• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.307-315
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• 2020

The physique and health status of Chinese college students have received a generous concern in recent years. The physical condition of Chinese college students is not good and this phenomenon is especially obvious among female college students, which has been an disputable fact. This study starts from exercise intervention to study the concrete influence of taijiquan (a kind of traditional Chinese shadow boxing) and five-animal exercises on human body balance ability; the study uses experimental apparatus to measure the specific impact of exercise intervention on human body balance ability; meanwhile, the study also applies data analysis to longitudinally study whether the two studied sports items affect body balance, and whether there is difference in terms of the influence of two sports items on human body balance ability. The conclusions are as follows: firstly, 24-style taijiquan and five-animal exercises can improve ankle muscle strength, and the focus and degree of the improvement are different; secondly, five-animal exercises have a better improvement effect on the flexor and extensor muscles of ankle joint and 24-style taijiquan is in the second place. Moreover, compared with 24-style taijiquan, there is no significant difference in terms of the improvement caused by five-animal exercises; thirdly, 24-style taijiquan has a better effect on the improvement of internal rotation and evertors muscle strength. Compared with 24-style taijiquan, five-animal exercises have no significant difference in terms of the improvement degree.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.101-108
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• 2016

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of selective thoracic extensor strengthening exercises in the sitting position using a foam-roller by investigating the electromyographic(EMG) activities of the thoracic and lumbar extensors. Methods : Eighteen healthy subjects with no medical history of back pain were recruited. EMG activity was recorded from thoracic extensor(TE) and lumbar extensor(LE) while subjects performed three thoracic extension exercises: prone thoracic extension(PTE), prone thoracic extension with abdominal draw-in maneuver(PTE-ADIM), and sitting thoracic extension using a foam-roller(STE). TE and LE EMG activity, and TE/LE EMG activity ratio were analyzed by one-way repeated-measures analysis of variance(ANOVA). Where a significant difference was identified, a Bonferroni correction was performed(p<.017, .05/3). Results : TE and LE EMG activity, and TE/LE EMG activity ratio differed significantly among the three exercises(p<.05). Post hoc pair-wise comparison with Bonferroni correction showed that TE muscle activity in the STE exercise was significantly different from PTE and PTE-ADIM exercises(p<.017). There was no significant difference between TE muscle activity for PTE and PTE-ADIM exercises(p>.017). LE muscle activity and TE/LE ratios were significantly different among the three exercises p<.017). Conclusion : TE/LE ratio showed superior selective thoracic extensor strengthening for the STE exercise than PTE and PTE-ADIM exercises. Therefore, we recommend STE exercise for selective thoracic extensor strengthening.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.94-100
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• 2020

Purpose: This study examined the effects of the abdominal hollowing technique applied during plank exercises at different shoulder angles between the ground and the humerus on the abdominal muscle activity Methods: The subjects were 36 male volunteers. They were randomized to perform plank exercises or plank exercises using the hollowing technique at 80˚, 90˚, 100˚, and 110˚ between the ground and the humerus. The abdominis muscles were measured using a surface electromyogram. Independent t-tests examined the changes in the activity of these muscles according to the two exercise methods at each angle. The changes in muscle activity were examined according to the selected angles by one-way analysis of variance. Results: The activity of abdominal muscles was investigated according to the angle between the ground and the humerus during the plank exercise. As a result, the muscle activity increased significantly with decreasing angle in the rectus abdominis, external oblique, and internal oblique·transverse abdominis muscles (p<0.05). In terms of the changes in abdominal muscle activity after hollowing plank exercises at the given angles between the ground and the humerus, an increase in angle resulted in a statistically significant increase in the rectus abdominis muscle activity (p<0.05). The activities of the rectus abdominis, external oblique, and internal oblique/transverse abdominis muscles after hollowing plank exercises showed statistically significant increases (p<0.05) compared to those after plank exercises. Conclusion: The hollowing technique and the increase in the angle between the ground and the humerus may be an effective exercise method for increasing the muscle activity of the abdominis muscles.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.297-310
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• 2005

Open kinetic chain exercise has lost favour in rehabilitation after cruciate ligament reconstruction due to concerns that this exercise is harmful to the graft and will be less effective in improving function. Therefore rehabilitation has focused over the past decade on closed kinetic chain exercise. Open kinetic chain and closed kinetic chain exercises were compared for their effects on proprioception, muscle strength and knee instability in the early period of cruciate ligament reconstruction rehabilitation. The study subjects were 14 patients in 28weeks from cruciate reconstruction surgery(11 male, 3 female; mean age = 44.36 years). Closed kinetic chain exercise group used ball, balance pad and air cushion, to perform weightbearing exercises and the open kinetic chain exercise group used elastic rope and N-K table, to perform non-weightbearing exercises. Between tests, subjects trained 5 times per week for 2 weeks. Statistical analysis was by Wilcoxon signed rank test and Mann Whitney U test. In result, this study shows that both open and closed kinetic chain exercise programs lead to an improved muscle strength and Lysholm score. But there was no improvement in proprioception at both exercises. Closed versus open kinetic chain exercise in early period of rehabilitation after cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery do not differ in their effects on knee proprioception, muscle strength and instability. But the effect of closed kinetic chain exercises was showed more improvement than open kinetic chain exercises between pre-post exercises. Therefore further study is required to assess effect of both groups in more long period.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.173-188
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• 2003

The two groups each consisting of 28 people who had an adult hemiplegia due to a brain injury received two different methods of exercises to reduce the angle to which the affected lower limb rotates externally. The comparisons between the two groups were made for the changes of the angle in external rotations measured between pre and post test. The static balance index values taken during pre and post tests were also compared. In addition, the correlations of the angle to which the affected lower limb rotates externally with static balance index values were analyzed. The result were as follows: 1. A statistical analysis indicated that in group one having taken simple R.O.M exercises, the angle to which the affected lower limb rotates externally and the static balance index values were both significantly different between pre and post test (P<.01). 2. A statistical analysis indicated that in group two having taken a pattern movement, both the angle to which the affected lower limb rotates externally and static balance index values were significantly different between pre and post test (P<.01). 3. A significant difference between simple R.O.M exercises group and pattern movement exercises groupwas shown only for the angle to which affected limb rotates externally not for static balance index values (P<.01), 4. Pearson correlation coefficient for the angle to which the affected limb rotates externally with static balance index values was found to be significant only in pattern movement exercises group (P < .05).

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.259-267
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• 2023

Objective: Rehabilitative ultrasound imaging is a safe and noninvasive technique for evaluating muscle thickness. A dual probe-fixing frame (DPF) can provide visual feedback during exercises targeting specific muscles. The purpose of this research was to verify the reliability and validity of the DPF for dual-probe ultrasound (DPU)-based visual feedback exercises, allowing users to use both hands freely. Design: This cross-sectional study used repeated measures to compare muscle thickness measurements obtained using the handheld device and DPF with DPU. Methods: Twenty healthy adults participated in the study. Measurements were taken over two sessions, with a two-day interval between the sessions. The thicknesses of the rectus abdominis (RA) and transverse abdominis (TrA) muscles were measured using DPU. The DPF with DPU developed by the research team, was used along with a laptop-based muscle viewer. Bland-Altman analysis and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) calculations were used in statistical analyses to evaluate agreement and reliability, respectively. Results: The results of the Bland-Altman analysis showed small average differences between the handheld and DPF methods for both RA and TrA muscle thicknesses. Inter-rater reliability analysis showed high ICC values for DPF measurements of both RA (0.908-0.912) and TrA (0.892-741) muscle thicknesses. Intra-rater reliability analysis also showed good ICC values for measurements taken by a single examiner over two days. Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrate that the DPF provides reliable and valid measurements of muscle thickness during visual feedback exercises using the DPU.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.84-92
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• 2016

Background: Strengthening the supraspinatus is an important aspect of a rehabilitation program for subacromial impingement and tendinopathy. Many authors recommended empty-can (EC), full-can (FC), and prone full-can (PFC) exercises to strengthen the supraspinatus. However, no ultrasonography study has yet investigated supraspinatus muscle architecture (muscle thickness; MT, pennation angle; PA, fiber bundle length; FBL) in relation to supraspinatus strengthening exercises. Objects: The purpose of this study was to compare the architecture (MT, PA, and FBL) of the supraspinatus muscle during three different types of exercises (EC, FC, and PFC) using diagnostic ultrasound. Methods: Participants performed three different exercises: (A) EC; the arm was maintained at $60^{\circ}$ abduction with full internal rotation in the sitting position, (B) FC; the arm was maintained at $60^{\circ}$ abduction with full external rotation in the sitting position, and (C) PFC; the arm was maintained at $60^{\circ}$ abduction with full external rotation in the prone position. Ultrasonography was used to measure the MT, PA and FBL of the supraspinatus. One-way repeated analysis of variance with Bonferroni's post-hoc test was used to compare between the three exercises and the initial position of each exercise. Results: Compared with each initial position, the FC exercise showed the greatest mean difference in muscle architecture properties and the PFC exercise showed the least mean difference. Conclusion: The findings suggest that the FC exercise position may have an advantage in increasing the amount of contractile tissue or producing muscle power and the PFC exercise position may be useful in a rehabilitation program because it offers the advantage of maintaining the muscle architecture properties.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.250-256
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• 2020

Background: Unstable surface-based core training can significantly enhance core strength, but no studies have compared the effects of balance pad- and sling-assisted exercises. Objects: To study the effects of unstable surface-based balance pad- and sling-assisted core strength exercises on muscle activity. Methods: Twenty male students aged 20-25 years participated in this study. The effects of three types of core strength exercises, performed with a sling or balance pad, on the activities of three muscles, i.e., the right musculus obliquus externus abdominis (EO), right erector spinae (ES), and right gluteus maximus (GM), were examined. Results: 1) In the glute bridge exercise, the percentage of maximum voluntary contraction of the EO, ES, and GM were significantly different between the balance pad- and sling-assisted exercises. The relative contribution of the ES and GM activities to all muscle activity were not significantly different between the two training types, whereas that for EO showed a significant difference. 2) There was no significant difference in the percentage value of maximum voluntary contraction (%MVC) among the EO, ES, and GM during the "leg-lifting with flat support" exercise, and there were no significant difference in the relative contributions between the two training types. 3) In the "side bridge leg separation exercise", the %MVC of the ES, EO, and GM were significantly different between the two training types. Conclusion: Sling training for core muscles was generally better than balance pad assist training. The majority of physiotherapy patients require core training. Our results could guide physiotherapists in the choice of targeted exercises for these patients.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2016

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of lumbar stabilization exercise with neurodynamic techniques on lumbar muscular strength and Oswestry index in lumbar disc herniation patient. Method: The Lumbar stabilization exercise with neurodynamic techniques was performed by 30 pt's in G hospital. The subjects were randomly organized into a study group 15 and control group 15. The exercises and neurodynamic technique were conducted for 40 minutes and, 3 times a week (total 24 times for 8 weeks). General characteristics of the Lumbar muscular strength and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were measured before the training and at 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the intervention. Comparison of the time dependent variable for each group was Calculated by a one way repeated analysis of variance (ANOVA). Comparison between the two groups was Calculated by an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Result: There was a significant difference in the Lumbar muscular strength and ODI (p<.05). Similarly in the inter-group analysis, significant differences (p<.05) occurred. Conclusion: In this study, we demonstrated that lumbar stabilization exercises with neurodynamic techniques are an effective therapy for Lumbar muscular strength and ODI in lumbar disc herniation patient's.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.333-338
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• 2014

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate any changes in abdominal muscle activity after curl-up and jack-knife exercisse using a sling and swiss-ball. METHODS: Sixteen asymptomatic subjects were randomly assigned into either a sling exercise group (SG) or swiss-ball exercise group (SBG). Subjects performed curl-up and jack-knife exercise using sling and swiss ball. Activity of abdominal muscles (rectus abdominis and external oblique) was assessed using surface electromyography (EMG) and normalized maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) before and after exercises. The significance of differences between the SG and the SBG was evaluated by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). RESULTS: There was an increase in activity of all abdominal muscles after the curl-up and jack-knife exercises for 6 weeks. However, there was not a significant difference between the SG and the SBG after curl-up exercise (p>.05). There was also not a significant difference between the SG and the SBG after Jack-knife exercise (p>.05) except for the right external oblique muscle (p<.05). CONCLUSION: Exercises on an unstable surface using a sling and swiss ball are effective ways of abdominal muscle exercise.