• PNF and Movement
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.223-231
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to compare the effects of different methods of pelvic control on abdominal muscle activity and lumbopelvic rotation angle during active straight leg raising (ASLR) in patients with chronic back pain. Methods: The study participants were patients with low back pain (n = 30). They were instructed to perform ASLR with pelvic control, ASLR with pelvic belt, and ASLR only. Surface electromyography data were collected from the ipsilateral rectus femoris (IRF), ipsilateral internal oblique (IIO), contralateral external oblique (CEO), and ipsilateral rectus abdominal (IRA) muscles, and lumbopelvic rotation angle was measured using a motion analysis device. Results: Activation of all abdominal muscles was greater in the ASLR with pelvic control group than in the ASLR with pelvic belt and ASLR groups. The lumbopelvic rotation angle was lower in the ASLR with pelvic control group than in the other two groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that ALSR with pelvic control is an effective means of increasing abdominal muscle activity and reducing unwanted lumbopelvic rotation in patients with chronic low back pain. Controlling the pelvis using the opposite leg is an effective form of ASLR exercise for patients with chronic low back pain.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.415-420
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to compare the thickness of the abdominal muscles during single leg holding exercise (SLH) in a hooked lying position on stable surface and on a foam roller. Healthy twenty subjects who had no medical history of lower extremity or lower back pain were recruited for this study. Muscle thickness of transverse abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO) was recorded using real-time ultrasonography during SLH. Paired t-test with Bonferroni adjustment was used to compare the muscles thickness during SLH on stable surface and on a foam roller. The result showed that TrA and IO muscle demonstrated greater thickness during SLH on foam roller than those on the stable surface. This finding suggests that SLH on an unstable foam roller is more effective to increase thicknesses of TrA and IO muscles than stable surface.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.201-208
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• 2020

Objective: This study aimed to identify the effects of performing shoulder and hip abduction during the V-sit exercise on abdominal muscle activity. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Thirty healthy adults volunteered for this experiment. The participants randomly performed 6 types of V-sit exercises, including V-sit alone (hip 0°, shoulder 0°), V-sit with hip abduction 0° and shoulder abduction 15°, V-sit with hip abduction 0° and shoulder abduction 30°, V-sit with hip abduction 15° and shoulder abduction 0°, V-sit with shoulder and hip abduction 15°, and V-sit with shoulder abduction 30° and hip abduction 15°. EMG data were recorded from the rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), and internal oblique (IO) muscles of both sides. All abdominal EMG data during the six types of V-sit exercises were measured for 5 seconds, three times, and recorded for the middle 3 seconds excluding the 1 second at the start and end. Results: V-sit with shoulder abduction 30° resulted in significantly greater muscle activity of both RA, EO compared to shoulder abduction 0°, shoulder abduction 15° (p<0.05) and V-sit with shoulder abduction 15° showed significantly greater muscle activation of the RA compared with shoulder abduction 0° (p<0.05). The muscle activity of both EO and IO in the V-sit with hip abduction 15° was significantly greater than hip abduction 0° in all shoulder conditions (p<0.05). Conclusions: Greater angles of shoulder and hip abduction produced more abdominal muscle activity increases during the V-sit exercises. Shoulder abduction affected the RA, EO muscle activation and hip abduction affected the EO, IO muscle activation. This study showed that shoulder and hip abduction during V-sit exercises enabled effective activation of the trunk muscles.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.934-939
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• 2014

The purpose of this study unit a Quadrupedal position of limbs due to changes in the thickness of the trunk muscles to find out, by comparing the difference in muscle activity fours spinal stabilization devices do you need to choose an effective stance is to provide the data. The subjects C # 29 University students healthy adults were recruited. The Rectus abdominis muscle and the transversus abdominis and internal oblique abdominal muscle, external oblique abdominal muscle should be measured. The results of this study Lt. IO, EO, TrA, Rt. TrA, Muscle showed significant differences among the positions. The study reveals that the exercises in Quadrupedal position can activate trunk muscles and the degrees of muscle activities can vary according to the angle.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.319-327
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• 2012

Purpose : This study aimed to identify the asymmetry observed in the rehabilitative ultrasound imaging of lateral abdominal muscle thickness and performance between the affected and unaffected side during the abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM), an exercise used to facilitate activation of selectively TrA to stabilize the trunk prior to limb movement. Methods : The Participants were twenty one patients with post-stroke hemiplegia in this study. Ultrasound imaging was used to measure amount of changes in thickness of the external oblique (EO), internal oblique (IO), transversus abdominis (TrA). A Paired t-test was used to compare relaxed muscle thickness to contracted muscle thickness of all 3 muscles between the affected and unaffected sides. Results : The outcome measures included side to side differences of absolute thickness, contraction ratio among the lateral abdominal muscles. There was no significantly difference in between the affected and unaffected side at rest. But, there was a significantly difference in absolute muscle thickness between the affected and unaffected side of only TrA muscle. Also contraction ratio was a significantly difference between the affected and unaffected TrA muscle. Conclusion : These findings support the asymmetrical activation of TrA muscle during abdominal muscle contraction in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia. Further studies are warranted for confirming this outcome.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.144-151
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• 2023

Background: The gluteus maximus (GM) muscle comprise the lumbo-pelvic complex and is an important stabilizing muscle during leg extension. In patients with low back pain (LBP) with weakness of the GM, spine leads to compensatory muscle activities such as instantaneous increase of the erector spinae (ES) muscle activity. Four-point kneeling arm and leg lift (FKALL) is most common types of lumbopelvic and GM muscles strengthening exercise. We assumed that altered hip position during FKALL may increase thoraco-lumbar stabilizer like GM activity more effectively method. Objects: The purpose of this study was investigated that effects of the three exercise postures on the right-sided GM, internal oblique (IO), external oblique (EO), and multifidus (MF) muscle activities and pelvic kinematic during FKALL. Methods: Twenty eight healthy individuals participated in this study. The exercises were performed three conditions of FKALL (pure FKALL, FKALL with 120° hip flexion of the supporting leg, FKALL with 30° hip abduction of the lifted leg). Participants performed FKALL exercises three times each condition, and motion sensor used to measure pelvic tilt and rotation angle. Results: This study demonstrated that no significant change in pelvic angle during hip movement in the FKALL (p > 0.05). However, the MF and GM muscle activities in FKALL with hip flexion and hip abduction is greater than pure FKALL position (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our finding suggests that change the posture of the hip joint to facilitate GM muscle activation during trunk stabilization exercises such as the FKALL.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 2024

Background: The serratus anterior (SA) is a muscle that performs protraction of the scapulothoracic joint and plays a role in stabilizing the scapula. Imbalances or weaknesses in SA activation are associated with a variety of shoulder dysfunctions, making selective SA strengthening important for rehabilitation. Objects: We aimed to compare the muscle activation of the pectoralis major (PM), SA, external oblique (EO), and internal oblique (IO) during the push-up plus (PUP) exercise with isometric hip adduction (HA) and abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM). Methods: Nineteen healthy male participants performed three PUP exercises: standard PUP, PUP with ADIM, and PUP with HA. Surface electromyography was used to measure and analyze the muscle activity for PM, SA, EO, and IO. Results: PUP with HA showed the lowest PM activity and highest SA activity, and no significant difference was observed between PUP and PUP with ADIM. PUP with ADIM showed significantly the highest EO and IO activity, followed by PUP with HA and PUP. Additionally, PUP with HA showed the lowest PM/SA ratio, and no significant difference was noted between PUP and PUP with ADIM. Conclusion: PUP with HA was able to show high SA muscle activity while reducing PM muscle activity. In addition, PUP with HA can lead to higher EO and IO muscle activity than standard PUP. This exercise could be used as a practical exercise method to selectively strengthen SA and improve scapular muscle stability during early shoulder rehabilitation.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.398-405
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• 2021

Objective: The interest of clinicians is increasing due to the newly established medical insurance for pulmonary rehabilitation. Improvement of respiratory muscle strength and pulmonary function is an important factor in pulmonary rehabilitation, and this study aims to investigate the correlation between changes in respiratory muscle contraction thickness that can affect respiratory muscle strength and pulmonary function. Design: Cross-sectional observational study. Methods: Thirty-one subjects (male=13, female=18) participated in this study. The respiratory muscle strength was measured by dividing it into inspiratory/forced expiratory muscles, and the pulmonary function was measured by forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), and FEV1/FVC. To evaluate the respiratory muscle length increase, in resting and concentric contraction thickness of diaphragm, external/internal oblique, transverse abdominis, and rectus abdominis were measured by using ultrasonography. Results: Inspiratory muscle strength showed a significant correlation with the length increase of the inspiratory muscle (r=0.368~0.521, p<0.05), and forced expiratory muscle strength showed a significant correlation with length increase of forced expiratory muscle (r=0.356~0.455, p<0.05). However, pulmonary function was not correlated with the length increase of the respiratory muscle. Conclusions: In this study, a correlation between respiratory muscle strength and respiratory muscle length increase was confirmed, but no correlation with the pulmonary function was found. It is considered that the respiratory muscle strength can be improved by increasing the respiratory muscle thickness through appropriate respiratory muscle training.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.393-397
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• 2012

Purpose: We investigated to identify the effect of robo-horseback riding exercise (RHRE) on trunk muscle activity ratios for patients with low back pain. Methods: Twelve patients with low back pain and twelve healthy adults were recruited for this study. Subjects performed the RHRE with the neutral spine position. The amplitude of electromyography activity was recorded from the selected trunk muscles (internal oblique [IO], rectus abdominis [RA], multifidus [MF], the thoracic part of the iliocostalis lumborum [ICLT]). The ratios of the relative local muscle activity to the global muscle activity in abdominal and lumbar parts were calculated. Results: There were significant differences in the change values of the IO/RA and the MF/ICLT between low back pain (LBP) patients and healthy adults. The IO/RA ratio and the MF/ICLT ratio showed significant increase in LBP patients after training. Conclusion: The RHRE improved the trunk muscle activity ratio in patients with low back pain. The information presented here is important for investigators who use lumbar stabilization exercises as a rehabilitation exercise.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.42-52
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• 2019

Background: Whole body-electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) is widely used for the rehabilitation and recovery of patients with various neuromusculoskeletal disorders. Objects: To objectively measure changes in lower extremity and abdominal muscles after sit-to-stand dynamic movement training using WB-EMS. Methods: A total of 46 healthy adults (23 experimental and 23 control subjects) performed sit-to-stand exercise; the experimental group with WB-EMS, and the control group without WB-EMS. The muscle activity of the lower extremity, and the muscle thickness of the lower extremity and abdominal muscles were measured before and after the intervention. Results: In terms of electromyographic activity, there was a significant interaction effect for the rectus femoris (RF) muscle (F=30.212, p=.000). With regards to ultrasonographic imaging, the muscle thickness of the RF muscle had a significant interaction effect at the muscle contraction ratio (F=8.071, p=.007). The deep abdominal muscles, such as the transverse abdominal (TrA) and internal oblique (IO) muscles, also showed significant interaction effects at the muscle contraction ratio (F=5.474, p=.024, F=24.151, p=.000, respectively). Conclusion: These findings suggest that WB-EMS may help to improve the muscular activity of the RF muscle, and the muscle thickness of the RF muscle and deep muscles such as the TrA and IO muscles.