Earticle

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of a sling suspension exercise with abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) on the thickness of abdominal muscles. Method: Twenty healthy young women volunteered for this study, and they were randomly assigned to either the control group or experimental group. Subjects of both groups performed the ADIM in standard method. And subjects of the experimental group underwent a structured sling exercises additionally, which consists of bridging exercise on supine, elbow support and trunk control exercise on prone, and trunk flexion exercises. The exercises were performed thirty minutes per day, 3 times a week for a 4-week period. Thickness of abdominal muscles (transverse abdominis; TrA, internal obliques; IO and external obliques; EO) was measured by using real-time ultrasonography. Results: After the intervention, subjects of the experimental group appeared to be significantly increased for the thickness of the TrA (p<.05). However, significant difference weren’t found for the IO and EO (p>.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that sling suspension exercise with the ADIM may be favorably used to augment trunk stabilizing effort by increasing TrA thickness. Further studies need in this field.

Background: To evaluate the effect of Kinesio taping applied on the ankle instability, joint range of motion and balance. Methods: The participants included in this study were male and female, 20~30 ages, who experiencing an ankle sprain or had chronic pain, did not exercise during the intervention, and did not experience severe exercise at least 3 weeks before. A total of twenty-four participants were divided into two groups: Kinesio taping applied group (n=12) and control group (n=12). The experiment was conducted for a three days. Measurements were taken for ankle joint range of motion using goniometer, and measurements were taken for balance using good balance system. Pre– test measurements were conducted on before Kinesio taping apply, and 24 hours after, 48 hours after, 72 hours after measurements were conducted. Statistical analysis was done using a independent samples t-test and repeated measure ANOVA. Results: There were significant differences to the duration of intervention in ankle joint range of motion and balance within the both group. However, there was a significant differences Kinesio taping group when comparing the groups. Conclusions: According to the results of this study, applying Kinesio taping to ankle instability is more effective on ankle joint range of motion and to recover balance.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate into the effect of soft tissue mobilization using prop on the pain, grip strength and functional activity in patients with lateral epicondylitis. Methods: Fifteen patients with lateral epicondylitis were recruited. Before treatment, they were evaluated using visual analogue scale (VAS), grip strength, test, patient-rated tennis elbow evaluation (PRTEE), proprioception, and were reevaluated after six weeks of treatment. Results: As a result of comparing all participants before and after the experiment, the grip strength increased significantly (p<.05). And the VAS, PRTEE, and proprioception decreased significantly (p<.05). Conclusion: According to the results above, soft tissue mobilization using prop can help improve pain, grip strength, PRTEE and proprioception. Also, soft tissue mobilization using Blackroll’s Twister technique was able to select interventions depending on the patient's condition and the desired goal.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of transverse abdominis ratio and balance ability during bridge exercises on different support surface. Methods: The subjects were 20 students at G University. Ultrasound equipment was used to measure the transverse abdominis ratio and the computerized balance measurement equipment was used to measure the balance ability before and after bridge exercises on different support surface. Results: Transverse abdominis ratio change between the groups was a significant difference only in the unstable support surface training group (p<.05). Normal standing eye close balance ability change between the groups was significantly different only in the unstable support surface training group (p<.05). The changes in the transverse abdominis ratio after 7 days of exercise and 14 days after exercise were significantly different between the groups (p<.05). Normal standing eye close balance ability showed a significant difference at 7 days after exercise and 14 days after exercise (p<.05). Conclusions: It is more effective to balance ability and ratio of the transverse abdominis when bridge exercises on an unstable support surface than to perform bridge exercises on a stable support surface. Therefore, we propose an effective program for patients with instability of the lumbar in clinical practice. bridge exercises on different support surface.

Background: The purpose of this study was investigate the effects of scapular posture correction taping in painful shoulders with breast cancer women. Method: This study was carried out with a total 35 breast cancer survivors. The subjects were randomized into women a breast cancer taping group (BT, n=15), a breast cancer posture group (BP, n=16). Outcomes such as the Quadruple Visual Analogue Scale, the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, the muscle strength, and the Quality of Life Questionnaire-cancer were measured before the training and at 4 weeks and 12 weeks after intervention. Result: There were significant variations shoulder pain, dysfunction and Range of Motion among the groups and between points in time (p<.05). However, there was no significant difference upper extremity posture between BT and BP. There were significant variations all ROM muscle strength between the groups and between points in time (p<.05). Conclusion: Applying taping treatment to breast cancer patients proved to decrease in pain and significant in dysfunction. There were significant increase in range of motion.

Background: This study was carried out to compare the effects of shoulder stabilization exercise and thoracic extension exercise including deep neck flexor exercise on posture and pain targeting physical therapists and occupational therapists with forward head posture. Methods: A total of 30 physical therapists and occupational therapists (15 males, 15 females), who are working in the nursing hospital at Daejeon, were randomly divided into a shoulder stabilization group (n=10), a thoracic extension exercise (n=10), and a control group (n=10), and 3 times were carried out for 8 weeks. Results: In the results of all measurements, 2 groups except for the control group showed a significant change in the recovery of forward head posture, and the should stabilization exercise group showed a relatively superior effect compared to the thoracic extension exercise group. Conclusions: These results of a study will be a basic data for the development of the forward head posture exercise therapy program.

Background: The purpose of this study was to effect of action observation with deep neck flexors strengthening exercise on pain and function in patients with chronic neck pain. Methods: Thirty patients with chronic neck pain were randomly action observation with deep neck flexors strengthening exercise group (AOT group; n=15) and deep neck flexors strengthening exercise group (FSE group; n=15). The intervention was applied for 50 minutes a day, 5 times a week for a total of 4 weeks. The intervention effect were evaluated before and after the intervention. visual analogue scale (VAS), pressure pain threshold (PPT), and Korea neck disability index (KNDI). Results: As a result of comparing within group, AOT group showed pre and post test, VAS (p<.01), PPT (p<.01), KNDI (p<.01) and FSE group VAS (p<.01), PPT (p<.05), KNDI (p<.01) significantly . In the comparison between the two groups, AOT group than FSE group in VAS, PPT and KNDI significantly (p<.05). Conclusion: Action observation with deep neck flexors strengthening exercise were founded to effective in reducing pain and improving function in patients with chronic neck pain. It is suggested as basic data of clinical intervention.

Background: Positional release muscle energy technique (PRMET) is a method joined positional release technique and muscle energy technique. Methods: Subjects those who have low back pain from the acute to chronic phase, were applied PRMET method on psoas major muscle and measured the changes in pain and disfunction. Results: PRMET method is effective for reducing pain and disfunction on psoas major muscle. Conclusions: The advantages of PRMET method are minimized patient inconvenience, shortening of treatment time and effective for improvement. In the future research, methods need to be improved so that this can be applied to other muscles.

Background: The purpose of this case study was to investigate into the effect of complex exercise program on the postural change, gait and balance ability in elementary school students with forward head posture. Methods: Four patients with forward head posture were recruited. They were evaluated pre-treatment, and after 6weeks, using neck disability index (NDI), numeric pain rating scale (NPRS), balance ability, foot pressure (fore foot/rear foot peak pressure ratio, F/R ratio), gait ability (cadence, toe out angle, stance phase). Results: First, the angle of forward head posture (craniovertebral angle; CVA and cranialrotation angle; CRA) was decreased in all subjects. The NPRS and NDI were decreased in all subjects. Also, The cadence, toe out angle and F/R ratio were increased in all subjects. The stance phase of gait cycle was positively change in all subjects. Lastly, the static balance ability improved in all subjects. Conclusion: According to the results above, the complex exercise program for students with forward head posture can help improve the postural change, gait and balance ability. Also, the complex exercise program was able to select interventions depending on the patient's condition and the desired goal.

Background: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of morphological Change of cervical spine to apply to neck retraction and extension regarding the straight deformity of cervical spine. Methods: A 40-year male subject with straight deformity of cervical spine participated in this study. The study subject underwent a cervical lateral radiography on the static position, neck retraction and neck extension on standing. Measurement method were using computer-based digital radiogram on a picture achieving computer system for the centroid method, Cobb's angle and Jackson's angle. Results: Neck retraction was increased kyphosis on the C2-4 with lordosis on the C5-7. Neck extension was increased lordosis on the C2-7. Conclusions: These findings suggest that neck retraction was increased kyphosis and neck extension was increased lordosis based on the straight deformity of cervical spine. Therefore, we should be consider that neck extension exercise when increased lordosis for the patients of straight deformity of cervical spine.