earticle

영어

This study explores the effect of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilita-tion (PNF) exercises combined with a virtual reality (VR) motion capture system and concurrent feedback (CF) on early shoulder muscle activa-tion in healthy individuals. Thirty healthy participants sequentially per-formed three PNF diagonal 2 shoulder exercises: PNF alone, PNF with VR (PNF+VR), and PNF with VR and CF (PNF+VR+CF), with the latter two exercises presented in randomized order. Using wireless surface elec-tromyography and 3-dimensonal (3D) inertial measurement units, the activation of the upper trapezius (UT), lower trapezius (LT), infraspinatus (INF), and serratus anterior (SA) muscles, as well as shoulder flexion, abduction, and external rotation range of motion, were recorded during three exercises. INF and LT muscles were activated earlier in abduction and flexion during PNF+VR and PNF+VR+CF exercises than in PNF alone (P<0.05). These muscles were also activated during the early external rotation phase during PNF alone (P<0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed in UT and SA muscle activation among PNF alone, PNF+VR, and PNF+VR+CF exercises (P>0.05). Integrating VR gaming elements and CF into PNF shoulder exercises may promote ear-ly muscle activation, offering a promising approach for advanced reha-bilitation strategies that can potentially improve patient outcomes. VR motion capture systems have the potential to transform traditional ther-apeutic approaches by increasing enjoyment and engage