0°-16.6900, 10°-20.2600, 20°-26.6405으로 각도가 커질수록 SNR값도 증가 되었다. 다중비교결과 0°와10°는 0.05이상으로 차이가 없었고, 20°만 0.05이하로 유의한 차이를 보였다. DTS의 SNR측정치 평균값은 0°-82.3150, 10°-86.2850, 20°-92.5200으로 각도가 커질수록 SNR값도 증가 되었다. 하지만 다중비교결과 세 경우 모두 유의확률이 0.05이상으로 각각의 값들이 유의한 차이를 보이지 않았다. 정성적 분석의 결과 SSS는 평가자 1,2,3이 모두 각도가 커질수록 점수가 증가 되었다. 유의확률은 각각의 다중비교 결과 1,3은 유의확률이 모두 0.017이하로 유의한 차이를 보였으나 2만 10°-20°간에 유의한 차이를 보이지 않았다. SSC는 평가자 1,2,3이 모두 각도가 커질수록 점수가 증가 되었다. 유의확률은 각각의 다중비교 결과 1,3은 유의확률이 모두 0.017이하로 유의한 차이를 보였으나, 2만 0°-10°간에 유의한 차이를 보이지 않았다. DTS는 평가자 1,3은 모든값이 같게 나왔고 2만 각도가 커질수록 점수가 증가 되었다. 유의확률은 각각의 다중비교 결과 세 경우 모두 0.017이상으로 유의한 차이를 보이지 않았다. 결 론 : 정량적 분석과 정성적 분석 모두에서 대체적으로 각도가 커질수록 영상의 질이 좋아짐을 알 수 있었다. 각도의 변화는 숙련 기간이 필요하지도 않고 특별히 재구성하는 것도 없었으며 검사 시간도 늘어나지 않는다. 뿐만 아니라 검사 영상의 화질도 더 좋아진다. 그러므로 각도를 기존보다 더 크게 20° 주는 방법은 유용한 검사법이라 사료된다.

Background: Squatting is one of the best functional exercises to strengthen the quadriceps muscle in independent gait and activities of daily living. Although the use of a gym ball during squat exercise is the most common way of strengthening the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) muscle, published data on this subject are limited. Objects: The purpose of this study was to compare the sequential muscle activation of the VMO and vastus lateralis (VL) muscles during squat exercise using a gym ball at different knee flexion angles. Methods: Forty healthy adults were randomly divided into experimental (squat exercise using a gym ball) and control (squat exercise alone) groups, in which squats were performed at 45° and 90° knee flexion. Electromyographic (EMG) activity data were collected over 10 seconds under the 2 angles of knee flexion (45° and 90°). Results: There was significant group and time interaction effect for VMO and VL muscle activation at 45° knee flexion. This was similarly demonstrated at 90° knee flexion. No significant group main effect and time main effect for VMO and VL muscle activation were noted at 45° knee flexion, respectively. In contrast, there was significant group main effect and time main effect for VMO and VL muscle activation at 90° knee flexion. These significant differences were demonstrated through two-way analysis of variance over repeated measurements, suggesting that the EMG activity of the VMO muscle during squatting with a gym ball showed remarkable improvement compared to that of the VL muscle. Conclusion: This research suggests that squat exercise using a gym ball may be more beneficial in improving the activity of VMO than of the VL muscle at both 45° and 90° of knee flexion, respectively. We highly recommend squat exercises with a gym ball for selective strengthening of the VMO muscle in knee rehabilitation.

Background: Several studies have discussed diverse exercise methods considered to be useful for the selective contraction of the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) muscle for the treatment of patellofemoral pain syndrome. Some studies have reported that exercise methods, including hip adduction, in closed kinetic chain exercises are more effective in terms of the muscle activation of the VMO and the timing of the muscle’s initial contraction. We focused on isometric contraction during a closed kinetic chain exercise with hip adduction. Objects: The purpose of this study was to examine muscle activation in the VMO and the vastus lateralis (VL) and the onset time difference between their initial contractions via closed kinetic chain isometric quadriceps femoris exercises including hip adduction. Methods: In total, 36 healthy subjects adopted two hip positions during isometric contraction of the quadriceps femoris in a closed kinetic chain exercise (hip neutral and hip adduction position). Statistical analyses were conducted using a paired t-test (α=.05). Results: Isometric contraction of the quadriceps femoris in a closed kinetic chain exercise caused a greater increase in VMO muscle activity in the hip adduction position [52.68±22.21 percentage of maximal voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC)]than the hip neutral position (43.43±19.85 %MVIC). The onset time difference (VL-VMO) decreased more in the hip adduction position (-82.14±34.2 ㎳) than the hip neutral position (73.94±2.94 ㎳). Conclusion: We recommend this exercise as a clinically useful therapeutic method for patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome due to weakening of the VMO muscle and lateral inclination of the patella.

In this paper, as the transport cask was moved in the reactor, the structural integrity on the cask had to be evaluated in the normal transport condition. The drop height of the cask was determined by the weight of the cask in the normal transport condition by regulations about assessment test. It was determined that the drop height of the cask was 1.2 m by regulations. The velocity of the drop impact was calculated to perform the drop impact analysis by the principle of the conservation of energy. Using results of the simulation about the drop impact analysis, the structural integrity assessment on the transport cask was performed by ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code.

Background: Prone hip extension (PHE) can be performed to measure the lumbopelvic motor patterns and motions. Imbalances in lumbopelvic muscle activity and muscle weakness can result in instability including pain in lumbopelvic region. The posterior oblique sling (POS) muscles contribute to dynamic lumbopelvic stability. In addition, POS are anatomically aligned with the trapezius muscle group according to shoulder positions. Objects: This study compared the electromyography (EMG) activity of POS and pelvic compensations during PHE with and without pre-activation of lower trapezius muscle (lowT). Methods: Sixteen healthy males were recruited. PHE was performed in randomized order: PHE with and without lowT pre-activation. Surface EMG signals were recorded for biceps femoris (BF), gluteus maximus (GM) (ipsilateral), lumbar multifidus (MF) (bilateral), and the lowT (contralateral). An electromagnetic tracking motion analysis was used to measure the angle of pelvic rotation and anterior tilting. Results: The ipsilateral GM and bilateral MF EMG amplitudes were greater during PHE with lowT pre-activation compared to PHE without lowT pre-activation (p<.05). The BF amplitude during PHE without lowT pre-activation was significantly greater than that during PHE with lowT pre-activation (p<.05). The angles of pelvic rotation and anterior tilting during PHE with lowT pre-activation were significantly smaller compared to PHE without lowT pre-activation (p<.05). Conclusion: PHE with lowT pre-activation, which is aligned with the POS, showed more increased MF and GM muscular activity with smaller lumbopelvic compensations in rotation and anterior tilting compared to PHE without lowT pre-activation.

The purpose of this study was to investigate intra-rater reliability and determine the validity of electromyography (EMG) measurements to represent muscle activity and ultrasonography (US) to represent muscle thickness during manual muscle testing (MMT) to external abdominal oblique (EO) and lumbar multifidus (MF). Twenty healthy subjects were recruited for this study and asked to perform MMT at differing levels. The subjects' muscle activity using EMG was measured by a ratio to maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) and root mean square (RMS) methods. The subjects' muscle thickness using US was measured by raw muscle thickness and change ratio of thickness to maximum (MVC) or resting condition. In three trials, measurements were performed on each subject by one examiner. The intra-rater reliability of measurements of EMG and US to EO and MF was calculated using intra-class coefficients. The intra-rater reliability of all measurements was excellent (ICC=.75~.98) in EMG and US. The conduct validity was calculated by one-way ANOVA with repeated measurements to compare whether the EMG and US measurements were different between MMT at different levels. There was only a significant difference between all grades at %MVC thickness measurement of US. These results suggest that a %MVC thickness measurement of US was a more sensitive and discriminate in all manual muscle testing grades. This information will be useful for the selection of US measurement and analysis methods in clinics.

Any Irish writer can hardly liberate his mind sufficiently from the questions of public duty to form and influence the opinion in Irish politics. And for the same reason almost all the contemporary Northern Ireland poets are under the pressure to lead his readers through the psychic hinterland to emerge from the Northern Ireland crisis. But the demands made on Paul Muldoon result to his persistent belief that poetic language is an abstraction of everyday discourse. Muldoon claims and testifies that poet's word can be used to the particular function of expressing the poet's intention: the poet's task is to control the meaning of the words in relation to the other words in the poetic text. Thus his poetry is to some extent full of fantastic and disconnected languages which, he seems to argue, comprise the actual experiences in the contemporary Northern Ireland. In this perspective his poetic languages tend to be the fragments of the continuous narrative and have different tones and styles. And his early poems seem to the readers to shift between different levels of meaning which keeps the poet's attitude toward the material and the context of the work. In this process his poetry is to create his own poetic world as a paradise free from the violent and corrupted real world as well as to draw links between poetry and politics. That means that his early works repeatedly figure out the relation between social and poetic significances of poetry and at the same time investigate the nature of poet's word as a way to form his own world. This seesawing attitude to the responsibilities toward the contemporary Northern Ireland makes his poetry tend to be oblique by detaching the poet himself from the society.

To improve trunk stability, various exercise protocols were introduced into the clinical field. Trunk and lumbar stability exercises on unstable surfaces are especially recommended to improve lumbar stability. The purpose of this study was to compare abdominal oblique muscle activity during leg raising in hook-lying position among 3 different type of surface conditions (on floor (F), vestibular board (VB), and foam roll (FR)). Sixteen able-bodied volunteers, who had no medical history of lower extremity or lumbar spine disease, were recruited for this study. Surface electromyography (EMG) activity was recorded from the internal and external oblique muscles of both sides. The normalized EMG activity was compared using a one-way repeated ANOVA. The results showed that the EMG activities of the internal oblique and external oblique of the lifted leg side during straight leg raising significantly increased under the FR condition when compared to the F condition. There was no significant difference of the EMG activity in abdominal oblique muscles between the VB and the FR conditions. The EMG activity of the internal oblique of supported leg side during the straight leg raising was significantly greater under the FR condition than the VB and F conditions (p<.05). The composition ratio of EMG activity of internal oblique muscles during straight leg raising was significantly increased under the FR condition. Therefore, straight leg raising exercise on foam roll in hook lying position could be beneficial to improve trunk and lumbar stability.

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is often attributed to malalignment and maltracking of patella within the patellofemoral joint. Most exercise for PFPS has focused on selectively strengthening the vastus medialis oblique muscle (VMO). This study was designed to identify the effect of medial, lateral wedge and difference of Quadriceps angle (Q-angle) on vastus medialis oblique/vastus lateralis muscle (VL) activity ratios. The subjects were twenty young adult males who had not experienced any knee injury. They were asked to perform isometric contraction exercises in three postures using medial and lateral wedge. The EMG activity of the VL and VMO were recorded in three postures by surface electrodes and normalized by %MVC values derived from seated, isometric knee extensions. The normalized EMG activity levels (%MVC) of the VL and VMO for the three postures of the lower extremities were compared using 2-way repeated measures ANOVA with 1 between-subject factor (group), and 1 within-subject factor (wedge). Results of repeated measures of ANOVA's revealed that the medial wedge isometric contraction exercise produced significantly greater EMG activity of VMO/VL ratios in Group I (Q-angle or less) (p<.05). But, the medial wedge isometric contraction exercise was no significant difference of VMO/VL ratios in Group II (Q-angle or more) (p>.05). These results have important implications for selective VMO muscle strengthening exercises in PFPS patients.

Most exercise for Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) has focused on selectively strengthening the vastus medialis oblique muscle (VMO). Although open chain knee extension exercises are effective for increasing overall quadriceps strength, they are not always indicated for PFPS rehabilitation. This study was designed to identify the effect of combined posture of lower extremity on Electromyographic (EMG) activity of the vastus lateralis muscle (VL) and VMO during static squat exercises. The subjects were twenty young adult males who had not experienced any knee injury and their Q-angle was within a normal range. They were asked to perform static squat exercises in five various postures using their lower extremities. The EMG activity of the VL and VMO were recorded in five exercises by surface electrodes and normalized by %MVC values derived from seated, isometric knee extensions. The normalized EMG activity levels (%MVC) of the VL and VMO for the five postures of the lower extremities were compared using one way ANOVA with repeated measures. Results of repeated measures of ANOVA's revealed that exercise 3 and exercise 5 produced significantly greater EMG activity of VMO/VL ratios than exercise 1 (p<.05). When the static squat exercise was combined with hip adduction and toes pointed outwardly, the EMG activity of VMO/VL rates was increased. The EMG activity of VMO/VL ratio was highest during static squat exercises performed on a decline squat. These results haveimportant implications for progressive and selective VMO muscle strengthening exercises in PFPS patients.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of knee exercises on the onset times of vastus medialis oblique muscle (VMO) and vastus lateralis muscle (VL) and in healthy subjects. Fifteen subjects (7 men, 8 women) in a mean age of 26.4 years participated in the study. Electromyographic (EMG) signals were recorded from the VMO and VL under four exercises. Knee exercises consisted of open kinematic terminal knee extension, straight leg raising, isometric hip adduction exercise, and closed kinematic terminal knee extension. No significant differences were found in the onset times of EMG activities of VMO and VL in the four exercises. There were also no significant differences among the exercises. These results coincided with previous studies that found no difference between onset of VMO and VL. However, it is difficult to say that there is no difference between onset of VMO and VL in healthy subjects. To confirm this results, further researches that follow same on set determination metod and exercises are needed. Not only is the study of onset time of muscle needed, but also the studies of the amount of activation and the rate of increase of muscle activation are needed.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety of curved orthogonal anisoropic bridge girder oblique plates through structural analysis, load test, and steel non - destructive investigation. As a result of the analysis, it is considered that the stress generated in the oblique plates is within 10% of the allowable stress and that the stress generated in the oblique plates in the actual traffic load state is very small and structurally safe.