• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.444-449
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study is to observe the change in the thickness of abdominal muscles when electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) is applied to the abdomen during rest and abdominal muscle exercise to investigate the effect of EMS applied to the abdomen on the superficial and deep muscles thickness. Design: Cross sectional design. Methods: Twenty healthy subjects participated in this study. Subjects were performed resting position, resting position with EMS, curl-up and curl-up with EMS. The electrode of the EMS belt is attached to the abdominal wall between the 12th rib and iliac crest. The thickness of abdominal muscles including rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), internal oblique (IO), and transverse abdominis (TrA) were captured in each position by ultrasound image during expiration. All subjects were performed four positions randomly. Data were analyzed using repeated ANOVA with the level of significance set at 𝛼=0.05. Results: The muscle thickness of RA, EO, IO and TrA were significantly different at each position (p<0.05). The thickness of all abdominal muscles increased significantly when curl-up than curl-up with EMS. Both RA and EO thickness were significantly increased at resting position than resting position and EMS were combined(p<0.05). But IO and TrA thickness were decreased at resting position when EMS were combined. Conclusions: The results suggest that EMS activates superficial abdominal muscles RA and EO. Therefore, abdominal strengthening exercise combined EMS can activate abdominal muscles and can be applied to various patients and rehabilitation in clinical practice.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.205-211
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• 2022

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of an intervention that combined the abdominal drawing-in maneuver and frequency-specific neuromuscular electrical stimulation on changes in trunk muscle activity, muscle fatigue, and balance in stroke patients. Methods: Thirty stroke patients were randomly assigned to two groups. Fifteen subjects were assigned to group I which performed the abdominal drawing-in maneuver combined with low-frequency neuromuscular electrical stimulation and the other 15 subjects to group II where the abdominal drawing-in maneuver was combined with high-frequency neuromuscular electrical stimulation. Muscle activity and fatigue were measured using surface electromyography before the intervention. Balance was measured using the Trunk Impairment Scale and re-measured after six weeks of intervention for comparative analysis. Results: Both groups showed a significant increase in muscle activity and balance (p<0.05), and there was no significant difference between the groups (p>0.05). In the changes in muscle fatigue, only the experimental group II showed a significant increase in muscle fatigue (p<0.05). The difference between the groups was statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was confirmed that among stroke patients, the combination of the abdominal drawing-in maneuver and low-frequency neuromuscular electrical stimulation was more effective in changing the muscle activity and balance of the trunk by minimizing the occurrence of muscle fatigue compared to the combination of the abdominal drawing-in maneuver and high-frequency stimulation. These results can be used as basic data for clinical trunk stabilization training.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.71-80
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• 2013

Objectives : This study aimed to investigate the difference of abdominal skin temperature responses following moxibustion comparing stimulation method. Methods : Moxibustion was applied on the acupuncture points of $CV_4$, $CV_6$, $CV_{12}$. Thirty healthy men were randomly divided into two groups, one receiving a single moxibustion stimulation in three locations '$CV_4{\cdot}CV_6{\cdot}CV_{12}$'(n=15) and the other receiving triple moxibustion stimulations in one location '$CV_{12}$'(n=15) for 30 min. To obtain the skin temperature on abdominal region, a thermograph was used. Three arbitrary frames(the upper abdominal, lower abdominal, whole abdominal regions) were made to analyse skin temperature. Thermographic images were obtained at before and after the procedure of indirect moxibustion and 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 min afterwards. Results : An increase in skin temperature on the three abdominal regions was observed following both one point and three points moxibustion administrations. Significant increase in skin temperature of the whole abdominal region was observed at 30 min after the procedure of three points moxibustion compared with one point moxibustion stimulation. A tendency of skin temperature changes over time was observed. Conclusions : In this study, skin temperature of lower abdominal region does not increase after triple moxibustion stimulations on $CV_{12}$. Administration of single moxibustion on $CV_4$, $CV_6$, $CV_{12}$ makes greater changes in skin temperature on the whole abdominal region than triple moxibustion on $CV_{12}$.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1051-1058
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• 2014

In this study, we investigated the improvement effect of obesity by treatment with a developed low frequency electrical stimulation system. Thirty female in their 20's as an experiment subjects divided 3 groups(control, commercialized device, developed device) were treated with electrical stimulation on abdomen for 4 weeks. The body weight, body mass index(BMI), waist-hip ratio(WHR), muscle strength, muscle(transverse abdominis(TrA), internal obliquus abdominis(IO), external obliquus abdominis(EO)), fat thickness and abdominal surface temperature were measured by electromyogram(EMG), ultrasound and digital infrared thermal image(DITI). In the result, the body weight and BMI were decreased. Subcutaneous abdominal fat were significantly reduced after 4 weeks. The muscle strength and TrA muscle thickness was increased 13.2%(p<0.05), and 35.5%, respectively. The fat thickness showed decrease in abdomen (p<0.05). Infrared measurement on abdominal surface temperature as a parameter of improvement in blood circulation was significantly increased(p<0.05). Therefore, the low frequency stimulation showed positive effects on parameters of the obesity improvement.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.426-442
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• 2018

Objective: This study aimed to compare the effects of Zusanli and nonacupoint electroacupuncture stimulation on ultrasonographic gastric emptying and vital signs in eight healthy participants. Gastric emptying and its rate of change were analyzed to search for correlation with physical characteristics such as body mass index (BMI), sternocostal angle, and abdominal wall thickness. Methods: Eight healthy participants with no gastrointestinal disorders were enrolled in this study. Each participant went through three abdominal sonographies for gastric emptying assessment. At the second and third visits, participants received Zusanli and nonacupoint electroacupuncture stimulation in a random order. During the study period, we examined the BMI, sternocostal angle, and abdominal wall thickness of all participants. Vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature) were also examined before and after the electroacupuncture stimulation. Results: Electroacupuncture stimulation at Zusanli significantly improved gastric emptying when compared to nonacupoint stimulation. Gastric emptying showed a positive correlation with BMI, sternocostal angle, and abdominal wall thickness, but this correlation was statistically insignificant. The improvement rate of gastric emptying by Zusanli electroacupuncture stimulation showed a positive correlation with BMI and sternocostal angle and a negative correlation with abdominal wall thickness. However, such results were also statistically insignificant. Among vital signs, only heart rate showed a significant decrease according to Zusanli electroacupuncture stimulation. Conclusions: A significant effect of Zusanli electroacupuncture was confirmed through ultrasonographic gastric emptying in healthy participants.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.13-24
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• 2004

The purpose of this study is to reveal the effect of electrical stimulation of body composition in obese person. Subjects were 30s to 40s aged healthy workers(2004. 3. 8~4. 17) in the S general Hospital in Suwon and they were brought to manage obesity. Subjects were divided into control group(Female<0.85, Male<0.90) and study group(Female>0.85, Male>0.90) by WHR(waist-hip ratio) that is measured by Automatic body composition analyzer(InBody 3.0). And we divided the study group with randomized methods into group A(n=8) and group B(n=8). Then we compared and analyzed the change of muscle mass, body fat, abdominal girth, WHR, BMI(body mass index) after application of electrical stimulation, three times a week, for 30 minutes in each session with 50 Hz of pulse frequency, $20\;{\mu}s$ or $250\;{\mu}s$ of pulse duration. There was statistically meaningful decrement of body fat(p<0.05) and abdominal girth(p<0.05) but not of body weight, muscle mass, WHR and BMI in the control group after application of electrical stimulation with 50 Hz, $20\;{\mu}s$. There were meaningful change of abdominal girth(p<0.05), WHR(p<0.05) and BMI(p<0.05), but not of body weight, muscle mass and body fat after application of electrical stimulation with 50 Hz, $20\;{\mu}s$ in group A. We applied electrical stimulation with 50 Hz, $250\;{\mu}s$ in group B, then there were meaningful change of body weight(p<0.05), body fat(p<0.01), abdominal girth(p<0.01), WHR(p<0.05) and BMI(p<0.01) but not of muscle mass only. Consequently, the pulse duration is the main parameter of electrical stimulation that affect the body composition of obese person in this study and if we combined the diet control to reduce blood components we could have better result. So it would be more effective to manage localized obesity(in abdomen, thigh, upper arm, etc.) if you apply electrical stimulation considering the pulse duration.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.85-93
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• 2019

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of abdominal functional electrical stimulation on peak cough flow and forced vital capacity in patients with cervical spinal cord injury. Methods : The study examined 20 patients with cervical spinal cord injury. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups. All subjects performed conservative physical therapy for 30 minutes. The experimental group also underwent abdominal functional electrical stimulation for at least 20 minutes per day. Abdominal functional electrical stimulation was applied to the rectus abdominis muscle twice each day, three times a week, for four weeks. In all subjects, the peak cough flow was measured using a peak flow meter and forced vital capacity was assessed using a spirometer. Results : The experimental group showed a significant increase in peak cough flow and forced vital capacity in pre-post measurements (p<.05), while the control group showed a significant increase only in peak cough flow. Conclusion : These findings suggest that conservative physical therapy in combination with the abdominal functional electrical stimulation can improve peak cough flow and forced vital capacity in patients with cervical spinal cord injury.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.13-19
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was designed to measure the effects of weight, abdominal girth, body fat, abdominal fat and cholesterol levels in combination with electrical stimulation, ultrasound and aerobic exercise on obesity and local lipolysis. Methods: Subjects were 30 obese adults who volunteered to take part in the experiment and had no physical diseases. They were randomly divided into three groups: (1) an aerobic exercise group (n=10), (2) an electrical stimulation group with aerobic exercise (n=10), and (3) an ultrasound stimulation group with aerobic exercise (n=10). Each experimental group went through 8 weeks of training. Results: All measured items including weight, girth of the abdomen, body fat, and cholesterol levels showed significant differences among groups. All three groups showed decreases for all items. The electrical stimulation + aerobic exercise group (group II) showed greater effects than the aerobic exercise group (group I) and the ultrasound stimulation group with aerobic exercise (group III). Conclusion: Electrical stimulation + aerobic exercise and ultrasound stimulation + aerobic exercise cause decreases in weight, girth of the abdomen, body fat and cholesterol level compared to aerobic exercise alone. These methods can be considered to be effective adjuvants to aerobic exercise in obese adults.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.125-135
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• 2019

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of low frequency neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) training on abdominal obesity in middle-aged women through electromyography and ultrasound. METHODS: Twenty-two middle aged women with abdominal obesity participated in the study. A low-frequency NMES device was used on the abdomen and waist of each subject for 20 minutes each (a total of 40 minutes) three times a week for eight weeks. The waist-hip ratio (WHR), weight and BMI (Body Mass Index) were measured. Electromyography (EMG) and ultrasound measurements were performed three times in total (pre-intervention, four weeks into the intervention, and eight weeks post-intervention) to examine the effects of low-frequency NMES on the abdominal muscle activity, muscle thickness, and subcutaneous fat. RESULTS: The results indicated a difference in the WHR and waist circumference before and after intervention (p<.05). The external oblique muscle (EO) showed a significant increase in muscle activity during all measurements taken post-intervention (p<.05). The abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness also showed a significant decrease between each measurement (p<.05). The test results showed that the abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness values taken eight weeks post-intervention were significantly lower than those taken pre-intervention and four weeks into the intervention (p<.05). CONCLUSION: These findings show that low-frequency NMES device training can be applied to middle-aged women with abdominal obesity to improve their body shape and exercise performance.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.284-296
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• 2018

Obesity is considered as a primary health problem over the past century in line with life environmental changes. It is mainly associated with increased risk of numerous chronic diseases which may significantly reduce health-related quality of life. Therefore, efforts to reduce weight should be performed. This study suggested a novel approach to reduce body fat by applying external stimulation which is micro-current stimulation (MCS). In this clinical study, we evaluated the potential effects of MCS for reduction of abdominal fat and weight loss. Prior to the clinical test, computational simulation was conducted to find the proper MCS conditions that allow externally applied stimulation to reach the internal fat section from the external skin. Particularly, the clinical study evaluated the unilateral effects of MCS for body fat loss and lipolysis without any additional limitations such as physical exercise and dietary therapy. The results showed that whole body fat, waist circumferences, and abdominal fat are gradually decreased after intervention in proportion to the time. From the results, we can estimate that MCS can be effective on the body fat loss by activation of lipolysis in human adipose.