• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.29 no.4
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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.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.9 no.12
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• pp.348-356
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of bridging using Swiss ball, whole body vibration (WBV), and mat on trunk and lower extremity muscle activity and postural stability. The results were as follows: 1) EMG activity of internal oblique increased significantly in WBV condition compared with mat condition (p<.05). 2) EMG activity of rectus femoris and medial gastrocnemius increased significantly in Swiss ball condition and WBV condition compared with mat condition (p<.05). 3) The muscle activity of medial hamstrings increased significantly in Swiss ball condition compared with mat condition (p<.05). 4) The limit of stability in three groups increased significantly in all directions after 4-week intervention (p<.05). 5). There were no significant differences in the limit of stability among three groups after 4-week intervention (p>.05). Therefore the trunk and lower extremity muscle activity increased in Swiss ball and WBV conditions, and postural stability was improved in three groups after intervention period.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.143-153
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• 2014

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of trunk-forearm supported sitting on trunk flexion angle, trunk extensor fatigue and seat contact pressure. Background: The relationship between sitting posture and musculoskeletal disorders of the trunk extensor fatigue and seat contact pressure has been documented. The trunk-forearm support type ergonomic chair was devised from the fact that trunk-forearm support has been reported to reduce trunk extensor activity and discomfort. Method: Using three different sitting postures, upright ($P_1$), trunk-forearm supported ($P_2$) and normal sitting ($P_3$), six healthy subjects participated in the study. Motion capture system was used to collect head and trunk flexion angle, and surface electromyography (sEMG) was used to collect myoelectric signal of upper trapezius, lower trapezius, erector spinae, multifidus, and pressure mat system was used to measure seat contact pressure. Results: When trunk and forearm were supported by the ergonomic chair, higher head flexion angle showed upright > trunk-forearm supported > normal in order, and muscle fatigue showed less than upright and normal sitting. Mean seat contact pressure decreased 19% than upright sitting. But muscle fatigue was not affected by each condition. Conclusion: Trunk-forearm supported sitting of the ergonomic chair showed positive effect in respect of trunk and head flexion angle, trunk extensor fatigue, seat contact pressure. To acquire comprehensive understanding of the effectiveness of the ergonomic chair, further studies such as anatomical effects from measurement of external applied loading effect to the body from interface pressure analysis are required. Application: The results of the publishing trend analysis might help physiological effects of trunk-forearm support type chair.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.403-408
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• 2014

BACKGROUND: Kiwifruit is a warm-temperate, deciduous fruit tree. It is sensitive to frost or freeze damage during winter. Therefore, the farmers cover kiwifruit trunk with rice straw to preclude freeze injury. This study was conducted to evaluate trunk wraps for protection of freeze injury of kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) vines. METHODS AND RESULTS: The experimental orchard was located in Sacheon (lat. $34^{\circ}56'N$, long. $128^{\circ}03'E$) of Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. The vines were 5-6-year-old 'Hayward'. Two wrap materials, rice straw and silver-cushioned mat (reflective foil-coated, plastic-foamed mat, Ganan Industry, Rep. of Korea) were evaluated for their heat-retaining ability. The trunks of kiwifruit vines were wrapped in late December, and the wraps were removed in mid-April the following year (2012/13 and 2013/14). Temperature inner wraps were recorded from January to March in 2013 and 2014 by WatchDog 2450 (Spectrum Technologies, Inc., USA). In 2013, the lowest ambient temperature of January and February was $-10.2^{\circ}C$, $-10.9^{\circ}C$, respectively. The lowest temperature of inner-wrap of silver -cushioned mat was $-6.3^{\circ}C$, $-2.6^{\circ}C$ in January and February, respectively. However, rice straw showed $-9.8^{\circ}C$ and $-9.9^{\circ}C$ in its lowest value of January and February. And also silver cushioned mat appeared to be superior to rice straw in its ability of heat-retaining during night time.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.1128-1134
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to identify the effects of two trunk stability exercise types on the gait factors of stroke patients. We randomly divided 24 old elderly patients with hemiplegia, who were hospitalized due to stroke, into a two groups, each with its own six-week exercise program: one that used of a dynamic trunk stability exercise using with physio-balls(n=12) and a group of one that used a static trunk stability exercise using on mats(n=12). After measuring the participants gait ability a sin a pre-test, we again measured their ability again as in a posttest after two-for both types of six-week exercise programs for each group. The analysis of the data analysis showed that both ball and mat exercise programs significantly improved the participants' gait velocity and stride length; cadence, however, was significantly changed only by the ball exercise program. In conclusion, both types of trunk stability exercise may be useful in improving the gait ability of stroke patients, and, in particular, the former can be used as an exercise method that effectively significantly affects more various other gait factors.

• 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.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.22-32
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of ankle-foot orthosis and lumbosacral orthosis on movement patterns used to rise from the supine position to erect stance. Thirty-two healthy adults participated. Subjects were videotaped while rising from a supine position on a floor mat. Each subject performed 10 trials each of three condition;general condition, right ankle-foot orthosis, lumbosacral orthosis. subjects rose most commonly using a symmetrical push pattern of the upper extremities, a symmetrical squat pattern in the lower extremities, a symmetrical in the trunk under each of three conditions. Changes in the incidence of movement patterns occurred in lower extremities of the ankle-foot orthosis and lumbosacral orthosis condition and trunk of the ankle-foot orthosis condition. From a dynamic pattern theory perspective, ankle motion is a control variable for the supine position to erect standing movement.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to verify the most effective spinal stabilization exercises program by comparing the activities of muscles contributing to spinal stabilization during four types of exercises using a sling and a mat. Twenty healthy males were recruited and each subjects performed four types of exercises. Exercise 1 was performed in a quadruped position with the subjects lifting the left arm and the opposite leg on the mat. Exercise 2 was performed in a prone position while holding a sling with the right hand and the left knee was fully extended while lifting the left arm and right leg. Exercise 3 was performed in quadruped position while holding a sling with one the right hand and lifting the opposite arm and leg. In exercise 4, subjects were instructed to maintain a balance push-up position while holding slings with both hands in 10 cm forward reaching with extended elbows. Electromyographic(EMG) activities were recorded from the multifidus, external oblique, internal oblique, abdominal rectus, and erector spinalis muscles during the exercises. The EMG amplitude of each muscle was normalized to the amplitude in the maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) of each muscle. Repeated ANOVA and Bonferroni's tests were used to compare the differences in the muscle activity according to the types of exercise. The EMG amplitudes of all the muscles were significantly different according to the types of exercises (p<.05). The highest EMG activities of each muscle was as follow; multifidus was 73.38%MVIC in exercise 3, the erector spinalis was 40.03%MVIC in exercise 3, the external oblique was 135.88%MVIC in exercise 4, the internal oblique was 128.60%MVIC in exercise 4, and the rectus abdominalis was 95.24%MVIC in Exercise 4. The types of exercises showed a significant difference in composition rate of EMG amplitudes of each muscle (p<.05). EMG composition rate of the multifidus was high in exercise 1 and 3. However, EMG composition rates of the external oblique, internal oblique, and the rectus abdominals were high in exercise 2 and 4. These results showed differences in EMG activities of muscles contributing to trunk stabilization during different therapeutic exercises. Therefore, the type of exercise should be carefully selected to effectively strengthen a specific trunk stabilizer.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.193-202
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• 2008

Purpose : This study was performed for effects of intervention of mat & ball exercise, sling exercise, and general intervention. The purpose of this study was to know influenced on the change of Oswestry back pain disability index (OBPDI) with chronic low back pain(CLBP) patients. Methods : Three groups of CLBP patients(n=53) were allocated randomly in this study experimental group I (mat & ball exercise group MBE, n=18), experimental group II(sling exercise group SE, n=18) and control group(general intervention, n=17). Intervention was provided 6 weeks(S days a week). Experimental group was provided 3 set a day(10 time/ 1 set, 10sec holding and 10sec resting/ 1 time). The following was the result of the data analysis about OBPDI experiment that had been carried on a week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, S weeks, 6 weeks after, and even comparing with pre-experimental state. Results : The results were as follows. OBPDI about intervention period had decrease in the MBE and the SE groups. but there was no difference in the control group. Among three groups, The MBE and the SE groups had difference compare with control group. This shows that the MBE and the SE groups had effective decrease pain and disability. Conclusion : Therefore, this study shows that trunk stabilization exercise program influenced on the change of OBPDI with CLBP patients.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.905-913
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to investigate the difference of muscle activity according to application of a foam roller during pilates. The 8 male subjects were selected and quadruped position, bridge, and core control movement of pilates were randomly assigned to 9 movements on a static mat motion, static foam-roller motion, and dynamic foam-roller actions. This program was conducted once at intervals of 1 week. The muscle activity of erector spinae, rectus abdominis, external oblique, gluteus medius, rectus femoris, and biceps femoris were measured and the collected data was analyzed by one-way ANOVA. First, in the quadruped, the rectus abdominis and external oblique, rectus femoris of the dynamic foam-roller actions showed higher muscle activity than the static mat motion and the static foam-roller motion(p <.001), gluteus medius muscle activity was also significantly higher (p <.05). biceps femoris were significantly higher in static foam-roller motions than in static mat-motion and dynamic foam-roller actions(p <.05). Second, biceps femoris muscle activity was highest in dynamic foam-roller actions than static mat-motion and static foam-roller motions during bridge(p <.001). Third, in the sitting core control, the rectus abdominis and gluteus medius of the dynamic foam-roller actions showed higher muscle activity than the static mat motion and the static foam-roller motion(p <.001). and activity of erector spinae muscle was also significantly higher (p <.01). external oblique were significantly higher in static mat-motion than in static foam-roller motions and dynamic foam-roller actions(p <.05). Considering the muscle activity during pilates exercise, it would be more effective to apply the method and difficulty.