Earticle

Background: Injury or pain in the neck can affect proprioception. People who have a reduced proprioception are easily exposed to induce injury or pain. The aim of this study was to examine the reduced proprioception among people who had lateral flexion postural habit of neck in a sitting position. Methods: Twenty subjects with lateral flexion postural habit were compared with a matched control group. Relocation errors in 30 degree rotation to the right were measured three times with and without visual information randomly. Results: Relocation errors were higher in the lateral flexion postural group than the control group with (p<.01) and without (p<.005) the visual information. Visual information didn't affect the cervical relocation errors in the abnormal and control groups. Repetition is increased the relocation errors with (p<.01) and without (p<.001) visual information. Conclusions: The results support the hypothesis that subjects with lateral flexion postural habit have incorrect perception of their head position. It is necessary to realize the possibility of injury or pain found among people with lateral flexion postural habit.

Background: To evaluate the influences of Eye movement program applied to elderly people on static balance. Methods: The subjects consisted of fourteen elderly people. The subjects were divided into two group. The control group (n=7) received no exercise and/or stimulation. The Eye movement program training (E/P) group (n=7) performed balance training using word card and batom. E/P group were accomplished during 4weeks (5 day/week, 60 min/day). All tests were completed before and after experiment. The static balance ability was measured by normal standing when eye open and close on good balance system, respectively. For each case, the experimental data were obtained in 3 item; mean X speed, mean Y speed and velocity moment. Results: The result of this study were as follows: 1. In E/P group, the statistically significants were shown on only mean Y speed in the case of normal standing when eye open (p<.05), but the statistically significants were not shown on mean X, Y speed and velocity moment in the case of normal standing when eye close (p>.05). 2. In control group, the statistically significants were not shown on all posture (p>.05). 3. There was a statistically significant difference on the mean Y speed and velocity moment in the case of normal standing when eye open between control group and E/P group (p<.05). Conclusions: The above results revealed that balance training using Eye movement program were partly effective for improving the static balance ability.

Background: The elderly are likely to fall due to physical and mental atrophies, and experiencing falls may result in fear of falls and lack of self-confidence, which also leads to hesitation to physical activities and changes in walk and balance, the major variables in independent daily life. Methods: In three senior citizen centers located in D city, 22 elderly women aged 65 or older were chosen, and they filled in the questionnaire which included their agreement to voluntarily participate in the survey and medical histories. As to whether they had falls experience, the medical history items in the questionnaire asked them if they had falling down or falls once a year, twice for the three years. The objects were divided to NFE (non-falls experience) and FE (falls experience). Results: 1. As to walking abilities, significant difference was found between NFE and FE regarding walk width, stepping with two feet, and stride length while there was no significant different in terms of cadence. 2. As to balancing abilities, was significant difference between NFE and FE in terms of the physical body center area. As to the sit-to-stand, tandom gait test, no significant difference was found, and neither in the timed up and go test. Conclusions: The elderly with falls experience has inferior walking and balancing abilities to those without falls experience, and thus they are more exposed to the risks of falls.

Background: This study was to examine the effect of applying leg exercise using visual informations on improving stroke patient's muscle power, balance and gait. Methods: The subjects of this study were hemiplegic patients by stroke, 30 patients were picked up, who were agreed with this research and were having hospital care for 8 weeks at RS, RB and HH medical centers. The study group was 15 and comparison group was 15, totally 30 patients were confirmed. leg exercise using visual informations was applied to study group, leg exercise without visual informations was applied to comparison group. These were proceeded for 8 weeks (5 days a week, 20 minutes a day), change of muscle power, balance and gait was checked to investigate the effect. Electromyography apparatus was used for checking muscle power, K-BBS (Korean version of Berg Balance Scale) and COP (center of pressure) were used for balance, then Functional Gait Assessment (FGA), timed up and go test (TUG) were used for checking the capacity of gait. Results: Vastus lateralis (p=.002), biceps femoris (p=.000), K-BBS (p=.000), COP (p=.007), FGA (p=.002), TUG (p=.009) are significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: This study showed that visual informations impact change of muscle activity, balance and locomotor ability in stroke patients.

Background: The purpose of this study was to verify the most effective spinal stabilization exercise program by comparing the activities of muscles contributing to spinal stabilization during 2 types of exercises using 3-D NEWTON and a Gym-ball. Methods: We divided sixteen healthy students to two groups in D city were recruited and each subjects performed two type of exercise. Exercise 1 was performed 3-D NEWTON spinal stabilization training during 4 weeks (n=8). Exercise 2 was performed special training program that use a Gym-ball during 4 weeks (n=8). Results: The group of 3-D NEWTON applying lumbar stabilization kinetic program was increased 18.8s after training. Conclusions: It was revealed the statically significant difference between 3-D NEWTON and Gym-ball lumbar stabilization exercise groups. Therefore it has been turned out that 3-D NEWTON and Gym-ball lumbar stabilization exercise has an effect on the abdominis and trunk muscle strengthening and balance.

Background: Patellofemoral pain syndrome is very common knee problem and altered hip rotation may play a role in patellofemoral pain. The purpose of this case study is to describe the manual therapy of and the therapeutic exercise for a patient with asymmetrical hip rotation and patellofemoral pain. Method: The patient was a 29 years old woman with an 3 month history of anterior right knee pain, without known trauma or injury. Prior to intervention, her score on the VAS was Max 6 to Min 4. Left hip internal rotation was less than right hip internal rotation, and manual muscle testing showed weakness of the left hip internal rotator and abductor muscles. The intervention consisted of manual therapy and therapeutic exercise for three times a weeks, two weeks for increasing right hip medial rotation, improving left hip muscle strength, and eliminating anterior right knee pain. Result: After intervention for 2weeks, passive left and right hip medial rotations were symmetrical, and her right hip internal rotator and abductor muscle grades were Good plus. Her VAS score was Max 2 to Min 0. Conclusion: Manual therapy and therapeutic exercise is effective in improving for patient had patellofemoral pain with pattern of asymmetrical hip rotation. 6)

Background: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of the abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) for contraction training of transversus abdominis (TrA) to the patient with chronic low back pain (CLBP). Methods: A 37-year female patient with CLBP participated in study. This study was fix to method of ADIM that maintain to draw in lower abdomen in sitting position on chair and fix 1 time protocol that perform rest for 1-min and ADIM for 1-min during 10-min. Hereunder the subject performed 2 times protocol during 30-min. Measurement method were visual analogue scale (VAS), Korean version of Oswestry disability index (KODI) and using ultrasound imaging. Results: VAS was decreased 5㎝ to 1㎝ after intervention 3 weeks, KODI was decreased 22% to 9% after intervention 3 weeks and changes in thickness of the TrA were increased 32% to 68% during ADIM. Conclusions: These findings suggest that performed the ADIM took effect for decreased pain and functional disability level with increased changes in thickness of the TrA. Therefore, patients with CLBP should be use for training of deep abdominal muscles apply to the ADIM.

Background: To investigate the effect of various intervention application on idiopathic scoliosis patient. Methods: One 20-years-old female subject underwent various intervention 3 times per week for 7 weeks. Modality physical therapy, muscle energy technique, combined pelvic tilt exercise and self exercise was performed for 50minutes. Degree of pain, axial trunk rotation, Cobb's angle, kyphotic angle, lumbar lordotic angle, and sacral angle were measured. Results: The subject decreased in degree of pan, axial trunk rotation, Cobb's angle, thoracic kyphotic angle, lumbar lordotic angle and sacral angle. Conclusions: The various interventions for scoliosis patients are effective in the pain and the improvement of angle on radiograph. However, any method is difficult to determine effective interventions.