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KMID : 0608320200270020133
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Physical Therapy Korea
2020 Volume.27 No. 2 p.133 ~ p.139
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Immediate Effects of High-frequency Diathermy on Muscle Architecture and Flexibility in Subjects With Gastrocnemius Tightness
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Kim Ji-Hyun
Park Joo-Hee
Yoon Hyeo-Bin
Lee Jun-Hyeok
Jeon Hye-Seon
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Abstract
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Background: The gastrocnemius (GCM) is one of the lower extremity muscles that tend to tighten easily. GCM tightness results in limited ankle dorsi-flexion (DF), especially when the knee joint is fully extended. Joint flexibility is determined by the morphological and physiologi-cal characteristics of joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Impaired joint flexibility can be attributed to increased susceptibility to muscle injury. High-frequency diathermy is clinically used to reduce pain and muscle tightness and to improve limited range of motion.
Objects: This study aimed to investigate the immediate effects of high-frequency therapy in subjects with GCM tightness.
Methods: The study was designed as a one-group before?after trial. The subjects included 28 volunteers with GCM tightness (an active ankle DF angle of less than 12°) without any known neurological and musculoskeletal pathologies in the ankle and calf areas. WINBACK Transfer Electrode Capacitive and Resistive Therapy equipment was used to apply high-frequency ther-apy to the subjects’ GCMs for 10?15 minutes. The pennation angle and the fascicle length of the GCM were measured using ultrasonography. The flexibility of the ankle joint, peak torque to the passive ankle DF (Biodex), and soft tissue stiffness (MyotonPRO) were also measured.
Results: The pennation angle was significantly decreased following the treatment; however, no significant difference in the fascicle length was found (p < 0.05). The flexibility was sig-nificantly increased and both the passive peak torque to passive ankle DF and the soft tissue stiffness significantly decreased (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: High-frequency therapy is immediately effective for improving the muscle’s ar-chitectural properties and functional factors in subjects with GCM tightness. Further longitudi-nal clinical studies are required to investigate the long-term effects of high-frequency therapy on subjects with GCM tightness from various causes.
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KEYWORD
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Ankle, Diathermy, Muscle tonus, Physical therapy modalities
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