Earticle

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a modified abdominal draw-in maneuver on trunk stability and functional capacity as well as pain in patients with chronic low back pain. Methods: The study included 3 patients with chronic low back pain who volunteered to participate. The modified abdominal draw-in maneuver included a posterior pelvic tilt, a traditional abdominal draw-in maneuver, and a vibration sensory feedback device. Voluntary abdominal contraction using the vibration sensory feedback device was performed by the subjects for more than 1 hour per day, 5 times per week, for 6 weeks along with common low back pain treatment. Electromyographic signals in the rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), internal oblique (IO), and erector spinae (ES) muscles were measured to compare muscle activation. The degree of pain was measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS), and functional capacity was measured using the Korea Oswestry Disability Index (K-ODI). All results were compared to the means before and after intervention. Results: After the intervention, the RA, EO, and IO showed increased muscle activation and the ES showed decreased muscle activation. The visual analogue scale decreased after intervention and the K-ODI decreased after intervention. Conclusion: Modified abdominal draw-in maneuvers in daily life combined with therapeutic exercises may be effective in relieving pain and dysfunctions in chronic low back pain patients.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of coordinative locomotor training (CLT) on the foot pressure and balance of patients with scoliosis. Methods: This was a single-case A-B-A study involving two patients with scoliosis. The study was designed to perform repeated measurements as follows: 5 times at baseline (A), 10 times during intervention (B), and 5 times after intervention (A). The study period was 5 weeks, and the CLT program was divided into warm up, CLT program, and cool down stages, at 50 min per stage. For the primary outcome measure, Gait View AFA-50 was used to determine the foot pressure and balance ability. For the secondary outcome measure, the SRS-22 questionnaire was used to assess the quality of life of the patients with scoliosis. Descriptive statistics and visual analysis using graphs were used to compare the rates of change. Results: The results of this study showed that the foot pressure and balance ability of the two subjects improved during the intervention period and remained improved even during the baseline period. However, their quality of life did not change after the intervention. Conclusion: CLT may have a positive effect on foot pressure and balance ability in patients with scoliosis. Also, this body function improvement may have positive effects on the performance of daily activities which employ the upright position.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of forward-and-backward shift trunk exercise using a proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) diagonal pattern in a closed kinematic chain exercise on the upper limb function and activity of daily living (ADL) in a stroke patient. Methods: One subject participated in this study. The study used a reversal A-B-A’ design, where A and A’ were the baseline period (no intervention), and B was the intervention period. The intervention was a forward-and-backward trunk shift exercise, using a PNF diagonal pattern on both a stand-on-hand position and a quadruped position of closed kinematic chain exercises, for 20 min per day for 2 weeks. The range of motion (ROM) of the shoulder joint was measured and a Fugl-Meyer assessment of upper extremity (FMA-UE) and a functional independence measure (FIM) were performed to measure upper limb function and activity of daily living (ADL). Results: ROMs of shoulder joint (flexion, extension, abduction, and external rotation) increased in the intervention phase. The FMA-UE score increased (from 28 to 36) in the intervention phase. The FIM score increased (from 20 to 25) in the intervention phase. These increases were maintained after intervention (Baseline Ⅱ). Conclusion: These results suggest that forward-and-backward shift trunk exercises using a PNF diagonal pattern in a closed kinematic chain exercise have a positive effect on stroke patients’ upper limb function and ADL ability.

Purpose: This study sought to examine the effect of coordinative locomotor training (CLT) program on the balance and gait of stroke patients and to develop effective programs and training methods to improve the functions of such patients. Methods: Subjects included 29 patients with hemiplegia caused by stroke. The subjects were randomly divided into an experimental group (n=14) that participated in CLT program and a control group (n=15) that participated in general exercise therapy. The experimental group underwent CLT program, while the control group underwent general exercise therapy, for 30 minutes, 3 days per week for a 6-week period. timed up and go test (TUG), four square step test (FSST), figure-of-8-walk test (F8WT), and 10m walking test (10MWT) were conducted to evaluate changes in balance and gait. Results: After the intervention, significant differences (p<0.05) were seen in the TUG, FSST, F8WT, and 10MWT in both groups. The experimental group showed more significant improvement than the control group(p<0.05). Conclusion: The results from this study indicate that a CLT program is extremely effective for improving the balance and gait in stroke patients.

Purpose: This study was conducted to predict the risks that arise while standing on mediolateral ramps at various ramp angles by identifying the ratio of medial to lateral gastrocnemius muscle activities. Methods: The subjects were 20 healthy adult men. Seven mediolateral ramp angles (0°, 2°, 5°, 10°, 15°, 20°, and 25°) were applied for the experiment. The ratio of medial to lateral gastrocnemius muscle activities in each condition was measured using electromyography, and the measured data were converted to root mean square values to calculate the activity ratios. Results: The study results showed statistically significant differences in the ratio of mediolateral gastrocnemius muscle activities according to the selected mediolateral ramp angles. The results of a post hoc test confirmed that the multifidus muscles were asymmetrically used on the two sides at mediolateral ramp angles of 5° or higher. Conclusion: This study found that an asymmetric use of the multifidus muscles began at a mediolateral ramp angle of 5°, and the provision of propulsion using the ankle joints on mediolateral ramps at 5° or steeper was maneuvered differently from that on flat ground. This suggests that individuals with balance control disorder have the risk of falling due to ankle sprains and unstable balance control. Therefore, patients and elderly people are required to exercise caution when crossing 5° or steeper ramps

Purpose: This study aimed to compare muscle activities in the right leg during squatting on an angle-adjustable inclined wooden plate at three different angles. Methods: The subjects were 19 healthy adult men and women. An angle-adjustable inclined wooden plate was used for the experiment, and the subjects performed squatting at three adjusted angles of 0° ankle angle, 10° ankle flexion, and 10° plantar flexion. Squatting was randomly performed without a sequence. The knee angle was set at 45°, and a goniometer was used to measure the angles accurately. Electromyography was employed to measure and compare muscle activity in the right leg in each condition. The measured data were converted to root mean square values to calculate the muscle activities. Results: This study showed no statistically significant difference at a 0° ankle angle, but a statistically significant difference was found in the vastus medialis at 10° of ankle flexion. Moreover, statistically significant differences were observed in the vastus medialis and lateralis at 10° of plantar flexion. Conclusion: This study showed a statistically significant difference in the vastus medialis at 10° of ankle flexion and statistically significant differences in the vastus medialis and lateralis at 10° of plantar flexion. Therefore, it may be effective to perform squatting at 10° of ankle flexion when intending to selectively strengthen the vastus medialis and at 10° of plantar flexion when intending to strengthen both the vastus medialis and lateralis.

Purpose: The aim of the investigation was to identify the effects of purposeful activities combined with music on upper extremity function, motivation, and mood in acute stroke patients. Methods: For the study, 19 acute stroke inpatients were recruited at a general hospital in Korea. The patients were allocated between an experimental group (n=9) and a control group (n=10). The experimental group performed purposeful activities with their preferred music, and the control group carried out purposeful activities without music. The 2 groups received the treatments 30 min per day, 5 days per week, for 4 weeks. Measurements were taken before and after intervention, including a manual function test (MFT) for measuring upper extremity function, a volitional questionnaire (VQ) for assessing motivation, and the Beck depression inventory (BDI) and Beck anxiety inventory (BAI) for assessing mood. Results: In post-treatment measurement, both groups showed greater MFT, VQ, and BDI scores than in pre-treatment. Significantly greater VQ and BDI changes were represented in the experimental group as compared to the control group. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of an 8-week competitive exercise program on physical fitness, psychological variables, and video-game playtime in game-addicted adolescents. Methods: All subjects were screened by a game behavior diagnosis scale questionnaire, and a total of 7 game-addicted, male adolescents (16±2 yrs of age) participated in the study. All subjects were informed of the study’s purpose, procedures, and risks, and a consent form was obtained from each subject. The 8-week soccer and basketball exercise program included twice-weekly sessions of 120 minutes per session. All data were presented as mean±SE, and the variables were analyzed with a paired t-test. Results: Following the 8-week intervention, cardiovascular endurance and grip strength were significantly increased (approximately 17 and 7%, respectively [p<0.05]). Although there was no statistical significance on flexibility, vertical jump, and zigzag-run, all variables showed an increasing tendency. Anxiety levels changed from a mild anxiety state to a normal state, and depression levels also altered from moderate to a normal state. The video-game playtime was reduced about 20% during weekends and vacation periods. Conclusion: Given these combined results, 8 weeks of regular participation in competitive exercise (soccer/basketball) may contribute to positive effects on physical fitness, psychological variables, and video-game playtime in computer-game addicted adolescents.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the effects of neck and trunk stabilization exercise on the onset time of trunk muscle contraction in the elderly. Methods: Elderly subjects were divided into 2 groups: a neck and trunk stabilization exercise group (NTSG) and a control group (CG). The NTSG performed both neck and trunk stabilization exercises and the CG performed gait training on a treadmill, at 30 min per session, 3 times per week, over 8 weeks. Surface electromyography was employed to measure the onset times of trunk muscle contractions in the right anterior deltoid, rectus abdominis, external oblique abdominis, internal oblique abdominis, and erector spinae muscles. Results: The NTSG subjects showed earlier and statistically significant onset of contraction in trunk muscles as compared to the CG. Conclusion: The combination of neck and trunk stabilization exercises may more effectively improve the onset of muscle contractions in the elderly than other types of exercise. The present study’s findings may be used as basic data for the development of exercise programs suitable to the elderly, specifically for the design of home exercise programs.

Purpose: This study observed the activity of trunk and lower limb muscles during a modified bridging exercise with various weight loads. Methods: The participants in this study consisted of 15 male adults. The muscle activity of the elector spinae, rectus abdominis, gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, tibialis anterior, and soleus muscles was measured with an EMG-8 system during a modified bridging exercise performed with various weight loads (indicated as percentage of body weight). Differences in muscle activity during the bridging exercise according to the weight load applied were analyzed using a one-way ANOVA, and post hoc analysis was performed using LSD. Statistical significance was accepted at a p-level of 0.05. Results: When the subjects performed the modified bridging exercise with various weight loads, the muscle activity of the gluteus maximus and vastus medialis peaked at a load of 0.5%. The activity of the gluteus medius showed a remarkable difference when the modified bridging exercise was performed at loads of 0% and 0.5%, 0% and 1%. In addition, the activity of the vastus medialis showed a remarkable difference between modified bridging exercises performed at a load of 0% and that performed at a load of 0.5%. Conclusion: The results suggest that performing modified bridging exercises with a load of 0.5% of body weight results in significant differences in the activity of the gluteus medius and vastus medialis muscles. Thus, it is suggested that performing the modified bridging exercise at 0.5% of body weight may selectively strengthen the gluteus medius and vastus medialis muscles.