• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.102-110
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• 2006

To improve trunk stability, various exercise protocols were introduced into the clinical field. Trunk and lumbar stability exercises on unstable surfaces are especially recommended to improve lumbar stability. The purpose of this study was to compare abdominal oblique muscle activity during leg raising in hook-lying position among 3 different type of surface conditions (on floor (F), vestibular board (VB), and foam roll (FR)). Sixteen able-bodied volunteers, who had no medical history of lower extremity or lumbar spine disease, were recruited for this study. Surface electromyography (EMG) activity was recorded from the internal and external oblique muscles of both sides. The normalized EMG activity was compared using a one-way repeated ANOVA. The results showed that the EMG activities of the internal oblique and external oblique of the lifted leg side during straight leg raising significantly increased under the FR condition when compared to the F condition. There was no significant difference of the EMG activity in abdominal oblique muscles between the VB and the FR conditions. The EMG activity of the internal oblique of supported leg side during the straight leg raising was significantly greater under the FR condition than the VB and F conditions (p<.05). The composition ratio of EMG activity of internal oblique muscles during straight leg raising was significantly increased under the FR condition. Therefore, straight leg raising exercise on foam roll in hook lying position could be beneficial to improve trunk and lumbar stability.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.159-166
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• 2023

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to compare the differences in muscle activity of the rectus abdominis, internal oblique, and external oblique muscles according to abdominal muscle exercise methods such as plank exercise, side plank exercise, and crunch exercise. Methods : This study was conducted with 37 college students. All subjects participating in this study were randomly assigned to the plank exercise group, the side plank exercise group, and the crunch exercise group. The exercise corresponding to each group was performed for a total of 8 weeks. The muscle activity of the abdominal muscles was measured before the experiment, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks, and the rectus abdominis, internal oblique, and external oblique muscles were measured. Results : As a result of comparison according to the period in the change in muscle activity of the abdominal muscles after exercise, the amount of change in muscle activity in all three muscles showed a significant difference. As a result of the post-hoc analysis, the muscle activity value of the internal oblique muscle after 4 weeks in the plank exercise showed a significant difference from the value after 8 weeks. In the side plank exercise, the muscle activity values of the rectus abdominis and external oblique muscles before and after 4 weeks showed significant differences from those after 8 weeks. And in the crunch exercise, the muscle activity value of the rectus abdominis muscle before exercise showed a significant difference from the value after 8 weeks. Conclusion : Plank exercise increases the muscle activity of the rectus abdominis, side plank exercise increases the rectus abdominis and external oblique muscles, and crunch exercise increases the muscle activity of the rectus abdominis. Therefore, it is thought that the stability of the trunk can be improved more efficiently if all three exercises are performed.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.19-24
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• 2011

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of PNF lower extremity flexion pattern on the eletromyographic (EMG) activity in rectus abdominis, internal oblique abdominal, external oblique abdominal, erector spinae. Methods : Twenty-six healthy adults volunteered to participate in this study. Subjects were required complete following two PNF lower extremity patterns; flexion-adduction-external rotation with knee flexion (D1) and flexion-abduction-internal rotation with knee flexion (D2). A paired t-test was used to determine the influence of the PNF two patterns on muscle activity for each muscle and descriptive statistics was used to determine local/global muscle ratio. Results : The D1 pattern was showed significant rectus abdominis (p<.05) and Median of internal oblique/rectus abdominis ratio was 2.23 and internal oblique/external oblique ratio was 1.53. The D2 pattern showed significant erector spinae (p<.05) and Median of internal oblique/rectus abdominis ratio was 3.06 and internal oblique/external oblique ratio was 1.72. Conclusion : The D1 pattern made rectus abdominis activation increase. The D2 pattern made erector spinae activation increase. As compared D1 and D2 pattern on trunk muscle activation, it's will be useful decision making for the trunk muscle strength and stabilization.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.33-38
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• 2010

Purpose: This study examined the activation of the rectus abdominis (RA), external abdominal oblique (EO), transversus abdominis, internal abdominal oblique (TrA/IO), and Multifidus (MF) muscles while stabilization exercise was performed in a four-point kneeling position. Methods: Experiments were conducted on 21 healthy male adults (mean age=25.29 years) who voluntarily agreed to participate in the study. Each subject was instructed regarding maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) and stabilization exercise in four-point kneeling. While MVC and stabilization exercise of individual muscles were being performed, activation of the muscles was measured using surface electromyography (EMG). Activation of the muscles while performing stabilization exercise in four-point kneeling was normalized to a percentages of the MVC. Results: Left RA, right TrA/IO, right and left MF muscles showed significant differences among the positions. Conclusion: Selecting an optimal position can aid subjects on physical conditions while performing stabilization exercises in the four-point kneeling position.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.25-34
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• 2017

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to identify comparison of the abdominal muscle thickness and activity by using tool and unstable surface which is accompanied bridge exercise doing abdominal drawing-in breath. Method : This study was performed on normal 13 males and 17 females subjects doing bridge exercise accompanied abdominal drawing-in breath used tools. At this time muscle thickness and muscle activity is measured through ultrasound and EMG. Result : The results of this study, rectus abdominis, internal oblique and transverse abdominis showed a significant difference in muscle thickness when performed using pilates circle. And external oblique showed a significant difference muscle thickness when performed using gym ball. Rectus abdominis and external oblique showed a significant difference in muscle activity when performed using pilates circle. And internal oblique showed a significant difference in muscle activity when performed using sling. Conclusion : Therefore it is suggested that it would be effective to apply the gymball and pilates circle in the unstable surface for abdominal weakness.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.35-44
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the simultaneous abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) on the muscle activity of the ipsilateral trunk and leg during proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) leg flexion, adduction, and external rotation with knee flexion (D1) patterns. Methods: The participants were 20 healthy adult males and females (18 males and 2 females). The maneuvers were performed by a physical therapist who fully understands the PNF leg patterns (D1) and their application in clinical practice. The participants were trained and allowed to practice for 15 minutes prior to applying ADIM, to ensure adequate learning as evidenced by the pressure biofeedback unit. In this study, we measured the muscle activity of the trunk and leg when the PNF leg pattern (D1) was performed by the physical therapist either sustaining or releasing the ADIM. Muscle activity was measured on the right transverse abdominis muscle (TRA), the external abdominal oblique muscle (EO), the internal abdominal oblique muscle (IO), the erector spinae muscle (ES), the vastus medialis oblique muscle (VMO), the vastus lateralis oblique muscle (VLO), and the tibialis anterior muscle (TA) and compared using the mean values from averaging three repeated measurements. Results: The muscle activity of the transversus abdominis, the external abdominal oblique, the internal abdominal oblique, the vastus medialis oblique, and the vastus lateralis oblique was significantly greater (p < 0.05), and the muscle activity of the erector spinae was significantly less (p < 0.05) during PNF leg pattern (D1) when the ADIM contraction was sustained compared to when it was not. Conclusion: These results suggest that sustaining ADIM during PNF leg pattern (D1) training increases the trunk and leg muscle activity, resulting in more effective training.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.107-113
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• 2021

PURPOSE: Selective strengthening of the transverse abdominis muscle (TrA) during abdominal hollowing makes an important contribution to the stability and control of the spine. This study examined the effects of abdominal hollowing exercise (AHE) according to the visual feedback method on the external oblique, internal oblique, and transverse abdominis muscles. METHODS: Twenty healthy subjects were assigned randomly to an AHE with visual feedback from real-time ultrasound image (group A, n = 10), AHE with visual feedback with pressure biofeedback unit (group B, n = 10). Both groups underwent 20 min of AHE with visual feedback once daily, five days/week for two weeks. The changes in the muscle thickness of the TrA, internal oblique abdominal muscle (IO), and external oblique abdominal muscle (EO) were measured by ultrasonography. RESULTS: The thickness of TrA was changed significantly in both groups (p < .05). However, the lowest minimal detectable changes were achieved in Group A. The thickness of the IO and EO muscles in group A was changed significantly, but there were no significant changes in group B. CONCLUSION: Both visual feedback methods were effective for strengthening the TrA muscles selectively. Nevertheless, AHE with visual feedback using real-time ultrasound images may be more useful in trA muscle contraction.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) patterns on electromyography (EMG) activity in the rectus abdominis, internal abdominal oblique, external abdominal oblique, and erector spinae according to position changes. Methods: Ten healthy adults volunteered to participate in the study. The subjects were required to complete exercises that followed two PNF extremity patterns, namely, an upper extremity extension-adduction-internal rotation pattern and a lower extremity flexion-adduction-external rotation pattern. The exercises were applied in the supine, side-lying, and sitting positions. Repeated measure one-way ANOVA and post-hoc Bonferroni correction were used to determine the influence of the patterns on muscle activity for each muscle, and descriptive statistics were then used to determine the local/global muscle ratios. Results: The upper extremity pattern had a significant effect on the rectus abdominis and erector spinae in the supine position, and on the internal oblique and external oblique in the sitting position (p<0.05). The median value for the internal oblique/rectus abdominis showed a high ratio of 2.05, and a high ratio of 1.01 was shown for the internal oblique/external oblique in the sitting position. The lower extremity pattern had a significant effect on the rectus abdominis in the side-lying position and on the internal oblique, external oblique, and erector spinae in the sitting position (p<0.05). The median value for the internal oblique/rectus abdominis showed a high ratio of 2.83 in the sitting position and a high ratio of 1.30 for the internal oblique/external oblique in the side-lying position. Conclusion: The PNF pattern increases local muscle activation in an unstable position. Therefore, when the pattern is used for intervention purposes, trunk stability and varied position changes should be taken into account.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.93-102
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• 2022

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to analyze the change in thickness of transvers abdominis, internal oblique, and external oblique when virtual reality based ring fit adventure is applied to young adults in order to investigate the effect of ring fit adventure on core stabilization. Methods : 30 subjects participated in the experiment. Subjects were randomly assigned to two groups. 15 subjects performed ring fit adventure core exercise (experimental group) and 15 subjects bridge and dead bug exercise (control group). The ring fit adventure core exercise program consists of 6 types, 1) bow pull, 2) overhead lunge twist, 3) pendulum bend, 4) seated ring raise, 5) plank, 6) warrior III pose. Each exercise was performed for 5 minutes, for a total of 30 minutes. The bridege and dead bug exercise were performed for 15 minutes each for a total of 30 minutes. All interventions were performed 3 times a week for 4 weeks. Thickness of the abdominal muscles was measured with a ultrasound. The paired t-test was used to compare the thickness of the transverse abdominis, internal oblique, and external oblique before and after intervention, and the comparison between groups was analyzed using the independent t-test. Results : As a result, in the experimental group, thickness of transverse abdominis and internal oblique increased significantly (p<.05), but external oblique decreased significantly (p<.05), and in the control group, thickness of transverse abdominis, internal oblique, and external oblique increased significantly (p<.05). There was a significant difference in external oblique in the difference between groups (p<.05). Conclusion : These study results showed that core exercise using ring fit adventure can reduce external oblique and increased selective muscle activity of transverse abdominis and internal oblique of the deep abdominal muscles, so it is meaningful as an effective intervention for core stabilization.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.193-198
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• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the effects of plank exercise combined with breathing and arm exercises on the external oblique, internal oblique, and transverse abdominal muscle thickness. Methods: Thirty healthy adults consisting of 12 males and 18 females from K area were divided into a plank exercise combined with breathing and arm exercises group (n = 15) and a plank exercise only group (n=15). The changes in muscle thickness before the exercise and four and eight weeks after the exercise were analyzed using a two-way repeated analysis of variance (ANOVA). The significance level was set to ${\alpha}=0.05$. Post-hoc t-tests were conducted to detect the interactions between the time and groups, and the significance level was set to ${\alpha}=0.01$. Results: According to the experimental results, the external oblique abdominal muscle showed significant differences over time (p<0.05). The internal oblique abdominal muscle also showed significant differences over time and in the interactions between the time and groups (p<0.05). The transverse abdominal muscle showed significant differences over time, in the interactions between time and groups, and in the changes between the groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results indicated that plank exercise combined with breathing and arm movement exercises led to increases in the abdominal muscle thickness. These types of exercises may be useful in lumbar stabilization rehabilitation treatment.