Earticle

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of lumbar stabilization exercise with neurodynamic techniques on lumbar muscular strength and Oswestry index in lumbar disc herniation patient. Method: The Lumbar stabilization exercise with neurodynamic techniques was performed by 30 pt's in G hospital. The subjects were randomly organized into a study group 15 and control group 15. The exercises and neurodynamic technique were conducted for 40 minutes and, 3 times a week (total 24 times for 8 weeks). General characteristics of the Lumbar muscular strength and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were measured before the training and at 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the intervention. Comparison of the time dependent variable for each group was Calculated by a one way repeated analysis of variance (ANOVA). Comparison between the two groups was Calculated by an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Result: There was a significant difference in the Lumbar muscular strength and ODI (p<.05). Similarly in the inter-group analysis, significant differences (p<.05) occurred. Conclusion: In this study, we demonstrated that lumbar stabilization exercises with neurodynamic techniques are an effective therapy for Lumbar muscular strength and ODI in lumbar disc herniation patient's.

Background: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of unstable modified wall squat exercises accompanied by abdominal drawing-in on the gait variables of healthy adults. Methods: The total number of subjects was 30, and 15 were randomly placed in the training group (TG) and 15 in the control group (CG). To determine the gait variables of TG and CG, step length difference (SLD) stance phase difference (STPD), swing phase difference (SWPD), single support difference (SSD), and step time difference (STD) were measured using OptoGait, a gait analysis system. Results: When the pre-intervention and post-intervention results of TG and CG were compared, statistically significant differences in SLD, STPD, SWPD, SSD and STD of TG were seen. Conclusion: Unstable modified wall squat exercises accompanied by abdominal drawing-in might help reduce the deviation between left and right gait variables during walking.

Purpose: This study was aimed to determine the effects of thoracic spine thrust manipulation on muscle activities of the scapular upward rotators and middle deltoid, active range of motion (AROM), shoulder pain, and rounded shoulder posture in young adults with rounded shoulder. Methods: The subjects were 30 young adults (14 males, 16 females) with rounded shoulder. Thirty subjects were randomly assigned to an experimental (manipulation) and control (placebo) groups of fifteen subjects respectively. The manipulation group received the manipulation (high velocity, low amplitude), which was performed by a physical therapist with the subject in the supine position and with the arms crossed over the chest and hands passed over the shoulders. For the sham group, the same procedure was performed, with the exception that the high-velocity thrust was not applied. Measurements were taken before and after the intervention. Muscle activity of upper and lower trapezius, serratus anterior, middle deltoid was measured using surface electromyography. Visual analog scale (VAS) was used for shoulder pain. Goniometry was used for shoulder abduction active range of motion (AROM). Straight edge was used for supine rounded shoulder posture (RSP) distance. Results: The muscle activity of the upper trapezius, lower trapezius and middle deltoid muscle increased significantly after the intervention (p<.05). However, no significant difference was observed in serratus anterior muscle (p>.05). The VAS was significantly decreased and AROM significantly increased after the intervention (p<.05). The distance of RSP were not significant (p>.05). The control group showed no differences before and after the intervention (p>.05). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that thoracic spine thrust manipulation can be an effective component of treatment plan to improve pain and function.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate effects of neuro-dynamics technique (NDT) to the balance and gait for chronic stroke patients. Methods: This study was composed of the cross-sectional design. Nine patients with chronic stroke applied to NDT. Balance ability function was measured using the Good Balance System device for static balance, timed up and go test (TUG) and functional reach test (FRT) for dynamic balance. The 10 meter walk test (10MWT) and GAITRite device were used for measurement of gait ability for patients. Results: There were significant improvements were observed on dynamic balance ability (p<.05) and gait ability function (p<.05). Conclusions: This research shows that the NDT is immediate effective on dynamic balance and gait ability of the chronic stroke patients. Further studies may be needed to continuously intervention of NDT for more patients.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects on balance and Jump performance in soccer player with functional ankle instability of Movement with mobilization (MWM) and taping. Methods: In 30 male college soccer player with functional ankle instability subjects of this study randomization, fibular reposition taping (FRT) group (n=10), kinesio taping (KT) group (n=10), control group (n=10) that included in the MWM and taping was classified group.Before and after intervention, measured in surface area ellipse and countermovement jump with arm swing. Results: Showed a significant balance and jump performance from the FRT group and KT group compared to the control group. Showed a significant improvement in balance from the FRT group compared to the KT group. Conclusions: MMW and taping showed the increased balance and Jump performance in soccer player with functional ankle instability.

Background: Evidence for effective management of scapular downward rotation syndrome is limited. The present study was performed to compare the scapular muscle activation through 4weeks wall slide exercise and sling slide exercise in subjects with scapular downward rotation syndrome. Methods: Twenty-two subjects with scapular downward rotation syndrome participated in the study. Surface electromyography data were collected from the upper and lower trapezius, serratus anterior and pectoralis major during shoulder flexion of 60°, 90° and 120° in the sagittal plane. The alignment of the scapula was measured using radiographic analysis. Subjects were assessed pre and post a 4 weeks exercise (wall slide, sling slide). The significance of the difference in pre- and post-exercise within each groups was assessed using a paired t–test. The significant difference between wall- and sling-exercise was used a independent t–test. Results: In the wall slide group, the muscle activity of upper trapezius decreased significantly during shoulder flexion at 60°, 90° and 120° after 4 weeks, and the muscle activity of serratus anterior increased significantly at all angles. Also, the muscle activity of pectoralis major decreased significantly at 90° and 120°. Conclusions: Based on such results, it can be said that wall slide exercise is effective than sling slide exercise for the subjects with scapular downward rotation syndrome.

Background: This study was to investigate the effect of cervical HVLA technique and mulligan MWM technique on patients with lateral epicondylitis. Methods: 36 participants were randomly allocated to the two groups; group Ⅰ involved high velocity low amplitude (HVLA) cervical mobilization technique, mulligan mobilizations with movement (MWM) technique (n=18). group Ⅱ mulligan MWM (n=18). Patient attended for three times a week for six weeks. Results: The change of visual analogue scale (VAS) was statistically and significantly decreased in both of the group Ⅰ and the group Ⅱ. The change of patients rated tennis elbow evaluation (PRTEE) was statistically and significantly decreased in both of the group Ⅰ and the group Ⅱ. The change of pressure pain threshold (PPT) was statistically and significantly increased in both of the group Ⅰand the group Ⅱ. Nevertheless, There is no statistical differences between group Ⅰ and groupⅡ. Conclusion: After experiment, pressure pain threshold and visual analogue scale, patients rated tennis elbow evaluation were improved in both group. But Cervical HVLA group does not showed the change better than mulligan MWM group.

Background: To determine the correlation Between forward head posture and plantar pressor in a McKenzie Exercise. Methods: This study had a cross-sectional design. There are included 20 participants with forward head posture. We measured the craniovertebral angle (CVA), cranial rotation angle (CRA) by image obtained digital camera and the plantar pressure, static balance using Gait Analyzer each before and after McKenzie Exercise. Results: There was negative correlation between CVA and CRA (p<.05). There was negative correlation between CVA and fore foot(p<.05). There was positive correlation between CRA and both fore foot (p<.05). There was negative correlation between CVA and static balance(p<.05). There was positive correlation between CRA and static balance (p<.05). Conclusions: There is a correlation between the change a mount of forward head position and plantar pressure in the McKenzie Exercise.

Background: The objective of this research is to provide base line data on Korea Baseball rehabilitation treatment by presenting the distribution of upper extremity surgeries according the surgical sites of Korean professional baseball players. Methods: The targets of this research are 561 players from nine Korean baseball clubs. The number of players that have undergone surgery was investigated. In other words, the frequency of shoulder joint surgeries, elbow joint surgeries, and wrist and hand surgeries per each baseball club was investigated. Results: The number of the players who have had surgeries was 151, but among the players, there were some who have had repeated surgeries for which the total number of surgery experience was 162. The result showed that elbow joint surgeries were the most frequently enacted, followed by shoulder joint surgeries, and wrist and hand surgeries. From the nine clubs, Samsung was the club with the highest frequency of surgeries. Conclusions: This research shows that Korean professional baseball players need special training centers with systematic rehabilitation programs. Another conclusion suggests that urgent need for rehabilitation program of upper arm which particularly focused on elbow joint is existing. On the basis of this research, we expect more studies on the specific rehabilitation programs which is categorized by injury areas.