Earticle

Purpose: This study examined the effects of spinal stabilization exercises using visual feedback on the gross motor function and balance of the sitting posture in children with cerebral palsy. Methods: The subjects were 18 children with cerebral palsy aged 8-15 years in the I-III stages of the Gross Motor Function Classification System. The subjects were divided into an experimental group (n=9) and control group (n=9). The experimental group was treated with 30 minutes of neurodevelopmental treatment and 20 minutes of spinal stabilization exercises using visual feedback. The control group was treated with 30 minutes of neurodevelopmental treatment and 20 minutes of spinal stabilization exercises without visual feedback. Both groups participated in the experiment twice a week for eight weeks. The Gross Motor Function Measurement was performed to evaluate the changes between pre- and the post-intervention in gross motor function. The Seated Limit of Stability Surface Area was measured to evaluate the changes in trunk balance. Results: Both experimental and control groups showed a significant increase in the gross motor function and trunk balance (p<0.05). The experimental group showed a significant increase in gross motor function compared to the control group (p<0.05). The experimental group showed a significant increase in the dynamic trunk balance in all directions when measuring the Seated Limit of Stability Surface Area (p<0.05). Conclusion: Spinal stabilization exercises using visual feedback for the neurodevelopmental treatment of children with cerebral palsy can improve their gross motor function and trunk balance when in a sitting posture more effectively.

Purpose: To evaluate, in patients with degenerative disc disease (DDD), the efficacy of using spinal stabilizing exercises for the reversal? of atrophy of the multifidus and psoas major, reductions in pain and disability, and for increases in paraspinal muscle strength. Methods: Nineteen patients diagnosed with DDD participated for 10 weeks in a spinal stabilization exercise program. Pain and disability were measured before and after exercise using, respectively, a visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Paraspinal muscular strength in four directions was evaluated using CENTAUR. Both before and after exercise we used computed tomography (CT) too measure cross-sectional areas (CSAs) of both the left and right multifidus and the psoas major at the upper & lower endplate of L4. Results: After 10 weeks of a spinal stabilization exercise program, pain was significantly decreased from $5.7{\pm}0.9$ to $2.5{\pm}0.9$ (p<0.01); the ODI score decreased from $16.7{\pm}4.9$ to $7.3{\pm}3.1$. Paraspinal muscle strength was significantly increased (p<0.01) and the CSAs of the left and right multifidus and psoas major muscles were significantly increased (p<0.01). Conclusion: Spinal stabilization exercise is effective in reversing atrophy in DDD patients, in reducing pain and disability, and in increasing paraspinal muscle strength. It is an effective treatment foro aiding rehabilitation in these cases.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to monitor the performance of breathing exercises by patients with lumbar instability who had altered breathing patterns. METHODS: To investigate the effects of breathing exercises on spinal posture, mobility, and stabilization in patients with lumbar instability with altered breathing patterns, 30 adult participants were enrolled on the basis of the selection criteria and randomly assigned to the breathing exercise group (BEG) or trunk stabilization exercise group (SEG). A pre-test was performed prior to the intervention exercise program. The intervention exercise program consisted of 15 sessions (three sessions per week for 5 weeks) between August and September of 2016. The post-test was performed on the 6th week of intervention. RESULTS: Pre- and post-test comparisons of BEG and SEG revealed significant improvements in all tested items in the SEG, except for spinal mobility, while significant improvements in spinal postures 1 and 2, spinal mobility, and stabilization were found in the BEG. Between-group comparisons revealed that there were no significant differences in spinal posture 1, spinal posture 2, spinal mobility, or stabilization, whereas significant differences were found in spinal posture 2 and spinal mobility, with the BEG showing greater improvements than the SEG. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings in the present study, it is believed that breathing exercises have important effects on spinal posture, mobility, and stabilization in patients with lumbar instability who have altered breathing patterns.

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of spinal spiral stabilization exercise combined with Tecar Therapy on the spinal and pelvic structures and pain in college students with mild scoliosis. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 16 college students with scoliosis. The students were divided randomly into two groups of eight each. The control group received exercise therapy using spiral stabilization exercise, and the experimental group received spinal spiral stabilization exercise combined with Tecar Therapy three times a week for 50 minutes a day for eight weeks. The effects of the intervention were examined by measuring the spinal and pelvic structures and pain twice before and after the intervention. RESULTS: No significant difference in Cobbs angle was observed within the control group (p > .05), but a significant difference was noted within the experimental group (p < .05). A significant difference in Cobbs angle was observed between the groups (p < .05). The height in the left and right pelvis was similar within the control group (p > .05), but a significant difference was noted within the experimental group (p < .05). The left and right pelvic level was similar in the two groups (p > .05). A significant difference in pain was observed within the control and experimental groups (p < .05) and between the two groups (p < .05). CONCLUSION: These results revealed statistically significant differences in the spinal and pelvic structures and pain between the experimental and control groups and suggested a positive effect of the intervention.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the combined application of manipulation and stabilization exercises on pain and spinal curvature in patients with chronic back pain. Design: Randomized controlled trial Methods: The research subjects included 24 women in their 40s and 50s who have chronic back pain. The sample was evenly divided into an experimental group, which received the combined application of manipulation and stabilization exercises, and a control group, which received stabilization exercises only. The 30-minute intervention was applied five times a week for eight weeks. A bivariate repeated measures analysis of variances was conducted to identify the differences between the two groups before the experiment, after the fourth week, and at the end of the eight-week experiment. The level of statistical significance was set at.05. This analysis examined the within-group changes and the between-group changes using a paired t-test and an independent t-test, respectively. Results: Changes in pain differed significantly depending on the time of the measurement, the interaction between the time of the measurement and each group, and between the two groups (p<.05). Changes in the curvature of the bones of the neck, the bones of the back, and the lumbar vertebrae differed significantly depending on the time of the measurement and the interaction between the time of the measurement and each group (p<.05). Conclusion: The combined application of manipulation and stabilization exercises demonstrated a positive effect on changes in pain and spinal curvature, and the method is expected to be a useful intervention for reducing pain and improving spinal curvature in patients with back pain.

Background: Although the benefits of exercise programs after a lumbar discectomy are well-documented, they are not widely implemented in clinical practice. In particular, there is a lack of research focusing on patients who continue to experience low back pain after surgery. This case report outlines the effects of a structured exercise program on pain, disability, and structural changes in the paraspinal muscles in a patient with persistent low back pain following percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD). Methods: A 32-year-old male underwent PELD for a herniated disc at the right L4-5 level, but continued to experience low back and radiating pain. Starting four weeks postoperatively, he participated in a rehabilitation program that consisted of spinal stabilization exercises, trunk and hip strengthening, and aerobic exercises performed twice daily. Results: At three months post-surgery, the patient’s pain intensity (NPRS) decreased from 5 to 1, and his disability score (ODI) decreased from 28 to 5. At six months post-surgery, the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the psoas muscle increased, while the CSA of the multifidus and erector spinae muscles decreased. However, asymmetry between the right and left paraspinal muscles was reduced. Additionally, the grade of intramuscular fat infiltration, as measured by the Goutallier classification, showed improvement. Conclusion: This case report shows that a structured exercise program can be effective in reducing pain and disability and improving muscle balance and composition in a patient with persistent low back pain after PELD. These findings support the inclusion of rehabilitation programs in postoperative care for patients with such conditions.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of lumbar stabilization exercises combined with the Mulligan Sustained Natural Apophyseal Glide (SNAG) technique on gait function and postural alignment in patients with chronic low back pain. Methods: A total of 30 chronic low back pain patients were randomly assigned to either an experimental group, which received lumbar stabilization exercises combined with the Mulligan SNAG technique, or a control group, which received lumbar stabilization exercises combined with physical agent therapy. The interventions were conducted for 6 weeks. Changes in gait parameters, foot pressure, and spinal alignment were measured before and after the intervention, and comparative analyses were performed between the groups. Results: The study results showed that the experimental group demonstrated statistically significant improvements in all gait parameters, including gait velocity, stride length, step width, and cadence, as well as in spinal alignment before and after the intervention (p<.05). In contrast, the control group showed statistically significant changes only in gait velocity and spinal alignment (p<.05). Specifically, for the Kyphotic Angle, a significant decrease was observed in the control group (p<.01). A comparison between the two groups revealed a statistically significant difference only in gait parameters (p<.05), indicating that the experimental group was superior in improving gait function. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study provides clinical evidence that combining the Mulligan SNAG technique with lumbar stabilization exercises should be preferentially considered for treating chronic low back pain patients aiming to improve their walking ability.