• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.319-324
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• 2012

Purpose: This study examined the muscle activities of the erector spinae (ES) and gluteus maximus (GM) during bridging exercises with and without abdominal-hollowing. Methods: Nineteen healthy subjects with no medical history of low back pain or hip flexion contracture were enrolled in this study. The subjects performed bridging exercises with and without abdominal hollowing or with and without a one-leg lift. The muscle activities of the ES and GM were measured by surface electromyography during bridging exercises under each condition. A 2 (abdominal hollowing)X2 (one-leg lift) repeated ANOVA was used to compare the normalized muscle activities of the ES and GM. Results: The muscle activity of the ES during bridging exercise with abdominal-hollowing was significantly smaller than that without abdominal-hollowing (p=0.00). The muscle activities of the GM during bridging exercise with abdominal-hollowing were significantly greater than those without abdominal-hollowing (p=0.00). In addition, the muscle activities of the GM during bridging exercise with one-leg lifting was significantly greater than that without one-leg lifting (p=0.00). Conclusion: Bridging exercise with abdominal-hollowing appears to be more effective on activating the GM muscle than that without abdominal-hollowing minimizing the activation of the ES muscle.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.245-252
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• 2022

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the abdominal muscle activity difference while performing the abdominal bracing technique focusing on inspiration (abdominal bracing group), the general abdominal bracing technique (general bracing group), and the abdominal hollowing technique (abdominal hallowing group) Design: A cross-sectional study design. Methods: Thirty-three healthy participants were recruited for this study. The participants were allocated to 3 different groups; Abdominal bracing group, general bracing group, and abdominal hallowing group. The surface electromyography was placed over the rectus abdominis, external oblique, and internal oblique muscles to collect the activation of abdominal muscles during the trial. Results: The muscle activity of the abdominal bracing group and general bracing groups was significantly higher in all abdominal muscles than in the abdominal hollowing group (p<0.05) Both rectus abdominis and external oblique muscles showed higher muscle activations in the abdominal bracing group over the general bracing group (p<0.05). However, the ratio of bilateral external obliques and rectus abdominis to bilateral internal obliques was highest when the hollowing technique was applied (p<0.05). Conclusions: The results of study showed the abdominal bracing technique that emphasized inhalation rather than the abdominal hollowing technique or general abdominal bracing technique increased the activity of the abdominal muscles. Therefore, this study is considered to be a data for effective training if the abdominal bracing technique that emphasizes inhalation is applied as a method to increase the activation of the abdominal muscles.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.95-102
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• 2021

PURPOSE: This study examined the muscle activity of the abdominal muscle when lifting with abdominal hollowing with visual feedback and lifting with a pelvic compression belt. This study suggests how to lift an object safely in the workplace for people who bend their backs repeatedly. METHODS: The study was conducted on healthy men in their 20s and 30s. When lifting a 7kg object, lifting with abdominal hollowing with visual feedback, and lifting an object with a pelvic compression belt were performed three times in random order. The muscle activities were measured rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), internal oblique/transverse abdominis (IO/TrA) muscles, and abdominal hollowing exercises, and box lifting exercises were carried out in advance before the experiment. One-way ANOVA was used to compare muscle activities, and a Tukey HSD was used for post-analysis. The level of significance was set to .05. RESULTS: According to the study, there was no significant difference in muscle activity of the RA muscle depending on the lifting method (p > .05). There were significant differences between the EO and IO/TrA muscle (p < .05). The IO/TrA muscle activity showed the largest increase in lifting an abdominal hollowing with visual feedback (p < .05). The EO muscle activity increased in pelvic compression belt lifting (p < .05). The muscle activity was increased in RA, but there was no significant difference (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Abdominal hollowing lifting with visual feedback increases the muscle activity of the IO/TrA muscle, which is higher than normal, and affects the core stability of the body.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.94-100
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• 2020

Purpose: This study examined the effects of the abdominal hollowing technique applied during plank exercises at different shoulder angles between the ground and the humerus on the abdominal muscle activity Methods: The subjects were 36 male volunteers. They were randomized to perform plank exercises or plank exercises using the hollowing technique at 80˚, 90˚, 100˚, and 110˚ between the ground and the humerus. The abdominis muscles were measured using a surface electromyogram. Independent t-tests examined the changes in the activity of these muscles according to the two exercise methods at each angle. The changes in muscle activity were examined according to the selected angles by one-way analysis of variance. Results: The activity of abdominal muscles was investigated according to the angle between the ground and the humerus during the plank exercise. As a result, the muscle activity increased significantly with decreasing angle in the rectus abdominis, external oblique, and internal oblique·transverse abdominis muscles (p<0.05). In terms of the changes in abdominal muscle activity after hollowing plank exercises at the given angles between the ground and the humerus, an increase in angle resulted in a statistically significant increase in the rectus abdominis muscle activity (p<0.05). The activities of the rectus abdominis, external oblique, and internal oblique/transverse abdominis muscles after hollowing plank exercises showed statistically significant increases (p<0.05) compared to those after plank exercises. Conclusion: The hollowing technique and the increase in the angle between the ground and the humerus may be an effective exercise method for increasing the muscle activity of the abdominis muscles.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.107-113
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• 2021

PURPOSE: Selective strengthening of the transverse abdominis muscle (TrA) during abdominal hollowing makes an important contribution to the stability and control of the spine. This study examined the effects of abdominal hollowing exercise (AHE) according to the visual feedback method on the external oblique, internal oblique, and transverse abdominis muscles. METHODS: Twenty healthy subjects were assigned randomly to an AHE with visual feedback from real-time ultrasound image (group A, n = 10), AHE with visual feedback with pressure biofeedback unit (group B, n = 10). Both groups underwent 20 min of AHE with visual feedback once daily, five days/week for two weeks. The changes in the muscle thickness of the TrA, internal oblique abdominal muscle (IO), and external oblique abdominal muscle (EO) were measured by ultrasonography. RESULTS: The thickness of TrA was changed significantly in both groups (p < .05). However, the lowest minimal detectable changes were achieved in Group A. The thickness of the IO and EO muscles in group A was changed significantly, but there were no significant changes in group B. CONCLUSION: Both visual feedback methods were effective for strengthening the TrA muscles selectively. Nevertheless, AHE with visual feedback using real-time ultrasound images may be more useful in trA muscle contraction.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.253-258
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• 2022

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of internal abdominis pressure(normal, hollowing and bracing) on trunk muscle activity during one leg bridge exercise. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Thirteen healthy adults (9 men and 4 women) were instructed to perform Internal abdominal pressure(IAP) control(Normal, Hollowing, Bracing) during one leg bridge. Electromyography (EMG) data (% Maximum Voluntary Isometric Contraction, MVIC) were recorded three times on both sides of the participant's Internal Oblique(IO), Effector Spinae(ES), and Multifidus(MF) muscles and the average value was analyzed. Results: As a result, Abdominal bracing one leg bridge (BOLB) group and Abdominal hollowing one leg bridge (HOLB) group showed significantly increased muscle activation of bilateral internal oblique, erector spinae and multifidus activation compared to the Normal one leg bridge (NOLB) group (p<0.05). Abdominal hollowing one leg bridge (HOLB) group had a significant difference in bilateral Internal oblique muscle activation in compared to the NOLB group (p<0.05). Conclusions: Bilateral internal oblique, erector spinae, and multifidus muscles activation in healthy adults at one leg bridge exercise showed greater activation at abdominal bracing. Therefore, in this study, IAP control can be used as an indicator of choice to the dysfunction with trunk muscle weakness and corrective exercise subject's situation when the goal is to activate the trunk muscles by performing one leg bridge.

• Advanced Industrial SCIence
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.16-24
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• 2023

Purpose: This study was conducted to find out the immediate effect on dynamic balance through Abdominal hollowing exercise and Abdominal bracing exercise. Method: 90 healthy male and female students in their 20s were surveyed and measured using Y-balance test and Functional reach test. Result: In the dynamic balance Test between groups, there was a statistically significant difference between the group that performed Abdominal hollowing exercise and the control group. Conclusion: Although both representative spinal stabilization exercises Abdominal hollowing exercise and Abdominal bracing exercise are meaningful in increasing dynamic equilibrium, it is difficult to suggest that any method is more effective in terms of immediate effects.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2013

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the difference of trunk muscles activity during abdominal hollowing and bracing contraction in various position. METHODS: This pilot test was carried out in a volunteer sample of normal adults(n=24) without a history of low back pain or injury. 24 subjects were randomly allocated to three groups(n=8) as a contraction method respectively. In hooklying position, trunk muscles activity of subjects was measured using EMG in various bridging position. RESULTS: Abdominal bracing contraction made to more great trunk deep and superficial muscles activity than hollowing contraction.(p<0.00) Especially, Multifidus activity was the biggest.(p<0.00) CONCLUSION: The result from this study showed that abdominal bracing contraction made to more balancing activity of trunk muscles than abdominal hollowing contraction. Thus, It will good for trunk muscles unbalanced LBP patient to improve lumbar stabilization.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.1-6
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• 2010

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of visual feedback during abdominal hollowing (AH) in four point kneeling position, using real-time ultrasound imaging through measurement of the changes in the thickness of transversus abdominis (TrA), internal abdominal oblique (IO), and external abdominal oblique (EO). Methods: The subjects of this study were 32 healthy males who were divided intothe experimental group of 16 subjects and the control group of 16 subjects. The real-time ultrasound feedback was applied to the experimental group while they were educated on the AH exercise in four point kneeling whereas only general education and training were given to the control group. After the training, the changes in the thickness of abdominal muscles during AH in four point kneeling were compared between the experimental group and the control group. Results: The differences of the changes in the thickness of TrA and EO between the two groups were statistically significant. Conclusion: The experimental group experienced a higher increase in the thickness of TrA than the control group while the thickness of IO and EO of the experimental.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.123-132
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• 2017

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the effects of lumbar stabilization exercise during abdominal hollowing with conscious contraction of the pelvic floor muscles on trunk muscle in healthy twenties subjects. METHODS: The participants were randomly allocated to an experimental group (n=15) and a control group (n=15). The experimental group received lumbar stabilization exercise combined with conscious contraction of the pelvic floor muscles during abdominal hollowing. The control group received lumbar stabilization exercise with abdominal hollowing. Both groups trained with the respective exercise for 30 minutes a day, 3 times a week for 6 weeks. Muscle activation of the external oblique and erector spinae muscles, thickness of the transversus abdominis and multifidus, and contraction holding time of tranversus abdominis were measured before and after exercise. RESULTS: Activations of both the external oblique muscles were significantly decreased, and thickness of both the transversus abdominis and multifidus muscles, and contraction holding time of the transversus abdominis muscle were significantly increased in the experimental group (p<.05). The thickness of the left transversus abdominis and right multifidus muscles, and the contraction holding time of the transversus abdominis muscle significantly increased in the control group (p<.05). On comparing both groups, the activations of both external oblique muscles were significantly reduced and the contraction holding time of the transversus abdominis muscle was significantly increased in the experimental group (p<.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that lumbar stabilization exercise by abdominal hollowing and conscious contraction of the pelvic floor muscles is suitable and efficient for healthy twenties subjects.