Earticle

Purpose: This study investigated the effect of the augmented reality (AR)-based knee joint short period exercise program and used a motion analyzer with a 3D camera to determine the range of motion and dynamic balance and further investigate the effects of therapeutic exercise on patients. Methods: This study used AR-based motion analysis and a Y-balance test to measure the range of motion (ROM) of each joint: the hip joint and the knee joint. After the measurements, an exercise program was applied to the subjects, using the knee motion program function, and the muscles of the quadriceps femoris and the hamstring were stretched or strengthened. Results: Our results showed knee joint extension at the dominant hip joint flexion position. While there was no significant difference (p>.05) at this position, there were significant differences in the non-dominant hips, unbalanced knee joint flexion, and superior knee joint flexion (p<.05). The Y-balance test using the non-dominant leg supported by the dominant legs showed that the absolute reach was 69.70±7.06 cm before the exercise, and the absolute reach after the exercise was 77.56±6.09 cm (p<.05). Conclusions: There was a significant difference when the movement of the lower limbs supported the superior limbs, and a significant difference was found in the ROM when the non-dominant side supported the dominant side. Therefore, the AR-based exercise program improves the balance of the human body and the range of motion of the joints, and research that aims to improve patients abilities should continue

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the one-time aerobic exercise on pulmonary function, oxygen saturation, and smoking in male college students in their 20’s. Methods: The experiment was performed on 11 healthy men who had no musculoskeletal or neurological diseases and who smoked. The subjects performed an aerobic exercise for 30 minutes, using a step box. Before and after the exercise, forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume for one second (FEV1), and oxygen saturation were measured. Results: Between the two measurements, there were no significant differences in oxygen saturation (p>.05). However, the differences in FVC and FEV1 were statistically significant (p<.05). Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate that a one-time aerobic exercise improves pulmonary function.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between forward head posture and pulmonary function in young women. Methods: Thirty-three young women participated in this study. The participants were grouped into non-forward head posture, mild forward head posture, and moderate-severe forward head posture groups. The craniovertebral angle (CVA) and pulmonary function were measured using ImageJ and a spirometer, respectively. Results: Statistically significant differences in the participants’ forced expiratory volume for one second (FEV1) and predicted forced expiratory volume for one second (predicted FEV1) were found among the three groups. No statistically significant differences in the participants’ forced vital capacity (FVC), predicted forced vital capacity (predicted FVC), FEV1/FVC, and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were found among the three groups. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was found between CVA and FVC and among the predicted FVC, FEV1, and predicted FEV1. Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate that severe forward head posture has a negative effect on pulmonary function in young women.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between trunk control and pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength in stroke patients. Methods: This study included 30 patients who had been clinically diagnosed with strokes, and trunk control abilities were measured using the trunk impairment scale (TIS). The subjects were classified into a group with high trunk control ability (TIS score ≥ 20) and a group with low trunk control ability (TIS score < 20). The patients’ forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF), maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) were measured. To compare the pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength between the two groups, the measurement data were analyzed using an independent T-test, and the relationship between TIS and respiratory function was analyzed using a Pearson correlation. Results: The high trunk control ability group had significantly higher pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength than the low trunk control ability group. Significant positive correlations were found between trunk control and FVC, FEV1, PEF, MIP, and MEP. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that trunk control affects pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength in stroke patients.

Purpose: The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of cervical stabilization exercise (CSE) on hamstring flexibility in patients with neck pain. A secondary purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of cervical range of motion (CROM) and craniovertebral angle (CVA). Methods: This study was a single-blind, randomized, comparative trial. Twenty patients were allocated into either the cranio-cervical flexion exercise (CCFE) group or the CSE group. Before and after the intervention, we measured straight leg raise (SLR), popliteal angle (PA), CROM, and CVA in the sitting and standing positions. Fisher’s exact test, the Mann-Whitney test, and Wilcoxon’s signed-rank test were used to analyze our data. Results: Both groups showed significant improvements in the value of SLR, PA, cervical extension, cervical rotation, and CVA in the standing position (both, p<.05) after intervention. However, only the CSE group showed significant improvements in cervical right lateral flexion (z=−2.209; p<.01) and cervical left lateral flexion (z=−2.537; p<.05) after intervention. The CSF group showed more significant improvements in SLR, PA, both cervical lateral flexions, and both cervical rotations than the CCFE group. Conclusions: The results of this study will guide future research in identifying the effectiveness of CSE. In conclusion, it can be inferred that CSE has a positive effect on SLR, PA, CROM, and CVA in the standing position in patients with chronic neck pain.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of muscle activity and muscle strength according to verbal command volume during isokinetic and isometric quadricep exercises. Methods: To measure muscle activity and muscle strength, surface electrodes were attached to the participants, as they sat on a Biodex chair. The isometric exercise was performed three times, with maximum exercise at 30° bending angle, based on a maximum extension state of the knee at 0°. The average holding time was unified to three seconds. In addition, the isokinetic exercise was performed three times, at 60°/sec. The verbal command ranged between 0∽60 dB and 0∽75 dB. Muscle activity was measured using surface electromyography (4D-MT, Relive, Gimhae, Korea). The Biodex System 4 was used to measure the isometric and isokinetic strength of the nodal line, and 4D-MT was used to measure muscle activity. Results: There were significant improvements in the maximal and relative muscle strengths, when the 0∽ 60 dB and 0∽75 dB verbal commands were applied with isokinetic extension/flexion (p<.05). The isokinetic exercise (0∽75 dB) group showed a significant difference in the vastus medialis oblique muscle activity change (p<.05), while the isometric exercise (0∽75 dB) group showed a significant difference in the rectus femoris muscle activity change (p<.05). Conclusions: Our results reveal that verbal commands effectively improve muscle activity and muscle strength during isokinetic and isometric quadricep exercises.

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the sprinter and skater combined patterns on muscle contraction onset time and muscle activation of body stabilizing muscles. Method : Our study included young and healthy men in their 20s. The participants used the sprinter and skater combined patterns of the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) methods to measure muscle activation and muscle contraction onset time of the trunk muscles. To measure muscle contraction onset time and muscle activation, electrodes were attached to the rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), internal oblique (IO), and erector spinalis (ES) regions. Significant differences were identified using a paired t-test and a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) analysis. Result : In the sprinter combined pattern, the muscle with the fastest onset time of contraction was the RES, and that with the slowest was the RRA (p<.001). In the skater combined pattern, the muscle with the fastest onset time of contraction was the LES, and that with the slowest was the LRA (p<.001). In the sprinter combined pattern, the REO and LIO presented medium muscle contraction onset times (p<.001). In the skater combined pattern, the LEO and RIO presented medium muscle contraction onset times (p<.001). Conclusions: Based on these results, these patterns could be used as exercise methods for the elderly with delayed proactive response speeds of the body stabilization methods due to imbalances in body stabilizing muscles or limbs movement.

Purpose: Lifestyle intervention (LSI) provides basic recommendations that improve the quality of life and health of patients with minor disabilities. The LSI intervention strategies are associated with active living, healthy weight, healthy eating, and emotional stability. These intervention strategies can change an unhealthy lifestyle to a healthy lifestyle and provide important health care information. Main issue: This study focused on a new LSI-based knee rehabilitation protocol and proved the effect of exercise prescription on the knee. The clinical significance of this study demonstrated that continuous rehabilitation, effective rehabilitation, and recurrence prevention can be achieved by prescribing the appropriate exercise for patients after discharge. Therefore, practical lifestyle medicine knowledge and information are provided by the home-based rehabilitation self-exercise program with the new LSI-based knee rehabilitation protocol. Conclusions: The LSI-based protocol can improve and maintain health conditions and knee function. With the aim of improving self-care abilities, this program is expected to make significant contributions recurrence prevention, reduced mortality, and improved quality of life, physical function, and fitness.

Purpose: This study was evaluated the effects of nucleoplasty and chemonucleolysis, as interventional treatments for herniated intervertebral disc disease, on spinal tissues. Methods: Nucleoplasty using plasma beam and chemonucleolysis with collagenase were conducted on the spinal motion segments that were dissected from of human cadaver spine under fluoroscopic guidance. After the procedure, the intervertebral discs were transected, and the changes in gross findings were examined. Subsequently, the influence of the procedure on the nucleus pulposus, annuls fibrosus, and endplate was analyzed through a pathologic examination. Results: Nucleoplasty was confirmed to eliminate the local range of tissues in nucleus pulposus according to the procedure tract and to not affect other tissues. In chemonucleolysis, we found that collagenase diffused from the surgical site within the nucleus pulposus and was not present in the annulus fibrosus and endplate. Conclusions: The clinically-used interventional treatments that were investigated here were not found to do not cause additional damage to areas other than those targeted.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of boxing combined training on cardiopulmonary function and health-related fitness in male college students over a period of eight weeks. Methods: Eighteen male students were randomly assigned to the following groups: boxing exercise (n=6), aerobic exercise e(n=6), and non-exercise (n=6). The exercise program was conducted for 50 minutes every three weeks, for a total of eight weeks. After eight weeks, the factors that affected the measurement variables were analyzed, and the following results were obtained. Results: Participants in the eight-week boxing exercise group and the aerobic exercise group showed significantly increased maximal oxygen, which was not observed in the control group. The body mass index decreased in the aerobic exercise group, but did not significantly differ between the boxing exercise and control groups. Body fat (%) and abdominal fat (%) significantly decreased in all exercise groups, but significantly increased in the control group. Skeletal muscle mass increased in the boxing exercise group, but did not significantly differ between the boxing, aerobic exercise, and control groups. Muscular strength and muscular endurance increased in both exercise group, but did not change in the control group. Flexibility showed no differences between the groups. Conclusions: In conclusion, an eight-week boxing exercise program for college students showed positive effects on cardiorespiratory function and health-related fitness.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of sport massage and McKenzie stretch exercise on forward head posture. To understand the effect, this study measured and analyzed body alignment of the neck. Methods: In this study, a total of 14 subjects with forward head posture were analyzed. Subjects were divided into two groups: group 1 (n=7) received a McKenzie stretch exercise and group 2 (n=7) received a McKenzie stretch exercise and a sport massage. The McKenzie stretch exercise was performed three times a week, for four weeks, while the sport massage was performed once a week. The body alignment of the neck (CVA, CRA) was measured using a goniometer. Results: The improvements in neck body alignments (CVA, CRA) after the McKenzie stretch exercise and sport massage were both significant (group 1: p<0.05; group 2: p<0.05), whereas the between-group comparison found no significant differences. Conclusions: In conclusion, our study confirmed that the McKenzie stretch exercise and sport massage had a significant positive effect on the body alignment of the neck. However, a study that included a greater number of subjects and a long-term treatment period is needed to generalize these results.

Purpose: This study investigated scoliosis muscle activity after the trunk side shift exercise. Methods: Fifty-eight subjects (control group=30, scoliosis group=28) participated in this study. The patients with idiopathic scoliosis were randomly divided into two groups: the side shift exercise (SSE) group and the trunk stabilization exercise (TSE) group. The SSE group performed SSE with chair training for eight weeks. A one-way ANOVA test was carried out to compare the results within the idiopathic scoliosis patient group prior to and after different exercise methods. Result: The muscle activity differences of the TPS, LPS, and latissimus dorsi muscles significantly decreased in all idiopathic scoliosis exercises groups after training. According to the exercise method, the TPS differed between the control group (CG) and TSE group and between the SSC and TSE groups. The LPS and latissimus dorsi muscles showed differences between the CG and TSE groups. Conclusions: This study found that the side shift exercise effectively improve spine muscles. The side shift exercise was performed using chairs that were designed for this study. Thus, this method is easily accessible for busy students who are exposed to scoliosis or spinal disorders that are caused by a pattern of inactivity.

Purpose: McKenzie is a widely-used and conventional clinical therapeutic exercise for patients with mechanical lower back pain. It is a well-designed assessment and classification system for the spine. Main issue: Patients with mechanical lower back pain are classified into one of three mechanical syndromes (posture, dysfunction, or derangement syndrome) by mechanical loading strategies. These methods evaluate symptomatic and mechanical responses during repeated end-range movement and sustained postures. The goal of McKenzie mechanical syndrome diagnosis is to determine directional preferences. Directional preference is a phenomenon of preference for posture or movement in one direction, which reduces or centralizes pain. However, in Korea, there is a lack of awareness of basic McKenzie mechanical syndromes diagnostic concepts. Koreans tend to think of the McKenzie method as a simple lumbar extension exercise. However, an accurate diagnosis of a mechanical syndrome must precede the application of McKenzie exercise. Conclusions: Thus, in this study, I present a classification method of McKenzie mechanical syndrome diagnosis and clinical characteristics of each mechanical syndrome.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of task-oriented exercise and abdominal muscle contraction using functional electrical stimulation (FES) on abdominal muscle thickness and balance of stroke patients. Methods: Ten stroke patients who met the selection criteria were assigned randomly into two groups of five. One group received FES therapy before task-oriented training (experimental group), while the other group received a FES placebo before task-oriented training (control group). The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the groups, and the Wilcoxon Signed-ranks test was used to compare differences between the groups before and after intervention. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the rate changes of each item before and after intervention, between the two groups. Results: In the rectus abdominalis and external oblique muscle thickness tests that used ultrasound, there was a statistically significant difference in the experimental group (p<.05),but no significant difference in the control group (p>.05). There was also a significant difference between the groups (p<.05). In the Balance test that used the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and timed up and go test (TUG), there was a statistically significant difference in the experimental and control groups (p<.05), but there was no significant difference between the groups (p>.05). Conclusions: FES therapy before task-oriented training increases the thickness of abdominal muscles and improves balance abilities.

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of changing the tilt angle of the exercise bed on physiological characteristics of trapezius, multifidus, and hamstring muscle function. Methods: Twenty elderly who complains of back and lumbar pain or discomfort participated in this study (average age: 64.70±4.55 years). The physiological characteristics, including muscle tone (F), dynamic stiffness (S), and elasticity (D) of trapezius, multifidus, and hamstring muscles were measured by a Myoton device at three tilt angles (0, 15, and 30 degrees) during exercise. Results: The muscle tone, dynamic stiffness, and elasticity of the right trapezius and left hamstring muscle showed significant differences (p<0.05) according to exercise bed tilt angle, while the other muscles showed no significant differences. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that physiological characteristics of the upper and lower extremity muscles are affected ipsilaterally, according to the tilt angles of the exercise bed.