Earticle

Purpose: A flat back causes pain and disability in people with spinal deformity. This study investigated the effects of manipulation therapy on lumbar lordosis and thoracic kyphosis angles in individuals with flat backs. Methods: Eight individuals with a flat back participated in this study and were enrolled through an institutional review board-approved protocol. The participants underwent manipulation therapy for 20 minutes a day, three times weekly for 4 weeks. Lumbar lordosis and thoracic kyphosis angles were assessed using digital radiography (MDXP-40, MEDIEN, Korea). Paired t tests were used to compare the differences in lumbar lordosis and thoracic kyphosis angles between pre- and post-intervention. Results: After the intervention, the lumbar lordosis angle was significantly increased (p<0.05). While the thoracic kyphosis angles also increased, the difference was not statistically significant between pre- and post-intervention. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that manipulation therapy of the lumbo-thoracic spine improves spinal malalignment in individuals with a flat back.

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of lumbosacral joint mobilization on dysmenorrhea and premenstrual syndrome and the correlation between these conditions and the lumbosacral joint. Methods: The study enrolled 24 women with menstrual cramps who met the selection criteria. Twenty-one days from the start of menstruation, lumbosacral joint mobilization was applied for 4–5 seconds with five repetitions for a total of 20 seconds. To a 5 times to 1set it was performed to 3set. The differences in visual analog scale (VAS) and modified menstrual distress questionnaire (MMDQ) scores of the subjects after lumbosacral joint mobilization were assessed using paired t tests, and the correlations were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients. Results: Dysmenorrhea and premenstrual syndrome showed statistically significant differences and correlations at the 0.01 level after the application of lumbosacral joint mobilization (p<0.001). Conclusion: The results of this study confirmed that lumbosacral joint mobilization was effective for dysmenorrhea and premenstrual syndrome and demonstrated a correlation between dysmenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome, and lumbosacral joint angle. These results suggest that mobilization of the lumbosacral joint may have a positive effect on pain reduction for women with dysmenorrhea and may be more effective to reduce abnormal pelvic alignment.

Purpose: This study investigated the effect of the frequency of summary feedback on proprioception during knee extension in healthy subjects. Methods: Forty-eight young adults volunteered to participate and were randomly assigned to one of four groups (1*summary, 5*summary, 10*summary, and control). The power and velocity errors for proprioception in knee extension were measured using a PRIMUS RS system (BTE Tech., Hanover, USA). Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to determine the effect of the frequency of summary feedback on proprioception in knee extension of healthy participants. Scheffe post hoc tests were applied, and the level of significance was set at α=0.05. Results: In the acquisition phase to practice the effect, power, and velocity error scores in all summary groups were significantly lower than those in the control group (p<0.05) but did not differ significantly between the summary groups (p>0.05). In the retention phase to assess the learning effect, the power and velocity error scores in all summary groups were also significantly lower than those in the control group (p <0.05), and the score in the 5*summary group was significantly lower than those in the other summary groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: 5*summary feedback was effective for motor learning while reducing the error of proprioception.

Purpose: This study assessed the effects of major selection and major satisfaction levels on university life adaptation among health students. Methods: This study included 300 first- and second-grade college students attending classes for physical therapy, occupational therapy, and dental hygiene at K University in Busan Metropolitan City. We assessed their motivations regarding major selection and its influence on their adaptation to school life through a mobile questionnaire applied for 6 weeks between October 30 and December 9, 2018. Data from 200 respondents were included in the analysis after excluding data deemed to have been provided insincerely and questions without responses. Correlation and multi-cycle analyses were performed using SPSS version 25.0 to test the data collected. Results: The choice and satisfaction with the major selected were significantly associated with college life. Outdoor motivation was among the factors that less affected academic, social, and personal-emotional adaptation, which are sub-factors of university life adaptation. Among the factors that less affected the satisfaction level, curriculum satisfaction and awareness satisfaction affected academic adaptation; general satisfaction, curriculum satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction affected social adaptation; relationship satisfaction and awareness satisfaction affected personal-emotional adaptation; and curriculum satisfaction and relationship satisfaction affected environmental adaptation. Conclusion: The results of this study confirmed that the choice and satisfaction with majors were an important variable in predicting adaptation to college life. Thus, increasing the adaptation of university students requires educational services related to major satisfaction and social awareness, as well as a trust-based system for maintaining emotional ties.

Purpose: This study compared the changes in power and agility and muscle tone of the quadriceps and hamstring muscles after 10 weeks of plyometrics or weight training to strengthen the leg muscles. The following conclusions were obtained. Methods: Subjects were randomly assigned to a plyometrics group (n = 10) and a weight training group (n = 10) from male college students who did not recently participate in a regular exercise program. Plyometrics and weight training were performed three times a week for 10 weeks with 60 minutes a day. The exercise intensity was divided into 3 stages, and the weight training group and the plyometrics group performed 3 sets of 1 repetition maximum (RM) of 60, 70, 80%, and 10, 12, 15 repetitions (rep), respectively. Results: First, there was an interaction effect between the group and time period on power. The plyometrics group showed a greater increase in power than the weight training group. Second, there was an interaction effect between the group and time period on agility. While agility improved in the plyometrics group, no significant difference was observed in the weight training group. Third, there was an interaction effect between the group and time period on the muscle tones of the left and right quadriceps muscles. The muscle tone increased more in the weight training group than in the plyometrics group. Fourth, there was an interaction effect between the group and time period on the muscle tones of the left and right hamstring muscles. The muscle tone increased more in the weight training group than in the plyometrics group. Conclusion: The change in muscle tone value was found to have a significant relationship with the increase in muscle strength and power through plyometrics and weight training, and additional research should be conducted to investigate the relationship between exercise performance ability and muscle tone.

Purpose: This study assessed the effects of long periods of radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) applied to the thoracolumbar fascia on fascia thickness, fat, and mechanical properties. Methods: Among the 15 patients with low back pain, 10 received twice-weekly ESWT of the thoracolumbar fascia for 5 weeks. The thickness of the thoracolumbar fascia was evaluated by ultrasonography before and after ESWT, and the mechanical properties (frequency, decrement, and stiffness) were assessed using a MyotonPRO device. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 21.0, and paired t-tests were used to determine statistical differences between the pre- and post-intervention groups. The statistical significance was defined as α=0.05. Results: Ultrasonography showed a greater decrease in thoracolumbar fascia thickness in the ESWT group at 5 weeks (p=0.309). The patients who received ESWT to the thoracolumbar fascia showed significant changes in the mechanical properties of fascia stiffness and decrement values between pre- and post-intervention (p＜0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in fascia tone. Conclusion: Clinically, there was no change in thoracolumbar fascia thickness, while the reduction in muscle tone and stiffness of the thoracolumbar fascia increased the mobility following ESWT.

Purpose: This study reviewed the changes in abdominal muscle thickness and the clinical effects according to trunk stabilization interventions for chronic low back pain in South Korea from 2000 to 2020. Methods: This study of the changes in abdominal muscle activation and the clinical effects according to the core stabilization intervention technique included patients with chronic low back pain lasting for more than 3 months who underwent minimally invasive surgery and microscopic disc removal. Original articles published in academic journals within the last 20 years were identified and analyzed through searches of the Kyobo Bookstore Scola, e-article, DBPIA, Google Scholar, Korean Studies Information Service System (KISS), and Research Information Sharing Service (RISS) databases. Results: This study finally included 13 papers and presented the results of the analysis of changes in abdominal muscle activation and clinical effects according to trunk stabilization intervention techniques for each selected study. Conclusion: We hope that this comprehensive review of the clinical effects on the activation of abdominal muscles in chronic low back pain patients will be helpful for evidence-based rehabilitation.

Purpose: This study investigated the relationship between smoking history and diaphragm thickness and muscle strength in young men. Methods: This study included healthy men aged 20–39 years. They were classified into smoking (n=11) and non-smoking groups (n=9). Diaphragm thickness was measured at rest (Tdi.rel) and during forced inspiration (Tdi.con) using a 5- to 12.0-MHz linear probe ultrasonic imaging system. We analyzed diaphragm thickness using a calculated formula for the diaphragm thickness ratio (TR). Muscle strength was measured using grip strength. To compare the TR and muscle strength between the two groups, the measurement data were analyzed using independent T tests, while the relationship between smoking history and TR was assessed by Pearson correlation analysis. Results: No significant difference in TR and muscle strength was observed between the smoking and nonsmoking groups. However, the smoking group had lower TR and muscle strength than the non-smoking group. Significant negative correlations were observed between smoking duration and TR. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that smoking affects diaphragm thickness in young men. Therefore, long-term smokers may need to exercise to strengthen their diaphragms.

Purpose: This study investigated the rate of injury, treatment experience, and individual opinions on the military culture in active-duty soldiers. Methods: Thirty-eight male soldiers in special forces participated in this study. A self-reported questionnaire was applied to gather data about their previous injuries and treatment experiences, their current levels of pride and stress, and their individual opinions on military culture during their service. Results: Among the 38 soldiers, 16 (42.11%) reported experiencing musculoskeletal injury and six (15.79%) indicated physical limitations in participating in combat training due to their injuries. The most frequent site of injury was the ankle (50%). Among soldiers with previous injury, physical therapy (32.14%) was the most common management method. Conclusion: The results of this survey of musculoskeletal injury and post-treatment methods among soldiers indicate the need for education regarding the recognition of injury in training and systematic rehabilitation services to improve the current military culture that is directly linked to the power of the national defense.