• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.127-137
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• 2018

Purpose : The purpose of this study has been performed to find the effect of horseback riding simulation training on the thickness of abdominal muscles and functional balance in children with down syndrome. Methods : This study included 10 children with down syndrome aged between 7 and 13 years. Both groups received regular neurodevelopmental treatment, also experimental group was performed for additional 15 minutes horseback riding simulation training for twice a week during 8 weeks. We measured the thickness of abdominal muscles by using ultrasonography and measured of functional balance by using Pediatric Berg's Balance for the subjects agreed to the before, after 4 weeks and 8 weeks the training. Results : There were no significant difference in the thickness of the internal oblique and external oblique muscles. There were significant difference in transverse abdominis thickness and functional balance that experimental group had increased average than control group after 4 weeks and 8 weeks training Conclusion : Horseback riding simulation training has a positive effect on the improvement of transverse abdominis muscle thickness and functional balance in children with down syndrome.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.82-87
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of plank exercises with resistance of one-sided hip adduction on abdominal muscle thickness. Methods: Thirty subjects were divided into a group that underwent plank exercises with one-sided hip adduction resistance (n=15) and a group that underwent plank exercises only (n=15). Their changes in abdominal muscle thickness before the experiment (n=15) and three and six weeks after the experiment were analyzed using a two-way repeated analysis of variance at a statistical significance level of ${\alpha}=0.05$. When there was any interaction between the time of measurement and each group, post hoc t-tests were conducted at a statistical significance level of ${\alpha}=0.01$. Results: The results of the experiment showed statistically significant differences in the thickness of the rectus abdominis, internal oblique muscle, and transversus abdominis, depending on the time of measurement and the interaction between the time of measurement and each group (p<0.05). Statistically significant differences were observed in the thickness of the external oblique, depending on the time of measurement, the interaction between the time of measurement and each group, and variances between the groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that plank exercises with resistance of one-sided adduction are effective for increasing abdominal muscle thickness. The study's overall findings will likely be used as basic data for lumbar stabilization exercises and rehabilitation treatment.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of backrests of varying degrees ($90^{\circ}$, $100^{\circ}$, $110^{\circ}$) on three abdominal muscles (upper rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique) and back extensor activation during lower extremity exercise. The three different conditions during bilateral knee extention exercise were: (1) leaning on a chair with a $90^{\circ}$ backrest, (2) leaning on a chair with a $100^{\circ}$ backrest, (3) leaning on a chair with a $110^{\circ}$ backrest. Fifteen healthy muscle subjects (mean age=24.2 years [SD=2.96], mean height=175.6 cm [SD=7.46], mean weight=69.1 kg [SD=7.36]) with no history of neuromusculoskeletal disease voluntarily participated in this study. Electromyography was used to collect muscle activation, and the muscle activation was expressed as a percentage of maximal voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC). Repeated one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the statistical significance. The results were as follows: (1) upper rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique activation measured significantly lower. (2) measured significantly lower when lower degree.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.93-100
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• 2014

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the abdominal bracing (AB) and abdominal bracing combined with ankle dorsiflexion (ABDF) on abdominal muscle thickness and strength in patients with chronic low back pain (LBP). Design: Two group pretest posttest design. Methods: Sixteen subjects were divided randomly into two group: ABDF group (n=8), and alone AB group (n=8). The ABDF group practiced AB exercise with additional ankle dorsiflexion. AB group practiced only AB exercises. Subjects in both groups received ABDF exercise and AB exercise for 40 min per day, three days per week during a period of three weeks, respectively. All the subjects were evaluated for abdominal muscle thickness and strength before and after intervention using ultrasonography and MedX machine. Results: The external oblique (EO), internal oblique, transverse abdominis (TrA) muscle thickness and the strength produced at $48^{\circ}$, $60^{\circ}$, $72^{\circ}$ showed a significant increase in the ABDF group after intervention, with a more significant improvement in EO and TrA muscle thickness in the ABDF group compared with the AB group (p<0.05). Also, the strength at $48^{\circ}$ strength showed a significant improvement in the ABDF group than the AB group (p<0.05). Conclusions: The study results showed that abdominal muscle contraction exercises with AD in patients with LBP had an influence on abdominal muscle thickness and strength. Therefore, these findings suggest that ABDF may be useful approach for enhancement of abdominal muscle thickness and strength in patients with chronic low back pain.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.103-109
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• 2015

Purpose: Abdominal breathing exercises are recommended to activate the breathing muscles and the pelvic floor muscles, as well as to increase postural alignment during exhalation. The purpose of this study was to clarify the effect of improving abdominal muscle strength on menstrual pain in women in their twenties using abdominal breathing exercises. Method: In this study, 32 female university students were included as the subjects. The subjects were divided into two groups based on the area of menstrual pain: lumbar pain (n=16) and lower abdomen pain (n=16). The abdominal breathing positions were divided into two positions, which included a hook lying position and hip and knee flexions at $90^{\circ}$ in the supine position. Exercises were used to strengthen the abdominal muscles during exhalation. Four sets of the exercises were completed three times a week over the course of eight weeks. The degree of pain was measured using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Muscle thickness was measured using an ultrasound. Result: The thickness of the transverse abdominis (TrA) and internal oblique (IO) increased in the lower abdomen pain group. However, thickness of the external oblique (EO) did not increased following abdominal breathing. No significant difference in posture was identified in the lower abdomen group. TrA thickness increased significantly in the lumbar pain group. However, thickness did not increase significantly in the lumbar pain group. In addition, the lumbar pain group experienced no significant effects on posture. IO thickness increased following hip and knee flexions at $90^{\circ}$ in the lumbar pain group. Menstrual pain decreased following intervention in both groups. There was no significant difference in the degree of pain reduction between both groups. Conclusion: As examples of alternative medicine, abdominal breathing exercises may be effective in decreasing menstrual pain.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.345-352
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to determine how spandex wear with compressive band affects biomechanical parameters during a golf swing. Nine male golf players, each with at least 6 years golf experienc(handy 4.5${\pm}$5.4), were recruited as the participants. Eight pairs of surface electrodes were attached to the left and right side of the body to monitor the pectoralis major(PM), external abdominal oblique(AO), erector spinae(ES), and vastus lateralis(VL). This study showed that the angular velocity of the club in EG were increased during the down swing phase but X-Factor and X-factor Stretch were reduced. Average and maximum nEMG (normalized EMG) values of the left AO(external abdominal oblique) were less in EG(experimental group) compared with CG(control group) during the back swing, whereas those of left PM(pectoralis major) in EG were greater than CG. It is more likely that EG performed effectively golf swing without excess muscle activity. Thus, the spandex wear with compressive band played an important role in improving swing performance with injury prevention. This has led to suggestions of the need for further kinetic and kinematic analyses to evaluate its function.

• 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.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2015

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of abdominal muscle contraction thickness using real-time ultrasound imaging while applying an abdominal draw-in maneuver (ADIM) and pelvic floor muscle contraction (PFC) to low back pain patients and healthy subjects. Methods: The subjects were 21 young adults; a group of 10 low back pain patients and a control group of 11 healthy subjects. Measurements were made with the subjects on a pillow in a supine position, with the knee joints flexed at 60 degrees. While the two groups conducted ADIM and PFC, their transverse abdominal muscle (TrA), internal abdominal oblique muscle (IO), and external abdominal oblique muscle (EO) thicknesses were measured using an ultrasound imaging system. Result: The TrA muscle contraction thickness ratio during PFC and ADIM was significantly lower in the low back pain group than in the healthy group (p<0.05). The EO muscle contraction thickness ratio during ADIM was also significantly lower in the low back pain group than in the healthy group. The healthy group's muscle contraction thickness ratio was significantly lower during PFC than during ADIM in the TrA, IO, and EO (p<0.05). The low back pain group's muscle contraction thickness ratio was lower during PFC than during ADIM in the TrA, IO, and EO, but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that oral direction during ADIM induced an appropriate contraction of the TrA. Therefore, the procedure reported here may be applied during rehabilitation for appropriate contraction of the TrA.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.95-102
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• 2021

PURPOSE: This study examined the muscle activity of the abdominal muscle when lifting with abdominal hollowing with visual feedback and lifting with a pelvic compression belt. This study suggests how to lift an object safely in the workplace for people who bend their backs repeatedly. METHODS: The study was conducted on healthy men in their 20s and 30s. When lifting a 7kg object, lifting with abdominal hollowing with visual feedback, and lifting an object with a pelvic compression belt were performed three times in random order. The muscle activities were measured rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), internal oblique/transverse abdominis (IO/TrA) muscles, and abdominal hollowing exercises, and box lifting exercises were carried out in advance before the experiment. One-way ANOVA was used to compare muscle activities, and a Tukey HSD was used for post-analysis. The level of significance was set to .05. RESULTS: According to the study, there was no significant difference in muscle activity of the RA muscle depending on the lifting method (p > .05). There were significant differences between the EO and IO/TrA muscle (p < .05). The IO/TrA muscle activity showed the largest increase in lifting an abdominal hollowing with visual feedback (p < .05). The EO muscle activity increased in pelvic compression belt lifting (p < .05). The muscle activity was increased in RA, but there was no significant difference (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Abdominal hollowing lifting with visual feedback increases the muscle activity of the IO/TrA muscle, which is higher than normal, and affects the core stability of the body.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.1-10
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• 2007

Purpose: Leg-crossing sitting is very common for men and woman. No solid evidence exists for either a beneficial or a detrimental effect of this posture. This study investigated the change of activities of trunk muscles between the normal group and the low back pain group during various leg-crossing positions. Methods: The subjects were consisted of 10 subjects who don't have low back pain and 10 subjects who have low back pain. In this study, we used electromyography(EMG) to evaluate the activities of both the trunk muscles (rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique, and multifidus) during various leg-crossing positions (up-right, leg-crossing, tailor-crossing, and ankle-crossing). We analyzed the data by using repeated one way ANOVA. Results: In normal group, there were increased in EMG activities of trunk muscles, but no significant differences during leg-crossing positions. In back pain group, there were increased in EMG activities of right external oblique, left. internal oblique, and both multifidus muscles in leg-crossing and tailor-crossing position, but no significant differences during leg-crossing positions. There was no significant difference of muscle activity of trunk muscles between the back pain group and the normal group. Conclusion: We suggest that low back pain people who have weak muscles of rectus abdominis, external and internal oblique are often experienced in leg-crossing posture than normal. To compensate this unstability of trunk, leg-crossing posture is substituted passive structure for activities of active muscle.