• 대한통합의학회지
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• 제6권4호
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• pp.91-100
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• 2018

Purpose : The study investigated the effects of Pilates exercise on strengthening trunk muscles of females who perform such exercise for the purpose of comparing activation of trunk muscles that contact while performing Pilates motions between females with or without at least 8 weeks of Pilates experience. Methods : The study investigated 10 females with at least 8 weeks of Pilates experience in the past 6 months (experienced group) and 10 healthy females without Pilates experience (non-experienced group). The study used basic Pilates postures involving hip abduction, lift, and leg swing motions as the measurement postures in comparing the activation of muscles used for stabilization, such as the rectus abdominis, external oblique abdominal, and transverse abdominis & internal oblique abdominal muscles. Surface electromyography was used for measuring muscle activation, and the measurements targeted activation of the rectus abdominis, external oblique abdominal, transversus abdominis, and internal oblique abdominal muscles. Results : The study results showed that, as compared to the non-experienced group, the experienced group had significantly higher muscle activation in the transverse abdominis and internal oblique abdominal muscles during hip abduction (p<.05) and significantly higher muscle activation in the rectus abdominis, external oblique abdominal, and transverse abdominis & internal oblique abdominal muscles during lift and leg swing motions (p<.05). Conclusion : Pilates exercise performed over a long period can be recommended as an effective exercise method that can increase the activation of trunk muscle, and especially, repeated performance of highly difficult motions can increase muscle activation even more, which can help promote spinal stabilization, prevent pain, and improve performance of activities of daily living.

• 대한정형도수물리치료학회지
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.7-14
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• 2022

Purposed: This study was conducted to find out by ultrasonic waves the thickness change of the deep abdominal muscles, such as transverse abdominal, internal oblique and external oblique when performing general bridge exercise on the stable surface (GBE), single-legged bridge exercise on the stable surface (BES), bridge exercise with a sling (SBE) and single-legged bridge exercise with a sling (SBS). Methods: The subject, 33 healthy adults(18 men and 15 women) in their 20s of V university in J city were subjected to take four postures of GBE, BES, SBE, and SBS. When performing each posture, the thickness of transverse abdominal, internal oblique and external oblique were measured by ultrasonic waves and analyzed by repeated measures of ANOVA. This significance level was set to be p<.05. Results: Muscle thickness was increased in the order of BES, SBE, and GBE in the external oblique, resulting in statistically significant differences(p<.001). The internal oblique was significantly thicker in SBE and SBS rather than in GBE, and was thicker in SBE and SBS rather than in BES (p<.01). The thickness of the transverse abdominal was significantly increased in SBS than in GBE (p<.01). Conclusion: As the result, it may be more effective for the trunk stabilization exercises to activate the internal oblique and transverse abdominal by applying both-legged or single-legged bridge exercise in slings.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제22권5호
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• pp.33-38
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• 2010

Purpose: This study examined the activation of the rectus abdominis (RA), external abdominal oblique (EO), transversus abdominis, internal abdominal oblique (TrA/IO), and Multifidus (MF) muscles while stabilization exercise was performed in a four-point kneeling position. Methods: Experiments were conducted on 21 healthy male adults (mean age=25.29 years) who voluntarily agreed to participate in the study. Each subject was instructed regarding maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) and stabilization exercise in four-point kneeling. While MVC and stabilization exercise of individual muscles were being performed, activation of the muscles was measured using surface electromyography (EMG). Activation of the muscles while performing stabilization exercise in four-point kneeling was normalized to a percentages of the MVC. Results: Left RA, right TrA/IO, right and left MF muscles showed significant differences among the positions. Conclusion: Selecting an optimal position can aid subjects on physical conditions while performing stabilization exercises in the four-point kneeling position.

• 대한통합의학회지
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• 제7권3호
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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.

• 대한물리의학회지
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• 제10권4호
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• pp.33-38
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• 2015

PURPOSE: Although the abdominal drawing-in maneuver is commonly used in clinical training for trunk stability, performing this procedure in stroke patients is difficult; instead, maximal expiration can be much easily performed in stroke patients. In the present study, we first aimed to demonstrate the effects of the abdominal drawing-in maneuver and maximal expiration on trunk stability in stroke patients. Moreover, we compared the thickness of the transverse abdominal, internal oblique, and external oblique muscles on the paretic and non-paretic sides. METHODS: We used ultrasonography to measure the change in the thickness of the transverse abdominal, internal oblique, and external oblique muscles on the paretic and non-paretic sides at rest, while performing the abdominal drawing-in maneuver, and while performing maximal expiration in 23 stroke patients. The ratio of muscle thickness between different conditions was estimated and included in the data analysis (abdominal drawing-in maneuver / at rest and, maximal expiration / at rest). RESULTS: The ratio of the thickness of the transverse abdominal, internal oblique and external oblique muscles during maximal expiration was significantly different on the paretic side (p < 0.05). The ratio of muscle thicknesses on the non-paretic side was greater during maximal expiration than during the abdominal drawing-in maneuver, although this difference was not significant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that maximal expiration more effectively increased the abdominal muscle thickness on the paretic side. Hence, we recommend the application of maximal expiration in clinical trunk stability training on the paretic side of stroke patients.

• 대한물리의학회지
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• 제10권3호
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• pp.95-100
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• 2015

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of the angles of the knee and heel-off on the muscle activity during a bridge exercise. METHODS: 15 healthy adult men and women with the balance ability and joint working range required for performing a bridge exercise participated in this study, in which $120^{\circ}$, $90^{\circ}$ and $60^{\circ}$ angles of the knee-flexion and heel-off were applied during the bridge exercise. RESULTS: Our data showed that there were significant differences in muscle activities of elector spinae and rectus abdominis when $120^{\circ}$ and $60^{\circ}$ angles of the knee were applied, of internal oblique when $120^{\circ}$ and $60^{\circ}$ were applied, and external oblique when $90^{\circ}$ and $60^{\circ}$ were applied. When heel-off was applied, there were significant differences in muscle activities of elector spinae and rectus abdominis when $120^{\circ}$ and $60^{\circ}$ were applied, of internal oblique when $120^{\circ}$ and $60^{\circ}$ were applied, and external oblique when $90^{\circ}$ and $60^{\circ}$ were applied. CONCLUSION: In this study on an application of heel-off to the bridge exercise, we showed that the effect of the angles of the knee on the muscle activities of elector spinae, rectus abdominis, internal oblique and external oblique were all similar to the regular bridge exercise, but overall muscle activities were increased with heel-off when compared with the regular bridge exercise.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.78-85
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• 2024

Objective: This Study aimed to examine the changes in muscle activity of trunk muscles by performing three squat exercises on normal adults. Design: cross-sectional study Methods: Thirty-two adult subjects participated in this study. General squat, overhead squat, and overhead squat combined with abdominal stabilization were randomly performed for 5 seconds, 3 times, to calculate the average muscle activation. Muscle activation was normalized using electrodes on the rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique, and erector spinae muscles to measure maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) for 5 seconds, repeated 3 times each. Results: There was a significant difference in the mean and maximal muscle activity of the bilateral erector spinae (ES) when comparing the squat to the overhead squat (p<0.05). There was a significant difference (p<0.05) in the mean and maximal muscle activity of the bilateral external oblique (EO) when comparing the overhead squat to the overhead squat combined with the abdominal stabilization technique. When comparing the squat to the overhead squat with abdominal stabilization, there was a significant difference in the mean and maximum muscle activity of the bilateral RA, EO, and left Internal oblique (IO) (p<0.05), and there was a significant difference in the maximum muscle activity of the bilateral erector spinae (ES) (p<0.05). Post hoc tests showed significant differences between squatting methods for the RA, EO, IO, and ES (p<0.017). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that squats combined with abdominal stabilization were more effective at activating core muscles than squats or overhead squats alone.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.102-110
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• 2006

To improve trunk stability, various exercise protocols were introduced into the clinical field. Trunk and lumbar stability exercises on unstable surfaces are especially recommended to improve lumbar stability. The purpose of this study was to compare abdominal oblique muscle activity during leg raising in hook-lying position among 3 different type of surface conditions (on floor (F), vestibular board (VB), and foam roll (FR)). Sixteen able-bodied volunteers, who had no medical history of lower extremity or lumbar spine disease, were recruited for this study. Surface electromyography (EMG) activity was recorded from the internal and external oblique muscles of both sides. The normalized EMG activity was compared using a one-way repeated ANOVA. The results showed that the EMG activities of the internal oblique and external oblique of the lifted leg side during straight leg raising significantly increased under the FR condition when compared to the F condition. There was no significant difference of the EMG activity in abdominal oblique muscles between the VB and the FR conditions. The EMG activity of the internal oblique of supported leg side during the straight leg raising was significantly greater under the FR condition than the VB and F conditions (p<.05). The composition ratio of EMG activity of internal oblique muscles during straight leg raising was significantly increased under the FR condition. Therefore, straight leg raising exercise on foam roll in hook lying position could be beneficial to improve trunk and lumbar stability.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제31권5호
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• pp.298-303
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• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the effects of slashpipe exercise on reducing the thickness of the left and right external oblique, internal oblique, transverse abdominis, erector spinae, and multifidus muscles. Methods: A total of 29 healthy adult men and women were included in the study. They performed trunk flexion in the supine position and trunk extension in the prone position with a slashpipe and weight bar. The external oblique, internal oblique, and transverse abdominis muscles were measured in the supine position, while the erector spinae and multifidus muscles were measured in the prone position. The data were analyzed using the SPSS ver 21.0 statistical program. The difference in thickness between the right and left sides of the trunk muscle was analyzed by repeated measures analysis. The statistical significance level was set to p<0.05. Results: The results showed that the slashpipe exercise reduced significantly the difference in thickness of the oblique internus and erector spinae muscles compared to the weight bar exercise. Conclusion: The chaotic fluidity of the fluid filled inside the slashpipe could be used as sensory feedback information on body mal-alignment, which would have positively affected the symmetrical contraction of the trunk muscles as a trigger for self-correction. Therefore, it will have a useful effect not only on the health of the general public, but also on low back patients and athletes with muscle asymmetry.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.119-126
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• 2022

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of the application of abdominal brace techniques on muscle activity of the trunk and lower extremities when walking. Design: Cross-sectional study Methods: This study was conducted on 26 healthy adults in their 20s, and the subjects performed two conditions in random order: walking with the abdominal bracing technique and walking in an abdominal relaxation state (normal gait). Muscle activity was measured on the dominant side of all subjects using surface electromyography, and the attachment sites were the erector spinae, external oblique, internal oblique, vastus lateralis, and vastus medialis oblique muscles. Each condition was measured three times to calculate and analyze the average value. Results: When walking using the abdominal brace technique, the muscle activity of the erector spinae, external oblique, internal oblique, and vastus lateralis increased significantly (p<0.05), and the muscle activity of the vastus medialis increased as well but was not significant. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that it is possible to be used as an effective guide to increasing the muscle activity and stability of the trunk and lower extremities through the application of the abdominal bracing technique during walking.