Abstract
[Purpose] This study was conducted to investigate pulmonary function before and after the performance of a balloon-blowing exercise in a 90/90 bridge position using a ball among female university students in their twenties. [Participants and Methods] Participants were randomly assigned to the control group, which performed the bridge position using hip and knee flexion on a ball with a diaphragm respiratory exercise, or the experimental group, which performed a 90/90 bridge using a ball with a balloon exercise. The exercise programs were conducted 30 minutes a day, five times a week for four weeks. Pulmonary function was measured with a digital equipment before and after the exercise program period. [Results] The findings suggest that the training group resulted in significant changes in forced vital capacity, vital capacity, peak expiratory flow, and forced expiratory volume at one second. There was no significant increase in maximal voluntary capacity or vital capacity, but the pre- and post-test values improved. To compare the two groups, an independent t-test was conducted to determine vital capacity, and the results showed statistically significant differences between the experimental and control groups. [Conclusion] This study showed that a balloon-blowing exercise in a 90/90 bridge position using a ball can be used to improve pulmonary function.