• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.16-31
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to assess the fatigue in lumbar and abdominal muscles in patients with chronic low back pain compared with normal subjects using spectral analysis with mean power frequency and median power frequency. The experimental group consisted of twenty subjects who had experienced chronic low back pain for over one year after the onset day. A control group consisted of twenty normal subjects with no history of low back pain. All subjects stood in an apparatus to perform sustained contraction in the lumbar and abdominal muscles for 30 seconds with 60% maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC). The resulting electromyographic (EMG) recorded time serial data were transformed into frequency serial data by Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT). The results were as follows: 1) lumbar muscles measured, the frequency change ratio of both median power frequency and mean power frequency was significantly greater for experimental group compared with control group group (p<0.05). In measured two abdominal muscles (inferior rectus abdominis, obliquus externus abdominis) except superior rectus abdominis, the frequency change ratio of both median power frequency and mean power frequency was significantly greater for experimental group compared with control group (p<0.05). 2) In all three (longissimus thoracis, iliocostalis lumborum, multifidus) lumbar muscles measured, the initial frequency value of both median power frequency and mean power frequency was significantly lower for the experimental group compared with the control group (p<0.05). In the two (inferior rectus abdominis, obliquus externus abdominis) abdominal muscles measured (superior rectus abdominis not included), the initial frequency value of both median power frequency and mean power frequency was significantly lower for the experimental group compared with the control group (p<0.05). These results suggest that in patients with chronic low back pain there is a trend for more fatigue to occur in both lumbar and abdominal muscles than in the normal control group. This would seem to suggest that in treatment programs for patients with chronic low back pain, improvement of endurance in all trunk muscles should be considered.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.309-318
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• 2012

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to compare 2 different interventions, global postural re-education (GPR) and specific spinal stabilization exercise in the healthy elderly of women. Methods : A total of 28 subjects were randomized into 2 treatment groups: GPR, where therapy involved muscle global chain stretching, or specific spinal stabilization exercise with conventional static stretching (GPR group: n=14, specific spinal stabilization exercise group: n=14). Both groups received exercise intervention 3 times a week for 12-weeks. Results : Outcome was based on trunk endurance, trunk flexibility, Pressure Bio Feedback, Oswestry Disability Index measured immediately before and after intervention. Trunk flexibility, Pressure Bio Feedback, Oswestry Disability Index improved more in GPR group after intervention. There were no differences between the 2 exercise approaches for any of the trunk endurance. Conclusion : As the above results, GPR appear to improve Trunk flexibility, Pressure Bio Feedback, Oswestry Disability Index to the elderly of women. The efficacy of the GPR program used in this study should be further investigated in a long period study and objective outcomes.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.1-8
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• 2011

Background: The purpose of this study was to systematic review the effect of exercise programs for chronic low back pain patients. We needs systematic development of low back pain exercise program to reduce economic cost further doing great service to public health promotion. Methods: We searched to the effects of exercise programs for chronic low back pain patients by Dankook University electronic library databases of DBPIA, KSI KISS, CINAHL, MEDLINE and PEDro combined with a hand search of papers published in relevant journals. Any type of study relevant to the topic published during time period from 1970 to 2007 was included. Results: The literature search identified 30 studies. 1.Performing the flexion exercise increased abdominal muscle activity but acute herniated intervertebral disc should be avoided. 2.The general lumbar extension exercise used lumbar extension machine and the muscle power increases, significant probability the change. 3.The spinal segments exercise for the patients offered significant efficacy and appeared to be a reasonable therapeutic option. 4.Spinal stabilization exercises appear to improve trunk endurance and balance to patients with chronic low back pain. This exercise programs had effective decrease pain and disability. Conclusion: The review suggests that although the exercise programs for chronic low back pain patients, and we expected the efficacy of the exercise programs for chronic low back pain patients used in this study should be further investigated in a long period study and objective outcomes.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 2019

Background: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) causes morphological changes in muscles, reduces muscle strength, endurance and flexibility, negatively affects lumbar stability, and limits functional activity. Plank exercise strengthens core muscles, activates abdominal muscles, and improves intra-abdominal pressure to stabilize the trunk in patients with CLBP. Objects: We investigated the effect of plank exercise on abdominal muscle thickness and disability in patients with CLBP. Methods: We classified 33 subjects into 2 groups: An experimental (n1=17) and a control group (n2=16). Patients in the experimental group participated in plank exercise and those in the control group participated in stretching exercise. Patients in both groups attended 20-minute exercise sessions thrice a week for 4 weeks. Abdominal muscle thickness in each subject was evaluated ultrasonographically, and disabilities were assessed using the Oswestry disability index (ODI). Results: Four weeks later, abdominal muscle thickness showed a significant increase over baseline values in both groups (p<.05). Patients in the experimental group reported a more significant increase in the thickness of the external oblique muscle than that in the control group (p<.05). ODI scores in the experimental group were significantly lower after intervention than before intervention (p<.05). Conclusion: Plank exercise increases the thickness of the external oblique muscle and reduces disability secondary to mild CLBP. Therefore, plank exercise is needed to improve lumbar stability and functional activity in patients with mild CLBP.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.369-382
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to verify the validation of exercise effect with loading deviation during rowing exercise. We performed evaluation of based physical fitness and joint torque before the experiment for finding muscle unbalance. So we recruited twenty four subjects who have bigger muscle strength in more 20% than average one. Subjects divided two groups. One is dominant upper limbs(DU) and the other was dominant lower limbs(DL). Subjects performed rowing exercise using electric equipment (Robo.gym.Humonic.korea). Exercise is performed four sets a day including 25 times a set, and three days a week. Measurement consist of evaluation of based physical fitness and joint torque using biodex(biodex system3.USA). Evaluation of exercise effect performed each week in joint torque of shoulder, lumbar and knee joint and each month in based physical fitness. Also we adapted 30% of 1RM for muscular endurance and 70% of 1RM for muscle strength as exercise load. The results showed that the difference of maximal peak torque were getting increase significantly during exercise. Also difference of various factor in based physical fitness were getting increase significantly except flexibility and agility. This interpreted that rowing exercise with loading deviation types could provide muscle strength and muscular endurance exercise in same time. These results could be interpret to two ways. One is effect of improving physical fitness for rowing exercise and the other meaned validation of loading deviation in rowing exercise. Our study is going to verify the validation of loading deviation during rowing and we found out that loading deviation could provide muscle strength and muscular endurance exercise for improving muscle unbalance. Our study can be used development of exercise equipment and program for normal people with muscle unbalance. Also that provide effect of whole body exercise to anybody.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.19-27
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• 2009

Background: To study the effect of the home exercise program on pain, flexibility, endurance of extensor in chronic back pain patients, and suggest optimal method for home exercise program. Methods: I divided into two groups who has chronic back pain; one is control group who was given a treatment at the hospital only and the other is experimental group who did another exercise after treatment at the hospital, and there were 10 people in each group. The manual therapy were given to all the patients in each group after applying a stupe and an electric treatment, but the experimental group conducted another exercise program at homes. All the exercise programs were applied to patients 12 times for 4 weeks totally. Result: SPSS for win version 12 was used for statistic analysis and independent t-test was used to find changes between two groups. VAS scale was used to show changes in pain between each group. The grade of pain was decreased between pre&post test to -5.60 in control group and -4.80 in experimental group but there wasn't significant difference between each group. Finger tip-to-floor test was used for the flexibility changes and it was increased between pre&post test in both groups but the change of flexibility between each groups didn't show statistical difference. Biering-Sorensen test was used to measure the endurance of extensor and it was increased between pre&post test in both groups but there wasn't significant difference between each group. Conclusion: As you read the results above, for a chronic low back pain patient, application of the manual therapy showed that it has effect on decrease of low back pain, increase of flexibility and endurance of extensor. However, the effect of home exercise treatment was not sure about improvements for chronic low back pain patient. So I think there should need further study about the effect of home exercise treatment except the treatments at hospital and the thorough education for the exercise of lumbar should be done before the study for the accurate experiment.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.19-27
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• 2020

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a multi-modal exercise program for patients with chronic low back with respect to pain intensity, trunk muscle strength and Oswestry disability index. Methods: Thirty patients with chronic low back pain were recruited and divided equally into two groups. The multi-modal training program comprised a series of exercises such as warm-up, stabilization exercises, stretching, endurance exercises, and cool down whereas the control group performed only stabilization exercises. The both group spent an equal amount of time performing 60 minutes per day, three times per week, for five weeks. Results: The experimental group demonstrated statistically significant improvements in range of motion, trunk muscle strength, the visual analogue scale, and the Oswestry Disability Index (p<.05). Intergroup comparison showed a statistically significant difference in the range of motion of the lumbar spine and the degree of disability in the experimental group. Muscle strength and pain were statistically significant in both groups. Conclusion: The multi-modal exercise program is effective for patients with chronic low back pain, as it reduces lower back pain, increases trunk muscles strength, and decrease the potential for becoming disabled.

• Journal of Sport and Applied Science
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.1-8
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• 2021

Purpose: Sarcopenia is defined as a decrease in muscle mass, strength, and function with age that affects overall body function. We aimed to investigate the effect of combined training on body composition, balance, and muscle function in sarcopenia elderly. Research design, data, and methodology: Twenty-eight sarcopenia elderly (age 74.9±4.5 years) were randomly assigned to an exercise, EG (n=14), or a control, CG (n=14), group. The EG performed an intervention consisting of combined exercise training (60-75 min) for a total of 12 weeks, three times a week. The CG maintained their usual daily lifestyle during the intervention period. We measured body weight, body mass index (BMI), % body fat, free fat mass, balance ability, peak torque in shoulder, knee, and lumbar joints normalized for bodyweight in one second. Results: The EG showed improved body composition (i.e., BMI, fat-free body mass, fat mass; all p < 0.031, η² > 0.179), balance (i.e., right and left of static and dynamic balance and fast 10 m walk; all p < 0.049, η² > 0.152), and muscular function (i.e., 90°/sec and 180°/sec peak power per kg bodyweight, 90°/sec average power per kg bodyweight, 180°/sec total work, and 180°/sec endurance ratio; all p < 0.045, η² > 0.158). Conclusions: Combined exercise training improves muscle mass and strength, body composition, balance, and muscle function in sarcopenia elderly.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.169-187
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• 2001

This study was performed to probe the effect of exercise program on muscle strength, endurance, flexibility, pain, disability level and life satisfaction in female teachers of elementary school who complain of low back pain. For this study, 44 female teachers aged 30-50 years with mechanical low back pain of 6 months' duration, who had the structural normalities in the lumbar spine, were recruited from April 1 to July 10 1999. Twenty three out of them were assigned to the experimental group and twenty one to the control group. The exercise program consisted of education on right postures, the etiology and diagnosis of low back pain, and exercise intervention such as muscle relaxation, elongation and strengthening. With 8 weeks program, the subjects received two sessions of education and six sessions of group exercise in the 1st week, while three sessions of group exercise and four sessions of individual exercise weekly and two sessions of education during the later 7 weeks. The muscle strength and endurance were measured by Cybex 770, the flexibility by flexibility measurement machine, the intensity of pain by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), the level of disability by Oswestry low back pain disability scale, depression by Beck depression inventory (BDI), and life satisfaction by Life satisfaction index-Z. Study measurements were taken before and after 8 weeks exercise program. Data were analyzed using paired t-test, t-test, and ANCOVA. The results were as follows ; 1. The flexors and extensors peak torque and flexors peak torque per body weight of experimental group were significantly increased at test velocities $30^{\circ}$/sec, $60^{\circ}$/sec compared with those of control group. There was no significant difference in extensors peak torque per flexors peak torque at $30^{\circ}/sec$, $60^{\circ}/sec$ between experimental and control group. 2. The flexors and extensors total work and flexors total work per body weight of experimental group were significantly increased at $120^{\circ}/sec$, compared with those of control group. 3.The flexibility of lumbar spine in experimental group was significantly increased compared with that of control group. The pains in anterior, posterior, left lateral and right lateral bending and in rotation of experimental group were significantly increased compared with those of control group. 4. The Oswestry disability scores of experimental and control group were significantly decreased, and there was no difference in the Oswestry disability score change between experimental and control group. 5. The scores of BDI of experimental group were significantly decreased compared with those of control group. Life satisfaction index-Z scores of experimental group were not changed, but those of control group were significantly decreased. There was no difference in the score change of Life satisfaction index-Z between experimental and control group. 6. ANCOVA analysis for the data variables of inhomogeneous baseline represented that there was no significant difference in extensors peak torque and extensors total work at $120^{\circ}/sec$ and extensor total work per body weight at $120^{\circ}/sec$ change between experimental group and control group. These findings indicate that the exercise program could be effective in increasing the muscle strength, endurance, flexibility and decreasing pain, improving depression in female teachers of elementary school with chronic low back pain. It is suggested that the exercise program could be an essential factor for the effective nursing intervention to the patients suffered from chronic low back pain.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.81-98
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• 1998

Isokinetic evaluation of trunk flexors and trunk extensors was performed at $60^{\circ}/sec\;and\;120^{\circ}/sec$ of angular velocity by using cybex 6000TEF Unit on 31 healthy male white workers and 15 post-operative HILD patients with no significant difference in mean age and mean body weight between two groups, and compared each other. The purpose of this study is to obtain the isokinetic normative strength values and endurance latins for Dunk extensors and trunk flexors, and is to provide a guideline for rehabilitation program of post-operative HILD patients. The collected data were analyzed by ANOVA, Duncan's Nyktuoke Range Test, and Pearson correlation coefficiency in PC-SAS program, The results obtained were as follow ; 1. Post-operative subjects has lower isokinetic values than normal subjects in peak torque, peak torque $\%$ by body weight, total work, total work $\%$ by body weight, average power, average power $\%$ by body weight, TAAE of trunk flexors and trunk extensors, and there are significant differences with statistic value in trunk extensors at $60^{\circ}/sec$ and in trunk flexors and trunk extensors at $120^{\circ}/sec$ between two groups(p<0.05). 2. Pest-ooperative subjects has lower values for angle of peak torque than normal subjects in trunk extensors, and there are significant differences with statistic value at $60^{\circ}/sec$ and $120^{\circ}/sec$ between two groups. 3. Post-operative subjects has higher values for endurance ratios than normal subjects in trunk extensors and flexors, but there are no significant differences with statistic value between two groups. 4. Post-operative subjects has higher values than normal subjects in peak torque ratios, total work ratios, average power ratios of trunk flexors to trunk extensors, and there are significant differences with statistic value between two groups(p<0.01). 5. There is significant positive-correlation with statistic valve between peak torque and height and body weight in normal subjects(p<0.05), but Thjere is significant negative-correlation between peak torque of trunk extensor at $120^{\circ}/sec$ and age (p<0.05). 6. There is significant positive-correlation with statistic value between peak torque of trunk flexors and body weight in post-operative subjects (p<0.05), but There is significant negative-correlation between peak torque of trunk extensor add age (p<0.05). In conclusion, post-operative subjects have greater weakness in trunk musculature than normal subjects, especially there is more significant weakness in trunk extensors than in trunk flexors