• PNF and Movement
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.243-248
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• 2014

Purpose: The transverse abdominis and themultifidus muscle are located in the core. They surround one's trunk and help in body stabilization. Specifically, they control spine articulation to maintain posture and balance. Therefore, weakened deep muscle in the trunk may cause spinal malalignment. This study aims to compare the correlation between the thickness of the transverse abdominis and the multifidus muscle and the spine alignment among college students in their 20s. Methods: This study measured the thickness of the transverse abdominis and the multifidus muscle of 42 healthy college students in their 20s using ultrasonic waves. The thickness of the muscle was measured for the length of the cross-section except for fascia. The thickness of the left and right muscles was measured, and the mean value was calculated. As the thickness of the transverse abdominis can increase because of pressure during exhalation, it was measured at the last moment of exhalation. Spinal alignment was measured by the kyphosis angle, lordosis angle, pelvic tilt, trunk inclination, lateral deviation, trunk imbalance, and surface rotation using Formetric III, which is a three-dimensional imaging equipment. They were measured for three times, and the mean values were calculated. The general characteristics of the subjects were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The correlations between each factor were analyzed using Pearson's correlation analysis. Results: The transverse abdominis showed asignificant correlation with trunk inclination (p<.05). The multifidus muscle showed a significant positive correlation with pelvic tilt and a negative correlation with surface rotation (p<.05). Conclusion: The thickness of transverse abdominis and the multifidus muscle appears to influence spinal alignment. Specifically, the multifidus muscle, which plays an important role on the sagittal plane, influences surface rotation, thus making it an important muscle for scoliosis patients. Therefore, a strengthening training program for the transverse abdominis and the multifidus muscle is necessary according to specific purposes among adults with spinal malalignment.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.213-218
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• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the core muscle strength enhancement of the elderly on 8 weeks training using the core exercise equipment for the elderly on the ability to control the whole-body center of mass in posture stabilization. Method: 16 females (10 exercise group, 6 control group) participated in this study. Exercise group took part in the core strength training program for 8 weeks with total of 16 repetitions (2 repetitions per week) using a training device. External perturbation during standing as pulling force applied at the pelvic level in the anterior direction was provided to the subject. In a UCM model, the controller selects within the space of elemental variables a subspace (a manifold, UCM) corresponding to a value of a performance variable that needs to be stabilized. In the present study, we were interested in how movements of the individual segment center of mass (elemental variables) affect the whole-body center of mass (the performance variable) during balance control. Results: At the variance of task-irrelevant space, there was significant $test^*$ group interactions ($F_{1,16}=7.482$, p<.05). However, there were no significant main effect of the test ($F_{1,16}=.899$, p>.05) and group ($F_{1,16}=1.039$, p>.05). At the variance of task-relevant space, there was significant $test^*$ group interactions ($F_{1,16}=7.382$, p<.05). However, there were no significant main effect of the test ($F_{1,16}=.754$, p>.05) and group ($F_{1,16}=1.106$, p>.05). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the 8 weeks training through the core training equipment for the elderly showed a significant decrease in the $Vcm_{TIR}$ and $Vcm_{TR}$. This result indicates that the core strength training affects the trunk stiffness control strategy to maintain balance in the standing position by minimizing total variability of individual segment CMs.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.19-29
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• 2004

Many muscles of the trunk and hip are capable of contributing to the stabilization and protection of the lumbar spine. To have optimal effectiveness, a training program should include dynamic back/stomach/hip exercises. This study was designed to assess the L5 level paraspinal, external abdominal oblique, and gluteus maximus muscle activities during various low back stabilization exercises. Participants were 26 healthy adults (13 males, 13 Females), aged 21 to 28 years. The surface electromyography (EMG) was recorded from the L5 level paraspinal, external abdominal oblique, and gluteus maximus muscles. The recorded signal was averaged and normalized to the maximal electromyographic amplitude obtained during the maximal voluntary contraction. The measurements were taken during 3 low back stabilization exercises. One-way analysis of variance with repeated measures was used to examine the difference, and a post hoc test was performed with least significant difference. A level of significance was set at p<.05. The significance of difference between men and women, and between the electromyographic recording sites was evaluated by an independent t-test. The EMG activity for the externus oblique and gluteus maximus muscles had significant differences among 3 exercises (p<.05). In males, the EMG activity for the external abdominal oblique muscle had significantly increased differences during exercises 1 and exercise 2 (p<.05). The gluteus maximus muscle had significantly increased differences during exercise 2 and exercise 3 (p<.05). In females, the multifidus muscle had significantly increased difference during exercise 3 (p<.05), the external abdominal oblique muscle had significantly increased difference during exercise 1 (p<.05). and the gluteus maximus muscle had significantly decreased difference during exercise 3 (p<.05). The results were that the external abdominal oblique muscle was apparently activated during the curl-up exercise in females and males, and the multifidus muscle was apparently activated during the bridging exercise in females and during the sling exercise in males and females.1)In comparison of the %MVC between males and females, exercise 2 and exercise 3 apparently activated of the multifidus and gluteus maximus muscles in both males and females (p<.05). The EMG activity of the gluteus maximus muscle of the males significantly increased during exercise 2 and exercise 3 (p<.05). The EMG activity the multifidus muscle of the females was significantly increased during exercise 2 and exercise 3 (p<.05). More research is needed to understand the nature of motor control problems in the deep muscles in patients with low back pain.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.81-92
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• 2021

In this study, we investigated the effects of five EMS lumbar back pressure belts produced on an anatomical basis on lumbar spine stabilization. Five core muscles were selected, including the urinal, vertebral column, endotracheal, external abdominal, and large back muscles, and patterns were designed using a conductive fabric considering the appropriate muscle shape and pain-causing points. We experimented with four motions to examine the effects of different EMS abdominal compression belts on lumbar spine stabilization. Five healthy men in their 20s were selected. The selection conditions include no back pain history for the past three months, no restricted movements through pre-inspection, and the muscular strength of the body should belong to the normal grade. Using SLR, the sequence of experimental actions was chosen from the following but not limited to left-hand, body-hand, and back-line forces. Resting between movements lasted for 2 min, and the experiments were conducted after wearing the EMS abdominal pressure belt. Electrical stimulation was applied for 10 min to increase blood flow and muscle activation. The statistics of the experimental results were analyzed for specific differences by conducting the Wilcoxon and Friedman tests with nonparametric tests. The ranking results of each pattern were successfully assessed in the order of 5, 4, 3, 1, 2 for the five patterns, and we could identify slightly more significant results for experimental behavior associated with each muscle movement. Patterns produced based on anatomy showed differentiated effects when electric stimulation was applied to each muscle in different shapes, which could improve the stabilization of the lumbar spine in everyday life or training to the public. Based on these results, subsequent research would focus on developing smart healthcare clothing that is practical in daily life by employing different anatomical mechanisms, depending on the back pain, to utilize trunk-type tights.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.581-587
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• 2020

The Many patients who have lumbar instability(LI) could make a different trunk movement pattern by reduction of their respiratory function and altered breathing pattern. This study was conducted to investigate the change in the thoracoabdominal usage rate(TAUR) on three circumference lines(axillary, xiphoid junction, 10th rib) during the resting and forced breathing (RB and FB) after respiratory pattern correction(RPC) exercises in patients with LI. 15 patients in the experimental group performed RPC exercises, and 15 patients in the control group conducted lumbar stabilization exercises. Before the intervention, both groups had a significant difference in the usage rate among the three thoracoabdominal lines during the RB and FB(p<.05). After the intervention, the experimental group was seen no significant difference in the usage rate among the three lines during the RB(p>.05) and exhibited significant differences in the usage rate between the two thoracoabdominal lines during the FB(p<.05). The RPC exercises might improve the trunk movement patterns by restoring the respiratory patterns. We suggest that the RPC can apply in the re-education and reinforcement process at the reha-program for LI patients.

• 한국체육학회지인문사회과학편
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.749-757
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of stability on one leg standing posture in yoga practice. Thirteen women college student who have never done yoga participated in this study. In order to collect data before and after yoga practicing for two years, we were used 3D motion capture system and electromyography. The results were as follows. First, ranges of motions for Y axis of left knee joint and X axis of right ankle joint were significantly different in dancer posture(p<.05), and then X axis of right ankle and Y axis of left ankle joint were significantly different in tree posture of pre and post training. Second, the planar alignment angle of trunk-pelvis was not significant difference in dancer and tree posture. Third, CoM-distances of Y, Z directions were significant difference in the tree posture(p<.05). Fourth, Muscle activities of both rectus abdominis, erector spinae and left quadriceps were significant difference in tree posture(p<.05). These findings suggested that yoga training played important roles in stable postures as results of decreasing rotation ankle joint and movement of CoM and enforcing core muscles. This study provides evidence for effectiveness of the stability on standing posture and can get a great effect on posture correction by means of yoga training. Hereafter, study on alignment angle, which is a measurement of postural stabilization will be needed by future yoga training.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.128-133
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• 2022

Objective: This study was executed to compare and analyze shoulder muscle activation while using an inelastic bar and elastic bar during overhead press exercise. The stability and coordination of shoulder joints will be investigated by measuring and analyzing the EMG of the upper and lower arm muscles. Method: A total of 20 university male students were recruited by dividing into 2 groups; 10 elastic bar participants (age: 20.17 ± 0.41 yrs, height: 174.31 ± 3.34 cm, weight: 74.68 ± 5.65 kg) and 10 inelastic bar participants (age: 20.09 ± 0.23 yrs, height: 173.53 ± 4.11 cm, weight: 75.32 ± 3.31 kg) participated in this study. Results: The EMG analysis results of the four muscles measured in this study showed that there was no difference between the left and right muscles between the groups in Upper Trapezius muscle. In Deltoid, Infraspinatus, and Rectus Abdominis muscles, the elastic bar group was significantly higher than the inelastic bar group between groups, and there was no difference between left and right. Conclusion: Among the four muscles measured in this study, there was no difference between left and right in Deltoid, Infraspinatus, and Rectus Abdominis, but the elastic bar showed significantly higher muscle activity than the inelastic bar. Therefore, it was found that the elastic bar increases muscle activation during exercise than the inelastic bar, and in particular, it further increases muscle activation of the arms and torso, and exercise using the elastic bar can increase neuromuscular stabilization.