• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.210-214
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• 2016

Objective: The aim of this study was to measure the muscle architectural parameters of abdominal muscles in healthy individuals by rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI) and to investigate their changes after bridging exercise in various environments. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: The study included 40 healthy participants (19 men, 21 women). Subjects were randomly allocated to a stable surface group (SG, n=20) or an unstable surface group (UG, n=20). The participants assumed three positions in rest, bridging exercise with knee flexion $60^{\circ}$, and bridging exercise with knee flexion $90^{\circ}$ for the measurement of abdominal muscle thickness by RUSI. For the resting position, the participants held the head neutral in a hook-lying position and the dominant side was measured. For contraction, the participants performed the bridging exercise with the knee joint in $60^{\circ}$ and $90^{\circ}$ of flexion for 10 seconds each. Results: For transversus abdominis, external oblique muscle thickness, within the stable surface group and the unstable surface group, no significant contraction difference was observed in both the $60^{\circ}$ and $90^{\circ}$ bridge exercise conditions. Contraction difference of internal oblique muscle was significantly larger at $90^{\circ}$ than at $60^{\circ}$ within the SG (p<0.05). But within the UG, no significant contraction difference was shown. There was no significant contraction difference between the surface group and the unstable SG at $60^{\circ}$ condition and at $90^{\circ}$ condition in all measured muscles. Conclusions: The contraction difference is different for each muscle during bridge exercise with knee flexion $60^{\circ}$ and bridging exercise with knee flexion $90^{\circ}$. Muscle contraction difference is generally large when exercised on an unstable surface than a stable surface, but these are not statistically significant when bridging exercise is performed using dynamic air cushion for unstable surface.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.301-306
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed to describe and identify the relationship between gait and contracted ratios of the transverse abdominal (TrA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO) muscles. Methods: This study was conducted on 50 elderly people. The contracted ratios of the lateral abdominal muscles (LAM) were measured using the abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) and ultrasonographic imaging. Gait was measured using the timed up and go test and the 10 m walk test. Results: The contracted ratios of the TrA and IO muscles significantly increased after ADIM. Those of the TrA muscles showed a significant correlation with gait in the limited community ambulatory group. The contracted ratios of the IO and EO muscles showed a significant correlation with gait in the community ambulatory group. Conclusion: Our findings suggest a specific training on the relationship between gait speed and the activation of the LAM in elderly people.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.15-27
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• 2009

Objective : This study was carried to identify the anatomical component of BMM (Foot Taeyang Meridian Muscle in the human truncus), and further to help the accurate application to real acupunctuation. Methods: The human truncus was stripped off in order to demonstrate muscles, nerves and other components, and to display the internal structure of the BMM, dividing into outer, middle, and inner parts. Results: The BMM in the human truncus is composed of muscles, nerves, ligaments etc. The internal composition of the BMM in the human truncus is as follows: 1. Muscle A. Outer layer: medial palpebral ligament, orbicularis oculi, frontalis, galea aponeurotica, occipitalis, trapezius, latissimus dorsi, thoracolumbar fascia, gluteus maximus. B. Middle layer: frontalis, semispinalis capitis, rhomboideus minor, serratus posterior superior, splenius cervicis, rhomboideus major, latissimus dorsi, serratus posterior inferior, levator ani. C. Inner layer: medial rectus, superior oblique, rectus capitis, spinalis, rotatores thoracis, longissimus, longissimus muscle tendon, longissimus muscle tendon, multifidus, rotatores lumbaris, lateral intertransversi, iliolumbaris, posterior sacroiliac ligament, iliocostalis, sacrotuberous ligament, sacrospinous ligament. 2. Nerve A. Outer layer: infratrochlear nerve, supraorbital n., supratrochlear n., temporal branch of facial n., auriculotemporal n., branch of greater occipital n., 3rd occipital n., dorsal ramus of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th thoracic n., dorsal ramus of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th lumbar n., dorsal ramus of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th sacral n. B. Middle layer: accessory nerve, anicoccygeal n. C. Inner layer: branch of ophthalmic nerve, trochlear n., greater occipital n., coccygeal n., Conclusions : This study shows that BMM is composed of the muscle and the related nerves and there are some differences from already established studies from the viewpoint of constituent elements of BMM at the truncus, and also in aspect of substantial assay method. In human anatomy, there are some conceptional differences between terms (that is, nerves which control muscles of BMM and those which pass near by BMM).

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 2012

The pelvic compression belt (PCB) contributes to improving sacroiliac joint stability, and it has been used as an additional therapeutic option for patients with sacroiliac joint pain (SIJP). This study aimed to investigate whether the muscle activation patterns of the supporting leg was different between asymptomatic subjects and subjects with SIJP during one-leg standing, and how it changes with the PCB. 15 subjects with SIJP and 10 asymptomatic subjects volunteered to participate in this study. Surface electromyography (EMG) data (reaction time [RT] and muscle activation) were collected from the internal oblique, lumbar multifidius, gluteus maximus and biceps femoris muscles during one-leg standing with and without the PCB. Without the PCB condition, in the SIJP group, the biceps femoris muscle showed the fastest RT among all muscles (p<.05), whereas in the asymptomatic group, the RT of the internal oblique muscle was the most rapid (p<.05). In condition without the PCB, the biceps femoris EMG amplitudes in the SIJP group were significantly greater than that in the asymptomatic group (p<.05). After the application of the PCB, the RT of the biceps femoris muscle was significantly increased only in the SIJP group (p<.05). Moreover, the biceps femoris EMG amplitudes significantly decreased and the gluteus maximus EMG amplitudes significant increased only in the SIJP group by applying the PCB (p<.05). However, this had no such effect on the gluteus maximus and biceps femoris EMG patterns in the asymptomatic group (p>.05). Thus, this study supports the applying the PCB to patients with SIJP can be used as a helpful option to modify the activation patterns of the gluteus maximus and biceps femoris muscle.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.189-196
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate electromyographic (EMG) activity of deep and superficial trunk muscles during trunk stabilization exercises with and without stabilization maneuvers. Methods: The relative muscle activity ratios and local muscle activities of 25 healthy males were measured using the 8 channel surface EMG system (Myosystem 1400A, Noraxon Inc., U.S.A). The surface EMG activities were tested during performing abdominal hollowing maneuver (AHM), abdominal bracing maneuver (ABM) and no stabilization maneuver (NSM) in random order. Data were analyzed using $1{\times}3$ repeated measures ANOVA. Results: During bridging exercises, the EMG activity ratio of transverse abdominis/internal oblique abdominis relative to rectus abdominis was significantly lower in NSM than in AHM and ABM. During bridging and kneeling exercises, the EMG activity ratio of multifidus relative to erector spinae was significantly higher in AHM than in NSM. Conclusion: The AHM can be clinically used by the physical therapist to activate selectively the trunk muscles when designing selective training programs for patients.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.39-43
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was to examine lateral abdominal muscle activation during maximum expiration exercise between healthy and chronic low back pain(CLBP) patients. Methods: The subjects were 16 CLBP patients and 16 healthy people between the ages of 22 and 53. The thickness of the abdominal muscles was measured using ultrasonography(LOGIQ Book XP, GE, USA). We instructed the subjects how to perform the exercises and measured changes in thickness of the transversus abdominis(TrA) and internal oblique(IO) muscles during the maximum expiration. The main outcome variables were the ratios of the TrA and IO thickness during the exercise versus in the relaxed position(TrA and IO activation ratios). Results: There were significant differences between CLBP patients and healthy subjects for TrA in the relaxed position. However there was no difference in the ratio of change in the muscle activity(TrA, IO). Conclusion: These findings, CLBP patients exhibited atrophy of the TrA muscle, but voluntary TrA muscle activation was similar to that of the normal subjects. Therefore, this exercise could be used during core strengthening in CLBP patients.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.2323-2330
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• 2021

Background: Stroke patients have weak trunk muscle strength due to brain injury, so a single type of exercise is advised for restoring functionality. However, even after intervention, the problem still lies and it is suggested that another intervention method should be applied with exercise in order to deal with such problem. Objectives: To Investigate the effect of bridge exercise combined with functional electrical stimulation (FES) on trunk muscle activity and balance in stroke patients. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: From July to August 2020, twenty stroke patients was sampled, ten patients who mediated bridge exercises combined with functional electrical stimulation were assigned to experiment group I, and ten patients who mediated general bridge exercises were assigned to experiment groupII. For the pre-test, using surface EMG were measured paralyzed rectus abdominis, erector spinae, transverse abdominis/internal oblique muscle activity, and using trunk impairment scale were measured balance. In order to find out immediate effect after intervention, post-test was measured immediately same way pre-test. Results: Change in balance didn't show significant difference within and between groups, but muscle activity of trunk was significant difference rectus abdominis and erector spinae within groups I (P<.01), also between groups was significant difference (P<.05). Conclusion: Bridge exercise combined with FES could improve trunk function more effectively than general bridge exercise due to physiological effect of functional electrical stimulation.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.281-286
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• 2015

Purpose: The study was to determine whether mechanical horseback-riding training according to velocity may improve trunk muscles thickness in healthy adults. Methods: Twenty healthy adults participated in this study. The subjects were divided into 2 groups as follows: 10 subjects in high velocity mechanical horseback-riding training (MHRT) and 10 subjects in low velocity MHRT. Subjects in all groups performed a total of 18 sessions 3 times a day for 20 minutes and this experiment lasted for 6 weeks. Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon Signed Rank test were used in analysis the results of trunk muscle thickness. Ultrasonography was performed to evaluate for thickness of rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), internal oblique (IO), transverse abdominis (TrA), erector spine (ES), and multifidus (MF) in trunk muscles. Results: Results on the changes of EO, IO, and ES of high velocity MHRT showed a significant increase after 6 weeks (p<0.05). Regarding the changes of EO, IO, ES, TrA, and MF of low velocity MHRT, a significant increase was observed after 6 weeks (p<0.05). The differences in change of trunk muscle thickness before training, after 6-week training between groups, TrA and MF of low velocity MHRT were significantly higher (p<0.05). Conclusion: Based on the results of the current study, the velocity of MHRT was shown to affect change of trunk muscle thickness in healthy adults. In particular, low velocity MHRT may serve as a useful method to provide for TrA, MF thickness improvement related to trunk stabilizers.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.1-10
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• 2012

The aim of this study is to compare measurements of abdominal muscle thickness using ultrasonography imaging (USI) to those using a special transducer head device, during five different trunk stabilization exercises, ultimately to determine which exercise led to the greatest muscle thickness. Thirty eight healthy subjects participated in this cross-sectional study. The five types of trunk stabilization - i.e., a sit-up on the supine, an upper and lower extremity raise with quadruped on the prone, a leg raise in sitting on the ball, trunk rolling on the ball, and balance using sling on the prone position - were each performed with an abdominal draw. The thickness of the abdominal muscle - including the transverse abdominal (TrA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO) - was measured by USI with a special transducer head device, at rest and then at contraction in each position. Data were analyzed using one-way repeated ANOVA with the level of significance set at ${\alpha}$=.05. The results were as follows: 1) the TrA thickness was statistically significant (p<.05), whereas the IO and EO thicknesses were not (p>.05); 2) among the five types of trunk stabilization, TrA thickness significantly increased with the balance using a sling in the prone position, (p<.05), whereas no significant difference was noted for the four types of trunk stabilization (p>.05); 3) reliability data showed that there was a high degree of consistency among the measurements taken using the special transducer head device (ICC=.92). In conclusion, the balance using a sling in the prone position was more effective than any of the four other types of trunk stabilization in increasing TrA thickness in healthy subjects.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.112-118
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• 2016

Purpose: This study examined thickness changes in abdominal muscles according to difficulty level of core stabilization exercise in healthy subjects. Methods: Thirty healthy subjects (age range: 21-30 years) volunteered under three conditions. In the first condition, the subjects performed an abdominal draw-in maneuver (ADIM). In the second condition, they performed the ADIM during quadruped exercise using a suspension device without extending their lower limbs. In the third condition, the subjects performed the ADIM during quadruped exercise using a suspension device while extending both lower limbs. The changes in thickness of transverse abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO) muscles were measured by ultrasonography (US) imaging during the three experimental conditions, and US was used to measure the improvement ratio of muscle thickness at rest. The interventions were conducted over three trials in each condition, and measurements were performed on each subject by one examiner. Results: Our results showed a significantly greater increase in the muscle thickness of TrA and IO muscles after performance of quadruped exercise using a suspension device without knee extension (p<0.05) compared to the other conditions. The results also showed a significantly greater increase in the thickness changes of EO muscle in those who performed the ADIM during quadruped exercise using a suspension device with knee extension (p<0.05) compared with the ADIM only. Conclusion: These findings demonstrated positive evidence that a low-level core stabilization exercise could improve thickness of abdominal muscles.