• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2015

PURPOSE: This study compared the effects of chest expansion resistance exercise (CERE) and breathing retraining (BRT) on stroke patients' chest expansion and maximal inspiratory pressure(MIP), thereby intending to present an effective intervention method for enhancing their respiratory functions. METHODS: The subjects were 30 stroke patients and randomly and equally assigned to a CERE group (10), a BRT group (10), and a control group (10). The intervention was applied to each group five times per week, 30 minutes per each time, for six weeks. A tapeline was used to measure upper and lower chest expansion and MIP prior to and after the intervention and the results were compared. RESULTS: After the intervention, the upper and lower chest expansion was considerable in the CERE group (p<.01), significant in the BRT group (p<.05) but was not significant in the control group (p>.05). According to the post-hoc test result, the upper and lower chest of the CERE group and the BRT group significantly expanded compared to that of the control group (p<.05) and the upper and lower chest of the CERE group statistically significantly expanded relative to that of the BRT group (p<.05). According to the MIP evaluation result, the CERE group saw considerable improvement (p<.01) and the BRT group underwent significant changes (p<.05), but there were no significant changes in the control group (p>.05). The post-hoc test result was that the CERE group and the BRT group saw significant improvement compared to the control group (p<.05) and the CERE group experienced statistically significant enhancement relative to the BRT group (p<.05). CONCLUSION: As an intervention for respiratory function improvement, CERE is considered effective for strengthening respiratory muscles and promoting chest expansion through manual resistance by a therapist.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.301-307
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was an determine whether elastic band on treadmill training might effect the chest expansion and pulmonary function of the 20's men. 40 subjects with experimental group(male: 20) and control group(male: 20) was participated in experiment. During four weeks, each group participated thirty minutes for three times per week. Subjects were assessed using pre-value and post-value measurement chest length(chest length for resting, chest expansion) and pulmonary function(forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume at one second, FEV1/FVC, peak expiratory flow, vital capacity, tidal volume, expiratory reserve volume, inspiratory reserve volume) by the CardioTouch 3000S(BIONET, USA). These findings suggest that experimental group can be used to improve chest expansion, pulmonary function than control group. In comparison of both groups, post-test was more improved in experimental group. In conclusion, experimental group helped improving function of pulmonary volume and respiratory muscle, and thus it indicates that the functions will be more improved through the continued respiratory exercise program.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.11-23
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• 2014

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study suggests the exercise programs for improving the function and structure by applying the Schroth exercise method and sling exercise method to the scoliosis patient. METHODS: The subjects were 16 patients who were diagnosed with scoliosis. They were randomly assigned either to a Schroth exercise group (n=8) that received Schroth exercise program or to a sling exercise group (n=8) that received sling exercise program. Flexibility, static balance, dynamic balance, and spinal angles were measured by using the modified sit and reach test, one leg standing with closed eyes, functional reach test, and Cobb's angle, respectively. The chest expansion were calculated using differences of chest circumference between maximum inspiration and maximum expiration measured under armpits, at the junction between the sternum and xiphoid process, and at the waist. RESULT: Schroth group before and after the intervention there was a difference in the static balance, spine angle, chest expansion (p<.05). sling group before and after the intervention there was a difference in the flexibility, static balance, spine angle, chest expansion (p<.05). There were significantly differences between the both groups for chest expansion thoracic level inspiratory variables at post-exercise. CONCLUSION: These results revealed that two exercise program improved flexibility, static standing balance, spine angle, chest expansion level and ability used as scoliosis management and intervention. Therefore, it is expected to be used as a method for the treatment and prevention in the process of rehabilitation of patients with scoliosis.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.145-156
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• 2002

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of thoracic flexibility exercise on chest function and mobility and to provide the information of physical therapy for patients with idiopathic scoliosis. Forty female subjects who were diagnosed with scoliosis participated in this study and were divided into the experimental and control groups. The experimental group consisted of 20 patients who were treated with thoracic flexibility exercise program during the admission (10 days) ad one month after discharge. The control group consisted of 20 patients who were not treated with thoracic flexibility exercise program. Vital capacity was measured using a respirometer. The chest expansion were calculated using differences of chest circumference between maximum inspiration and maximum expiration measured under armpits, at the junction between the sternum and xyphoid process, and at the waist. All subjects were measured two times: before the admission and at one month after discharge. Data were compared by groups using independent t-test, Vital capacity and chest expansion values (the armpit, chest and waist values) were significantly higher for the experimental group compared to those of the control group (p<.05). The findings of this study show that thoracic flexibility exercise program can lead to an increase in vital capacity and chest expansion and has a positive effects in relieving symptoms and restoring thoracic mobility.

• The Korean journal of sports medicine
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.197-206
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• 2018

Purpose: This study analyzed the muscle activity changes induced by motions of reaching forward and chest expansion that were examined from the bilateral muscles with rectus abdominis, external oblique, multifidus, and longissimus thoracic using Pilates cadillac instrument. Methods: Nine young adult women, who have no musculoskeletal disorder and any of chronic diseases, were participated. Surface electromyography system was used for recording of all signals produced by muscles, and then normalized as percentage of maximum voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC). The paired t-test and repeated measures of analysis of variance was performed. Results: Reaching-forward motion showed a higher muscle activity from non-dominant external oblique muscle than that of the chest-expansion motion. During both reaching-forward motion and chest-expansion motion, MVIC values collected from dominant side of external oblique muscle were shown a significantly lower than the values obtained from non-dominant side (p<0.05). Conversely, %MVIC values in external oblique muscle collected from dominant side showed a significantly higher than the values obtained from non-dominant side of the same oblique muscle (p<0.05). Reaching-forward motion was caused a higher %MVIC on non-dominant external oblique muscle than that of the chest-expansion motion (p<0.05). Regardless of dominant or non-dominant sides, external oblique muscle was shown the highest activation rate of all the other muscles during reaching forward action, and longissimus thoracic muscle was shown the highest activation rate of all the other muscles during chest expansion action. Conclusion: Reaching-forward motion is suitable for activating an external oblique muscle, and chest-expansion motion is an effective enough in activating of longissimus thoracic muscle.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.169-174
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• 2014

Purpose: This study demonstrated a postural alignment exercise as conservative management strategy for a woman with excessive thoracic kyphosis presenting decreased chest function, and reports its results. Methods: A 21-year-old woman with thoracic kyphosis presenting limited chest function. The exercise program underwent for 30 min in the intervention phase, which consisted of exercises to improve the strength of back extensor and to stretch anterior chest region. Outcome measures comprised the severity of thoracic kyphosis and chest function (vital capacity [VC], forced expiratory volume in a second [FEV1], and chest expansion length). Results: The thoracic kyphotic angle decreased by 23.6% ($9.38^{\circ}$) and 25.4% ($10.58^{\circ}$) in the intervention and follow-up phases respectively. Also, chest function was improved in the intervention (VC: 3.7% [$0.10{\ell}$], FEV1: 17.1% [$0.39{\ell}$], and chest expansion length: 17.1% [0.96 cm]), and the improvement was maintained during the follow-up phase (VC: 4.8% [$0.13{\ell}$], FEV1: 17.1% [$0.39{\ell}$], and chest expansion length: 64.3% [1.81 cm]). Conclusion: These findings suggest that the postural alignment exercise was favorable for improving chest function of a woman with thoracic kyphosis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.119-124
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• 2016

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate activation of accessory respiratory muscles using electromyography during chest expansion upper extremity flexion, abduction, and external rotation exercises with an elastic band in children with cerebral palsy. METHODS: The subjects were 10 children with cerebral palsy. The inclusion criterion for participation was a Gross Motor Function Classification System level of I to III. The subjects were instructed to perform upper extremity flexion, abduction, and external rotation exercises with inspiration, and extension, adduction, and internal rotation exercises with expiration while seated on a chair without a backrest. PM (Pectoralis major), SCM (sternocleidomastoid), RA (rectus abdominis), and EO (external oblique) muscle activities were measured using electromyography. RESULTS: All tested muscles showed a statistically significant increase in activity after elastic band exercise. There were significant differences in PM, SCM, RA, and EO results after chest expansion exercise using elastic band. SCM showed the largest increase in activity after use of elastic bands, at $52.37{\pm}45.88$%, followed by the RA ($50.56{\pm}79.31$), EO ($35.42{\pm}35.45$), and PM ($31.72{\pm}25.64$). The increase in the SCM was greatest, followed by increases in the RA, EO, and PM CONCLUSION: These finding suggest that activity of accessory respiratory muscles increases with use of elastic bands during chest expansion exercise in cerebral palsy.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.79-84
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• 2014

Background : This study is for respiratory muscle activity and chest expansion through practice abdominal breathing exercises. Methods : The subjects were consisted normal 30 persons(15 males and 15 females). The control group to 15 people to compare group and 15 people for the abdominal breathing exercise group through lip retraction movement of the therapist with the resistance of mediated abdominal breathing exercises. For 8 weeks EMG was used to know the changes in respiratory muscle. We also found out the changes in chest expansion. And the t-test was conducted to analyze among the compared group, the abdominal breathing group the differences between before and after the experiment. Results : On the changes in respiratory muscle muscular activity in the transverse abdominis have shown significant results(p<.05), and the change in chest expansion was no significant(p>.05). Conclusion : Various breathing exercises in future research on intervention programs can be studied to promote the public if the functional status is considered to be of much help.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.247-256
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• 2011

Purpose : The purpose of this study were to determine whether changes of position might effect the chest expansion and pulmonary function of the 20s men obesity. Methods : Thirty subjects with obesity(M:30, % fat>25.0) and thirty normal subjects(M:30, % fat<24.9) were participated in experiment. Subjects were assessed according to position changes(supine position, $45^{\circ}$ lean sitting position, $90^{\circ}$ sitting position) using chest length(chest length for resting, chest expansion) and pulmonary function (Tidal volume, Inspiratory capacity, Vital capacity, Inspiratory reserve volume, Expiratory reserve volume) by the CardioTouch 3000S(BIONET, USA). Repeated measure ANOVA was used to compare each region data of chest length and pulmonary function according to changes of position with obesity and normal subjects. Results : These findings suggest that the obesity can be appear to low chest expansion and pulmonary function than normal subjects on position method. In comparison of three experimental position, supine position was more low. Conclusion : This study showed position of the obesity appear low chest expansion and function of pulmonary volume than normal subjects, and thus it indicates that the pulmonary function of the obesity will be suggest objective respiratory data through the exercise program.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.278-292
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• 2023

Objective: This study was performed to investigate the effects of thoracic joint mobilization and breathing exercises on diaphragmatic thickness, chest expansion, respiratory function, and endurance in patients with chronic stroke. Design: Randomized controlled trial Methods: The study included 24 chronic stroke patients who were randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group (12 people) performed 15 minutes of thoracic joint mobility exercises and 15 minutes of breathing exercises, three times a week for 6 weeks, 30 minutes each time. The control group (12 people) received 15 minutes of conservative physical therapy and 15 minutes of breathing exercises, 3 times a week for 6 weeks, 30 minutes per session, the same as the experimental group. The experimental and control groups performed the same breathing exercises. To assess training effectiveness, changes in diaphragm thickness, chest expansion, respiratory function, and endurance were measured. Results: As a result, the experimental group exhibited significant improvements in diaphragm thickness, chest expansion, and respiratory function. The endurance mode also displayed significant enhancement (p<0.05), a finding consistent with the control group. However, the experimental group displayed more substantial improvements in non-affected diaphragm thickness and thoracic expansion compared to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusions: Drawing from these findings, breathing exercise which combine thoracic mobilization, will be actively utilized in addition to physical therapy interventions in clinical trials as an effective intervention method.