[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to clarify the muscle activities and joint angles of standing up motion with thoracolumbar spine flexed, reproducing the humpback posture of the elderly.[Subjects] The subjects were ten healthy adult males.[Methods] Electromyography (EMG) and joint angles of the lower leg, captured by a video camera, were studied during standing up motion from the sitting position under the conditions of: normal posture, thoracolumbar flexion of 20˚, and thoracolumbar flexion of 40˚. We calculated the average amplitude of the relative EMG value and noted the order of EMG activities in the lower leg, as well as the forward tilt angle of the trunk and lower leg. [Results] Compared to normal posture, the average amplitude of the relative EMG value of the tibialis anterior muscle (TA), and the forward tilt angle of both the trunk and lower leg during standing with thoracolumbar flexion of 40˚ were significantly increased. In addition, TA activity started significantly earlier than in the other muscles.[Conclusion] The results suggest thoracolumbar flexion influences the muscle activity of TA and the forward tilt angle of the lower leg.
[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to clarify the effects that thoracic spinal curvature, lumbar spinal curvature, and the angle of posterior pelvic tilt have on thorax mobility and pulmonary function [Subjects] Fourteen healthy adult males. [Methods] We measured the thorax mobility and pulmonary function at different pelvic and spinal alignments in the sitting position. The pelvis was positioned at 0, 10, 30 and 50 degrees posterior tilt, and the changes in spinal alignment elicited by the changes in pelvic position were measured. The relationships between thorax mobility, pulmonary function and thoracic spinal curvature, lumbar spinal curvature, and the angle of posterior pelvic tilt were analyzed using multiple regression analysis. [Results] Thorax mobility and pulmonary function were the most affected by changes in posterior pelvic tilt, followed by lumbar spinal curvature and thoracic spinal curvature.[Conclusion] These results suggest that improvement of the angle of posterior pelvic tilt would potentially improve thorax mobility and pulmonary function.
The purpose of this study was to clarify the characteristics of the muscle activities of the gastrocnemius during increases of walking speed. [Participants and Methods] The subjects were 10 healthy persons. Surface electromyography of the gastrocnemius was performed during walking. During increases of the walking speed from 2.5 km/h to 4.0 km/h (acceleration phase I), and from 4.0 km/h to 5.5 km/h (acceleration phase II), the integrated electromyography value (IEMG) of the gastrocnemius was calculated and examined. [Results] IEMG of the medialis was significantly higher than that of the lateralis in both acceleration periods I and II (p<0.05); and IEMGs of the medialis and lateralis were significantly higher in acceleration period II than in acceleration period I (p<0.05). [Conclusion] The muscle activity of the gastrocnemius medialis was larger than that of the gastrocnemius lateralis muscle during acceleration in progressive walking.
The purpose of this study was to clarify the effects of static stretching (SS) and muscle compression. [Participants and Methods] The subjects were 14 healthy male college students. Ankle range of motion (ROM) was measured before and after the tasks for the gastrocnemius. The tasks were: SS, SS + 5 kg compression and SS + 10 kg compression. ROM of before and after the tasks were compared as well as the rate of change in ROM between tasks. [Results] ROM significantly increased after all of the tasks, but there were no significant differences among the tasks in the rate of change of each task. [Conclusion] There was no difference in the effect on the ankle dorsiflexion range of motion between SS for the gastrocnemius and SS combined with muscle compression.
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