• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.107-113
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• 2021

PURPOSE: Selective strengthening of the transverse abdominis muscle (TrA) during abdominal hollowing makes an important contribution to the stability and control of the spine. This study examined the effects of abdominal hollowing exercise (AHE) according to the visual feedback method on the external oblique, internal oblique, and transverse abdominis muscles. METHODS: Twenty healthy subjects were assigned randomly to an AHE with visual feedback from real-time ultrasound image (group A, n = 10), AHE with visual feedback with pressure biofeedback unit (group B, n = 10). Both groups underwent 20 min of AHE with visual feedback once daily, five days/week for two weeks. The changes in the muscle thickness of the TrA, internal oblique abdominal muscle (IO), and external oblique abdominal muscle (EO) were measured by ultrasonography. RESULTS: The thickness of TrA was changed significantly in both groups (p < .05). However, the lowest minimal detectable changes were achieved in Group A. The thickness of the IO and EO muscles in group A was changed significantly, but there were no significant changes in group B. CONCLUSION: Both visual feedback methods were effective for strengthening the TrA muscles selectively. Nevertheless, AHE with visual feedback using real-time ultrasound images may be more useful in trA muscle contraction.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.95-102
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• 2021

PURPOSE: This study examined the muscle activity of the abdominal muscle when lifting with abdominal hollowing with visual feedback and lifting with a pelvic compression belt. This study suggests how to lift an object safely in the workplace for people who bend their backs repeatedly. METHODS: The study was conducted on healthy men in their 20s and 30s. When lifting a 7kg object, lifting with abdominal hollowing with visual feedback, and lifting an object with a pelvic compression belt were performed three times in random order. The muscle activities were measured rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), internal oblique/transverse abdominis (IO/TrA) muscles, and abdominal hollowing exercises, and box lifting exercises were carried out in advance before the experiment. One-way ANOVA was used to compare muscle activities, and a Tukey HSD was used for post-analysis. The level of significance was set to .05. RESULTS: According to the study, there was no significant difference in muscle activity of the RA muscle depending on the lifting method (p > .05). There were significant differences between the EO and IO/TrA muscle (p < .05). The IO/TrA muscle activity showed the largest increase in lifting an abdominal hollowing with visual feedback (p < .05). The EO muscle activity increased in pelvic compression belt lifting (p < .05). The muscle activity was increased in RA, but there was no significant difference (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Abdominal hollowing lifting with visual feedback increases the muscle activity of the IO/TrA muscle, which is higher than normal, and affects the core stability of the body.