• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.187-197
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the changes in the muscle activity of the trunk stabilizer muscles before and after incorporating Pilates breathing during three types of Pilates chair exercises. Methods: This study included 33 healthy men and women in their 20's; they were recruited according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. sEMG was used to measure the changes in the muscle activity in the internal oblique/transverse abdominis, rectus abdominis, and erector spinae during the three types of Pilates chair movements (footwork, twist footwork, and bridging) without and with the Pilates breathing integration. The muscle activities of the trunk stabilizers between without and with Pilates breathing were statistically analyzed and compared. Results: The internal oblique/transverse abdominis showed an increase and a significant difference in the muscle activity in all three movements of footwork, twist footwork, and bridging after the Pilates breathing integration (p<.001). The muscle activity of the rectus abdominis (p<.05) and the erector spinae (p<.05) also increased and showed a significant difference after the Pilates breathing incorporation, except in the bridging movement for the erector spinae. The increase in the rate after integrating Pilates breathing was relatively greater in internal oblique/transverse abdominis than in other muscles. Conclusion: When Pilates breathing was applied, the activities of the trunk stabilizer muscles increased significantly and immediately in all three movements of Pilates chair footwork, twist footwork, and bridging. This means that the use of breathing is expected to have a positive and immediate effect on the activation of trunk stabilizers, thus indicating that it can possibly be an effective re-enforcing tool to promote trunk stability when it is integrated to the Pilates chair exercise. Incorporating Pilates breathing also seemed to have a tendency to activate the deep trunk stabilizer muscles more than the superficial stabilizer muscles.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.291-302
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the effects of neck and trunk stabilization exercise on the onset time of trunk muscle contraction in the elderly. Methods: Elderly subjects were divided into 2 groups: a neck and trunk stabilization exercise group (NTSG) and a control group (CG). The NTSG performed both neck and trunk stabilization exercises and the CG performed gait training on a treadmill, at 30 min per session, 3 times per week, over 8 weeks. Surface electromyography was employed to measure the onset times of trunk muscle contractions in the right anterior deltoid, rectus abdominis, external oblique abdominis, internal oblique abdominis, and erector spinae muscles. Results: The NTSG subjects showed earlier and statistically significant onset of contraction in trunk muscles as compared to the CG. Conclusion: The combination of neck and trunk stabilization exercises may more effectively improve the onset of muscle contractions in the elderly than other types of exercise. The present study's findings may be used as basic data for the development of exercise programs suitable to the elderly, specifically for the design of home exercise programs.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2024

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) abdominal muscle strengthening exercise on the activity, posture, and body function of clients with abdominal muscle weakness after cesarean section. Methods: PNF abdominal muscle strengthening exercise was applied to one patient with abdominal muscle weakness after cesarean section. PNF abdominal muscle strengthening exercise was applied five times a week for four weeks. The 5-time supine-to-long sitting test (5-TSLST) and supine-to-stand test (SST) were used to measure activity, and the pelvis tilt angle test (PTAT) and anterior head translation test (AHTT) were used to measure posture. Body function was assessed using the transverse abdominis muscle strength test (TAMST), the internal oblique and external oblique muscle strength test (IOEOMST), and the rectus abdominis muscle strength test (RAMST). Results: Activity, posture, and body function were improved post-intervention. Conclusion: The study verified that PNF abdominal muscle strengthening exercises are effective when applied to patients with abdominal muscle weakness after cesarean section. The findings of this study provide useful data for future interventions in patients with abdominal muscle weakness after cesarean section.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.7-18
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• 2014

Purpose: We aimed to investigate trunk angle and muscle activation of the extremity and back to evaluate the effect of chest compression on work-related musculoskeletal disorders in 119 emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Methods: Eighteen 119 EMTs performed 2-minute chest compression without interruption on a cardiopulmonary resuscitation manikin, during which we measured changes in the trunk and shoulder joint angles, muscle activation (triceps brachii, biceps brachii, erector spinae, gluteus maximus, pectoralis major, rectus abdominis, and rectus femoris) and chest compression accuracy. Results: The decrease in trunk angle by trunk muscle activation was the highest in event 2, the major direction of chest compression. Both shoulder joint angles had no significant difference. Muscle activation of the triceps brachii (p < .01), biceps brachii (p < .05), rectus abdominis (p < .05) and rectus femoris (p < .01) significantly increased during the compression phase compared with the decompression phase, with the rectus femoris showing an increase of 19%. Muscle activation of the erector spinae significantly increased in the decompression phase compared with the compression phase (p < .01). Conclusion: 119 EMTs mainly use the triceps brachii, biceps brachii and pectoralis major muscles during chest compression.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.25-31
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• 2018

Background: The purpose of this study was to find out how changes in knee angles in stable and unstable support surfaces affect the muscle thickness of core muscles. Methods: The subjects of this study were 25 male adult. Each knee angle of 120, 90 and 60 degrees, they were performed bridge exercise on the stabilized surface and on the unstable support surface using TOGU, and measured the muscle thickness of the external and internal oblique muscle and the abdominal muscles through ultrasound images. Results: There was no significant difference between the thickness of the rectus abdominis and the internal oblique muscle depending on the support surface and the knee joint bending angles. However, there was a significant difference between the external oblique muscle and the transverse abdominis muscle by knee joint flexion angle. Conclusion: While the muscle thickness of the core muscle was not significantly affected by each support surface during the bridge exercise, there were significant changes in the core muscle as a result of changes in knee angle.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.175-180
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• 2022

Purpose: Leg length discrepancy causes the posture deformation, gait asymmetry, and lower back pain. The purpose of this study is to investigate the correlation among functional leg length discrepancy (FLLD), muscle activity, muscle contraction onset time and vertical ground reaction force (vGRF) during simple lifting task. Methods: Thirty-nine subjects participated in this study. FLLD was measured from the umbilicus to medial malleolus of left and right leg using a tape. The subjects performed to lift a 10 kg box from the floor to chest. The muscle activity and muscle contraction onset time of rectus abdominis, erector spinae and rectus femoris was measured using EMG system and vGRF was measured by two force plate. Pearson correlation was used to fine out the correlation among FDDL, muscle activity, muscle contraction onset time and vGRF during simple lifting task. Results: Correlation between FLLD and difference of muscle activity of short-long side was very high (r>0.9) during simple lifting task. Correlation between FLLD and difference of muscle contraction onset time of short-long side was very high (r>0.9) during simple lifting task. And correlation between FLLD and difference of vGRF of short-long side was high (r>0.7) during simple lifting task. Conclusion: This study suggests that there is high correlation between FLLD and muscle activity, muscle contraction onset time, and ground reaction force during simple lifting task. Therefore, FLLD could negatively affect the postural balance.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.11-17
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• 2018

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of abdominal stabilization exercise with Stabilizer and Gymball. METHODS: The participants were divided randomly into 2 groups each of 20 participants in the gymball exercise group and 20 participants in the exercise group. The changes of respiratory muscle activity between the two groups were measured three times a week for 4 weeks. The activity of rectus abdominis and internal oblique was measured using surface EMG to measure respiratory muscle activity. The training was repeated five sets, and one set was repeated 6 times with one 10 second exercise and 5 second rest. RESULTS: The results of the study showed that there was a significant difference in the amount of respiratory accessory muscle activation, inspiratory pressure, respiratory minute volume at the experimental group with stabilizer and control group with gymball exercise. Between-group difference was statistically significant only for rectus abdominis muscle activation. CONCLUSION: Both the stabilizer and the gymball exercises were effective in improving the respiratory rate but there was no difference between the two groups. Also, when comparing activity of muscle in both group, both groups were effective in improving and more effective than improvement of muscular activity of stabilizer in muscle of stabilizer.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.217-220
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was to investigate the differences abdominal muscles activities of according to hip adductor contraction levels 20% (mild), 50% (moderate), and 70% (strong) of MVIC on during bilateral lower extremity raising exercise on supine. Methods: The subjects of the study were a total of 39 persons including 23 healthy males and 16 females, who performed bilateral lower extremity raising exercise in 20%, 50%, 70% MVIC hip contraction. Muscle activities were measured by using S-EMG in RA (rectus abdominis), IO (internal oblique), and EO (external oblique). Results: Muscle activity of the internal oblique abdominal muscle and external oblique abdominal muscle, their activities were also greatest with the adductor contraction size at 70% and there was statistically significant difference when compared with the adductor contraction size at 20% and 50% (p<0.05). As for the rectus abdominis muscle according to the size of contraction of the adductor was greatest at 70%, without statistically significant difference (p>0.05). Conclusion: bilateral lower extremity raising with strong hip joint adductor contraction was effective exercise to strengthen abdominal muscles. If subjects could not perform strong hip adductor contraction, moderate contraction is effective abdominal muscle contraction exercise. The contraction size of the adductor is small, weak contraction may trigger middle level contraction and therefore appropriate application of the exercise program of bilateral leg raising may result in great effect as a lumbar stabilization exercise.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.78-85
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• 2024

Objective: This Study aimed to examine the changes in muscle activity of trunk muscles by performing three squat exercises on normal adults. Design: cross-sectional study Methods: Thirty-two adult subjects participated in this study. General squat, overhead squat, and overhead squat combined with abdominal stabilization were randomly performed for 5 seconds, 3 times, to calculate the average muscle activation. Muscle activation was normalized using electrodes on the rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique, and erector spinae muscles to measure maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) for 5 seconds, repeated 3 times each. Results: There was a significant difference in the mean and maximal muscle activity of the bilateral erector spinae (ES) when comparing the squat to the overhead squat (p<0.05). There was a significant difference (p<0.05) in the mean and maximal muscle activity of the bilateral external oblique (EO) when comparing the overhead squat to the overhead squat combined with the abdominal stabilization technique. When comparing the squat to the overhead squat with abdominal stabilization, there was a significant difference in the mean and maximum muscle activity of the bilateral RA, EO, and left Internal oblique (IO) (p<0.05), and there was a significant difference in the maximum muscle activity of the bilateral erector spinae (ES) (p<0.05). Post hoc tests showed significant differences between squatting methods for the RA, EO, IO, and ES (p<0.017). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that squats combined with abdominal stabilization were more effective at activating core muscles than squats or overhead squats alone.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.1-14
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• 1995

Neuromuscular difference between normal subjects and low-back pain patients has been identified in terms of neural excitation signal measured by Electromyography (EMG) under the dynamic flexion/extension trunk motion. Ten healthy subjects and ten low-back pain patients were recruited for this study. New parameters and normalization technique were introduced to quantify the muscle excitation pattern among the flexor-extensor pairs of muscles : rectus abdominis (RA)-erector spinae (ES at L1 and L5 level), external oblique (EO)-internal oblique (IO), rectus femoris (quadricep : QUD)-biceps femoris( hamstring : HAM), and tibialis anterior (TA)-gastrocnemius (GAS). Results indicated that the temporal EMG pattern such as peak timing difference between the hip flexor (QUD) and extensor (HAM) and the duration of coexcitation between ES at L5 and RA muscle pairs showed a statistically significant difference between normal subjects and low-back pain patients. Improtantly, this study presented a new technique to identify the dynamic muscle excitation pattern that canb be least affected by EMG-length-velocity relationship. Further study can performed to validate this method for clinical application to quantitatively identify the low-back pain patients in the future.