The effects of dynamic exercise utilizing PNF patterns on abdominal muscle thickness in healthy adults

[Purpose] The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of dynamic exerciseutilizing the PNF (proprioceptor neuromuscular facilitation) patterns accompanied byabdominal drawing-in exercises on abdominal muscle thickness in healthy adults. [Subjects]The total number of subjects was 30;15 were randomly placed in the training group (TG),and the remaining 15 made up the control group (CG). [Methods] The subjects in the TGconducted 3–5 sets of dynamic exercises utilizing the PNF patterns each day, 3 times aweek for 6 weeks. The thickness of the abdominal muscles was measured by ultrasonography.[Results] When the TG’s abdominal muscle thickness pre-test and post-test were compared inthis study, there was a statistical significance in all of the external obliquus abdominis(Eo), the internal obliquus abdominis (Io), and the transversus abdominis (Tra).[Conclusion] Dynamic exercise utilizing the PNF patterns increased the thickness of theabdominal muscles that are the basis of trunk stabilization.Key words: Dynamic exercise, PNF patterns, Abdominal muscle thickness