The effect of leg angle during push-up plus exercise on shoulder stabilization muscle activity.

[Purpose] This study investigated the effect of different leg angles during push-up plus exercise on shoulder stabilization muscle activity. [Participants and Methods] Fifteen healthy adult males participated in this study. The smart phone application Clinometer was used to measure leg angles of 70°, 90°, and 110° during push-up plus exercise. The muscle activities of the serratus anterior, upper trapezius fibers, and pectoralis major muscles involved in shoulder stabilization were analyzed using surface electromyogram. [Results] Leg angle significantly affected serratus anterior muscle activity, but it did not affect activities of the upper trapezius fibers or pectoralis major muscles. Post-hoc analysis revealed that serratus anterior muscle activity at the leg angle of 110° was significantly higher than at leg angles of 70° and 90°. [Conclusion] A higher leg angle during push-up plus exercise is a more effective intervention for the serratus anterior muscle activity.

The effects of changes in support and inclined boards on lower-extremity muscle activity.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of changes in support and inclined boards on lower-extremity muscle activity. [Subjects and Methods] The study subjects were 15 healthy adult males. Aero-Step equipment was used as an unstable support, and an inclined board was used to maintain angles of 0° and 20°. Electromyography was employed to analyze lower-extremity muscle activity. [Results] The vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, rectus femoris, gastrocnemius, soleus, and tibialis anterior muscles showed significant differences according to changes in the support and inclined board. In post-hoc tests the vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and rectus femoris muscles showed significantly increased activity when exercises were performed on the unstable inclined board (20°) than the stable support (0°), unstable support (0°), or stable inclined board (20°). The gastrocnemius, soleus, and tibialis anterior muscles showed significantly increased activity when exercises were performed on the unstable support (0°), stable inclined board (20°), or unstable inclined board (20°) than on the stable support (0°). [Conclusion] An unstable support and increased slope of the inclined board may increase lower-extremity muscle activity.

Effects of the cervical flexion angle during smartphone use on muscle fatigue and pain in the cervical erector spinae and upper trapezius in normal adults in their 20s.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the cervical flexion angle on muscle fatigue and pain in the cervical erector spinae and upper trapezius in normal adults in their 20s. [Subjects and Methods] The study's subjects were 14 normal adults. After sitting on a chair with their back against the wall, they held a smartphone with both hands for 10 minutes and fatigue and pain in the neck and shoulder muscles were measured at different cervical flexion angles (0°, 30°, and 50°). Electromyography was performed to analyze the muscle fatigue of the right upper trapezius, left upper trapezius, right cervical erector spinae, and left cervical erector spinae, and a CommanderTM Algometer was used to measure pain. The cervical range of motion was used as an instrument to compare and analyze the cervical flexion angles. [Results] The study's results showed statistically significant differences in the muscle fatigue and pain of the right upper trapezius and left upper trapezius depending on the cervical flexion angle and a post-hoc test showed statistically significant lower levels of muscle fatigue and pain at 50° than at 0° or 30°. No statistically significant differences were found between the right cervical erector spinae and left cervical erector spinae. [Conclusion] The cervical flexion angle during smartphone use may influence the muscle fatigue and pain of the upper trapezius.

Measurement of family-centered services: Validation of the Korean translation of the measure of processes of care for service providers.

PURPOSE: The Measure of Processes of Care for Service Providers (MPOC-SP) is a valid and reliable instrument to measure the professionals' perception of the extent to which they apply the principles of family-centered services in care for children with disabilities. This study aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Korean translation of the MPOC-SP (Korean MPOC-SP). METHODS: The Korean MPOC-SP was completed by 132 rehabilitation service providers in 5 provinces in South Korea. Analyses for internal consistency, construct validity, and test-retest reliability were performed. RESULTS: The estimates of internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) of the four scales of the Korean MPOC-SP ranged from 0.67 to 0.92. All the scales correlated highly with the other scales (r ranging from 0.61 to 0.77). In addition, all the items exhibited high item-total correlations (rs ranging from 0.40 to 0.83). Three scales had moderate to good reliability with ICCs ranging from 0.57 to 0.78; the 'providing general information (PGI)' scale showed low reliability (ICC 0.22). CONCLUSION: The Korean MPOC-SP can be considered a valid instrument for group-level research purposes with acceptable internal consistency, but caution is warranted regarding the low test-retest reliability of the PGI scale.