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There have been few investigations into the effectiveness of thoracic spine exercises for improving thoracic range of motion (ROM) in any plane. This study assessed the effectiveness of two thoracic spine exercises: one in the quadruped position and one in the thoracic standing position. We determined how these exercises affect thoracic spine mobility ROM over a 2-week intervention period. Thirty-nine healthy participants were enrolled and assigned to a Quadruped Thoracic Rotation group (n=17 participants: 9 females and 8 males) or Flamenco Thoracic Spine Rotation group (n=22: 14 females and 8 males). All participants were administered a KOJI AWARENESSTM screening test, and the initial thoracic spine ROM before intervention exercise was measured in a laboratory setting. Quadruped Thoracic Rotation was performed as the quadruped exercise and Flamenco Thoracic Spine Rotation as the standing exercise. The KOJI AWARENESSTM thoracic spine test and ROM were evaluated on the day after the first exercise session and again after the program. Despite their different approaches to thoracic mobility, the quadruped exercise and standing exercise achieved equivalent improvement in thoracic ROM after 2 weeks. Practitioners have a range of exercise options for enhancing thoracic mobility based on their environmental or task-specific needs.
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Terapia por Exercício , Amplitude de Movimento Articular , Vértebras Torácicas , Humanos , Masculino , Feminino , Adulto , Vértebras Torácicas/fisiologia , Rotação , Adulto Jovem , Terapia por Exercício/métodosRESUMO
Background: The KOJI AWARENESS (KA) test is a practical self-evaluation tool that assesses body movements and may help develop individual conditioning plans to improve movement function. However, the association between preseason KA scores and in-season injury occurrence remains unexplored. Purpose: To investigate whether the KA self-screening test score can predict running-related injuries in elite long-distance runners. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: A total of 47 elite college male long-distance runners (age, 18-22 years) were enrolled in this study in June 2022. The participants underwent the KA self-screening test to assess preseason upper limb, core, and lower limb function. Running-related injuries with a training time loss of >3 weeks were tracked for 6 months during the season. The participants were divided into injury and noninjury groups, and between-group comparisons and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were used to determine the association between the KA scores and the injury incidence. Chi-square tests and risk ratios were calculated based on the cutoff value- and injury-based grouping. Results: Among the runners, 10 (21.3%) sustained an injury. There were no significant differences in the demographic characteristics between the injury and noninjury groups. The injury group had significantly lower KA scores than the noninjury group (median, 44.5 [interquartile range, 43-46.8] vs median, 48 [interquartile range, 46-50], respectively; P = .009). The ROC curve analysis determined a cutoff value of 46.5 points (sensitivity, 73%; specificity, 63.6%), indicating that the KA scores exhibited a relatively high predictive value for running-related injuries (area under the ROC curve, 0.764 [95% CI, 0.600-0.930]). The risk ratio for group division based on the cutoff value was 2.590 (95% CI, 1.329-5.047). Conclusion: These findings demonstrated that the KA test is an effective self-screening tool for predicting the risk of running-related injuries in elite male long-distance runners.
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Introduction: Core stability is crucial for preventing and rehabilitating lumbar spine injuries. An external focus instruction using a paper balloon is an effective way to activate the trunk muscles. However, the degree of trunk and lower extremity muscle activation during single leg stance with external focus instruction using a paper balloon is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the core muscle involving activity in the trunk and lower extremities on both the support and non-support sides with or without using external focus instruction using a paper balloon during isometric single-leg stance. Methods: Thirteen healthy males aged 20-28 years volunteered to take part in this study and performed a single leg stance task with and without an external focus instruction, pressing their non-supporting foot onto a paper balloon without crushing it. The participant's muscle electrical activity was recorded during the single leg task using surface EMG and intramuscular EMG for six trunk muscles (transversus abdominis, internal oblique, external oblique, rectus abdominis, multifidus, and lumbar erector spinae) and five lower extremity muscles (gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, adductor longus, rectus femoris, and biceps femoris). Results: Compared to the normal single leg stance, the external focus instruction task using a paper balloon showed significantly increased transversus abdominis (p < 0.001, p < 0.001), internal oblique (p = 0.001, p < 0.001), external oblique (p = 0.002, p = 0.001), rectus abdominal (p < 0.001, p < 0.001), lumbar multifidus (p = 0.001, p < 0.001), lumbar erector spinae (p < 0.001, p = 0.001), adductor longus (p < 0.001, p < 0.001), rectus femoris (p < 0.001, p < 0.001), and biceps femoris (p < 0.010, p < 0.001) muscle activity on the support and non-support sides. Conclusion: In conclusion, external focus instruction using a paper balloon significantly activates the trunk and lower extremities muscles on both the support and non-support sides. This finding provides insights for designing programs to improve coordination and balance. The benefits extend to diverse individuals, encompassing athletes, tactical professionals, and the general population, mitigating the risk of injury or falls linked to inadequate lower limb balance.
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The KOJI AWARENESS (KA) screening test assesses motor function in humans. We aimed to analyze the correlation between age and KA screening scores and to identify the specific age at which a significant decline occurs. A total of 793 healthy participants (234 females) were interviewed for basic information on age and sex and completed the KA screening test. In addition to calculating the total score from the KA test, the scores were calculated for the neck-scapula-upper extremity-complex (NSU), trunk, and lower extremity (LE) segments. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to assess the validity of the test. Additionally, Bayesian linear regression was employed to estimate the change point in KA scores, facilitating the identification of a critical age associated with a notable decline in motor function. KA screening total and separate body segment scores were negatively correlated with age in both gender (for female and male, KA total score, ρ = - 0.443, ρ = - 0.344; NSU segment, ρ = - 0.431, ρ = - 0.427; trunk segment, ρ = - 0.210, ρ = - 0.473; LE segment: ρ = - 0.43, ρ = - 0.507). Furthermore, a change-point analysis using linear regression analysis showed that KA screening total scores declined sharply at the age of 49.1(95% credible interval: 37.503, 68.366). The result show that total KA scores decrease - 0.196 (95% credible interval: - 0.335, - 0.049) for every 1 year of age increase, and for ages over 49.1, total KA scores additionally decrease - 0.255 (95% credible interval: - 0.485, - 0.054) for every 1 year of age increase. In the NSU segment, females showed a more rapid decline than males from the age of 50 years. KA screening test total scores declined sharply at the age of 49.1. These results may be useful in setting treatment goals, exercise, and lifestyle programs for age-related decline in motor function.
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Envelhecimento , Humanos , Feminino , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Adulto , Idoso , Adulto Jovem , Envelhecimento/fisiologia , Fatores Etários , Atividade Motora/fisiologia , Teorema de Bayes , Conscientização/fisiologia , Extremidade Superior/fisiologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The KOJI AWARENESS� screening test is a self-administered screening tool for assessment of mobility, stability, and strength. It provides corrective exercises corresponding to the individual's answers to the KOJI AWARENESS� test questions. However, there is no evidence of the effectiveness of corrective exercises in improving KOJI AWARENESS� screening test scores and activity-related pain. METHODS: Twenty-six healthy subjects (11 female and 15 male ; age 20?50 years) were selected for participation. In a controlled laboratory setting, subjects were administered the KOJI AWARENESS� test and were provided with individualized exercise programs based on the results of this first test. KOJI AWARENESS� results were checked on the first day immediately after the first exercise session, and then again after the two-week program. Pain intensity was also assessed during daily training using a numerical rating scale. RESULTS: Compared to pre-intervention, KOJI AWARENESS� scores were significantly higher immediately after the first corrective exercise session and after 2 weeks of intervention (p<0.001). Moreover, pain intensity was significantly lower after 2 weeks of intervention (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Individualized KOJI AWARENESS� corrective exercises were effective immediately on the first day and also after the two-week program in improving the KOJI AWARENESS� score and reducing pain intensity during daily training. J. Med. Invest. 70 : 208-212, February, 2023.
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Terapia por Exercício , Exercício Físico , Humanos , Masculino , Feminino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Medição da Dor , Terapia por Exercício/métodos , Dor/prevenção & controleRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to validate the KOJI AWARENESS™, a self-screening movement test, and compare it with the Functional Movement Screen (FMS). METHODS: Fifty-seven healthy participants completed the KOJI AWARENESS™ and functional movement screening. Pearson's correlation coefficients were used to assess the validity of the test. Subsequently, partial correlation analysis was used to determine the associations between age, sex, body mass index, and sports level as control variables and motor function. RESULTS: Correlation and partial correlation analyses showed a strong positive correlation between the functional movement screening and the KOJI AWARENESS™ scores. CONCLUSION: This study found that the KOJI AWARENESS™ test is valid and comparable to functional movement screening. It can be used for self-screening of movement.
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Atletas , Esportes , Humanos , Teste de Esforço , Movimento , Índice de Massa CorporalRESUMO
Backgroundâ :â Various musculoskeletal screening and functional performance tests are used to evaluate physical condition. However, validated analysis tools that can identify gaps in pain knowledge during athletes' daily training are lacking. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between pain intensity in athletes during their daily training and the KOJI AWARENESS™ test in order to determine whether body dysfunction is related to pain among athletes. Methodsâ :â This cross-sectional study was conducted in a fitness center at the authors' affiliated institution. Thirty-five athletes (17 women and 18 men) aged 20-40 years were selected for study participation. KOJI AWARENESS™ self-evaluated test scores and pain intensity during daily training, as assessed on the numerical rating scale (NRS), were recorded. Resultsâ :â The KOJI AWARENESS™ score showed a strong negative correlation with the NRS score for pain intensity during daily training (r = -0.640, P < 0.001). There was a significant negative correlation between KOJI AWARENESS™ and NRS scores, even when body mass index, sex, and age were entered as control variables. Conclusionsâ :â KOJI AWARENESS™ was highly accurate in detecting pain in athletes during their training. J. Med. Invest. 69 : 204-216, August, 2022.
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Atletas , Dor , Índice de Massa Corporal , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Dor/diagnóstico , Medição da DorRESUMO
Perturbation exercises enhance lower limb and trunk muscles, and adding swing perturbation while loading during exercise might improve muscle activation or strength. This study aimed to check variations in trunk and lower limb muscle activity during conventional isometric squats, and whether it will change with or without swing using the Hammerobics-synchronized squat method. Twelve healthy men participated in this study. Activities for the abductor hallucis, tibialis anterior, tibialis posterior, peroneus longus, rectus femoris, biceps femoris long head, semitendinosus, gluteus maximus, multifidus, and internal oblique muscles were measured using surface electromyography during a Hammerobics-synchronized squat and conventional isometric squat. Muscle activities were statistically compared between squat methods. Hammerobics-synchronized squats significantly activated the abductor hallucis, tibialis anterior, tibialis posterior, peroneus longus, semitendinosus, and multifidus muscles, in both phases, compared with the conventional isometric squats. The Hammerobics-synchronized squat exercise can be considered for trunk and foot stability exercise.
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Extremidade Inferior , Músculo Esquelético , Eletromiografia , Exercício Físico/fisiologia , Humanos , Extremidade Inferior/fisiologia , Masculino , Músculo Esquelético/fisiologia , Músculo Quadríceps/fisiologiaRESUMO
Ground reaction force and wire tensile force were measured during test throws by three hammer throwers: the Asian record holder, who had a personal best of 83.47 m at the time of the investigation, and two university athletes, with personal bests of 59.95 m and 46.30 m respectively. They were filmed using three high-speed video cameras (250Hz). The displacements of the hammer head and the athletes' centres of mass were calculated using three-dimensional analysis procedures. The Asian record holder's centre of mass and the hammer head on the final two turns exhibited approximate conjunctions of the hammer high point and the thrower's low point and vice versa about the hammer's azimuth angle. It is conjectured that the reason why the thrower's movement is asynchronous with the hammer's movement by approximately half a turn is to accelerate the hammer head in a manner similar to the way that the amplitude of a pendulum increases when it is pulled upward by a string against the downward movement of the swinging weight.