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 exercise utilizing the PNF (proprioceptor neuromuscular facilitation) patterns accompanied by abdominal 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 TG conducted 3–5 sets of dynamic exercises utilizing the PNF patterns each day, 3 times a week 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 in this 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 the abdominal muscles that are the basis of trunk stabilization.