• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a supplementary shouting technique on abdominal muscle activation to the rectus abdominis (RA) and external oblique (EO) muscles during performance of crunch exercise in healthy subjects. Methods: Sixty-four subjects were randomly allocated to two groups, crunch exercise with shouting group (SG) and crunch exercise with non-shouting group (NSG), with 32 subjects in each group, respectively. The interventions were conducted over three trials in each group, and measurements were performed on each subject by one examiner in three trials. Muscle activation of RA and EO was evaluated using electromyography (EMG) during performance of crunch exercise with or without shouting. Results: Our results showed a significantly greater increase in the EMG patterns of the RA and EO muscles during performance of crunch exercise in the SG compared to the NSG (p<0.01). Conclusion: These findings suggest that addition of the shouting technique during performance of crunch exercise, at the same time, would suggest positive evidence for improving activation of abdominal muscles.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.53-62
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• 2016

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a supplementary Ki-hap technique and verbal encouragement on the activation of abdominal muscles during performance of crunch exercise in healthy subjects. METHODS: 93 subjects were randomly allocated to three group, crunch exercise group (CG), crunch exercise with Ki-hap group (CKG), and crunch exercise with Ki-hap and verbal encouragement group (CKVG), with 31 subjects in each group, respectively. The interventions were conducted over three trials in each group, and measurements were performed on each subject by one examiner in three trials. The activation of rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), and internal oblique (IO) muscles were evaluated using electromyography (EMG) during performance of crunch exercise with non-Ki-hap, Ki-hap and Ki-hap combined with verbal encouragement. RESULTS: Our results showed a significantly greater increase in the EMG patterns of all muscles during performance of crunch exercise in the CKG (p<0.05) compared to the CG and CKVG. The results also showed that there were significantly greater increase in the activation of EO and IO muscles in those of the CKVG (p<0.05) compared with the CG. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrated that addition of the Ki-hap technique and verbal encouragement during performance of crunch exercise, at the same time, would suggest positive evidence for improving activation of abdominal muscles.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.159-166
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• 2023

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to compare the differences in muscle activity of the rectus abdominis, internal oblique, and external oblique muscles according to abdominal muscle exercise methods such as plank exercise, side plank exercise, and crunch exercise. Methods : This study was conducted with 37 college students. All subjects participating in this study were randomly assigned to the plank exercise group, the side plank exercise group, and the crunch exercise group. The exercise corresponding to each group was performed for a total of 8 weeks. The muscle activity of the abdominal muscles was measured before the experiment, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks, and the rectus abdominis, internal oblique, and external oblique muscles were measured. Results : As a result of comparison according to the period in the change in muscle activity of the abdominal muscles after exercise, the amount of change in muscle activity in all three muscles showed a significant difference. As a result of the post-hoc analysis, the muscle activity value of the internal oblique muscle after 4 weeks in the plank exercise showed a significant difference from the value after 8 weeks. In the side plank exercise, the muscle activity values of the rectus abdominis and external oblique muscles before and after 4 weeks showed significant differences from those after 8 weeks. And in the crunch exercise, the muscle activity value of the rectus abdominis muscle before exercise showed a significant difference from the value after 8 weeks. Conclusion : Plank exercise increases the muscle activity of the rectus abdominis, side plank exercise increases the rectus abdominis and external oblique muscles, and crunch exercise increases the muscle activity of the rectus abdominis. Therefore, it is thought that the stability of the trunk can be improved more efficiently if all three exercises are performed.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.177-185
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• 2022

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of additional isometric contraction of trunk, shoulder, and hip muscles during abdominal crunch exercise on abdominal muscle thickness and to identify the most effective intervention for core muscle activation. Methods : This study was conducted on 22 healthy male adults. Subjects performed three types of crunch exercises (abdominal crunches accompanied by internal and external isometric rotation of the hip, horizontal shoulder adduction and abduction, and rotation of the trunk). The thickness of the transverse abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO) were evaluated using ultrasonography. The collected data used one-way repeated ANOVA statistics. Wilcoxon signed-rank test of nonparametric statistics was used for post-test analysis. Results : The IO thickness was significantly lower than general abdominal crunch when shoulder adduction was added (p<.05). The crunch with shoulder abduction, hip external rotation, and ipsilateral trunk rotation was significantly higher than the abdominal crunch (p<.05). The EO thickness was significantly greater in the crunch with hip external rotation than in the abdominal crunch (p<.05). Conclusion : The level of contraction in abdominal muscles appears to vary when isometric contractions of the trunk, shoulder, and hip muscles are added to the abdominal crunch exercise. Therefore, the use of isometric contractions of other joints to selectively induce contraction of the abdominal muscles may be considered.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.15-24
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• 2017

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of supplementary verbal encouragement according to the gender on the activation of abdominal muscles during performance of crunch exercise in healthy subjects. METHODS: A Total of 32 healthy subjects (15 male and 17 female) were randomly allocated to two conditions, crunch exercise with Ki-hap and verbal encouragement with same gender (CKVS) and crunch exercise with Ki-hap and verbal encouragement with different gender (CKVD). The interventions were conducted over three trials in each condition, and measurements were performed on each subject by one examiner in three trials. The activation of rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique, and transverse abdominis muscles were evaluated using electromyography (EMG) during performance of crunch exercise with Ki-hap and verbal encouragement with same gender or different gender, respectively. RESULTS: The results showed that there were no significantly difference in the activation of all abdominal muscles in those of the CKVS compared with the CKVD (p>.05). The results also showed that there were no significantly difference in the ratio of muscle activation at global muscle to that at local muscle between two conditions (p>.05). CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrated that application of the supplementary verbal encouragement by gender does not affect to activate the abdominal muscles of subject to perform a movement, at the same time, it would suggest positive evidence for improving activation of abdominal muscles.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.309-313
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• 2019

This study examined the response of the EMG of URA, LRA, IO, EO and RFM of various types of abdominal motion (crunch, spine V-up on ball, prone V-up on slide board, prone V-up on TRX, and prone V-up power wheel). The subjects performed anisometric contact of abs during these exercises. Tests have shown that there were no statistically significant differences between EO, URA and LRA between any movements. However, during the inspection of IO, the positive-wawed V-up motion showed significantly greater muscle activity than during the slide movement. Also, EMG activity during crunch was significantly lower than any other five exercises. These results indicate that in the implementation of equilateral absolutism, the equipment-free based exercise gives an impetus similar to equipment-based exercise. Abdominal muscle tissue is considered one of the five components that make up an individual's core. The abdominal muscles also ensure proper functioning of the lumbar spine. Although all abdominal muscles contribute to lumbar stabilization, TA & IO has been shown to perform major stabilizers.

• 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 Rehabilitation Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.56-61
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• 2023

Objective: Core training is a key exercise for conditioning and fitness programs, injury prevention, and more. This study aimed to find out the effect of adding dynamic core training, which is frequently prescribed in clinical practice, on dynamic balance and muscle activity compared to conventional static core training. Design: An experimental study Methods: This study is an experimental pilot study of prospective parallel design. Six healthy young adults were allocated to static core training group (SCG; crunch and plank) and blended group (BG; crunch, plank, and dead bug exercise) for two weeks to perform core training. Dynamic balance and muscle activity (erector spinae, rectus abdominis) were measured for all participants before and after core training. Results: All six healthy young adults enrolled completed the study. No significant difference was found before and after 6 sessions of core training in each group (P>0.05). Likewise, no significant difference was found in the results of the difference comparison between groups (P>0.05). Conclusions: In conclusion, in this experimental study, no difference was found when dynamic core training was added. Although the results before and after core training did not show improvement in dynamic balance and muscle activity, a randomized controlled trial is needed considering the results of previous studies and the limitations of this experimental study.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.85-94
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• 2018

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine the effects of therapeutic exercise on range of motion (ROM), the manual muscle test (MMT), functional movement screen (FMS) and radiological evaluation in a youth football player with football-specific anterior pelvic tilt (APT). METHODS: The subject of this case report was a 12-year-old youth football player, who presented with football-specific APT. Therapeutic exercise consisted of hamstring stretch, prone hip extension, abdominal crunch, bridging with isometric hip abduction, plank exercise with posterior tilt and posterior pelvic tilting exercise using a swiss-ball for 40 min/day, twice a week for 8-weeks. ROM, MMT, FMS (deep squat, hurdle step, inline lunge, shoulder mobility, active straight-leg raise, rotary stability and trunk stability push-up) and radiographs (lumbar lordotic and sacral horizontal angle) were analyzed before and after week 8 of therapeutic exercise. RESULTS: The ROM, MMT, and FMS increased and the lumbar lordotic angle and sacral horizontal angle improved after 8-weeks of therapeutic exercise. CONCLUSION: The results of this case report suggest that therapeutic exercise improves ROM, MMT and radiography associated parameters in youth football players with football-specific APT. These findings have clinical implications for therapeutic exercise in youth football players with football-specific APT.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.109-118
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of core stabilization exercise on foot pressure in the hemiplegic patients. Methods: A total of 28 subjects(n=28) who were diagnosed with hemiplegic caused by a stroke were randomly divided into bridge exercise(BX, n=14) and crunch exercise(CX, n=13) groups and each group executed the exercises 20 minutes a day, 4 times per week over an 8 week period. Foot pressure was measured on the fore, mid, and hind foot for peak pressure, and distance of center of pressure(COP). Results: The peak pressure on the mid foot for BX and CX were significantly different according to the exercise period(p<.05). Peak pressure on the hind foot of BX was significantly different according to exercise period(p<.05), however there was not in CX. The effects of each exercises period were significantly different according to pre-after 8weeks(p<.05). According to exercise period(p<.05), COP distances of BX and CX were significantly different. Conclusion: The results show that both BX and CX verified an improvement in gait ability. Especially, since we confirmed BX was attributed more to gait ability than CX. This is considered to be effective on those hemiplegic patients who need core-stabilization and gait stability.