Abstract
[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to clarify the effect of passive joint motion on maintaining or increasing muscle strength, as well as examining a practical method. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were 39 healthy male students who were divided in to a control group, a passive joint motion group, and a passive joint motion with visual alerts group. Muscle output of the three groups was measured using a Biodex System 3 muscle function assessment dynamometer. [Results] Compared to the control group the maximum torque values of both knee extension and flexion were significantly lowered in the passive joint motion group. In the visual alerts group, only the maximum torque value of knee extension showed a significant decrease, and compared to the passive joint motion group the knee flexion maximum torque showed a significantly higher value. [Conclusion] Passive joint motion accompanied by visual alerts was partially involved with muscle output, suggesting that it could possibly be used to maintain or increase muscle strength.
