Earticle

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the unstable wall squat exercise and stable bridge exercise on posture in normal adults. Methods: The subjects of this study were 34 university students who were normal health adults, equally and randomly allocated to a unstable wall squat exercise group (male 7, female 10), an experimental group, and a stable bridge exercise group, a control group. Both did so for 30 minutes three times per week over a six-weeks period. Using Back Mapper, their trunk inclination (TIN), trunk imbalance (TIM), pelvic position (PPO), pelvic torsion (PTO), pelvic rotation (PRO) and the position of their scapula (PSA) were evaluated. Results: When the pre-test and post-test results of experimental group and control group were compared, statistically significant differences in TIN, PTO and PSA of experimental group were seen. Conclusion: Unstable wall squat exercise accompanied by abdominal drawing-in may be applied as a method to correct the posture in normal adults.

Background: Functional massage is a therapeutic massage that incorporates joint motion in non-end-range to reduce pain and improve range of motion (ROM) in patients. This study was aimed at investigating the immediate effect of functional massage on pain, range of motion, balance ability and, gait speed of patients having undergone total hip replacement. Methods: Twenty patients were treated by one participating orthopedic manual physical therapist and randomly assigned to the control group (n=10) or the experimental group (n=10). To treat patients of each group, functional massage and range of motion exercises were used. The experimental group received a functional massage and the control group received range of motion exercise for minutes for one session. The visual analog scale was used for pain assessment. Balance ability was measured using a timed up and go test and a one-leg standing test for patients. The 10-meter walk test was used for the measurement of gait speed assessment of patients. Results: Significant improvements were observed in terms of balance ability (p<.05), gait speed (p<.05), and ROM (p<.05) after functional massage. There was no significant inter-group difference (p>.05). Conclusion: Application of the functional massage showed that statistically significant improvements in ROM, gait speed, and balance ability after a single treatment session. This technique may be a useful treatment in patients having undergone total hip replacement.

Background: This study investigated the effects of a single-leg hopping test and Q-angle when applying Mulligan taping, flossing bands, and a combination of Mulligan taping and flossing bands to chronic ankle instability (CAI) patients. Methods: The subjects of the study were 68 patients with chronic ankle instability, randomly divided into three groups receiving the following treatments: Mulligan taping (n=22), flossing bands (n=23), and a combination of Mulligan taping and flossing bands (n=23). The immediate effects of the treatments were evaluated using the single-leg hopping test and Q-angle measurement for functional movement before and after the intervention. Results: All three groups showed significant improvements in the single-leg hopping test after the intervention, and there was a significant difference between the performance of the simultaneous application group and the Mulligan taping group (p<.01). As a result of the post-hoc test, there was a significant difference in the simultaneous application group than in the mulligan taping group (p<.01). When measuring the Q-angle change during the activity of descending stairs, there was also a significant effect in all three groups, with no significant differences when comparing the changes between groups (p>.05). Conclusions: In conclusion, Mulligan taping and flossing bands were confirmed as effective interventions for the functional movement of the lower extremities in patients with CAI. This study can provide basic data on the effectiveness of interventions in patients with CAI.

Background: Task-oriented training on an unstable support surface is an effective intervention for improving the ankle joint stability and muscle strength in patients with ankle instability. This study examined the effects of balance training on an unstable support surface in patients with ankle sprains with ankle instability. Methods: Forty-four patients with ankle sprains participated in this study. Screening tests were performed and assigned to an experimental group, who performed task-oriented training on an unstable support surface (n=22), and a control group, who performed task-oriented training on a support surface (n=22) using a randomization program. All interventions were applied 3 times per week for 4 weeks. The numeric rating scale (NRS), cumberland ankle instability tool (CAIT), balance ability, muscle activity, and muscle thickness were compared to evaluate the effects of the intervention. Results: Both groups showed significant differences in the NRS, CAIT, balance ability, and muscle activity between before and after the intervention (p<.05). In addition, there were significant differences in balance ability, muscle activity, and muscle thickness between the experimental and control groups (p<.05). Conclusion: Task-oriented training on an unstable support surface is an effective intervention for improving the balance ability, muscle activity, and muscle thickness during contraction.

Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of neck and shoulder self-stretching exercise using audiovisual media on neck pain, postural alignment, and joint position error in women with chronic neck pain. Methods: The subjects included 20 women that gave consent to participate in the study voluntarily. They performed the self-stretching exercises using audiovisual media was carried out 20 minutes 5 times a week during 3 weeks. Neck disability index (NDI) and visual analogue scale (VAS) were used to measure the functional disability and pain, A pressure pain threshold was measured using an algometer, and a cervical range of motion (CROM) measurement tool was used to measure the range of motion and error of proprioceptive position sense of the cervical spine. To assess posture alignment, forward head angle (FHA), forward shoulder angle (FSA) were measured using image J software. Results: The neck pain intensity was statistically significantly within group (p<.05). Neck and shoulder functional disability were a statistically significant difference within group (p<.05). Splenius capitis and upper trapezius pressure pain threshold were statistically significant difference in within group (p<.05). The postural alignment was statistically significantly within group (p<.05). The cervical range of motion in neck extension, right and left lateral flexion were statistically significantly within group (p<.05). The joint position error in neck flexion, extension, right and left lateral flexion decreased statistically significantly within group (p<.05). Conclusion: Self-stretching exercise using audiovisual media increased the mobility of the neck, decreased neck pain and joint position error, and improved posture alignment. As a result, there was a positive effect by applying the self-stretching exercise using audiovisual media to people with neck pain. Based on this, it is thought that it can be used as the basis for research related to home training programs for healthy self-management.

Background: The aim of the study is to examine whether mediating or moderating effects of stress between teachers’ work environment and work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Methods: Two hundred nine participants took part in the study and completed the surveys including work environment, stress and work-related musculoskeletal disorders questionnaires. Hayes’s PROCESS macro was used to test the research models for mediating and moderating effects of stress between work environment with teachers and work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Indirect effect was tested using bootstrapped confidence intervals. Results: The result confirmed that Stress served as a indirect mediator between work environment and work-related musculoskeletal disorders, whereas there was no significant the moderating effect. Conclusion: Stress mediates the relationship between work environment and work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Therefore, it is crucial that teachers’ work environment that increases stress should be enhanced to reduce work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effect of maitland mobilization and mobilization with movement (MWM) applied to the ankle joint on ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM), static and dynamic balance, plantar pressure, and gait ability. Methods: A total of 24 individuals were assigned to either the maitland mobilization group (n=12) or the MWM group (n=12). Dorsiflexion ROM, static and dynamic balance, plantar pressure, 10-meter walk test were measured before and 4 weeks after the intervention. Results: Both groups showed a significant difference in the evaluation after 4 weeks as the dorsiflexion ROM of the ankle increased (p<.05), and the sway length and sway area indicating static balance decreased (p<.05). Furthermore, the movement area showing dynamic balance showed a significant increase (p<.05), the plantar pressure difference between both feet significantly decreased (p<.05). In the 10-meter walk test, there was a significant difference as the time decreased (p<.05). However, no significant difference between the two groups was observed (p>.05). Conclusion: According to the results of this study where, maitland mobilization and MWM were applied to the ankle joint of hemiplegic patients for 4 weeks, we found no difference between the two groups. However, each technique was found to be effective for dorsiflexion ROM, static and dynamic balance, plantar pressure, and gait.

Background: This study investigated the effect of robot-assisted arm training on muscle activity of arm and weight bearing in stroke patients. Methods: The study subjects were selected 20 stroke patients who met the selection criteria. 10 people in the robot-assisted arm training group and 10 people in the task-oriented arm training group were randomly assigned. The experimental group performed robot-assisted arm training, and the control group performed task-oriented arm training for 6 weeks, 5 days a week, 30 minutes a day. The measurement tools included surface electromyography and smart insole system. Data were analyzed using independent sample t-test and the paired sample t-test. Results: Comparing the muscle activity of arm within the group, the experimental group and the control group showed significant differences in muscle activity in the biceps brachii, triceps brachii, anterior deltoid, upper trapezius, middle trapezius, and lower trapezius. Comparing the muscle activity of arms between the groups, the experimental group showed significant difference in all muscle activity of arm compared to the control group. Comparing the weight bearing within the groups, the experimental group showed significant difference in the affected side and non-affected side weight bearings and there were significant differences in anterior and posterior weight bearing. The control group showed significant difference only in the non-affected side weight bearing. Comparing the weight bearings between groups, the experimental group showed significant difference in the affected side and non-affected side weight bearings compared to the control group. Conclusion: This study confirmed that robot-assisted arm training applied to stroke patients for 6 weeks significantly improved muscle activity of arm and weight bearing. Based on these results, it is considered that robot-assisted arm training can be a useful treatment in clinical practice to improve the kinematic variables in chronic stroke patients.