• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.998-1011
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• 2016

Objectives: This study measured the thickness of the abdominal wall at abdominal acupoints using ultrasonography and then investigated the correlations between the thickness of the abdominal wall and other characteristics of patients with functional dyspepsia (FD). Methods: Thirty patients with FD were enrolled in the study from September 2015 to March 2016. The thickness of the abdominal wall was measured at Shangwan (CV12), Zhongwan (CV13), and the left Liangmen (ST21). In addition, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), duration of FD, and the sternocostal angle were investigated. The severities of spleen qi deficiency and the dyspepsia symptoms were assessed by the Spleen Qi Deficiency Questionnaire (SQDQ) and the Nepean Dyspepsia Index-Korean version (NDI-K). Results: The average thickness of the abdominal wall was $24.66{\pm}6.69mm$ at Shangwan, $21.17{\pm}5.83mm$ at Zhongwan, and $21.72{\pm}5.72mm$ at Linagmen, and there were significant differences between the thickness at Shangwan and Zhongwan (p=0.046). Furthermore, there were significant differences between the thickness of the abdominal wall at Zhongwan and the sternocostal angle (r=0.396, p=0.037). Conclusions: These findings indicate the possibility of estimating the thickness of the abdominal wall by looking at the characteristics of patients with FD, including the sternocostal angle.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.10 no.4
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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.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.233-242
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• 2014

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between the hip adductor muscles and abdominal muscles during bridge exercise. METHOD: Participants who met the criteria for this study(n=36) were divided into the three groups. The first experimental group performed normal bridge exercises and the second group performed bridge exercises with the contraction of the hip adductor muscles and the control group didn't perform any exercise. Transversus abdominis muscle thickness was measured by ultrasound imaging with a special transducer head device, at pre exercise, after 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 6 weeks. RESULT: Data were analyzed using repeated ANOVA with the level of significance set at ${\alpha}=.05$. Transversus abdominis muscle thickness was influenced by contraction of the hip adductor muscles during bridge exercise in people without lower back pain. Compared with normal bridge exercise, transversus abdominis muscle thickness significantly increased in thickness during bridge exercise with contraction of the hip adductor muscles(p<.05). CONCLUSION: The results from this study showed that contraction of the hip adductor muscles during bridge exercise increased change in the transversus abdominis muscle thickness. These results can be a good source to prevent low back pain due to hip adductor weakness. Therefore, inducing activation of hip adductor with abdominal stabilizing exercise is more effective in patients with low back pain.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.117-127
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to analyze the direct measurement data of 40-59 year old middle-aged men from Size Korea's 7th anthropometric survey, and to identify the body shape characteristics and to type the body shape of middle-aged men. Through this, this study aimed to provide basic data necessary for the clothing patterns of middle-aged men with excellent fit. The data was SPSS Ver. 24.0 program analysis. Factors extracted six including body horizontal, vertical, shoulder, waist front length, leg thickness, and shoulder deflections. The body shape of middle-aged men was classified into three types. Type 1 had a thin body circumference, a narrow width, a low height, a short waist front length, and a thin ankle and calf. Type 2 had a high body height, a long waist front length, a normal circumference and width, a thick ankle, a calf, and a sagging shoulder. Type 3 had a large body circumference, a wide body, a wide shoulder, and a long waist front length. A prominent feature of the changes in body shape of middle-aged men is the increase in the circumference and thickness items due to abdominal protrusion and fat accumulation. Therefore, pattern design according to these physical characteristics is considered to be necessary.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.321-329
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• 2021

Purpose: The abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) is an exercise that selectively strengthens deep abdominal muscles. It is reported to be effective in strengthening those muscles when using a pressure biofeedback unit. However, multiple factors of bridge exercise seem to bring exercise result of ADIM without stabilizer as they influence execution of ADIM. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare changes in the thickness of deep abdominal muscles through the ADIM exercise incorporating either a stabilizer or the bridge exercise. Methods: Thirty healthy adults who had voluntarily given their consent were selected as the subjects. A diagnostic sonograph was used to measure the thickness of the subjects' transverse abdominis, internal oblique, and external oblique muscles. First, the thickness of the subjects' deep abdominal muscle was measured while maintaining the ADIM using the stabilizer. After three minutes of rest, the thickness was measured again while the subjects maintained the ADIM with the bridge exercise. Results: In both exercises, the thickness of the transverse abdominis showed a statistically significant increase, with a more significant increase while executing the ADIM using the bridge exercise. In both exercises, the thickness of the internal oblique showed a statistically significant increase, with a more significant increase while executing the ADIM using the bridge exercise. The thickness of the external oblique showed a statistically significant increase only in the ADIM using the bridge exercise. Conclusion: Though strengthening is not as selective as the ADIM using a stabilizer, the ADIM using the bridge exercise has a more increased thickness of the transverse abdominis and the internal oblique than that of the internal oblique. Based on the outcome of this study, the ADIM using the bridge exercise without a stabilizer can selectively strengthen deep abdominal muscles even more.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 2019

Background: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) causes morphological changes in muscles, reduces muscle strength, endurance and flexibility, negatively affects lumbar stability, and limits functional activity. Plank exercise strengthens core muscles, activates abdominal muscles, and improves intra-abdominal pressure to stabilize the trunk in patients with CLBP. Objects: We investigated the effect of plank exercise on abdominal muscle thickness and disability in patients with CLBP. Methods: We classified 33 subjects into 2 groups: An experimental (n1=17) and a control group (n2=16). Patients in the experimental group participated in plank exercise and those in the control group participated in stretching exercise. Patients in both groups attended 20-minute exercise sessions thrice a week for 4 weeks. Abdominal muscle thickness in each subject was evaluated ultrasonographically, and disabilities were assessed using the Oswestry disability index (ODI). Results: Four weeks later, abdominal muscle thickness showed a significant increase over baseline values in both groups (p<.05). Patients in the experimental group reported a more significant increase in the thickness of the external oblique muscle than that in the control group (p<.05). ODI scores in the experimental group were significantly lower after intervention than before intervention (p<.05). Conclusion: Plank exercise increases the thickness of the external oblique muscle and reduces disability secondary to mild CLBP. Therefore, plank exercise is needed to improve lumbar stability and functional activity in patients with mild CLBP.

• Archives of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.117-126
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of task-oriented exercise and abdominal muscle contraction using functional electrical stimulation (FES) on abdominal muscle thickness and balance of stroke patients. Methods: Ten stroke patients who met the selection criteria were assigned randomly into two groups of five. One group received FES therapy before task-oriented training (experimental group), while the other group received a FES placebo before task-oriented training (control group). The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the groups, and the Wilcoxon Signed-ranks test was used to compare differences between the groups before and after intervention. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the rate changes of each item before and after intervention, between the two groups. Results: In the rectus abdominalis and external oblique muscle thickness tests that used ultrasound, there was a statistically significant difference in the experimental group (p<.05),but no significant difference in the control group (p>.05). There was also a significant difference between the groups (p<.05). In the Balance test that used the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and timed up and go test (TUG), there was a statistically significant difference in the experimental and control groups (p<.05), but there was no significant difference between the groups (p>.05). Conclusions: FES therapy before task-oriented training increases the thickness of abdominal muscles and improves balance abilities.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.415-424
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• 2020

Purpose: This study aimed to compare changes in abdominal muscle thickness in different standing postures with a handheld load between subjects with and without chronic low back pain (CLBP). Methods: Twenty subjects with CLBP and 20 controls participated in this study. Ultrasound imaging was used to assess the changes in the thickness of the transverse abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO) muscles. Muscle thickness in three different standing postures (standing at rest, standing with loads, standing with lifting loads) was compared with the muscle thickness at rest in the supine position and was expressed as a percentage of change in the thickness of the muscle. Results: While standing with loads, the change in IO muscle thickness in the CLBP patients increased more significantly than in the pain-free controls (p < 0.05). The standing with lifting loads posture showed a significant increase in the change in thickness of the TrA compared with the standing with loads posture (p < 0.05). In addition, the standing with lifting loads posture showed a significant decrease in the change in the thickness of the EO when compared with the standing with loads posture (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The automatic activity of the IO muscle in subjects with CLBP increased more than that of the pain-free controls in the standing with loads posture. These findings suggest that IO muscle function may be altered in those with CLBP while standing with loads. Additionally, TrA the activation level was found to be associated with increased postural demand caused by an elevated center of mass.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.2
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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 Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.53-67
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• 2023

Background: This study comparatively evaluated the effects of equipment-based pilates exercises (EPE) and lumbar stability exercises (LSE) in patients with chronic low back pain in terms of their Visual Analogue Scale(VAS), Oswestry Disability Index(ODI), and abdominal muscle thickness. Methods: A total of 30 participants were recruited and randomly assigned to either the EPE or the LSE. The VAS, ODI, and abdominal muscle thicknesses of the participants were measured before and after the intervention. Results: The EPE were more effective in terms of the duration of a sustained reduction in VAS scores. post hoc test revealed that EPE were more efficacious in terms of a sustained improvement in ODI scores. With respect to changes in abdominal muscle thickness, there was a significant difference in the thickness of internal oblique muscles(IO) and the external oblique muscles(EO) between the two groups. Conclusion: In this study, both types of exercise interventions resulted in improvements in the VAS, ODI scores, and abdominal muscle thickness in patients with chronic low back pain. However, EPE were found to be more effective than LPE in terms of longer sustained improvements in VAS and ODI scores. Also, with respect to abdominal muscle thickness, the thickness of EO and IO improved only in the EPE group.