• 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 Naturopathy
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.116-122
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• 2022

Background: Studies on the effect of abdominal or thoracic breathing therapy on sleep or blood oxygen concentration are still scarce. Purpose: This study was to examine the effect on blood oxygen saturation and pulse variability, changes in the severity of insomnia, changes in wakefulness before sleep, and dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes toward the Korean version of sleep in women in their 50s after healing with abdominal breathing and thoracic breathing. We investigated the effect. Methods: Subjects were investigated before and after the change of breathing (breathing) therapy for 12 weeks, 3 times a week, and 36 breaths perweek. Results: It wa evaluated respiratory healing as having no significance in the pulse rate change. However, oxygen saturation was significant in the experimental group, increasing to 93.60 SpO₂% before the respiratory rally and 96.5 SpO₂% after respiratory recovery (p < .002). In addition, the insomnia severity scale and dysfunctional beliefs about sleep significantly decreased after respiratory rally than before (p < .000). Conclusions: It evaluated that respiratory therapy for the subjects is beneficial to health as it is effective for insomnia, pulse, and oxygen saturation.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.181-188
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• 2020

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to compare the effects on abdominal muscle thickness and breathing by applying trunk strength exercise and deep stabilization exercise along with breathing exercise, which is the main respiratory muscle during breathing, to present an efficient exercise method with diaphragm breathing. Methods : This study was performed on normal 6 females and 14 males subjects. They were divided into 2 groups which trunk strength exercise and deep stabilization exercise group. The trunk strength exercise group (TSE) attended prone press-up, crunch and pelvic tiling. The deep stabilization exercise group (DSE) attended abdominal drawing, horizontal side-support and bridging exercise. Breathing exercise was performed for each set break time for 1 minute. Results : First, in the comparison of the change in the thickness of the abdominal muscle between the trunk strength training group and the deep stabilization group before and after exercise, there was a statistically significant difference in the comparison of transverse abdominis (TrA), rectus femoris (RF), external oblique (EO), internal oblique (IO) (p<.05). However, there was no significant difference in any comparison between groups (p>.05). Second, in the comparison of changes in respiratory function between the trunk strength exercise group and the deep stabilization exercise group before and after exercise, there were statistically significant differences in the exerted forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume at one second (FEV₁), peak expiratory flow (PEF) in the comparison before and after the experiment (p<.05). However, there was no significant difference in any comparison between groups (p>.05). Conclusion : As a result of this study, it can be said that both trunk strength exercises and deep stabilization exercises along with diaphragm breathing are exercises that strengthen deep and superficial muscles, and have a positive effect on breathing function as well as muscle strength. However, it is not known which exercise was more effective, and because it was combined with breathing exercise, the interference effect appeared.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.1867-1871
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 12 weeks of abdominal breathing exercises, through AB spur, on weight and BMI, % body fat, and waist-hip ratio in healthy college students. The subjects consisted of 20 obese young college students, and all of whom had no other health complications. The subjects were shown in detail the proper way to utilize the equipment and practice abdominal breathing in a laboratory setting. They were told to wear the AB spur for at least six hours a day in order to induce abdominal breathing exercise. Because the subjects were students, most of the abdominal breathing exercises took place while they were sitting in lectures at school, and they wore the equipment for 12 weeks. At 4, 8, and 12 weeks after the subjects started using the AB spur, there were significant decreases in weight, % body fat, BMI, and waist-hip ratio (p<0.05). In conclusion, the results of the stud suggest that abdominal breathing exercise may be a good weight loss method, as well as a beneficial way to decrease obesity factors, in obese college students.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.14-22
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• 2003

Purpose: To improve self-management in elderly people with hypertension, the researcher examined the effects of an abdominal relaxed breathing exercises using biofeedback on blood pressure. These exercises regulate physical response to stress and lessen the activity of sympathetic nerves. Method: A single-experimental pre-and post-test design was used. Eight elderly people with hypertension participated in the study from April, 6 to June, 14, 2000. Biofeedback was done with soft ware by developed by J & J Company (1-410 form for abdominal respiration training). The abdominal relaxed breathing exercises are based on Mason's suggestion (1985) and were modified by Yu & Song(2001). This program consisted of 4 sessions once a week for four weeks. Data were analysed using SPSSPC+(10.0). Result: There was a significant decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure over three different times. There was a significant difference in the level of total stress response, overall health and quality of life but no significant difference in the level of emotional condition over three different times. Conclusion: The results of this study will contribute to the development of nursing strategies for the regulation of blood pressure in older people as the exercises are easy to learn and are a nonpharmacologic approach.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.442-452
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of abdominal breathing on state anxiety, stress and tocolytic dosage for pregnant women in preterm labor. Methods: The participants were 60 pregnant women in preterm labor who were hospitalized from April to July, 2009. Thirty participants were assigned to the experimental group and 30 to the control group. None of them had any other complications except preterm labor. The modified Mason's breathing technique was used with the experimental group 3 times a day for 3 days. Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire and chart review, and analyzed with the SPSS 13.0 WIN program. Results: "State anxiety of the experimental group will be lower than that of the control group" was supported. "Stress of the experimental group will be lower than that of the control group" was supported. "The Ritodrine dosage for the experimental group will be lower than that of the control group" was supported. "The Atosiban dosage for the experimental group will be lower than that of the control group" was supported. Conclusion: These results indicate that abdominal breathing is an effective nursing intervention for pregnant women in preterm labor.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.159-166
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• 2017

Purpose: This study attempts to determine the effects of applying three kinds of breathing exercises for four weeks on the neck muscle activation of subjects with a forward head posture. Methods: A total of 30 adults aged in their twenties (15 men and 15 women) with a forward head posture who voluntarily agreed to participate after listening to the purpose and procedure of this research were chosen as the subjects of this study. The subjects were randomly divided into either the diaphragmatic breathing exercise (DBE) group, the abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) group, or the abdominal expansion method (AEM) group according to the breathing intervention scheme. Each group included ten subjects. The muscle activity of the sternocleidomastoid, scalenus anterior, and splenius capitis was measured in all the groups prior to the intervention, two weeks after the intervention, and four weeks after the intervention. All the interventions were implemented for 30 minutes a day, three times a week, for a total of four weeks. Results: No significant between-group difference was observed in terms of the change in neck muscle activity according to the four-week intervention scheme. Further, there was no interaction between the intervention period and the intervention scheme in relation to the change in neck muscle activity. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that abdominal expansion exercise is as effective as other breathing exercise methods for subjects with a forward head posture. We therefore expect that abdominal expansion exercise can be used as a scheme for the prevention of symptoms as well as therapy for patients with a forward head posture.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.311-327
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of diaphragmatic breathing on activation of trunk muscles of patients with low back pain. Diaphragmatic breathing may affect activation of trunk muscles. The assumptions are as follows: the crural diaphragm attatches to the lumbar vertebrae from L1 to L3, the voluntary downward pressurization of the diaphragm increases intra-abdominal pressure, and this increases the stiffness of the spine. Diaphragmatic breathing increases intra-abdominal pressure and the increased intra-abdominal pressure may contribute to the lumbar stability. Sixty patients with low back pain were randomly divided into two groups. Experimental group performed diaphragmatic breathing exercise with six breathing positions and control group performed only the breathing positions for five times per week during six weeks. % maximal voluntary contraction(% MVC) of trunk muscles on six breathing positions of experimental and control group was measured according to testing period of pre test, three weeks, and six weeks. The repeated measures of one-way ANOVA were used to analyze % MVC on trunk muscles of experimental and control group according to testing period. The results of this study were as follows: First, % MVC of right and left erector spinae in the right leg extension position indicated the statistically significant difference in experimental group which performed diaphragmatic breathing exercise rather than control group (p<0.05). Second, % MVC of right and left erector spinae in all-four positions indicated the statistically significant difference in experimental group which performed diaphragmatic breathing exercise rather than control group (p<0.05). Third, % MVC of right and left erector spinae, external oblique in the sitting position indicated the statistically significant difference in experimental group which performed diaphragmatic breathing exercise rather than control group (p<0.05). Fourth, % MVC of right and left erector spinae, external oblique in the standing position indicated the statistically significant difference in experimental group which performed diaphragmatic breathing exercise rather than control group (p<0.05). Fifth, % MVC of right and left erector spinae, external oblique in the supine position indicated the statistically significant difference in experimental group which performed diaphragmatic breathing exercise rather than control group (p<0.05). Sixth, % MVC of right and left erector spinae, external oblique in the lying on prone position indicated the statistically significant difference in experimental group which performed diaphragmatic breathing exercise rather than control group (p<0.05). In conclusion, as experimental group performed diaphragmatic breathing exercise according to the period of pre-test, post three weeks, and post six weeks, experimental group showed the greater significant effect on the activation of right, left erector spinae, and external oblique muscle. Diaphragmatic breathing exercise which resulted in activation of trunk muscles can be effective for managing the patients with back pain and should be utilized as the new therapeutic intervention.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.142-147
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• 2008

Abdominal circumference changes due to breathing by the respiratory muscle activity such as diaphragm, which would partially represent the lung volume variation. The present study introduced conductive rubber molded in a cord shape incorporated with a patient's pants. The conductive rubber cord operated as a displacement transducer to measure the lung or abdominal volume changes. Signal extraction circuitry was developed to obtain the volume and its derivative(or the flow) signals followed by wireless transmission based on the Zigbee communication protocol in a size of $65mm{\times}105mm$ easily put in pocket. Breathing frequency was accurately evaluated and breath pattern analysis seemed feasible, since respiratory behaviours such as maximal inspiration and cough were well identified. Remote wireless receiver module also enabled to monitor both volume and flow signals during resting breathing on a PC terminal.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.415-422
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• 2005

Using stretch sensors, a stuttering treatment training device that improve the abnormal breathing of stutterer was designed and developed. To improve stutterer's inadequate breathing method that is one of principal reason of stammering, the device estimates breathing method by checking the changes of the stretch sensor's resistances those are put on the chest and abdomen of user. And a vocal exercise program that carry out exercises only when the user maintains the abdominal breathing was designed. Using a PIC16C711 device that includes an A/D convertor, a main controller was designed and the vocal exercises software was developed using Director and C program with graphic user interface for user convenience. The controller sends the resistance data of sensors to PC through the serial port and the software verifies the breathing method. And the device was designed that the RTS (request to send) pin of serial port in PC is used as a power source so that it can work without any battery or other power source. Three stutterers have carried out the clinical experiments using the implemented device for two months and the results showed it was excellent to alleviate the stuttering.