• 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.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.23-29
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• 2012

Background: The present study was conducted with 30 adult males in order to examine the muscle activity of the trunk and the lower extremities at diverse initial bending angles of the hip joint during bridge exercise on a stable surfaces and on an unstable surface that is widely performed for stabilization. Methods: The initial angles of the hip joint used were $0^{\circ}$, $45^{\circ}$ and $90^{\circ}$ and the subjects were divided into a matt experimental group and a balance training group. Results: In maximum values of muscle activity at different exercise methods and angles, the matt experimental group showed statistically significant differences in the muscle activity values of the rectus abdominis muscle, the erector spinae muscle, the rectus femoris muscle and the peroneus muscles between different angles while the balance training group showed significant differences only in the muscle activity values of the erector spinae muscle between different initial angles of the hip joint. The matt experimental group showed significant differences in muscle activity between initial angles $0^{\circ}$ and $90^{\circ}$, between $45^{\circ}$ and $90^{\circ}$ in the rectus abdominis muscle, between $0^{\circ}$ and $90^{\circ}$ in the erector spinae muscle, between $45^{\circ}$ and $90^{\circ}$ in the rectus femoris muscle and between $0^{\circ}$ and $90^{\circ}$ in the peroneus muscles while the balance training group showed significant differences between $0^{\circ}$ and $90^{\circ}$ in the erector spinae muscle. Conclusions: Therefore, it is thought that bridge exercises should be applied to patients using diverse methods.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.25-31
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• 2018

Background: The purpose of this study was to find out how changes in knee angles in stable and unstable support surfaces affect the muscle thickness of core muscles. Methods: The subjects of this study were 25 male adult. Each knee angle of 120, 90 and 60 degrees, they were performed bridge exercise on the stabilized surface and on the unstable support surface using TOGU, and measured the muscle thickness of the external and internal oblique muscle and the abdominal muscles through ultrasound images. Results: There was no significant difference between the thickness of the rectus abdominis and the internal oblique muscle depending on the support surface and the knee joint bending angles. However, there was a significant difference between the external oblique muscle and the transverse abdominis muscle by knee joint flexion angle. Conclusion: While the muscle thickness of the core muscle was not significantly affected by each support surface during the bridge exercise, there were significant changes in the core muscle as a result of changes in knee angle.