• PNF and Movement
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.243-248
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• 2014

Purpose: The transverse abdominis and themultifidus muscle are located in the core. They surround one's trunk and help in body stabilization. Specifically, they control spine articulation to maintain posture and balance. Therefore, weakened deep muscle in the trunk may cause spinal malalignment. This study aims to compare the correlation between the thickness of the transverse abdominis and the multifidus muscle and the spine alignment among college students in their 20s. Methods: This study measured the thickness of the transverse abdominis and the multifidus muscle of 42 healthy college students in their 20s using ultrasonic waves. The thickness of the muscle was measured for the length of the cross-section except for fascia. The thickness of the left and right muscles was measured, and the mean value was calculated. As the thickness of the transverse abdominis can increase because of pressure during exhalation, it was measured at the last moment of exhalation. Spinal alignment was measured by the kyphosis angle, lordosis angle, pelvic tilt, trunk inclination, lateral deviation, trunk imbalance, and surface rotation using Formetric III, which is a three-dimensional imaging equipment. They were measured for three times, and the mean values were calculated. The general characteristics of the subjects were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The correlations between each factor were analyzed using Pearson's correlation analysis. Results: The transverse abdominis showed asignificant correlation with trunk inclination (p<.05). The multifidus muscle showed a significant positive correlation with pelvic tilt and a negative correlation with surface rotation (p<.05). Conclusion: The thickness of transverse abdominis and the multifidus muscle appears to influence spinal alignment. Specifically, the multifidus muscle, which plays an important role on the sagittal plane, influences surface rotation, thus making it an important muscle for scoliosis patients. Therefore, a strengthening training program for the transverse abdominis and the multifidus muscle is necessary according to specific purposes among adults with spinal malalignment.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2011.06a
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• pp.1407-1408
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• 2011

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

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.501-507
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• 2012

PURPOSE: This study aims to examine the effects of trunk flexion on the kinetic characteristics of the lumbar according to the degree of hamstring flexibility. METHODS: This study has as its subjects 29 young adults and divides them into the group (NSRTG, n=15) with the normal length of hamstrings according to SRT and the group (SSRTG, n=14) tending to have shortened hamstrings. Sit and Reach Test was conducted to evaluate the degree of hamstring flexibility. And to examine the kinetic difference of the lumbar at the trunk flexion, it was compared and analyzed by using the picture archiving and communication system (PACS). RESULTS: SSRTG showed more significant difference than NSRTG in the analysis on the trunk flexion of NSRTG and SSRTG. CONCLUSION: According to the analysis, the shortening of hamstrings is the factor that affects the dynamic stability of the lower lumbar through the reduction of the pelvic anterior tilt at the trunk flexion.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.13-17
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• 2014

Purpose: To determine the normative data for the correlation of spinal, pelvic parameters with foot pressure in the young subjects. Methods: The subjects of this study were 39 patients in healthy adults. The Formetric-III was used to measure of spinal alignment. The pedoscan was used to measure of foot pressure. The correlation of trunk imbalance, trunk inclination, lateral deviation with foot pressure. The foot pressure measurement was consisted of maximal/mean pressure, weight contribution. Result: There was a negative correlation of trunk inclination with Max_R. There was a negative correlation of trunk inclination with Max_R. There was a positive correlation of trunk imbalance with Max_L. There was a positive correlation of lumbar lordosis with Mean_R_front, Lt. posterior weight distribution. There was a negative correlation of lumbar lordosis with Lt., Rt. in distribution There was a negative correlation of pelvic tilt with Mean_R_front, Lt. posterior weight distribution. There was a positive correlation of pelvic tilting with Rt. weight distribution, Lt. posterior weight distribution. There was a negative correlation of pelvic torsion with Lt. weight distribution, Rt. posterior weight distribution. There was a negative correlation of pelvic rotation with Lt. weight distribution, Lt. posterior weight distribution. Conclusion: The data obtained from the study may be used for future studies related to correlation of the spinal, pelvic deviation with foot pressure.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.209-215
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of postural control training using a horseback riding simulation on the spinal alignment of children with cerebral palsy. Methods: This study was conducted with 30 children with cerebral palsy at levels I~IV in the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), and they were randomly divided into a control group and a hippotherapy group. Both the control group and the experimental group received NDT for 30 minutes per session, four times per week for ten weeks, while the experimental group also received hippotherapy 15 minutes per session, four times per week for ten weeks, after the neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT). The horseback riding simulators (JOBA, EU7805, Panasonic) used in this study simulated actual horse movements. Trunk imbalance, pelvic torsion, and pelvic tilt were measured in each group before the exercise and five weeks and ten weeks after the beginning of the exercise using a spinal structure analysis system (ABW Mapper). Results: The Intra-group effects on trunk imbalance, pelvic torsion, and pelvic tilt according to the exercise periods after the hippotherapy were tested, and the results showed significant interaction effects between the groups and the periods (p<0.05). Conclusion: The horseback riding simulation exercise was shown to be effective for the spinal alignment of children with cerebral palsy. Therefore, additional studies should be conducted with more children with CP divided by type.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.357-367
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• 2013

The purposes of this study were investigated physical compensation for gait on induced knee stiffness in normal subjects. Ten subjects were participated in the experiment(age: $26.0{\pm}6.3$ yrs, height: $175.5{\pm}5.3$ cm, weight: $69.1{\pm}6.1$ kg). The study method adopted 3D analysis with five cameras and ground reaction force with two force-plate. Induced knee stiffness level were classified as gait pattern on ROM of knee(free level, $30^{\circ}$ restriction level, fix level). The results were as follows; In angular displacement of hip joint, left hip joint was the more extended in mid-stance on induced right knee stiffness. In angular displacement of knee joint, there was no physical compensation on induced right knee stiffness, but free knee level gait was more flexed in swing phase of right knee joint. In angular displacement of ankle joint, right ankle joint was the more dorsiflexed on induced right knee stiffness, and $30^{\circ}$ restriction level and fix level gait were less plantarflexed in TO2. In trunk tilt, free and $30^{\circ}$ restriction level gait was more backward tilt on induced right knee stiffness. In ROM of each joint, right knee joint was more larger and trunk tilt was more lower on induced right knee stiffness. In GRF, Fx was more bigger lateral force in free and $30^{\circ}$ restriction level gait, and was more bigger medial force in fix level gait. Fy was more bigger propulsion force in free level gait, and was was more bigger braking force in $30^{\circ}$ restriction level gait. Left braking force in $30^{\circ}$ restriction level gait was more bigger. Fz was no significant.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.2065-2070
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• 2020

Background: Weakness of the abdominal and mid thoracic muscles the lead to thoracic kyphosis of stroke patients. The trunk muscles activity of stroke patients is significantly related to upper extremity. Objectives: To investigate the effect of seated exercise of thoracic and abdominal muscles on upper extremity function and trunk muscles activity in stroke patients. Design: One-group pretest-posttest design. Methods: A total of 27 stroke patients were recruited. All stroke patient were given seated abdominal exercise (posterior pelvic tilt exercises) and thoracic exercise (postural-correction exercise). All exercises were conducted for 30 minutes, three times a week for four weeks. The manual function test (MFT) and electromyography (EMG) were measured, and EMG electrodes were attached to thoracic paraspinal muscles and lower rectus abdominal muscles. EMG signal is expressed as %RVC (reference voluntary contraction). Results: Experimental group showed significant increases in abdominal muscles, paraspinal muscles activity and MFT total score, items of arm motion (forward elevation of the upper extremity, lateral elevation of the upper extremity, touch the occiput with the palm) in MFT after four weeks. Conclusion: These results suggest that, in stroke patients, seated exercise of thoracic and abdominal muscles contribute to improve trunk muscles activity and upper extremity function in stroke patients.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.84-88
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• 2016

Objective: Generally, it is known that there is a correlation between excessive calcaneus eversion and a patient with low back pain and it also affects pelvic alignment. However, there are not enough studies that show calcaneal eversion having an effect on the alignment of the trunk. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: A 3-dimensional motion analysis system was used to assess the lower limbs, pelvic alignment, and trunk alignment with increased unilateral and bilateral calcaneal eversion in twenty-one subjects. All subjects were asked to maintain a static posture for seven seconds on a wedge three times per posture for measurement and analysis purposes. The wedge used in the process was a lateral wedge with a 10-degree tilt to the lateral direction. To unify all of the subjects' foot position, the front and inner side of the wedge were marked. The height of the tilted wedge's inner side and flat wedge were balanced equally in order to be able to maintain the lateral part of the foot to the same height when producing an increased calcaneal eversion. Results: Comparing the changes in trunk and pelvic alignment in accordance to calcaneal eversion for each posture, there was a significant different in the X and Y-axis for each posture, but not in the Z-axis (p<0.05). Thus, it can be confirmed that calcaneal eversion in the sagittal plane and frontal plane may have and effect on the pelvis and the trunk. Conclusions: Postures with increased bilateral and unilateral calcaneal eversion has an effect on pelvic alignment, but does not cause any changes in trunk alignment.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.15-25
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• 2014

Objective: This study aims to analyze the factors that affect the ability to maintain dynamic sitting balance (DSB), biomechanical characteristics, and physical characteristics in spinal cord injuries (SCI) patients. Background: Virtual ski training systems, ski equipment, and training protocols for disabled skiers are being studied to spread awareness. However, few studies have been reported on the sitting balance ability associated with chair mono skiing. Method: A dynamic sitting balance border system was built to investigate the ability to maintain dynamic sitting balance in SCI patients. Trunk muscle activity was evaluated by electromyogram while conducting dynamic sitting balance tests. The trunk muscle strength was tested with a portable handheld dynamometer. Physical activity scores were measured with the physical activity recall assessment. Results: There were high levels of correlation between the ability to maintain DSB and trunk flexor strength, extensor strength, rotator strength, and physical activity score. However, height, weight, and injury level in SCI patients were not correlated with the ability to maintain DSB. Additionally, strong negative correlations were found between muscle activities of the external oblique and lumbar erector spinae muscles and the ability to perform the backward tilt test. Trunk extensor muscle activity during the ball lifting test was significantly higher than in other tests. Conclusion: The results indicate that improving trunk muscle strength and physical activity can increase the ability to maintain DSB. Application: The findings of a close relationship between trunk strength, physical activity, and the ability to maintain DSB need to be reflected in the chair mono ski training program.