• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.11-19
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the activity of the transverse abdominal muscle resulting from changed posture by measuring the thickness of the transverse abdominal muscle in a supine posture, a slouched sitting posture, and an erect sitting posture. The subjects of the study were 28 patients with cerebral palsy. All their transverse abdominal muscles at the end of inhalation were measured at supine, slouched sitting (S sitting) and erect sitting (E sitting) postures by using ultrasonography, and then their dynamic sitting balance was measured at S sitting and E sitting postures by using BioRescue. For the statistical analysis, the Kruskal-Wallis test and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used to compare the differences among each the postures. The results were as follows. The thickness of the transverse abdominal muscle when comparing the supine posture and the S sitting posture showed no statistically significant difference. But the E sitting posture showed a statistically significant difference as compared with the others. In addition, the dynamic sitting balance in comparing the S sitting and E sitting postures showed a significant difference. In conclusion, the E sitting posture has a more positive effect on postural control and balance than generally taking the S sitting posture, for the sitting posture of a patient with cerebral palsy. It is suggested that patients with cerebral palsy mainly experiencing a sedentary life or being in a wheelchair should be seated in the E sitting posture during their daily life, and it may be necessary to continue to monitor and manage the proper E sitting posture.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2019

Purpose: This study investigates the effects of task-oriented training for a left trunk flexion pattern using real-time ultrasound imaging in a stroke patient with unilateral neglect symptoms. Methods: This study used the ABA experimental design, which is a single-subject research method among individual case research methods. For the ABA experimental design, changes in the degree of unilateral neglect, balance ability, and the thickness of the lateral abdominal muscle were visually analyzed during the baseline process, in the intervention period, and after the intervention. The experiments were performed 24 times in total for 8 times in each of the 3 periods. The unilateral neglect was measured using the Albert test, balance ability was measured using the Berg balance test, and the thickness of the lateral abdominal muscle was measured using ultrasound imaging. The subject was a 50-year-old male patient with unilateral neglect caused by right cerebral hemorrhage. He performed task-oriented training for a voluntary left trunk flexion pattern using real-time ultrasound imaging during the intervention period. Results: The result of comparing the data collected during the intervention period with the data point average of the baseline process showed that balance ability improved and the tendency line was above the baseline. The tendency line of unilateral neglect was below the baseline and showed a decreasing tendency. The thickness of the lateral abdominal muscle showed an increasing trend and the tendency line was above the baseline. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the task-oriented training for left trunk flexion pattern using real-time ultrasound imaging has a beneficial effect on balance ability, the degree of unilateral neglect, and the strength of the lateral abdominal muscle in unilateral neglect patients.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.181-188
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• 2020

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to compare the effects on abdominal muscle thickness and breathing by applying trunk strength exercise and deep stabilization exercise along with breathing exercise, which is the main respiratory muscle during breathing, to present an efficient exercise method with diaphragm breathing. Methods : This study was performed on normal 6 females and 14 males subjects. They were divided into 2 groups which trunk strength exercise and deep stabilization exercise group. The trunk strength exercise group (TSE) attended prone press-up, crunch and pelvic tiling. The deep stabilization exercise group (DSE) attended abdominal drawing, horizontal side-support and bridging exercise. Breathing exercise was performed for each set break time for 1 minute. Results : First, in the comparison of the change in the thickness of the abdominal muscle between the trunk strength training group and the deep stabilization group before and after exercise, there was a statistically significant difference in the comparison of transverse abdominis (TrA), rectus femoris (RF), external oblique (EO), internal oblique (IO) (p<.05). However, there was no significant difference in any comparison between groups (p>.05). Second, in the comparison of changes in respiratory function between the trunk strength exercise group and the deep stabilization exercise group before and after exercise, there were statistically significant differences in the exerted forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume at one second (FEV₁), peak expiratory flow (PEF) in the comparison before and after the experiment (p<.05). However, there was no significant difference in any comparison between groups (p>.05). Conclusion : As a result of this study, it can be said that both trunk strength exercises and deep stabilization exercises along with diaphragm breathing are exercises that strengthen deep and superficial muscles, and have a positive effect on breathing function as well as muscle strength. However, it is not known which exercise was more effective, and because it was combined with breathing exercise, the interference effect appeared.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.321-329
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• 2021

Purpose: The abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) is an exercise that selectively strengthens deep abdominal muscles. It is reported to be effective in strengthening those muscles when using a pressure biofeedback unit. However, multiple factors of bridge exercise seem to bring exercise result of ADIM without stabilizer as they influence execution of ADIM. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare changes in the thickness of deep abdominal muscles through the ADIM exercise incorporating either a stabilizer or the bridge exercise. Methods: Thirty healthy adults who had voluntarily given their consent were selected as the subjects. A diagnostic sonograph was used to measure the thickness of the subjects' transverse abdominis, internal oblique, and external oblique muscles. First, the thickness of the subjects' deep abdominal muscle was measured while maintaining the ADIM using the stabilizer. After three minutes of rest, the thickness was measured again while the subjects maintained the ADIM with the bridge exercise. Results: In both exercises, the thickness of the transverse abdominis showed a statistically significant increase, with a more significant increase while executing the ADIM using the bridge exercise. In both exercises, the thickness of the internal oblique showed a statistically significant increase, with a more significant increase while executing the ADIM using the bridge exercise. The thickness of the external oblique showed a statistically significant increase only in the ADIM using the bridge exercise. Conclusion: Though strengthening is not as selective as the ADIM using a stabilizer, the ADIM using the bridge exercise has a more increased thickness of the transverse abdominis and the internal oblique than that of the internal oblique. Based on the outcome of this study, the ADIM using the bridge exercise without a stabilizer can selectively strengthen deep abdominal muscles even more.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.210-214
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• 2016

Objective: The aim of this study was to measure the muscle architectural parameters of abdominal muscles in healthy individuals by rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI) and to investigate their changes after bridging exercise in various environments. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: The study included 40 healthy participants (19 men, 21 women). Subjects were randomly allocated to a stable surface group (SG, n=20) or an unstable surface group (UG, n=20). The participants assumed three positions in rest, bridging exercise with knee flexion $60^{\circ}$, and bridging exercise with knee flexion $90^{\circ}$ for the measurement of abdominal muscle thickness by RUSI. For the resting position, the participants held the head neutral in a hook-lying position and the dominant side was measured. For contraction, the participants performed the bridging exercise with the knee joint in $60^{\circ}$ and $90^{\circ}$ of flexion for 10 seconds each. Results: For transversus abdominis, external oblique muscle thickness, within the stable surface group and the unstable surface group, no significant contraction difference was observed in both the $60^{\circ}$ and $90^{\circ}$ bridge exercise conditions. Contraction difference of internal oblique muscle was significantly larger at $90^{\circ}$ than at $60^{\circ}$ within the SG (p<0.05). But within the UG, no significant contraction difference was shown. There was no significant contraction difference between the surface group and the unstable SG at $60^{\circ}$ condition and at $90^{\circ}$ condition in all measured muscles. Conclusions: The contraction difference is different for each muscle during bridge exercise with knee flexion $60^{\circ}$ and bridging exercise with knee flexion $90^{\circ}$. Muscle contraction difference is generally large when exercised on an unstable surface than a stable surface, but these are not statistically significant when bridging exercise is performed using dynamic air cushion for unstable surface.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.127-137
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• 2018

Purpose : The purpose of this study has been performed to find the effect of horseback riding simulation training on the thickness of abdominal muscles and functional balance in children with down syndrome. Methods : This study included 10 children with down syndrome aged between 7 and 13 years. Both groups received regular neurodevelopmental treatment, also experimental group was performed for additional 15 minutes horseback riding simulation training for twice a week during 8 weeks. We measured the thickness of abdominal muscles by using ultrasonography and measured of functional balance by using Pediatric Berg's Balance for the subjects agreed to the before, after 4 weeks and 8 weeks the training. Results : There were no significant difference in the thickness of the internal oblique and external oblique muscles. There were significant difference in transverse abdominis thickness and functional balance that experimental group had increased average than control group after 4 weeks and 8 weeks training Conclusion : Horseback riding simulation training has a positive effect on the improvement of transverse abdominis muscle thickness and functional balance in children with down syndrome.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.249-253
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of multi-directional dynamic stabilization exercise on the thickness of the external oblique abdominis, internal oblique abdominis, and transversus abdominis. Methods: For the study subjects, 40 adults were taken and divided into two groups and stabilization exercise was performed for 6 weeks. Changes in muscle thickness during the pre-experimental period, and at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 6 weeks were analyzed using repeated ANOVA. Results: The thickness of the external oblique abdominis, internal oblique abdominis, and transversus abdominis in the multi-directional dynamic stabilization exercise group showed significant differences per period and an interaction was observed between period and group (p<0.01), while there were no significant differences in changes per group (p>0.05). Conclusion: The effects of multi-directional stabilization exercises on abdominal muscle thickness differed. The results presented herein can be utilized as basic data for future studies and in development of rehabilitation treatments.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.264-268
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the effects on muscle thickness and balance ability after performing plank exercise on various surface types. Methods: In this study, there were thirty healthy participants. Participants were randomly distributed into three groups, a control group (n=10), sling group (n=10), and ball group (n=10). All participants performed plank exercises three times a week for four weeks. Plank exercises consisted of five sets of 30 seconds each with a one minute break between each set. Muscle thickness of the transverse abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO) was measured using an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and balance was measured using I-balance. Results: Evaluation of muscle thickness revealed that the IO and EO muscle of the ball group changed significantly relative to the control group (p<0.05). However, there were no significant changes in balance. Conclusion: The results revealed that performing plank exercise on a ball is more effective among various types of surfaces.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.68-72
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• 2022

Purpose: This study examined the effect of vibration exercise on the thickness of the oblique extrinsic, oblique abdominal, and biceps muscles, which are trunk muscles, targeting children with spastic cerebral palsy. Methods: The participants in this study were 20 children (8 male and 12 female) with cerebral palsy aged 5-10 years. They were classified into two groups using a randomized allocation method, and the trunk muscle thickness was measured using an ultrasound-imaging device before and six weeks after the experiment. A paired t-test was used for the within-group changes, and an independent t-test was used for the inter-group changes. The significance level was set to α=0.05. Results: There was a significant increase in the inter-group change in the experimental group and control group in the intra-group change in the external oblique muscle and internal oblique muscle. After six weeks, there was a significant increase in the experimental group compared to the control group. Conclusion: Vibration exercise had a positive effect on the trunk muscle thickness of children with cerebral palsy. Vibration exercise produced a significant difference in the changes in the trunk muscle thickness in children with cerebral palsy compared to no vibration exercise. These results may provide basic data for future research and as a training method for strengthening the trunk muscles in clinical trials.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.87-92
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• 2020

Background: Bridging exercises are used to enhance the functional stability of the lumbopelvic region in clinical settings. Although most of the studies on bridging exercises have compared the complete activation of the trunk muscles, some recent studies have examined the functional stability of the trunk and the lumbopelvic region and assessed the appropriate recruitment of the local and global muscles during different task levels. Objects: The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in muscle thickness in the transverse abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO) muscles during a common bridging exercise on an unstable surface and to determine whether these changes differ based on the surface used. Methods: Twenty-five healthy young adults (8 males, 17 females) were recruited. The subjects were randomly assigned to either the exercise progression with a sling bridge group or the ball bridging exercise progression group, each with three stages of increasing difficulty. Each position was measured three times with an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system, and the mean values were recorded for analysis. Results: No significant differences were observed between the TrA, IO, or EO muscle thickness ratios between the sling and ball exercise groups (p > 0.05). There were also no significant differences in the EO muscle thickness ratios between the tasks irrespective of whether the sling or ball was used. However, the TrA and IO thickness ratios in both groups were significantly greater during stages 2 and 3 compared to stage 1. Conclusion: The results suggest that the use of slings and balls during bridging exercises is effective in activating the deep abdominal muscles.