• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.300-305
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• 2012

Purpose: This study examined the muscle activity of the trunk muscles during weight shifting exercises on a stable and unstable surface. Methods: Ten healthy young subjects (4 males, 6 females) with no medical history of lower-extremity or lumbar spine disease were enrolled in this study. The muscle activity was recorded using surface electromyography (EMG) electrodes from the both sides of the external obliques and erector spinae muscles. Results: The EMG activities of the both rectus abdominalis, both external obliques and erector spinae muscles were significantly higher when the weight shifting exercise was performed on a firm surface than when a balance pad with a balance ball was used. In weight shifting exercises, the EMG activity of the contralateral external obliques and erector spinae muscles was significantly higher than that of the ipsilateral external obliques and erector spinae muscles under all three support surface conditions. Conclusion: Performing weight shifting exercise using an unstable surface is a useful method for facilitating the trunk-muscle strength and trunk stability.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.55-63
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• 2022

Background: This study investigated the effect of erector spinae and quadratus lumbar kinesio taping and support surface conditions on abdominal muscle activity during plank exercise. Design: Within-Group design. Methods: A total of twenty-three healthy men and women participated in this study. Abdominal muscle (both external obliques and internal oblique muscle) contraction was analyzed through EMG measurement with the presence or absence of kinesio taping applied to the erector spinae muscle and quadratus lumborum muscle during plank exercise and the difference between the support surfaces (stable surface and unstable surface) as variables. Abdominal EMG was attached to the right external oblique, left external oblique, right internal oblique, and left internal oblique. Results: The results showed that Abdominal left and right external obliques and internal obliques showed significant increases in activity when kinesio taping was applied to the erector spinae and quadratus lumborum muscles and unstable ground (p<0.05). Conclusion: In this study, we confirmed that the activity of the abdominal muscles was significantly increased during the plank operation in the state where the kinesio tape was attached. In addition, it was confirmed that the activity of the abdominal muscles was significantly increased during the plank operation on the unstable surface. These results suggest that in the state of kinesio tape attached and instability, plank motion has a positive effect on abdominal muscle activity.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.127-135
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the side-bridge exercise on the thicknesses of the external and internal obliques, the transverse abdominis, and the erector spinae, which are some of the trunk muscles of healthy adult males and females. Methods: There were 30 subjects divided into two groups with 15 subjects in the modified side-bridge exercise group and 15 subjects in the bridge exercise group. The changes in each variable were analyzed before the exercise, after three weeks, and after six weeks of exercise using a two-way repeated analysis of variance. The significance level was set at 0.05. When there was any interaction between the time of measurement and each group, a paired t-test was conducted to find the difference within groups and an independent-sample t-test was conducted to find the difference between groups. The significance level for both tests was set at 0.01. Results: There was a significant difference in the external and internal obliques and the erector spinae according to changes over time and the interactions between the time and groups (p < 0.05). However, there was a significant difference in the transverse abdominis only according to the interaction between the length of times (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The study results indicated that the modified side-bridge exercise significantly increased the thickness of the external and internal obliques and the erector spinae. This suggests the usability of the exercise in lumbar stabilization exercises in future studies and clinical fields.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.16-25
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• 2010

The aim of this study was to determine the muscle activity of the abdominalis and erector spinae during bridging and unilateral bridging exercises on the firm surface, the sir-fit, and the foam roll. Eighteen healthy young subjects were recruited for this study. Surface electromyographic (EMG) activities were recorded from the both sides of the rectus abdominalis, external obliques, internal obliques, and erector spinae muscles during bridging and unilateral bridging-exercises. A one-way repeated analysis of variance was used to compare the EMG activity of each muscle according to the support surface condition. Differences in the EMG activities between the bridging and unilateral bridging exercises, and between the right and left side were assessed using a paired t-test. The study showed that the EMG activities of all of the muscles were significantly higher when the bridging exercise was performed using the foam roll or sit-fit than on the firm surface. The EMG activities of the right rectus abdominis, right external obliques, the right internal oblique, and both erector spinae were significantly higher during unilateral bridging ex exercise using the foam roll or the sit-fit than on the firm surface. The EMG activities of all of the muscles were significantly higher during the unilateral bridging exercise than during the bridging exercise. Based on these finding, performing the unilateral bridging exercise using the sit-fit or the foam roll is a useful method for facilitating trunk muscle strength and lumbar stability.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.245-252
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• 2022

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the abdominal muscle activity difference while performing the abdominal bracing technique focusing on inspiration (abdominal bracing group), the general abdominal bracing technique (general bracing group), and the abdominal hollowing technique (abdominal hallowing group) Design: A cross-sectional study design. Methods: Thirty-three healthy participants were recruited for this study. The participants were allocated to 3 different groups; Abdominal bracing group, general bracing group, and abdominal hallowing group. The surface electromyography was placed over the rectus abdominis, external oblique, and internal oblique muscles to collect the activation of abdominal muscles during the trial. Results: The muscle activity of the abdominal bracing group and general bracing groups was significantly higher in all abdominal muscles than in the abdominal hollowing group (p<0.05) Both rectus abdominis and external oblique muscles showed higher muscle activations in the abdominal bracing group over the general bracing group (p<0.05). However, the ratio of bilateral external obliques and rectus abdominis to bilateral internal obliques was highest when the hollowing technique was applied (p<0.05). Conclusions: The results of study showed the abdominal bracing technique that emphasized inhalation rather than the abdominal hollowing technique or general abdominal bracing technique increased the activity of the abdominal muscles. Therefore, this study is considered to be a data for effective training if the abdominal bracing technique that emphasizes inhalation is applied as a method to increase the activation of the abdominal muscles.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.244-250
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of sprinter pattern bridging exercise using theraband on activation of lower extremity and abdominal muscle and to find out postures that can effectively improve abdominal and lower extremity muscle strength and increase abdominal stability. Methods: This study was designed as a cross-sectional study. The following research was done with applicants attending S university in Seoul to compare the difference in muscle activity between one-leg-Support bridging exercise and sprinter-pattern bridging exercise using theraband. For 48 study participants, we first measured their MVC. Then, we applied one-leg-support bridging exercise and sprinter-pattern bridging exercise at random order. These data were expressed as the percentage of maximal voluntary contraction (%MVC).Electromyography analysis was performed by measuring the external obliques, internal obliques, biceps femoris, and gluteus maximus. Results: There was a statistically significant increment of muscle activity in external and internal oblique muscle(p<0.001)by sprinter-pattern bridging exercise using theraband. On the lower body, statistically significant increment of muscle activity in biceps femoris and gluteus maximus was found(p<0.05). On the other hand, on erector spinae, there was statistically significant decrease in muscle activity(p<0.05). Conclusions: Efficient treatment is expected when sprinter-pattern bridging exercise using theraband is applied clinically.For patients with chronic knee and ankle pain who have difficulty bearing weight, including low back pain and internal rotation of the femur, starting with a low weight bearing, we think it will be helpful in planning systematic training aimed at progressively strengthening the lower extremities.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.197-204
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the plank exercise to strengthen the core muscles on the muscle thickness of external and internal obliques and transverse abdominis muscle depending on the form of the support surface. Methods: This study was randomized to 12 males and 12 females in their 20s and conducted three times a week for 4 weeks. The subjects were divided into the two groups and performed flank exercise on a stable surface (stable surface group) and an unstable surface (unstable surface group). A mat was used as a stable surface, and an TOGU used as a unstable surface. Results : In both stable and unstable surface, the thickness changes of the transverse abdominis and external and internal oblique muscle increased (p<.05). In the unstable surface, there was a greater increase in the thickness change of the transverse abdominis and external oblique muscles in the flank exercise than in the stable surface (p.<05). Among them, the greatest increase was found in the external abdominal muscle (p<.05). Conclusion : This study found that the flank exercise was more effective in strengthening the abdominal muscles on an unstable surface, when compared with the outcomes on a stable one. It is also thought to have the most effect on the muscle activity of the external oblique muscle on unstable surface.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.105-114
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• 2012

This study was performed to compare the muscle activity of lumbar stabilizers between stoop and semi-squat lifting techniques at different lifting loads. Twenty healthy subjects (9 males, 11 females) were recruited for this study. Muscle activity of external obliques (EO), internal obliques (IO) and lumbar multifidus (LM) muscle was measured by surface electromyography during stoop and semi-squat lifting at different lifting loads (10%, 20%, and 30% of the subject's body weight). A one-way repeated measure ANOVA was applied. The results showed that EMG activity of EO was significantly increased with a load of 30% of body weight compared to 10% and 20% of body weight in both lifting techniques (p<.05). Muscle activity of LM was significantly increased in 20% compared to 10% and 30% compared to 10% of subject's body weight in stoop lifting and the muscle activity of LM was significantly increased in 20% compared to 10%, 30% compared to 20%, and 30% compared to 10% of the subject's body weight in semi-squat lifting (p<.05). However, there was no significant difference in activity of IO according to lifting loads in both lifting techniques. There were no significant differences in muscle activity of EO, IO, and LM between stoop and semi-squat technique (p>.05). Therefore, the results of this study suggested that the EO can contribute to increase the lumbar stability during stoop and semi-squat lifting at 30% of body weight rather than at lower loads, and the LM seems to act as counteractor to imposed loads during stoop and semi-squat lifting with increasing loads.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of a sling suspension exercise with abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) on the thickness of abdominal muscles. Method: Twenty healthy young women volunteered for this study, and they were randomly assigned to either the control group or experimental group. Subjects of both groups performed the ADIM in standard method. And subjects of the experimental group underwent a structured sling exercises additionally, which consists of bridging exercise on supine, elbow support and trunk control exercise on prone, and trunk flexion exercises. The exercises were performed thirty minutes per day, 3 times a week for a 4-week period. Thickness of abdominal muscles (transverse abdominis; TrA, internal obliques; IO and external obliques; EO) was measured by using real-time ultrasonography. Results: After the intervention, subjects of the experimental group appeared to be significantly increased for the thickness of the TrA (p<.05). However, significant difference weren't found for the IO and EO (p>.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that sling suspension exercise with the ADIM may be favorably used to augment trunk stabilizing effort by increasing TrA thickness. Further studies need in this field.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.43-49
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• 2018

In this paper, we propose a taping therapy as effective intervention for patients with the back pain. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of taping intervention on the VAS evaluated score and he muscular activation degree among 119 paramedics with musculoskeletal injury. In order to achieve the purpose of the study, data was collected from 15 paramediecs in the paramedics department of 3 fire stations under J city's fire defense headquarters. The following results can be obtained by measuring the subjective, the back muscle strength and the buckling-anteflexion before and after the taping for 15 119 paramedics. Through the verification experiment of taping effect to paramedics during the stretcher lifting in this study the VAS evaluated score for the backache are $1.67{\pm}0.62$ before and $0.80{\pm}0.68$ after the application of taping which show statistically significant decrease(p<0.05). In the experimentof joint operation range the measured buckling anteflexion length are $14.62cm{\pm}4.89$ before and $16.41cm{\pm}4.11cm$ after the application of taping which show statistically meaningful difference(p<0.05). In the comparison of muscle activity about paramedics erector spinae(ES) shows the meaningful decrease and external obliques(EO) displays the significant increase. Erector spinae(ES) and internal obliques(IO) show the increasing trend in the muscle activity although they are not significant. the muscle activity for the erector spinae is lowered so that the contribution to the force required for the extensor during the stretcher lifting is resultingly reduced to have the effects of enhancing the activity of abdominal muscles.