• PNF and Movement
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.39-43
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was to examine lateral abdominal muscle activation during maximum expiration exercise between healthy and chronic low back pain(CLBP) patients. Methods: The subjects were 16 CLBP patients and 16 healthy people between the ages of 22 and 53. The thickness of the abdominal muscles was measured using ultrasonography(LOGIQ Book XP, GE, USA). We instructed the subjects how to perform the exercises and measured changes in thickness of the transversus abdominis(TrA) and internal oblique(IO) muscles during the maximum expiration. The main outcome variables were the ratios of the TrA and IO thickness during the exercise versus in the relaxed position(TrA and IO activation ratios). Results: There were significant differences between CLBP patients and healthy subjects for TrA in the relaxed position. However there was no difference in the ratio of change in the muscle activity(TrA, IO). Conclusion: These findings, CLBP patients exhibited atrophy of the TrA muscle, but voluntary TrA muscle activation was similar to that of the normal subjects. Therefore, this exercise could be used during core strengthening in CLBP patients.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.31-40
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• 2023

Background: The purpose of this study was to confirm the effect of bridge exercise combined with vibration on abdominal muscle thickness. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: As study subjects, 24 adults in their 20s were classified into 12 vibration bridge exercise groups and 12 bridge exercise groups. The time was divided into before the experiment, 3 weeks after the experiment, and 6 weeks after the experiment. Two-way repeated ANOVA was used to examine changes in the muscle thickness of the external oblique, internal oblique, and transverse abdominal muscles of the trunk muscles, and the significance level was set at 0.05. If there was an interaction between time and group, post-hoc analysis was performed, and the significance level was set at 0.01. Results: There was a significant difference in the external oblique muscle in the change by period, the interaction between time and group, and the change between groups (p<0.05). There was a significant difference in the external oblique muscle in the change by period, the interaction between time and group, and the change between groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: As a result of this study, bridge exercise combined with vibration had a positive effect on the muscle thickness of the external oblique, internal oblique, and transversus abdominis muscles. It suggests the possibility of using the basic data of vibration exercise and the lumbar stabilization exercise in clinical practice.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.243-253
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effects of an abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) with a light load while sitting on transverse abdominis contraction in subjects with and without low back pain. Methods: In this study, 20 participants with chronic low back pain and 20 controls participated. Ultrasonography was used to assess the thickness of the external oblique (EO), internal oblique (IO), and transversus abdominis (TrA) muscles. Muscle thickness was measured at rest and during ADIM in three different sitting postures: (1) just sitting, (2) sitting loaded position (holding a 1 or 2 kg dumbbell in each hand), and (3) sitting loaded shoulder flexion position (holding a 1 or 2 kg dumbbell in each hand). Results: The contraction ratio (CR) and preferential activation ratio (PAR) of the TrA during ADIM had no significant interactional effect between the group and the sitting postures. However, the CR and PRA of the TrA during the ADIM showed significant differences among the three different sitting postures. The CR of the TrA during the ADIM in the sitting loaded shoulder flexion position was significantly increased compared to that in the sitting position (p<0.05). Moreover, the PRA of the TrA muscle during ADIM in sitting loaded and sitting loaded shoulder flexion positions was significantly higher than that in the sitting position (p<0.05). Conclusion: The findings suggest that ADIM in the sitting-loaded shoulder flexion position should be implemented to facilitate TrA activity.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.51-56
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the PNF stabilization technique for the hip joint and the bridging exercise on the trunk stabilizer muscles in healthy adults. Methods: Twenty-eight healthy adults were randomly allocated to either a PNF stabilization exercise group (n = 12) or a bridging exercise group (n = 16). The outcome measures included the contraction thickness ratio in the transversus abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO), and the TrA lateral slide was assessed during the abdominal drawing-in maneuver using b-mode ultrasound. The researcher measured the abdominal muscle thickness of each participant before the therapist began the intervention and at the moment that the intervention was applied. Between-group comparisons were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test. The level of statistical significance was set at 0.05. Results: The PNF intervention program showed a significant increase in the trunk stabilizer muscle. The percentage of change in the TrA thickness showed a significant interaction between intervention. However, there were no significant differences in the IO and EO between the two groups. Conclusion: The PNF stabilization technique for the hip joint can be used effectively to improve the IO and TrA muscles in healthy adults.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.63-71
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• 2012

Purpose : This study aimed to acquire a basic knowledge about lumbar stability and inquire into exercise approach of pressure biofeedback unit for lumbar stability. Methods : This study was composed with reviewed theory of lumbar stability and several books and articles for exercise using pressure biofeedback unit. Results : The stability of lumbar should work symmetrical with passive, active, control subsystem in neutral zone, and local muscles should be using for stability. Especially, selective using of transverse abdominis work for lumbar stability importantly. The control of using pressure biofeedback unit may important not only examination but treatment. Conclusion : The stability of lumbar need co-contraction of specific local muscle and training for timing as well as using pressure biofeedback unit for accurate control may use for examination and therapedic approach.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.303-310
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• 2011

Purpose : This study examined the feedback effect of real-time ultrasound imaging on the thickness of transversus abdominis(TrA), internal abdominal oblique(IO) and external abdominal oblique(EO) during abdominal hollowing exercise(AHE) in crook lying. Methods : We performed this study on 30 healthy men who voluntarily consented to participate in this study after listening to its purpose and method. All subject were divided into an experimental group(n=15) with using the real-time ultrasound imaging feedback(RUIF) and a control group(n=15) without the RUIF The thickness changes between rest and AHE were compared between the two groups in crook lying. Results : The difference in TrA and EO thickness changes between the groups were significant in crook lying (p<0.05). Conclusion : The group with using real-time ultrasound imaging feedback showed a higher increase in the thickness of TrA than the other group without real-time ultrasound imaging feedback. And the thickness of EO in the group with using real-time ultrasound imaging feedback decreased than the other group without real-time ultrasound imaging feedback. If the muscle thickness can be regarded as an indicator of muscle activity, RUIF will be helpful for inducing the independent activity of TrA by reducing the activities of abdominal muscles such as EO.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.235-243
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• 2011

The purpose of the study was to examine the thickness of the trunk muscles ie. external obliques (EO), transversus abdominis (TrA), and multifidus and the trunk endurance strength in order to determine any relationship between the presence or absence of low back pain (LBP) and the size of trunk muscles. Data were obtained from 50 subjects, aged between 19-29 years. Participants had no experience of spinal problems that had resulted in a restriction of normal activity or time-off work and no current spinal symptoms. Measurements of muscle thickness of the trunk muscles were collected at rest, contraction and 15 seconds of post contraction during endurance strength tests. Background information was obtained followed all physical measures. Subjects were divided into two groups based on their experience of LBP. In draw-in maneuver, increasing the thickness of TrA was observed in all participants while EO was decreased at contraction in group 1 and increase in group 2. Only subjects in the group 2 had TrA increased during the flexion endurance test. In the side-bridge endurance test, the thickness of the right TrA was also observed differently between groups. Therefore, the results of the study may suggest that a function of specific muscle should be addressed for training persons with LBP.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.8-15
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• 2011

Abdominal muscle plays a crucial role in postural control and respiration control. However, thickness of abdominal muscle in the paretic side of a hemiplegic patient has not been reported in previous studies. The purpose of this research was to compare lateral abdominal muscle thickness between the nonparetic and paretic side in patients with chronic stroke using rehabilitative ultrasound imaging. Twenty two patients with chronic stroke participated in this study. Absolute thickness of transversus abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO) and external oblique (EO) was measured at the end of inspiration and expiration during quiet breathing, and relative thickness was calculated (thickness of each muscle as a percentage of total muscle thickness). Ultrasound imaging was recorded three times and the average value was determined for statistical analysis. Differences in absolute and relative lateral abdominal muscle thickness between the nonparetic and paretic side were assessed with paired t-tests. Absolute muscle thickness of the paretic side TrA was thinner than that of the nonparetic side at the end of inspiration and expiration during quiet breathing. Relative muscle thickness of the paretic side TrA was thinner than the paretic side only at the end of expiration during quiet breathing (p>.05). Therefore, it is necessary to strength TrA in patients with chronic stroke during physical therapy intervention. Further study is needed whether physical therapy intervension will induce TrA thickness in patients with chronic stroke in prospective study design.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.105-111
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of three pelvic floor muscle (PFM) exercises on the thickness of PFM and transverse abdominal muscle (TrA), the internal oblique muscle, and the external oblique muscle. The PFM and trunk muscles were measured using ultrasonography in 4 conditions.rest, conventional PFM contraction (Ex A), PFM contraction with hip adductor contraction (Ex B), and PFM contraction with real-time ultrasound imaging (Ex C). The thickness of PFM in Ex C showed a significantly more decrease compared to rest and others (all comparisons, p<.05). The thickness of TrA in Ex C showed a significantly more increase compared to rest and others (all comparisons, p<.05). This study would recommend the use of PFM contraction with real-time ultrasonographic imaging to improve women's incontinence.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.319-327
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• 2012

Purpose : This study aimed to identify the asymmetry observed in the rehabilitative ultrasound imaging of lateral abdominal muscle thickness and performance between the affected and unaffected side during the abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM), an exercise used to facilitate activation of selectively TrA to stabilize the trunk prior to limb movement. Methods : The Participants were twenty one patients with post-stroke hemiplegia in this study. Ultrasound imaging was used to measure amount of changes in thickness of the external oblique (EO), internal oblique (IO), transversus abdominis (TrA). A Paired t-test was used to compare relaxed muscle thickness to contracted muscle thickness of all 3 muscles between the affected and unaffected sides. Results : The outcome measures included side to side differences of absolute thickness, contraction ratio among the lateral abdominal muscles. There was no significantly difference in between the affected and unaffected side at rest. But, there was a significantly difference in absolute muscle thickness between the affected and unaffected side of only TrA muscle. Also contraction ratio was a significantly difference between the affected and unaffected TrA muscle. Conclusion : These findings support the asymmetrical activation of TrA muscle during abdominal muscle contraction in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia. Further studies are warranted for confirming this outcome.