Earticle

Background: As the increase of forward head position, we studied the change of thickness of deep cervical flexor (DCF) compared of with sternocleidomastoid (SCM). we measured and analysed the change of thickness of the neck flexor for forward head position and cranio-cervical flexion exercise (CCFE). Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, we conducted the study selecting 35 healthy adults (12 males, 23 females). We measured the craniovertebral angle (CVA), instructed them to perform the CCFE, and measured the DCF and SCM using ultrasonography during the contraction and relaxation period. Results: Intra-reliability of SCM is .96, longus capitis is .92 and longus coli is .97. we compared according to the change of forward head position, Correlation of DCF is .841, and DCF/SCM is .754 by significant positive correlation. At the comparison of CCFE and Resting muscle thickness, SCM and DCF is .00, DCF/SCM is .68. Conclusion: There is a strong positive correlation between the change amount of DCF and DCF/SCM as the increase of CVA.

Background: The purpose of this study was to effect of action observation with deep neck flexors strengthening exercise on pain and function in patients with chronic neck pain. Methods: Thirty patients with chronic neck pain were randomly action observation with deep neck flexors strengthening exercise group (AOT group; n=15) and deep neck flexors strengthening exercise group (FSE group; n=15). The intervention was applied for 50 minutes a day, 5 times a week for a total of 4 weeks. The intervention effect were evaluated before and after the intervention. visual analogue scale (VAS), pressure pain threshold (PPT), and Korea neck disability index (KNDI). Results: As a result of comparing within group, AOT group showed pre and post test, VAS (p<.01), PPT (p<.01), KNDI (p<.01) and FSE group VAS (p<.01), PPT (p<.05), KNDI (p<.01) significantly . In the comparison between the two groups, AOT group than FSE group in VAS, PPT and KNDI significantly (p<.05). Conclusion: Action observation with deep neck flexors strengthening exercise were founded to effective in reducing pain and improving function in patients with chronic neck pain. It is suggested as basic data of clinical intervention.

Background: The purpose of this study on the effects of deep cervical flexors strengthening exercise to forward head posture and pain of neck in patients with chronic neck pain. Method: We selected 30 subjects among neck pain patients and carried out measurements. The subjects' forward head posture was measured including head tilt angle (HTA), neck flexion angle (NFA) and forward shoulder angle (FSA), neck disability index (NDI), numeric rating scale (NRS). The subjects underwent deep cervical flexors muscle strengthening with pressure bio- feedback device for 4 weeks. Then, after intervention, the subjects' forward head posture was measured again. It was performed Wilcoxon signed-ranks test for confirming the effect of deep cervical flexor muscles strengthening exercise. Results: As a result of comparison of measurements before and after intervention, we found that there were statistically significant improvement in the subjects' NDI, NRS and forward head posture including head tilt angle, neck flexion angle and forward shoulder angle. Conclusion: We concluded that deep cervical flexors strengthening exercise has the effect of alleviation of neck pain patients and is effective for forward head posture.

본 논문에서는 경추 초음파 DICOM 영상에서 개선된 퍼지 시그마 기법을 이용하여 경부심굴곡근을 추출하고 두께를 측정하는 방법을 제안한다. 제안된 방법은 ROI 영역에서 Ends-In Search Stretching을 적용하여 명암 대비를 강조한다. Stretching된 ROI 영역에서 평균 이진화를 적용한 후, Blob 알고리즘을 적용하여 흉쇄유돌근과 경부심굴곡근의 후보 영역을 추출한다. 추출된 경부심굴곡근 후보 영역에서 경추의 위치 정보를 이용하여, 경추의 경계 영역을 검출한 후, Cubic Spline 보간법 알고리즘을 적용하여 스플라인 곡선을 추출한다. 스플라인 곡선 영상에서 상/하 탐색 알고리즘을 적용하여, 최대/최소 범위 영역을 설정한다. Stretching된 ROI 영역에서 최대/최소 범위에 해당하는 영역에 대해 개선된 퍼지 시그마 이진화를 적용한다. 적용된 영역을 Blob 알고리즘을 이용하여 잡음을 제거하고 Morphology 알고리즘을 이용하여 초음파 영상의 첫 번째 경추 기준점의 좌표 정보를 추출한다. 경추 기준점을 기준으로 두께 측정에 필요한 경부심굴곡근 후보 영역을 추출하고 개선된 퍼지 시그마 이진화 알고리즘을 적용한다. 개선된 퍼지 시그마 이진화 알고리즘이 적용된 영상에서 근막의 위치 정보를 이용하여 경부심굴곡근상단 경계선을 추출한다. 추출된 각 경추 객체에 DDA(Digital Differential Analyzer) 알고리즘과 Cubic Spline 보간법 알고리즘을 적용하여 경부심굴곡근의 하단 경계선을 추출한다. 추출된 경부심 굴곡근의 상/하단 경계선의 위치 정보를 이용하여, 측정에 필요한 경부심굴곡근을 추출한다. 제안된 방법을 경추 초음파 영상에 적용하여 경부심굴곡근을 추출한 결과, 기존의 경부심굴곡근추출 방법보다 효율적으로 경부심굴곡근을 추출하는 것을 확인할 수 있었다.