• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.341-348
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to compare the muscle activities of the thoracic extensor(TE) and lumbar extensor(LE) during trunk lift (TL) exercise according to exercise position. Seventeen healthy subjects with no medial history of back pain were recruited for this study. Subjects performed the TL exercise in prone, quadruped and heel-sitting positions. The activities of the TE and LE were measured using surface electromyography during TL exercise in each exercise position. A one-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the normalized muscle activities of the TE and LE and the TE/LE ratio. The results showed that there was not significant effect of exercise position on the muscle activities of TE(p>.05). However, there was significant effect of exercise position on the muscle activities of LE and the TE/LE ratio(p>.05). Post hoc pair-wise comparisons with Bonferroni correction showed that both muscle activities of LE and TE/LE ratio in prone position were significantly different in those in heel-sitting and quadruped positions, during TL exercise, respectively. The TE/LE ratio was the greatest for TL exercise in heel-sitting position. Therefore, for selective activation of the TE muscle, we recommend performing the TL exercise in heel-sitting or quadruped position.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.91-100
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• 2018

Purpose : The study investigated the effects of Pilates exercise on strengthening trunk muscles of females who perform such exercise for the purpose of comparing activation of trunk muscles that contact while performing Pilates motions between females with or without at least 8 weeks of Pilates experience. Methods : The study investigated 10 females with at least 8 weeks of Pilates experience in the past 6 months (experienced group) and 10 healthy females without Pilates experience (non-experienced group). The study used basic Pilates postures involving hip abduction, lift, and leg swing motions as the measurement postures in comparing the activation of muscles used for stabilization, such as the rectus abdominis, external oblique abdominal, and transverse abdominis & internal oblique abdominal muscles. Surface electromyography was used for measuring muscle activation, and the measurements targeted activation of the rectus abdominis, external oblique abdominal, transversus abdominis, and internal oblique abdominal muscles. Results : The study results showed that, as compared to the non-experienced group, the experienced group had significantly higher muscle activation in the transverse abdominis and internal oblique abdominal muscles during hip abduction (p<.05) and significantly higher muscle activation in the rectus abdominis, external oblique abdominal, and transverse abdominis & internal oblique abdominal muscles during lift and leg swing motions (p<.05). Conclusion : Pilates exercise performed over a long period can be recommended as an effective exercise method that can increase the activation of trunk muscle, and especially, repeated performance of highly difficult motions can increase muscle activation even more, which can help promote spinal stabilization, prevent pain, and improve performance of activities of daily living.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.70-77
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• 2016

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the activation of trunk and gluteal muscles during bridge exercises with a sling (BS), single-legged bridge exercise with a sling (SBS), single-legged bridge exercise (SB), and general bridge exercise (GB). Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Twenty-five healthy participants (19 males and 6 females, aged 27.8 [4.78]) voluntarily participated in this study. In the bridging exercise, each subject lifted their pelvis with their legs and feet in contact with the sling or normal surface. The electrical activities of the erector spinae (ES), gluteus maximus (GM), external oblique (EO), and internal oblique (IO) muscles during the bridging exercises on the 2 surfaces were measured using surface electromyography. Subjects practiced each of the four bridge condition three times in random order and average values were obtained. Results: On the ipsilateral side, activities of the IO, EO, and ES during SBS was significantly higher than those during BS, SB, and GB (p<0.05). Activities of the IO and EO during SB was significantly higher than those during BS and GB (p<0.05). On the contralateral side, activities of the GM and EO during SB and SBS was significantly higher than that during BS and GB (p<0.05). These results verify the theory that the use of sling and single leg lift increases the activation trunk and gluteal muscles during bridging exercises. Conclusions: The single-legged bridge exercise with a sling can be recommended as an effective method to facilitate trunk and gluteal muscle activities.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.29-36
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• 2018

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of leg lift difference on serratus and upper trapezius when exercising in a scapula in a prone position, a typical waist stabilization exercise for subjects with a winged scapula. Method: Twenty normal adults and 20 subjects with winged scapula participated in the experiment. The surface EMG recordings were obtained from external oblique muscle and internal oblique muscle during scapula protraction exercise. The presence or absence of winging of the shoulder bone was measured using an electronic digital caliper for the distance the medial border of the scapula is lifted to the rear. In prostrate pier movement posture in both groups, both legs supporting, dominant leg lifting, and non-dominant leg lifting including the scapula protraction were conducted respectively. Results: In the results of comparison between the two groups, the dominant external oblique muscle and the non-dominant internal oblique muscle tended to increase according to the difference of the leg lifting of normal people. In the winged scapula group, internal oblique muscle showed increased muscle activity more than external oblique muscle. Conclusion: It was most effective to exercise with lifting the same position leg for strengthening the same external oblique muscle, and the opposite internal oblique muscle. Also, it is effective to exercise in prone pier movement posture for trunk stability. In addition, internal oblique muscle shows increased muscle activity in subjects with winged scapula. Therefore, appropriate adjustment of external oblique muscle and internal oblique muscle may have a positive effect on scapula dysfunction for trunk stability.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.144-151
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• 2023

Background: The gluteus maximus (GM) muscle comprise the lumbo-pelvic complex and is an important stabilizing muscle during leg extension. In patients with low back pain (LBP) with weakness of the GM, spine leads to compensatory muscle activities such as instantaneous increase of the erector spinae (ES) muscle activity. Four-point kneeling arm and leg lift (FKALL) is most common types of lumbopelvic and GM muscles strengthening exercise. We assumed that altered hip position during FKALL may increase thoraco-lumbar stabilizer like GM activity more effectively method. Objects: The purpose of this study was investigated that effects of the three exercise postures on the right-sided GM, internal oblique (IO), external oblique (EO), and multifidus (MF) muscle activities and pelvic kinematic during FKALL. Methods: Twenty eight healthy individuals participated in this study. The exercises were performed three conditions of FKALL (pure FKALL, FKALL with 120° hip flexion of the supporting leg, FKALL with 30° hip abduction of the lifted leg). Participants performed FKALL exercises three times each condition, and motion sensor used to measure pelvic tilt and rotation angle. Results: This study demonstrated that no significant change in pelvic angle during hip movement in the FKALL (p > 0.05). However, the MF and GM muscle activities in FKALL with hip flexion and hip abduction is greater than pure FKALL position (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our finding suggests that change the posture of the hip joint to facilitate GM muscle activation during trunk stabilization exercises such as the FKALL.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.48-60
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• 2008

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of Joing Mobilization and Group back Pain Exercise Program on the disability level and the pain of flexibility and the back muscle strength in the hearing impairment patients with Low back pain. Methods : The subjects of this study were 12 patients, 8 males and females. They visited clinic for physical treatment within 6 months after onset of low back pain. One group was applied with Joing Mobilization and other group was with Group back Pain Exercise Program. The patient were treated special program 3 times session weekly. And treatment 2 times session was 15min with physiotherapy weekly. The muscle strength was measured by Cybex 660, the level of disability by Oswestry low back pain disability scale, the intensity of pain by visual analogue scale (VAS). The data was analysed by paired T-test and independent T-test. Results : The results of this study were summarized as follow : 1. The Oswestry disability score of experimental and control group were significantly decreased and there was no difference in the Oswestry disability score change between joint mobilization group and back pain exercise group. 2. The pains in anterior, postrior, lift lateral and right lateral bending and in rotation of back pain exercise group were significantly increased compared with those of joint mobilization group. 3. The flexors and extensors peak torque of back pain exercise group were significantly increased at test velocities $30^{\circ}$/sec, $60^{\circ}$/sec compared with those of the joint mobilization group. There was no significant difference in extensors and flexors peak torque at $30^{\circ}$/sec, $60^{\circ}$/sec between two group. The results showed that the back pain exercise group were effective in decreasing disability score and pain of trunk activity, increasing trunk extension and flexion peak torque. Conclusion : It is suggested theat the back pain exercise program could be an essential factor for the effective intervension to the hearing impairment patients suffere from low back pain.