Earticle

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of massage, stretching exercise, and scapular stabilization exercise in patients with upper trapezius myofascial pain syndrome (MPS). Methods: Twenty‐three female patients with upper trapezius MPS were randomly allocated to three groups: massage, stretching exercise, and scapular stability exercise groups. Therapeutic intervention for all groups included general therapy such as hot pack, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and ultrasound. Patients in the massage group (n=8), stretching group (n=7), and stabilization exercise group (n=8) received their respective therapy program after general therapy for 15 minutes. Therapeutic intervention for each group was performed three times per week for six weeks. All groups were tested four times: prior to the test, at three weeks, at six weeks, and at nine weeks. Results: Pain levels decreased significantly in the stretching and stabilization exercise groups over time (p<.05). The rate of change in pain level was significantly different among all groups (p<.01), and the stability exercise group experienced the lowest pain level. Pressure‐pain level increased significantly in the stabilization exercise group over time (p<.05). The rate of change in pressure‐pain level was significantly different among all groups (p<.01), and the stability exercise group had the highest pressure‐pain level. The level of upper‐extremity stability increased significantly in the stability exercise group over time (p<.05). The rate of change in the upper‐extremity stabilization level was significantly different among all groups (p<.01), and the stability exercise group had the highest upper‐extremity stability level. Conclusions: Scapular stabilization exercises proved to be the most effective therapy for MPS patients.

Background: The purpose of our experimental study, we want to know a correlation study using the sonogram between the muscle strength and the diameter of Biceps brachii muscle by gender. So we set to hypothesis that Biceps brachii contracted maximally would be a diameter of the muscles increased according to the muscle strength will be increased. Methods: In this study, we measured the muscle strength of biceps brachii on contracting its maximum using the Biodex and the diameter of the muscles using Myo‐Lab (25Gold). We experimented 30 subjects of twenty‐aged men and women. The subjects is comprised of a persons who has not external injuries and pain of elbow joint, no mobility limitation of ROM, no experiences of surgery in past history. Result: We found that the men have a highly correlation between maximum strength and the diameter of the muscles more than women (p<.05). Conclusion: The results of our experimental study between the muscle diameter and the muscle strength to biceps brachii on relaxation and contraction is a statistically significant relation (r=.394), especially in rather men then women (p<.05). So this results would be based data for further clinical muscle efficiency application in physical therapy field.

Background: The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the pelvic compression belt (PCB) on the thickness of the transversus abdominis (TrA) during active straight leg raising (ASLR). Methods: Thirty healthy subjects (10 men and 20 women) volunteered to participate in this study. The thickness of TrA was measured using a real‐time ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system. Subjects were instructed to rest in a resting (hook‐lying) position and to perform ASLR with and without the PCB. The PCB was positioned below the anterior superior iliac spine with stabilizing pressure from elastic bands. Results: In the resting position and during ASLR, the thickness of the TrA significantly differed between subjects with and without PCB (p<.05). In addition, there was a significant interaction between the measurement position and the presence or absence of PCB (p<.05). Conclusions: These findings suggest that the PCB may affect deep core muscles such as TrA during various activities. Further studies are required to generalize the results of the present study.

Background: The purpose of this study is to make a grip strength checker to make people measure their grip strength easily, based on standardized grip strength checker chart. Method: In this study, we measured right hand grip strength of 80 women residents of Deajeon (women in their 30s to 60s, 20 in each) 2 times per day for 5days in same conditions from 20th of November 2010 to 24th of November. it was measured by Jamar Hydraculic Hand Dynamometer made lately to compare with the current measuring equipment. No matter how big their hands are, their hands were fixed at second level. Measured as they sit on a chair and let their shoulders gathered and not be rotated, let their arms be 90 degree, wrist and forearm be at the middle for the first time, and took another after they took a rest, and measured the average of the two. Result: There was not a meaningful difference between the current measuring equipment and the equipment made lately (p>.05). Conclusion: It is thought that the equipment made lately can be believed. In addition, we want people to realize their own grip strength easily by this study.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a Kinesio taping on muscle power and fatigue index in quadriceps femoris (vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, rectus femoris.). Methods: 15 male (heathy collegiate students) was enrolled from Kyungwoon university, Gumi. Kinesio tape was applied on quadriceps femoris muscle of subjects. Muscle power and fatigue index was measured by Wingate ergometer (warm‐up was 30sec in 60W, maximum power test was 30sec in 100W, recovery was 30sec in 60W) in pre‐ and post applied taping. Results: As a results, there showed statistically significant improvement in mean power, peak power, mean power/kg, peak power/kg, fatigue index (p<.05). Conclusions: The study of Wingate test by applying Kinesio taping was significantly effected in mean power, peak power, mean power/kg, peak power/kg.

Background: This study was to suggest the process of making strategy for effective intervention and evaluation on functional problems of the frozen shoulder patient applied International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health (ICF) Tools. Methods: The patient was 48years old woman with right shoulder adhesive capsulitis and calcific tendinitis. In first phase, therapists could list the information relating to functional problems used by the ICF Core set and then could confirm the interaction among the problems using the ICF assessment sheet. In second phase, therapist is needed to make the hypothesis and hypothesis testing and then set a primary functional goals and therapeutic goals in detail after prioritizing the problems to be managed based on the problem list. Lastly, after setting the confirmed problems as the purpose of intervention through the hypothesis testing, therapist could do some intervention after making a plan to solve these problems. Results: This report illustrates how to apply the process based on ICF concept into physical therapy practice. The decided hypothesis and goal that are to solve the problems the client faced were remarkably meaningful. Conclusions: Clinical decision making for the most effective intervention requires that therapists use the clinical reasoning process based on ICF concept.

Background: To determine effects of mobilization with movements (MWM) application on stroke patient with hypomobility on sacroiliac joint. Methods: The subject was 47years old male who have left hemiplegia because of right intra‐cerebral hemorrhage. The subject was have hypomobility on sacroiliac joint. MWM using during 4weeks and using Berg balance scale (BBS), Timed up and go (TUG), 10meter walking (10MW) test for evaluation. Results: The results of this study were summarized below; BBS score for evaluating balance ability was increased, and TUG time, 10MW test time was decrease. Conclusion: We consider that MWM application on stroke patient with hypomobility on sacroiliac joint is not only regain mobility on sacroiliac joint but also increase in balance ability and walking speed.7)