• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.2331-2337
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• 2021

Background: More women than men experience genu recurvatum, which can lead to knee pain and arthritis if left unattended. Pilates combined with taping is a suitable rehabilitation method for women with genu recurvatum. Objectives: To aimed the effect of taping and Pilates stabilization exercise on physical alignment and improvement of genu recurvatum in women with genu recurvatum. Design: A Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Twenty-one women were divided into three groups: taping group (back of knee taping and quadriceps femoris taping, n=7), Pilates exercise group (hip, knee and abdominal muscles exercise, n=7), and combined group (taping with pilates exercise, n=7). The measured variables were sagittal plane alignment and back and abdominal muscle, knee flexor and extensor strength. Results: After the intervention, all sagittal plane alignments were significantly improved in both the Pilates and combined groups. Sagittal plane alignment was significantly improved in the combined group compared with the taping group. Back and abdominal muscle strength were significantly improved in the Pilates and combined groups compared with the taping group. Knee flexor and extensor were significantly improved in the combined group compared with the Pilates group and in the Pilates group compared with the taping group. Conclusion: Pilates exercise with taping or Pilates exercise alone was effective intervention methods to improve physical alignment and strength in women with genu recurvatum.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.203-212
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), including isoleucine, leucine, and valine, promote muscle protein synthesis. However, obesity may interfere with protein synthesis by dysregulating mitochondrial function in the muscles. This study aimed to examine the association between dietary intake levels of BCAA and skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) in middle-aged participants, and the effect of obesity/abdominal obesity on this association. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The data of 3,966 men and women aged 50-64 years who participated in the 2008-2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed. Intake levels of energy-adjusted dietary amino acids were obtained using a 24-hour dietary recall. SMI was calculated by dividing the appendicular skeletal muscle mass by body weight (kg) and multiplying the result by 100%. Multivariable general linear models were used to analyze the association of dietary BCAA intake levels with SMI. RESULTS: The beneficial effects of energy-adjusted dietary BCAA intakes on SMI were greater in the non-obesity/non-abdominal obesity groups; however, no significant associations were observed in the obesity/abdominal obesity groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Healthy weight and sufficient intake of dietary BCAA are recommended to maintain muscle mass.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.51-62
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• 1995

It has been well known that ischemia and reperfusion injury to skeletal muscle following an acute arterial occlusion causes significant morbidity and mortality. The skeletal muscle, which contains high energy phosphate compounds, has ischemic tolerance. During the ischemia, the ATP is catalyzed to hypoxanthine anaerobically and hypoxanthine dehydrogenase is converted to xanthine oxidase. During reperfusion, the hypoxanthine is catalyzed to xanthine by xanthine oxidase under $O_2$, presence and that results in production of cytotoxic oxygen free radicals. These cytotoxic free radicals, $O_2^-,\;H_{2}O_2,\;OH^-$, are toxic and make lesions in skeletal muscle during reperfusion. The authors perform the present study to investigate the effects of allopurinol, the inhibitor of xanthine oxidase, on reperfused ischemic skeletal muscles by observing the ultrastructural changes of the muscle fibers. A total of 48 healthy Sprague-Dawley rats weighing from 200 g to 250 g were used as experimental animals. Under urethane(3.0mg/kg., IP) anesthesia, lower abdominal incision was done and the left common iliac artery were ligated by using vascular clamp for 1, 2 and 6 hours. The left rectus femoris muscles were obtained at 6 hours after the removal of vascular clamp. In the allopurinol pretreated group, 50mg/kg of allopurinol was administered once a day for 2 days and before 2 hours of ischemia. The specimens were sliced into $1mm^3$ and prepared by routine methods for electron microscopic observations. All preparations were stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate, and then observed with Hitachi -600 transmission electron microscope. The results were as follows: 1. In 1 hour ischemia/6 hours reperfused rectus femoris muscles of rats, decreased glycogen particles and electron density of mitochondrial matrix and dilated terminal cisternae are seen. In 2 hours ischemia/6 hours repersed rectus femoris muscles of rats, mitochondria with electron lucent matrix, irregularly dilated triad and spheromembranous bodies are observed. In 6 hours ischemia/6 hours reperfused rectus femoris muscles of rats, irregularly arranged myofibrils, and many spheromembranous bodies, fat droplets and lysosome are seen. 2. In 1 hour ischemia/6 hours reperfused rectus femoris muscles of rats pretreated with allopurinol, decreased glycogen particle and dilated cisternae of sarcoplasmic reticulum and triad are observed. In 2 hours ischemia/6 hours reperfused rectus femoris muscles of rats pretreated with allopurinol decreased electron density of mitochondrial matrix and spheromembranous bodies are seen. In 6 hours ischemia/6 hours reperfused rectus femoris muscles of rats pretreated with allopurinol, mitochondria with electron lucent matrix, spheromembranous bodies and dilated cisternae of sarcoplasmic reticulum and terminal cistern are observed. The results suggest that the allopurinol attenuates the damages of the skeletal muscles of rats during ischemia and reperfusion.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.10-20
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• 2017

Background: Patients with chronic stroke often shows decreased trunk muscle activity and trunk performance. To resolve these problems, many trunk stabilizing techniques including the abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) and the diaphragmatic breathing maneuver (DBM) are used to improve trunk muscle strength. Objects: To compare the effects of the ADIM and the DBM on abdominal muscle thickness, trunk control, and balance in patients with chronic stroke. Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial. Nineteen patients were randomly allocated to the ADIM ($n_1=10$) and DBM ($n_2=9$) groups. The ADIM and DBM techniques were performed three times per week for 4 weeks. The thicknesses of the transversus abdominis (TrA), internal oblique muscle, and external oblique muscles on the paretic and non-paretic sides, Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS) score, and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) score were used to assess changes in motor development after 4 weeks of training. Results: After the training periods, the TrA thickness on the paretic side, TIS score, and BBS score improved significantly in both groups compared to baseline (p<.05). TIS score was significantly greater in the DBM group than in the ADIM group (p<.05). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that ADIM and DBM are beneficial for improving TrA muscle thickness in the paretic side, trunk control, and balance ability. Intergroup comparison revealed that TIS score was significantly improved in the DBM group versus the ADIM group. Thus, DBM may be an effective treatment for low trunk muscle activity and performance in patients with chronic stroke.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.1-7
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• 2014

Lumbopelvic stabilization exercise has become the most popular treatment method in lumbar rehabilitation since its effectiveness was shown in some aspects of pain and disability. The abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) has been extensively implemented to promote lumbopelvic stability. However, performing ADIM correctly is difficult even for healthy subjects, and it is time consuming to train people in ADIM. Thus, the purpose of this study was to compare abdominal muscle [rectus abdominalis (RA), external oblique (EO), and transverse abdominis/internal oblique (TrA/IO)] activity during lumbopelvic stabilization exercises (ADIM only, ADIM with a ball, maximum exhalation only, and maximum exhalation with a ball) performed in a supine position with feet against a wall. Fifteen healthy subjects were recruited for this study. Surface electromyography was used to measure abdominal muscle activity during lumbopelvic stabilization exercises. A one-way repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to determine the statistical significance of RA, EO, and TrA/IO muscle activity during four lumbopelvic stabilization exercises. Both-side TrA/IO muscle activity was significantly greater with maximum exhalation with a ball than with ADIM only or ADIM with a ball (p<.008). The results of this study suggest that maximum exhalation with a ball can be used as an effective lumbopelvic stabilization exercise to increase TrA/IO muscle activity in healthy subjects.

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

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.137-144
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• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the effects of the abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) on muscle activity in the trunk and legs while subjects walk on a ramp. Methods: The subjects were healthy adult males (n=15) and females (n=8) in their twenties. The subjects were asked to maintain the ADIM contraction for 15 minutes using a pressure biofeedback unit. Their muscle activity was then measured while ascending or descending the ramp with or without the ADIM contraction maintained. Activity in the sternocleidomastoid, splenius capitis, rectus abdominis, external oblique abdominal, transversus abdominis, erector spinae, vastus medialis, and vastus lateralis muscles was measured using surface electromyography (TM DTS, Noraxon, USA). A paired t-test was conducted using SPSS 18.0 (IBM) for statistical data processing. Results: Maintaining the ADIM contraction during ascension led to a significant increase (p<0.05) in muscle activity for the rectus abdominis, transversus abdominis, vastus medialis, and vastus lateralis, but a significant decrease (p<0.05) in muscle activity for the erector spinae, when compared to the same activity without the ADIM maintained. Furthermore, maintaining the ADIM contraction during descent led to a significant increase (p<0.05) in muscle activity for the rectus abdominis, external abdominal oblique, transversus abdominis, vastus medialis, and vastus lateralis, but a significant decrease (p<0.05) in muscle activity for the erector spinae, when compared to the same activity without the ADIM maintained. Conclusion: As a result of this study, it maintains the ADIM and reduces lumbar muscle activity at the waist and increases muscle activity in the legs when walking on a ramp. Therefore, maintaining the ADIM contraction during ramp walking is recommended as training to improve the function of patients' muscular skeleton.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2021

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of single limb stance exercise according to the support surface on dynamic balance ability and abdominal muscle thickness. Methods : We recruited 28 healthy subjects in this study. Subjects were assigned to 2 groups by matching method. The control group was 5 males and 9 females, and single limb stance exercise was performed on the stable support surface. The experimental group consisted of 6 males and 8 females, and trained to stand on the unstable support. During the single limb stance exercise, the dominant foot was set as the foot that appeared numerically through the exercise of the dynamic balance meter (Biorescue). Single limb stance exercise along the supporting surface was maintained for 15 seconds and then rested for 15 seconds. It was repeated 5 times. Particularly, the balance exercise on the unstable support surface was sufficiently practiced. Independent t test was performed for comparison between groups. Paired t test was performed to compare before and after each group. Results : There was no difference between the control group and the experimental group in the comparison of dynamic balance ability (p>.05). However, there were significant differences before and after exercise in both the control and experimental groups (p<.05). Similarly, in the comparison of abdominal muscle thickness, there was a significant difference within each group, especially internal oblique and transverse abdominis (p<.05), and no difference between groups (p>.05). Conclusion : Based on these results, although there was no difference between the groups, in the experimental group, numerical increase in dynamic balance ability and abdominal muscle thickness was confirmed. Therefore, single limb stance exercise on the unstable support surfaces activates core muscles and has a positive effect on dynamic balancing ability.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.275-288
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• 2024

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of breathing techniques on trunk muscle activity and balance during Pilates reformer footwork exercises, comparing results both within and between groups before and after the intervention. Methods: Thirty-one adult women over the age of 20 were selected as subjects for this study. They were divided into a Pilates breathing group (n = 15) and a general breathing group (n = 16) using a randomized control group study design. A surface electromyogram was used to measure muscle activity within and between the groups before and after the reformer footwork exercise. Static balance measurements were taken while standing on two legs, and dynamic balance measurements were taken while standing on one leg. All measurements were taken three times, and the average values were used for analysis. Results: The results of the study showed that muscle activity increased with significant differences in the external oblique and transverse abdominal muscles after exercise in the pre-post comparison within the Pilates breathing group (p < 0.05). In the between-group comparison, there was a significant difference in the increase in muscle activity of the external oblique and transverse abdominal muscles in the Pilates breathing group (p < 0.05). In the pre-post comparison of static and dynamic balance within the Pilates breathing group, there was a significant increase (p < 0.05) after exercise. The Pilates breathing group also showed a significant increase even in the between-group comparison (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study confirmed that reformer footwork exercise accompanied by Pilates breathing has positive effects on muscle activity and static balance ability of trunk muscles in adult women. Therefore, reformer footwork exercise accompanied by Pilates breathing can be presented as an effective exercise method to increase trunk stability and balance ability through the simultaneous activity of the trunk muscles.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.207-214
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• 2017

The problem of trunk stability is a major factor in back pain.. Abdominal draw in maneuver(ADIM), One of the trunk stabilization exercises to relieve lumbar instability, is a method of inducing selective contraction of the transverse abdominis associated with anticipatory posture control among the abdominal stabilization muscles. ADIM is usually performed with a visual feedback by applying a pressure biofeedback unit(PBU) under the lumbar at the supine position, which is not functional compared to the sitting position. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of ADIM applied in supine and sitting position on 31 healthy men and women. In each posture, muscle activity was measured by rectal abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), transverse abdominis (TrA)/internal obilique (IO) and erector spinae (ES) using wireless EMG. In the result, there was no significant difference between RA and EO between the two postures and there was a significant difference between TrA / IO and ES. In both postures, the activity of TrA/IO was higher than that of RA, and the effect of ADIM was shown to be the same, whereas TrA/IO and ES showed higher activity in sitting position. This means that the activity of the muscles involved in the postural stability and lumbar stability is increased further in the sitting position. Therefore, ADIM in sitting, which can be applied more easily in daily life, is useful for improving lumbar stability.