• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.496-508
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• 2020

This study reviews studies on the core stabilization of respiratory muscle training for the elderly health. Previous research data and presenting basic literature data suggest that respiratory activation is an important mechanism for core strengthening via exercise interventions for the elderly. The review found that first, the mechanism of improving the respiratory muscles weakened by aging to address the loss of core function due to old age sarcopenia among the elderly results entails promoting the autonomic nervous system by focusing on the respiratory muscle activation pattern, the core muscle sensation mobilized for body centering. Second, nerve roots, intraperitoneal pressure, and deep muscles in the trunk of the body can be promoted while controlling respiratory stimulation with cognitive feedback. Effortful inspiration increases the activation of respiratory assistive muscles and effortless exhalation can improve the core muscle mobilization by involving abdominal muscles. Third, through respiratory muscle training, the elderly can increase their awareness of spinal centering and improve the ability to control the deep core muscles that must be mobilized for core stabilization. In conclusion, respiratory muscle training to increase the utilization of the trunk muscles seems to be a useful core stabilization exercise for the elderly with chronic tension and joint degeneration.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.17-26
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• 2017

Purpose: The importance of core exercise on muscle activation of the lower extremity has been studied. This study investigated the effects of core exercise using pressure biofeedback unit on muscle strength of lower extremity. Method: Fourteen healthy young adults (7 males and 7 females) were recruited. They were randomly separated two groups and performed core exercise using pressure biofeedback unit of one set for three minutes, 10sets per day for three weeks. Result: The mean of muscle strength of lower extremity, maximum power of muscle and peak TQ/BW in core exercise group significantly increased after core exercise using bio feedback unit (p<.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that core exercise using pressure biofeed-back unit may help improving of muscle strength of lower extremity in young adults.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1717-1724
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• 2019

Background : Several studies have suggested different arguments for the effect of stretching exercises and core muscle exercises on flexibility and balance ability. Objective : To determine the effects of stretching exercises and core muscle exercise on flexibility and balance ability. Design : Quasi experimental research Method : The study applied exercise interventions (three sessions per week for 6 weeks) on 40 subjects. The subjects were divided into stretching and core muscle exerciseing groups to identify the change of flexibility and balance ability. Sit- and- reach test results and hip hyperextension were measured for identifying changes in flexibility, and the Romberg test and Pedalo stabilizer were used for changes in balance ability. Results : Both the stretching exercise and core muscle exercise groups showed a statistically significant increase in flexibility (p<.05). However, the stretching exercise group showed a statistically significant increase in balance ability (p<.05), whereas the core muscle exercise group showed partially statistically significant differences in this par t(p>.05). In the analysis of the differences in the amount of change in flexibility, based on the types of exercise, stretching exercises showed a significant difference (p<.05), whereas a significant difference was not found in the amount of change in balance ability (p>.05). Conclusions : These findings indicate that stretching exercises are the more effective intervention for improving and maintaining flexibility, whereas there is no difference between stretching and core muscle exercises with respect to improving balance ability.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.195-200
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of the different condition of leg support surface on the upper extremity and core muscle activity during the push-up exercise. Methods: Fifteen healthy subjects that were practicable push-ups were recruited in this study. Subjects were instructed the push-up exercise in the different condition of the leg support surface. Each condition of support surface was set to the high and lower, and the unstable and stable condition. Muscle activation was measured by using the surface electromyography (EMG), and recorded from the triceps brachii, serratus anterior, latissimus dorsi, rectus abdominis, abdominal external oblique, and erector spinea muscle. Results: In the results of experiments, there was no significant difference of muscle activation in upper extremity between the high unstable and high stable support surface. By contrast, muscle activation of the rectus abdominis and abdominal external oblique was significantly higher in the low unstable support surface, compared with those of the low stable support surface. It is well known that the core muscle was important to stabilization of trunk stability. Conclusion: This result demonstrates that the low and unstable support surface for the lower extremity was suited for training of core muscle for trunk stabilization during the push-up exercise.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2017

Purpose: The objective of this study was compare the effect of core muscle strengthening between core exercise on stable surface and core exercise on unstable surface. Methods: Thirty-nine adults participated in this study and were randomly allocated to three groups. The stable surface exercise group and unstable surface exercise groups practiced core muscle training for $3{\times}30minute$ sessions over a 4-week period. The control group did not received therapeutic intervention except pre and post test. The following clinical tools were used to assess core muscle strength and balance: Side Plank Test, Trunk Flexion Test, Balance Error Scoring Test, Core Muscle Stength & Stability Test. Results: The stable surface exercise group showed significant improvement in trunk muscle strength of anterolateral part as revealed by the Side Plank Test and Trunk flexion Test(p<.05). The unstable surface exercise group showed significant improvement in trunk muscle strength of anterolateral part and balance ability as revealed by the Balance Error Scoring Test and Core Muscle Strength & Stability Test(p<.05). Conclusion: The results of this study, both core exercise on stable surface and core exercise on unstable surface induced core muscle strengthening and balance ability. Expecially core exercise on unstable surface more effective to core muscle strengthening and balance ability.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.1175-1181
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of core muscle training on balance ability. Forty subjects in their 20s participated in a 6 week core muscle training program. Balance ability before and after the intervention were assessed and analyzed using the Romberg test, which was conducted on the floor, pedalo, and balancefit. The differences between the measurement methods of balance ability using varied platforms was also compared and analyzed. After the 6-week core exercise training program, the training group represented statistically significant increases in all 3 methods for static balance ability. In the control group, all 3 methods represented no statistically significant increases. Upon comparing the different methods of the Romberg test, there were no notable differences between conducting the test on varying platforms for both groups. This study suggests that the core muscle exercise training program increased the balance ability.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.25-31
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• 2018

Background: The purpose of this study was to find out how changes in knee angles in stable and unstable support surfaces affect the muscle thickness of core muscles. Methods: The subjects of this study were 25 male adult. Each knee angle of 120, 90 and 60 degrees, they were performed bridge exercise on the stabilized surface and on the unstable support surface using TOGU, and measured the muscle thickness of the external and internal oblique muscle and the abdominal muscles through ultrasound images. Results: There was no significant difference between the thickness of the rectus abdominis and the internal oblique muscle depending on the support surface and the knee joint bending angles. However, there was a significant difference between the external oblique muscle and the transverse abdominis muscle by knee joint flexion angle. Conclusion: While the muscle thickness of the core muscle was not significantly affected by each support surface during the bridge exercise, there were significant changes in the core muscle as a result of changes in knee angle.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.64-69
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• 2022

Background: Gluteus medius muscle is important for the stability of hip joint. The sufficient core stability can be contributed to the performance of gluteus medius muscle in standing position. In addition, the external support may affect core stability in standing position. Objects: The purpose of this study was to investigated the effectiveness of the external support on the strength and muscle activity of hip abductor muscle during hip abduction in standing position in subjects without core stability. Methods: Fifteen subjects participated in this study. The subjects were evaluated by using the double-leg lowering with bent knees to measure the core stability. The strength and muscle activity of hip abductors was measured in standing position with the condition with and without external support using the tensiometer sensor and the surface electromyography. The paired t-test was used to investigate the difference between hip abductor strength and activity according to external support. The level of statistical significance was set at α = 0.05. Results: The hip abductor strength and muscle activity of gluteus medius muscle with external support were significantly greater than those without external support during hip abduction in standing position (p < 0.05). Conclusion: During hip abduction in standing position, the external support may be contributed to the improvement of the hip abductor strength and muscle activity of gluteus medius especially in the subjects without core stability.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.56-61
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• 2023

Objective: Core training is a key exercise for conditioning and fitness programs, injury prevention, and more. This study aimed to find out the effect of adding dynamic core training, which is frequently prescribed in clinical practice, on dynamic balance and muscle activity compared to conventional static core training. Design: An experimental study Methods: This study is an experimental pilot study of prospective parallel design. Six healthy young adults were allocated to static core training group (SCG; crunch and plank) and blended group (BG; crunch, plank, and dead bug exercise) for two weeks to perform core training. Dynamic balance and muscle activity (erector spinae, rectus abdominis) were measured for all participants before and after core training. Results: All six healthy young adults enrolled completed the study. No significant difference was found before and after 6 sessions of core training in each group (P>0.05). Likewise, no significant difference was found in the results of the difference comparison between groups (P>0.05). Conclusions: In conclusion, in this experimental study, no difference was found when dynamic core training was added. Although the results before and after core training did not show improvement in dynamic balance and muscle activity, a randomized controlled trial is needed considering the results of previous studies and the limitations of this experimental study.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.483-487
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• 2020

In this study, the effects of suspension training according to the types of ground. Fourteen healthy male college students measured for the characteristics of core muscle activity in suspension training on two different types of grounds, normal flat and unstable ground using a gym ball. EMG (Electromyography) was exploited to measure the activity of the core muscles according to the types of the ground. Muscle activity of the abdominal muscles, external oblique muscles, internal oblique muscles, and lower lumbar standing muscles was measured. The variables in analyses were measured by the means of % MVC method to standardize the EMG signal according to the ground type for each core muscle. In order to verify the differences in core muscles according to the type of ground the paired t-tests were performed at the significance level of 0.05 (p<.05). As a result of measuring the activity of the core muscles according to the various types of grounds, the difference between muscle characteristics obtained in two different grounds did not appear to be statistically significant. However, the result is an important clue to reconsider the notion that the training effect on the unstable ground is generally superior to the effect on the stable ground in the core muscle training. The type of ground in the core muscle training has been found not to significantly affect the muscle activation according to the results of this study. Regardless of the type of exercise program, hence, the difference in muscle activation will not be insignificant even with the standardized program strengthening core muscles.