• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.7
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• pp.93-100
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to measure abdominal muscle thickness when Pelvic Floor contraction (PFC) and Abdominal Drawing-In Maneuver (ADIM) were separately applied and combined exercise was applied and to compare the effects of the exercise. After the pre-investigation, the subjects were given a explanation of the purpose and the method of the research and then an experiment was conducted targeting a total of 30 subjects, who voluntarily agreed with this. Thicknesses of internal oblique (IO), transverse abdominis (TrA) and external oblique (EO) were measured during a break and then three types of exercise. All the measured values of the experiment were processed using Repeated measure ANOVA, and Bonferroni method was applied. As a result, the three types of exercise showed significant differences in thicknesses of IO, TrA and EO. In conclusion, the subjects had the thickest muscles and muscular activity increased during PFC+ADIM, compared to PFC and ADIM.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.1-10
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• 2023

Purpose : This study was conducted to determine the effect of intervention using a smartphone application on abdominal muscle thickness and maximum voluntary ventilation when conducting pelvic floor muscle exercise (PFME). Methods : This study was performed on 14 subjects. They were divided into two groups; PFME using smartphone application (n=7), common PFME (n=7). Both of group executed the exercise 5 times a week for 1 weeks. Abdominal muscle thickness was measured using ultrasound. Maximum voluntary ventilation was measured using a spirometer. The smartphone application used the paid version of Kegel trainer. This material was analyzed by the paired t-test to compare differences on each group and the independent t-test to compare between the two groups. Results : The PFME group using the smartphone application showed a significant increase in the transverse abdominis and internal oblique muscles (p<.05). The common PFME group showed a significant increase in the internal oblique muscle (p<.05). There was no significant difference in variation of the muscle thickness between the two groups (p>.05). The PFME group using the smartphone application showed a significant increase in the maximal voluntary ventilation (p<.05). There was no significant difference in variation of the maximal voluntary ventilation between the two groups (p>.05). Conclusion : As a results of this study, PFME using a smartphone application seems to induce voluntary participation of subjects and maintain continuity against time constraints. As a result, it is thought that using a smartphone application when performing PFME is efficient and convenient in terms of research method. However, this study is difficult to generalize due to the small number of subjects and short intervention period. Therefore, additional research should be conducted by modifying and supplementing these limitations.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.51-60
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• 2023

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of pelvic floor muscle exercise (PFME) on an unstable support surface on maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximum expiratory pressure (MEP), and abdominal muscle thickness as a method for effective PFME. Methods : This study was performed on 22 subjects. They were matched and divided into two groups based on body mass index; the experimental group (EG) performed PFME on a foam roller (n= 11), the control group (CG) performed PFME on a stable support surface (n= 11). Kegel exercise was performed with 10 seconds of contraction, 10 seconds of relaxation, and 4 sets of 10 reps per set. Both of group executed the exercise 3 times a week for 2 weeks. MIP and MEP was measured using a spirometer. Abdominal muscle thickness was measured using ultrasound. The paired t-test was used to compare difference on each group and the comparison between groups was analyzed using the independent t-test. A significance level of α= .05 was used to verify statistical significance. Results : The EG showed a significant increase in the MEP (p<.05). The CG showed a significant increase in the MEP (p<.05). There was no significant difference in the two groups (p>.05). The EG showed a significant increase in the external oblique, internal oblique and transverse abdominis (p<.05). The CG showed a significant increase in the internal oblique (p<.05). There was no significant difference in the two groups (p>.05). Conclusion : Based on the results of this study, additional research should be conducted to correct the limitations of this study to confirm that PFME performed on a foam roller has a positive effect on respiratory muscle strength and abdominal muscle thickness.