• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.275-282
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• 2012

Purpose : Bridge exercise has been commonly used in clinical rehabilitation settings to improve trunk control, and hip adductor muscles were a related muscle that may affect trunk muscle activation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the co-contraction of hip adductor muscles may affect trunk muscle activation during bridge exercises. Methods : Thirty-eight healthy young subjects (19 men and 19 women) performed bridge exercises (with and without hip adduction movement). Surface electromyography (EMG) data were collected from the dominant-side internal oblique (IO), rectus abdominis (RA), multifidus (MF) and erect spine (ES) during bridge exercises to compare trunk muscles activation patterns. Result : The EMG activities of IO and RA appeared to be significantly higher during bridge exercise with hip adductor co-contraction than during bridge exercise alone (p<.01), but there were no significant differences in those of MF and ES. Furthermore, there were significant differences in the IO:RA EMG ratio during bridge exercise with hip adductor co-contraction (p<.05). Conclusion : These findings suggest that integration of hip adduction during bridge exercise may be beneficial in increasing deep muscles' activity for trunk stabilization.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.315-321
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• 2020

Purpose: Recent studies have indicated that applying different inclination angles and suspension devices could be a useful way of performing exercises that include the co-activation of the trunk muscles. Present study was to examine the influences of changes in the inclination angle during trunk muscle activity while engaging in a bridge exercise with a suspension device. Methods: 18 healthy, physically active male volunteers completed three trunk inclination angles (15°, 30°, and 45°) for bridge exercise variations. The surface electromyography responses of the rectus abdominis, internal oblique (IO), erector spinae (ES), and rectus femoris (RF), as well as the subjective difficulty (Borg RPE score), were investigated during these bridge exercises. Results: The bridge with a 45° inclination angle suspension significantly increased the muscular activities of the RA and RF and increased the Borg RPE scores (p<0.05). The bridge with a 15° suspension significantly elevated the ES activities when compared to the other conditions. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that a higher inclination angle could not activate the overall trunk muscles during the bridge exercise. The RA and RF produced greater activation during the bridge exercise with the higher inclination angle. On the other hand, the activities of the erector spine were greater during the bridge exercise with the lower inclination angle. The present study suggests that applying a low trunk inclination angle for the supine bridge exercise is suitable for activating the erector spine muscles.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.67-77
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to identify the effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) training and robot rehabilitation training on trunk stability and standing balance in individuals with chronic stroke. Methods: There were 30 patients with chronic stroke, divided into two groups: 15 subjects who received PNF and robot training (the experimental group) and 15 subjects who received standard conservative training (the control group), that participated. The experimental group received treatment for 60 min: 30 min of conventional physical therapy, 15 min of PNF training, and 15 min of robot training. The control group received conventional physical therapy for 60 min. Trunk stabilization (trunk impairment scale) and standing balance (center of pressure, limit of stability, modified functional reach test, and Berg balance scale) were measured before and after intervention. Results: Within each group, both the experimental and control groups significantly improved after the intervention in all tests; however, the experimental group showed greater improvement in scores on the trunk impairment scale, the center of pressure, the limit of stability, the modified functional reach test, and the Berg balance scale. Conclusion: The study verified that PNF training and robot training had a positive influence on trunk stability and standing balance indices in patients with chronic stroke.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of general exercise after blood flow restriction on trunk muscles thickness in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Methods: Twenty children with cerebral palsy were assigned randomly to an experimental (n = 10) or a control (n = 10) group. The experimental group performed general exercise after blood flow restriction, while the control group performed general exercise alone. The study used an ultrasonic instrument to measure trunk muscles thickness. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to determine differences before and after treatment, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used to determine differences between treatment groups. Results: From a comparison within the groups, the experimental and control groups showed significant difference in trunk muscle thickness after the experiment (p < 0.05). In a comparison between the two groups, the experimental group showed more significant difference in trunk muscle thickness than the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Based on these results, general exercise after blood flow restriction effectively improves trunk muscle thickness in children with cerebral palsy.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.178-184
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• 2020

Background: Stroke patients have reduced trunk control compared to normal people. The ability to control the trunk of a stroke patient is important for gait and balance. However, there is still a lack of research methods for the characteristics of stroke control in stroke patients. Objects: The aim of this research was to determine whether trunk position sense has any relation with balance and gait. Methods: This study assessed trunk performance by measuring position sense. Trunk position sense was assessed using the David back concept to determine trunk repositioning error in 20 stroke patients and 20 healthy subjects. Four trunk movements (flexion, extension, lateral flexion, rotation) were tested for repositioning error and the measurement was carried out 6 times per move; these parameters were used to compare the mean values obtained. Subjects with stroke were also evaluated with clinical measures of balance and gait. Results: There were significant differences in trunk repositioning error between the stroke group and the control group in flexion, lateral flexion to the affected side, lateral flexion to the unaffected side, rotation to the affected side, and rotation to the unaffected side. Mean flexion error: post-stroke: 7.95 ± 6.76 degrees, control: 3.32 ± 2.27; mean lateral flexion error to the affected side: 6.13 ± 3.79, to the unaffected side: 5.32 ± 3.15, control: 3.57 ± 1.92; mean rotation error to the affected side: 8.25 ± 3.09, to the unaffected side: 9.24 ± 3.94, control: 5.41 ± 1.82. There was an only significant negative correlation between the repositioning error of lateral flexion and the Berg balance scale score to the affected side (-0.483) and to the unaffected side (-0.497). A strong correlation between balance and gait was found. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that stroke patients exhibit greater trunk repositioning error than age-matched controls on all planes of movement except for extension. And lateral flexion has correlation with balance and gait.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.7-14
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the movement patterns when lying from an erect stance to a supine position of healthy adults and hemiplegia patients in the age group from 50 to 70. Methods: The subjects used in this study were 230 patients (144 healthy adults and 86 hemiplegia patients). Movement patterns were classified using categorical descriptions of the action of three body regions: the upper extremity, lower extremity, and the head-trunk region. Results: In the most common supine lying position in healthy adults (29.7%), the female fifties age group performed a symmetrical pattern using the upper extremity region, a symmetrical squat pattern using the lower extremity region, and a symmetrical pattern using the head-trunk region (1-1-1). However, in the most supine lying position in hemiplegia patients (32.0%), the female sixties age group usually performed this pattern by using the upper extremity and lower extremity regions in a squat position by raising the leg, and performing rotation of the head-trunk region (3-4-3). Conclusion: Using this clinical therapy, and considering the patients ability to exercise when lying from an erect stance to a supine position, the proper care could be provided. Moreover, this therapy introduces action based on a variety of training methods and on the effects which might result from any changes.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.413-422
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• 2021

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate changes in the cervical and lumbar flexion-relaxation ratio, range of motion, pressure pain threshold, and perceived comfort following the wearing of a trunk brace during smartphone watching. Methods: To calculate the number of subjects for this study, an analysis with G^*Power was performed at a statistical power of 0.8, an effect size of 0.5, and a significance level of 0.05, based on the results of a preliminary experiment on five subjects. In total, 27 adult men and women were recruited who had been informed of the study's purpose and process and had agreed to participate. All subjects watched content on a smartphone for 20 minutes in the same posture and conditions while wearing and not wearing a trunk brace, and then their cervical and lumbar flexion-relaxation ratio, range of motion, pressure pain threshold, and perceived comfort were measured. Results: Compared to the non-wearing of a trunk brace, the wearing of a trunk brace resulted in a statistically significant smaller decline in cervical extension and right-side cervical rotation (p<0.05). When the subjects wore a trunk brace, their right- and left-side cervical and right-side lumbar pressure pain statistically significantly improved when compared to not wearing a trunk brace (p<0.05). They also perceived a significantly lowered level of comfort 20 minutes after wearing a trunk brace compared to immediately after wearing it (p<0.05). Conclusion: The trunk brace was effective in reducing declines in right-side cervical rotation and the occurrence of left- and right-side cervical and right-side lumbar pressure pain. The findings indicate the need to improve the perceived comfort of trunk braces.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.237-246
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of forward-and-backward shift trunk exercise using a proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) diagonal pattern in a closed kinematic chain exercise on the upper limb function and activity of daily living (ADL) in a stroke patient. Methods: One subject participated in this study. The study used a reversal A-B-A' design, where A and A' were the baseline period (no intervention), and B was the intervention period. The intervention was a forward-and-backward trunk shift exercise, using a PNF diagonal pattern on both a stand-on-hand position and a quadruped position of closed kinematic chain exercises, for 20 min per day for 2 weeks. The range of motion (ROM) of the shoulder joint was measured and a Fugl-Meyer assessment of upper extremity (FMA-UE) and a functional independence measure (FIM) were performed to measure upper limb function and activity of daily living (ADL). Results: ROMs of shoulder joint (flexion, extension, abduction, and external rotation) increased in the intervention phase. The FMA-UE score increased (from 28 to 36) in the intervention phase. The FIM score increased (from 20 to 25) in the intervention phase. These increases were maintained after intervention (Baseline II). Conclusion: These results suggest that forward-and-backward shift trunk exercises using a PNF diagonal pattern in a closed kinematic chain exercise have a positive effect on stroke patients' upper limb function and ADL ability.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.81-88
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of normal timing according to angular motion in PNF patterns on electromyography (EMG) activity in rectus abdominis, internal oblique abdominal muscle, external oblique abdominal muscle, and erector spinae. Methods: Ten healthy adults volunteered to participate in this study. The participants were required to complete following two PNF extremity patterns; upper extremity extension- adduction-internal rotation pattern with $180^{\circ}$, $90^{\circ}$, $30^{\circ}$ and lower extremity flexion- adduction-external rotation pattern with $0^{\circ}$, $60^{\circ}$, $90^{\circ}$. A paired t-test was used to determine the influence of the two PNF patterns on muscle activity in each muscle. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the ratio of local muscle activity to global muscle activity. Results: In terms of their effect on applied normal timing, the upper and lower extremity pattern significantly affected the rectus abdominis, internal oblique, external oblique, and erector spinae (p < .05). The upper extremity pattern (at an extension angle of $30^{\circ}$) and the lower extremity pattern ((at a flexion angle of $90^{\circ}$) influenced the rectus abdominis, internal oblique, external oblique, and erector spinae (p < .05). Conclusion: The effect of the upper and lower extremity patterns on applied normal timing was significant in that these patterns increased trunk muscle activation. The upper extremity pattern (at an extension angle of $30^{\circ}$) and the lower extremity pattern (at a flexion angle of $90^{\circ}$) increased trunk muscle activation. Normal timing is required to increase trunk muscle strength and extremity movement.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.1739-1748
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• 2002

본 연구의 목적은 소방용 coverall의 디자인이 소방수들의 동작기능성에 어떤 영 향을 주는지에 관하여 고찰하여, 보다 기능적 인 coverall을 개발, 궁극적으로 작업자의 노동력을 향상시키고, 보다 안락한 환경 속에서 작업할 수 있도록 도와주는데에 있다. 미국 캔사스 지역의 전문 소방수를 대상으로, interview 및 video analysis를 통하여, 그들이 현재 사용하고 있는 current coverall의 동작기능면에서의 문제점을 조사, 분석한 후, 이를 바탕으로 prototype coverall을 개발하였다 prototype coverall의 동작기능성을 객관적으로 측정하기 위하여 10가지 실험동작(shoulder adduction/ abduction, shoulder flexion/extension, trunk flexion/extension(standing), hip flexion/extension(knee), hip flexion/extension(trunk), upper leg flexion, trunk lateral flexion, hip adduction, trunk flexion/ extension(sitting), upper leg flexion)을 선택하여 이의 관절각도(range-of-motion)를 Leighton flexometer, goniometer, computer-aided method를 이용하여 측정하였으며, 착용자의 주관적 평가를 위하여서는 23 항목의 wearer acceptability scale를 사용하였다. ANOVA(Analysis of Variance)와 LSD(Least Significant Difference)를 이용한 통계처리 결과, prototype coverall이 current coverall에 비해 동작기능성 (특히 crotch, torso, hip movement)에 있어서 우수함을 보이고 있다.