• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.6 no.5
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• pp.123-130
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• 2015

This study examines the effects of different types of bridge exercises on the thickness of trunk muscles through ultrasound fusion imaging on 32 students. The thickness of the internal oblique (IO), external oblique (EO), transverse abdominis (TrA), and multifidus (Mf) muscles were measured in three different bridge exercises. The exercises included a supine bridge exercise, which was performed on a fixed support surface (Exercise A), a gym ball bridge exercise (Exercise B), and a sling bridge exercise (Exercise C). There were significant differences among the three bridge exercises in the IO, TrA, and Mf muscles. The IO was thickest in Exercise B followed by Exercise A and C. In contrast, the TrA and the Mf muscles were thickest in Exercise C followed by Exercise A and B. Therefore, the sling bridge exercise may be a more effective method of enhancing trunk muscle thickness than the exercises performed in other positions. Until recently, no previous studies had observed substantial changes in muscle thickness using ultrasound fusion imaging. This study suggests that sling bridge exercises contribute most to the activation of trunk muscles. Therefore, the research can contribute to the prescription and application of bridge exercises in clinical practices.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.15-24
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• 2017

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of supplementary verbal encouragement according to the gender on the activation of abdominal muscles during performance of crunch exercise in healthy subjects. METHODS: A Total of 32 healthy subjects (15 male and 17 female) were randomly allocated to two conditions, crunch exercise with Ki-hap and verbal encouragement with same gender (CKVS) and crunch exercise with Ki-hap and verbal encouragement with different gender (CKVD). The interventions were conducted over three trials in each condition, and measurements were performed on each subject by one examiner in three trials. The activation of rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique, and transverse abdominis muscles were evaluated using electromyography (EMG) during performance of crunch exercise with Ki-hap and verbal encouragement with same gender or different gender, respectively. RESULTS: The results showed that there were no significantly difference in the activation of all abdominal muscles in those of the CKVS compared with the CKVD (p>.05). The results also showed that there were no significantly difference in the ratio of muscle activation at global muscle to that at local muscle between two conditions (p>.05). CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrated that application of the supplementary verbal encouragement by gender does not affect to activate the abdominal muscles of subject to perform a movement, at the same time, it would suggest positive evidence for improving activation of abdominal muscles.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.96-103
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of applied pressure to abdomen on lumbar and abdominal muscle activation during upper limb exercise. The experimental group consisted of twenty-seven healthy male subjects (mean age=$22.40{\pm}2.19years$, mean height=$175.30{\pm}2.19cm$, mean weight= $67.67{\pm}7.44kg$, RM=$8.43{\pm}2.76kg$). In each different pressure condition (OmmHg, 30mmHg, 70mmHg, 100mmHg), upper limb exercise was performed in total of 10 trials with 10 RM dumb-bell exercise. Lumbar and abdominal muscle activity was measured using surface bipolar electrode electromyography(EMG). EMG activity was measured from upper rectus abdominis, external oblique abdominis, internal oblique abdominis, and elector spinae. The raw EMG signal was processed into the root mean square(RMS). All RMS EMG data were normalized and express as a percentage of the EMG(%EMG). Collected data were statistically analyzed by SPSS/PC Ver 10.0 using two-way analysis of variance for repeated measures($4{\pm}3$) and Bonferroni post hoc, test. Lumbar and abdominal muscle activation was significantly increased when 100 mmHg was applied(p<.05). Upper rectus abdominis activation was significantly increased compared as other muscles activation(p<.05). However, there were no interaction between pressure and muscles(p>.05). The findings of this study can be used as a fundamental data when lumbar orthosis is applied and external pressure can be used as a therapeutic tool.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.1-7
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• 2014

Lumbopelvic stabilization exercise has become the most popular treatment method in lumbar rehabilitation since its effectiveness was shown in some aspects of pain and disability. The abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) has been extensively implemented to promote lumbopelvic stability. However, performing ADIM correctly is difficult even for healthy subjects, and it is time consuming to train people in ADIM. Thus, the purpose of this study was to compare abdominal muscle [rectus abdominalis (RA), external oblique (EO), and transverse abdominis/internal oblique (TrA/IO)] activity during lumbopelvic stabilization exercises (ADIM only, ADIM with a ball, maximum exhalation only, and maximum exhalation with a ball) performed in a supine position with feet against a wall. Fifteen healthy subjects were recruited for this study. Surface electromyography was used to measure abdominal muscle activity during lumbopelvic stabilization exercises. A one-way repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to determine the statistical significance of RA, EO, and TrA/IO muscle activity during four lumbopelvic stabilization exercises. Both-side TrA/IO muscle activity was significantly greater with maximum exhalation with a ball than with ADIM only or ADIM with a ball (p<.008). The results of this study suggest that maximum exhalation with a ball can be used as an effective lumbopelvic stabilization exercise to increase TrA/IO muscle activity in healthy subjects.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.19-26
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• 2017

Background: To improve lumbo-pelvic stability, passive support devices (i.e., a pelvic belt) are recommended clinically. Nevertheless, to understand the influence of passive support on lumbo-pelvic stability, it is necessary to examine the influence of a pelvic belt on the abdominal and hip abductor muscles. Objects: To examine the effects of a pelvic belt on the forces of the hip adductor and abductor muscles and activity of the abdominal muscles during isometric hip adduction and abduction. Methods: This study recruited 14 healthy men. All subjects performed isometric hip adduction and abduction with and without a pelvic belt in a neutral hip position. Load cells, wrapped with a non-elastic belt, were placed above the medial and lateral malleoli of the dominant leg to measure the muscle forces of the hip adductors and abductors, respectively. The forces of the hip adductors and abductors were measured using a load cell during isometric hip adduction and abduction, while the electromyographic activities of the bilateral rectus abdominis, internal oblique, and external oblique muscles were measured. Results: The forces generated by the hip adductors and abductors were significantly greater with the pelvic belt than without (p<.05). No significant differences in abdominal muscle activities between the two conditions were found (p>.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that use of a pelvic belt could lead to effective strengthening exercise of hip muscles in individuals with sacroiliac joint pain.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.205-211
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• 2016

Purpose: This study investigated the influence of muscle activity of the trunk and lower limb during a bridge exercise using a unstable surface and during one-legged bridge hip abduction in healthy adults. Methods: Nineteen healthy participated in this study (12 males and 7 females, aged $29.0{\pm}5.0$). The participants were instructed to perform the bridge exercises under six different conditions. Trunk and lower limb muscle activation, such as the erector spinae (ES), gluteus maximus (GM), external oblique (EO), and internal oblique (IO), was measured using surface electromyography. The six different bridge exercise conditions were conducted randomly. Data analysis was performed by using the mean scores after three trials of each condition. Results: On the ipsilateral side, muscle activity of the IO, EO, and ES during the hip abduction condition (Single-legged hip abduction bridge, Bridge with use of a ball and single-leg hip abduction, Bridge with use of a sling and single-leg hip abduction) was significantly higher than those during Unstable surface (Bridge with use of a ball, Bridge with use of a sling) and General bridging exercise (p<0.05). In the contralateral side, activities of the GM and EO during Single-legged hip abduction bridge, Bridge with use of a ball and single-leg hip abduction and Bridge with use of a sling and single-leg hip abduction was significantly higher than that during Bridge with use of a ball, Bridge with use of a sling and General bridging exercise (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that performing a bridge exercise with use of a sling and single-leg hip abduction had an effect on trunk and gluteal muscle activation. The findings of this study suggest that this training method can be clinically effective for unilateral training and for patients with hemiplegia.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.111-121
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• 2021

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of core stability exercise on the strength, activation of the trunk muscle, and pulmonary function in a Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) patient. METHODS: A 38-year-old male with GBS was enrolled in the study. A core stability exercise program was implemented for four weeks with a duration of 30 min/day and a frequency of three days/week. The program consisted of abdominal crunch, Swiss ball crunch, bicycle crunch, medicine ball sit-up with a toss, medicine ball rotational chest pass, raised upper body and lower body, and dead bug. Measurements of the strength of the trunk muscle (trunk flexion and hip flexion), activation of trunk muscles (rectus femoris; RA, external oblique abdominal; EOA, internal oblique abdominal; IOA, erector spinae; ES), and pulmonary function (forced expiratory capacity; FVC, forced expiratory volume at one second; FEV1) were taken before and after four weeks of core stability exercise. RESULTS: The strength of trunk muscles increased in the trunk and hip flexion after four weeks of core stability exercise, respectively, compared to the baseline levels. Activation of the trunk muscles increased in RA, EOA, and IOA after four weeks of core stability exercise compared to baseline levels, but decreased in ES after four weeks of core stability exercise compared to the baseline levels. The pulmonary function increased in FVC and FEV1 after four weeks of core stability exercise compared to the baseline levels. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that core stability exercise improves strength, Activation of the trunk muscle, And pulmonary function in patients with GBS.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.147-154
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• 2006

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect intentional contraction of abdominal muscles during lifting above shoulder on the muscles activities of the lower trunk and on the degree of lumbar extension. Fifteen healthy adult males were selected as test subjects. A 5kg weight was raised to the shoulder level, 20cm, and 40cm above the shoulder level. EMG activities of all muscles except the rectus abdominis were significantly greater when subjects were asked to contract their abdominal muscles intentionally during lifting(p<0.05). Degree of lumbar extension also significantly decreased with intentional abdominal contraction during the lifting. Also, degree of lumbar extension significantly increased with increase in lifting height(p<0.05). The results of this study show that intentional contraction of abdominal muscles during lifting above shoulder increases the EMG activities of external abdominis oblique, internal abdominis oblique, and erector spinae.

• Journal of Korean Institute of Industrial Engineers
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.297-309
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• 1998

Numerical parameters have been developed to diagnose L4/L5 disc patients during repetitive flexions and extensions. Electromyography(EMG) has been used to define the muscle excitation and movement cycle in this study. Twenty healthy subjects and twenty L4/L5 disc patients were recruited for the experiment. The subjective pain levels of patients were recorded as $3.7{\pm}1.6$ according to visual analogue scale where 10 was the maximum pain level. Variance ratio of motion cycle was suggested as a new parameter to examine the consistency of the trunk movement. The results indicated that the temporal EMG pattern such as peak time difference between Quadriceps and Hamstrings, the duration of coexcitation between Erector spinae and Rectus abdominis muscle pairs showed a statistically significant difference between healthy subjects and patients. Variance ratio of External oblique and Internal oblique also showed a statistically significant difference. It is expected that those results could be used for diagnosis by building a database for various back pain patients and healthy subjects. This method can eventually help physicians for early diagnosis and prevention of low back disorders.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.76-81
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• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the effects of squatting with different foot positions on the muscle activation of the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscles in subjects with genu varum. Methods: Thirty four subjects participated in this study. Surface electromyography was used to measure the muscle activation of the VMO and VL muscles at the knee angles ($15^{\circ}$, $60^{\circ}$) at three foot positions (internal rotation, neutral position, external rotation) during squatting. Results: Muscle activation differences at different knee angles and foot positions differed significantly between the VMO and VL muscles in both the varus and normal groups. In addition, there was a significant difference according to the knee angles with the foot in external rotation in the VMO and VL ratio. In the varus group, however, the VMO and VL ratio were significantly different only with the feet in internal rotation. In the muscle activation changes of the knee angle differences in the foot position, there was no significant difference in the varus group, but both the VMO and VL muscles were significant different in the normal group. Conclusion: In both groups, regardless of the foot position, muscle activation of the VMO and VL muscles increased with increasing knee flexion angle. In the normal group, when squatting with the feet in external rotation, the VMO and VL muscles activations increased with increasing knee angle. In the varus group, however, the foot position did not affect the VMO or VL muscle activation. This study shows that subjects with genu varum and normal subjects have different VMO and VL muscle activation patterns during squat exercises.