• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.87-92
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• 2020

Background: Bridging exercises are used to enhance the functional stability of the lumbopelvic region in clinical settings. Although most of the studies on bridging exercises have compared the complete activation of the trunk muscles, some recent studies have examined the functional stability of the trunk and the lumbopelvic region and assessed the appropriate recruitment of the local and global muscles during different task levels. Objects: The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in muscle thickness in the transverse abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO) muscles during a common bridging exercise on an unstable surface and to determine whether these changes differ based on the surface used. Methods: Twenty-five healthy young adults (8 males, 17 females) were recruited. The subjects were randomly assigned to either the exercise progression with a sling bridge group or the ball bridging exercise progression group, each with three stages of increasing difficulty. Each position was measured three times with an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system, and the mean values were recorded for analysis. Results: No significant differences were observed between the TrA, IO, or EO muscle thickness ratios between the sling and ball exercise groups (p > 0.05). There were also no significant differences in the EO muscle thickness ratios between the tasks irrespective of whether the sling or ball was used. However, the TrA and IO thickness ratios in both groups were significantly greater during stages 2 and 3 compared to stage 1. Conclusion: The results suggest that the use of slings and balls during bridging exercises is effective in activating the deep abdominal muscles.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.72-84
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• 2023

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of whole-body vibration stimulation training on the thickness of the transversus abdominis muscle and the balance of sitting posture in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Design: Single-subject design(A-B-A-B). Methods: The subjects of this study were 9 children with spastic cerebral palsy. The study period was 12 weeks in total, and the baseline period and the intervention period were each assigned 3 weeks. Intervention was conducted twice a week for 30 minutes. During the baseline period, trunk stabilization exercise was performed, and during the intervention period, trunk stabilization exercise and whole-body vibration stimulation training were performed. Measurements were carried out at before the experiment, baseline 1, intervention 1, baseline 2, intervention 2 and the total number of measurements was 5 times. Repeated ANOVA was performed to compare the effects of exercise according to the intervention method. Results: The thickness of the transversus abdominis muscle and the balance of the sitting posture were statistically significantly increased compared to the baseline during whole-body vibration stimulation training (p<.05). Conclusion: Therefore, it was confirmed that whole-body vibration stimulation training improved the thickness of the transversus abdominis muscle in children with spastic cerebral palsy and was an effective intervention method for improving sitting posture balance.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.231-238
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• 2013

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to find out the thickness variation of the superficial and deep abdominal muscles by measuring the thickness of the abdominal muscles. METHODS: 35 young, healthy adults(24 mens and 11 womens) participated in this study. The first, when only bridge exercise we had measured the thickness of their abdominal muscles by the ultrasound. The second, when the abdominal drawing-in during maintaining the bridge exercise we had measured the thickness of their abdominal muscles by the ultrasound. A pared t-test was used to determine a statistical significance for the thickness variation of the superficial and deep abdominal muscles. RESULTS: Results of before and after comparative analysis. The surperficial muscles(rectus abdominis, external obilique) statistically significantly reduced in the thickness and the deep muscle(transeverse abdominis) statistically significantly increased in the thickness. CONCLUSION: We have shown that the abdominal drawing-in exercise during maintaining the bridge exercise was effective to increase in strengthening abdominal deep muscle selectively.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.123-132
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• 2017

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the effects of lumbar stabilization exercise during abdominal hollowing with conscious contraction of the pelvic floor muscles on trunk muscle in healthy twenties subjects. METHODS: The participants were randomly allocated to an experimental group (n=15) and a control group (n=15). The experimental group received lumbar stabilization exercise combined with conscious contraction of the pelvic floor muscles during abdominal hollowing. The control group received lumbar stabilization exercise with abdominal hollowing. Both groups trained with the respective exercise for 30 minutes a day, 3 times a week for 6 weeks. Muscle activation of the external oblique and erector spinae muscles, thickness of the transversus abdominis and multifidus, and contraction holding time of tranversus abdominis were measured before and after exercise. RESULTS: Activations of both the external oblique muscles were significantly decreased, and thickness of both the transversus abdominis and multifidus muscles, and contraction holding time of the transversus abdominis muscle were significantly increased in the experimental group (p<.05). The thickness of the left transversus abdominis and right multifidus muscles, and the contraction holding time of the transversus abdominis muscle significantly increased in the control group (p<.05). On comparing both groups, the activations of both external oblique muscles were significantly reduced and the contraction holding time of the transversus abdominis muscle was significantly increased in the experimental group (p<.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that lumbar stabilization exercise by abdominal hollowing and conscious contraction of the pelvic floor muscles is suitable and efficient for healthy twenties subjects.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.6 no.5
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• pp.123-130
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• 2015

This study examines the effects of different types of bridge exercises on the thickness of trunk muscles through ultrasound fusion imaging on 32 students. The thickness of the internal oblique (IO), external oblique (EO), transverse abdominis (TrA), and multifidus (Mf) muscles were measured in three different bridge exercises. The exercises included a supine bridge exercise, which was performed on a fixed support surface (Exercise A), a gym ball bridge exercise (Exercise B), and a sling bridge exercise (Exercise C). There were significant differences among the three bridge exercises in the IO, TrA, and Mf muscles. The IO was thickest in Exercise B followed by Exercise A and C. In contrast, the TrA and the Mf muscles were thickest in Exercise C followed by Exercise A and B. Therefore, the sling bridge exercise may be a more effective method of enhancing trunk muscle thickness than the exercises performed in other positions. Until recently, no previous studies had observed substantial changes in muscle thickness using ultrasound fusion imaging. This study suggests that sling bridge exercises contribute most to the activation of trunk muscles. Therefore, the research can contribute to the prescription and application of bridge exercises in clinical practices.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2023

Objective: Patients with scoliosis complain of various symptoms such as muscle imbalance, dysfunction, back pain, abnormal posture and gait abnormality. The most basic treatment for scoliosis is to observe the progress based on conservative treatment. Therefore, in this case report, the effect of cytoskeletal manual therapy (CMT), a soft tissue mobilization technique, on pain intensity, muscle thickness, and pressure pain threshold (PPT) in a patient with scoliosis was investigated. Design: A case report Methods: A 25-year-old male diagnosed with scoliosis visited the Neuromusculoskeletal Science Laboratory with chronic back pain. In the laboratory, scoliosis was confirmed through the X-ray image used for his diagnosis, and it was confirmed again through Adam's forward bending test. Pain, pressure pain threshold and muscle thickness were measured to compare the immediate effects of CMT applied in the laboratory for 40 minutes. Treatments were visited two weeks after the first visit and outcome measures were assessed after a total of two visits. Results: After receiving CMT up to the second session, the pain intensity decreased by 4 points and the screening angle decreased by 15 degrees. Muscle thickness decreased in all but 10 mm on the dominant side of the thoracic spine. All of the PPTs increased, and the greatest increase was 3.1 lb on the dominant side of the thoracic spine. Conclusions: CMT showed positive improvement in pain during trunk flexion, spinal curvature, muscle imbalance, and pressure pain, which is considered as an ancillary treatment option for scoliosis management.

• 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.

• 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.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.131-140
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• 2022

Purpose : Although many studies have explored the effect of seating side angles on the spinal curve and surrounding muscles during seating, only a few studies have investigated the effect of different seating face angles on different lower limb and deep trunk muscles. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of seating surface angles (0 degrees, 10 degree anterior, and 10 degree rear) on lower extremity and deep trunk muscles in healthy adults. Methods : Thirty people were asked to sit once on each seating surface three times during the day, and their muscle thicknesses were measured by ultrasound while sitting. The method of sitting was the same when sitting on the three seating surfaces. Results : From the comparison results of the muscle thicknesses according to the seating surface angles, a significant difference existed in the muscle thicknesses of the vastus medialis, vastus medialis oblique, vastus intermedius, soleus and gastrocnemius (p<.05). However, no significant difference was found in the transversus abdominis, internal obliques, rectus femoris and vastus lateralis (p>.05). Conclusion : Our findings revealed that the lower back load decreases, the leg load increases, and the legs specific muscles are affected as the body tilts forward when sitting on the seating surface inclined forward. Therefore, it is possible to suggest a forwardly inclined seating surface that reduces lower back loads and utilizes the posture-maintaining muscles of the legs when sitting in a person with a poor sitting posture or lower back pain at ordinary times.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 2019

Background: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) causes morphological changes in muscles, reduces muscle strength, endurance and flexibility, negatively affects lumbar stability, and limits functional activity. Plank exercise strengthens core muscles, activates abdominal muscles, and improves intra-abdominal pressure to stabilize the trunk in patients with CLBP. Objects: We investigated the effect of plank exercise on abdominal muscle thickness and disability in patients with CLBP. Methods: We classified 33 subjects into 2 groups: An experimental (n1=17) and a control group (n2=16). Patients in the experimental group participated in plank exercise and those in the control group participated in stretching exercise. Patients in both groups attended 20-minute exercise sessions thrice a week for 4 weeks. Abdominal muscle thickness in each subject was evaluated ultrasonographically, and disabilities were assessed using the Oswestry disability index (ODI). Results: Four weeks later, abdominal muscle thickness showed a significant increase over baseline values in both groups (p<.05). Patients in the experimental group reported a more significant increase in the thickness of the external oblique muscle than that in the control group (p<.05). ODI scores in the experimental group were significantly lower after intervention than before intervention (p<.05). Conclusion: Plank exercise increases the thickness of the external oblique muscle and reduces disability secondary to mild CLBP. Therefore, plank exercise is needed to improve lumbar stability and functional activity in patients with mild CLBP.