• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.95-100
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• 2015

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of the angles of the knee and heel-off on the muscle activity during a bridge exercise. METHODS: 15 healthy adult men and women with the balance ability and joint working range required for performing a bridge exercise participated in this study, in which $120^{\circ}$, $90^{\circ}$ and $60^{\circ}$ angles of the knee-flexion and heel-off were applied during the bridge exercise. RESULTS: Our data showed that there were significant differences in muscle activities of elector spinae and rectus abdominis when $120^{\circ}$ and $60^{\circ}$ angles of the knee were applied, of internal oblique when $120^{\circ}$ and $60^{\circ}$ were applied, and external oblique when $90^{\circ}$ and $60^{\circ}$ were applied. When heel-off was applied, there were significant differences in muscle activities of elector spinae and rectus abdominis when $120^{\circ}$ and $60^{\circ}$ were applied, of internal oblique when $120^{\circ}$ and $60^{\circ}$ were applied, and external oblique when $90^{\circ}$ and $60^{\circ}$ were applied. CONCLUSION: In this study on an application of heel-off to the bridge exercise, we showed that the effect of the angles of the knee on the muscle activities of elector spinae, rectus abdominis, internal oblique and external oblique were all similar to the regular bridge exercise, but overall muscle activities were increased with heel-off when compared with the regular bridge exercise.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.149-154
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• 2013

Purpose: Spinal instability due to weakness of abdominal muscles is one of the major causes that induces low back pain (LBP). The purpose of this study was to investigate any differences in abdominal muscle activity during curl up, roll out, and jack knife exercises using a swiss-ball or sling. Methods: Twenty healthy subjects were randomly assigned into either a swiss-ball exercise group (SBEG) or a sling exercise group (SEG). Subjects performed curl up, roll out and jack knife exercises using the swiss ball or sling. Activity of abdominal muscles (rectus abdominis and external oblique muscle) was assessed using surface EMG and normalized maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC). The significance of differences between the sling exercise group and the swiss-ball exercise group was evaluated by the independent t-test. Results: These Results indicated that activities of rectus abdominis on right and left of the SEG during the curl up exercise were significantly greater than the SBEG. During the roll out exercise, activity of the abdominal muscle was not significantly different between the SEG and SBEG. In addition, during the jack knife exercise, activities of the right rectus abdominis and left external oblique muscle in the SEG were significantly greater than the SBEG. Conclusion: In conclusion, activity of the abdominal muscles was maximized when curl up and jack knife exercise were performed using the sling rather than the swiss-ball. Therefore, if increased activation of the abdominal muscle is the goal of an exercise program, curl up and jack knife exercises may be useful.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.795-798
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• 2009

Purpose: The repair of complex chest wall defects presents a challenging problem for the reconstructive surgeon. In particular, a free flap is often required when the defect is large, in which case suitable recipient vessels must be found to insure revascularization. The authors report a case of persistent bronchopleural - cutaneous fistula developed after undergoing lobectomy for lung cancer. Methods: The defect area was repaired using a free vertical rectus abdominis muscle flap revascularized by microvascular anastomosis to the 6th intercostal pedicle. The flap obliterated the right chest cavity, closed the site of empyema drainage, and aided healing of a bronchopleural - cutaneous fistula. Results: The patient has remained healed for 14 months without any postoperative complications and recurrent infection or fistula. Conclusion: We suggest that a rectus abdominis musculocutaneus free flap and intercostal pedicle as a recipient could be a useful method for repair of chest defects.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.109-112
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• 2014

We experienced a case of 63 years old male patient who had synchronous rectus abdominis intramuscular schwannoma and chest wall lipoma. Schwannoma is rare benign tumor which derived from nerve sheath and mainly peripheral nerve of flexor part. The authors report rare synchronous schwannoma and lipoma development.

• International Journal of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.152-160
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to investigate the difference in the number of repetitions and the change in electromyographic response during the maximum speed squat exercise according to the depth conditions and the maximum speed squat exercise according to the time of each depth. Ten men in their 20s were selected as subjects and the maximum speed squat was performed for one minute in three environmental conditions (ground, knee depth, waist depth). We found that the number of repetitions according to the depth of water showed a significant difference, and as a result of the post-mortem comparison, the number of repetitions was higher in the ground condition and the knee depth than in the waist depth. And the muscle activity of rectus abdominis, erector spinae, rectus femoris, biceps femoris was increased during ground squat exercise, activity of all muscle was decreased during knee depth squat exercise, and activity of rectus abdominis, erector spinae, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius was decreased during waist depth squat. In conclusion, muscle activity of lower extremities during squat exercise in underwater environment can be lowered as the depth of water is deep due to buoyancy, but muscle activity of trunk muscles can be increased rather due to the effect of viscosity and drag.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.195-200
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of the different condition of leg support surface on the upper extremity and core muscle activity during the push-up exercise. Methods: Fifteen healthy subjects that were practicable push-ups were recruited in this study. Subjects were instructed the push-up exercise in the different condition of the leg support surface. Each condition of support surface was set to the high and lower, and the unstable and stable condition. Muscle activation was measured by using the surface electromyography (EMG), and recorded from the triceps brachii, serratus anterior, latissimus dorsi, rectus abdominis, abdominal external oblique, and erector spinea muscle. Results: In the results of experiments, there was no significant difference of muscle activation in upper extremity between the high unstable and high stable support surface. By contrast, muscle activation of the rectus abdominis and abdominal external oblique was significantly higher in the low unstable support surface, compared with those of the low stable support surface. It is well known that the core muscle was important to stabilization of trunk stability. Conclusion: This result demonstrates that the low and unstable support surface for the lower extremity was suited for training of core muscle for trunk stabilization during the push-up exercise.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.405-410
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• 2013

Purpose: Most studies have reported that the abdominal muscle thickness differs according to gender but none of these studies reported a gender difference in the thickness of the multifidus and erector spine. The spinal alignment is affected by the left and right balance in the trunk muscle. The aim of this study was to identify the trunk muscle symmetry according to gender and the correlations of the trunk muscle thickness with spinal alignment. Methods: Forty three subjects(27 males and 16 females) were enrolled in this study. The trunk muscle thickness was measured by ultrasonography. The trunk muscle, which consisted of the rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique abdominis (EOA), internal oblique abdominis (IOA), transverse abdominis (TrA), erector spine (ES), and multifidus (MF), was measured. The spinal alignment was measured by Formetric-III 3D analysis. The dependent variables of the spinal alignment were the trunk imbalance, trunk inclination, lateral deviation, and surface rotation. Results: The muscle thickness of the EOA muscle increased more significantly in the right side than the left side (p<0.05). Each left and right difference in the muscle thickness between the male and female group showed a significant difference (p<0.05) except for the TrA thickness. Significant positive correlations were observed between the ES and lateral deviation and between the TrA with trunk imbalance. Conclusion: These results suggest that asymptomatic men have a greater trunk muscle thickness than women but there was no difference between the left and right in healthy adults. The trunk muscle thickness of ES, TrA is related by the spinal alignment.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.58-64
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• 2006

Purpose: Management of soft-tissue defect after open tibial fractures includes immediate and repeated debridement, skeletal stabilization, and early soft-tissue coverage with muscle flaps. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of the free rectus abdominis muscle flap (RA flap) for treatment of open fractures of the tibia and to discuss its advantages compared with the latissimus dorsi muscle flap (LD flap) in poly trauma patients. Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 5 patients who had a severe (Gustilo IIIb or IIIc) open fracture of the tibia treated with RA flap from May 2003 to March 2006. All were men, and the mean age was 46.6 years (range, $28{\sim}68$). Three patients had combined injuries such as pelvic bone fractures, multiple rib fractures with hemothorax, and contralateral tibial fracture. All patients received RA flap within 7 days after trauma except two with established chronic osteomyelitis. Results: All flaps survived, and there was no marginal flap necrosis. During the follow-up period, there was no evidence of persistent or recurrent osteomyelitis. The size of RA flap ranged from $8{\sim}20\;cm$ in length and $6{\sim}10\;cm$ in width. The average time required for RA flap elevation was 32 minutes, which is shorter than LD flap. Flap elevation could be done in supine position which is essential in poly trauma patients. Conclusion: Although a wide variety of options are available, RA flap is regarded as an optimal method for coverage of soft-tissue defect of the open tibial fracture in poly trauma patients. LD flap is reserved for large sized soft-tissue defect which cannot be covered by RA flap.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.21-28
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to compare the onset times of muscle activities and the order of muscle firing in erector spinae, multifidus, rectus abdominis and biceps brachii during perturbation between subjects with and without work-related chronic low back pain (LBP). Twenty-nine subjects, 14 with and 15 without LBP, participated in this study. The muscle responses were measured by surface EMG (electromyography) during perturbation in eye opened and eye closed conditions. The EMG onset times of the erector spinae, multifidus, rectus abdominis and biceps brachii were similar between groups in eye closed condition. But the onset times of the erector spinae, multifidus, rectus abdominis were significantly delayed in subjects with LBP in eye opened condition. The results provide an evidence for impaired feed-forward control of the trunk muscles in subjects with LBP. Further studies are needed to identify whether the impaired feed-forward control of the trunk muscles is the contributing factor to LBP.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.245-252
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• 2022

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the abdominal muscle activity difference while performing the abdominal bracing technique focusing on inspiration (abdominal bracing group), the general abdominal bracing technique (general bracing group), and the abdominal hollowing technique (abdominal hallowing group) Design: A cross-sectional study design. Methods: Thirty-three healthy participants were recruited for this study. The participants were allocated to 3 different groups; Abdominal bracing group, general bracing group, and abdominal hallowing group. The surface electromyography was placed over the rectus abdominis, external oblique, and internal oblique muscles to collect the activation of abdominal muscles during the trial. Results: The muscle activity of the abdominal bracing group and general bracing groups was significantly higher in all abdominal muscles than in the abdominal hollowing group (p<0.05) Both rectus abdominis and external oblique muscles showed higher muscle activations in the abdominal bracing group over the general bracing group (p<0.05). However, the ratio of bilateral external obliques and rectus abdominis to bilateral internal obliques was highest when the hollowing technique was applied (p<0.05). Conclusions: The results of study showed the abdominal bracing technique that emphasized inhalation rather than the abdominal hollowing technique or general abdominal bracing technique increased the activity of the abdominal muscles. Therefore, this study is considered to be a data for effective training if the abdominal bracing technique that emphasizes inhalation is applied as a method to increase the activation of the abdominal muscles.