All Issue

2014 Vol.32, Issue 5 Preview Page
Electromyographic Analysis of Upper and Lower Limb Muscles during Gardening Tasks
Sin-Ae Park1
,
A-Young Lee1
,
Jai-Jeong Kim2
,
Kwan-Suk Lee3
,
Jae-Moo So4
,
Ki-Cheol Son1*
1Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University
2Department of Physical Education, Graduate School of Konkuk University
3Department of Industrial Engineering, Hongik University
4Department of Physical Education, Konkuk University
*교신저자. *Corresponding Author. 
31 October 2014. pp. 710-720
PDF XML Citation
Abstract

Movements of the upper and lower limb muscles during five common gardening tasks were analyzed by using electromyography (EMG). Twenty adults aged in their twenties (mean age, 24.8 ± 2.4 years) were recruited. On two separate occasions, subjects visited a garden plot to perform digging, raking, troweling, weeding, and hoeing; all tasks were performed three times with 20 s intervals for each trial. To measure muscle activation during the five gardening tasks, surface EMG was used. Bipolar surface EMG electrodes were attached to eight upper limb muscles (bilateral anterior deltoid, biceps brachialis, brachioradialis, and flexor carpi ulnaris) or eight lower limb muscles (bilateral vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, biceps femoris, and gastrocnemius) on both sides of the body, for a total of 16 muscles. During the five tasks, photographs were taken of movement phases using a digital video camera. The right flexor carpi ulnaris and brachioradialis showed higher activation than the other upper and lower limb muscles measured during the tasks. All 16 upper and lower limb muscles were actively used only during digging. According to movement analysis of each activity, digging was classified into four movement phases, whereas raking, troweling, weeding, and hoeing each were divided into three movement phases. In each activity, there were high-impact phases in terms of muscle activation; the flexor carpi ulnaris and brachioradialis were identified as major muscles in each impact phase. This analysis may be used to generate biomechanical profiles of gardening tasks for practitioners when designing efficient gardening interventions for physical health or rehabilitation.

Keywords
horticultural activity
horticultural therapy
human issues in horticulture
movement analysis
muscle activation

References
1
Anderson, D.S., M.F. Jackson, D.S. Kropf, and G.L. Soderberg. 1984. Electromyographic analysis of selected muscles during sitting push-ups. Effects of position and sex. Phys. Therapy 64:24-28.
2
Armstrong, D. 2000. A survey of community gardens in upstate New York: Implications for health promotion and community development. Health Place 6:319-327.
3
Bernardi, M., M. Solomonow, J.H. Sanchez, R.V. Baratta, and G. Nguyen. 1995. Motor unit recruitment strategy of knee antagonist muscles in a step-wise, increasing isometric contraction. European J. Appl. Physiol. 70:493-501.
4
Bird, W. 2004. Natural fit: Can green space and biodiversity increase levels of physical activity? Royal Soc. Protection Birds, London, UK.
5
Bolgla, L.A. and T.L. Uhl. 2007. Reliability of electromyographic normalization methods for evaluating the hip musculature. J. Electromyography Kinesiology 17:102-111.
6
Buchthal, F. 1957. An introduction to electromyography. Gyldendal, Copenhagen, DK.
7
Burden, A. 2010. How should we normalize electromyograms obtained from healthy participants? What we have learned from over 25 years of research? J. Electromyography Kinesiology 20:1023-1035.
8
Chen, T.Y. and M.C. Janke. 2012. Gardening as a potential activity to reduce falls in older adults. J. Aging Phys. Activity 20:15-31.
9
Cram, J.R. and G.S. Kasman. 1998. The basics of surface electro-myography: Introduction to surface electromyography. Aspen Publishers, Inc., Gaithersburg, MD.
10
De Luca, C.J. 1997. The use of surface electromyography in biomechanics. J. Appl. biomechanics 13:135-163.
11
Fujii, S. and T. Moritani. 2012. Rise rate and timing variability of surface electromyographic activity during rhythmic drumming movements in the world’s fastest drummer. J. Electromyography Kinesiology 22:60-66.
12
Hawkes, D.H., O. Alizadehkhaiyat, A.C. Fisher, G.J. Kemp, M.M. Roebuck, and S.P. Frostick. 2011. Normal shoulder muscular activation and co-ordination during a shoulder elevation task based on activities of daily living: An electromyographic study. J. Orthopedic Res. 30:53-60.
13
Hansson, G.A., U. Stromgberg, B. Larsson, K. Ohlsson, I. Balogh, and U. Moritz. 1993. Electromyographic fatigue in neck/shoulder muscles and endurance in women with repetitive work. Ergonomics 35:1341-1352.
14
Infantino, M. 2004. Gardening: A strategy for health promotion in older women. J. New York State Nurses' Assn. 35(2):10-17.
15
Joo, B.S., S.A. Park, and K.C. Son. 2012. Improving work adjustment skills in students with mental retardation using hydroponics program. Kor. J. Hort. Sci. Technol. 30:586-595.
16
Jung, S.A. 2005. Effect of the application of horticultural therapy program by phases of psychological adaptation on the psycho-somatic rehabilitation in stroke patients. MS Thesis, Konkuk Univ., Seoul.
17
Kasman, G.S. and S.L. Wolf. 2002. Surface EMG made easy: A beginner’s guide for rehabilitation clinicians. Noraxon INC, Scottsdale, AZ.
18
Kim, S.Y. 2001. Effect of horticultural therapy on the functional rehabilitation in hemiplegic patients after stroke. MS Thesis, Konkuk Univ., Seoul, Korea.
19
Kollmitzer, J., G.R. Ebenbichler, and A. Kopf. 1999. Reliability of surface electromyographic measurements. Clinical Neurophysiology 110:725-734.
20
Lee, S.S., S.A. Park, O.Y. Kwon, J.E. Song, and K.C. Son. 2012. Measuring range of motion and muscle activation of flower arrangement tasks and application for improving upper limb function. Kor. J. Hort. Sci. Technol. 30:449-462.
21
Lim, H.K. and A.M. Sherwood. 2005. Reliability of surface electromyographic measurements from subjects with spinal cord injury during voluntary motor tasks. J. Rehabilitation Res. Dev. 42:413-422.
22
Mathiassen, S.E. and J. Winkel. 1990. Electromyographic activity in the shoulder-neck region according to arm position and glenohumeral torque. European J. Appl. Physiol. 61:370-379.
23
Mathiassen, S.E., J. Winkel, and G.M. Hagg. 1995. Normalization of surface EMG amplitude from the upper trapezius in ergonomic studies - A review. J. Electromyography Kinesiology 5:197-226.
24
McGill, S.M. 1991. Electromyographic activity of the abdominal and low back musculature during the generation of isometric and dynamic axial trunk torque: Implications for lumbar mechanic. J. Orthopaedic Res. 9:91-103.
25
McGill, S.M. and R.W. Norman. 1986. Partitioning of the L4/L5 dynamic moment into disc, ligamentous, and muscular components during lifting. Spine 11:666-678.
26
Morey-Klapsing, G., A. Arampatzis, and G.P. Bruggemann. 2004. Choosing EMG parameters: Comparison of different onset determination algorithms and EMG integrals in a joint stability study. Clinical Biomechanics 19:196-201.
27
Murphy, M.A., K.S. Sunnerhagen, B. Johnels, and C. Willen. 2006. Three-dimensional kinematic motion analysis of a daily activity drinking from a glass: A pilot study. J. Neuroengineering Rehabiltation 3:18.
28
Myers, J.B., M.R. Pasquale, K.G. Laudner, T.C. Sell, J.F. Bradley, and S.M. Lephart. 2005. On-the-field resistance-tubing exercises for throwers: An electromyographic analysis. J. Athletic Training 40:15-22.
29
MyoResearch, X.P. 2011. Master edition/basic edition 1.04. Main manual. Noraxon INC, Scottsdale, AZ.
30
Ochia, R.S. and P.R. Cavanagh. 2007. Reliability of surface EMG measurements over 12 hours. J. Electromyography Kinesiology 17:365-371.
31
Page, C., S.I. Backus, and M.W. Lenhoff. 2003. Electromyographic activity in stiff and normal elbows during elbow flexion and extension. J. Hand Therapy 16:5-11.
32
Park, S.A., A.Y. Lee, K.S. Lee, H.S. Lee, J.E. Song, B.R. Kim, K.S. Lee, K.C. Son, and C.A. Shoemaker. 2012a. Metabolic equivalents of gardening tasks as a physical activity in children and adults. Kor. J. Hort. Sci. Technol. 30(Suppl. II):181. (Abstr.)
33
Park, S.A., C.A. Shoemaker, and M.D. Haub. 2008a. A preliminary investigation on exercise intensities of gardening tasks in older adults. Perceptual Motor Skills 107:974-980.
34
Park, S.A., C.A. Shoemaker, and M.D. Haub. 2008b. Can older gardeners meet the physical activity recommendation through gardening? HortTechnology 18:639-643.
35
Park, S.A., C.A. Shoemaker, and M.D. Haub. 2009. Physical and psychological health conditions of older adults classified as gardeners or nongardeners. HortScience 44:206-210.
36
Park, S.A., H.S. Lee, K.S. Lee, K.C. Son, and C.A. Shoemaker. 2013a. The metabolic costs of gardening tasks in children. HortTechnology 23:589-594.
37
Park, S.A., K.S. Lee, and K.C. Son. 2011. Determining exercise intensities of gardening tasks as a physical activity using metabolic equivalents in older adults. HortScience 46:1706-1710.
38
Park, S.A., K.S. Lee, K.C. Son, and C.A. Shoemaker. 2012b. Metabolic cost of horticulture activities in older adults. J. Jpn. Soc. Hort. Sci. 81:295-299.
39
Park, S.A., S.R. Oh, K.S. Lee, and K.C. Son. 2013b. Electromyographic analysis of upper limb and hand muscles during horticultural activity motions. HortTechnology 23:51-56.
40
Restuccio, J.P. 1992. Fitness the dynamic gardening way. Balance of Nature Publ., Cordova, TN.
41
Soderback, I., M. Soderstrom, and E. Schalander. 2004. Horticultural therapy: The ‘healing garden’ and gardening in rehabilitation measures at Danderyd Hospital Rehabilitation Clinic, Sweden. Pediatric Rehabilitation 7:245-260.
42
Stevens, V.K., T.G. Parlevliet, P.L. Coorevits, N.N. Mahieu, K.G. Bouche, G.G. Vanderstraeten, and L.A. Danneels. 2008. The effect of increasing resistance on trunk muscle activity during extension and flexion exercises on training devices. J. Electromyography Kinesiology 18:434-445.
43
Tsuboi, H., Y. Nishimura, T. Sakata, H. Ohko, H. Tanina, K. Kouda, T. Nakamura, Y. Umezu, and F. Tajima. 2013. Age-related sex differences in erector spinae muscle endurance using surface electromyographic power spectral analysis in healthy humans. Spine J. 13:1928-1933.
44
Turner, C.H. and A.G. Robling. 2003. Designing exercise regimens to increase bone strength. Exercise Sports Sci. Rev. 31:45-50.
45
Turner, L.W., M.A. Bass, L. Ting, and B. Brown. 2002. Influence of yard work and weight training on bone mineral density among older U.S. women. J. Women Aging 14:139-148.
46
Vaiman, M., E. Eviatar, and S. Segal. 2004. Surface electromyography studies of swallowing in normal subjects: A review of 440 adults. Report 2. Quantitative data: Amplitude measures. Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery 131:773-780.
47
Vaughan, C.L., B.I. Davis, and J.C. O’Connor. 1992. Dynamics of human gait. Human Kinetics Publishers, Champaign, IL.
48
van Ingen Schenau, G.J., W.M.M. Dorssers, T.G. Welter, A. Beelen, G. de Groot, and R. Jacobs. 1995. The control of mono-articular muscles in multijoint leg extensions in man. J. Physiol. 484:247-254.
49
Yang, J.F. and D.A. Winter. 1983. Surface EMG profiles during different walking cadences in humans. Electroencephalography Clinical Neurophysiology 60:485-491.
50
Yoon, H.K., S.Y. Oh, Y.S. Kim, S.H. Cho, and S.M. Yang. 2006. The EMG analysis on forelimb muscles during a forehand-stroke according to the hit direction of the tennis ball. Korea J. Sports Sci. 15:675-683.
51
Youdas, J.W., J.H. Hollman, J.R. Hitchcock, G.J. Hoyme, and J.J. Johnsen. 2007. Comparison of hamstring and quadriceps femoris electromyographic activity between men and women during a single-limb squat on both a stable and labile surface. J. Strength Conditioning Res. 21:105-111.
52
Wang, D. and T. Macmillan. 2013. The benefits of gardening for older adults: A systematic review of the literature. Activities Adaptation Aging 37:153-181.
53
Woo, S.H. 2013. EMG analysis of major muscles during shooting in archers. MS Thesis, Korea National Sport Univ., Seoul, Korea.
54
Zeller, B.L., J.L. Mccrory, W.B. Kibler, and T.L. Uhl. 2003. Differences in kinematics and electromyographic activity between men and women during the single-legged squat. Amer. J. Sports Medicine 31:449-456.
Information
  • Publisher :KOREAN SOCIETY FOR HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE
  • Publisher(Ko) :원예과학기술지
  • Journal Title :Horticultural Science and Technology
  • Journal Title(Ko) :원예과학기술지
  • Volume : 32
  • No :5
  • Pages :710-720
  • Received Date : 2014-04-02
  • Revised Date : 2014-04-24
  • Accepted Date : 2014-04-29
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7235/hort.2014.14059
Journal Informaiton Horticultural Science and Technology Horticultural Science and Technology
Online Submission
  • scopus
  • NRF
  • KOFST
  • crossref crossmark
  • crossref cited-by
  • crosscheck
  • orcid
  • open access
  • ccl
Journal Informaiton Journal Informaiton - close