• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.201-206
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• 2017

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify the effects of Pilates mat exercise may improve trunk muscle thickness and balance in healthy adults. Methods: Eighteen healthy adults participated in this study. They were randomly assigned to one of two groups: Pilates mat exercise group (n=9) and the control group (n=9). Subjects in Pilates mat exercise group performed the exercises three days per week for 6 weeks, which consisted of warm up, main workout, and cool down. Trunk muscle thickness of the rectus abdominis (RA), internal oblique (IO), external oblique (EO), transverse abdominis (TrA), multifidus (MF), and erector spine (ES) were measured using an ultrasonography. Balance ability was evaluated using Romberg test and limits of stability (LOS). Measurements were performed before training, 3 weeks after training, and 6 weeks after training. Results: There was a significant difference of RA, EO, IO, MF, and ES according to the main effect of time (p<0.05). There was a significant difference of EO, MF, ES, Romberg, and LOS according to interaction effect between the time and group (p<0.05). There was a significant difference only for LOS according to the main effect of the group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Pilates mat exercise did increase trunk muscle thickness and balance. However, the effect with respect to trunk thickness was limited. Pilates mat exercise appears to be more effective in improving muscles related to trunk extension and balance.

• 대한물리의학회지
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.189-197
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• 2011

Purpose: Trunk muscle weakness in the children with cerebral palsy can lead to postural and alignment problems, breathing difficulties, and so on. Therefore, children with cerebral palsy can benefit from exercises that strengthen the muscles in their trunks. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of trunk muscle strengthening exercise on functional gross movement and balance ability in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy. Methods: We used single group repeated measure design in 8 children(four males, four females; aged 6~12 years; mean 8.3 years) with diplegia. The functional gross motor outcome measured by using the GMFM and balance ability of all children was measured by pediatric balance scale. All participants were alternately received trunk strengthening exercise and neurodevelopment treatment for 40 minutes twice per week during 8 weeks. Results: Significant and clinical meaningful improvement in functional gross motor and balance ability were shown. Conclusion: The results indicate that trunk strengthening exercise has a positive effect on both functional gross motor and balance ability in children with spastic diaplegic cerebral palsy.

• 국제물리치료학회지
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• 제10권2호
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• pp.1779-1784
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• 2019

Background: A number of researchers have attempted to improve the balance of stroke patients, however there is still a question as to whether taping is effective in increasing balance. Objective: To determine the effect of paretic and non-paretic side taping on the balance ability in patients with stroke. Design: A single-blind randomized controlled trial Methods: This randomized single-blind controlled clinical trial with a repeated measures study included 45 subjects who were randomly assigned to paretic side taping groups (n=15), non-paretic side taping groups (n=15), and trunk exercise groups (n=15). Trunk exercise and paretic side taping groups had taping on the paralyzed erector spinae, while the non-paretic side taping group had taping on the non-paralyzed erector spinae. Trunk exercises were performed for 30 minutes to promote core muscles. The balance ability measured the center of pressure movement (paretic side, non-paretic side,forward, backward, limit of stability) in the sitting position. All measurements were evaluated using BioRescue. Results: All three groups showed significant increase in all variables after 4 weeks. The paretic and non-paretic side taping groups had a significant increase in all variables after 30 min of attachment. However, there was no significant difference among the three groups. Conclusions: Paralysis and non-paralysis taping improved the balance ability of patients with stroke in an immediate effect of 30 min. However, after 4 weeks of intervention, taping with trunk exercise did not differ from single trunk exercise. In future studies, various analyses need to be conducted through more diverse evaluations.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.37-48
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• 2015

This study aimed to investigate the effect of the abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) and abdominal expansion maneuver (AEM) on trunk stabilization, as well as trunk muscle activities and differences in quadruple visual analogue scale, Korean Oswestry Disability Index, and Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire scores, in patients with chronic low back pain and lumbar spine instability. To increase intra-abdominal pressure during the trunk stabilization exercise, the technique of pushing the abdomen out using diaphragmatic abdominal breathing suggested by Pavel Koral was used, which we termed the AEM. Fifty patients who tested positive on more than three of the five lumbar spine instability tests were separated from 138 patients with chronic low back pain of these patients, 16 were placed in the control group (trunk stabilization exercise), 17 were placed in the ADIM group (trunk stabilization exercise with ADIM), and 17 were placed in the AEM group (trunk stabilization exercise with AEM). Each group participated in the study for 30 minutes three times weekly for 4 weeks. Surface electromyography was used to measure the trunk muscle activities during the kneeling forward and supine bridging positions, and one-way repeated analysis of variance was used to determine the statistical significance of the trunk muscle activities in the rectus abdominis, internal oblique (IO), erector spinae, and multifidus (MF) muscles. The ADIM and AEM groups showed relatively larger improvements in psychosocial and functional disability level than control group. There were significant changes among the three groups, those from the measured values of the AEM group was significantly higher than the other two groups in changes in IO and MF trunk muscle activities (p<.05). This finding demonstrates that trunk stabilization exercises with AEM is more effective than ADIM for increasing trunk deep muscle activity of chronic low back pain patients with lumbar spine instability.

• 대한물리의학회지
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.81-89
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• 2018

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to monitor the performance of breathing exercises by patients with lumbar instability who had altered breathing patterns. METHODS: To investigate the effects of breathing exercises on spinal posture, mobility, and stabilization in patients with lumbar instability with altered breathing patterns, 30 adult participants were enrolled on the basis of the selection criteria and randomly assigned to the breathing exercise group (BEG) or trunk stabilization exercise group (SEG). A pre-test was performed prior to the intervention exercise program. The intervention exercise program consisted of 15 sessions (three sessions per week for 5 weeks) between August and September of 2016. The post-test was performed on the 6th week of intervention. RESULTS: Pre- and post-test comparisons of BEG and SEG revealed significant improvements in all tested items in the SEG, except for spinal mobility, while significant improvements in spinal postures 1 and 2, spinal mobility, and stabilization were found in the BEG. Between-group comparisons revealed that there were no significant differences in spinal posture 1, spinal posture 2, spinal mobility, or stabilization, whereas significant differences were found in spinal posture 2 and spinal mobility, with the BEG showing greater improvements than the SEG. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings in the present study, it is believed that breathing exercises have important effects on spinal posture, mobility, and stabilization in patients with lumbar instability who have altered breathing patterns.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.87-92
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• 2020

Background: Bridging exercises are used to enhance the functional stability of the lumbopelvic region in clinical settings. Although most of the studies on bridging exercises have compared the complete activation of the trunk muscles, some recent studies have examined the functional stability of the trunk and the lumbopelvic region and assessed the appropriate recruitment of the local and global muscles during different task levels. Objects: The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in muscle thickness in the transverse abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO) muscles during a common bridging exercise on an unstable surface and to determine whether these changes differ based on the surface used. Methods: Twenty-five healthy young adults (8 males, 17 females) were recruited. The subjects were randomly assigned to either the exercise progression with a sling bridge group or the ball bridging exercise progression group, each with three stages of increasing difficulty. Each position was measured three times with an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system, and the mean values were recorded for analysis. Results: No significant differences were observed between the TrA, IO, or EO muscle thickness ratios between the sling and ball exercise groups (p > 0.05). There were also no significant differences in the EO muscle thickness ratios between the tasks irrespective of whether the sling or ball was used. However, the TrA and IO thickness ratios in both groups were significantly greater during stages 2 and 3 compared to stage 1. Conclusion: The results suggest that the use of slings and balls during bridging exercises is effective in activating the deep abdominal muscles.

• 대한물리의학회지
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.99-111
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• 2023

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of pelvic compression methods on the muscle activities of the trunk muscles during plank exercises in individuals with and without low back pain. METHODS: Individuals who experienced back pain for three or more days within the last six months (low back pain group, LBPG; n = 15) and those who did not (non-experienced low back pain group, NLBPG; n = 15) were instructed to perform plank exercise without pelvic compression or while wearing a ReaLine or Com-pressor belt. The electromyography (EMG) data was measured during each session of exercise. Surface EMG signals were collected for the rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), erector spinae (ES), and gluteus maximus (GM) muscles. The data were collected during three 5-s exercises with a 1-min rest period between the three sets. RESULTS: During the plank exercise, the muscle activity of the RA in the LBPG was significantly higher than that in the NLBPG (p < .05), and greater muscle activity was observed in the LBPG even when two pelvic compression methods were applied (p < .05). The muscle activity of RA was decreased significantly during pelvic compression according to the pelvic compression methods in both groups (p < .05). No significant interaction was observed between the groups or the pelvic compression methods for the RA, EO, ES, or GM muscle activities during plank exercises. CONCLUSION: Both pelvic compression methods reduced the RA muscle activity during plank exercises in individuals who had not experienced back pain within the last six months.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.1-11
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• 2018

Background: The continuous co-contraction of the trunk muscles through trunk stabilization exercises is important to patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). However, intentional abdominal muscle contraction (IAMC) for trunk stabilization has been used only for specific training in the treatment room. Objects: The purpose of this study was to provide feedback to adults with LSS to enable IAMC during activities of daily living (ADLs). Methods: The participants with spinal stenosis were divided into an experimental group of 15 adults and a control group of 16 adults. Electromyographic signals were measured while the subjects kept their both hands held up at $90^{\circ}$. The measured muscles were the rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), internal oblique (IO), and erector spinae (ES). Pelvic tilt was measured using a digital pelvic inclinometer. The degree of pain was measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and functional capacity was measured using the Korean version of the Oswestry disability index (KODI). Results: While the experimental group showed statistically significantly higher activities in the RA, EO, and IO after the intervention compared with the control group. Pelvic tilt was significantly decreased only in the experimental group. Both the experimental and control groups exhibited statistically significant declines in the VAS and KODI (p<.01). In terms of the levels of changes, the experimental group exhibited a statistically significant larger decline only in the VAS and the pelvic tilt when compared with the control group (p<.05). Conclusions: The subjects could stabilize their trunks, and relieve their pain and dysfunctions and reduce pelvic tilt by learning abdominal muscle contraction during ADLs. The combination of therapeutic exercises and IAMC may have greater effects on patients with LSS.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.1-7
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• 2018

Objective: This study aimed to determine the efficacy of flexible pole training combined with lumbar stabilization in improving trunk muscle activities and to investigate the difference according to posture in young adults. Methods: Twenty-five participants were enrolled in this study. The subjects were randomly allocated into either the flexible pole group or the rigid pole group. Participants performed lumbar stabilization exercises on quadruped and curl-up, with the flexible pole or rigid pole. Electromyography was used to assess the percent maximal voluntary isometric contracion (%MVIC) of the rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), internal oblique (IO), and erector spine (ES) muscles. All participants completed one 30-minute session per day, 3 days per week, for 6 weeks. The evaluation was performed before and 6 weeks after the training, and follow-up. The data were analyzed using independent t-test and two-way repeated measure analysis of variance to determine the statistical significance. Results: The flexible pole in curl-up showed significant differences in EO and IO muscle activities compared with the rigid pole. The flexible pole in quadruped showed significant differences in IO and ES muscle activities compared with the rigid pole. The RA, EO, IO, and ES muscle activities of both groups were significantly higher after 6 weeks training. Conclusion: The flexible pole in curl-up and quadruped showed an improvement in trunk muscle activation. The flexible pole combined with lumbar stabilization will be useful as an exercise tool to improve activity of trunk muscles.

• PNF and Movement
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.105-113
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of trunk-stabilization training using stabilizing reversal and rhythmic stabilization techniques of PNF on trunk muscle strength and respiratory function in elderly stroke patients. Methods: There were 26 stroke patients included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups, and all patients performed exercise 30 min five times per week for six weeks. The experimental group performed trunk stability exercise using stabilizing reversal and rhythmic stabilization techniques of PNF, and the control group performed flexibility and strength training. Trunk muscle strength, forced vital capacity, maximum inspiratory pressure, and maximum expiration pressure were measured to determine the changes after the intervention. For statistical processing, a paired t-test was performed within the group, and the value after intervention was performed as an independent t-test to find out the difference between the two groups. Results: In the experimental group, all of the trunk muscle strength, forced vital capacity, maximum inspiratory pressure, and maximum expiration pressure showed significant differences according to the intervention. In the control group, there were statistically significant differences in trunk muscle strength and forced vital capacity, but the maximum inspiratory pressure and the maximum expiration pressure did not show any statistical change. Conclusion: From these results, it can be seen that the trunk stability exercises that use the proprioceptive neuromuscular promotion method of stable reversal and rhythm stabilization can be a good intervention for the respiratory function of stroke patients.