Earticle

In this study, we reviewed the literature regarding the classification system for patients with neck pain and matched treatment based on this system to identify the categories of neck pain, criteria or tests for categorizing neck pain, and matched treatments for each category. Studies published from 2000 to 2014 that used pre-post control group designs to develop and apply classification systems to experimental group participants with neck pain were identified based on searches of the Scopus database. Four articles were included in this study. A total of seven categories emerged from these four studies. Each study categorized neck pain based on different criteria, such as the location and presumed source of symptoms, sign and symptoms, and treatment goals. The classification systems for neck pain and matched treatments for each of these categories were determined based on evidence from peer-reviewed literature, clinical experience, and expert opinion. Adopting a classification system for patients with neck pain would help practitioners to systematically apply individualized treatment, and provide data for researchers to design more effective interventions to decrease neck pain.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of anti-gravity treadmill exercise on foot sole pain and activities of daily living (ADL) of an elderly person with chronic plantar fasciitis. A 68-year-old patient who was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis completed a 5-week anti-gravity treadmill exercise program consisting of walking for 20 min at 3 mph twice per week. The patient’s foot pain and ADL were measured using the visual analog scale (VAS) and Roles and Maudsley scores were calculated at before intervention and weekly throughout the intervention. There was a slight change in the VAS score for foot sole pain at the end of the intervention. ADL evaluated by the Roles and Maudsley scores slightly improved post-intervention compared to those pre-intervention. We found that the anti-gravity treadmill exercise did not harm our elderly patient with chronic plantar fasciitis. Accordingly, we concluded that anti-gravity treadmill exercise had positive effects on foot pain and ADL for this elderly patient with chronic plantar fasciitis. Our findings suggest that anti-gravity treadmill exercise will be a new approach to cardiopulmonary fitness and help prevent falls in elderly individuals with limitations in ADL.

To determine proper hand load standards, we examined the influence of external load on the kinematics (head-neck and scapular angular displacements) and onset time of the neck muscles during shoulder forward flexion. Six adults (age, 21–25 years) performed shoulder forward flexion. The hand was loaded with 0kg, 1kg, or 5% of the participant’s body weight and the kinematic data and muscle onset time were obtained. The head-neck angular displacements were 11.06±5.4°(0kg), 11.9±3.3°(1kg), and 10.3±0.7° (5% of body weight), while the mean scapular rotations were 19.0±7.0°, 19.2±6.2°, and 17.0±6.5°, respectively. The average amounts of retraction and protraction were 16.7±8.4°, 16.2±9.8°, and 14.7±9.5°, while the mean scapular tilts were 32.2±8.7°, 34.9±10.0°, and 29.5±15.0°, respectively. The addition of an external load normalized to 5% of each participant’s body weight altered the head- neck and scapular kinematics as well as the superficial neck muscle onset time. Our findings suggest that the application of a hand load during shoulder flexion must be individualized according to neck and scapular motion as well as muscle onset time.

This study investigated the effects of rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS), including fast and slow tempo exercise, on balance ability in abnormal adults. This study was performed on 24 subjects who were divided into two groups based on the RAS tempo during exercise: fast (n=12) and slow (n=12) tempo. Both groups performed the exercise four times a week for five weeks. The data were analyzed using paired t-tests to compare the changes in the factors for each group after RAS. The independent t-test was used for comparisons between the groups. The results are presented here. There were statistically significant differences in one-leg standing test (OLST), functional reach test (FRT), and balance biodex systems (BBS) before and after RAS in both, the fast and slow tempo RAS exercise groups (p<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between fast and slow tempo RAS exercise groups in OLST, FRT, and BBS (p>0.05). As a result of this study, both groups experienced improved balance. Comparison of the groups revealed no statistically significant differences.

The purpose of this study was to identify the most effective exercise program on normal weight obesity coed. This study was performed on eighteen subjects with normal weight obesity(aged 19 to 22). Eighteen subjects were divided into two groups; aerobic exercise group(n=9), core stability exercise include aerobic exercise group(n=9). Both of the group performed the aerobic exercises and core stability exercise include aerobic exercises four times a week for six weeks. All subjects were measured before and after exercises by inbody for body fat percentage, fat-free mass, skeletal muscle mass and WHR(Waist Hip Ratio). The data was analyzed by the paired t-test for comparing before and after changes of factor in each group and the independent t-test for comparing the between groups. The results were as follows. There was statistically significant difference of before and after body fat percentage, fat-free mass, skeletal muscle mass and WHR(p<0.05). There was statistically significant difference between aerobic exercise group and core stability exercise include aerobic exercise group in skeletal muscle mass and WHR(p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the aerobic exercise group and core stability exercise include aerobic exercise group in body fat percentage and fat-free mass(p>0.05). As a result of this study, we found that the core stability exercise include aerobic exercises may be effective more than aerobic exercise.

It is well known that the anterolateral ligament (ALL) and the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) have limited internal rotation (IR). The LCL also has limited external rotation (ER). Many researchers have described that the medial collateral ligament (MCL) has limited ER as well. The purpose of this study was to measure thickness changes using ultrasonography (US) to identify the roles of the ALL, LCL, and MCL according to knee flexion angle and rotation. Twenty young healthy male and female subjects were recruited for this experiment. The participants had no surgical or neurological lesions of the knee joint. Measurements of the ALL, LCL, and MCL of the right knee were taken using only US. The postures were IR at knee flexion of 60°, 90°, and 120° as well as ER at knee flexion of 60°, 90°, and 120°. The ALL, LCL, and MCL measurements differed significantly according to rotation (p < 0.01). The ALL and LCL measurements differed significantly according to knee flexion (p < 0.01, p < 0.05). The ALL measurements of IR and ER differed significantly between 60° and 120° of flexion. Additionally, the IR and ER of the LCL at 60° and 90° of flexion were significantly different, while the ER was significantly different at 90° and 120° of flexion (p < 00.05). All the ALL and LCL measurements were correlated. We found that the thickness of the ALL and LCL decreased more in IR than in ER as knee flexion angle increased. In other words, the IR of the ALL was limited to a greater degree than the ER as knee flexion angle increased. The MCL thickness decreased more in ER than in IR but was not dependent on knee flexion angle; thus, the ER of the MCL was more limited than the IR. In addition, changes in the ALL and LCL thicknesses were correlated with both, knee flexion angle and rotation. Our findings suggest that clinicians should consider the characteristics of the ALL when planning rehabilitation strategies.