• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.181-187
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the activity of respiratory muscle and lung capacity during deep breathing with electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve. Methods: This study was conducted on 30 healthy adults in their 20s. Subjects were randomly performed to deep breathing or deep breathing with vagus nerve electrical stimulation. All subjects' diaphragm and internal oblique muscle activity were measured during deep breathing by electromyography, and lung capacity was measured by spirometry immediately after beep breathing. In the vagus nerve stimulation method, the surface electrode was cut into the left ear and then electrically stimulated using a needle electric stimulator. Results: The activity of diaphragm was significantly increased in deep breathing with vagus nerve electrical stimulation than in deep breathing. However, lung capacity did not show any significant difference according to the condition. Conclusion: Vagus nerve electrical stimulation could induce diaphragm activity more than deep breathing alone. Deep breathing with vagus nerve electrical stimulation may enhance the activity of the respiratory muscles and is expected to be an effective treatment for the elderly or COPD patients with poor breathing ability.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.99-107
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• 2023

Objective : To investigate the effects of thorax mobility exercises on thorax mobility, breathing pattern, and respiratory capacity in subjects with restricted thorax mobility. Methods : Thirteen subjects with restricted thorax mobility participated in this study. Measurement of thorax circumference using a tape measure (difference between inhalation and exhalation), breathing pattern (distance of rib cage elevation during breathing), and respiratory capacity was performed. Paired t-test was used to compare the thorax mobility, breathing pattern, and respiratory capacity between before and after thorax mobility excercise. Statiscal significance was set at .05. Results : There were significant differences in thorax mobility and breathing pattern, but no significant difference in respiratory capacity (p < .05). Conclusion : Based on the results of this study, thorax mobility exercise using the rib mobilization technique is considered to be a method that can improve thorax mobility and normalize abnormal breathing patterns that cause rib cage elevation.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.17-25
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• 2016

Purpose : This study attempts to examine the effect of the balance exercise on the unstable surfaces for the vital capacity in healthy adults. Methods : A total of 13 subjects was randomly divided into a breathing exercise training group (n=7) and a breathing and balance exercise training group (n=6). Changes in vital capacity and respiratory muscle activity were measured before and after the intervention. The intervention was performed three times a week for four weeks. Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume at one second (FEV1) and maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) were used as measurement tools for the vital capacity test. Electromyography (EMG) was also used to examine respiratory muscle activity. Result : The breathing exercise training group showed significant improvement in terms of FVC, FEV1 and external oblique (EO), and transverse abdominis/internal oblique (TrA/IO) of MVV. The breathing and balance exercise training group showed significant improvement in terms of FVC, MVV and EO, TrA/IO of FVC and rectus abdominis (RA), EO, and TrA/IO of MVV. However, in comparing changes in vital capacity and respiratory muscle activity before and after the training, the breathing exercise training group and the breathing and balance exercise training group showed a significant difference in terms of MVV. Conclusion : This study is as a preliminary study to find out the relation between a balance exercise and a vital capacity, it is considered to require a further study with several revisions of subjects, duration and time for an intervention.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.25-33
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• 2019

PURPOSE: This study examined the effective impact of self and resistive and ultrasound-biofeedback diaphragm breathing on the pulmonary function and diaphragm thickening ratio of young adults. METHODS: Thirty normal adults were assigned randomly to three experimental groups (self- diaphragm breathing (n=9), resistive-diaphragm breathing (n=11), ultrasound-biofeedback diaphragm breathing (n=10)). Each group participated for 15 minutes for times with a two minute rest between two sets. The subjects were assessed using the pre- and post- diaphragm thickening ratio and the pulmonary function (forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume at one second, maximal voluntary ventilation, and respiratory rate) on the thirty subjects. A paired t-test was to determine the difference between before and after the experiment in each group of diaphragm breathing before and after the exercises. One-way ANOVA was used to determine the differences between the groups. RESULTS: The forced vital capacity and maximal voluntary ventilation measurements revealed a significant difference in the resistive-diaphragm breathing group than the other two groups. On the other hand, there was no significant difference between the self-diaphragm breathing and ultrasound-biofeedback breathing groups. CONCLUSION: The resistive-diaphragm breathing group showed greater improvement in the pulmonary function than the other two groups. Therefore, resistive-diaphragm breathing will improve the pulmonary function on normal young adults.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.123-131
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• 2015

PURPOSE: This study attempts to examine the impact of respiratory muscle exercises on the respiratory function and quality of sleep among stroke patients. METHODS: A total of 20 stroke patients were randomly divided into a breathing-exercise training group(n=10) and a breathing-device-training group(n=10). Changes in pulmonary function, as well as the quality, were measured before and after the intervention. The breathing exercise was performed three times a week for a total of eight weeks. Breathing-device exercises made use of a lung-capacity-strengthening device and were performed for three times a week for eight weeks. One Flow FVC was used as a measurement tool for the pulmonary function test. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI) and a sleep measurement tool were used for sleep evaluation. RESULTS: In a comparison of changes in pulmonary function before and after the training, the breathing-exercise group and the breathing-device-training group showed a significant difference. In changes of sleeping measure and PSQI, the breathing-exercise group and the breathing-device-training group also showed significant differences. CONCLUSION: Diverse index analyses confirmed that breathing exercises and exercises using a lung-capacity-strengthening device, were effective in improving respiratory function and quality of sleep among stroke patients experiencing respiratory function disorders and sleep disorders.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.57-65
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• 2022

Background: This study was to determine whether the diaphragmatic breathing exercise using a DiP Belt(Diaphragmatic Pressure Belt) is effective in increasing the diaphragmatic motion and forced vital capacity. Design: Pretest-Posttest design. Methods: A total of 44 subjects(15 male, 29 female) participated in this study. All subjects were measured the diaphragmatic motion with a sonography and the Forced Vital Capacity(FVC) was measured with a digital spirometer. After 4 weeks, the subjects were intervened the diaphragmatic breathing exercise using a DiP belt and were remeasured for diaphragm motion and FVC. Results: After exercise intervention, quiet breathing significantly increased with the change in diaphragmatic motion and showed a moderate effect size (p<.01, Cohen's d = -0.53). In addition, it was significantly increased in deep breathing and showed a high effect size (p<.001, Cohen's d = -1.32). The mean diaphragmatic contraction pressure increased, but there was no significant difference and the peak diaphragmatic contraction pressure increased significantly (p<.05). Both diaphragmatic contraction pressure showed small effect sizes (respectively Cohen's d = -0.28, -0.33). In spirometry, FVC, Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV₁), and FEV₁/FVC% all increased, but there was no significant difference. Only peak expiratory flow increased significantly and showed a small effect size (p<.05, Cohen's d = -0.41). Conclusion: The DiP belt diaphragmatic breathing exercise that the principle of visual feedback can correct diaphragm breathing in a short time, so it is a useful breathing exercise device that can help the diaphragm breathing exercise in the right way in clinical practice.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.54-62
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• 2023

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of breathing training on the balance ability, lung capacity, and shooting score of shooting athletes. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Twenty shooters were randomly assigned to the experimental group and the control group. Both the experimental group and the control group performed trunk stabilization exercise, and the experimental group received breathing training during exercise. Balance ability, lung capacity, and shooting score were measured before and after the intervention. Results: There was a significant difference in the forced expiratory volume at one second(FEV1), forced vital capacity(FVC) before and after intervention in the experimental group. In the comparison between the two groups, there was a significant difference in FVC between the control group and the control experimental group. Conclusion: The application of breathing training was effective in improving the lung capacity of shooters.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.25-32
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• 2009

Purpose: This study examined whether breathing exercises might increase the chest expansion and pulmonary function of stroke patients. Methods: Twenty four patients with stroke were assigned randomly into two groups: a combination of diaphragmatic resistive breathing and pursed-lip breathing exercise (CB) group (n=10) and control group (n=14). The CB group completed a 4-week program of diaphragmatic resistive breathing and pursed-lip breathing exercise. The subjects were assessed using the pre-test and post-test measurements of the chest expansion (length for resting, deep inspiration, deep expiration, deep expiration-inspiration) and pulmonary function (forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume at one second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC, peak expiratory flow (PEF), vital capacity (VC), tidal volume (TV), expiratory reserve volume (ERV), inspiratory reserve volume (IRV)). Results: A comparison of the chest expansion between the pre and post tests revealed similar rest, deep inspiration, deep expiration, and deep expiration-inspiration lengths in the CB and control groups (p>0.05). A comparison of the pulmonary function between pre and post tests, revealed significant improvements in the FVC, FEV, PEF, VC, IRV, and ERV in the CB group (p<0.05). There was a significant difference in the FVC, FEV1, PEF, VC and IRV between the 2 groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that breathing exercise should help improve the pulmonary function, such as the volume and capacity. This suggests that the pulmonary functions of stroke patients might be improved further by a continued respiratory exercise program.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.878-883
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• 2015

The purpose of this study compared the ability of feedback breathing training (FBT) and balloon blowing training to enhance the breathing of elderly people. The subjects were randomly and evenly divided into a feedback breathing training group (FBTG) and a balloon blowing training group (BBTG). Each group trained 3 times a week for 4 weeks, with the training suspended during the last 2 weeks. Pulmonary function measurements were obtained before the test and 2, 4 and 6 weeks after the test: forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume at one second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC, peak expiratory flow (PEF) and vital capacity (VC). A repeated-measures ANOVA was conducted for the significance test. The FBT resulted in a significant increase in the FVC, FEV1/FVC, PEF, and VC of the elderly smokers after 4 weeks and a significant decrease in the FVC, FEV1/FVC, and PEF after 6 weeks. The BBT resulted in a significant increase in the FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PEF, and VC of the elderly smokers after 4 weeks and a significant decrease in the FVC, FEV1/FVC, and PEF after 6 weeks. In conclusion, An at home breathing rehabilitation program, in addition to balloon blowing, could increase the breathing performance of elderly people.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.203-211
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• 2021

Purpose : It was to compare changes in respiratory function (pulmonary function, inspiratory function) after four weeks of inspiratory muscle strengthening training (diaphragmatic breathing with upper arm exercise, Power-Breathe breathing) for 36 healthy people. Methods : Subjects were randomly assigned to diaphragmatic breathing with upper arm exercise (Group I) and Power-breathe breathing (Group II) was conducted by the protocol for four weeks five times per week. As the main measurement method for comparison between groups For pulmonary function, Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) and Forced Expiratory Volume at One second (FEV1) were used, and for inspiratory function, Maximum Inspiratory Capacity (MIC), Maximum Inspiratory Pressure (MIP), and Maximum Inspiratory Flow Rate (MIFR) were used. Results : In changes in pulmonary function between groups, FVC and FEV₁ showed no significant difference, and in inspiratory function changes, MIC showed no significant difference, but in MIP and MIFR, Group B significantly improved over Group A. Conclusion : The progressive resistance training using the Power-breath device applied to the inspiratory muscle did not show a significant difference in the increase in the amount of air in the lungs and chest cage compared to the diaphragmatic breathing training accompanied by the upper arm exercise. However, by increasing the air inflow rate and pressure, it showed a more excellent effect on improving respiratory function.