J Korean Phys Ther.  2019 Aug;31(4):193-198. 10.18857/jkpt.2019.31.4.193.

Effect of Plank Exercise Combined with Breathing and Arm Exercises on Abdominal Muscle Thickness

• Park JC
• Kim YN

• KMID: 2459202
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.18857/jkpt.2019.31.4.193

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study examined the effects of plank exercise combined with breathing and arm exercises on the external oblique, internal oblique, and transverse abdominal muscle thickness.
METHODS
Thirty healthy adults consisting of 12 males and 18 females from K area were divided into a plank exercise combined with breathing and arm exercises group (n = 15) and a plank exercise only group (n=15). The changes in muscle thickness before the exercise and four and eight weeks after the exercise were analyzed using a two-way repeated analysis of variance (ANOVA). The significance level was set to α=0.05. Post-hoc t-tests were conducted to detect the interactions between the time and groups, and the significance level was set to α=0.01.
RESULTS
According to the experimental results, the external oblique abdominal muscle showed significant differences over time (p<0.05). The internal oblique abdominal muscle also showed significant differences over time and in the interactions between the time and groups (p<0.05). The transverse abdominal muscle showed significant differences over time, in the interactions between time and groups, and in the changes between the groups (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
The results indicated that plank exercise combined with breathing and arm movement exercises led to increases in the abdominal muscle thickness. These types of exercises may be useful in lumbar stabilization rehabilitation treatment.

Keyword

Respiration; Muscle thickness; Plank exercise; Arm Exercises

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Muscles*
Adult
Arm*
Exercise*
Female
Humans
Male
Rehabilitation
Respiration*