This study aimed to identify the effect of anti-gravity treadmill training on isokinetic lower-limb muscle strength and muscle activities in patients surgically treated for a hip fracture. A total of 34 participants were randomly assigned into two groups: anti-gravity treadmill training group (n = 17) and control group (n = 17). The isokinetic muscle strength and endurance of hip flexor and extensor and the activities of the vastus lateralis (VL), vastus medialis (VM), gluteus maximus (GM), and gluteus medialis (Gm) muscles were measured before and after 4 weeks of the interventions. Significant improvements were observed in isokinetic muscle strength and endurance of hip flexors and extensors in both groups (p < 0.05); however, no significant differences were observed between the groups (p > 0.05) except for muscle strength of the hip extensor (d = 0.78, p = 0029). Statistically significant increases in the muscle activity of VL, VM, GM, and Gm were found before and after the intervention (p < 0.05), and significant differences in muscle activities of GM (d = 2.64, p < 0.001) and Gm (d = 2.59, p < 0.001) were observed between the groups. Our results indicate that both groups showed improvement in muscle strength, endurance, and activities after the intervention. Additionally, anti-gravity treadmill training improved significantly more muscle strength at 60°/s of the hip extensor and gluteus muscle activities than conventional therapy, which may be appropriate for patients with hip fracture surgery.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate eight pilates exercise effective in thickness of abdominal muscles and to suggest effective pilates exercise. Methods/Statistical Analysis: This study was conducted in a total 21 participants applied the eight pilates exercise and using sonography during pilates exercise. Firstly, at resting position using scanning Transverse Abdominis (TrA), Internal Oblique (IO) and External Oblique (EO) thickness in sonography. After measurement, using sonography scanned thickness of the TrA, IO and EO while maintaining the eight pilates exercise. While maintaining exercise, scanning again done if the body was shaken violently. The starting position of all the exercise insupine position were proceeding at supine abdominal strength. Three times scanning was done to calculate and average per data was analyzed. Two minute resting time was taken between the exercises to prevent muscle fatigue. Findings: We compared the thickness variation of TrA, IO and EO in resting position and the eight pilates exercise shown (p<.05). Results of post-test, TrA showed significant differences in resting position, shoulder bridge, hundred, one leg stretch, double leg stretch, roll up, crisscross, scissors and one leg circle exercise (p<.05). IO was significantly different between resting position and roll up exercise (p<.05), EO; similarly significantly different for shoulder bridge between one leg stretch, crisscross and scissors (p<.05). Comparison of all the results, TrA, IO and EO were all statistically significant different (p<.05). This study using sonography during eight pilates exercise compared to real-time measurement of the change in abdominal muscle thickness. As a result, each exercises different in the thickness of the TrA, IO and EO. Most of the previous paper about pilates exercise and abdominal muscles using pilates exercise program, researchers made measurement through the EMG activity of the abdominal muscles after a long period of time applied to the subjects. Electromyography (EMG) is difficult to estimate and indirectly shown muscle contraction, relaxation because it is non invasive method and the data is forecasts. So we conducted a study using sonography. In addition, the various research program of around one hour and mix pilates exercise it is difficult to know how exercise activated each muscles. Application/Improvements: Purpose of this study is to compare the eight pilates exercise affecting TrA, IO and EO thickness compare analyze. Our findings eight pilates exercise are effective in TrA, roll up is effective in IO and one leg stretch, crisscross, scissors are effective in EO. Therefore, strengthening of the trunk local muscle is effective in roll up. In addition, strengthening of the global muscle high kinetic effect can be obtained in one leg stretch, crisscross and scissors with trunk rotation.

Objectives: To see the trunk muscle activation during squat exercise in accordance with the inversion angle. Methods/Statistical Analysis: After previous research, we recruited healthy adult of 12 males and 12 females (The mean age 20.7±1.66, a total of 24 adults) who agreed to participate in this study. This study measured External Oblique abdominis (EO), Transverse Abdominis (TrA), Eractor Spinae (ES), Multifidus (MF) muscle activation during the squat exercise according to four inversion angles (0°, 10°, 15°, 20°). In order to calculate the subject characteristics, the mean value and the standard deviation of all the variables of the subjects, descriptive statistics were employed. One-way repeated ANOVA was used to compare muscle activities of EO, TrA, ES and MF depending on the four inversion angles. Bonferroni’s correction was used as post-hoc comparison and statistical significance level was set at α = .05. Findings: In EO, there was significant difference on four inversion angles (p<.001). Post-hoc test result showed significant difference (p<.001) on four inversion angles between 0°-10°, 0°-15°, 0°-20°, 10°-15° and 15°-20°. In TrA, there was significant difference on four inversion angles (p<.001) as well. Post-hoc test result indicated significant difference(p<.001) on four inversion angles between 0°-15°, 0°-20°, 10°-15° and 10°-20°. In ES and MF, they did not show significant difference in every inversion angle. Also, post-hoc test result did not reveal significant difference between every intervention. This study has been conducted to see the change of trunk muscle activation in accordance with inversion angle during squat exercise. In order to investigate the changes, we compared global and local muscles of trunk by applying the four inversion angles (0°, 10°, 15°, 20°). Since lower extremity or trunk global muscle activation has been studied a lot already, we put difference by measuring local muscle additionally during squat exercise. There were lots of studies about lower extremity and trunk muscle activation using squat exercise. In this research, however, the back muscle did not show a significant difference during squat exercise. These results mean that back muscle is not that significant in the squat exercise with altering inversion angles. Also, we experimented with the traditional squat exercise and added an intervention of changing the inversion angle. However, we presume that if we provide a variety of intervention on the trunk position, or require a trunk flexion or extension, there would be another result on the back muscle. Thus, more research, related with trunk position as well as ankle position, needs to be carried out continuously. Application/Improvements: In conclusion, squat exercise with inversion angle is an effective exercise method in that it can cause the activation of both global and local muscle of the abdomen. Also, the inversion angle of 15° is the most ideal one to activate the trunk muscle with effectiveness without ankle inversion injury. Therefore, the squat exercise with the varying inversion angles will be helpful to maintain trunk stability for the position through time effectiveness.