Earticle

Thoracic kyphosis is occasionally used to describe someone with accentuated thoracic curvature, hyperkyphosis is preferred since kyphosis itself refers to the normal sagittal angle of thoracic curvature. The angle of thoracic kyphosis tends to increase with age resulting in hyperkyphosis in some individuals. The persons who suffer from hyperkyphosis are at increased risk for a variety of adverse health outcomes that include musculoskeletal alteration, physical functional limitations, poor quality of life, falls, and even earlier mortality. Hyperkyphosis may develop from vertebral fractures, degenerative disc disease, either muscle weakness, decreased mobility and sensory deficits. The gold-standard orthopaedic technique for assessment of thoracic kyphosis is standing lateral spine radiographs. Other clinical measures are Debrunner kyphometer, inclinometer, flexicurve ruler, arcometer, flexible electrogoniometer and spinal mouse.

Background: This study was conducted to examine the effect of application of trampolin training elderly women by position sense of knee joint and balance. Methods: Ten subjects with elderly women were randomly assigned to trampolin training group (n=5) or control group (n=5). Experimental group received for 15 minutes three times during 4 weeks. Outcomes was made using One-Leg Stance Test , Time Up and Go Test and position sense of knee joint. Assessment was before training and one week, two week, three week after training. Results: Applied to the trampolin training group showed significant differences in all tests and for the interaction between time and group (p<.05). Conclusions: Those results indicate that trampolin training is effective in elderly women to promoting a position sense of knee joint and balance ability.

Background: This study was conducted to investigate subjective musculoskeletal symptom and the related factor of caregiver. Methods: For 300 caregiver, we used the self-administered questionnaires to examine occupational stress and subjective musculoskeletal symptom designed by KOSHA. The collected data were analyzed chi-square test, independent t-test and multiple logistic regression analysis using SPSS 12.0. Results: The multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the caregiver working in the general hospital significantly increased the subjective musculoskeletal symptom in their neck, shoulder, hand/wrist/finger, back, leg/foot. For the caregiver working in hospital showed significantly increased the subjective musculoskeletal symptom in their hand/wrist/finger and leg/foot. Conclusions: With the above results, continuous and systematic prevention program should be established, which include the ergonomics and psychosocial factor for the caregiver's musculoskeletal symptom.

Background: The purpose of this study was conducted to investigate the effects of Push-up plus exercise with kinesio taping on the pain and shoulder motor function in patient with shoulder myofacial pain syndrome. Methods: The patients with myofacial pain syndrome were randomly divided 2 groups. kinesio taping group (n=20) was taken physical therapy program and kinesio taping. Push-up plus exercise with taping group (n=22) was taken physical therapy and kinesio taping with Push-up plus exercise. The kinesio taping applied on upper trapezius and levator scapulae. The Push-up plus exercise performed in standing position and qudripad position during 10 seconds on 15 time, 3 set per each positions. We mearsured the pain degree using PPT, VAS, MPSSI and shoulder motor function using CSA before and after experiment. The significant test of PPT, VAS, MPSSI, CSA according to applying the kinesio taping and Push-up plus exercise between groups used ANCOVA. Results: In the result following analysis, there was significance on PPT (F=7.378, p=.016), VAS (F=13.071, p=.031), CSA (F=5.302, p=.026) between kinesio taping group and Push-up plus exercise with tapping group. Then, Push-up plus exercise with kinesio taping group has significance on the PPT, VAS, CSA in patients with myofacial pain syndrome. Conclusions: It may suggest that kinesio taping combined with Push-up plus exercise will be helpful of the pain and shoulder function improvement in the patients with myofacial pain syndrome.

Background: This study was performed to identify what effect plyometric exercise with application of kinesio taping gives on muscle activity and power of lower limb. Methods: In order to conduct research, total 14 male students at G university located Gwangyang city were randomly assigned; 7 for experimental group (with kinesio taping application) and 7 for control groups(without kinesio taping application) were conducted with box drill, one of the plyometric exercise 5 times a week for 4 weeks. Muscle activities were measured by using electrodiagnosis equipment on quadriceps and gastrocnemius. Collected data was analyzed by using Windows SPSS version 19.0. Results: Muscle activities show statistically significant differences (p<.05) both before and after exercise in experimental and control groups in terms of vastus medialis, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis and lateral gastrocnemius. However, only medial gastrocnemius shows statistically significant differences in experimental group compared before and after exercise. Sargent jump for measuring power shows that only experimental group presents statistically significant differences (p<.05). Two groups show that vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, lateral gastrocnemius and medial gastrocnemius only in muscle activities show statistically significant differences (p<.05) after exercise. Conclusion: The result of this survey indicates that plyometric exercise is effective to improve muscle activity and power of lower limb, especially, the group who exercises with application of kinesio tape is more effective than the other group with no tape application. Therefore, it is considered that plyometric exercise with tape is more effective to improve power and muscle strength.

Background: When applying the upper limb neurodynamic treatment ULNT1 and upper limb neurodynamic treatment ULNT2, The object of this study evaluates the pain and grip strength, nerve conduction velocity and tries to present the treatment that is effective in the carpal tunnel syndrome through the comparison of effect between tests. Methods: The ULNT1 (n=10) and ULNT2 (n=10) was applied to the carpal tunnel syndrome in patient of 20 subject for 10 time 5 set during 4 weeks. Both groups received conventional physical therapy (hot pack with 30 minutes and ICT with 15 minutes and ultra sound with 15 minutes). Results: The ULNT1 showed the difference which the result of this study significantly in the median nerve motor latency, median nerve motor amplitude, median nerve sensory latency, median nerve sensory amplitude, grip strength and pain. ULNT2 showed the difference significantly in median nerve motor latency, median nerve motor amplitude, median nerve sensory latency, median nerve sensory amplitude and pain. Conclusions: If it implements by applying the traditional physiotherapy and ULNT1 and ULNT2 to the carpal tunnel syndrome subjects according to the subject state and function, the remedial value can be more enhanced.

Background: The number of old people with degenerative osteoarthritis one of the chronic disease, were constantly increased. Many researchers have made a great effort to verify the effects of ultrasound and laser therapy in degenerative osteoarthritis treatment. This study applied ultrasound-laser integration therapy on knee joint degenerative osteoarthritis and compared its effect with ultrasound and laser. Methods: We assigned 60 patients age 65 to 85 who had been diagnosed as knee joint degenerative osteoarthritis in G nursing home in Daejeon city. Randomization was done in blocks of three, holding twenty people per each group to receive either ultrasound, laser, ultrasound-laser integration therapy. This study carried out the experiment for 6 weeks to from April 17, 2010. We measured variables using visual analog scale (VAS) and pressure threshold meter (PTM) of the effects by before and after exercise. Results: It has been found that VAS was reduced and PTM was increased in all three groups. Compare with the other groups, Ultrasound-laser integration therapy group had lower VAS and higher PTM than ultrasound therapy and laser therapy group. Conclusions: These results lead us to the conclusion that ultrasound-laser integration have influenced the pain reduction of the knee degenerative osteoarthritis.

Background: The purpose of this study is on finding the effects of the lumbar stabilization exercise applied with the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation technique (PNF) to the balance and the gait of chronic stroke patients. Methods: An experiment was conducted using two sets of behavioral measures with 30 chronic stroke hospitalized patients in the rehabilitation center located in Incheon city. The 15 participants in group A were instructed to apply the traditional exercise therapy. And the other 15 participants were assigned to apply the lumbar stabilization exercise with the PNF technique. It was conducted for 30 minutes per three days for six weeks, which had eighteen times. Using the balance system, it was checked about the static and dynamic balance. Using the Gaitrite, it was checked about the ability of the gait. Results: There was a better effect on both groups especially with the static balance. Those who were applied the lumbar stabilization exercise with the PNF technique had a better result on the dynamic balance and the gait than those applied the traditional exercise therapy. Conclusion: This research shows that the Lumbar Stabilization Exercise applied with the PNF technique is more effective on dynamic balance and the gait performance ability of the chronic stroke patients.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of modality, taping and joint mobilization for patients with acute whiplash-associated disorders. Methods: Joint mobilization technique and kinesio taping was done to the patients who diagnosed with acute whiplash-associated disorders due to traffic accidents. Results: We got the results that it is quite effective to increase cervical range of motion and decrease the pain, according to the results, present study was performed to assess the impact on the neck disability index and fatigability. Conclusion: Joint mobilization technique applied to a person and taping applied to the other person then both people increasing cervical range of motion and reducing pain for the treatment of patients with acute whiplash-associated disorders was effective.

Background: The research examined the effect of a scapular stabilizing exercise on shoulder pain, active range of motion (AROM) and changes in the position of the shoulder blade of patients with frozen shoulder. Methods: General physical therapy and a scapular stabilizing exercise were applied to a 53-year-old female patient with frozen shoulder three times a week for four weeks. Before and after the therapy, measurements were made on the visual analog scale (VAS) and of the AROM, and a lateral scapular slide test was conducted. Results: Following the therapy, VAS fell from 7 to 3. Before therapy, flexion, abduction, internal rotation, and external rotation recorded 133°, 102°, 45°, and 53° respectively; after the therapy they increased to 150°, 123°, 55°, and 65° respectively. The lateral scapular slide test showed sliding distances before therapy of 8.5㎝ at 0°, 9.2㎝ at 45°, and 11.3㎝ at 90°; after therapy, the distances decreased to 6.8 ㎝ at 0°, 8.2 ㎝ at 45°, and 9㎝ at 90°. Conclusion: The scapular stabilizing exercise was effective in alleviating shoulder pain, increasing AROM, and reducing changes in the position of the shoulder blade of frozen shoulder patients.