Ph.D. student Hiraku Nagahori (Interdisciplinary Health Sciences), under the mentorship of Kai Yu Ho, Ph.D., (Physical Therapy) and in collaboration with James Kenyon (Teaching and Learning), is advancing innovative rehabilitation strategies for individuals with chronic low back pain. In their recent study, the team investigated how a simple, low cost intervention, balloon blowing exercise, can enhance abdominal muscle activation. Using high resolution ultrasound imaging, they compared abdominal muscle thickness and activation patterns between an expert and a novice with low back pain performing the exercise.

Their findings demonstrate that balloon blowing can meaningfully increase activation of key core muscles, highlighting its potential as an accessible and effective strategy to improve core stability in individuals with chronic low back pain. This work reflects UNLV’s commitment to clinically impactful research and strong mentorship, integrating advanced imaging techniques with practical rehabilitation solutions.