• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.203-215
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• 2008

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate abdominal muscles in chronic low back pain patients by meridian-electromyograph. Methods : Sample group of 11 with from low back pain during three months and control group of 10 subjects without low back pain have been recruited. Outcomes were assessed using meridian-electromyograph, visual analogue scale, and oswestry disability index. Results : Contraction power of external oblique abdominalis in control group was significantly higher than sample group, but there was no significant difference in muscle fatigue. Conclusions : According to above results, there are correlations between abdominal muscles and low back pain.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.16-31
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to assess the fatigue in lumbar and abdominal muscles in patients with chronic low back pain compared with normal subjects using spectral analysis with mean power frequency and median power frequency. The experimental group consisted of twenty subjects who had experienced chronic low back pain for over one year after the onset day. A control group consisted of twenty normal subjects with no history of low back pain. All subjects stood in an apparatus to perform sustained contraction in the lumbar and abdominal muscles for 30 seconds with 60% maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC). The resulting electromyographic (EMG) recorded time serial data were transformed into frequency serial data by Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT). The results were as follows: 1) lumbar muscles measured, the frequency change ratio of both median power frequency and mean power frequency was significantly greater for experimental group compared with control group group (p<0.05). In measured two abdominal muscles (inferior rectus abdominis, obliquus externus abdominis) except superior rectus abdominis, the frequency change ratio of both median power frequency and mean power frequency was significantly greater for experimental group compared with control group (p<0.05). 2) In all three (longissimus thoracis, iliocostalis lumborum, multifidus) lumbar muscles measured, the initial frequency value of both median power frequency and mean power frequency was significantly lower for the experimental group compared with the control group (p<0.05). In the two (inferior rectus abdominis, obliquus externus abdominis) abdominal muscles measured (superior rectus abdominis not included), the initial frequency value of both median power frequency and mean power frequency was significantly lower for the experimental group compared with the control group (p<0.05). These results suggest that in patients with chronic low back pain there is a trend for more fatigue to occur in both lumbar and abdominal muscles than in the normal control group. This would seem to suggest that in treatment programs for patients with chronic low back pain, improvement of endurance in all trunk muscles should be considered.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.333-338
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• 2014

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate any changes in abdominal muscle activity after curl-up and jack-knife exercisse using a sling and swiss-ball. METHODS: Sixteen asymptomatic subjects were randomly assigned into either a sling exercise group (SG) or swiss-ball exercise group (SBG). Subjects performed curl-up and jack-knife exercise using sling and swiss ball. Activity of abdominal muscles (rectus abdominis and external oblique) was assessed using surface electromyography (EMG) and normalized maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) before and after exercises. The significance of differences between the SG and the SBG was evaluated by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). RESULTS: There was an increase in activity of all abdominal muscles after the curl-up and jack-knife exercises for 6 weeks. However, there was not a significant difference between the SG and the SBG after curl-up exercise (p>.05). There was also not a significant difference between the SG and the SBG after Jack-knife exercise (p>.05) except for the right external oblique muscle (p<.05). CONCLUSION: Exercises on an unstable surface using a sling and swiss ball are effective ways of abdominal muscle exercise.

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

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.38-45
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• 2013

This study was conducted in order to examine whether abdominal draw-in maneuver (ADIM) with isometric shoulder flexion, extension, adduction, and abduction selectively contracted deep abdominal muscles. This study's subjects were 13 males 17 females. In order to evaluate the comparison of effects of ADIM and ADIM with isometric shoulder flexion, extension, adduction and abduction, measurements were made on transverse abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO) using a real-time ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system. Each position was repetitively measured three times with a real-time ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system and their mean values were used for analysis. The ADIM with isometric shoulder flexion, extension, adduction and abduction significantly increased the thickness of TrA relative to the ADIM only (p<.05). The ADIM with isometric shoulder abduction significantly increased the thickness of IO compared to the ADIM only (p<.05). The ADIM with isometric shoulder extension and abduction significantly decreased the thickness of EO compared to the ADIM only and the ADIM with isometric shoulder extension significantly decreased the thickness of EO relative to the ADIM with isometric shoulder adduction (p<.05). ADIM with isometric shoulder abduction is an effective method to selectively strengthen deep abdominal muscles and therefore may be employed as an intervention for trunk stabilization.

• 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.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.75-88
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• 2020

Purpose : Dysmenorrhea can be caused by misalignment of the pelvis. Since pilates stabilization exercise is a methods that affects pelvic alignment by inducing contraction of abdominal muscles, the purpose of this study is to determine whether dysmenorrhea is reduced when pilates stabilization exercise is applied. Methods : 47 dysmenorrhea patients were randomly divided into experimental (n=23) and control (n=24) groups. The experimental group performed pilates stabilization exercise three times a week for 12 weeks, and the control group did not perform any intervention. Abdominal muscle thickness, lumbar pelvic alignment, and dysmenorrhea were measured before intervention, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks after intervention to determine the mean change over time and the effect of group and factor interactions (repeated measured ANOVA and contrast test for each period). Results : In the experimental group, the thickness of the transverse abdominis, internal oblique, and external oblique muscles were increased significantly by group and period (p<.05). The pelvic torsion, lordosis and dysmenorrhea were also significantly decreased by group and period. But the control group did not change significantly in any of the variables. Conclusion : Applying pilates stabilization exercise to women with dysmenorrhea may be an effective intervention that contributes to relieving dysmenorrhea by correcting the stability and alignment of the lumbar pelvis.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.197-204
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the plank exercise to strengthen the core muscles on the muscle thickness of external and internal obliques and transverse abdominis muscle depending on the form of the support surface. Methods: This study was randomized to 12 males and 12 females in their 20s and conducted three times a week for 4 weeks. The subjects were divided into the two groups and performed flank exercise on a stable surface (stable surface group) and an unstable surface (unstable surface group). A mat was used as a stable surface, and an TOGU used as a unstable surface. Results : In both stable and unstable surface, the thickness changes of the transverse abdominis and external and internal oblique muscle increased (p<.05). In the unstable surface, there was a greater increase in the thickness change of the transverse abdominis and external oblique muscles in the flank exercise than in the stable surface (p.<05). Among them, the greatest increase was found in the external abdominal muscle (p<.05). Conclusion : This study found that the flank exercise was more effective in strengthening the abdominal muscles on an unstable surface, when compared with the outcomes on a stable one. It is also thought to have the most effect on the muscle activity of the external oblique muscle on unstable surface.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.29-37
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to classify patients with chronic back pain according to the degree of their back pain, and to compare the pain dysfunction index with the qualitative changes in abdominal muscles. Therefore, we aimed to provide a basis for the treatment intervention method for patients with back pain. Methods: Twenty patients with chronic back pain were purposive sample to a group of 10 patients with a back pain index of 60 % or more and a group with less than 60 % of back pain, and the subjects who voluntarily participated in the study After receiving the letter, I conducted the research the dysfunction of back pain was measured by the Korean version of the Oswestry Disability Index (KODI), and the ultrasonic wave (Ultrasound MyLabOne, ESAOTE, Italy) And the white area index, and the abdominal muscle movement was used as the exercise instrument POWER breathe K5 (Hab direct, UK), which strengthens the respiratory muscles through threshold-muscle traction. Result: In this study, patients with chronic back pain were subjected to breathing exercises, which led to the decrease in back pain dysfunction. The ultrasonographic analysis of abdominal muscles revealed that both the white area index and muscle image density in the skeletal muscle and in the outer muscle of the abdomen gradually decreased over time. Conclusion: It is thought that introducing back pain patients to abdominal muscle reinforcement training is effective in improving the functions of the patients' muscles, thus increasing their quality of life.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.103-109
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• 2015

Purpose: Abdominal breathing exercises are recommended to activate the breathing muscles and the pelvic floor muscles, as well as to increase postural alignment during exhalation. The purpose of this study was to clarify the effect of improving abdominal muscle strength on menstrual pain in women in their twenties using abdominal breathing exercises. Method: In this study, 32 female university students were included as the subjects. The subjects were divided into two groups based on the area of menstrual pain: lumbar pain (n=16) and lower abdomen pain (n=16). The abdominal breathing positions were divided into two positions, which included a hook lying position and hip and knee flexions at $90^{\circ}$ in the supine position. Exercises were used to strengthen the abdominal muscles during exhalation. Four sets of the exercises were completed three times a week over the course of eight weeks. The degree of pain was measured using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Muscle thickness was measured using an ultrasound. Result: The thickness of the transverse abdominis (TrA) and internal oblique (IO) increased in the lower abdomen pain group. However, thickness of the external oblique (EO) did not increased following abdominal breathing. No significant difference in posture was identified in the lower abdomen group. TrA thickness increased significantly in the lumbar pain group. However, thickness did not increase significantly in the lumbar pain group. In addition, the lumbar pain group experienced no significant effects on posture. IO thickness increased following hip and knee flexions at $90^{\circ}$ in the lumbar pain group. Menstrual pain decreased following intervention in both groups. There was no significant difference in the degree of pain reduction between both groups. Conclusion: As examples of alternative medicine, abdominal breathing exercises may be effective in decreasing menstrual pain.