Background: Weakness of the abdominal and mid thoracic muscles the lead to thoracic kyphosis of stroke patients. The trunk muscles activity of stroke patients is significantly related to upper extremity.
Objectives: To investigate the effect of seated exercise of thoracic and abdominal muscles on upper extremity function and trunk muscles activity in stroke patients.
Design: One-group pretest-posttest design.
Methods: A total of 27 stroke patients were recruited. All stroke patient were given seated abdominal exercise (posterior pelvic tilt exercises) and thoracic exercise (postural-correction exercise). All exercises were conducted for 30 minutes, three times a week for four weeks. The manual function test (MFT) and electromyography (EMG) were measured, and EMG electrodes were attached to thoracic paraspinal muscles and lower rectus abdominal muscles. EMG signal is expressed as %RVC (reference voluntary contraction).
Results: Experimental group showed significant increases in abdominal muscles, paraspinal muscles activity and MFT total score, items of arm motion (forward elevation of the upper extremity, lateral elevation of the upper extremity, touch the occiput with the palm) in MFT after four weeks.
Conclusion: These results suggest that, in stroke patients, seated exercise of thoracic and abdominal muscles contribute to improve trunk muscles activity and upper extremity function in stroke patients.

INTRODUCTION
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
    Subjects
    Study design
    Experimental procedure
    Thoracic exercise method
    Pelvic tilt exercise method using a smartphone
    Outcome Measures
    Manual function test (MFT)
    Trunk muscle activity
    Statistical Analyses
RESULTS
    Changes in MFT and trunk muscle activity
DISCUSSION
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES

• Shinjun Park(Department of Physical Therapy, Gangdong University)
• Sangduk Kim(Department of Nursing, Gangdong University) correspondence