Earticle

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of stabilization exercise performed after abdominal drawing exercise using pressure biofeedback for 8 weeks on pain level, performance of transverse abdominis, back pain disability index, and quality of life in women in their 30s less than one year after giving birth. Methods: A total of 20 women who voluntarily participated less than one year after giving birth were randomly divided into a control group and an experimental group. The control group was subjected to abdominal drawing exercise before lumbar stabilization exercise, and the experimental group was subjected to abdominal drawing exercise using pressure biofeedback before lumbar stabilization exercise thrice a week for eight weeks. The quadruple visual analog scale (QVAS), the performance of transverse abdominis, the Korean version of the Oswestry disability index (KDOI), the inventory of functional status after childbirth (IFSAC), and the Short Form-12 item (SF-12) were evaluated before and after the intervention. Results: Except for the Physical Components Summary Scale of SF-12, after the intervention, the experimental group showed significant improvement in QVAS, performance of Transverse abdominis , KDOI, and Mental Components Summary Scale of SF-12 compared to the control group. Conclusion: Selective deep muscle activation through abdominal drawing exercises using pressure biofeedback can help rehabilitation for women after postpartum.

Background: This study examined the effects of the muscle energy technique and cervical traction after applying conservative physical therapy to patients with cervical radiculopathy. Methods: Twenty-six patients with cervical radiculopathy were randomized into two groups: the experimental group (n=13) and the control group (n=13). The two groups performed the muscle energy technique and for 4 weeks, 3 times a week, in 70-minute sessions. Pain, range of motion, function, and muscle performance were assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS), cervical range of motion (CROM) goniometer, neck disability index (NDI), and stabilizer pressure biofeedback, before and after training. Results: After four weeks of therapy, the VAS (p<.001), NDI (p<.01), and the maximum strength of the deep neck flexion muscles significantly decreased (p<.01) and CROM significantly increased in both groups (p<.05). Conclusion: The muscle energy technique and therapeutic modalities such as cervical traction are effective in reducing VAS and NDI and increasing CROM and muscle performance in patients with cervical radiculopathy.

Background: This study aimed to determine the effects of training on breathing re-education on pain and dysfunction levels, posture, quality of life (QoL), and pulmonary function in patients. Methods: This study included 34 patients with chronic neck pain and upper thoracic breathing pattern were included. The participants were assigned to either the routine physical therapy program (RPTP) (CG; n=17) or RPTP and breathing pattern re-education training (EG; n=17). The CG and EG groups performed RPTP for 40 minutes, and only the EG groups performed breathing re-education training for 10 minutes. Exercises were performed thrice weekly for both groups. Level of pain and dysfunction, posture, QoL and pulmonary function status were assessed before and after the intervention. Results: After four weeks of intervention, numeric pain rating scale (NPRS), Korean version of neck disability index, cranio-vertebral angle, cranial rotation angle, and 12-item short form health survey-physical and mental component summaries had significant differences before and after intervention in both groups (p<.01). However, only NPRS, forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1s, and maximum voluntary ventilation showed significant interactions between the two groups and measurement time (p<.01). Conclusion: Breathing re-education training and RPTP may be optimal for patients with chronic neck pain and may be more effective in improving neck pain and pulmonary function.

Background: This study compared orthopedic physiotherapists from different working institutions regarding their health status and burnout syndrome to understand the work-related factors that affect health status and burnout syndrome Methods: This study was conducted from October 28 to November 13, 2022, focusing on physiotherapists working in medical institutions located in metropolitan areas, such as Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon. A total of 591 questionnaires were analyzed. The questionnaire consisted of questions related to the basics of physical therapy, general matters, types of working institutions, health conditions, and burnout syndrome. Results: No significant difference was detected in health self-awareness status whether the working institution was a clinic, nursing hospital, hospital, oriental hospital, general hospital, or university hospital. Among the burnout factors, nursing hospitals showed the highest scores for retirement demands, work unfavorability, physical fatigue, mental fatigue, and reasons for work because of salary. By contrast, university hospitals showed the highest enthusiasm and other institutions showed the lowest enthusiasm for work. In particular, in terms of enthusiasm, scores were significantly more positive in university hospitals than in other institutions. Conclusion: A management plan for burnout for orthopedic manual physiotherapists working in nursing hospitals is needed, and future research will examine the health status of orthopedic manual physiotherapists and work that may affect burnout syndrome. An exploration of management measures, such as health promotion and burnout syndrome prevention, is needed that adds other items, such as differences in environment and differences in the number and disease severity of patients

Background: Ankle sprains are a common clinical ankle disorder and alternations in tibiofibular joint biomechanics along with the talus are thought to contribute to its occurrence. During ankle joint dorsi flexion, proper movement requires the talus to glide posteriorly. Due to the wider front of the talus head, achieving the end range of dorsi flexion necessitates both superior and posterior glide of the distal fibula and anterior glide of the proximal fibula. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of tibiofibular joint mobilization on pain, range of motion, and balance in patients with lateral ankle sprains. Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to a control group (n=33) or an experimental group (n=31). Both groups underwent ankle joint mobilization three times a week for two weeks. Additionally, the experimental group received proximal and distal tibiofibular joint mobilization three times a week for two weeks. Measurements were obtained pre-intervention and post-intervention (after 2 weeks). Results: Evaluation parameters included the visual analog scale score (VAS), range of motion (ROM), and one-leg standing test (OLS). Post-intervention, both groups demonstrated significantly improved results for all assessments (p<.01). A significant intergroup difference was observed only in the ROM (p<.01) and OLS (p<.05). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that tibiofibular joint mobilization, combined with ankle joint mobilization, may be beneficial in enhancing outcomes for individuals with lateral ankle sprains.

Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of ankle strengthening and proprioceptor exercise, including gluteus-medius strengthening exercise, on ankle strength, dynamic and static balance, ankle function, and quality of life in 24 adults without ankle instability. Methods: After randomly classifying 12 people per group into the experimental group and the control group, Home-exercise rehabilitation program was conducted for a total of 2 weeks. The control group performed ankle strengthening and proprioceptor exercise 5 times a week for 15 minutes, and the experimental group was performed by adding 15 minutes of gluteus-medius strengthning exercise to the exercise performed by the control group. The SPSS 27.0 program was used for statistical analysis. Results: Both groups showed statistically significant differences in the plantar flexion muscle strength, Y-Balance test, side hop test, quality of life. But, only experimental group showed statistically significant differences dorsi-flexion muscle strength and hip abduction muscle strength. There was no statistical difference in comparison of difference values between groups. Conclusion: These exercises can provide useful home rehabilitation programs for sports populations seeking to prevent injury in sports.

Background: This study conducted a comparative evaluation of the effects of Pilates stabilization exercise combined with pain neuroscience education (PNE) in patients with chronic low back pain. The evaluation was based on their visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, Korean Oswestry disability index (KODI) scores, and fear avoidance belief questionnaire (FABQ) scores. Methods: A total of 36 participants were recruited and randomly assigned to either a Pilates stabilization exercise group (PSE, n=18) or Pilates stabilization exercise combined with pain neuroscience education group (PPNE, n=18). Both the PSE and PPNE groups participated in 50-minute sessions of Pilates stabilization exercise, three times per week for six weeks. The VAS, KODI, and FABQ scores of the participants were measured before and after the intervention. Results: There were significant improvements in the VAS of the PSE and PPNE group, with significant difference found between them. Both groups showed a significant decline in KODI scores following the exercise interventions, with significant difference observed between the two groups. FABQ scores were significantly decline in both groups, with significant difference found between them. Conclusion: In this study, Pilates stabilization exercise combined with pain neuroscience education was found to be more effective than Pilates stabilization exercise alone in reducing the VAS, KODI, and FABQ scores of patients with chronic low back pain. Thus, Pilates stabilization exercise combined with pain neuroscience education can be used in clinical practice to treat and prevent chronic lower back pain.

Background: This study examined the Immediate effects of IASTM using microcurrent and the flossing band on the lower extremity fascia thickness in subjects with Intrinsic patellofemoral pain syndrome. Methods: Sixty-six subjects with patellofemoral pain syndrome were randomized into three groups (22 each in the microcurrent IASTM (instrument assisted soft-tissue mobilization) group, and flossing band group, and combined microcurrent IASTM and flossing band group) to evaluate the immediate effects of the lower extremity fascia thickness before and after intervention. The thickness of the lower extremity fascia was measured using an ultrasound machine. Using SPSS Window. 22.0, a Shapiro Wilk was conducted to test the normality of all variables; within-group comparisons were made with a paired-samples t-test, and between-group interventions were subjected to a one-way analysis of variance. Results: Changes in the thickness of the fascia in the thigh area were observed before and after intervention in all three groups. There was a significant decrease, and in the combined group, there was a significant decrease in fascia thickness compared to when the IASTM group and the flossing band group were applied separately (p<.05). Conclusion: Through this study, the effect on fascia thickness was confirmed when IASTM and flossing band intervention were combined, and it is believed that it can be used as basic clinical data for patients with knee-thigh pain syndrome.