• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.213-226
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• 2015

Objectives : This study was aimed to show the effect of electroacupuncture combined with magnetic acupuncture on abdominal obesity without patient dieting, exercise or use of herbal medication. Methods : Women over 85 cm in waist circumference were treated with electroacupuncture combined with magnetic acupuncture. Acupuncture points were located at the abdomen ($CV_{12}$, $CV_6$, $ST_{25}$, $ST_{21}$, $SP_{15}$, $SP_{14}$), extremities ($LI_4$, $LI_{11}$, $ST_{36}$, $ST_{44}$) and were stimulated 30 minutes with 2.1~3 Gaus, 500 Hz, tolerable strength. The Interference wave forms were by Whata 153 (Medi Lab, Korea). Two or three treatment sessions per week (five or ten sessions in total) were done. Before treatment, and after the last treatment, we measured waist circumference, hip circumference, waist hip ratio, thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat, body weight, body mass index, body fat ratio, visceral fat area, free fat mass, body fat mass and skeletal muscle mass. We also measured the subcutaneous temperature of the abdomen($CV_{12}$, $ST_{25}(Rt)$, $ST_{25}(Lt)$, $CV_6$) by using digital infrared thermal imaging(DITI). Results : In this study, significant reductions were shown in waist circumference, hip circumference, thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat, body weight, body mass index, body fat ratio and body fat mass. There were no significant differences in waist hip ratio, free fat mass or skeletal muscle mass. There were also significant increases of the subcutaneous temperature on $CV_{12}$, $ST_{25}(Rt)$, $ST_{25}(Lt)$. Conclusions : From the above results, electroacupuncture combined with magnetic acupuncture might be an effective treatment for abdominal obesity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.23-30
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• 2022

PURPOSE: This study was designed to investigate the effects of keeping contraction of abdominal and pelvic floor muscles on 3D pelvic stability in individuals with nonspecific chronic low back pain (CLBP) during normal speed walking. METHODS: The subjects were 20 adults with CLBP deformity and had moderate pain intensity of the visual analog scale. A three-dimensional camera capture system was used to collect kinematic pelvic motion data with and without contraction of the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles during gait. The subjects were asked to walk on a walkway in the lab room and they were attached 40 reflective markers to their pelvic segment and lower extremities. A Visual3D Professional V6 program and Vicon Nexus software were used to analyze 3D pelvic kinematic data. RESULTS: There were significant differences between with and without contraction of the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles of the pelvic depression and the total pelvic motion in coronal plane during gait (p < .05). However, there were no significant differences in any of the maximal motion of the pelvic segment in sagittal and transverse motion plane according to the different muscle contraction conditions (p > .05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that maintaining co-contraction of the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles in individuals with CLBP increased pelvic stability and contributed to preventing excessive pelvic movements during gait.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.30-38
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• 2009

Purpose: This randomized study was done to compare the effects of a 6 month Tai Chi exercise and a self-help program on balance, flexibility and muscle strength in women with osteoarthritis (OA). Method: In this experimental study, 82 women with OA recruited from outpatient clinics or community health centers were randomly assigned either to a Tai Chi group or a self-help group. Thirty women (mean age = 62 years) in the Tai Chi group and 39 (mean age = 59 years) in the self-help group completed posttest measures (balance, flexibility, oxygen consumption, abdominal muscle strength, back muscle strength, and grip strength) at 6 months. Results: After the 6 month, Tai Chi participants had significantly greater balance (mean difference = 2.9 vs. 0.9 for the self-help), grip strength (mean difference = 4.6 vs. 0.9 for the self-help), and back muscle strength (mean difference = 4.1 vs. -0.3 for the self-help). However, flexibility, oxygen consumption, and abdominal muscle strength were not significantly different between the groups. Conclusion: Tai Chi increased balance, grip strength and back muscle strength in older women with osteoarthritis compared to the self-help program. Whether these changes improve physical functioning and fall prevention requires further study.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.934-939
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• 2014

The purpose of this study unit a Quadrupedal position of limbs due to changes in the thickness of the trunk muscles to find out, by comparing the difference in muscle activity fours spinal stabilization devices do you need to choose an effective stance is to provide the data. The subjects C # 29 University students healthy adults were recruited. The Rectus abdominis muscle and the transversus abdominis and internal oblique abdominal muscle, external oblique abdominal muscle should be measured. The results of this study Lt. IO, EO, TrA, Rt. TrA, Muscle showed significant differences among the positions. The study reveals that the exercises in Quadrupedal position can activate trunk muscles and the degrees of muscle activities can vary according to the angle.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.167-178
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to describe and compare the selected electromyographical muscle activities of trunk and hip during Professional and Amateur golfer's Iron swing. Using surface electromyography, we evaluated muscle activities in 6 male professional golfers and 6 male amateur golfers during the golf iron swing. Surface electrodes were used to record the level of muscle activity in the right abdominal oblique, left abdominal oblique, right erector spinae, left erector spinae, right rectus abdominis, left rectus abdominis, right gluteus maximus, left gluteus maximus muscles during the golfer's swing. These signals were compared with IEMG(Integrated EMG) which was normalized by %RVC(Reference voluntary contraction). The golf swing was divided into three phases: take away, forward swing-acceleration, follow-through. We observed patterns of trunk muscle activity throughout three phases of the golf swing. The results can be summarized as follows: LES(Left Erector spinae) had statistically significant difference in take away and forward swing-acceleration phases. It was showed no significant difference in follow-through phase.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.1-6
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• 2016

Purpose : This study determines the effect and sustainability of the trunk stability exercise program, specifically using the bridge exercise, by measuring Visual Analogue Scale(VAS), Menstrual Distress Questionaire(MDQ) and muscle strength in women university students complaining of low back pain. Methods : The trunk stability exercise program was progressed by 22 women university students, for 4 weeks, (3 times a week, 1 hour per session). At this time, low back pain happened at the period of menstruation and was measured using VAS, Dysmenorrhea using the MDQ tool and abdominal and back muscle strength using HUR. This study was evaluated 4 times (before and after the exercise program, after 4 weeks and 8 weeks) to investigate the effect of time variation after the exercise program. Results : The trends showed a decrease in VAS and MDQ and an increase in abdominal and back muscle strength. Therefore, these results were evaluated positively from a statistical perspective(p<.05). Conclusions : The trunk stability exercise results in a decreased VAS and MDQ, and increases the muscle strength in women university students who complained of low back pain form dysmenorrhea. Therefore, the low back pain from dysmenorrhea could have been avoided and quality of everyday life improved.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.401-409
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• 2019

Purpose: This study investigated the muscular activity of abdominal muscles during a variety of plank exercises following changes in the leg and head positions. Methods: Thirty healthy individuals participated in this study. They performed six variations of plank exercises, including three changes in head position and two changes in leg position. Each plank was defined as head neutral-leg neutral, head up-leg neutral, head down-leg neutral, head neutral-leg wide, head up-leg wide, and head down-leg wide. During the plank excises, the muscle activities of the rectus abdominis, internal oblique, erector spinae, and upper trapezius were measured. Results: The head down position significantly increased the rectus abdominis activity compared to other head positions (p<0.05). On the other hand, the upper trapezius muscle activity was significantly higher with the head up position compared to other head positions (p<0.05). Regardless of head positions, both the rectus abdominis and internal oblique muscles were significantly activated with leg wide position compared to the leg neutral position (p<0.05). Conclusion: Head and leg positions could change the muscular activities of abdominal muscles during plank exercises. For example, the head down position is effective for activating the rectus abdominis while the leg wide position could be advantageous for enhancing the internal oblique and rectus abdominis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.53-60
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• 2016

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify differences in the thickness of the transverse abdominis (TrA) and pelvic floor muscles (PFM) between those with (LBP) and without low back pain (non-LBP). The standardized methods of contraction for the TrA and PFM were used to perform the abdominal draw-in maneuver (ADIM) and pelvic floor muscle contraction (PFC), respectively. METHODS: This study included 27 young men and women, who were verbally instructed regarding the maneuvers (LBP, n=14; non-LBP, n=13). For all subjects, TrA and PFM thickness were evaluated by ultrasonography during ADIM and PFC. RESULTS: The results of this study showed that TrA thickness increased during ADIM and PFC to a greater degree in the non-LBP group than in the LBP group (p < 0.01). PFM thickness increased more during PFC in the non-LBP group than in the LBP group (p < 0.05). Both groups showed greater increases in TrA thickness during ADIM than during PFC (p < 0.01), and greater increases in PFM thickness during PFC than during ADIM (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that receiving verbal instructions on how to use each muscle for a specific maneuver was more beneficial than other verbal instruction. Further studies are needed determine how our results may be applied beneficially in research on this topic.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.61-70
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• 2017

Background: Scapular winging is a prominence of the entire scapular medial border, mainly caused by insufficient activity of the serratus anterior (SA) and imbalance of scapulothoracic muscles. Push-up plus (PUP) exercise has been commonly used to increase SA muscle activity. The facilitation of abdominal muscle may affect scapular muscle activity by myofascial connections. Thus, the sequential activation of the turnk muscles is suggested to facilitate the transition of proper force from upper limb and restore force couple of scapular muscles. The abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) has been effective in improving activation of the deep trunk muscles during movement. Objects: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of ADIM on the activity of the upper trapezius (UT), lower trapezius (LT), and SA during PUP exercises in subjects with scapular winging. Methods: Fourteen men with scapular winging (determined as a of distance between the scapular medial border and thoracic wall over 3 cm) volunteered for our study. The subjects performed the PUP exercise with and without ADIM. Surface electromyography was used to collect the electromyography data of the UT, LT, and SA. A scapulometer was used to measure the amount of scapular winging. Results: SA activity was significantly greater and scapular winging significantly lower during the PUP exercise with ADIM than during those without ADIM. Conclusion: PUP exercise with ADIM can be used as an beneficial method to improve SA activation and to reduce the amount of scapular winging in subjects with scapular winging.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.71-78
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• 2017

Background: Muscle weakness and impaired trunk muscle control are common in stroke patients. The bridging exercise (BE) is generally used for trunk stabilization and improving the overall function of stroke patients. The effectiveness of the BE with hip adductor contraction (BEHA) in facilitating trunk muscle activation has been well studied in healthy adults. However, the impact of BEHA in sub-acute stroke patients has not yet been investigated. Objects: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of BEHA on the electromyography (EMG) activities and the asymmetry of the rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO) and internal oblique (IO) abdominal muscles. Methods: Twenty participants with sub-acute stroke (11 males and 9 females) were recruited. Each participant was asked to perform bridging exercises for five seconds under three different conditions: BE in a neutral position (BEN), BEHA with a large ball (BEHAL) and BEHA with a small ball (BEHAS). The EMG amplitudes of the bilateral RA, EO and IO and the asymmetry of the EMG activity between the sound and affected sides were compared among the conditions. The significance level was set at ${\alpha}=.05$. Results: The EMG activities of RA, EO and IO were significantly greater during BEHAL and BEHAS than during BEN (p<.05); the asymmetry of the RA, EO and IO decreased significantly during BEHAL and BEHAS compared to BEN (p<.05). However, no measured variables showed any significant differences between BEHAL and BEHAS (p>.05). Conclusion: This study compared the EMG activities of the RA, EO and IO on both sides and the asymmetry of the RA, EO and IO during BEN, BEHAL and BEHAS. Our findings suggest that BEHA was more effective for individuals with hemiplegic stroke at facilitating and normalizing abdominal muscle control than BEN.