• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.12-20
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• 2022

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes of trunk and lower extremity muscle activity according to the compensation of arm during bridge movement of healthy subject. Design: Cross-sectional Study. Methods: Twenty healthy subjects participated in this study. The subjects performed bridge exercise with 3 different arm positions(arm abduction 45°, 90° and cross-arms) and measured the muscle activity of the trunk and lower extrimity. During bridge exercise with 3 different arm positions, trunk (rectus abdominis, erector spinae) and lower extrimity muscle activity (gluteus medius, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior) were measured using wireless surface EMG. Results: Rectus abdominis and gluteus medius muscle were most activated during bridge exercise with arm abduction 90° and erector spinae and biceps femoris muscle were most activated during bridge exercise with arm abduction 45°. In addition, tibialis anterior muscle was most activated during bridge exercise with arm cross. However, these difference in muscle activity according to the arm position was not statistically significant. Conclusion: As a result of this study, we think that the change in arm position does not induce sufficient instability to increase the muscle activity of the trunk and lower extremity muscles. Therefore, various approaches for inducing instability of the support surface for increasing muscle activity when applying bridge movement in clinical practice should be explored.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.11-20
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• 2009

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to find out which method is efficient to enhance the flexibility of lower back between PNF(Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation), static and dynamic stretching. Methods : Subjects were 30 young people between the ages 17 and 19. They were randomly divided into three groups; static group(n=10) performed a static stretching, dynamic group(n=10) performed a dynamic stretching, and PNF group(n=10) performed a PNF stretching. Intervention was provided 5 days per week for 4 weeks. For each case, Trunk flexion forward, trunk flexion backward, trunk left lateral bending, trunk right lateral bending, trunk flexion forward a measuring instrument and tapeline were performed to measured the flexibility of lower back at different times(before starting the exercise, after 4 weeks). Results : The results of the study reveal that the lower back flexibility was a statistically significant difference in all groups(p<.05). There was statistically significant difference between PNF group and static group, PNF group and dynamic group. Conclusion : The finding indicated that PNF may be preferred technique for improving flexibility, and that flexibility training results in an increased consistency of flexibility scores.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.333-341
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• 2017

Purpose: This study was to explore the effects of trunk exercise using PNF combined with treadmill training on balance and walking ability in patients with Parkinson's disease. Methods: This study included 16 patients with Parkinson's disease. Participants were randomly assigned to 2 groups: an experimental group (n=8) and a control group (n=8). All participants underwent treadmill training for 30 minutes. In addition, the experimental group (trunk exercise using PNF) and control group (conventional training) participated in a 30-minute exercise program. Both groups performed the training 5 times per week for 4 weeks. Disease severity (determined using the unified Parkinson's disease rating scale motor subscale, UPDRS-3), balance (determined using the Berg balance scale, BBS), walking speed (determined using the 10-meter walking test, 10MWT), and walking endurance (determined using the 6-minute walking test, 6MWT) were measured at baseline and after 4 weeks. Results: Pre- to post-intervention improvement was noted on all outcome measures for both groups (p<0.05). Post-intervention, there was a significant improvement in the experimental group as compared to the control group for the following measured outcomes (p<0.05): UPDRS-3 (p=0.03; 95% CI, -5.52 to -0.24), BBS (p=0.04; 95% CI, 0.59 to 6.45), 10MWT (p=0.01; 95% CI, -2.19 to -0.42), and 6MWT (p=0.04; 95% CI, 1.81 to 96.72) Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that trunk exercise using PNF plus treadmill training improves balance and walking ability as compared to conventional training plus treadmill training in patients with Parkinson's disease.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2019

Purpose: This study investigates the effects of task-oriented training for a left trunk flexion pattern using real-time ultrasound imaging in a stroke patient with unilateral neglect symptoms. Methods: This study used the ABA experimental design, which is a single-subject research method among individual case research methods. For the ABA experimental design, changes in the degree of unilateral neglect, balance ability, and the thickness of the lateral abdominal muscle were visually analyzed during the baseline process, in the intervention period, and after the intervention. The experiments were performed 24 times in total for 8 times in each of the 3 periods. The unilateral neglect was measured using the Albert test, balance ability was measured using the Berg balance test, and the thickness of the lateral abdominal muscle was measured using ultrasound imaging. The subject was a 50-year-old male patient with unilateral neglect caused by right cerebral hemorrhage. He performed task-oriented training for a voluntary left trunk flexion pattern using real-time ultrasound imaging during the intervention period. Results: The result of comparing the data collected during the intervention period with the data point average of the baseline process showed that balance ability improved and the tendency line was above the baseline. The tendency line of unilateral neglect was below the baseline and showed a decreasing tendency. The thickness of the lateral abdominal muscle showed an increasing trend and the tendency line was above the baseline. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the task-oriented training for left trunk flexion pattern using real-time ultrasound imaging has a beneficial effect on balance ability, the degree of unilateral neglect, and the strength of the lateral abdominal muscle in unilateral neglect patients.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.243-248
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• 2014

Purpose: The transverse abdominis and themultifidus muscle are located in the core. They surround one's trunk and help in body stabilization. Specifically, they control spine articulation to maintain posture and balance. Therefore, weakened deep muscle in the trunk may cause spinal malalignment. This study aims to compare the correlation between the thickness of the transverse abdominis and the multifidus muscle and the spine alignment among college students in their 20s. Methods: This study measured the thickness of the transverse abdominis and the multifidus muscle of 42 healthy college students in their 20s using ultrasonic waves. The thickness of the muscle was measured for the length of the cross-section except for fascia. The thickness of the left and right muscles was measured, and the mean value was calculated. As the thickness of the transverse abdominis can increase because of pressure during exhalation, it was measured at the last moment of exhalation. Spinal alignment was measured by the kyphosis angle, lordosis angle, pelvic tilt, trunk inclination, lateral deviation, trunk imbalance, and surface rotation using Formetric III, which is a three-dimensional imaging equipment. They were measured for three times, and the mean values were calculated. The general characteristics of the subjects were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The correlations between each factor were analyzed using Pearson's correlation analysis. Results: The transverse abdominis showed asignificant correlation with trunk inclination (p<.05). The multifidus muscle showed a significant positive correlation with pelvic tilt and a negative correlation with surface rotation (p<.05). Conclusion: The thickness of transverse abdominis and the multifidus muscle appears to influence spinal alignment. Specifically, the multifidus muscle, which plays an important role on the sagittal plane, influences surface rotation, thus making it an important muscle for scoliosis patients. Therefore, a strengthening training program for the transverse abdominis and the multifidus muscle is necessary according to specific purposes among adults with spinal malalignment.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.86-95
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• 2022

Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of ultra-thin microcurrent patch application on pain, tenderness, trunk flexion, and trunk extension in patients with back pain. Design: pretest-posttest design: single blind. Methods: Thirty men and women diagnosed with chronic back pain were classified into 15 microcurrent application groups and 15 placebo groups. Changes in pain were observed on a visual analog scale, tenderness was observed with a digital tenderness meter, and changes in trunk flexion and trunk extension angles were evaluated with a posture analyzer. The paired t-test was used to see the changes within each group before and one week after the experiment, and the independent t-test was used to see the change in the difference between the groups, and the significance level was 0.05. Results: In both the experimental group and the control group, there was a significant difference in pain within and between groups(p<0.05). In the experimental group, there were significant differences in the intra- and inter-group changes in the erector spinae muscle tenderness and low back pain disorder index(p<0.05). In the experimental group, there was a significant difference in the change in trunk flexion and extension within the group(p<0.05). Conclusion: In this study, it was confirmed that the application of ultra-thin microcurrent was effective for pain, tenderness, and movement of back extension in patients with low back pain. It is expected that it will be used as a basic data for microcurrent therapy and as a treatment method for improving the function of patients with back pain in the future.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.345-353
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) and static stretching on weight distribution and flexibility for trunk flexion. Method: Sixty participants who had no musculoskeletal disorders were recruited from a local university within six months of this study. The participants were randomly assigned to a PNF stretching group (N=30) and a static stretching group (N=32). For the pre-and post-measurement design, the left-right weight distribution, anterior-posterior weight distribution, and finger-to-floor distance (FFD) were measured before and after the stretching interventions. Result: The FFD results were significantly improved after the interventions, regardless of the group differentiation (p<0.05). The PNF stretching intervention significantly increased the differences between anterior and posterior weight distribution compared to the static stretching group (p<0.05). Conclusions: Both the PNF and static stretching interventions could improve flexibility for trunk flexion mobility. Although the PNF intervention improved the weight distribution in the anterior-posterior direction, further research is required to investigate the various PNF interventions on left-and-right and anterior-posterior weight distribution.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.111-116
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• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the effects of horse riding simulator exercise on the thickness changes in the transverse abdominis in normal adults. Methods: Forty-five healthy adults were recruited and randomized to a horseback riding simulation exercise group (n=15), a sling exercise group (n=15), and a trunk stabilization exercise group (n=15). A horseback riding simulator offers the indoor experience of horseback riding and mimics the rhythmic movement of horseback riding, thereby provided a virtual environment, such as riding a real horse on the front screen. The velocity of the horse riding simulator exercise was regulated within the subject's ability to control the exercise on the horse riding simulator. A sling exercise group performed sling exercise under the inspection of the experimenter. In the trunk stabilization exercise group, the subjects were instructed to perform the exercise accurately and pause the session when pain occurred during the intervention. The subjects in each group carried out the interventions three times per week for six weeks. The thickness of the transverse abdominis was measured using a pressure biofeedback unit and the ultrasound. Results: Significant differences in the thickness of transverse abdominis within the groups were observed between before and after the interventions. On the other hand, there were no differences in the parameters among the groups. Conclusion: Horse riding simulator exercise can be an alternative to trunk stabilization exercise by increasing the thickness of the transverse abdominis in healthy adults.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.187-191
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of our study aimed to identify the effect of static and dynamic bridge exercise with gym ball using gym ball on muscle activation of trunk and lower-limb in healthy individuals. Methods: A total of 20 healthy adults participated in this study. The individuals performed general bridge exercise, static and dynamic bridge exercise using gym ball. During the three methods of bridge exercises, electromyography (EMG) data (% maximum voluntary isometric contraction) of the rectus abdominis, erector spinae, biceps femoris, and gastrocnemius were recorded using a wireless surface EMG system. Results: Rectus abdominis activation showed significantly greater during dynamic bridge exercise compared with general bridge exercise and dynamic bridge exercise. Erector spinae, biceps femoris, and gastrocnemius were greater during static and dynamic bridge exercise compared with general bridge exercise. Conclusion: Based on our results, bridge exercise using gym ball, particularly integrating lower-limb movement, could be a useful method to enhance muscle activation of trunk and lower-limb (rectus abdominis, erector spinae, biceps femoris, and gastrocnemius).

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.52-61
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• 2023

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of a combined functional intervention program on the pain-related questionnaire, the erector spinae contractile properties, and trunk extensor strength of prime-aged females with non-specific chronic low back pain. Method: 16 (female: 16) prime-aged subjects (age: 60.88 ± 6.09 years, height: 158.16 ± 5.58 cm, weight: 59.05 ± 9.44 kg) participated in this study. Results: Except for Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia all pain-related questionnaires revealed a significant decrease after the intervention program (p<.001). Tensiomyography of the erector spinae revealed a significant post-intervention program increase in the maximum radial displacement (p<.05) and velocity of contraction (p<.05), however, there wasn't a significant post-intervention program change in the contraction time. Additionally, Trunk extensor strength showed a significant increase post-intervention program (p<.001). Conclusion: Our results indicated that the combined functional intervention program positively changed pain-related questionnaires and reduced erector spinae muscle stiffness, increasing the velocity of erector spinae contraction. Additionally, improved the trunk extensor strength.