• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.245-252
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• 2022

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the abdominal muscle activity difference while performing the abdominal bracing technique focusing on inspiration (abdominal bracing group), the general abdominal bracing technique (general bracing group), and the abdominal hollowing technique (abdominal hallowing group) Design: A cross-sectional study design. Methods: Thirty-three healthy participants were recruited for this study. The participants were allocated to 3 different groups; Abdominal bracing group, general bracing group, and abdominal hallowing group. The surface electromyography was placed over the rectus abdominis, external oblique, and internal oblique muscles to collect the activation of abdominal muscles during the trial. Results: The muscle activity of the abdominal bracing group and general bracing groups was significantly higher in all abdominal muscles than in the abdominal hollowing group (p<0.05) Both rectus abdominis and external oblique muscles showed higher muscle activations in the abdominal bracing group over the general bracing group (p<0.05). However, the ratio of bilateral external obliques and rectus abdominis to bilateral internal obliques was highest when the hollowing technique was applied (p<0.05). Conclusions: The results of study showed the abdominal bracing technique that emphasized inhalation rather than the abdominal hollowing technique or general abdominal bracing technique increased the activity of the abdominal muscles. Therefore, this study is considered to be a data for effective training if the abdominal bracing technique that emphasizes inhalation is applied as a method to increase the activation of the abdominal muscles.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.39-45
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• 2018

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of core motion pattern on abdominal muscle thickness on unstable support surface using sling suspension system and to provide an effective exercise program for therapeutic rehabilitation in clinical practice. Methods : In this study, we used the flank exercise using a sling. It was intended for 21 healthy men and 9 healthy women. Before and after the exercise of the subjects, abdominal muscles (EO, IO, TrA the thickness of the muscle) was determined using a diagnostic ultrasonic apparatus. The period of exercise was 3 times a week for 6 weeks. The exercise for each group started with 3 sets per week and 1 set per week was added. A description of the method and attitude of each exercise is as follows. First, the push-up flank 's exercise position is to put both feet on the sling and hold the floor with both hands. Second, the side flank's exercise postures take the side flanks, while the two legs hang on the sling and one arm supports the body with an articulated bend (about $90^{\circ}$). Third, the elbow flank's exercise position is to put the two legs on the sling, and take a flank posture with the arms bent and joint bending (about $90^{\circ}$). Results : There was a significant difference in the thickness of the muscle in the three flank movements after the exercise (p<.05). The most significant difference was in the change of the muscle thickness in the abdominal muscle, the outer muscle, and the stomach in the elbow flank exercise after exercise. There was a significant difference between the mean thickness of the abdominal muscles according to the flank type after exercise (p<.05). Conclusion : In flank exercise for core stabilization using sling, it is considered effective to strengthen the abdominal muscles by considering the support surface, difficulty level, change of movement pattern.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.127-142
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• 2021

This study aims to organize the prototype design method of compression wear for women professional soccer players. Despite the excellent performance of female soccer players in world competition, most functional wear has been developed mainly for men, so professional female athletes have fewer choices. Soccer is a sport requiring core and lower body muscle strength, and muscular endurance for long periods of playing or walking on the field. Female soccer players did not differ much in upper body compared to other women, but their lower body had a smaller hip circumference than waist circumference and a larger thigh circumference, requiring compilation considering the physical characteristics and movement of athletes. Female soccer players wear sports bras while playing but regular bras and compression wear during normal exercise because they sweat on under their breast, which irritates sensitive skin. For core muscles in the upper body and to support for thigh and hip muscles in the lower body, the uniform in this study was designed by reducing the body size of a professional female soccer player in her 20s and the actual measurements of commercial compilation software to 81% of the chest circumference, 95% of the waist circumference, and 78% of the hip circumference. The design experiment in this study was a simple exercise and did not produce produce results for long-term exercise and performance improvement, but can be used to design a composition pattern system for other professional female athletes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.15-25
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• 2022

PURPOSE: This study examined the effect of bridge exercise-abdominal draw-in maneuver (ADIM) with hip adductor co-contraction on the TrA thickness and whether it is effective as a core stability exercise. METHODS: The subjects of this study, 33 men with no history in the past and who provided prior consent, were selected through interviews with male students of S University. The subjects performed five movements, including bridge exercise and ADIM, and performed two demonstrations and two exercises in advance. The abdominal muscles were measured using ultrasonography once in each movement, and the abdominal muscle tone was measured using a soft tissue tone measurement. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the thickness between the TrA and Internal Oblique Muscles at various bridge positions (p < .05), and no significant difference with the External Oblique Muscle (p < .05). There was no significant difference in muscle tone in the Rectus abdominis part (p > .05), but a significant difference in the Oblique Muscle part (p < .05). The muscle tone of the Oblique Muscles by position showed a significant difference in Bridge, BHa, and BA compared to the rest position (p < .05), but no significant difference with BHaA (p > .05). CONCLUSION: The thickness of TrA could be increased through bridge exercise, and TrA could be activated properly using ADIM and may be an effective exercise for core stabilization.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.215-224
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• 2022

Background: The presence of the lumbopelvic-hip neuromuscular chain is essential for dynamic spinal stabilization; its therapeutic effects on dynamic movements of the distal extremity segment and underpinning motor mechanism remain unknown and warrant further study on participants with low back pain (LBP). Objects: We aim to compare the effects of the broken chain exercise (BCE) and connected chain exercise (CCE) on electromyography (EMG) amplitude and onset time in participants with and without LBP. Methods: Randomized controlled clinical trial. A convenience sample of 40 nonathletic participants (mean age: 24.78 ± 1.70) with and without LBP participated in this study. All participants underwent CCE for 30 minutes, 30-minute daily. We measured EMG amplitude and onset times on bilateral erector spinae (ES), gluteus maximus (GM), hamstring (HAM), transverse abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO) during the prone hip extension (PHE) test before and after the BCE and CCE. We used multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) to analyze the amplitude and onset time difference between exercises (BCE and CCE) and Pearson's correlations to determine any synergistic relationship among the HAM, GM, bilateral TrA/IO, and ES muscles. The statistical analyses were used at p < 0.05. Results: MANOVA showed that CCE was more decreased on EMG amplitude in HAM and bilateral ES, while increased GM and contralateral TrA/IO than BCE (p < 0.05). MANOVA EMG onset time data analyses revealed that the main effect of the conditions was significant for all HAM, GM, and bilateral ES muscles, whereas the main effect for the group was significant only for GM and contralateral ES in healthy and LBP groups. Pearson's correlation coefficient was computed to assess the relationship between BCE and CCE on dependent variables. In most of the muscles, there was a strong, positive correlation between the two variables, and there was a significant relationship (p < 0.001). Conclusion: CCE produced more effective and coordinated core stabilization and motor control mechanism in the lumbopelvic-hip muscles in participants with and without LBP during PHE than BCE.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.177-185
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• 2022

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of additional isometric contraction of trunk, shoulder, and hip muscles during abdominal crunch exercise on abdominal muscle thickness and to identify the most effective intervention for core muscle activation. Methods : This study was conducted on 22 healthy male adults. Subjects performed three types of crunch exercises (abdominal crunches accompanied by internal and external isometric rotation of the hip, horizontal shoulder adduction and abduction, and rotation of the trunk). The thickness of the transverse abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO) were evaluated using ultrasonography. The collected data used one-way repeated ANOVA statistics. Wilcoxon signed-rank test of nonparametric statistics was used for post-test analysis. Results : The IO thickness was significantly lower than general abdominal crunch when shoulder adduction was added (p<.05). The crunch with shoulder abduction, hip external rotation, and ipsilateral trunk rotation was significantly higher than the abdominal crunch (p<.05). The EO thickness was significantly greater in the crunch with hip external rotation than in the abdominal crunch (p<.05). Conclusion : The level of contraction in abdominal muscles appears to vary when isometric contractions of the trunk, shoulder, and hip muscles are added to the abdominal crunch exercise. Therefore, the use of isometric contractions of other joints to selectively induce contraction of the abdominal muscles may be considered.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.245-252
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• 2023

Background: Various functional tests such as upper quarter Y-balance test (UQYBT) are used to evaluate shoulder stability and mobility in clinical or sports fields. Previous studies have been conducted to determine the correlation between the scapular or trunk muscle and UQYBT. However, the correlation between UQYBT and hip flexor, which can be considered as a core muscle, has not been confirmed. Objects: To verify the relationship between the UQYBT and scapular muscle (scapular protractor and lower trapezius [LT]), trunk muscle, and hip flexor strengths in healthy male participants. Methods: A total of 37 healthy male participants were recruited and underwent UQYBT in the push-up posture. The isometric strength of the scapular protractor, LT, trunk flexor and extensor, and hip flexors were measured using a smart KEMA strength sensor (KOREATECH Inc.). Results: The superolateral direction of the UQYBT was moderately to strongly related to trunk extensor (r = 0.443, p < 0.01), scapular protractor (r = 0.412, p < 0.05), LT (r = 0.436, p < 0.01), and both sides of the hip flexors (supporting-side: r = 0.669, p < 0.01; non-supporting-side: r = 0.641, p < 0.01). The inferolateral direction of the UQYBT was moderately related to the scapular protractor (r = 0.429, p < 0.01), LT (r = 0.511, p < 0.01), and both sides of hip flexors (supporting-side: r = 0.481, p < 0.01; non-supporting-side: r = 0.521, p < 0.01). The medial direction of the UQYBT was moderately to strongly related with the scapular protractor (r = 0.522, p < 0.01), LT (r = 0.541, p < 0.01), and both sides of hip flexors (supporting-side: r = 0.605, p < 0.01; non-supporting-side: r = 0.561, p < 0.01). Conclusion: This study showed that the strength of the scapular muscles, trunk muscles, and hip flexor muscles correlated to the UQYBT. Therefore, the strength of not only the scapular and trunk muscles but also the hip flexor muscles should be considered to improve the UQYBT.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.401-409
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• 2019

Purpose: This study investigated the muscular activity of abdominal muscles during a variety of plank exercises following changes in the leg and head positions. Methods: Thirty healthy individuals participated in this study. They performed six variations of plank exercises, including three changes in head position and two changes in leg position. Each plank was defined as head neutral-leg neutral, head up-leg neutral, head down-leg neutral, head neutral-leg wide, head up-leg wide, and head down-leg wide. During the plank excises, the muscle activities of the rectus abdominis, internal oblique, erector spinae, and upper trapezius were measured. Results: The head down position significantly increased the rectus abdominis activity compared to other head positions (p<0.05). On the other hand, the upper trapezius muscle activity was significantly higher with the head up position compared to other head positions (p<0.05). Regardless of head positions, both the rectus abdominis and internal oblique muscles were significantly activated with leg wide position compared to the leg neutral position (p<0.05). Conclusion: Head and leg positions could change the muscular activities of abdominal muscles during plank exercises. For example, the head down position is effective for activating the rectus abdominis while the leg wide position could be advantageous for enhancing the internal oblique and rectus abdominis.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.932-938
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• 2012

Facial expression has its significance in mutual communication. It is the only means to express human's countless inner feelings better than the diverse languages human use. This paper suggests muscle model-based 3D facial expression generation system to produce easy and natural facial expressions. Based on Waters' muscle model, it adds and used necessary muscles to produce natural facial expressions. Also, among the complex elements to produce expressions, it focuses on core, feature elements of a face such as eyebrows, eyes, nose, mouth, and cheeks and uses facial muscles and muscle vectors to do the grouping of facial muscles connected anatomically. By simplifying and reconstructing AU, the basic nuit of facial expression changes, it generates easy and natural facial expressions.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.29-33
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• 2016

Objective: This study compared the muscle activities of the erector spinae (ES), the external oblique (EO), and the rectus abdominis (RA) on three different surfaces. The purpose of this study was to determine which surface induces the highest muscle activity during the plank exercises. The information from this study can be used to recommend plank exercises to athletes and patients with weak core muscles. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: The subjects include 20 adult males attending S University in Seoul. Participants completed each plank exercise on three different surfaces. To measure muscle activities, researchers used the values from electromyography. The measurement excluded the initial two and final two seconds and collected information on the RA, EO, and ES in each posture of each subject. Results: The left external oblique showed significant differences between the plank position on stable ground (ST) and the plank position using a suspension device (SL) (p<0.05) and between the plank position on the unstable ground (US) and SL (p<0.05). The right rectus abdominis and left rectus abdominis displayed statistically significant differences between the ST and the US (p<0.05) and between the ST and the SL (p<0.05). The right erector spinae had a statistically significant difference between ST and US (p<0.05). Conclusions: The plank exercise strengthens the core muscles effectively, and muscle activity is related to the posture of the exercise and the location of the muscle. These results suggest that plank exercises improve muscle activities. Additionally, plank exercises can be applied to general medical care.