• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.149-154
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• 2013

Purpose: Spinal instability due to weakness of abdominal muscles is one of the major causes that induces low back pain (LBP). The purpose of this study was to investigate any differences in abdominal muscle activity during curl up, roll out, and jack knife exercises using a swiss-ball or sling. Methods: Twenty healthy subjects were randomly assigned into either a swiss-ball exercise group (SBEG) or a sling exercise group (SEG). Subjects performed curl up, roll out and jack knife exercises using the swiss ball or sling. Activity of abdominal muscles (rectus abdominis and external oblique muscle) was assessed using surface EMG and normalized maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC). The significance of differences between the sling exercise group and the swiss-ball exercise group was evaluated by the independent t-test. Results: These Results indicated that activities of rectus abdominis on right and left of the SEG during the curl up exercise were significantly greater than the SBEG. During the roll out exercise, activity of the abdominal muscle was not significantly different between the SEG and SBEG. In addition, during the jack knife exercise, activities of the right rectus abdominis and left external oblique muscle in the SEG were significantly greater than the SBEG. Conclusion: In conclusion, activity of the abdominal muscles was maximized when curl up and jack knife exercise were performed using the sling rather than the swiss-ball. Therefore, if increased activation of the abdominal muscle is the goal of an exercise program, curl up and jack knife exercises may be useful.

• 대한물리의학회지
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• 제16권3호
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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.

• 대한물리의학회지
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.53-62
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• 2016

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a supplementary Ki-hap technique and verbal encouragement on the activation of abdominal muscles during performance of crunch exercise in healthy subjects. METHODS: 93 subjects were randomly allocated to three group, crunch exercise group (CG), crunch exercise with Ki-hap group (CKG), and crunch exercise with Ki-hap and verbal encouragement group (CKVG), with 31 subjects in each group, respectively. The interventions were conducted over three trials in each group, and measurements were performed on each subject by one examiner in three trials. The activation of rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), and internal oblique (IO) muscles were evaluated using electromyography (EMG) during performance of crunch exercise with non-Ki-hap, Ki-hap and Ki-hap combined with verbal encouragement. RESULTS: Our results showed a significantly greater increase in the EMG patterns of all muscles during performance of crunch exercise in the CKG (p<0.05) compared to the CG and CKVG. The results also showed that there were significantly greater increase in the activation of EO and IO muscles in those of the CKVG (p<0.05) compared with the CG. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrated that addition of the Ki-hap technique and verbal encouragement during performance of crunch exercise, at the same time, would suggest positive evidence for improving activation of abdominal muscles.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.112-118
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• 2016

Purpose: This study examined thickness changes in abdominal muscles according to difficulty level of core stabilization exercise in healthy subjects. Methods: Thirty healthy subjects (age range: 21-30 years) volunteered under three conditions. In the first condition, the subjects performed an abdominal draw-in maneuver (ADIM). In the second condition, they performed the ADIM during quadruped exercise using a suspension device without extending their lower limbs. In the third condition, the subjects performed the ADIM during quadruped exercise using a suspension device while extending both lower limbs. The changes in thickness of transverse abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO) muscles were measured by ultrasonography (US) imaging during the three experimental conditions, and US was used to measure the improvement ratio of muscle thickness at rest. The interventions were conducted over three trials in each condition, and measurements were performed on each subject by one examiner. Results: Our results showed a significantly greater increase in the muscle thickness of TrA and IO muscles after performance of quadruped exercise using a suspension device without knee extension (p<0.05) compared to the other conditions. The results also showed a significantly greater increase in the thickness changes of EO muscle in those who performed the ADIM during quadruped exercise using a suspension device with knee extension (p<0.05) compared with the ADIM only. Conclusion: These findings demonstrated positive evidence that a low-level core stabilization exercise could improve thickness of abdominal muscles.

• 대한물리치료과학회지
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.55-63
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• 2022

Background: This study investigated the effect of erector spinae and quadratus lumbar kinesio taping and support surface conditions on abdominal muscle activity during plank exercise. Design: Within-Group design. Methods: A total of twenty-three healthy men and women participated in this study. Abdominal muscle (both external obliques and internal oblique muscle) contraction was analyzed through EMG measurement with the presence or absence of kinesio taping applied to the erector spinae muscle and quadratus lumborum muscle during plank exercise and the difference between the support surfaces (stable surface and unstable surface) as variables. Abdominal EMG was attached to the right external oblique, left external oblique, right internal oblique, and left internal oblique. Results: The results showed that Abdominal left and right external obliques and internal obliques showed significant increases in activity when kinesio taping was applied to the erector spinae and quadratus lumborum muscles and unstable ground (p<0.05). Conclusion: In this study, we confirmed that the activity of the abdominal muscles was significantly increased during the plank operation in the state where the kinesio tape was attached. In addition, it was confirmed that the activity of the abdominal muscles was significantly increased during the plank operation on the unstable surface. These results suggest that in the state of kinesio tape attached and instability, plank motion has a positive effect on abdominal muscle activity.

• 한국임상보건과학회지
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.1318-1324
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• 2019

Purpose. The study was conducted to find out the effects that women in their 20s with abdominal obesity can get from sling-based flanks. Methods. The study used In-Body to determine the weight and body fat rate of women in their 20s who were overweight at H University and used a tape measure to measure the circumference of the abdomen. Plank exercise using slings to reduce weight, body fat and abdominal circumference led to muscle stabilization and abdominal obesity reduction. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS ver. 23.0 statistics program. Results. The results of the study showed statistically significant differences in the weight, body fat rate and abdominal circumference of the subjects before and after intervention. Conclusions. Steady abdominal muscles exercise help stabilize the abdomen, reduce abdominal body fat rate, and are effective in managing obesity.

• 대한통합의학회지
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• 제6권4호
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• pp.39-45
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• 2018

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of core motion pattern on abdominal muscle thickness on unstable support surface using sling suspension system and to provide an effective exercise program for therapeutic rehabilitation in clinical practice. Methods : In this study, we used the flank exercise using a sling. It was intended for 21 healthy men and 9 healthy women. Before and after the exercise of the subjects, abdominal muscles (EO, IO, TrA the thickness of the muscle) was determined using a diagnostic ultrasonic apparatus. The period of exercise was 3 times a week for 6 weeks. The exercise for each group started with 3 sets per week and 1 set per week was added. A description of the method and attitude of each exercise is as follows. First, the push-up flank 's exercise position is to put both feet on the sling and hold the floor with both hands. Second, the side flank's exercise postures take the side flanks, while the two legs hang on the sling and one arm supports the body with an articulated bend (about $90^{\circ}$). Third, the elbow flank's exercise position is to put the two legs on the sling, and take a flank posture with the arms bent and joint bending (about $90^{\circ}$). Results : There was a significant difference in the thickness of the muscle in the three flank movements after the exercise (p<.05). The most significant difference was in the change of the muscle thickness in the abdominal muscle, the outer muscle, and the stomach in the elbow flank exercise after exercise. There was a significant difference between the mean thickness of the abdominal muscles according to the flank type after exercise (p<.05). Conclusion : In flank exercise for core stabilization using sling, it is considered effective to strengthen the abdominal muscles by considering the support surface, difficulty level, change of movement pattern.

• 대한물리의학회지
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.83-91
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• 2016

PURPOSE: There are several methods, such as the abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM), maximal expiration (ME), and Kegel exercise, to strengthen the core muscles. However, to date no study has been conducted to compare the effects of the ADIM, ME, and Kegel exercise on the transverses abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), external oblique (EO), and pelvic floor muscles (PFMs). The purpose of this study was to find out which of the three aforementioned exercises is most effective for contracting the core muscles. METHODS: The thickness of the TrA, IO, EO and PFMs was measured by ultrasonographic imaging during the ADIM, ME and Kegel exercise in 34 healthy participants. RESULTS: There was the significant difference between ADIM and Kegel exercise in the thickness of the TrA (p<0.05). There were the significant differences between ADIM and ME and between ME and Kegel exercise in the thickness of the IO and PFM (p<0.01). There was no significant activation in the thickness of the EO (p>0.05). Measurement reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and the standard error of measurement (SEM). An ICC value of >0.77 indicated that reliability measurements was good. CONCLUSION: Kegel exercise was the most effective exercise for the TrA and the PFM, and ME was the most effective exercise for the IO muscles.

• 대한통합의학회지
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.25-32
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• 2017

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of ribcage stabilization using a belt in the supine position during double leg lowering (DLL) by investigating the electromyographic (EMG) activities of the abdominal muscles. Methods : Twenty-two subjects with lumbar extension syndrome were recruited. EMG activity was recorded from rectus abdominalis (RA) and internal oblique abdominalis (IO), external oblique abdominalis (EO) muscles while subjects performed three double leg lowering exercises: double leg lowering (DLL), double leg lowering with abdominal draw-in maneuver (DLL-ADIM), and double leg lowering with ribcage stabilization using a belt (DLL-belt). RA, IO, and EO EMG activity were analyzed via one-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). Bonferroni correction was performed where significant differences were identified (p<.017, .05/3). Results : RA, IO, and EO EMG activity differed significantly among the three exercises (p<.05). The use of post hoc pair-wise comparison with Bonferroni correction showed that RA muscle activity significantly differed among the three exercises (p<.017), and IO muscle activity in the DLL exercise was significantly decreased compared to the DLL-ADIM and DLL-belt exercises (p<.017). There was no significant difference between IO muscle activity for DLL-ADIM and DLL-belt exercises (p>.017). EO muscle activity in the DLL-belt exercise was significantly increased compared to both DLL and DLL-ADIM exercises (p<.017), but there was no significant difference between EO muscle activity for DLL and DLL-ADIM exercises (p>.017). Conclusion : DLL-belt is a more effective exercise for activating the abdominal muscles than DLL-ADIM exercise. Therefore, we recommend DLL-belt exercises for strengthening the abdominal muscles.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제26권6호
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• pp.453-458
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the activities of the abdominal and neck flexor muscles of children with and without cerebral palsy (CP) while lifting the head in a supine position. Methods: The subjects were eight children with CP and eight children without the disease. The activities of the external abdominal oblique (EO), internal abdominal oblique (IO), rectus abdominis (RA), sternocleidomastoid (SCM), and RA/SCM muscles were collected by surface electromyography (EMG) when the children lifted their heads. A Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the activity of each muscle during the head-lifting exercise. Statistical significance was accepted at p<0.05. Results: The activities of the EO, IO, and RA, and RA/SCM muscles differed significantly between the children with and without CP, but there was no significant between-group difference in the activity of the SCM muscle. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the abdominal muscles are not employed as much in the activities of children with CP compared to those without the disease. Additionally, those with CP were more dependent on the neck flexor muscle during the head-lifting exercise in a supine position.