• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.107-113
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• 2021

PURPOSE: Selective strengthening of the transverse abdominis muscle (TrA) during abdominal hollowing makes an important contribution to the stability and control of the spine. This study examined the effects of abdominal hollowing exercise (AHE) according to the visual feedback method on the external oblique, internal oblique, and transverse abdominis muscles. METHODS: Twenty healthy subjects were assigned randomly to an AHE with visual feedback from real-time ultrasound image (group A, n = 10), AHE with visual feedback with pressure biofeedback unit (group B, n = 10). Both groups underwent 20 min of AHE with visual feedback once daily, five days/week for two weeks. The changes in the muscle thickness of the TrA, internal oblique abdominal muscle (IO), and external oblique abdominal muscle (EO) were measured by ultrasonography. RESULTS: The thickness of TrA was changed significantly in both groups (p < .05). However, the lowest minimal detectable changes were achieved in Group A. The thickness of the IO and EO muscles in group A was changed significantly, but there were no significant changes in group B. CONCLUSION: Both visual feedback methods were effective for strengthening the TrA muscles selectively. Nevertheless, AHE with visual feedback using real-time ultrasound images may be more useful in trA muscle contraction.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.91-100
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• 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 Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.82-87
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of plank exercises with resistance of one-sided hip adduction on abdominal muscle thickness. Methods: Thirty subjects were divided into a group that underwent plank exercises with one-sided hip adduction resistance (n=15) and a group that underwent plank exercises only (n=15). Their changes in abdominal muscle thickness before the experiment (n=15) and three and six weeks after the experiment were analyzed using a two-way repeated analysis of variance at a statistical significance level of ${\alpha}=0.05$. When there was any interaction between the time of measurement and each group, post hoc t-tests were conducted at a statistical significance level of ${\alpha}=0.01$. Results: The results of the experiment showed statistically significant differences in the thickness of the rectus abdominis, internal oblique muscle, and transversus abdominis, depending on the time of measurement and the interaction between the time of measurement and each group (p<0.05). Statistically significant differences were observed in the thickness of the external oblique, depending on the time of measurement, the interaction between the time of measurement and each group, and variances between the groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that plank exercises with resistance of one-sided adduction are effective for increasing abdominal muscle thickness. The study's overall findings will likely be used as basic data for lumbar stabilization exercises and rehabilitation treatment.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.60-67
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• 2011

Ultrasonography (US) is a recent technique that has proven to be useful for assessing muscle thickness and guiding the rehabilitation decision-making of clinicians and researchers. The purpose of this study was to determine the inter-rater reliability of the US measurement of transversus abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO) thicknesses for different probe locations and measurement techniques. Twenty healthy volunteers were recruited in this study. Muscle thicknesses of the transversus TrA, IO, and EO were measured three times in the hook-lying position. The three different probe locations were as follows: 1) Probe location 1 (PL1) was below the rib cage in direct vertical alignment with the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS). 2) Probe location 2 (PL2) was halfway between the ASIS and the ribcage along the mid-axillary line. 3) Probe location 3 (PL3) was halfway between the iliac crest and the inferior angle of the rib cage, with adjustment to ensure the medial edge of the TrA. The two different techniques of thickness measurement from the captured images were as follows: 1) Muscle thickness was measured in the middle of the muscle belly, which was centered within the captured image (technique A; TA). 2) Muscle thickness was measured along a horizontal reference line located 2 cm apart from the medial edge of the TrA in the captured image (technique B; TB). The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC [3,k]) was used to calculate the inter-rater reliability of the thickness measurement of TrA, IO and EO using the values from both the first and second examiner. In all three muscles, moderate to excellent reliability was found for all conditions (probe locations and measurement techniques) (ICC=.70~.97). In the PL1-TA condition, inter-rater reliability in the three muscle thicknesses was good to excellent (ICC=.85~.96). The reliability of all measurement conditions was excellent in IO (ICC=.95~.97). Therefore, the findings of this study suggest that TA can be applied to PL1 by clinicians and researchers in order to measure the thickness of abdominal muscles.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.35-44
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the simultaneous abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) on the muscle activity of the ipsilateral trunk and leg during proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) leg flexion, adduction, and external rotation with knee flexion (D1) patterns. Methods: The participants were 20 healthy adult males and females (18 males and 2 females). The maneuvers were performed by a physical therapist who fully understands the PNF leg patterns (D1) and their application in clinical practice. The participants were trained and allowed to practice for 15 minutes prior to applying ADIM, to ensure adequate learning as evidenced by the pressure biofeedback unit. In this study, we measured the muscle activity of the trunk and leg when the PNF leg pattern (D1) was performed by the physical therapist either sustaining or releasing the ADIM. Muscle activity was measured on the right transverse abdominis muscle (TRA), the external abdominal oblique muscle (EO), the internal abdominal oblique muscle (IO), the erector spinae muscle (ES), the vastus medialis oblique muscle (VMO), the vastus lateralis oblique muscle (VLO), and the tibialis anterior muscle (TA) and compared using the mean values from averaging three repeated measurements. Results: The muscle activity of the transversus abdominis, the external abdominal oblique, the internal abdominal oblique, the vastus medialis oblique, and the vastus lateralis oblique was significantly greater (p < 0.05), and the muscle activity of the erector spinae was significantly less (p < 0.05) during PNF leg pattern (D1) when the ADIM contraction was sustained compared to when it was not. Conclusion: These results suggest that sustaining ADIM during PNF leg pattern (D1) training increases the trunk and leg muscle activity, resulting in more effective training.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.284-286
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• 2015

Anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome (ACNES) is one the most common cause of chronic abdominal wall pain. The syndrome is mostly misdiagnosed, treated wrongly and inadequately. If diagnosed correctly by history, examination and a positive carnett test, the suffering of the patient can be relieved by addressing the cause i.e. local anaesthetic with steroid injection at the entrapment site. Conventionally, the injection is done by landmark technique. In this report, we have described 2 patients who were diagnosed with ACNES who were offered ultrasound guided transverses abdominis plane (TAP) injection who got significant pain relief for a long duration of time.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.934-939
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• 2014

The purpose of this study unit a Quadrupedal position of limbs due to changes in the thickness of the trunk muscles to find out, by comparing the difference in muscle activity fours spinal stabilization devices do you need to choose an effective stance is to provide the data. The subjects C # 29 University students healthy adults were recruited. The Rectus abdominis muscle and the transversus abdominis and internal oblique abdominal muscle, external oblique abdominal muscle should be measured. The results of this study Lt. IO, EO, TrA, Rt. TrA, Muscle showed significant differences among the positions. The study reveals that the exercises in Quadrupedal position can activate trunk muscles and the degrees of muscle activities can vary according to the angle.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.400-406
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to examine joint position senses and muscle activity in subjects with and without chronic low back pain and to determine the effects of different types of bridge exercises on their trunk muscle activity. Methods: Thrity-eight subjects with chronic low back pain and thrity healthy controls participated in the experiment. Joint position senses and trunk muscle activity levels were measured during the different bridge exercise methods. Results: The joint position senses of the healthy group and chronic low back pain group showed significant differences during lumbar flexion, lumbar extension, lumbar lateral flexion, and lumbar rotation. The muscle activity levels of the transversus abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO) were highest in the prone bridge exercise (PBE) group, followed by the supine bridge swiss ball exercise (SBSE) group and supine bridge exercise (SBE) group in order of precedence. The muscle activity level of the erector spinae (ES) was highest in the SBSE group, followed by the SBE and PBE groups in order of precedence. Conclusion: Overall, the results suggest that chronic low back pain is associated with declines in joint position senses and that PBEs increase trunk muscle activity more than conventional bridge exercises.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.7-20
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• 1998

Activity of the trunk muscles is essential for maintaining stability of the lumbar spine because of the unstable structure of that portion of the spine. The central nervous system deals with stabilization of the spine by contraction of the abdominal and multifidus muscles in anticipations of reactive forces produced by limb movement. Recent evidence indicates that the lumbar multifidus muscle and transversus abdominis muscle may be involved in controlling spinal stability. Stabilization training in neutral spine is an integrated approach of education in proper posture and body mechanics along with exercise to improve strength, flexibility, muscular and cardiovascular endurance, and coordination of movement.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.33-40
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• 2016

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of stable and unstable surfaces on abdominal muscle thickness and changes in trunk muscle thickness in accordance with breathing methods during bridging exercises. METHODS: Bridging exercise on a stable surface, bridging exercise on an unstable surface, bridging exercise using a drawing-in maneuver on a stable surface, bridging exercise using a drawing-in maneuver on an unstable surface, bridging exercise using bracing on a stable surface, bridging exercise using bracing on an unstable surface. In sequence, the muscles' thickness was measured three times before and after each exercise, and the measured value was averaged. RESULTS: There were significant differences in internal oblique and transversus abdominis muscles' thickness in the drawing-in maneuver in both stable and unstable surface (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in external oblique muscle's thickness in the bridging exercise in both stable and unstable surface. The type of surface did not have a significant influence on the abdominal muscles' thickness. CONCLUSION: As a result of the study, the drawing-in maneuver had a greater effect than bridging or bracing maneuver on muscle thickness. We suggest that drawing-in maneuver will be more effective in a person with a weak abdominal muscle.