• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.71-82
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• 2005

The couple force of the scapular stabilizers for upward rotation that include the upper and lower trapezius, serratus anterior muscles is essential to maintain the stability of shoulder joint. But if there is an imbalance of these muscles, it would occur many problems of shoulder joint. A push-up plus exercise with an unstable support is used in order to increase the muscle activity and stimulate the proprioception of shoulder joint. The purpose of this study was to compare the muscle activity of upper and lower trapezius, serratus anterior muscles and to determine which exercise is more effective when subjects perform push-up plus exercise in the stable support and unstable support. 15 healthy subjects and 15 painful subjects with injury of shoulder joint participated in this study. Surface electromyography data were collected during plus phase of push-up plus exercise. The types of push-up plus exercise were composed of three conditions. Stable type is subjects performed the push-up plus exercise on the fixed support and unstable type 1 is on the sling without shaking and unstable type 2 is on the sling with shaking by tester's manual. The upper and lower trapezius activities of injured group were higher than uninjured group at three measure conditions, but serratus anterior activities were not. The UT/SA ratio of injured group was higher than uninjured group at three measure conditions. The serratus anterior activities were most high at unstable 2 measure in both groups. The UT/SA ratio was most low at unstable 2 measure condition in injured group only. The present result revealed that push-up plus exercise in the unstable support with shaking which took most high serratus anterior activities and most low of UT/SA ratio is optimal cure method that can improve the imbalance of the scapular stabilizer.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.24-34
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess how much neurac technic affects the stability muscles of the shoulder according to the supporting surface in crawling position. Method: 29 healthy adult males participated in this experiment. The experiment consists of 2 experimental groups and 1 control group. It is conducted for 3 weeks. Each group exercised for 7 seconds and then rested for 3 seconds. Using EMG, the average value of serratus anterior, upper trapezius, and lower trapezius was repeated three times. Experimental group 1 conducted push up plus exercise applied neurac technic with sling on unstable supporting surface. Experimental group 2 conducted push up plus exercise applied neurac technic with sling on stable supporting surface. Control group conducted the push up plus exercise on stable supporting surface. One-way ANOVA was used for statistical analysis. Result: It was noticeable that the result of Experimental group 1 affects stability muscles of more than Experimental group 2 and Control group. Conclusion: Push up plus position applied neurac technic with sling on unstable supporting surface was the most effective in activating the stability muscles of the shoulder.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.415-420
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to compare the thickness of the abdominal muscles during single leg holding exercise (SLH) in a hooked lying position on stable surface and on a foam roller. Healthy twenty subjects who had no medical history of lower extremity or lower back pain were recruited for this study. Muscle thickness of transverse abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO) was recorded using real-time ultrasonography during SLH. Paired t-test with Bonferroni adjustment was used to compare the muscles thickness during SLH on stable surface and on a foam roller. The result showed that TrA and IO muscle demonstrated greater thickness during SLH on foam roller than those on the stable surface. This finding suggests that SLH on an unstable foam roller is more effective to increase thicknesses of TrA and IO muscles than stable surface.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2021

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of single limb stance exercise according to the support surface on dynamic balance ability and abdominal muscle thickness. Methods : We recruited 28 healthy subjects in this study. Subjects were assigned to 2 groups by matching method. The control group was 5 males and 9 females, and single limb stance exercise was performed on the stable support surface. The experimental group consisted of 6 males and 8 females, and trained to stand on the unstable support. During the single limb stance exercise, the dominant foot was set as the foot that appeared numerically through the exercise of the dynamic balance meter (Biorescue). Single limb stance exercise along the supporting surface was maintained for 15 seconds and then rested for 15 seconds. It was repeated 5 times. Particularly, the balance exercise on the unstable support surface was sufficiently practiced. Independent t test was performed for comparison between groups. Paired t test was performed to compare before and after each group. Results : There was no difference between the control group and the experimental group in the comparison of dynamic balance ability (p>.05). However, there were significant differences before and after exercise in both the control and experimental groups (p<.05). Similarly, in the comparison of abdominal muscle thickness, there was a significant difference within each group, especially internal oblique and transverse abdominis (p<.05), and no difference between groups (p>.05). Conclusion : Based on these results, although there was no difference between the groups, in the experimental group, numerical increase in dynamic balance ability and abdominal muscle thickness was confirmed. Therefore, single limb stance exercise on the unstable support surfaces activates core muscles and has a positive effect on dynamic balancing ability.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.1-11
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• 1996

The purpose of this study were to evaluate and compare the balance ability at different conditions in normal 20 to 29 years old on unstable platform, KAT 2000(Breg, Inc., Vista, CA. 1994). Static and dynamic BI(balance index) were measured 3psi and 5psi surface conditions. Static tests were done on right and left leg separately, then both legs together with the feet apart 20cm with the eyes opened and closed. Dynamic tests were done on both legs together with apart 20cm with the eyes opened. A dynamic test was performed in which the subject moved platform in a circular manner to chase a moving object on a computer screen. Seventy healthy students(average 21.6 years, male, female) were tested. In this study applied the paired t-test and correlation to determine the statistical significance of result. The results were as follow: 1) The mean static balance index of the Rt leg was $119.9{\pm}75.72$ on 3psi surface condition with the eyes opened, and that of the Lt leg was $224.3{\pm}121.16$. 2) The mean static balance index of the Rt leg was $93.1{\pm}24.16$ on 5psi surface condition with the eyes opened, and that of the Lt leg was $180.5{\pm}61.76$. 3) The mean static and dynamic balance index of both legs were $76.4{\pm}31.86$, $2187.6{\pm}696.99$ on 3psi with the eyes opened, and $68.3{\pm}14.82$, $1938.7{\pm}525.41$ on 5psi respectively. 4) The mean static balance index of the Rt leg was $517.8{\pm}220.87$ on 3psi surface condition with the eyes closed, and that of the Lt leg was $588.6{\pm}204.81$. 5) The mean static balance index of the Rt leg was $271.9{\pm}192.151$ on 5psi surface condition with the eyes closed, and that of the Lt leg was $363.4{\pm}98.97$. 6) The mean static balance index of both legs was $332.6{\pm}137.31$ on 3psi surface condition with the eyes closed, and that of the 5psi was $288.5{\pm}133.07$. 7) The balance index on 3psi surface condition was significantly higher than that of 5psi (p<0.05, p<0.01). 8) The balance index with the eyes closed was significantly higher than that of the eyes opened (p<0.05). 9) The balance index on the left leg was significantly higher than that of the right leg (p<0.05, p<0.01). 10) There was no correlation between static balance index and dynamic balance index. 11) Therewas no correlation between weight or height and balance index.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.23-36
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• 2019

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Plank exercise on unstable support surfaces on flexibility, abdominal muscle thickness and pain in patients with chronic back pain. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: This study was performed on 16 patients with chronic back pain of ◯◯ military unit. Sixteen subjects were randomly assigned into two groups, an upper extremity trainer group (group I, n=8) and a lower extremity trainer group (group II, n=8). The subjects in group I carried out Flank exercise applying the stability trainer to their upper extremities and ones in group II carried out the same exercise applying the stability trainer to their lower extremities for 4 weeks. In order to ascertain the difference between two groups, flexibility, abdominal muscle thickness and pain were measured before and after the exercise. The flexibility was measured by sit and reach test, the thickness of the abdominal muscle was measured by using ultrasonic imaging equipment, and the pain was measured by the visual analogue scale. A paired t-test was utilized to compare changes in pain, abdominal muscle thickness and flexibility before and after flank exercise on unstable support surfaces. Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was performed for ascertaining the significant differences between groups. The significance level was set by α=.05. Results: 1) The flexibilities of two groups were increased after the exercise (p<0.05). 2) In both groups, the thicknesses of rectus abdominis, external oblique abdominis, internal oblique abdominis, and transverse abdominis were all increased after the exercise (p<0.05). 3) The pains in both groups were decreased after the exercise (p<0.05). 4) In the comparisons of two groups, there were no differences in the flexibility, thickness of external oblique abdominis, internal oblique abdominis and transverse abdominis and pain (p>0.05). Whereas only thickness of Rectus abdominis was larger in the group I than in the group II (p<0.05). Conclusion: Plank exercise on the unstable support surface for 4 weeks resulted in increased flexibility, abdominal muscle thickness and pain reduction in patients with chronic back pain. Therefore, it is considered that performing flank exercise on the unstable supporting surface is suitable for the reduction of the pain in patients with chronic back pain. However, in this study, it is considered that continuous and diverse studies are needed because there was not a large difference between the groups when the upper or lower limbs are provided unstable support surfaces.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.311-316
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• 2017

Purpose: Flatfeet are one of the risk factors of foot dysfunction and postural imbalance. The purpose of this study was to compare the limitation of stability (LOS) for the center of gravity (COG) between flatfeet and neutral feet on stable and unstable support surfaces. Methods: The study included 26 healthy, adult male participants: 14 with normal feet and 12 with flatfeet. The subjects were asked to incline the trunk maximumly to the left, right, anterior, and posterior directions and were asked to keep their feet on the floor with the knee extension. The subjects had 30 seconds of rest time between the tasks. The LOS (anterior, posterior, left, right) of COG was measured by Balance Trainer (BT4, Hur-labs, Tampere, Finland). An independent t- test was used to compare the LOS of COG between flatfeet and normal feet on stable and unstable support surfaces, respectively. Results: The LOS of the flatfeet group was generally decreased on stable support surfaces as compared to that of neutral feet, but it was not significantly different (p>0.05), while the LOS of the flatfeet group was significantly decreased compared to that of neutral feet on unstable support surfaces (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study suggested that the LOS of individuals with flatfeet may be decreased on unstable support surfaces and the postural balance of the flatfeet group may easily be disturbed on an unstable support surface.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.196-200
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the muscle activity of the trunk muscles during balance exercises on a stable and unstable surface in patients with stroke. Methods: Thirteen subjects (8 males, 5 females) with stroke were enrolled in the study. Muscle activity was recorded using surface EMG electrodes from the affected side of the erector spinae, external oblique, and internal oblique muscles. The exercise was performed under three conditions. For the first condition for balance exercise, subjects were instructed to sit on an exercise mat with legs extended. The second condition was to sit with legs extended, with a balance pad under their buttocks. The third condition was to sit with legs extended, have a balance pad under the buttocks and a balance cushion under the lower legs. Results: This study showed significant differences in EMG activities during both arm lifting exercise and weight shifting exercise between conditions. This study showed that the EMG activities of the erector spinae, external oblique, and internal oblique muscles were significantly higher when the trunk exercise was performed using the balance pad with balance ball than when using the stable surface. Conclusion: In conclusion, performing balance exercises using an unstable surface is a useful method for facilitating trunk-muscle strength and hence trunk stability.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 2012

Purpose : This study purposed to analyze how dynamic stabilization exercise on an unstable surface, and static stabilization exercise on muscle strength and endurance. Methods : For this study we sampled 9 people for the unstable surface dynamic stabilization exercise group, 9 for the stable surface static stabilization exercise group, and 9 for the control group. In order to examine muscle strength and endurance, we measured changes in the maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) using a dynamometer before, 3 weeks after, and 6 weeks after the experiment. Results : First, with regard to change in muscle strength, flexion strength showed a significant change in interaction by time (p<0.05). Extension strength showed a significant change in interaction by time (p<0.05). Second, with regard to change in endurance, flexion endurance showed a significant change in interaction by time (p<0.05). Extension endurance showed a significant change in interaction by time (p<0.05). Conclusion : In conclusion, this study confirmed significant changes in interaction between the groups and by time with regard to changes in muscle strength and endurance. These results suggest the potential of surface dynamic stabilization exercise as a clinical intervention.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.157-165
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to determine whether unstable surface core exercise is more effective than stable surface core exercise on improving functional movement and balance and reducing pain in sedentary female workers with backpain. Participants were randomly assigned to an unstable surface core exercise(UEG; n=10) or a stable surface core exercise(SEG; n=10) group. They participated in the given exercise for 8 weeks. FMS, Y-Balance and VAS were measured before and after the participation in exercise, which were subjected to a repeated-measures ANOVA. In the case of a significant interaction between time and group, paired sample t-tests were conducted for a post hoc analysis within each subject group. Results indicated that FMS of the UEG had a significant effect on HS (p<.01), ASLR (p<.05) and TS(p<.001), but not for other variables. YBT did not show a significant effect for any variable (AT, PL, PM, TS), although the main effect of time was significant in both subject groups. VAS had a significant effect only in the UEG(p<.001). Our findings indicate that compared to SEG, UEG is more effective for improving functional movement and reducing pain, but not for improving balance, in sedentary female workers with backpain.