• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.94-100
• /
• 2020

Purpose: This study examined the effects of the abdominal hollowing technique applied during plank exercises at different shoulder angles between the ground and the humerus on the abdominal muscle activity Methods: The subjects were 36 male volunteers. They were randomized to perform plank exercises or plank exercises using the hollowing technique at 80˚, 90˚, 100˚, and 110˚ between the ground and the humerus. The abdominis muscles were measured using a surface electromyogram. Independent t-tests examined the changes in the activity of these muscles according to the two exercise methods at each angle. The changes in muscle activity were examined according to the selected angles by one-way analysis of variance. Results: The activity of abdominal muscles was investigated according to the angle between the ground and the humerus during the plank exercise. As a result, the muscle activity increased significantly with decreasing angle in the rectus abdominis, external oblique, and internal oblique·transverse abdominis muscles (p<0.05). In terms of the changes in abdominal muscle activity after hollowing plank exercises at the given angles between the ground and the humerus, an increase in angle resulted in a statistically significant increase in the rectus abdominis muscle activity (p<0.05). The activities of the rectus abdominis, external oblique, and internal oblique/transverse abdominis muscles after hollowing plank exercises showed statistically significant increases (p<0.05) compared to those after plank exercises. Conclusion: The hollowing technique and the increase in the angle between the ground and the humerus may be an effective exercise method for increasing the muscle activity of the abdominis muscles.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.6 no.4
• /
• pp.91-100
• /
• 2018

Purpose : The study investigated the effects of Pilates exercise on strengthening trunk muscles of females who perform such exercise for the purpose of comparing activation of trunk muscles that contact while performing Pilates motions between females with or without at least 8 weeks of Pilates experience. Methods : The study investigated 10 females with at least 8 weeks of Pilates experience in the past 6 months (experienced group) and 10 healthy females without Pilates experience (non-experienced group). The study used basic Pilates postures involving hip abduction, lift, and leg swing motions as the measurement postures in comparing the activation of muscles used for stabilization, such as the rectus abdominis, external oblique abdominal, and transverse abdominis & internal oblique abdominal muscles. Surface electromyography was used for measuring muscle activation, and the measurements targeted activation of the rectus abdominis, external oblique abdominal, transversus abdominis, and internal oblique abdominal muscles. Results : The study results showed that, as compared to the non-experienced group, the experienced group had significantly higher muscle activation in the transverse abdominis and internal oblique abdominal muscles during hip abduction (p<.05) and significantly higher muscle activation in the rectus abdominis, external oblique abdominal, and transverse abdominis & internal oblique abdominal muscles during lift and leg swing motions (p<.05). Conclusion : Pilates exercise performed over a long period can be recommended as an effective exercise method that can increase the activation of trunk muscle, and especially, repeated performance of highly difficult motions can increase muscle activation even more, which can help promote spinal stabilization, prevent pain, and improve performance of activities of daily living.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.123-125
• /
• 2000

Rectus abdominis syndrome is the abdominal pain which occurs in the distribution of the medial or lateral cutaneous branch of the 7~12th intercostal nerves. It is frequently cause that results in unnecessary pain and expense to patient. The physical examination is difficult because of severe abdominal pain. We must have attention to the possibility that patients with abdominal pain, in whom no intra- abdominal cause is founded, may suffer from this presumed nerve entrapment syndrome. If we can find the cause of pain in the abdominal rectus muscle, no evaluation and surgery are required and therapy can be simple.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2012

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different heel height on the electromyographic (EMG) activity in Rectus abdominis (RA) and Erector spinae (ES) during gait activity. Methods : A repeated measures design was used. 33 healthy females carried out a standardized gait activity under 3 conditions; with heel wedges of 1, 7, and 12cm in height. EMG activity was recorded from RA and ES during the activity. Data was analysed using the repeated one-way ANOVA. Results : First, as the shoe-heel height was getting higher, change of muscle activation indicated the statistically significant difference in rectus abdominis(p<0.05). Second, as the shoe-heel height was getting higher, change of muscle activation indicated the statistically significant difference in erector spinae(p<0.05). Conclusion : We found that as heel height increased, there was an increase in EMG activity in both RA and ES. This indicated that no RA : ES imbalance was elicited. This study provides information that will inform future research on how heel height affects muscle activity around the trunk.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.22 no.5
• /
• pp.33-38
• /
• 2010

Purpose: This study examined the activation of the rectus abdominis (RA), external abdominal oblique (EO), transversus abdominis, internal abdominal oblique (TrA/IO), and Multifidus (MF) muscles while stabilization exercise was performed in a four-point kneeling position. Methods: Experiments were conducted on 21 healthy male adults (mean age=25.29 years) who voluntarily agreed to participate in the study. Each subject was instructed regarding maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) and stabilization exercise in four-point kneeling. While MVC and stabilization exercise of individual muscles were being performed, activation of the muscles was measured using surface electromyography (EMG). Activation of the muscles while performing stabilization exercise in four-point kneeling was normalized to a percentages of the MVC. Results: Left RA, right TrA/IO, right and left MF muscles showed significant differences among the positions. Conclusion: Selecting an optimal position can aid subjects on physical conditions while performing stabilization exercises in the four-point kneeling position.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.137-144
• /
• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the effects of the abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) on muscle activity in the trunk and legs while subjects walk on a ramp. Methods: The subjects were healthy adult males (n=15) and females (n=8) in their twenties. The subjects were asked to maintain the ADIM contraction for 15 minutes using a pressure biofeedback unit. Their muscle activity was then measured while ascending or descending the ramp with or without the ADIM contraction maintained. Activity in the sternocleidomastoid, splenius capitis, rectus abdominis, external oblique abdominal, transversus abdominis, erector spinae, vastus medialis, and vastus lateralis muscles was measured using surface electromyography (TM DTS, Noraxon, USA). A paired t-test was conducted using SPSS 18.0 (IBM) for statistical data processing. Results: Maintaining the ADIM contraction during ascension led to a significant increase (p<0.05) in muscle activity for the rectus abdominis, transversus abdominis, vastus medialis, and vastus lateralis, but a significant decrease (p<0.05) in muscle activity for the erector spinae, when compared to the same activity without the ADIM maintained. Furthermore, maintaining the ADIM contraction during descent led to a significant increase (p<0.05) in muscle activity for the rectus abdominis, external abdominal oblique, transversus abdominis, vastus medialis, and vastus lateralis, but a significant decrease (p<0.05) in muscle activity for the erector spinae, when compared to the same activity without the ADIM maintained. Conclusion: As a result of this study, it maintains the ADIM and reduces lumbar muscle activity at the waist and increases muscle activity in the legs when walking on a ramp. Therefore, maintaining the ADIM contraction during ramp walking is recommended as training to improve the function of patients' muscular skeleton.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.224-230
• /
• 2016

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of height of the shoe heel in a one leg standing posture on the muscle activity of the rectus abdominis, erector spinae, hamstring, and rectus femoris. Twenty healthy female subjects were asked to perform a one leg standing posture with three types of shoes, which had different heights of shoe heel, 0cm, 3cm, and 7cm. Surface electromyography was used to evaluate the activities of the right rectus abdominis, erector spinae, hamstring, and rectus femoris muscles. The data was analyzed by repeated one-way ANOVA and the muscle activities among three heights of shoe heel were compared. The results showed that the muscle activities of the erector spinae and rectus femoris increased significantly according to increase height of shoe heel (p<0.05). The activity of the rectus abdominis and hamstring were not significantly different among the three height of shoe heel (p>0.05). These results suggest that the height of shoe heel affects the lumbo-pelvic alignment and center of mass; therefore, high-heeled shoes lead to musculoskeletal pain in the lumbopelvic, hip, and knee areas.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.283-288
• /
• 2006

Various vascularized free flaps have been used for midfacial reconstruction after ablative head and neck cancer surgery. The most common donor sites for free flap include latissimus dorsi, rectus abdominis, and radial forearm. Between 1994 and 2004, 14 patients underwent free flap operation after head and neck cancer ablation, and were reviewed retrospectively. Among 14 free flaps, 8 were latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps, 3 rectus abdominis myocutaneous flaps and 3 radial forearm flaps, respectively. The overall survival rate of the flap was 100%. Complications were wound dehiscence(5 cases) and ptosis(1 case). We designed multiple dimensionally folded free flap for midfacial reconstruction. For 3-dimensional flap needs, we used latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap. 2-Dimensional flap was latissimus dorsi or rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap and 1-dimensional flap was radial forearm flap. In this study we produced an algorithm for midfacial reconstruction. Large volume with many skin paddle defects were best reconstructed with latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap or rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap. Radial forearm flap was used for reconstruction of small volume and little skin paddle defects.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.9 no.3
• /
• pp.23-37
• /
• 2002

This study examined the muscle recruitment order during extension of the hip joint in normal subjects, and evaluated whether the external support obtained from wearing a lumbosacral corset had an effect on muscle recruitment leading to increased lumbar stability. The subjects were 40 normal adults (32 male, 8 female) with no history of low back pain and no pathological findings in the nervous or musculoskeletal systems. All subjects extended their hip joints under 3 positions (prone, sidelying, standing). During extension, the onsets of contraction of the rectus abdominis, gluteus maximus, and semitendinosus muscles were measured. Electromyographic activity was measured using a surface electrode, and the muscle contraction onset time was designated as the point exceeding a threshold of 25 ms, using a mean plus twice of the standard deviation. To compare the average order of muscle contraction onset time, a Freedman two-way analysis of variance by ranks was used. The relative difference between muscle contraction onset time wearing and not wearing a lumbosacral corset was measured using a paired t-test. A difference in the average muscle contraction onset order for the rectus abdominis, gluteus maximus, and semitendinosus muscles was observed (p<.05) among three positions. However, wearing a lumbosacral corset did not. change the contraction order. In addition, wearing a lumbosacral corset produced a significant difference (p<.05) in the relative onset time between the rectus abdominis and gluteus maximus in the standing position, but no difference was observed for the other muscles or positions. In the future, patients suffering from low back pain should be compared with normal subjects to determine the effectiveness of a lumbosacral corset in changing muscle recruitment order.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.16-23
• /
• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a repetitive lifting task on the level of activation and median frequency of the paraspinal muscles, and to provide basic data of the maximal acceptable duration of the lifting task to avoid muscle fatigue. Ten healthy male subjects were recruited as participants and they repetitively (12 lifts/min) lifted a box ($46cm{\times}30cm{\times}30cm$, 15 kg) for 10 minutes. Electromyographic data (muscle activation and median frequency), heart rate, and Borg CR10 score were recorded at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 minutes after the lifting task. Electromyographic data was recorded from the elector spinalis, mutifidus, external oblique abdominis, and rectus abdominis for 1 minute. The results showed that as the repetitive lifting task progressed, the heart rate and Borg CR10 score significantly increased. In addition, activation of the muscles increased. The median frequency significantly decreased over time in the elector spinalis, mutifidus, and external oblique abdominis (right side), except for the external oblique abdominis (left side) and rectus abdominis. It is suggested that the median frequency recorded from a dynamic task is used to monitor muscle fatigue. Furthermore, the repetitive lifting task (15 kg, 12 lifts/min) should not continue for more than 3 minutes in order to avoid muscle fatigue.