• PNF and Movement
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.167-176
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• 2017

Purpose: This study investigated the effect of core and abdominal muscle-strengthening exercises on muscle activity in the lower extremity on unexpected perturbation. Methods: Twenty subjects were randomly divided into the core exercise group (n=10) or the abdominal muscles strengthening group (n=10). The two groups performed their exercises during three sessions a week for a total of four weeks. The muscle activity in the lower muscles (rectus femoris, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius) was assessed using surface electromyography (EMG) and normalized maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) before and after the exercises. Results: An increase in the tibialis anterior activity after the core and abdominal muscles strengthening exercises was found after four weeks. A significant difference in the pre- and post-exercise was found. The gastrocnemius muscle activity increased in the core exercise group more than the abdominal muscles strengthening group. However, the difference was not significant. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the core and abdominal muscles strengthening exercises increased the tibialis anterior muscle activity. It is expected to help make more balance ability that affect who has abdominal muscles weakness.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.247-255
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• 2017

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the maximum core muscle activation angle according to core-strengthening exercises. Method: Twenty-six young female football players (age: $17.84{\pm}0.80years$, height: $163.08{\pm}5.25cm$, weight: $54.96{\pm}7.41kg$) registered in the Korea Football Association from D High School located in Seoul were the subjects of this research. An electromyogram (Noraxon, USA) was used for monitoring the maximum core muscle contraction activity. Results: The angle for the maximum core muscle strength per core exercise and muscle was the smallest for the upper rectus abdominis in the windshield wiper exercise. The angle of the vastus medialis was significantly the largest. The range of angles at which the maximum strength was observed for each core exercise were as follows: 1) abdominal flutter kicks ($11{\sim}40^{\circ}$), 2) leg raises ($21{\sim}34^{\circ}$), 3) scissors ($45{\sim}66^{\circ}$), 4) knee to elbow sit-ups ($42{\sim}64^{\circ}$), 5) reverse crunches ($9{\sim}40^{\circ}$), 6) butt-ups ($24{\sim}32^{\circ}$), 7) V sit-ups ($5{\sim}24^{\circ}$), 8) windshield wipers ($11{\sim}20^{\circ}$), 9) bird dog ($11{\sim}18^{\circ}$), and 10) raised leg plank ($38{\sim}50^{\circ}$). Conclusion: Four kinds of motion could be classified according to the range of angles at which the core muscles were maximally activated. The first group involves the range of motion that gives the maximum muscle strength when the lower extremity and ground angle was between $5^{\circ}$ and $24^{\circ}$, such as the V sit-ups, windshield wipers, and bird dog. The second group comprised the flutter kicks and reverse crunches at an angle between $9^{\circ}$ and $40^{\circ}$. The third group comprised the leg raise and butt-up exercises at an angle between $21^{\circ}$ and $34^{\circ}$. The fourth group included the scissors, knee to elbow sit-ups, and raised leg plank at an angle between $38^{\circ}$ and $66^{\circ}$. These results may be useful as basic data for core movement and core muscle training according to the purpose of exercise.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.2413-2419
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• 2015

Core spinal muscles are related to trunk stability and assume the main role of stabilizing the spine during daily activities; strengthening of core muscles around the spine can therefore reduce the chance of back pain. The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of core muscle strengthening in the spine during spine stabilization exercise using a whole body tilt device. To achieve this, a validated musculoskeletal (MS) model of the whole body was used to replicate the input motion from the whole body tilting exercise. An inverse dynamics analysis was executed to estimate spine loads and muscle forces depending on the tilting angles of the exercise device. The activation of long and superficial back muscles such as the erector spinae (iliocostalis and longissimus) were mainly affected by the forward direction (-40°) of the tilt, while the front muscles (psoas major, quadratus lumborum, and external and internal obliques) were mainly affected by the backward tilting direction (40°). Deep muscles such as the multifidi and short muscles were activated in most directions of the rotation and tilt. The backward directions of the tilt using this device could be carefully applied for the elderly and for rehabilitation patients who are expected to have less muscle strength. In this study, it was shown that the spine stabilization exercise device can provide considerable muscle exercise effect.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.47-56
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• 2019

Background: The purpose of this study was compare and analyze the Cobb's angle, core muscle strengthening in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis and provide scientific basis for effectively treating idiopathic scoliosis in the future. Methods: The subjects of this study were 20 members of adolescent girls. Measurement tools were comprised Cobb's angle test, core muscle strengthening test. After 8 weeks of program, both groups had the same measurements as before program start. Results: The results of the study are as follows. First, the experimental group was decreased statistically significantly in Cobb's angle than the control group. Second, Both groups were increased statistically significantly in core muscle strengthening. The experimental group was increased statistically significantly direction in front, back l than the control group. Conclusion: Sling exercise with core exercise was effective in the decrease of Cobb's angle and core muscle strength than general scoliosis exercise in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.111-121
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• 2021

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of core stability exercise on the strength, activation of the trunk muscle, and pulmonary function in a Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) patient. METHODS: A 38-year-old male with GBS was enrolled in the study. A core stability exercise program was implemented for four weeks with a duration of 30 min/day and a frequency of three days/week. The program consisted of abdominal crunch, Swiss ball crunch, bicycle crunch, medicine ball sit-up with a toss, medicine ball rotational chest pass, raised upper body and lower body, and dead bug. Measurements of the strength of the trunk muscle (trunk flexion and hip flexion), activation of trunk muscles (rectus femoris; RA, external oblique abdominal; EOA, internal oblique abdominal; IOA, erector spinae; ES), and pulmonary function (forced expiratory capacity; FVC, forced expiratory volume at one second; FEV1) were taken before and after four weeks of core stability exercise. RESULTS: The strength of trunk muscles increased in the trunk and hip flexion after four weeks of core stability exercise, respectively, compared to the baseline levels. Activation of the trunk muscles increased in RA, EOA, and IOA after four weeks of core stability exercise compared to baseline levels, but decreased in ES after four weeks of core stability exercise compared to the baseline levels. The pulmonary function increased in FVC and FEV1 after four weeks of core stability exercise compared to the baseline levels. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that core stability exercise improves strength, Activation of the trunk muscle, And pulmonary function in patients with GBS.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2010

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of supporting surface instability to trunk and lower extremity muscle activities during bridging exercise combined with core-stabilization exercise. Thirty young healthy adults (15 males and 15 females) voluntarily participated in this study. Each subject was asked to perform bridging exercise combined with core-stabilization exercise on three different supporting surfaces (stable ground surface, the wooden balancing board, and the air cushion). The muscle activities were measured using surface electromyography (EMG) during performing exercise. To test statistical significance, one-way ANOVA with repeated measures was used with the significance level of .05. The findings of this study are summarized as follows. (1) There were significant differences in muscle activities on internal oblique, external oblique, gluteus medius, semitendinosus, biceps femoris, medial gastrocnemius and lateral gastrocnemius during exercise (p<.05). (2) The biceps femoris and lateral gastrocnemius showed significantly higher muscle activity on the wooden balancing board rather than on the ground, and semitendinosus, biceps femoris, medial gastrocnemius and lateral gastrocnemius showed significantly higher muscle activity on the air cushion rather than on the ground (p<.05). Therefore, it is concluded that muscle activities in the trunk and the lower limbs during bridging exercise combined with core-stabilization exercise was affected with instability of supporting surface. Further researches are needed to investigate the long term effect of bridging exercise on muscle activity with patient group.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.236-250
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of intensive rehabilitation programs on pain, range of motion (ROM), lumbar muscle strength, core muscle endurance, disability, and depression in patients with traumatic low back injuries and to compare the efficacy of this therapy with that of conventional rehabilitation therapy. Methods: The study was performed with a retrospective medical chart review of patients with traumatic low back injury referred to the rehabilitation center at the Daegu Hospital of the Korean Workers Compensation and Welfare Service. Forty-four patients were allocated to either the conventional rehabilitation group (CRG; n = 22) or the intensive rehabilitation group (IRG; n = 22). The CRG group patients, who received 30-min therapist-supervised physical therapy and modality therapy five times per week for four weeks, were compared with the IRG group patients, who received 60-min therapist-supervised physical therapy, 30-min therapist-patient 1:1 matching rehabilitation therapy, and modality therapy five times per week for four weeks. Outcome measures were a numerical rating scale, ROM, lumbar muscle strength, lumbar core muscle endurance, thickness of lumbar deep focal core muscle (transverse abdominis and lumbar multifidus), Oswestry disability index (ODI), and depression (Korean version patient health questionnaire-9). Results: There were statistically significant improvements after treatment in all outcome measures in both groups (p < 0.05). In the intergroup comparison, NRS scores on the activity and thickness of lumbar deep focal core muscles increased significantly more in the IRG than in the CRG (p < 0.05). There were no statistically significant intergroup differences in NRS scores on resting, ROM except left lateral bending, lumbar muscle strength, core muscle endurance, ODI, and depression. Conclusions: We could confirm the superior effectiveness of an intensive rehabilitation program compared to conventional rehabilitation therapy in patients with traumatic low back injuries.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.65-76
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• 2015

Objective : The purpose of this study was to analyse the differences in core stability and muscle balance of the pilates Teaser motion according to the surfaces and skills. Methods : There were 10 subjects in this study with 5 being skilled and 5 that were not skilled. The independent variables were surfaces (high elastic & aluminum) and skills (skilled & unskilled). Dependent variables were core stability and muscle balance. Core stability was measured by Force Platform (9872, Switzerland), 3D Imagery (IBS-2000, EXYMA) was used to understand the muscle balance. In order to do the Teaser movement subjects had to lay flat on their back and then lean forward as much as possible and hold the position for 10 seconds. Afterwards, they would lay back down again. A camera (MHS-PM5K, SONY) was used to make 4 phases (take off, recoil forward, holding, recoil backward) during the teaser exercise to analyze movement. In this study quantitative and qualitative analysis was used. For the statistical analysis, 2X2 ANOVA was used to analyze the differences in movement time, X,Y,Z maximum force, center of pressure and angles according to different phases. 2X3 ANOVA was used to analyze the differences in muscle balance via SPSS 18.0. Results : Soft. Elastic mat had a longer holding time, lower Fx/ Fy/ Fz, shorter Fx trajectory, larger angle and shorter gaps in muscle balance than a hard surface in skilled subjects. This was because the mat can help to recruit and then sustain core fine muscles during holding time in the Teaser movement.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.91-98
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• 2018

Purpose : The aim of this study is to determine changes to the thickness of core muscles, e.g., transversus abdominis (TrA), external oblique (EO), and internal oblique (IO), after plank and Kegel exercises and to compare the effects of the two exercise methods. Method : The study divided men and women in their 20s into two groups, Kegel and plank, by randomly allocating 30 males and 30 females to the targeted groups. To achieve the purpose of this study, we examined the thickness of core muscles after the participants performed plank or Kegel exercises. Results : 1. In the Kegel group, abdominal muscle thickness increased with time, and there was a statistically significant difference in the thickness of the TrA. 2. In the plank group, abdominal muscle thickness increased with time, and there was a statistically significant difference in the thickness of the TrA. 3. After the experiment, muscle thickness of the abdominal muscles in the plank exercise group were higher, but there was no significant difference between the Kegel exercise group and the plank exercise group. Conclusion : Both plank and Kegel exercises are recommended for core muscle stabilization, and based on the results of this study, Kegel exercise is either used as a core stabilizing exercise or as a plank exercise for the weaker patients or women.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.13-22
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of the swissball exercise in combination with core muscle in beginner golfer. In general, the swiss ball exercise was related in the core muscle ability. Methods: The experiment was conducted with a total of 10 beginner golfer, and they were dicide into two groups: comparison group(n=5) and experimental group(n=5). In this research, the subjects of the comparison group performed the general matte exercise three times a week, for four weeks. The subjects of the experimental group performed the swiss ball exercise in combination with core muscle three times a week, for four weeks. Use the 7-iron and driver were measured head speed and distance of the comparison group and the experimental group, respectively. The collected data were analyzed by using the paired t-test and ANCOVA Results: The results of this study were as follows: 1) Swiss ball exercise in combination with core muscle revealed the significant improvements after corresponding exercise in golf performance capability. 2) Mat exercise was seen less better than the swiss ball exercises. Conclusion: This results suggested that it was improved the golfer shot performance of beginner proposes to see the Swiss combined movement.