• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2003

SMAS(Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome) is a disease caused by a chronic obstruction of the duodenum(transverse portion), which is hardly detectable. However, it is known that when the superior mesenteric artery and abdominal aorta form a narrow angle, that the transverse portion of the duodenum is pressed down between the superior mesenteric artery and the abdominal aorta, and that this can lead to obstruction of the duodenum. Measuring this angle is a complicated job using conventional angiography, and results often turns out to be inaccurate. In addition, no attempt has been made to determine the value of this angle in Koreans. In this study, we conducted abdominal CT angiography using MIP(maximum intensity projection) on patients with no clinical evidence of SMAS in order to determine the angle at which the superior mesenteric artery branches from the abdominal aorta by using PC based software(Rapidia ver. 1.2) for the image reconstruction. Accordingly, we found that the mean angle between the abdominal aorta and the superior mesenteric artery was $50.05{\pm}15.87^{\circ}$ on average, and that the angle in men($53.64{\pm}16.57^{\circ}$) is higher than in women($46.46{\pm}14.98^{\circ}$). We hope that the angles determined by our study will serve as an important indicator for detecting SMAS.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.23-36
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• 2019

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Plank exercise on unstable support surfaces on flexibility, abdominal muscle thickness and pain in patients with chronic back pain. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: This study was performed on 16 patients with chronic back pain of ◯◯ military unit. Sixteen subjects were randomly assigned into two groups, an upper extremity trainer group (group I, n=8) and a lower extremity trainer group (group II, n=8). The subjects in group I carried out Flank exercise applying the stability trainer to their upper extremities and ones in group II carried out the same exercise applying the stability trainer to their lower extremities for 4 weeks. In order to ascertain the difference between two groups, flexibility, abdominal muscle thickness and pain were measured before and after the exercise. The flexibility was measured by sit and reach test, the thickness of the abdominal muscle was measured by using ultrasonic imaging equipment, and the pain was measured by the visual analogue scale. A paired t-test was utilized to compare changes in pain, abdominal muscle thickness and flexibility before and after flank exercise on unstable support surfaces. Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was performed for ascertaining the significant differences between groups. The significance level was set by α=.05. Results: 1) The flexibilities of two groups were increased after the exercise (p<0.05). 2) In both groups, the thicknesses of rectus abdominis, external oblique abdominis, internal oblique abdominis, and transverse abdominis were all increased after the exercise (p<0.05). 3) The pains in both groups were decreased after the exercise (p<0.05). 4) In the comparisons of two groups, there were no differences in the flexibility, thickness of external oblique abdominis, internal oblique abdominis and transverse abdominis and pain (p>0.05). Whereas only thickness of Rectus abdominis was larger in the group I than in the group II (p<0.05). Conclusion: Plank exercise on the unstable support surface for 4 weeks resulted in increased flexibility, abdominal muscle thickness and pain reduction in patients with chronic back pain. Therefore, it is considered that performing flank exercise on the unstable supporting surface is suitable for the reduction of the pain in patients with chronic back pain. However, in this study, it is considered that continuous and diverse studies are needed because there was not a large difference between the groups when the upper or lower limbs are provided unstable support surfaces.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.53-60
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• 2016

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify differences in the thickness of the transverse abdominis (TrA) and pelvic floor muscles (PFM) between those with (LBP) and without low back pain (non-LBP). The standardized methods of contraction for the TrA and PFM were used to perform the abdominal draw-in maneuver (ADIM) and pelvic floor muscle contraction (PFC), respectively. METHODS: This study included 27 young men and women, who were verbally instructed regarding the maneuvers (LBP, n=14; non-LBP, n=13). For all subjects, TrA and PFM thickness were evaluated by ultrasonography during ADIM and PFC. RESULTS: The results of this study showed that TrA thickness increased during ADIM and PFC to a greater degree in the non-LBP group than in the LBP group (p < 0.01). PFM thickness increased more during PFC in the non-LBP group than in the LBP group (p < 0.05). Both groups showed greater increases in TrA thickness during ADIM than during PFC (p < 0.01), and greater increases in PFM thickness during PFC than during ADIM (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that receiving verbal instructions on how to use each muscle for a specific maneuver was more beneficial than other verbal instruction. Further studies are needed determine how our results may be applied beneficially in research on this topic.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.186-193
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• 2021

Background: While the formal test has been used to provide a quantitative measurement of core stability, studies have reported inconsistent results regarding its test-retest and intraobserver reliabilities. Furthermore, the validity of the formal test has never been established. Objects: This study aimed to establish the concurrent validity and test-retest reliability of the formal test. Methods: Twenty-two young adults with and without core instability (23.1 ± 2.0 years) were recruited. Concurrent validity was determined by comparing the muscle thickness changes of the external oblique, internal oblique, and transverse abdominal muscle to changes in core stability pressure during the formal test using ultrasound (US) imaging and pressure biofeedback, respectively. For the test-retest reliability, muscle thickness and pressure changes were repeatedly measured approximately 24 hours apart. Electromyography (EMG) was used to monitor trunk muscle activity during the formal test. Results: The Pearson's correlation analysis showed an excellent correlation between transverse abdominal thickness and pressure biofeedback unit (PBU) pressure as well as internal oblique thickness and PBU pressure, ranging from r = 0.856-0.980, p < 0.05. The test-retest reliability was good, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC1,2) = 0.876 for the core stability pressure measure and ICC1,2 = 0.939 to 0.989 for the abdominal muscle thickness measure. Conclusion: Our results provide clinical evidence that the formal test is valid and reliable, when concurrently incorporated into EMG and US measurements.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.135-144
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• 2021

Purpose: Although ultrasonography is the gold standard of diagnosing intussusception, plain abdomen radiograph (AXR) is often used to make differential diagnosis for pediatric patients with abdominal pain. In intussusception patients, we aimed to analyze the AXR and clinical data to determine the characteristics of early AXR findings associated with diagnosis of intussusception and recurrence after reduction. Methods: Between January 2011 and June 2018, 446 patients diagnosed with intussusception based on International Classification of Diseases-10 code of K56.1 were admitted. We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 398 patients who received air reduction; 51 of them have recurred after initial reduction. We evaluated six AXR features including absent ascending colon gas, absent transverse colon gas, target sign, meniscus sign, mass, and ileus. Clinical data and AXR features were compared between single episode and recurrence groups. Results: Two groups did not show significant differences regarding clinical data. Mean time to recurrence from air reduction was 3.4±3.2 days. Absent ascending colon gas (63.9%) was the most common feature in intussusception, followed by mass (29.1%). All of six AXR features were observed more frequently in the recurrence group. Absent transverse colon gas was the most closely associated AXR finding for recurrence (odds ratio, 2.964; 95% confidence interval, 1.327-6.618; p=0.008). Conclusion: In our study, absence of ascending colon gas was the most frequently seen AXR factor in intussusception patients. Extended and careful observation after reduction may be beneficial if such finding on AXR is found in intussusception patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.53-63
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• 2022

PURPOSE: This study examined the changes in the thickness of the abdominal muscles, including the transversus abdominis, according to the set pressure applied by a pressure biofeedback unit during contractions of the hip adductor muscles. METHODS: After randomizing 40 healthy adult males in their 20 s and 30 s, the participants were instructed to match the pressure gauge indication of the pressure biofeedback device to continue contracting the hip adductor while maintaining it at 10 mmHg (low), 40 mmHg (medium), or 70 mmHg (high). The measurement was taken over five seconds using an ultrasound device. RESULTS: According to the contractile pressure applied to the hip adductor muscle, there was a significant difference in the muscle thickness change of the transverse abdominis muscle between 10 mmHg and 70 mmHg and between 40 mmHg and 70 mmHg. The muscle thickness ratio of the external oblique/abdominal muscle was significantly different between 10 mmHg and 70 mmHg and between 40 mmHg and 70 mmHg. CONCLUSION: Increased contraction pressure on the hip adductor muscle increases the muscle thickness of the abdominal transverse muscle. Interbody stability exercise with contractions of the hip adductor muscle is expected to help increase in the muscle thickness of the hip adductor muscle.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.75-88
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• 2020

Purpose : Dysmenorrhea can be caused by misalignment of the pelvis. Since pilates stabilization exercise is a methods that affects pelvic alignment by inducing contraction of abdominal muscles, the purpose of this study is to determine whether dysmenorrhea is reduced when pilates stabilization exercise is applied. Methods : 47 dysmenorrhea patients were randomly divided into experimental (n=23) and control (n=24) groups. The experimental group performed pilates stabilization exercise three times a week for 12 weeks, and the control group did not perform any intervention. Abdominal muscle thickness, lumbar pelvic alignment, and dysmenorrhea were measured before intervention, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks after intervention to determine the mean change over time and the effect of group and factor interactions (repeated measured ANOVA and contrast test for each period). Results : In the experimental group, the thickness of the transverse abdominis, internal oblique, and external oblique muscles were increased significantly by group and period (p<.05). The pelvic torsion, lordosis and dysmenorrhea were also significantly decreased by group and period. But the control group did not change significantly in any of the variables. Conclusion : Applying pilates stabilization exercise to women with dysmenorrhea may be an effective intervention that contributes to relieving dysmenorrhea by correcting the stability and alignment of the lumbar pelvis.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.79-84
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• 2014

Background : This study is for respiratory muscle activity and chest expansion through practice abdominal breathing exercises. Methods : The subjects were consisted normal 30 persons(15 males and 15 females). The control group to 15 people to compare group and 15 people for the abdominal breathing exercise group through lip retraction movement of the therapist with the resistance of mediated abdominal breathing exercises. For 8 weeks EMG was used to know the changes in respiratory muscle. We also found out the changes in chest expansion. And the t-test was conducted to analyze among the compared group, the abdominal breathing group the differences between before and after the experiment. Results : On the changes in respiratory muscle muscular activity in the transverse abdominis have shown significant results(p<.05), and the change in chest expansion was no significant(p>.05). Conclusion : Various breathing exercises in future research on intervention programs can be studied to promote the public if the functional status is considered to be of much help.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.9-19
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• 2011

Purpose : To provide the understanding of abdominal hollowing exercise, this study reviewed literatures related with TrA and AHE. Methods : We reviewed the prior studies related with TrA and AHE. Results : Crook lying is easier to facilitate isolated contraction of TrA from EO than the others. The contraction of the TrA is shown to be the highest muscle activity in prone lying. Additionally, wall support standing(or standing) is shown a higher contraction of entire abdominal muscle than the others. However, learning and teaching correct AHE have innate difficulties in four positions. Conclusion : We have to consider that Rehabilitative Ultrasonic Imaging(RUSI) can facilitate accurate AHE. In the country, physical therapists will be necessary more training and efforts to use ultrasound because very few use ultrasound in clinical field. It will be necessary to study the effects of RUSI feedback and examine effects of exercises in combination with AHE.

• 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.