• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.7 no.3
• /
• pp.181-188
• /
• 2019

Purpose: This study was performed to determine the effects of a gluteus maximus strengthening exercise on both spinal alignment and dynamic balance in subjects with kyphosis. Methods: We measured the kyphosis angle of 150 subjects and selected those whose kyphosis angle was > $50^{\circ}$. The participants included 10 male and 12 female college students. After a gluteus maximus strengthening exercise was applied, the subjects were measured by the formetric 4D and Biorescue systems. The collected data were analyzed by a paired t-test with the SPSS (Ver. 21) program for spinal alignment and dynamic balance comparisons both before and after the gluteus maximus strengthening exercise was completed. Results: The results regarding spinal alignment showed statistically significant decreases in pelvic tilt, kyphotic angle, and lordotic angle after the intervention (p < .05). However, trunk imbalance, pelvic torsion, surface rotation, and lateral deviation were not significantly different after the exercise. The results of the dynamic balance showed statistically significant increases in limits of stability after the exercise (p < .05). Conclusion: The above results suggest that the implemented gluteus maximus strengthening exercise may be effective for spinal alignment and dynamic balance in subjects with kyphosis.

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

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.10 no.6
• /
• pp.2413-2419
• /
• 2015

Core spinal muscles are related to trunk stability and assume the main role of stabilizing the spine during daily activities; strengthening of core muscles around the spine can therefore reduce the chance of back pain. The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of core muscle strengthening in the spine during spine stabilization exercise using a whole body tilt device. To achieve this, a validated musculoskeletal (MS) model of the whole body was used to replicate the input motion from the whole body tilting exercise. An inverse dynamics analysis was executed to estimate spine loads and muscle forces depending on the tilting angles of the exercise device. The activation of long and superficial back muscles such as the erector spinae (iliocostalis and longissimus) were mainly affected by the forward direction (-40°) of the tilt, while the front muscles (psoas major, quadratus lumborum, and external and internal obliques) were mainly affected by the backward tilting direction (40°). Deep muscles such as the multifidi and short muscles were activated in most directions of the rotation and tilt. The backward directions of the tilt using this device could be carefully applied for the elderly and for rehabilitation patients who are expected to have less muscle strength. In this study, it was shown that the spine stabilization exercise device can provide considerable muscle exercise effect.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.18 no.5
• /
• pp.25-34
• /
• 2006

Purpose: This study is intended to evaluate the effects of lumbar stability after 3-dimensional exercises of lumbar stabilization. Methods: Total subjects with chronic low back pain(age ranged from 20 to 60) were recruited. All subjects received 3-dimensional exercise of trunk stabilization during 4 weeks in 00 orthopedic clinic, from May 15 to October 15 in 2006. All measurements of each patients were measured before and after lumbar stabilization exercise. Results: After lumbar stabilization exercise by CENTAUR(R), the muscle power was increased from 57.99kNm to 72.01kNm, there were statistically remarkable differences(p<0.05). VAS was lessened from 6.35 to 3.26, there were statistically remarkable differences(p<0.05). After lumbar stabilization exercise by CENTAUR(R), the temperature was increased from $27.68^{\circ}C$ to $28.26^{\circ}C$, there were remarkable differences statistically(p<0.05). Conclusions: It has been turned out that lumbar stabilization exercise has positive effect on the muscle strengthening, pain index and thermal change.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.159-166
• /
• 2023

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to compare the differences in muscle activity of the rectus abdominis, internal oblique, and external oblique muscles according to abdominal muscle exercise methods such as plank exercise, side plank exercise, and crunch exercise. Methods : This study was conducted with 37 college students. All subjects participating in this study were randomly assigned to the plank exercise group, the side plank exercise group, and the crunch exercise group. The exercise corresponding to each group was performed for a total of 8 weeks. The muscle activity of the abdominal muscles was measured before the experiment, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks, and the rectus abdominis, internal oblique, and external oblique muscles were measured. Results : As a result of comparison according to the period in the change in muscle activity of the abdominal muscles after exercise, the amount of change in muscle activity in all three muscles showed a significant difference. As a result of the post-hoc analysis, the muscle activity value of the internal oblique muscle after 4 weeks in the plank exercise showed a significant difference from the value after 8 weeks. In the side plank exercise, the muscle activity values of the rectus abdominis and external oblique muscles before and after 4 weeks showed significant differences from those after 8 weeks. And in the crunch exercise, the muscle activity value of the rectus abdominis muscle before exercise showed a significant difference from the value after 8 weeks. Conclusion : Plank exercise increases the muscle activity of the rectus abdominis, side plank exercise increases the rectus abdominis and external oblique muscles, and crunch exercise increases the muscle activity of the rectus abdominis. Therefore, it is thought that the stability of the trunk can be improved more efficiently if all three exercises are performed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.1-17
• /
• 2023

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare how the shoulder height and respiratory function are affected by applying shoulder stabilization exercises and core stabilization exercises that are effective for strengthening the trunk muscles and postural stability for adults with a round shoulder posture (RSP). METHODS: The participants were 28 young adults with RSP. They were assigned randomly to two groups: shoulder stabilization exercise and core stabilization exercise. They performed the exercises for 30 minutes twice a week for four weeks. They measured the shoulder height and respiratory function before and after exercise. RESULTS: No significant difference in shoulder height was found between the groups. A significant decrease in shoulder height was found in the shoulder stabilization exercise group after exercise. The core stabilization exercise group showed a significant decrease after exercise. In respiratory function, no significant difference was found between the groups. The forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁) were increased significantly in the shoulder stabilization exercise group before and after exercise. The FEV₁, FEV₁/FVC, and peak expiratory flow were significantly higher in the shoulder stabilization exercise group after exercise than in the core stabilization exercise group. CONCLUSION: Shoulder stabilization exercise and core stabilization exercise improved the postural alignment and pulmonary function, and the exercises could be helpful in shoulder rehabilitation as well as the clinical part of the treatment of rounded shoulder posture.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.34 no.6
• /
• pp.317-320
• /
• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed: to confirm the balance ability of patients with spinal cord injury in the sitting state through a functional reach test using an elastic aid; and to propose a balance improvement plan. Methods: The study evaluated seven patients with spinal cord injury who could maintain a sitting posture through minimum assistance. A functional reach test was performed before and after wearing an elastic aid while sitting on a chair, and the effects before and after use of the elastic aid were compared and analyzed through a motion analyzer. Results: In the functional reach test, the forward movement distance of the hand was 97.45 mm before wearing the elastic aid, but significantly increased to 131 mm after wearing the aid (p<0.05). Corresponding forward movement distances for the shoulder were 81.26 mm and 113 mm (p<0.05 for the increase). There was no statistically significant change in lateral functional arm extension. Conclusion: It was confirmed, through a functional reach test, that trunk stability in patients with spinal cord injury increased with use of an elastic aid. In future, more efficient rehabilitation treatment programs will be possible if trunk stability in patients with spinal cord injury is improved by using elastic aids, and if various exercise treatments are also included in the rehabilitation programs.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
• /
• v.12 no.7
• /
• pp.411-418
• /
• 2014

This study, in order to establish the effect of three exercise groups on the static and dynamic balancing abilities and the muscular activity, targeting adult males aged 20-29, assigned 15 men to each aquatic exercise group, trunk stabilization exercise group, and balance exercise group. The study was conducted from June, 2013 to August, 2013, and measured and compared the balancing ability and the muscle activity(tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius muscle) of the participants after performing intervention for 30 minutes a day, 3 days a week, for 6 weeks. As a result, on the comparison between before and after the intervention, there were significant differences in changes of the surface area and the whole path length in all the three groups(p<.05)(p<.01), and also on the dynamic balance, there was a significant difference in change of limited of stability(p<.05)(p<.01). On change of the muscle activity of tibialis anterior, both left and right sides showed statistically significant differences in all the three groups(p<.05)(p<.01), and gastrocnemius muscle showed a statistically significant difference in all the three groups except for the left side of the trunk stabilization exercise group(p<.05)(p<.01). It could be established that aquatic exercise is effective for improvement of the balancing ability and increase of the muscular activity, and we intend to propose specific aquatic exercise program development by conducting a study to determine the objective effect of aquatic exercise on the elderly or patients who have a poor balancing ability.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.1 no.4
• /
• pp.57-66
• /
• 2013

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects using pressure biofeedback and teaching abdominal hollowing exercise on pelvic stabilization during the active straight leg raising test. METHOD: The subjects were divided into 3 groups who were fourty eight healthy participants, aged 20~25 years recruited for this study. First group wad control group. This group didn't any education. Second group was teaching them for a week. And last group was teaching abdominal hollowing exercise. The rotation angles of pelvic were measured by the motion anayalyser on flat surface and on form roll for the active leg raising. RESULT: Using pressure biofeedback and teaching abdominal hollowing exercise groups were significantly effective than control group in rotation angles of pelvis. And using pressure biofeedback group was more effective than teaching core stability muscles contraction group. CONCLUSION: This study suggested that patients with low back pain and pelvic instability can improve pelvic stabilization through pressure biofeedback and teaching abdominal hollowing exercise.

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