• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.201-206
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• 2017

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify the effects of Pilates mat exercise may improve trunk muscle thickness and balance in healthy adults. Methods: Eighteen healthy adults participated in this study. They were randomly assigned to one of two groups: Pilates mat exercise group (n=9) and the control group (n=9). Subjects in Pilates mat exercise group performed the exercises three days per week for 6 weeks, which consisted of warm up, main workout, and cool down. Trunk muscle thickness of the rectus abdominis (RA), internal oblique (IO), external oblique (EO), transverse abdominis (TrA), multifidus (MF), and erector spine (ES) were measured using an ultrasonography. Balance ability was evaluated using Romberg test and limits of stability (LOS). Measurements were performed before training, 3 weeks after training, and 6 weeks after training. Results: There was a significant difference of RA, EO, IO, MF, and ES according to the main effect of time (p<0.05). There was a significant difference of EO, MF, ES, Romberg, and LOS according to interaction effect between the time and group (p<0.05). There was a significant difference only for LOS according to the main effect of the group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Pilates mat exercise did increase trunk muscle thickness and balance. However, the effect with respect to trunk thickness was limited. Pilates mat exercise appears to be more effective in improving muscles related to trunk extension and balance.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2008

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the correlations between muscle strength of the ankle and balance, walking in the elderly. Methods: Thirty-nine subjects were selected from a population of female volunteers. Measurement of balance ability included evaluation of timed "up and go", functional reach, and a one leg standing test. Measurement of walking analysis included evaluation of cadence, stride length, step length, and walking speed. Maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) of the ankle muscle strength was measured by use of a dynamometer. Results: For balance, there were significant negative correlations between timed "up and go" and the MVIC of the ankle dorsiflexor. There were significant positive correlations between one leg standing with the eyes closed and the MVIC of the ankle dorsiflexor. For walking, there were significant positive correlations between cadence, walking speed and the MVIC of the ankle dorsiflexor. Conclusion: This study showed that there were close relationships between muscle strength of the ankle dorsiflexor and walking and balance in the elderly.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.59-66
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of study was to test the effect of lower extremity muscle strengthening exercise using elastic resistance on balance on elderly women. Methods: Twenty four women who were over 65 years old were randomly assigned to either the experimental group that received the exercise programme (n=12) or to the control group (n=12) that continued normal activities except programme. Exercises included the following 7 different activities; chair squat, knee flection, extension, hip flection, extension, calf muscle raise, ankle dorsiflection. All the participants were subject to 3 tests, including One-Leg Standing Test, Functional Reaching Test, and Up & Go Test. The measurements were made before the excercise, 4 and 8 weeks after the exercise. The data were analyzed by using the two way repeated ANOVA. Results: The results were as follows; As compared with change of balance capacity between groups, a significant difference was shown in the up and go test (p<.05), but not in balance performance clinical test of OLST (p>.05) and FRT (p>.05). Conclusion: The lower extremity muscle strengthening exercise using elastic resistance for the elderly women had some positive effects on the balance. Therefore this intervention can be broadly applied to other elders for preventing falls.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.278-288
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of stabilization exercise on whole-body vibration on pain, dysfunction, psychosocial factors, balance ability, and abdominal contraction with patients with low back pain. Design: A randomized controlled trial Methods: A total of 34 patients with low back pain were assigned randomly to experimental group (n=17) and control group (n=17). Both groups underwent a neuromuscular stabilization exercise program. In addition, the experimental group implemented the neuromuscular stabilization exercise program using whole-body vibration. All interventions were applied 60 min per session, 3 times per week for total 4 weeks. Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Korean version of Oswestry Disability Index (K-ODI), Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ), balance ability, muscle thickness and contraction ratio were compared to evaluate the effect on intervention. Results: Both groups showed significant differences in NRS, balance ability, and muscle thickness in contraction, contraction ratio before and after intervention (p<0.05). In addition, the experimental group showed significant difference in the amount of change in NRS, balance ability and muscle thickness in contraction, contraction ratio values than the control group (p<0.05). Conclusions: Neuromuscular stabilization exercise program combined with whole-body vibration stimulation has been proven to be an effective and clinically useful method to decrease pain, dysfunction, increase balance ablilty, and transverse abdominis muscle thickness in contraction and contraction ratio for patients with low back pain.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.115-118
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• 2013

Objective: Whole body vibration training is a relatively new approach for enhancement of muscle strength, physical performance, and balance. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of unilateral whole body vibration training. Design: One group pretest-posttest design. Methods: Sixteen healthy, physically active volunteers participated in this study. Whole body vibration was applied with a frequency of 20 Hz and an amplitude of 3 mm for 3 minutes. Muscle performance and static balance were assessed before and after unilateral whole body vibration training. One leg standing broad jump test was measured to determine muscle performance which is closely linked to lower extremity muscle function. The good balance system was used in evaluation static balance. All test were measured 3 times and the average value was analyzed. Results: Jumping length was significantly improved by 0.11m in all participants after intervention (p<0.05). Among static parameters, significant results were observed where in the eyes opened condition, X-speed (medial-lateral sway) changed from 4.20 mm/s to 4.95 mm/s, Y-speed (anterior-posterior sway) changed from 5.77 mm/s to 6.54 mm/s and velocity moment changed from $12.77mm^2/s$ to $13.57mm^2/s$ (p<0.05). In the eyes closed condition, X-speed changed from 4.34 mm/s to 4.85 mm/s, Y-speed changed from 7.84 mm/s to 8.16 mm/s and velocity moment changed from $16.03mm^2/s$ to $16.11mm^2/s$ (p<0.05). Conclusions: Immediate unilateral whole body vibration improved muscle performance but impaired static balance in young adults.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.65-76
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• 2015

Objective : The purpose of this study was to analyse the differences in core stability and muscle balance of the pilates Teaser motion according to the surfaces and skills. Methods : There were 10 subjects in this study with 5 being skilled and 5 that were not skilled. The independent variables were surfaces (high elastic & aluminum) and skills (skilled & unskilled). Dependent variables were core stability and muscle balance. Core stability was measured by Force Platform (9872, Switzerland), 3D Imagery (IBS-2000, EXYMA) was used to understand the muscle balance. In order to do the Teaser movement subjects had to lay flat on their back and then lean forward as much as possible and hold the position for 10 seconds. Afterwards, they would lay back down again. A camera (MHS-PM5K, SONY) was used to make 4 phases (take off, recoil forward, holding, recoil backward) during the teaser exercise to analyze movement. In this study quantitative and qualitative analysis was used. For the statistical analysis, 2X2 ANOVA was used to analyze the differences in movement time, X,Y,Z maximum force, center of pressure and angles according to different phases. 2X3 ANOVA was used to analyze the differences in muscle balance via SPSS 18.0. Results : Soft. Elastic mat had a longer holding time, lower Fx/ Fy/ Fz, shorter Fx trajectory, larger angle and shorter gaps in muscle balance than a hard surface in skilled subjects. This was because the mat can help to recruit and then sustain core fine muscles during holding time in the Teaser movement.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.264-269
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• 2015

Purpose: The objective of this study was to determine the effects of game based weight-bearing training (GBWBT) on lower extremity muscle activation and balance in stroke patients. Methods: Thirty subjects were randomly divided into two groups: experimental group I (n=15) and control group II (n=15). Each group was provided intervention under two conditions, as follows: in the Game based weight-bearing training (group I), 30 minutes per day, five times per week, with physical therapy for 30 minutes, and in the functional weight-bearing training (group II), 30 minutes per day, five times per week, with physical therapy for 30 minutes The training program was conducted for a period of eight weeks. Subjects were measured on lower extremity muscle (rectus femoris, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius) by electromyography and balance by Biorescue. ANCOVA was performed for comparison of lower extremity muscle activation and balance between different intervention methods. All patients were evaluated at baseline and at the end of the treatment protocol. Statistical significance was tested between the patients before and after treatment by t-test. Results: Significant difference in lower extremity muscle activation was observed in experimental group I compared with control group II (p<0.05). Significant difference in balance was observed in experimental group I compared with control group II (p<0.001). Conclusion: Findings of this study suggest that game based weight-bearing training may have a beneficial effect on improvement of lower extremity muscle activation and balance in stroke patients.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.291-300
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• 2019

Purpose : This study focuses on the influence of bridge exercise combined with whole body vibration on muscle activity and balance. Methods : 30 stroke patients were recruited for subjects. The subjects were divided to bridge exercise combined stable surface (Group I), bridge exercise combined unstable surface (Group II), and bridge exercise combined bridge exercise (Group III), of which 10 subjects were randomly allocated. The subjects were given 30 minutes of neurologic physical therapy which included gait training and muscular strength training, and additionally given 30 minutes of bridge exercise combined stable surface, bridge exercise combined unstable surface, and bridge exercise combined whole body vibration for each group, five times a week, for 8 weeks. Their muscle activity and balance were analyzed before the intervention. After 8 weeks of the intervention, the mentioned parameters were measured once more for between-group analysis. Results : Comparative analysis of the muscle activity and balance between the groups showed statistically significant difference, and post-hoc analysis showed the Group III had greater changes in muscle activity and balance than Group Iand Group II. Conclusion : Such results revealed that bridge exercise combined with whole body vibration is effective in muscle activity and balance. Based on the current study, more effective program is to be proposed for elite athletes as well as stroke patients. Based on the current study, studies that incorporates various frequencies of vibration is required for development of effective whole body vibration exercise program.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.245-252
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of action observation training on lower limb muscle activity and dynamic balance in chronic stroke patients. Methods: This study evaluated 20 chronic stroke patients who were divided randomly into a control and an experimental group comprising 10 patients each. Both the experimental group and the control group performed the general exercise therapy provided by the hospital, but the experimental group also performed action observation training. Lower limb muscle activity was measured with a surface electromyograph, and dynamic balance was measured with the Timed Up and Go test and the 10-meter walk test. The paired t-test was used to compare the groups before and after the experiment. Furthermore, the independent t-test was used to assess differences in the degree of change between the two groups before and after the experiment. Results: The within-group comparisons for both the experimental group and the control group showed significant differences in muscle activity and dynamic balance (p<0.05). In a comparison between the groups, the differences in the muscle activity and dynamic balance of the experimental group appeared significant compared with those of the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: The study results indicate that action observation training is effective in improving the muscle activity and dynamic balance of chronic stroke patients.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.133-142
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of balance using ankle strategy during adjusted balance training and muscle training in normal young female adults. Methods: There were eighteen participants. All subjects were randomly assigned to three groups, the control group (n=6), the adjusted balance training group (n=6) and the muscle training group (n=6). Subjects were assessed for each subject by a pretest and a posttest at 1 week, 2 weeks, and 3 weeks, measuring the anterior-posterior limit of stability, trace length and EMG data for the tibialis anterior and lateral gastrocnemius. Results: The anterior-posterior limit of stability significantly increased in the training group (p<0.05). The trace length significantly decreased in the training group (p<0.05). The muscle activity of the tibialis anterior and lateral gastrocnemius also significantly decreased in the training group (p<0.05). Conclusion: We confirmed that both the balance training group and the muscle training group significantly increased the anterior-posterior limit of stability and decreased trace length and muscle activity. Further studies are needed to analyze the long-term effects on subjects resulting from these changes.