Effect of Training Types Using Recumbent Cycle Ergometer on Ankle Strength in Healthy Male Subjects

Purpose@#The purpose of this study was to investigate the exercise effect of two types of training with a recumbent cycle ergometer on ankle muscle strength (dorsiflexor strength, DFS; dorsiflexor strength/weight, DFS/kg; plantar flexor strength, PFS; and plantar flexor strength/weight, PFS/kg) in healthy male subjects. @*Methods@#Twenty-three healthy males (27.91 ± 8.66 yr) were randomly allocated into two groups (high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and aerobic exercise training (AET) after the first measurement. The subjects were trained for 24 sessions (40 min/rep, three times/week) and ankle strength was measured for a second time. Two-way mixed model analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to identify significant differences between changes in ankle muscle strength between before and after training (within factors) in the HIIT and AET groups (between factors). The statistical significance level was set at α = 0.05. @*Results@#In both HIIT and AET groups, all variables of ankle muscle strength were significantly increased after training compared to before training (p = 0.001). However, there were no differences in all variables of ankle strength between the HIIT and AET group (p > 0.05). @*Conclusion@#Both types (HIIT and AET) of recumbent cycle exercise training could be effective training methods to increase ankle muscle strength in healthy individuals, and the HIIT type with high intensity and low frequency pedaling could be recommended more to strengthen ankle muscles.

Effects of Lower Rib Expansion Limitation on Maximal Respiratory Pressure and Abdominal Muscle Activity During Maximal Breathing in Healthy Subjects

Purpose@#The aim of this study was to determine the effects of lower rib cage lateral expansion limitation on the maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures and on abdominal muscle activity during maximal respiratory breathing in healthy subjects. @*Methods@#Fifteen healthy male subjects voluntarily participated in this cross-sectional study. During maximal breathing, maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures were measured, and abdominal muscle activity was determined with using surface electromyography. Also, the measurement was repeated with using a non-elastic belt to the lower rib cage for limiting of lateral expansion. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test was performed for obtaining the statistical difference with a significance level of 0.05. @*Results@#The findings of this study are as follows: 1) There were no significant differences in maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressure with and without lower rib cage lateral expansion (p>0.05), 2) There was no significant difference in abdominal muscle activity during the maximal inspiratory phase (p>0.05). However, right external oblique muscle activity decreased significantly during maximum exhalation with lower rib expansion limitation (p<0.05). @*Conclusion@#The results of the current study indicate that a non-elastic belt was effective in decreasing right external oblique muscle activity during forced expiratory breathing in healthy subjects.

Effects of Lower Rib Expansion Limitation on Maximal Respiratory Pressure and Abdominal Muscle Activity During Maximal Breathing in Healthy Subjects

Purpose@#The aim of this study was to determine the effects of lower rib cage lateral expansion limitation on the maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures and on abdominal muscle activity during maximal respiratory breathing in healthy subjects. @*Methods@#Fifteen healthy male subjects voluntarily participated in this cross-sectional study. During maximal breathing, maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures were measured, and abdominal muscle activity was determined with using surface electromyography. Also, the measurement was repeated with using a non-elastic belt to the lower rib cage for limiting of lateral expansion. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test was performed for obtaining the statistical difference with a significance level of 0.05. @*Results@#The findings of this study are as follows: 1) There were no significant differences in maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressure with and without lower rib cage lateral expansion (p>0.05), 2) There was no significant difference in abdominal muscle activity during the maximal inspiratory phase (p>0.05). However, right external oblique muscle activity decreased significantly during maximum exhalation with lower rib expansion limitation (p<0.05). @*Conclusion@#The results of the current study indicate that a non-elastic belt was effective in decreasing right external oblique muscle activity during forced expiratory breathing in healthy subjects.

Combination Effects of Self-Volar Gliding Using a Strap and Wrist Distraction on Pain and Wrist Extension Range of Motion in Subjects with Dorsal Wrist Pain

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of self-volar gliding combined with a strap and wrist distraction on pain and the active and passive wrist extension range of motion (ROM) in subjects with dorsal wrist pain during partial weight bearing of the hand.METHODS: Thirty subjects (14 males and 16 females) with dorsal wrist pain during partial weight bearing through the hand participated in this study. The two different self-volar gliding techniques were performed for each group. Self-volar gliding using a strap (SVGS) and SVGS and wrist distraction (SVGSD) were performed five times for one week for each group. The active and passive ROM of wrist extension and the peak pressure pushed by the hand at pain (PPHP) were measured. An independent t-test was used to compare the improvements of these elements between the two different self-volar gliding techniques. The level of statistical significance was at α=0.05.RESULTS: The active and passive ROM of wrist extension and PPHP were greater in both self-volar gliding groups after the one week intervention. On the other hand, these parameters were greater in the SVGSD group than in the SVGS group (p<0.05)CONCLUSION: SVGSD is recommended to improve the active and passive ROM of wrist extension and PPHP in subjects with dorsal wrist pain during partial weight bearing of the hand.

Effectiveness of Iliopsoas Self-Stretching on Hip Extension Angle, Gluteus Maximus Activity, and Pelvic Compensations during Prone Hip Extension in Subjects with Iliopsoas Shortness

PURPOSE: This study examined the effectiveness of iliopsoas self-stretching on the hip extension angle, gluteus maximus (GM) activity, and pelvic compensated angle during prone hip extension (PHE) in subjects with iliopsoas shortness. METHODS: Twenty-healthy subjects with iliopsoas shortness were recruited. Electromyography (EMG) was used to examine erector spinae (ES), multifidus (MF), GM, and biceps femoris (BF) while performing PHE. An electromagnetic tracking motion analysis device was used to measure the pelvic compensations. The pelvic compensations while performing PHE were considered to be anterior tilting and rotation. A modified Thomas test was used to monitor the hip extension angle before and after iliopsoas self-stretching. A paired t-test was used to investigate the significant difference after iliopsoas self-stretching during PHE. The level of statistical significance was set to α=0.05. RESULTS: Muscle activity of GM and hip extension angle were significantly greater after iliopsoas self-stretching compared to that before iliopsoas self-stretching during PHE (p 0.05). CONCLUSION: Iliopsoas self-stretching can be effective in selectively strengthening the GM muscles with minimized pelvic compensation in subjects with iliopsoas shortness.

Influence of Home Based Exercise Intensity on the Aerobic Capacity and 1 Year Re-Hospitalization Rate in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure

PURPOSE: This study investigated the effects of home-based exercise intensity on the aerobic capacity and 1 year re-hospitalization rate in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). METHODS: Forty seven patients with CHF (males 33, females 14, age 61.3±9.8 years) participated in this study. The patients were allocated randomly to 3 groups in accordance with home-based exercise intensity: no home based exercise (NHE, 40%, n=19), moderate intensity home-based exercise (MIHE, 43%, n=20), and high intensity home based exercise (HIHE, 17%, n=8). All patients completed the symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise (CPX) test safely at the cardiac rehabilitation hospital. RESULTS: The NHE group significantly showed lower peak VO2 and a higher VE/VCO2 slope than the MIHE (p < 0.05) and HIHE (p < 0.01) groups. On the other hand, the NHE group did not show significant differences in the other hemodynamic responses, such as heart rate (HR) max, HR reserve, maximal systolic blood pressure (SBP), and SBP reserve. Nine out of 19 NHE patients (47%) were re-hospitalized related to heart disease and two out of 20 MIHE (10%) patients were re-hospitalized, but nobody in the HIHE group were re-hospitalized within 1 year from the CPX test. CONCLUSION: In patients with CHF, home-based self-exercise is one of the important factors for reducing the re-hospitalization rate. In addition, improved aerobic capacity is strongly associated with a lower re-hospitalization rate. In particular, re-hospitalized CHF patients showed significant differences in respiratory parameters and hemodynamic parameters compared to the non-re-hospitalized patients.

Proposal for improving the system of physical therapy education and the Korean physical therapist licensing examination based on a comparison of the systems in World Confederation for Physical Therapy member countries / 보건의료교육평가

No abstract available.