Earticle

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a functional massage on hamstrings of paretic side on the flexibility and foot pressure balance in stroke patients. Twenty chronic stroke patients were enrolled in the study. The subjects received a hamstrings functional massage for 15 minutes. The hamstring flexibility was measured by performing a passive straight leg raise (PSLR) test. The foot pressure balance was measured the weight distribution ratio on the paretic and non-paretic sides, and front and rear sides using BioRescue. All measurements were performed before and immediately after the functional massage. Changes before and after intervention were analyzed with a paired t-test. And Pearson correlation coefficient was performed to analyze the correlation between hamstring flexibility and foot pressure. As a result, PSLR test significantly increased after the intervention (58.87° to 61.77°, p=.001), and foot pressure balance of paretic and non-paretic sides significantly improved after the intervention (paretic side: 41.07% to 44.66% and non-paretic side: 58.94% to 55.34%, p=.002). In the correlation analysis, there was a moderate correlation between PSLR test and foot pressure balance. These results indicate that a hamstring functional massage on paretic side increases flexibility, which has a positive effect on balance ability in stroke patients.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy on asymmetric hamstring and back pain in patients with non-specific chronic back pain. Twenty-nine subjects with nonspecific chronic low back pain were classified into experimental group (n=15) and control group (n=14). Outcome measures included hamstring length, hamstring length difference, compensative lumbar flexion and rotation, hamstring thickness, disability index, and pain intensity. The experimental group performed extracorporeal shock wave and stretching technique twice a week for three weeks, and the control group performed the stretching technique twice a week for three weeks. Extracorporeal shock waves applied 4 pressure (0.37 mJ/mm), and 2,000 shocks to the hamstring with 10 Hz. Stretching techniques are applied after extracorporeal shock wave therapy. There was a significant difference of dependent variables in the experimental group, and in the control group, there was a significant difference except for lumbar rotation. In between-group comparison, the experimental group showed signifiacnlty greater lumbar flexion and thickness of biceps femoris compared to the control group. Based on these results, we recommend extracorporeal shock wave therapy as an intervention that can reduce compensatory lumbar rotation and lengthen shortened hamstrings.

This study was to identify the level of knowledge and preventive attitude of students in the Department of Physical Therapy about musculoskeletal disease and to analyze the correlation between their knowledge and preventive attitude. From September 16th to September 25th, 2020, subjects completed a survey which consists of questionnaires asking level of knowledge and preventive attitude. The results of this study showed statistically significant differences in subject's level of knowledge and preventive attitude according to gender, grade, and musculoskeletal health care education experience (p<.05). In conclusion, these findings suggest that educational programs during academic years requires to improve the level of knowledge and practice and preventive attitude on musculoskeletal disease of Physical Therapy students. This study might be useful for further studies that inform of details on musculoskeletal disease to preliminary physical therapist.

The study aimed to determine the effect of the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) cervical stabilization exercise on pain, cranio vertebral angle (CVA), and neck disability index (NDI) in chronic neck pain patients with forward head posture. Following baseline measurements, 26 subjects (n=26) with chronic neck pain were randomized into two groups: the experimental group (n=13), which received PNF cervical stabilization exercise, and the control group (n=13), which received traditional physical therapy. Each group participated in the intervention for three times per week, for six weeks. The visual analogue scales (VAS) for pain, CVA, and NDI Korean version (KNDI) of both groups were recorded at both pre- and post-intervention. Paired t-tests were used to determine significant changes in the post-intervention period compared with pre-intervention, and independent t-tests were used to analyze differences in the dependent variables between the two groups. After the six-week intervention, both groups experienced significantly decreased VAS and KNDI (p<.05) and significantly increased CVA (p<.05). The experimental group that received the PNF cervical stabilization exercise showed greater improvements in pain, CVA, and KNDI than those of the control group (p<.05). These results suggest that the PNF cervical stabilization exercise reduces neck pain and functional disability and enhances CVA in chronic neck pain patients with forward head posture.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of physical therapy intervention on psychosocial aspects and temporomandibular function in patients with temporomandibular disorder (TMD) presenting psychosocial impairment. The subjects of this study were twenty-one patients with TMD diagnosed by Pain-Related TMD and Headache through Diagnostic Criteria for TMD (DC/TMD) and with psychosocial impairment characteristics in the Symptom Check-list 90-Revision (SCL-90-R). DC/TMD AxisII assessment tool was used to characterize psychosocial disability, and maximum comfortable opening (MCO) and neck disability index (NDI) were assessed for improvement in temporomandibular and neck function. This study was pre- and post-test single group trial to evaluate he symptoms. Physical therapy interventions were performed for an hour a day, 3 times a week for 4 weeks. As a result of SCL-90-R, there were significant effects in somatization, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, paranoid ideation, and global severity index (p<.05). And the number of subjects with T score of 60 or higher was decreased. DC/TMD AxisII evaluation showed a significant effect on psychosocial aspects (p<.05). Furthermore, MCO and NDI had a significant effect on temporomandibular and neck pains and functional improvement (p<.05). Based on these results, it is suggested that physical therapy will be effective in improving not only the function of the temporomandibular mandible but also the psychosocial characteristics for patients with TMDs with psychosocial impairment.

This study is an experimental study that uses the Abdominal Draw-In Maneuver (ADIM) and Abdominal Bracing Maneuver (ABM) to determine the effects of leg muscle-building exercises. The experiment was conducted on 40 normal people in their 20s who had no special problems or pain in the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. Muscle activities of lower extremity, including rectus femoris (RF), biceps femoris (BF), tibialis anterior (TA), and gastrocnemius, were measured during lunge exercise with ADIM and ABM. The study found that the muscle activity of TA was significantly higher during lunge exercise with ADIM compared to the baseline, with an average of 377.025 ㎶, and an average of 262.022 ㎶, respectively. However, the muscle activities of RF, BF, and gastrocnemius was not significant in the application of general lunge, ADIM, and ABM. The results of this study suggest that lunge exercise with the ADIM can be used to improve TA. Further studeis require the involvement of patients with weakened leg muscles in order to warrant the results of this study.

The purpose of study was to explore the influence of flexion and extension bias on the electromyographic (EMG) activities and cross-sectional area of lumbar muscles in chronic low back pain. twenty-two patients with chronic low back pain were divided into either flexion bias or extension bias groups by symptom provoking posture. The multifidus, iliopsoas, and erector spinae muscles were measured by magnetic reasoning imaging (MRI) and calculated with ratio by body of the 4th lumbar vertebra. EMG activities of multifidus and erector spinae was measured, and all the EMG amplitude were normalized into %maximum voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC). Flexion bias group has significantly lower ratio of iliopsoas cross-sectional area than that of extension bias group (p<.05). As a result, flexion bias group has higher ratio of cross-sectional area of multifidus at the more involved side (p<.05). Flexion bias group has significantly higher %MVIC in erector spinae than extension bias group during trunk flexion and extension (p<.05). Consequently, the results of this study suggest that necessity of exercise for preventing multifidus muscle atrophy for flexion bias group.

Asymmetrical walking pattern is a major issue that impedes functional recovery in the clinical setting. It results from the loss of the ability to maintain dynamic trunk stability and body weight balance. This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of a treadmill training performed under postural alignment corrected on a 3-D plane in people with chronic stroke. Four patients with chronic hemiparesis volunteered to participate in the study. The postural correction procedures were performed by a postural analysis system based on information obtained from a force plate with visual feedback. Then, all the subjects underwent the treadmill training with postural correction. The training was performed an hour, three times weekly for 4 weeks. Outcome measures included the 10-m walk test(10MWT), 6-min walk test(6MWT), walking ability questionnaire(WAQ), and activity-specific balance confidence scale(ABC), and gait parameters assessed by using the gait analysis system, with pretest and posttest measurements. The 10MWT, 6MWT, WAQ, and ABC scores improved by 38.30%(from 0.32 to 0.45 m/s), 59.55%(from 66.75 to 106.50 m), 17.50%(from 20.00 to 23.50 scores), and 24.49%(from 26.80% to 33.36%), respectively. In addition, remarkable improvements in step length(from 27.75 to 32.61 cm), stride length(from 52.01 to 60.31 cm), stance phase(from 61.75% to 62.00%), and swing phase(from 38.50% to 38.25%) were found on the affected side. These results indicate that the treadmill training performed under the correction of postural alignment may be favorably used to improve the walking ability in patients with post-stroke hemiparesis.