• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.264-268
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the effects on muscle thickness and balance ability after performing plank exercise on various surface types. Methods: In this study, there were thirty healthy participants. Participants were randomly distributed into three groups, a control group (n=10), sling group (n=10), and ball group (n=10). All participants performed plank exercises three times a week for four weeks. Plank exercises consisted of five sets of 30 seconds each with a one minute break between each set. Muscle thickness of the transverse abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO) was measured using an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and balance was measured using I-balance. Results: Evaluation of muscle thickness revealed that the IO and EO muscle of the ball group changed significantly relative to the control group (p<0.05). However, there were no significant changes in balance. Conclusion: The results revealed that performing plank exercise on a ball is more effective among various types of surfaces.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.94-100
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• 2020

Purpose: This study examined the effects of the abdominal hollowing technique applied during plank exercises at different shoulder angles between the ground and the humerus on the abdominal muscle activity Methods: The subjects were 36 male volunteers. They were randomized to perform plank exercises or plank exercises using the hollowing technique at 80˚, 90˚, 100˚, and 110˚ between the ground and the humerus. The abdominis muscles were measured using a surface electromyogram. Independent t-tests examined the changes in the activity of these muscles according to the two exercise methods at each angle. The changes in muscle activity were examined according to the selected angles by one-way analysis of variance. Results: The activity of abdominal muscles was investigated according to the angle between the ground and the humerus during the plank exercise. As a result, the muscle activity increased significantly with decreasing angle in the rectus abdominis, external oblique, and internal oblique·transverse abdominis muscles (p<0.05). In terms of the changes in abdominal muscle activity after hollowing plank exercises at the given angles between the ground and the humerus, an increase in angle resulted in a statistically significant increase in the rectus abdominis muscle activity (p<0.05). The activities of the rectus abdominis, external oblique, and internal oblique/transverse abdominis muscles after hollowing plank exercises showed statistically significant increases (p<0.05) compared to those after plank exercises. Conclusion: The hollowing technique and the increase in the angle between the ground and the humerus may be an effective exercise method for increasing the muscle activity of the abdominis muscles.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.73-77
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• 2017

PURPOSE: The present study aimed to measure muscle activities in the pectoralis major, the erector spinae, and the quadriceps femoris according to support surface states of arms and legs during plank exercise. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 21 healthy males in their 20s and their muscle activities at three states were measured as follows: The first state was where the support surface of arms and legs was stable. The second state was where only arms were unstable, and the third state was where only legs were unstable. Electromyography (EMG) was used to measure muscle activities. Pectoralis major, quadriceps femoris, and elector spinae were measured for muscle activities. RESULTS: The muscle activities in the pectoralis major were statistically high when arms were unstable. The muscle activities in the quadriceps femoris were statistically high when legs were unstable. The muscle activities in the erector spinae were higher when arms and legs were unstable compared to that at the stable support surface. No significant difference was revealed statistically when arms and legs were unstable. CONCLUSION: If the instability of arms and legs is employed during plank exercise, exercise on the upper and lower bodies or the erector spinae is expected to be more effective.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.181-189
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the effect of sling-applied plank exercise on the frequency, stiffness, and decrement of the rectus abdominis and longissimus muscles of the trunk according to the stability of the base of support. Methods: Thirty-three young adults volunteered to participate and were randomly assigned to one of three groups (SS, stable support; LES, lower extremity support; and ULES, upper and lower extremity support) according to the stability of the base of support. The muscular properties of the rectus abdominis and longissimus muscles during sling-assisted plank exercise according to the stability of the base of support. were measured by using Myoton PRO (Myoton AS, Tallinn, Estonia). Statistical analysis was performed MANOVA to determine the effect of sling-assisted plank exercise on the muscular properties of the rectus abdominis and longissimus muscles according to the stability of the base of support. Post hoc analysis was conducted using Bonferroni. The level of statistical significance was set at α = 0.05. Results: When comparing the muscular properties, the muscle frequency and stiffness of the left rectus abdominis of ULES were significantly decreased compared to that of SS (p < 0.05). In the measurement time, the muscle frequency and the muscle stiffness of the right rectus abdominis increased significantly after the intervention (p < 0.05). Conclusion: It was concluded that the more unstable the base of support (ULES), the higher the exercise strength, and the muscle frequency and stiffness decreased on the rectus abdominis at rest.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1706-1710
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• 2019

Background: Despite frequent shoulder injuries of rotator cuff muscle of golfers by the result of overuse and poor swing mechanics, there is little research on shoulder specific rehabilitation exercises for injured rotator cuff muscle and golf swing Objective: To examined the effect of rehabilitation exercise for golfers on the X factor and ground reaction force (GRF) according to phase of the golf swing. Design: Crossover study Methods: The participants were 13 amateur golfers selected for a 4 week rehabilitation exercise for golfers. A rehabilitation exercise for golfers consisting of 5 steps and 4 items (sleeper stretch, full side plank, push up to plank, high plank knee unders) were applied to all participants. A three dimensional motion analyzer and force platform (SMART-E, BTS, Italy) were used to measure the X factor (angle between shoulder and pelvis at top of back swing) and GRF according to phase of the golf swing. All dependent variables were measured before and after exercise. The collected data was analyzed using the paired t test and SPSS 21.0. Results: The GRF had a statistically significant increase in the impact phase and ratio impact/weight after rehabilitation exercise for golfers (p<.05). The X-factor, GRF in top of back swing and finish were no significant differences between before and after exercise (p>.05). Conclusions: These results suggested that rehabilitation exercise for golfers was effective for increasing GRF in the impact phase and ratio impact/weight for amateur golfer.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.14-19
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• 2022

Background: Plank exercise (PE) is an effective exercise to enhance lower back stability by strengthening the core and lower limb muscles. However, in patients with a shortened hamstring muscle (HAM), PE may cause abnormal movement of the pelvis and lower back due to HAM hyperactivity. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of PE on the core muscles and HAM in subjects with a shortened HAM. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Subjects were divided into a normal length of HAM group (NHG; 9 subjects) and a shortened length of HAM group (SHG; 14 subjects). The activities of the erector spinae (ES), rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), and HAM muscles were measured using surface electromyography. Results: The results showed that RA, EO, and ES muscle activities were higher in the NHG than in the SHG; however, no significant differences were detected. Conclusion: HAM activity was significantly higher in the SHG than in the NHG. In subjects with a shortened HAM, PE may hyperactivate the HAM, adversely affecting the pelvis and lower back.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.71-77
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• 2021

The present study aimed to find out how the trunk muscles, which are mainly used in Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation, affect chest compression through plank exercise. Study subjects participated in a 12-week program, and subjects performed only chest compressions for 8 minutes. Regarding their change in a muscle mass by plank exercise, there was a statistically significant difference in the change from 4th to 8th week after the program(p<.01). The muscle activity change had a statistically significant difference from 3rd to 10th week(p<.01). The chest compression depth had a statistically significant difference from 4th to 8th week(p<.01). In addition, insufficient chest relaxation height after compression had a statistically significant difference from 4th to 10th week(p<.01). The chest compression maintenance time had a statistically significant difference from 2nd to 12th week(p<.01). The participants' muscle mass and muscle activity increased more after their participation in plank exercise program than before. All chest compression factors except for chest compression rate brought about positive results.

• International Journal of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.156-162
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• 2024

The purpose of this study was to investigate the muscle activity of internal oblique, rectus femoris, and multifidus according to knee posture and foot bar angle during pilates reformer high flank exercise. Twelve women in their 20s were recruited within six months of their experience as pilates instructors. The subjects performed six types of high flanks according to knee posture and foot bar angle. EMG signals of internal oblique, rectus femoris, and multifidus during exercise were measured and analyzed by integral EMG. The collected data were processed by repeated measures two-way ANOVA. In this paper it shows the following results. First, internal oblique iEMG was not significantly different according to knee posture and foot bar angle. Second, the rectus femoris had an interaction effect according to knee posture and foot bar angle. Third, there was no significant difference in multifidus according to knee posture and foot bar angle. In conclusion, according to the exercise method, the activity of the rectus femoris was the highest in the knee bending and high foot-bar angle high plank exercise, and there was no difference between the internal oblique and multifidus.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.23-36
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• 2019

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Plank exercise on unstable support surfaces on flexibility, abdominal muscle thickness and pain in patients with chronic back pain. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: This study was performed on 16 patients with chronic back pain of ◯◯ military unit. Sixteen subjects were randomly assigned into two groups, an upper extremity trainer group (group I, n=8) and a lower extremity trainer group (group II, n=8). The subjects in group I carried out Flank exercise applying the stability trainer to their upper extremities and ones in group II carried out the same exercise applying the stability trainer to their lower extremities for 4 weeks. In order to ascertain the difference between two groups, flexibility, abdominal muscle thickness and pain were measured before and after the exercise. The flexibility was measured by sit and reach test, the thickness of the abdominal muscle was measured by using ultrasonic imaging equipment, and the pain was measured by the visual analogue scale. A paired t-test was utilized to compare changes in pain, abdominal muscle thickness and flexibility before and after flank exercise on unstable support surfaces. Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was performed for ascertaining the significant differences between groups. The significance level was set by α=.05. Results: 1) The flexibilities of two groups were increased after the exercise (p<0.05). 2) In both groups, the thicknesses of rectus abdominis, external oblique abdominis, internal oblique abdominis, and transverse abdominis were all increased after the exercise (p<0.05). 3) The pains in both groups were decreased after the exercise (p<0.05). 4) In the comparisons of two groups, there were no differences in the flexibility, thickness of external oblique abdominis, internal oblique abdominis and transverse abdominis and pain (p>0.05). Whereas only thickness of Rectus abdominis was larger in the group I than in the group II (p<0.05). Conclusion: Plank exercise on the unstable support surface for 4 weeks resulted in increased flexibility, abdominal muscle thickness and pain reduction in patients with chronic back pain. Therefore, it is considered that performing flank exercise on the unstable supporting surface is suitable for the reduction of the pain in patients with chronic back pain. However, in this study, it is considered that continuous and diverse studies are needed because there was not a large difference between the groups when the upper or lower limbs are provided unstable support surfaces.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2022

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate muscle activation according to the four strap lengths in the TRX plank exercise to provide scientific and accurate data on effective training methods. Method: Twenty healthy men who had at least 6 months of weight training experience and could fully adjusted plank exercise, were participate in this study (age: 25.2 ± 3.7 yrs., height: 174.2 ± 3.9 cm., weight: 71.2 ± 9 kg). To pursue the study purpose, surface electrodes were attached to trunk muscles (pectoralis major, rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique, erector spinae, latissimus dorsi) and lower extramity muscles (gluteus maximus, rectus femoris, gastrocnemius), and the muscle activity was measured using 11-channel electromyography equipment. In order to verify the muscle activation according to the four strap lengths during TRX plank exercise, an one-way ANOVA with repeated measure was used with statistical significance level set at as α=.05. Results: First, there were statistically significant differences in pectoralis major, rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique, and erector spinae among TRX strap lengths. Second, there were statistically significant differences in gluteus maximus, rectus femoris, and gastrocnemius among TRX strap lengths. Third, even though no statistically significant difference found in latissimus dorsi, but increased muscle activation tendency was showed as the length of the strap increased. Conclusion: From the results of this study, it may be possible that TRX exercise prevent injuries and improve lower extremity muscle as well as trunk muscles by setting appropriate length of strap.