Earticle

Background: The purpose of this study is investigate the effects of cervical range of motion (ROM) and forward head posture (FHP) on cervical manual traction in normal adults. Methods: The subjects were randomly assigned to either the experimental group(Female 9, Male 6) who conducted the manual cervical traction or the control group(Female 9, Male 6) who did not conduct the any intervention. The subject in the EG have conducted the 1 set of 10 minutes of manual cervical traction per day, 2 times a week for 6 weeks. The cervical ROM was measured by the digital inclinometer and The factors of FHP was measured by cranial vertebral angle (CVA) and cranial rotation angle (CRA). Results: Comparing the cervical ROM and FHP between the experimental and control groups before and after the experiment, it could be seen that flexion, extension, right lateral flexion, left lateral flexion, CVA and CRA of the experimental group has been increased. Thus, cervical manual traction was resulted in the increased cervical ROM and decrease FHP. Conclusion: In this study, it was confirmed that cervical manual traction affects increase cervical ROM and decrease FHP that play a important role in neck stability and mobility.

Background: This study was planned to assess and compare the effectiveness of cervical region stabilization exercise and strengthening exercise on pain and range of motion in patient with chronic neck pain. Methods: Fifty-one patient with chronic neck pain were randomly allocated into strengthening and stabilization exercise (SSE) group (n=27) and Strengthening exercise (SE) group (n=24). The program was carried for 12 sessions, 3 days/week in 4weeks. Pain intensity with visual analog scale (VAS), cervical range of motion, deep cervical flexor strengthening were evaluated before and after the intervention. Results: After the program, pain intensity decreased in group SE and SSE were found (p<.05). Range of motion and deep cervical muscle strength increased in group SE and SSE were found(p<.05). The intergroup comparison showed that significant difference in range of motion and deep cervical muscle strength (p<.05). Conclusions: The study suggest that both SSE program and SE program might be a useful treatment for patients with chronic neck pain. However SSE program might be superior in improving cervical range of motion and deep cervical flexor strength compare to SE program.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Graston technique for lower extremity range of motion (ROM), muscle strength, walking ability in hemiplegia patients. Methods: Twelve subjects participated in this study. The ROM of the knee extension was measured by 90-90 straight leg raise test, the hamstring and quadriceps muscle strength was collected by utilizing a handheld dynamometer. In addition walking speed was evaluated by 10 meter walking test. The group was applied intervention using a Graston instrument for one minute. After intervention, immediate effect was assessed. The significant level was set at α =.05. Results: The ROM of the knee extension, quadriceps muscle strength and walking speed were significantly increased. Hamstring muscle strength was significantly reduced. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that Graston instrument technique has the effect of instantaneously flexibility the muscles, and the muscle applied with the technique has weakened, while the muscle of the opposite side has increased the muscle strength. In addition, the muscle flexibility and the walking speed have increased.

Background: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of leg lift difference on the serratus anterior muscle and the upper trapezius muscle when a subject with winged scapula performs a scapula protraction exercise in a four.leg crawling posture. Method: Twenty normal adults and 20 subjects with winged scapula participated in the experiment. Surface EMG recordings were collected from serratus anterior muscle and back trapezius muscle during scapula protraction exercises. Scapular winging is measured with the lifting distance of scapula retraction to the back using an electronic digital caliper. In two groups of four.leg crawling posture, the two legs support, the dominant leg lifting, and the non.dominant leg lifting, including the scapula protraction, were performed. To examine the difference between groups in the variance analysis, the Bonferroni correction was used (significance level α=.017). Statistical significance level α was .05. Results: There was a significant difference in serratus anterior muscle and upper trapezius muscle during push.up plus exercise in leg lifting in four.leg crawling posture, but there were no significant differences in muscle activity between serratus anterior muscle and upper trapezius muscle, and there was no significant difference according to the presence or absence of scapular winging. Conclusion: For the shoulder stability of the ipsilateral side with the serratus anterior muscle, the leg.lifting posture is effective in the four.leg crawling, and also when a subject with winged scapula chooses an exercise, lifting the ipsilateral side of leg with scapula protraction exercises at the same time may have a positive effect on scapula dysfunction.

Background: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of obstacles gait on balance and fall-efficacy in patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty. Methods: The 24 subjects of this study were recruited from individuals diagnoses with degenerative arthritis who had undergone total knee arthroplasty. The 24 patients were randomly divided into a control groups and experimental groups, obstacles gait exercise was conducted for 4 weeks three exercises. Balance and falls-efficacy were measured to compare the effects of the exercises. Results: The results of the balance ability and falls-efficacy showed that the experimental group showed significantly enhanced results than the control group(p<.05). Conclusions: Based on these results, Obstacles gait exercise effectively improves the recovery of patients with total knee arthroplasty.

Background: Scapular dyskinesis is one of the risk factors for upper extremity injury in patients with chronic stroke. Taping can used as an adjunctive treatment for this. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of rigid tape in conjunction with elastic tape and elastic tape only on shoulder pain, proprioceptor, and function of chronic stroke patients with scapular dyskinesis. Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to elastic tape (ET) group (n=10) and both tape (BT) group (n=10). Both ET and BT groups performed therapeutic exercise on the upper extremity with taping applied for 4 weeks. Therapeutic exercise was performed 30min/day, 5 times/week. Clinical outcome measures used Numerical pain rating scale with a faces pain scale for pain, angle at shoulder join position sense (JPS) for proprioceptor, and Fugl-meyer assessment upper extremity for function. Results: Clinical outcomes were measured at initial baseline, after 4weeks. There were statistically significant differences in pain, JPS, and function after 4 weeks in both groups (p<.05). There was no significant difference in pain and JPS between the groups, and There was a statistically significant difference in function in the BT group compared to the ET group (p<.05). Conclusions: This results suggest that accurate clinical assessment and appropriate taping can improve proprioceptor and function of the upper extremity in patients with chronic stroke.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effects of manual lymph drainage (MLD) on women with breast cancer and lymph edema. Methods: This study was carried out with a total of 23 women with breast cancer and lymph edema. By drawing lots, women were assigned to either the manual drainage group (MLD, n=12), a control group (n=11). Outcomes such as the arm size, visual analogue scale, shoulder pain and disability index, and functional assessment cancer therapy-breast (FACT-B) were measured to 0 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks intervention for both groups. Results: A significant difference was found in the arm size, pain, functional disability level, and quality of life between the two groups and time(p<.01). Significant difference in functional disability level between 2 and 8 weeks at 4 weeks and 8 weeks for pain(p<.01), and the quality for life was significantly different at all time points (p<.01). Conclusions: Applying MLD treatment to women with breast cancer proved to have a positive effect.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a pelvic compression belt on gait abilities and balance in subacute stroke patients. Methods: Twenty two patients with subacute were recruited and randomly assigned into two group: Two group offered conventional physical therapy and occupational therapy for five day. The group was composed of twelve patients. Participants in the experimental group were given the pelvic compression belt and conventional physical therapy, conventional occupational therapy, although conventional physical therapy and occupational therapy provided in the subjects in the control group. To assess the gait ability, the GAITRITE system was used and the Balance system SD was used to test balance. All measurements were performed before and after intervention. Results: The experimental group shows a significant improvement the cadence, velocity, step length and stride length in gait (p<.05) and show significant increase in the dynamic standing balance (p<.05). However, control group shows a significant improvement the cadence, velocity, step length and stride length in gait (p<.05), but shows no significant differences in dynamic standing balance. Furthermore, there were significant differences gait velocity, dynamic standing balance between two groups (p<.05). Conclusions: The results demonstrated that the elastic pelvic belt application is effective to improve gait velocity, dynamic balance in the subacute stroke patients. Thus, the elastic pelvic belt is seemed to be one of the potential methods to facilitate the active rehabilitation program for hemiplegia patients.

Background: An 8-year-old girl had severe neck pain and stiffness after trauma. CT scan showed atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation (AARS). She had conservative treatment because she did not have neurological symptoms and spinal basilar artery dysfunction. Conservative therapy was halter traction twice for 4 weeks. However, pain and stiffness persisted. She had been recommended to have surgery from her physician, but she received manual therapy for non-surgical procedures. Methods: The joint mobilization, muscle energy technique, motor control exercise, and deep neck flexor (DNF) endurance exercise were applied as manual therapy and 10 session for 2weeks. Results: Clinical outcomes were measured at initial baseline, after 2 weeks, and after 6weeks. Active range of motion was completely restored after 6weeks and numeric pain rating scale was completely reduced after 2 weeks. The strength of neck flexor muscle recovered to normal after 2 weeks, and the DNF endurance was improved to 25 seconds after 2 weeks and to 42 seconds after 6weeks. Motor control capacity recovered to 30 ㎜Hg after 2 weeks. Conclusions: This case report describes the immediate and short-term clinical outcomes for a patient presenting with symptoms of neck pain following AARS. Clinical rationale and patient preference aided the decision to incorporate manual therapy as a treatment for this patient. Manual therapy has shown a successful recovery in AARS patients, more research is needed to validate the inference of this case report.

Background: The Purpose of this study was investigated the effects of the Self Sling Suspension on the numbness, radiated pain, visual analogue scale (VAS), Cobb's angle, Jochumsen's depth, neck disabliity index (NDI). Methods: This study was carried out with a 4 forward head posture (FHP) & 4 herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP) survivors. Outcomes such as the Numbness, Radiated Pain, VAS, Cobb's angle, Jochumsen's depth and NDI were measured pre- and postintervention for both groups. Results: 2 HNP decrease was found numbness & radiated pain. After the intervention, was decreased VAS, NDI and was increased Cobb's angle, Jochumsen's depth. Conclusions: Applying Self Sling Suspension treatment to FHP & HNP patients proved to have a positive effect.