Evaluation of muscle activity level in the lower extremities during various steps used in aerobic dance exercise / 体力科学

To create a safe and effective aerobic dance exercise (ADE) program, the intensity, and difficulty level of each step, and muscle activation during the program must be considered. This study evaluated the muscle activity levels of the lower extremities when major ADE movements were repeated at a fixed speed. The subjects were seven females 21-22 years old who were familiar with the ADE movements. Eleven low impact steps and nine high impact steps representative of the ADE movements were selected, and while the movements were performed, the surface electromyograms (EMG) of six muscles in the lower extremities were measured using a telemeter electromyograph. The EMG data for 10 cycles of each step were full wave rectified and integrated. Then, the average value per unit time was calculated, and normalized (%EMGmax) by the EMG integral value during isometric maximum voluntary contraction (EMGmax). The EMGmax was measured for each of the six muscles to evaluate the muscle activity level, and determine which muscles were activated at higher or lower levels in response to the specific steps. The highest levels of total muscle activity detected in the six muscles were for: double hop, jumping jack, and pendulum. The results of this study may help create ADE programs that consider the differences in muscle activation in the lower extremities.

Effect of the Psychophysical Approach in Slipping Incident Among Workers at The Commercial Kitchen Activity

@#Introduction: The occurrence of slips can be disruptive in workers’ life, causing various types of injuries. Working with prolonged standing and walking postures in a commercial kitchen contributes to worker fatigue. A psychophysical approach can be used in identifying the extent to which workers’ fatigue contributes to the occurrence of slipping. Method: Electromyography (EMG) was used to record and analyze the data of three values of muscle activity obtained from the study. Twelve participants aged 23 to 60 years old with a Body Mass Index (BMI) mean of 27.82 ± 4.01 kg/m2. The participants were selected based on the experience of at least three years and above in commercial kitchen activity. The testing procedures were explained in detail upon agreement. They had to walk with four different types of walking speeds with water and oil as the contaminants on the floors. Results: The slip occurred high frequency for obese participants compared to overweight participants when increasing their speeds of walking on oily floor surfaces. Female participants experience slips more than male participants. The muscle Soleus and Tibialis frequently produce higher muscle activity during slip occurrence compared to muscle Peroneus. Conclusion: The results of the study show that the psychophysical approach is significant in the occurrence of slipping during work activities in commercial kitchens when the muscle of Soleus and Tibialis produces higher muscle activity during slip occurrence. There was no significant factor of age during the slip occurrence.

Influences of Different Stop Modes on Gait Stability of the Elderly Carrying Heavy Objects / 医用生物力学

Objective To analyze characteristics of muscle activity and changes of corresponding kinematic parameters of the lower limbs for the elderly carrying heavy objects under synchronous stop modes, and explore the effects of hand weight-bearing and stop modes on gait stability and body balance of the elderly. Methods The ankle, knee, hip joint angles and surface electromyography (EMG) signals of bilateral lower limbs were collected under the condition of emergency stop and planned stop by loading 0 kg, 2.5 kg on both hands and 5 kg on right hand. Results Under different weight-bearing modes, the ankle and hip angles of bilateral lower limbs were significantly different (P<0.05), while the knee angles did not change significantly, and different stop modes significantly affected the angle changes in each joint (P <0.001); the average EMG of tibia anterior muscle, lateral femoral muscle, and biceps femoris in braking leg showed higher muscle activity during emergency stop. Conclusions In order to cope with the instability caused by weight-bearing and emergency stop, the elderly will have a corresponding balance mechanism in the lower limbs. During an emergency stop, braking the tibialis anterior muscle of the leg requires a higher muscle activity level to control flexion angle of the ankle joint, thereby reducing amplitude of the ankle joint fluctuation. The single-handed load increases the muscle performance differences between the braking leg and trailing leg, resulting in the lateral instability.

Effects of kinesio taping on motor neuromuscular control in chronic ankle instability / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: The motor neuromuscular control of the ankle is decreased in individuals with chronic ankle instability, which impairs athletic performance. Kinesio taping has been widely used in the prevention and treatment of chronic ankle instability. However, there is limited research exploring the effects of kinesio taping on motor neuromuscular control in individuals with chronic ankle instability currently, and moreover, the results are in controversy with large heterogeneity. OBJECTIVE: To describe the current research situation of the effects of kinesio taping on motor neuromuscular control in individuals with chronic ankle instability, thereby providing reliable reference in clinical practice METHODS: The first author searched the articles addressing the application of kinesio taping in chronic ankle instability from January 2009 to July 2019 in the databases of PubMed, Cochrane, WOS and CNKI. The keywords were “chronic ankle instability, ankle instability, ankle”, “kinesio tap*, kinesiology tap*, kinaesthetic tap*, tap*” in Chinese and English. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Kinesio taping may improve ankle proprioception and jumping biomechanical performance in individuals with chronic ankle instability, but more high-quality researches are required. There is insufficient evidence to encourage that the use of kinesio taping can facilitate muscle strength, activation characteristics and balance function in individuals with chronic ankle instability. The existing studies have extensive heterogeneity in the selection of subjects, so it is difficult to comprehensively summarize the patients with chronic ankle instability of different exercise types and levels. The included scales of different studies are different, there are obvious differences in the methods, pull, direction, and duration when using kinesio taping, and there is no uniform standard. There is a lack of high-quality meta-analysis for evidence-based argumentation.

Study on the correlation between the mandibular masticatory muscle movement and sleep tooth wear / 华西口腔医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the correlation between the clinical diagnostic criteria of sleep bruxism and the frequency of mandibular movements during sleep.@*METHODS@#Video polysomnography was used to record 20 healthy adults with at least one of the following clinical symptoms and signs: 1) report of frequent tooth grinding; 2) tooth wear and dentin exposure with at least three occlusal surfaces; 3) masticatory muscle symptoms in the morning; 4) masseter muscle hypertrophy. The rhythmic masticatory muscle activity (RMMA) and isolated tonic activity were scored to compare the correlations with clinical symptoms and signs. Finally, the incidence of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) was investigated in patients with isolated tonic and RMMA subjects.@*RESULTS@#Among the 20 subjects, RMMA events were observed (5.8±3.1) times·h⁻¹ and isolated tonic episodes were observed (2.1±0.9) times·h⁻¹. The frequency of RMMA events was significantly greater in the patients with acoustic molars than in those without (P<0.05). Similarly, the frequency of RMMA events was significantly greater in the patients with tooth attrition than in those without (P<0.05). However, no difference was observed between the occurrence of RMMA and the symptoms of masticatory muscles or masseter hypertrophy in the morning. The incidence of TMD was significantly higher in the patients with RMMA than in the isolated tonic patients.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The clinical symptoms and signs often used to diagnose sleep bruxism are different clinical and physiological mandibular movements during sleep. RMMA during sleep can reflect the occurrence of tooth attrition and the high risk of TMD.

Advance in Surface Electromyography for Chronic Low Back Pain (review) / 中国康复理论与实践

Surface electromyography can record the neuroelectric signals responding the activity of muscle during exercise, which has been used to observe the characteristics of trunk and lower limb muscles in patients with chronic low back pain. It may be used in the researches about pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of chronic low back pain by comparing the surface electromyography signals between patients and normal controls during various activities.

The Effects Of Hand Grip Force On Shoulder Muscle Activity At Different Angles Of Shoulder Range Of Motion In Patients With Shoulder Pain

In the present research study 4 shoulder muscles-the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, the middle deltoid and the upper part of the trapezius-were assessed for muscle thickness using real time ultrasonography (RUSI) in various degrees of abducted and flexed arm positions, in 30 patients with acute and sub-acute shoulder pain and 30 asymptomatic healthy subjects (N=60). The symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects were further subdivided according to affection of dominant (n=15) and non-dominant (n=15) shoulder joint. Muscle thickness (mm) was measured using real time ultrasonography of dominant and non-dominant shoulder in different range of movement of shoulder abduction and flexion in symptomatic patients and asymptomatic subjects with and without gripping action on the dynamometer. The subjects were asked to produce a static handgrip force of in 8 different arm positions. In all positions, the subjects held a dynamometer in the hand. The activity in the shoulder muscles was assessed using RUSI while the participating subjects produced a handgrip with maximal force. Muscle thickness and changes with activity was similar in symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. Muscle activity increased in the middle deltoid muscle in humeral flexion and abduction from 0 0 through 800, whereas supraspinatus and lower trapezius showed increased muscle thickness only in the initial ranges of movement of shoulder flexion, whereas, infraspinatus did not show exhibit any significant change. Our findings imply that high static hand grip force, particularly in elevated arm positions, increases the load on some shoulder muscles, independent of presence of pain in the shoulder. Handgrip activity is important to evaluate while assessing shoulder load in manual work and in clinical evaluations of patients with shoulder pain. Also, while rehabilitation it would be possible to make use of hand gripping activity and load the shoulder muscles differently and distinctly throughout the ranges of movement of shoulder joint.

Serum amyloid A and muscle activity biomarkers in horses submitted to equestrian show jumping / Biomarcadores de amilóide sérica A e de atividade muscular em cavalos submetidos a salto equestre

The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum amyloid A (SAA) and biomarkers of muscle activity of horses submitted to show jumping activity. To do this, the variables SAA, glucose, lactate and the biomarkers creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate amino transferase (AST) were evaluated in 10 horses submitted to the show jumping exercise in a tournament for beginners. The evaluations occurred before exercise (T0), immediately after (T1), 30 minutes (T2), 60 minutes (T3) and 24 hours after the end (T4). Data were evaluated using analysis of variance for repeated measures. The statistical software SAEG 9.1 was used to verify the level of significance between the moments for P<0.05. Glucose presented a difference between the moments T0 (97.7±13.3mg/dL) and T1 (79.7±14.1mg/dL). Lactate presented elevation in T1 (15.3±6.1mmol/L) compared to the others T0 (3.8±0.8mmol/L), T2 (6.5±3.9mmol/L), T3 (5.3±2.2mmol/L) and T4 (5.1±1.6mmol/L). The CK showed a significant difference between T0 (82.8±51.2U/L) and T1 (140.1±58.5U/L) and between T4 (74.4±43.1U/L) with T1 (140.1±58.5U/L). The AST presented no difference between moments. The show jumping activity with one-meter obstacles did not induce changes in the SAA protein between the moments.(AU)

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a amilóide sérica A (SAA) e biomarcadores de atividade muscular de equinos submetidos a atividade de salto, ou hipismo clássico. Para tanto, foram avaliadas as variáveis SAA, glicose, lactato e os biomarcadores creatina quinase (CK) e aspartatoaminotransferase (AST) em 10 equinos submetidos ao exercício de saltos em torneio para iniciantes. As avaliações ocorreram antes do exercício (T0), imediatamente após (T1), 30 minutos (T2), 60 minutos (T3) e 24 horas após o término (T4). Os dados foram avaliados utilizando análise de variância para medidas repetidas. O software estatístico SAEG 9.1 foi utilizado para verificar o nível de significância entre os momentos para P<0,05. A glicose diferenciou-se entre os momentos T0 (97.7±13.3mg/dL) e T1 (79.7±14.1mg/dL). O lactado apresentou elevação comparada com o momento T1(15.3±6.1mmol/L) e os demais T0 (3.8±0.8mmol/L), T2 (6.5±3.9mmol/L), T3 (5.3±2.2mmol/L) e T4 (5.1±1.6mmol/L). A CK mostrou diferença significativa entre T0 (82.8±51.2U/L) e T1 (140.1±58.5U/L) e entre T4 (74.4±43.1U/L) com T1 (140.1±58.5U/L). A AST não apresentou diferença entre os momentos. A atividade de hipismo clássico com obstáculos de um metro não induziu alterações na proteína SAA entre os momentos.(AU)

The effects of head rotation and tilt on oral pressure and muscle activity / 대한해부학회지

Comparison of Core Stabilisation Exercise and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Training on Pain-related and Neuromuscular Response Outcomes for Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomised Controlled Trial

@#Background: Existing literature offers little guidance for therapists who provide core stabilisation exercise (CSE) and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) training to treat chronic low back pain (CLBP). Studies conducting a head-to-head comparison of CSE and PNF training for CLBP are needed. Objective: To compare the effects of CSE and PNF training on pain-related outcomes and trunk muscle activity in CLBP patients. Methods: Forty-five CLBP patients, ranging from 18 to 50 years of age, were randomly divided and assigned to either a four-week CSE, four-week PNF training, or control group. Painrelated outcomes, including pain intensity, functional disability and patient satisfaction, as well as superficial and deep trunk muscle activity were assessed before and after the four-week intervention, and at a three-month follow-up. Results: Compared to the control group, those in the CSE and PNF training groups showed significant improvements in all pain-related outcomes after the four-week intervention and at three-month follow-up (P < 0.01). Following the four-week intervention, both CSE and PNF training groups demonstrated significant improvement in deep trunk muscle activity, including the transversus abdominis (TrA) and superficial fibres of lumbar multifidus (LM), compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Four-week CSE and PNF training provided short-term and long-term effects on pain-related outcomes, along with increased deep trunk muscle activity in CLBP patients.

The Effect of Cane Height on Walking and Balance for Stroke Patients / 農村醫學 地域保健

OBJECTIVES: This study investigates the effects of using customized walking aids individualized for stroke patients by measuring the effects of different cane lengths to determine the ideal length of walking aids for stroke patients. METHODS: Cane lengths were determined from the greater trochanter with walking aids measured 5cm below, at the greater trochanter and 5cm above. All patients walked for ten meters with each cane length to measure speed. Then, we measured the opto gait, timed up go test, and electromyography three times each. Statistical analysis was performed using a linear mixed model, and in the case of significance, the p-value was corrected using the Bonferroni method. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant differences in time up and go test(TUGT), 10m walking, stride and speed between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Long cane length increases body symmetry, stride, increasing muscle activity, and short cane length increases balance and walking.

Effects of NMES and Horseback Riding Using a Robotic Device on the Trunk Muscle Activity and Gross Motor Function in Children with Spastic Diplegia

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and horseback riding using a robotic device on the trunk muscle activity and gross motor function in children with spastic diplegia. METHODS: Children with spastic diplegia were divided into two groups: an experimental group (NMES and horseback riding using a robotic device [n=10]) and a control group (placebo NMES and horseback riding using a robotic device [n=10]). Each group received general physical therapy and occupational therapy. Each intervention involved the administration of NMES for 15 minutes and horseback riding using robotic device therapy for 15 minutes three times a week for 4 weeks. The evaluation included both the rectus abdominis muscles (RA), external oblique muscles (EO), thoracic paraspinal muscles (TP), and lumbar paraspinal muscles (LP) activity and GMFM. RESULTS: The RA, EO, TP, and LP muscle activity, GMFM C, D, and E were increased significantly in the experimental and control groups. A significant increase in both the TP muscle activity and GMFM D was observed in the experimental group compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: This study showed that horseback riding using a robotic device is an effective intervention for trunk muscle activity and GMFM in children with spastic diplegia. However, if NMES is added to the back muscles, it is possible to further increase the thoracic paraspinal muscle activity and standing ability.

Effects of Active Vibration Exercise on Trunk Muscle Activity, Balance, and Activities of Daily Living in Patients with Chronic Stroke

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of active vibration exercise on trunk muscle activity, balance, and activities of daily living in patients with chronic stroke. METHODS: Twenty-four patients with chronic stroke were randomly assigned to an experimental (n=12) or a control (n=12) group. The experimental group performed an active vibration exercise workout for 20 minutes a day five times a week for 4 weeks using a flexi-bar. Trunk muscle activity was measured using surface electromyography. Balance was measured using the Berg balance scale. Activities of daily living were measured using the functional independence measure. RESULTS: The intragroup comparison showed significant differences in the rectus abdominis, internal oblique, and external oblique muscle activity values, Berg balance scale score, and functional independence measurement values in the experimental group. The intergroup comparison showed that differences in the rectus abdominis and internal oblique external oblique muscle values, Berg balance scale score, and functional independence measurement value for the experimental group were significantly related to those in the control group. CONCLUSION: Based on these results, this study proved that the active vibration exercise effectively improved trunk muscle activity, balance, and activities of daily living in patients with chronic stroke.

The Effects of Therapeutic Climbing on Shoulder Muscle Activity according to the Inclination of the Climbing Wall

PURPOSE: Therapeutic climbing has become very popular today, with it being reported as a new method for preventing and treating orthopedic trauma to the shoulder joint. However, objective studies on its effects on the musculoskeletal system are still lacking. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of wall inclination during therapeutic climbing on the muscle activity around the shoulder joint. METHODS: In this study, the participants performed movements at three different inclination angles of 0°, +15°, and −15°. sEMG was performed to measure the activities of five different muscles around the shoulder joint (biceps brachii, serratus anterior, upper trapezius, middle trapezius, and lower trapezius muscles). RESULTS: Biceps brachii muscle showed a significant increase at −15°, as compared to 0° (p 0.05). CONCLUSION: Therapeutic climbing may be a new therapeutic approach that can increase muscle strength and coordination in the sensory nervous system, since it can be used as a tool that promotes active movement by altering wall inclination and causing the user to generate movements according to the existing situation.

Analysis On The Effect Of Personalised Insole For Prolonged Standing Industrial Workers

@#Working in prolonged standing position among industrial workers has been shown to be associated with different potentially serious health outcomes, namely lower back pain, leg pain, fatigue, discomfort, and other health issues. Personalisation of insole offers a solution that will provide a perfect fit and comfort to the shoes wearer based on the ergonomic considerations. It works in a way that it alters the pressure away from painful areas by increasing the surface area that supports the weight of the body and evenly distributes it to the whole plantar area. Survey was conducted among workers at a manufacturing industry company to study on the level of pain experienced by them together with their foot anthropometry. Then, the foot pressure of each of the workers was collected by using pressure measurement device (F-scan). Combination of these data was used to design the customized insole that is fit for the worker. The personalised insoles were fabricated by using Additive Manufacturing technology. After that, the insoles were validated by using the F-scan and Electromyogram (EMG) to ensure their effectiveness in reducing pressures on the foot and muscle activity hence improving the comfort of the shoe wearer. At the end of the experiment, it was found that the insole is able to reduce the peak pressure of four out of five areas of the worker’s foot with the reduction of pressure percentage ranging from 6% to 28%.

Influence of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Lower Limb Muscle Activation and Balance Ability in Soccer Player

PURPOSE: This study is to investigate influence of tDCS on lower limb muscle activity and balance ability in soccer player. METHODS: Sessions were conducted with 15 subjects in tDCS group and 15 in action observation training group for 20 minutes, 5 sessions a week, for 8 weeks. All soccer players underwent 30 minutes of plyometric training before main exercise. To evaluate lower limb muscle activation, rectus femoris and biceps femoris were taken measure using surface electromyogram system and to evaluate balance ability, surface area, whole path length, limited of stability were measured using biorescue. RESULTS: Regarding balance shown in surface area, whole path length, limited of stability and muscle activation in rectus femoris and biceps femoris, tDCS group showed more significant change than action bservation training group. CONCLUSION: Therefore, intervention using tDCS is more effective in improving lower limb muscle activation and balance ability than action observation training.

Effects of Active Vibration Exercise on Neck Pain, Disability Index, and Muscle Activity of Patients with Forward Head Posture

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of active vibration exercise on the neck pain, disability index, and muscle activity of patients with forward head posture. METHODS: A total of 24 patients were randomly assigned to an experimental group or a control group (n=12 each). The experimental group performed active vibration exercise using a flexi-bar for 20 minutes a day, five times a week for four weeks. The study measured patient neck pain using a visual analog scale, neck pain related disability using the neck disability index, and muscle activity using electromyography. RESULTS: The intragroup comparison showed significant differences in the visual analog scale score, neck disability index score and upper trapezius, lower trapezius and serratus anterior muscle activity values among patients in the experimental group. The intergroup comparison showed that differences in the visual analog scale score, neck disability index score and upper trapezius, lower trapezius and serratus anterior muscle activity values in the control group. CONCLUSION: This study showed that active vibration exercise was effective in improving the neck pain, disability index, and muscle activity of patients with forward head posture.

Effects of Shoulder Taping on Discomfort and Electromyographic Responses of the Neck While Texting on a Touchscreen Smartphone

BACKGROUND: Prolonged neck flexion during smartphone use is known as a factor of neck pain and alteration of neck muscle activity. Studies on the effects of shoulder taping on neck discomfort and neck muscle responses while texting on a smartphone are still lacking. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of shoulder taping on neck discomfort using a numerical rating scale, and neck muscle activity and fatigue using a surface electromyography during a texting task on a touchscreen smartphone. METHODS: Twenty-five healthy adolescents used the dominant hand to perform a 30-minute texting task using a touchscreen smartphone at two separate times under one of the following two conditions: taping across the upper trapezius muscle and no taping. Neck discomfort, normalized root mean square, and normalized median frequency slopes for upper trapezius, cervical erector spinae, and sternocleidomastoid muscles were recorded. RESULTS: The results revealed that shoulder taping provided significantly lower neck discomfort than no taping (p < 0.001). However, shoulder taping did not significantly alter normalized root mean square and normalized median frequency slope values of all muscles when compared with no taping controls. CONCLUSION: Shoulder taping reduces neck discomfort but does not affect neck muscle activity and fatigue while texting on a touchscreen smartphone.

Effects of Whole Body Vibration Exercise on Lower Extremity Muscle Activity and Balance Ability in Football Player with Chronic Ankle Instability

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of whole body vibration exercise (WBVE) on lower extremity muscle activity and balance ability according to different methods of exercises in football player and use it as basic data for the rehabilitation training of chronic ankle instability. METHODS: Thirty subjects were randomly divided into two groups: the two groups, which each group have 15 members, are WBVE group and neuromuscular training (NMT) group according to training method. The exercise program was conducted for six weeks. Subjects were measured on lower extremity muscle activity and balance ability. RESULTS: The muscle activity increasement of the WBVE group was significantly higher than that of the NMT group (p < 0.05) and the balance ability decreasement of the WBVE group was significantly higher than that of the NMT group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings of this study suggest that WBVE may have a beneficial effect on improvement of lower extremity muscle activity and balance ability in football player with chronic ankle instability.

Effect of Sling Exercise on Muscle Activity and Pain in Patients with Rotator Cuff Repair

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine the effects of sling exercise on muscle activity and pain in patients with rotator cuff repair. METHODS: This research evaluated 20 rotator cuff repair patients, divided randomly between 10 controls and 10 in an experimental group who performed a sling exercise. Both the experimental and control groups underwent transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and performed continuous passive motion. Muscle activity was measured with a surface electromyograph and pain was measured with the visual analogue scale. The paired t-test was used to compare groups before and after the experiment. The independent t-test was conducted to assess differences in the degree of change between the two groups before and after the experiment. RESULTS: Within-group comparison of both the experimental and control group showed significant differences in muscle activity and pain. Comparison of the groups revealed significant differences in muscle activity between groups group, but not in pain. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that sling exercise is effective for improving muscle activity of rotator cuff repair patients.