Earticle

Background: This study aimed to determine the effects of pectoralis minor stretching, lower trapezius strengthening exercise with serratus anterior strengthening exercise to find an effective therapeutic exercise for alignment, shoulder range of motion, muscle imbalance of rounded shoulder patient. Methods: This study targeted on a total of 28 male subjects, aged 20s and 30s, and randomly divided the subjects into each group, with 14 subjects each. The experimental group performed pectoralis minor stretching, lower trapezius strengthening exercise, and serratus anterior strengthening exerci se, while the control group performed pectoralis minor stretching and lower trapezius strengthenin g exercise. Results: both group showed an increase in active range of motion for shoulder flexion, a muscle acti vity of the serratus anterior muscle and the lower trapezius muscle, a decrease in muscle activity of the upper trapezius muscle, and a significant improvement in scapular alignment after the inter vention. In the comparison between group, the experimental group showed greater increased shoul der joint flexion range of motion, serratus anterior muscle activity, and decreased upper trapezius muscle activity than the control group. Conclusion: Performing serratus anterior strengthening exercises with pectoralis minor stretching and lower trapezius strengthening exercises is effective for improving the active range of motion in sho ulder joint flexion and muscle imbalance

Background: The most common form of injury in soccer is a hamstring strain. Eccentric bias exercises are crucial for reducing injury risk and improving sprinting performance. The purpose of this study was to compare a 4-week hip-dominant hamstring strengthening exercise program (HDE) with a knee-dominant hamstring strengthening exercise program (KDE) in youth soccer players. Method: The sample (n=31) was randomly divided into two groups: HDE (n=17) and KDE (n=14), with soccer players in HDE performing hip joint-dominant hamstring strengthening exercises and those in KDE performing knee joint-dominant hamstring strengthening exercises. Each intervention was conducted three times per week for four weeks. The outcome measures included the hamstring strength test (isometric strength test, eccentric strength test), knee joint range of motion (90/90 active knee extension; AKE) test, lower limb function test Y-balance test and Agility T-test. Results: Following the intervention, both groups showed significant improvement in isometric and eccentric hamstring strength on both dominant and non-dominant sides (p<.05). The AKE test showed significant improvement in the dominant leg (p<.05) and non-dominant leg only in KDE. The agility test significantly improved in HDE (p<.05). There was a slight improvement in the Y-balance test score; however, the difference was not statistically significant. There were no differences between the two groups in the values before, and after the intervention for all items. Conclusion: The hip-dominant and knee-dominant hamstring strengthening exercise should be coordinated and used based on the environment during hamstring injury prevention training.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effects of stabilization exercises performed after an abdominal drawing-in exercise using pressure biofeedback for 8 weeks on craniovertebral angle, muscle performance, neck pain level and neck disability index in lactating women with neck pain. Methods: Twenty lactating women voluntarily participated and were randomly divided into control group and experimental groups. The control group (n=10) was subjected to abdominal drawing-in exercises before lumbar stabilization exercises, while the experimental group (n=10) was subjected to abdominal drawing-in exercises using pressure biofeedback before lumbar stabilization exercises 50 minutes, thrice weekly for 8 weeks. The craniovertebral angle (CVA), transverse abdominis and deep neck flexor muscle performance, visual analog scale (VAS) score, neck disability index (NDI) were evaluated before and after the intervention. Results: As a result of the study, there was significant difference between each group, and when looking at the differences before and after each group, there was a significant difference in CVA, transverse abdominis and deep neck flexor muscle performance, VAS, NDI in both groups. Conclusion: The above results revealed that selective muscle activation through abdominal drawing-in exercises using pressure biofeedback were effective on CVA, transverse abdominis and deep neck flexor muscle performance, VAS, NDI in lactating women with neck pain.

Background: The purpose of this study aimed to examine the effects of adding a gluteus-medius exercise to an ankle stability exercise on ankle function and balance in adults with chronic ankle instability. Methods: The study included 30 adults with chronic ankle instability living in Daegu province who were randomly divided into an experimental group performing the gluteus-medius exercise during ankle stability exercise and a control group performing the ankle stability exercise only (n=15 each). Before the test, the Cumberland ankle instability tool (CAIT) was used to identify chronic ankle instability, the Y-balance and hop (square, figure of eight, and side) tests were used to assess dynamic stability, and the balance error scoring system (BESS) was used to examine static stability. SPSS statistics version 27 (IBM) was used to analyze the data. Results: Both groups showed statistically significant differences in the CAIT, Y-Balance test, hop test. There was a meaningful difference between the groups. Conclusion: According to the results, it is considered an effective intervention to incorporate gluteus-medius strengthening exercises along with ankle stabilization exercises in the rehabilitation program for improving balance and ankle function in adults with chronic instability.

Background: This study examined the effect of ankle stabilizing exercise, including gluteus exercises and ankle exercises on the pain, function, and balance of patients with chronic ankle instability. Methods: After randomly classifying 15 people per group into the experimental group and control group. The experimental group performed stabilizing exercise including gluteus exercises, the control group performed stabilizing exercise including ankle exercises. Each group performed the exercise three times per week for four weeks. The SPSS 23.0 program was used for statistical analysis. Results: Significant differences in visual analogue scale (VAS), cumberland ankle instability tool (CAIT), star excursion balance test (SEBT) were observed in the experimental group and control group(p<.05). A comparison after intervention between each other groups revealed, a significant difference in the VAS (p<.05), but no significant difference in CAIT and, SEBT (p>.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that stabilizing exercise, including gluteus muscles and ankle exercises are encouraged because of the effects on pain, ankle instability decrease, and Dynamic balance increase in patients with chronic ankle pain

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the changes in the lumbar herniation index, Oswestry disability index (ODI), visual analog scale (VAS), and lumbar flexion range of motion (ROM) following the application of high velocity- low amplitude (HVLA) technique and depression therapy in patients with lumbar herniation discs, and thus to provide a clinical basis for the treatment of lumbar herniation discs. METHODS: We included 45 patients with lumbar herniation discs who were assigned equally to three groups: HVLA technique, depression therapy, and control group. Three times a week for 4 weeks, conservative therapy plus Maitland’s lumbar spine rotation technique was applied to the HVLA technique group for 30 min and conservative therapy plus decompression therapy for 30 min to the decompression therapy group, while only conservative therapy was applied to the control group. The lumbar herniation index and Korean version ODI were measured twice before starting and after completing the treatment. The VAS and lumbar flexion ROM were measured before and after each treatment session for twelve. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software version 21.0. RESULTS: The lumbar herniation index was significantly lower in both the HVLA technique and decompression therapy groups compared to the control group, with decompression therapy being the most effective in reducing the lumbar herniation index. Significant improvements were observed in the ODI, VAS score, and lumbar flexion ROM across all three groups, with HVLA technique being the most effective. CONCLUSION: HVLA Techniqueand decompression therapy were more effective than conservative therapy in reducing the lumbar herniation index, ODI, and VAS scores, and in increasing lumbar flexion ROM. This suggests the importance of combining HVLA technique or decompression therapy along with conservative physical therapy for the effective treatment of lumbar herniation discs.

Background: Neck pain is recognized as one of the common and important musculoskeletal disorders in modern society. There are many studies proving that manual therapy is one of the effective treatment methods for treating neck pain. This study compared the treatment effects of the Mulligan technique and the McKenzie technique which are widely used in clinical practice to treat neck pain, through changes in neck pain and range of motion. Methods: Forty-five sub-acute patients with mechanical neck pain were randomly divided into groups as Mulligan technique group (n=22) and McKenzie technique group (n=23). The two groups were treated 8 times for 4 weeks. The participants in both groups received home exercise program. Pain (Visual Analog Scale) and range of motion were measured before and after the treatment program. Results: In both group, the pain intensity and range of motion in all direction improved significantly (p<.001). The Mulligan technique was superior to the McKenzie technique in neck extension, lateral flexion, and rotation (p<.01), but there was no difference in neck flexion and pain intensity. Conclusion: Both the Mulligan technique and McKenzie technique were effective on neck pain and ROM in patients with mechanical neck pain. The Mulligan technique is more useful than the McKenzie technique to improve neck extension, lateral flexion, and rotation.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effects of joint mobilization with movement (MWM) on pain, ankle joint range of motion, balance, and gait in patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and exhibited ankle joint inversion. Methods: We divided 35 patients who had undergone TKA into experimental and control groups. The intervention involved a 40-min session three times a week over 4 weeks. The control group received general physical therapy, ankle pumping exercises, Q-setting exercises, knee joint range of motion exercises, and gravity-controlled gait training. In addition to these treatments, the experimental group received MWM to evaluate knee pain, ankle joint angle, balance, and gait preand post-intervention. Results: Both groups experienced a decrease in pain levels, with no significant difference between the groups. Both groups also showed a significant decrease in ankle joint inversion angle, with notable differences between them. Additionally, both groups significantly increased their mean dorsiflexion angles and balance, with a significant difference observed between the groups. Although walking decreased in both groups, there was no significant difference observed between them. Conclusion: The group that received MWM treatment showed significant effects on inversion angle, dorsiflexion angle, balance, and gait. These results provide valuable insights into the potential benefits of MWM as a post-TKA intervention, while highlighting the importance of long-term follow-up studies on post-TKA lower limb alignment interventions.