• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.39-45
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• 2018

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of core motion pattern on abdominal muscle thickness on unstable support surface using sling suspension system and to provide an effective exercise program for therapeutic rehabilitation in clinical practice. Methods : In this study, we used the flank exercise using a sling. It was intended for 21 healthy men and 9 healthy women. Before and after the exercise of the subjects, abdominal muscles (EO, IO, TrA the thickness of the muscle) was determined using a diagnostic ultrasonic apparatus. The period of exercise was 3 times a week for 6 weeks. The exercise for each group started with 3 sets per week and 1 set per week was added. A description of the method and attitude of each exercise is as follows. First, the push-up flank 's exercise position is to put both feet on the sling and hold the floor with both hands. Second, the side flank's exercise postures take the side flanks, while the two legs hang on the sling and one arm supports the body with an articulated bend (about $90^{\circ}$). Third, the elbow flank's exercise position is to put the two legs on the sling, and take a flank posture with the arms bent and joint bending (about $90^{\circ}$). Results : There was a significant difference in the thickness of the muscle in the three flank movements after the exercise (p<.05). The most significant difference was in the change of the muscle thickness in the abdominal muscle, the outer muscle, and the stomach in the elbow flank exercise after exercise. There was a significant difference between the mean thickness of the abdominal muscles according to the flank type after exercise (p<.05). Conclusion : In flank exercise for core stabilization using sling, it is considered effective to strengthen the abdominal muscles by considering the support surface, difficulty level, change of movement pattern.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.183-190
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• 2021

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of side planks on the muscle thickness of the core muscles, external oblique, internal oblique, and transverse abdominis, and this study was conducted to compare whether side plank exercise according to the application of various unstable support surfaces increases the thickness by activating the action of the muscles. Methods : The subjects of this study were 30 healthy adults and were randomly and equally assigned to three groups by a random number table. All subjects were divided into three groups according to the application of an unstable support surface during the side plank(Group A = stable support, Group B = one unstable support, Group C = two unstable supports). The side plank exercise was performed 30 minutes a day, 3 times a week for a total of 4 weeks. The muscle thickness of the core muscle was measured before the intervention, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 3 times in total. All measured data were comparatively analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA and one-way ANOVA. The statistical significance level was set to .05. Results : The results of this study were as follows : 1. All muscles showed an interaction between training period and group. 2. There was a significant difference between the groups at the 2 weeks and 4 weeks of the internal oblique and transverse abdominis muscle measurements. Conclusion : The thickness of the abdominal muscle increased during the side plank exercise according to the support surface, and the thickness of the abdominal muscle increased the most during the side plank exercise on the unstable support surface. Therefore, it is thought that the addition of an unstable support surface will provide a more effective therapeutic effect on the thickness change of the abdominal muscle during side plank exercise.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.1-6
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• 2010

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of visual feedback during abdominal hollowing (AH) in four point kneeling position, using real-time ultrasound imaging through measurement of the changes in the thickness of transversus abdominis (TrA), internal abdominal oblique (IO), and external abdominal oblique (EO). Methods: The subjects of this study were 32 healthy males who were divided intothe experimental group of 16 subjects and the control group of 16 subjects. The real-time ultrasound feedback was applied to the experimental group while they were educated on the AH exercise in four point kneeling whereas only general education and training were given to the control group. After the training, the changes in the thickness of abdominal muscles during AH in four point kneeling were compared between the experimental group and the control group. Results: The differences of the changes in the thickness of TrA and EO between the two groups were statistically significant. Conclusion: The experimental group experienced a higher increase in the thickness of TrA than the control group while the thickness of IO and EO of the experimental.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.83-91
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• 2016

PURPOSE: There are several methods, such as the abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM), maximal expiration (ME), and Kegel exercise, to strengthen the core muscles. However, to date no study has been conducted to compare the effects of the ADIM, ME, and Kegel exercise on the transverses abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), external oblique (EO), and pelvic floor muscles (PFMs). The purpose of this study was to find out which of the three aforementioned exercises is most effective for contracting the core muscles. METHODS: The thickness of the TrA, IO, EO and PFMs was measured by ultrasonographic imaging during the ADIM, ME and Kegel exercise in 34 healthy participants. RESULTS: There was the significant difference between ADIM and Kegel exercise in the thickness of the TrA (p<0.05). There were the significant differences between ADIM and ME and between ME and Kegel exercise in the thickness of the IO and PFM (p<0.01). There was no significant activation in the thickness of the EO (p>0.05). Measurement reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and the standard error of measurement (SEM). An ICC value of >0.77 indicated that reliability measurements was good. CONCLUSION: Kegel exercise was the most effective exercise for the TrA and the PFM, and ME was the most effective exercise for the IO muscles.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.71-82
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• 2023

PURPOSE: This study examined the effect of training using video content on abdominal muscle thickness, Oswestry disability index (ODI), and pain in college students with chronic back pain. METHODS: Twenty-nine college students with chronic back pain participated in this study. The subjects were assigned randomly to 15 experimental groups who trained using video content and 14 control groups who exercised voluntarily using back exercise leaflets. The video used for the intervention was obtained from YouTube, and the difficulty level of the video was classified into six levels. Both groups participated in the intervention for 40 minutes/day, three times a week for six weeks, and the variables of abdominal muscle thickness, ODI, and pain were compared before and after the intervention. RESULTS: In the experimental group, there were statistically significant changes in the thickness of the internal oblique and transverse abdominis muscles, ODI, and pain after the intervention, except for the external oblique muscle (p < .05). In the control group, there was no statistically significant difference in all variables after the intervention (p > .05). A statistically significant difference in all variables was observed between the experimental group and the control group after the intervention except for the external oblique muscle (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Treatment of chronic low back pain using video content is a possible alternative treatment if quality images are selected and the difficulty levels are adjusted.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.91-98
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• 2018

Purpose : The aim of this study is to determine changes to the thickness of core muscles, e.g., transversus abdominis (TrA), external oblique (EO), and internal oblique (IO), after plank and Kegel exercises and to compare the effects of the two exercise methods. Method : The study divided men and women in their 20s into two groups, Kegel and plank, by randomly allocating 30 males and 30 females to the targeted groups. To achieve the purpose of this study, we examined the thickness of core muscles after the participants performed plank or Kegel exercises. Results : 1. In the Kegel group, abdominal muscle thickness increased with time, and there was a statistically significant difference in the thickness of the TrA. 2. In the plank group, abdominal muscle thickness increased with time, and there was a statistically significant difference in the thickness of the TrA. 3. After the experiment, muscle thickness of the abdominal muscles in the plank exercise group were higher, but there was no significant difference between the Kegel exercise group and the plank exercise group. Conclusion : Both plank and Kegel exercises are recommended for core muscle stabilization, and based on the results of this study, Kegel exercise is either used as a core stabilizing exercise or as a plank exercise for the weaker patients or women.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.415-424
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• 2020

Purpose: This study aimed to compare changes in abdominal muscle thickness in different standing postures with a handheld load between subjects with and without chronic low back pain (CLBP). Methods: Twenty subjects with CLBP and 20 controls participated in this study. Ultrasound imaging was used to assess the changes in the thickness of the transverse abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO) muscles. Muscle thickness in three different standing postures (standing at rest, standing with loads, standing with lifting loads) was compared with the muscle thickness at rest in the supine position and was expressed as a percentage of change in the thickness of the muscle. Results: While standing with loads, the change in IO muscle thickness in the CLBP patients increased more significantly than in the pain-free controls (p < 0.05). The standing with lifting loads posture showed a significant increase in the change in thickness of the TrA compared with the standing with loads posture (p < 0.05). In addition, the standing with lifting loads posture showed a significant decrease in the change in the thickness of the EO when compared with the standing with loads posture (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The automatic activity of the IO muscle in subjects with CLBP increased more than that of the pain-free controls in the standing with loads posture. These findings suggest that IO muscle function may be altered in those with CLBP while standing with loads. Additionally, TrA the activation level was found to be associated with increased postural demand caused by an elevated center of mass.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.354-358
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• 2020

Purpose: This study aimed to verify the effects of bridge exercise with resistance to one hip joint adductor muscle on the thickness of external and internal oblique abdominal muscles, transversus abdominis muscle, and erector spinae muscle. Methods: The subjects were divided into two exercise groups: 15 for Bridge Exercise Group (BEG) and 15 for One Hip joint Adduction Bridge Exercise Group (OHABEG). The study used an ultrasonic instrument to measure trunk muscle thickness. OHABEG performed a bridge exercise with one hip Joint adduction. BEG performed a bridge exercise without resistance. Results: The external oblique abdominal, internal oblique abdominal, and the transversus abdominis muscles showed a significant increase by period and time in intra-group interactions (p<0.05), while there was no significant difference in inter-group changes (p>0.05). The erector spinae muscle had a significant increase in each period (p<0.05) but no significant difference in time, intra-group interactions, and in inter-group changes (p>0.05). Conclusion: These results demonstrated that bridge exercise with one hip joint adduction had positive effects on trunk muscle thickness. These results confirm that a bridge exercise with one hip joint adduction has a positive effect on the muscle thickness of trunk, suggesting the possibility of using it as a rehabilitation treatment for a lumbar stabilization exercise and as a basic data.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.15-25
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• 2022

PURPOSE: This study examined the effect of bridge exercise-abdominal draw-in maneuver (ADIM) with hip adductor co-contraction on the TrA thickness and whether it is effective as a core stability exercise. METHODS: The subjects of this study, 33 men with no history in the past and who provided prior consent, were selected through interviews with male students of S University. The subjects performed five movements, including bridge exercise and ADIM, and performed two demonstrations and two exercises in advance. The abdominal muscles were measured using ultrasonography once in each movement, and the abdominal muscle tone was measured using a soft tissue tone measurement. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the thickness between the TrA and Internal Oblique Muscles at various bridge positions (p < .05), and no significant difference with the External Oblique Muscle (p < .05). There was no significant difference in muscle tone in the Rectus abdominis part (p > .05), but a significant difference in the Oblique Muscle part (p < .05). The muscle tone of the Oblique Muscles by position showed a significant difference in Bridge, BHa, and BA compared to the rest position (p < .05), but no significant difference with BHaA (p > .05). CONCLUSION: The thickness of TrA could be increased through bridge exercise, and TrA could be activated properly using ADIM and may be an effective exercise for core stabilization.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.53-67
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• 2023

Background: This study comparatively evaluated the effects of equipment-based pilates exercises (EPE) and lumbar stability exercises (LSE) in patients with chronic low back pain in terms of their Visual Analogue Scale(VAS), Oswestry Disability Index(ODI), and abdominal muscle thickness. Methods: A total of 30 participants were recruited and randomly assigned to either the EPE or the LSE. The VAS, ODI, and abdominal muscle thicknesses of the participants were measured before and after the intervention. Results: The EPE were more effective in terms of the duration of a sustained reduction in VAS scores. post hoc test revealed that EPE were more efficacious in terms of a sustained improvement in ODI scores. With respect to changes in abdominal muscle thickness, there was a significant difference in the thickness of internal oblique muscles(IO) and the external oblique muscles(EO) between the two groups. Conclusion: In this study, both types of exercise interventions resulted in improvements in the VAS, ODI scores, and abdominal muscle thickness in patients with chronic low back pain. However, EPE were found to be more effective than LPE in terms of longer sustained improvements in VAS and ODI scores. Also, with respect to abdominal muscle thickness, the thickness of EO and IO improved only in the EPE group.