• 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 Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.7-20
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• 1998

Activity of the trunk muscles is essential for maintaining stability of the lumbar spine because of the unstable structure of that portion of the spine. The central nervous system deals with stabilization of the spine by contraction of the abdominal and multifidus muscles in anticipations of reactive forces produced by limb movement. Recent evidence indicates that the lumbar multifidus muscle and transversus abdominis muscle may be involved in controlling spinal stability. Stabilization training in neutral spine is an integrated approach of education in proper posture and body mechanics along with exercise to improve strength, flexibility, muscular and cardiovascular endurance, and coordination of movement.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.189-201
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• 2000

Mechanical factors in the human body are considered to play a dominant role in low back problems. Various spinal structures. including muscles, act in unison to resist the external load. An estimation of the muscle forces in this structure requires a knowledge of the orientation, location and area of cross-section of the muscles to complete the formulation of a truly three-dimensional mathematical model of the spine. The geometric parameters which are calculated were the line of action, the centroid and physiologic area of cross-section of each muscle as a function of the spinal level. This geometric data were obtained from CT scans of 11 subjects participating in this study.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.35-43
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• 2009

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to measure the change of strength of trunk flexion and extension on abdominal and back muscles. Methods : Each taping group 1(n=14), taping group 2(n=14), taping group 3(n=14) and control group(n=15) were measured a muscle strength by Biodex at first test, second test, third test and forth test in 3 days. Results : The strength of trunk flexion and extension was significantly different among the experimental groups (p<.05). It also shows that significant increasing of muscle strength at 48 hours after application of taping (p<.05). Conclusion : In conclusion, we were found that taping technique base on taping type show immediately assistance of muscle strength and enduring effect for 48 hours.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.419-424
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• 2015

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of lumbar stabilization exercise on the abdominal muscle-back muscle ratio in white-collar workers. Methods: Forty white-collar workers without any pain who worked at an information technology (IT) company located in the Gyeonggi province were included in this study. Of these, 20 subjects were randomly allocated to the lumbar stabilization exercise group, whereas the remaining 20 were randomly allocated to the control group. The lumbar stabilization exercise group performed a 40-minute-long exercise once a week for 8 weeks. The strength of the abdominal and back muscles was measured using the CENTAUR 3-D Spatial Rotation Device (BFMC, Germany). Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 18.0 for Windows. The Paired t-test was performed to compare the values measured before and after exercise within each group. The independent sample t-test was performed to analyze the differences between the 2 groups. The statistical significance for all the analyses was set at .05. Results: The strength of the abdominal muscles after the exercise significantly differed between the lumbar stabilization exercise group and the control group (p<0.05). However, the increase in the abdominal muscle-back muscle ratio was significant in only the lumbar stabilization exercise group (p<0.05), but not in the control group (p>0.05). Conclusion: The improvement of the abdominal muscle-back muscle ratio through lumbar stabilization exercise may have positive effects on lumbar stabilization. Moreover, lumbar stabilization exercise is considered beneficial for the prevention of back pain and musculoskeletal diseases.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.209-219
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to analyze biomechanical mechanism (posture, moment of back joint, EMG) when athletes (Judo, Ssirum) and lay people lifted a load according to two different lift methods; backlift and leglift. The number of subjects was 12; 8 athletes (4 for Judo, 4 for Ssirum) and 4 lay people. We recorded a lift motion in backlift and leglift using 7 real time infrared cameras (vicon) and analyzed EMG pattern of major muscles for a lift (lattisimus dorsi, erector spinae, biceps femoris). In a backlift Judo players showed a biggest range of back flexion and extension motion and lay people flexed more than other groups at phase 2 in which an interaction between groups and events was statistically significant (p=.024). In a leglift Ssirum players more flexed their back in a barbell lift and there was a statistical significance (p=.021) between groups and events. For moment of back joints, 1) in a backlift a larger loading on back joints in all three groups at phase 2 when lifting down a barbell, 2) in a leglift a larger loading on back joints when lifting down a barbell in two athlete groups but a larger loading when lifting up a barbell in lay people group, and all groups did not show any statistical significance. For EMG, right lattisimus dorsi muscle in a backlift was statistical significant (p=.006) in an interaction between groups and phase but left lattisimus dorsi muscle was insignicant, and there was not any significance in a leglift. Generally atheletes (Judo and Ssirum) used more their muscles of lower extremity in lifting up and down and lay people did more their ones of upper extremity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.99-111
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• 2023

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of pelvic compression methods on the muscle activities of the trunk muscles during plank exercises in individuals with and without low back pain. METHODS: Individuals who experienced back pain for three or more days within the last six months (low back pain group, LBPG; n = 15) and those who did not (non-experienced low back pain group, NLBPG; n = 15) were instructed to perform plank exercise without pelvic compression or while wearing a ReaLine or Com-pressor belt. The electromyography (EMG) data was measured during each session of exercise. Surface EMG signals were collected for the rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), erector spinae (ES), and gluteus maximus (GM) muscles. The data were collected during three 5-s exercises with a 1-min rest period between the three sets. RESULTS: During the plank exercise, the muscle activity of the RA in the LBPG was significantly higher than that in the NLBPG (p < .05), and greater muscle activity was observed in the LBPG even when two pelvic compression methods were applied (p < .05). The muscle activity of RA was decreased significantly during pelvic compression according to the pelvic compression methods in both groups (p < .05). No significant interaction was observed between the groups or the pelvic compression methods for the RA, EO, ES, or GM muscle activities during plank exercises. CONCLUSION: Both pelvic compression methods reduced the RA muscle activity during plank exercises in individuals who had not experienced back pain within the last six months.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.224-229
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• 2009

An experimental study was conducted to investigate the effects of turtle neck syndrome, so called, on muscular fatigue and muscle activity. Six subjects (males) participated and performed the prolonged casual computer work in the study. EMG signals from six muscles of the dominant neck-back region were acquired and recorded for 10 seconds at the beginning and the end of three hours computer work. EMG was recorded from six muscles by using a computerized data recording and analysis system. Power spectrum function of EMG was calculated off-line by means of a signal processing software package. Power spectrum functions were smoothed with a moving average filter of 21 points and normalized with respect to the maximal value achieved during the trials. Muscle activity and median frequencies of Sternocleidomastoid(SCM) in turtle neck posture was approximately 51%, which were less than those in normal neck posture. SCM also showed the biggest decrease in median frequency. Results will provide the insight into the neck-back injury mechanism of turtle neck patients. Furthermore, they will be helpful in developing rehabilitation programs for restoring patients' neck-back functions.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.39-43
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was to examine lateral abdominal muscle activation during maximum expiration exercise between healthy and chronic low back pain(CLBP) patients. Methods: The subjects were 16 CLBP patients and 16 healthy people between the ages of 22 and 53. The thickness of the abdominal muscles was measured using ultrasonography(LOGIQ Book XP, GE, USA). We instructed the subjects how to perform the exercises and measured changes in thickness of the transversus abdominis(TrA) and internal oblique(IO) muscles during the maximum expiration. The main outcome variables were the ratios of the TrA and IO thickness during the exercise versus in the relaxed position(TrA and IO activation ratios). Results: There were significant differences between CLBP patients and healthy subjects for TrA in the relaxed position. However there was no difference in the ratio of change in the muscle activity(TrA, IO). Conclusion: These findings, CLBP patients exhibited atrophy of the TrA muscle, but voluntary TrA muscle activation was similar to that of the normal subjects. Therefore, this exercise could be used during core strengthening in CLBP patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.393-397
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• 2012

Purpose: We investigated to identify the effect of robo-horseback riding exercise (RHRE) on trunk muscle activity ratios for patients with low back pain. Methods: Twelve patients with low back pain and twelve healthy adults were recruited for this study. Subjects performed the RHRE with the neutral spine position. The amplitude of electromyography activity was recorded from the selected trunk muscles (internal oblique [IO], rectus abdominis [RA], multifidus [MF], the thoracic part of the iliocostalis lumborum [ICLT]). The ratios of the relative local muscle activity to the global muscle activity in abdominal and lumbar parts were calculated. Results: There were significant differences in the change values of the IO/RA and the MF/ICLT between low back pain (LBP) patients and healthy adults. The IO/RA ratio and the MF/ICLT ratio showed significant increase in LBP patients after training. Conclusion: The RHRE improved the trunk muscle activity ratio in patients with low back pain. The information presented here is important for investigators who use lumbar stabilization exercises as a rehabilitation exercise.