• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.125-135
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• 2019

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of low frequency neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) training on abdominal obesity in middle-aged women through electromyography and ultrasound. METHODS: Twenty-two middle aged women with abdominal obesity participated in the study. A low-frequency NMES device was used on the abdomen and waist of each subject for 20 minutes each (a total of 40 minutes) three times a week for eight weeks. The waist-hip ratio (WHR), weight and BMI (Body Mass Index) were measured. Electromyography (EMG) and ultrasound measurements were performed three times in total (pre-intervention, four weeks into the intervention, and eight weeks post-intervention) to examine the effects of low-frequency NMES on the abdominal muscle activity, muscle thickness, and subcutaneous fat. RESULTS: The results indicated a difference in the WHR and waist circumference before and after intervention (p<.05). The external oblique muscle (EO) showed a significant increase in muscle activity during all measurements taken post-intervention (p<.05). The abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness also showed a significant decrease between each measurement (p<.05). The test results showed that the abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness values taken eight weeks post-intervention were significantly lower than those taken pre-intervention and four weeks into the intervention (p<.05). CONCLUSION: These findings show that low-frequency NMES device training can be applied to middle-aged women with abdominal obesity to improve their body shape and exercise performance.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.7-14
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• 2022

Purposed: This study was conducted to find out by ultrasonic waves the thickness change of the deep abdominal muscles, such as transverse abdominal, internal oblique and external oblique when performing general bridge exercise on the stable surface (GBE), single-legged bridge exercise on the stable surface (BES), bridge exercise with a sling (SBE) and single-legged bridge exercise with a sling (SBS). Methods: The subject, 33 healthy adults(18 men and 15 women) in their 20s of V university in J city were subjected to take four postures of GBE, BES, SBE, and SBS. When performing each posture, the thickness of transverse abdominal, internal oblique and external oblique were measured by ultrasonic waves and analyzed by repeated measures of ANOVA. This significance level was set to be p<.05. Results: Muscle thickness was increased in the order of BES, SBE, and GBE in the external oblique, resulting in statistically significant differences(p<.001). The internal oblique was significantly thicker in SBE and SBS rather than in GBE, and was thicker in SBE and SBS rather than in BES (p<.01). The thickness of the transverse abdominal was significantly increased in SBS than in GBE (p<.01). Conclusion: As the result, it may be more effective for the trunk stabilization exercises to activate the internal oblique and transverse abdominal by applying both-legged or single-legged bridge exercise in slings.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.415-420
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to compare the thickness of the abdominal muscles during single leg holding exercise (SLH) in a hooked lying position on stable surface and on a foam roller. Healthy twenty subjects who had no medical history of lower extremity or lower back pain were recruited for this study. Muscle thickness of transverse abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO) was recorded using real-time ultrasonography during SLH. Paired t-test with Bonferroni adjustment was used to compare the muscles thickness during SLH on stable surface and on a foam roller. The result showed that TrA and IO muscle demonstrated greater thickness during SLH on foam roller than those on the stable surface. This finding suggests that SLH on an unstable foam roller is more effective to increase thicknesses of TrA and IO muscles than stable surface.

• 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 Rehabilitation Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2020

Objective: The purposes of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic values of abdominal muscles thickness and sterno-costal angle as the quantitative diagnostic indicators for young adults with rounded shoulders. Design: A observational, cross-sectional study. Methods: This study included thirty-three male participants in order to examine the relationship among thoracic kyphosis, sternocostal angle, and abdominal muscle thickness. We used ultrasound imaging to measure the muscle thickness, two gravity-dependent inclinometers to measure the kyphosis angle, and Image J to measure the sterno-costal angle. Results: There was a significant positive correlation between the amount of thoracic kyphosis angle and muscle thickness of the external oblique (EO) on the right side (r=0.931), and on the left side (r=0.432), and the transverse abdominis (TrA) (r=0.649). There was also a significant negative correlation between the thoracic kyphosis angle and the sterno-costal angle at the right side (r=-0.942) and at the left side (r=-0.860). There was a significant positive relationship with muscle thickness of the EO and TrA on the right side with the thoracic kyphosis angle, and was significant negative relationship with the sterno-costal angle on both sides. Conclusions: The results of the study suggest that the thoracic kyphosis angle is related to muscle thickness of the EO and TrA on the dominant side and the sterno-costal angle. We also suggest that future studies are needed to determine how strengthening the abdominal muscles may contribute to preventing excessive thoracic kyphosis in young adults.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.72-83
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• 2023

Background: Normal-weight obese women have a normal weight with relatively low muscle mass resulting from high body fat. We aimed to investigate the effects of core exercise on body composition, abdominal muscle thickness, trunk muscular endurance, and psychological factors in normal-weight obese women. Design: One group pre-, mid-, and post-test design. Methods: A total of 20 normal-weight obese women were recruited voluntarily. Core exercises were performed for 30 minutes, three times a week for 4 weeks. InBody measurements, ultrasound imaging, and clinical tests were used to assess body composition, abdominal muscle thickness, trunk and core muscular endurance, and psychological condition(satisfaction with appearance and self-esteem). The dependent variables were measured three times: before the intervention (pre-test), 2 weeks after the intervention (mid-test), and 4 weeks after intervention (post-test). One-way repeated measures ANOVA and Friedman test were used for statistical analysis. Results: Although there was no change in the body composition (p>0.05), thickness of the transversus abdominis and internal and external oblique muscles, endurance of the trunk flexors and extensors and core muscles, and psychological condition showed significant differences after the intervention (p<0.05). Conclusion: Our findings will help develop exercise programs for normal-weight obese individuals that utilize the beneficial effect of core exercises.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.81-89
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• 2022

Purpose : Kegel exercises reported that it is effective in managing stress-related or complex urinary incontinence through contraction and relaxation of the pelvic floor muscles. In many previous studies, it was confirmed that Kegel exercise is involved in respiration as well as urinary system diseases. However, there is a lack of research on the effect of pelvic setting when performing Kegel exercises. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the effect on maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV) and abdominal muscle thickness through Kegel exercise after lumbar-pelvic motor control using pressure biofeedback unit (PBU). Methods : The subjects of this study were 10 healthy female students in their 20s. Subjects measured MVV with a spirometer. In hooklying, external oblique, internal oblique, and transverse abdominis of the dominant hand were measured using ultrasound. The measured value was an average of three times. After one week of intervention, measurements were made in the same manner. Before Kegel exercise, pelvic setting training was performed using PBU. In hooklying, PBU was placed in the waist and set to 40 mmHg, and it was adjusted to 60 mmHg through pelvic muscle contraction. For Kegel exercise, the pelvis was first set using PBU, and then the pelvic floor muscles were contracted for 8 seconds and relaxed for 8 seconds, 10 times, 1 set, and 3 sets. Results : In MVV, a significant difference was confirmed after exercise than before exercise (p<.05). There was also a significant difference in abdominal muscle thickness before and after exercise (p<.05). Conclusion : Based on the results of this study, Kegel exercise using PBU had an effect on MVV and abdominal muscle thickness. However, since this study was conducted without a control group as a preliminary study, additional research should be conducted to supplement this.

• 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.

• Kosin Medical Journal
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.391-395
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• 2018

We report a case of a patient with locally advanced prostate cancer who had only lymph node involvement without bone metastasis on F-18 FDG PET/CT. A 62-year-old Korean male was admitted to our hospital due to dysuria. His PSA level on admission was 79.35 ng/mL. A transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy confirmed prostate cancer and his Gleason score was 10 (5+5). F-18 FDG PET/CT demonstrated a hypermetabolic mass lesion with SUVmax 7.0 in the prostate and hypermetabolism with SUVmax 4.7 of the abdominal and pelvic lymph nodes. Tc-99m HDP bone scan showed no significant bone metastasis. The patient underwent hormonal therapy for 9 months. Follow-up F-18 FDG PET/CT showed significantly reduced size and FDG uptake in the prostate and abdominal and pelvic lymph nodes. In this case, treatment monitoring with F-18 FDG PET/CT showed decreased mass size and FDG uptake in the prostate and abdominal and pelvic lymph nodes.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.25-32
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• 2018

Purpose : This study investigated the effects of different types of plank exercise on abdominal muscle thickness in subjects with asymmetric pelvic anterior tilt. Methods : Participants with a diagnosis of pelvic anterior tilt were divided into an experimental group (n=12) and a control group (n=13). The thicknesses of the transverse abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO) muscles were measured using an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus. The data were analyzed using an SPSS (Ver. 21) program. Results : In the experimental group, there was a significant difference in the thicknesses of the left and right muscles in the standing and elbow plank exercises (p<.05). All the muscle thicknesses increased significantly during the plank exercises(elbow plank, right-side plank, and left-side plank) as compared with those in the standing position (p<.05). In addition, the side-plank exercise resulted in significantly higher muscle thickness of the supported side (p<.01, p<.001). Conclusion : These findings suggest that asymmetric exercise should be applied to the change of the left and right muscles of the abdominal when applying plank exercise according to pelvic anterior tilt.