Earticle

PURPOSE: Flexibility and range of motion are very important factors in sports performance, rehabilitation, and musculoskeletal pain. The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of cupping therapy on flexibility, muscle activity, and pain threshold of hamstring muscle compared to passive stretching in healthy subjects. METHODS: Thirty healthy subjects were randomly assigned in a crossover design to cupping therapy and passive stretching. Subjects were tested to compare their effects according to the intervention such as Passive range of motion (PROM) (straight leg raising) and active range of motion (AROM). And algometer (pain) testing and MVC assessment using EMG were performed as dependent variables. RESULTS: The cupping therapy group and passive stretching group showed significant differences in all variables including PROM (p=.00, p=.00), AROM (p=.00, p=.03), Pain Threshold (p=.03, p=.08), Semitendinosus MVC (p=.01, p=.00), and Biceps femoris MVC (p=.01, p=.16). There were no significant differences between the two groups in all variables. CONCLUSION: These findings of this study suggested that cupping therapy has as much positive effect on flexibility, pain threshold, and muscle contraction as passive stretching. Also, it is more convenient and easier to work on patients than passive stretching. Therefore, cupping therapy should be considered as another option to treat range of motion, pain, and muscle activity in the clinical field.

Purpose: The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of neuro-feedback training and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on stress, quantitative sensory threshold and pain in patients suffering from tension type headache. Methods: 22 participants who passed the preliminary evaluation were enrolled in the study and 11 participants were randomly assigned to each group. The control group (n=11) was subject to the TENS treatment of which was composed of a 20-minute session for 5 times a week during 4 weeks, and the experimental group (n=11) was subject to both neuro feedback training and TENS treatment for 10 minutes a day and 5 days a week during 4 weeks. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was used to measure a level of stress and the quantitative sensory testing (QST) was used for the measurement of cold pain threshold (CPT) and heat pain threshold (HPT); A degree of pain was evaluated through the headache impact test-6 (HIT-6). Results: In comparision of all dependent variables between the control and subject groups, there were significant differences in stress, quantitative sensory threshold and pain after the treatment (p<0.05), and the experimental group showed significant differences in stress, CPT, HPT and pain (p<0.05) and the control group showed only a significant difference in HPT (p<0.05). Conclusion: Findings of this study demonstrate that the concomitant administration of the TENS treatment and neuro feedback training is effective on alleviation of stress, quantitative sensory threshold and pain in patients with tension type headache.

Objective: This study is to investigate the effect of real-time feedback from the therapist on posture, muscle strength, pain of subjects with forward head posture based on a non-face-to-face complex exercise program. Design: Two-group pretest-posttest design. Methods: Thirty healthy men and women in their twenties with forward head posture with a Craniovertebral angle of 52° or less were targeted, the final selection was made as 15 experimental groups who performed the non-face-to-face intervention program while receiving real-time feedback and 15 control subjects who performed the non-face-to-face intervention program without providing feedback. Six of them were eliminated, and a total of 24 were conducted as subjects. All exercise groups performed an exercise program three times a week, 30 minutes each, for a total of two weeks. Before and after exercise, Craniovertebral angle (CVA), CranioRotation angle (CRA), muscle strength, and tenderness threshold were evaluated. Results: Significant differences were shown in both groups in CVA, and tenderness threshold before and after exercise (p<0.05), and CRA, the left middle trapezius muscle strength, only in the experimental group (p<0.05). In the comparison of theamount of change between exercise groups, the group that received feedback on CVA, CRA and tenderness threshold showed a significant change than the group without feedback (p<0.05). Conclusions: As a result of this study, it can be seen that the therapist's real-time feedback is more effective in improving the forward head posture. This requires feedback from the therapist on posture correction during non-face-to-face exercise intervention.

Objective: This study was conducted to compare the immediate effect of hamstring stretching techniques of static stretching, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) hold-relax and PNF irradiation on the hamstring muscle. Design: Three-group pretest-posttest design. Methods: Fifty-one subjects with shortened hamstrings were randomly assigned to the static stretching group (n=17), PNF hold-relax group (n=17), and the PNF irradiation group (n=17). All subjects performed an active knee extension (AKE) test to assess for the lower extremity with a shortened hamstring. The static stretching group performed stretches by lifting their leg to the maximum extent (3 times, 30 seconds). The PNF hold-relax group performed maximal isometric contraction against the experimenter's resistance (3 times, 10 seconds). The PNF irradiation group performed maximum isometric contraction against the experimenter's resistance toward the direction of the body (5 times, 5 seconds). The pre and post-tests measured range of motion (ROM), pressure pain thresholds (PPT) and muscle tone. Results: There were significant differences in ROM and PPT between pre and post intervention in each group (p<0.05). There was a significant difference only in the ROM among groups (p<0.05). Post-hoc analysis showed that the changes in ROM occurred in the order of the PNF hold-relax group, static stretching group and PNF irradiation group (p<0.05). Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that the PNF irradiation technique may improve ROM and may be used to improve ROM similar to other stretching techniques. Therefore, the PNF irradiation technique could be included in stretching programs and can be used as a suitable stretching method depending on the situation.

Purpose: This study was designed to compare the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and silver spike point (SSP) therapy on current perception threshold (CPT) and mechanical pain threshold (MPT). Methods: Forty-five healthy adult male and female subjects were studied. Fourteen of them were males and twenty-one were females. Subject were randomly assigned to receive; (1) TENS (80/120 Hz alternating frequency), (2) SSP (3 Hz), or (3) no treatment (control group). Electric stimulation was applied over LI4 and LI11 on acupuncture points of the left forearm for 30 minutes. CPT and MPT were recorded before and after electrical stimulation. The data were analyzed using linear mixed models, with group treated as a between subject factor and time a within-subject factor. Results: At 30 minutes after cessation of electrical stimulation the CPT of C fibers and A${\delta}$fibers was reduced in the TENS group that of C fibers was reduced in the SSP group (p<0.05). After cessation of electrical stimulation, the MPT of C fibers and A${\delta}$fibers increased in the TENS group, and that of A${\delta}$fibers increased in the SSP group (p<0.05). Conclusion: After TENS and SSP stimulation, MPT of C fibers and A${\delta}$fibers were selectively increased. In particular, the TENS group showed increases in both C and A${\delta}$fibers, while the SSP group showed increases only in A${\delta}$fibers.

The purposes of this study were 1) to examine the effects of microcurrent electrical neuromuscular stimulation 2) to compare surface electrode with needle electrode at somatic acupuncture points on experimental pain threshold measured at the distal end of the radius 3) to determine the changes in effect over time. A total of sixty healthy adult male and female subjects were assigned randomly to one of two experimental group or to a control group. Group 1(n=20) received MENS(Microcurrent Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulation) with surface electrode. Group 2(n=20) received HENS with needle electrode. Group 3(n=20) received no MENS. It measured experimental pain threshold at the wrist on pretreatment, 0 min after treatment. 15 min after treatment, 30 min after treatment in two experimental group. The results were as follows: 1. Experimental pain thresholds were higher in males than females(P<0.01). 2. Only the experimental group exhibited a significant increased in pain threshold after MENS treatment(P<0.05). 3. Surface electrode group increased significant pain threshold 0 min, 15 min after treatment, but greatly decrease 30 min after treatment. 4. Needle electrode group increased significant pain threshold 0 min, 15 min after treatment, but decrease 30 min after treatment. The results suggest that MENS applied to appropriate somatic acupuncture point can increase pain threshold. Further research is needed to assess the effects of greatly variety intensity of MENS of pain sufferes.

국민참여재판에서 판사가 배심원에게 제시하는 법설시에는 범죄사실에 대해서 합리적인 의심이 없는 정도의 증명에 이르렀을 때 유죄를 인정해야 한다는 “합리적 의심의 초월 기준”에 대한 설명이 포함된다. 합리적 의심의 초월 기준은 일반적으로 배심원들이 평의를 시작하기 직전에 설명되는데, 본 연구에서는 설시절차(증거 이전, 증거 이후)에 따라 피고인에 대한 유죄/무죄 인정에 차이가 생긴다는 선행연구를 기반으로 그 인지과정을 알아보고자 하였다. 배심원 자격을 가진 만 20세 이상 성인남녀 189명을 대상으로 합리적 의심의 초월 기준에 대한 설명을 증거 전과 후에 받은 집단이 증거 후에만 설시를 받은 집단과 설시를 받지 않은 집단보다 피고인에 대한 유죄인정비율이 낮은지 분석한 후, 설시 제시절차와 유죄인정비율 사이의 두 가지 인지과정을 확인하였다: 1) 유죄판단 역치 생성, 2) 증거의 증명력 평가. 분석 결과, 설시를 증거 전후에 받은 집단은 다른 집단에 비해 피고인의 유죄를 판단하기 위한 역치가 높게 형성된 것을 확인하였으나, 증거의 증명력은 설시 제시절차 간에 유의한 차이가 없었다. 이러한 결과는 배심원이 재판에서 설시를 증거 전에 받았을 때, 각 증거의 증명력을 합리적 의심의 초월 기준으로 평가하기보다는 유죄결정을 위한 역치수준을 조정하여 그것을 기반으로 피고인에 대한 최종판단을 한다고 해석되었다.

The jury instruction consists of a set of legal rules and provides a guide for jurors to interpret evidence and the legal standard of a proof beyond reasonable doubt. Jury instructions are usually given after the closing arguments (at the end of the trial). But some research has shown that jury instruction provided before the evidence may have an impact on verdict. The present study was to determine the cognitive process caused by early instruction: (1) Early instruction may influence the verdict by upwardly adjusting the threshold for the decision to convict; (2) early instruction may influence the verdict through evaluations of the probative values of evidence; (3) Or both. 187 people older than 20 years of age participated in the on-line survey. With a trial scenario, one independent variable, Instruction Procedure, was manipulated in three levels: before-and-after the evidence procedure, after-only evidence procedure, and no-instruction procedure. The instruction procedure conditions did not show any difference in the evaluation of the probative values of evidence. On the other hand, before-and-after condition showed the lowest rate of guilty verdict and the highest probability of guilt for the defendant in the scenario. This latter result clearly suggested that the instruction procedure affects the decision threshold. Specifically, instruction provided twice, once before and again after the evidence, may upwardly shift the threshold for the decision to convict.

To elucidate pressure pain threshold of pericranial muscle due to involuntary. the effect of 30 min or forward head position(FHP) was studied in 20 patients with episodic tension-type headache and in 20 control without headache. Pressure pain thresholds were recorded before and after the FHP. and evaluated by pressure algometry. Thresholds increased in the patients and control after FHP. Relation between thresholds in patients anf control before FHP were not significant differences, but thresholds increased in patients after FHP. So, involutary muscle contraction due to FHP may be effect pressure pain threshold or pericranial muscle.

PURPOSE: The effectiveness of the stretching to increase the range of motion of the joint, reduce the risk of injury, enhance athletic performance or decrease post exercise muscle soreness. This study was to compare the effect of the stretching method applied on the shortened hamstring muscle for flexibility, strength, pressure pain threshold value and muscle tone. METHODS: This study is a two-group pretest- posttest design. Fifty-four healthy young adults were randomly assigned to a vibration-assisted stretching group (VASG, n=27) or a static stretching group (SSG, n=27). Participants performed each stretch in 4 sets of 30 seconds each. A 30-second break time was provided between the sets. The range of motion, strength, pressure pain threshold values and muscle tone of the hamstring muscle were measured to compare the effects of the stretching methods. RESULTS: Both the VASG and the SSG participants showed significant improvement in the range of motion and strength (p<.05); however, the increase in the VASG was significantly higher than that in the SSG (p<.05). The pressure pain threshold values and muscle tone were significantly decreased only in the VASG (p<.05). CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that vibration-supported stretching is an effective intervention for people with hamstring shortening, with high pain level and muscle tone decrease.

[목적] 스포츠테이핑 기법이 적용된 기능성스타킹 착용에 따른 골프선수의 스윙동작과 라운드 전 후에 하지의 근 전도 반응, 하지부종, 통증역치를 비교하여 골프에서의 기능성스타킹의 효과를 검증하는데 목적이 있다. [방법] KLPGA 투어프로 8명을 선정하여 스윙동작 시 하지의 근전도를 측정해 MEF로 산출하여 paired t-test로 분석하였 으며, 라운드 전 후 종아리 둘레와 통증역치를 측정하여 Two-way ANOVA로 분석하였다. [결과] 골프스윙시 앞정 강근과 장딴지근, 넙치근의 MEF는 기능성스타킹 착용 조건에서 유의하게 높게 나타났다. 라운드 전 후 장딴지근 내측 및 외측, 넙치근의 통증역치는 기능성스타킹 조건이 유의하게 높게 나타났으며, 하지부종은 기능성스타킹 조건이 유의하게 적게 나타났다. [결론] 기능성스타킹의 착용은 골프 경기 중 MEF의 증가와 부종의 감소, 높은 통증역치를 나타내어 골프스윙과 라운드에서 하지의 근피로를 지연하는데 효과적일 것이라 사료된다.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study is to verify the effect of functional stocking in a golf round by comparing muscle fatigue, pain threshold, and edema according to wearing functional stocking with sports taping technique. [Method] Eight subjects of KLPGA golfer were selected as the subjects of the study and the EMG was measured during golf swing and calculated by MEF and analyzed by the paired t-test. Before and after the round, calf circumference and pain threshold were measured and analyzed by two-way ANOVA. [Result] In the golf swing, the MEF of the tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius and soleus were significantly higher in the condition of wearing functional tights. After golf round, the pain threshold of the medial head and lateral head of gastrocnemius, soleus were significantly higher in the condition of wearing functional tights and the circumference of calf were significantly lower in the condition of wearing functional tights. [Conclusion] The wearing of the functional stockings seems to be increased MEF, decreased edema, and high pain-threshold during the golf round. Therefore, functional stockings may be effective in delaying the fatigue of the lower limbs in golf swing and round.

본 연구에서는 중소기업에 대한 지원정책으로 인해 중소기업이 고의적으로 성장을 지체하는 현상이 존재하는지를 실증분석하였다. 규모감소확률, 규모성장률의 두 가지 관점에서 문지방효과(threshold effect)를 분석하였으며, 자료는 한신평의 외감기업 전수자료와 통계청의 광공업 통계총조사를 모두 이용하였다. 외감기업 전수자료는 자료의 높은 신뢰성에도 불구하고 성장지향적 기업이 포함될 가능성이 높은 반면, 광공업통계는 종업원 5인 이상 사업체 전수의 정보를 제공함에도 불구하고 다공장 기업을 분석에서 제외함으로써 성장지향적 기업을 배제할 가능성이 높다. 따라서, 두 자료는 서로 보완적으로 문지방 효과의 존재를 보여줄 수 있다. 규모감소확률과 규모증가율의 관점에서 실증분석을 시행한 결과 종업원 250명∼299명 사이에서 문지방효과는 발견되지 않았다. 이는 중소기업이 대기업으로 성장 시 발생하는 부담이 정상적인 성장을 고의적으로 지체할 만큼 충분히 크지 않기 때문으로 해석된다. 실제로 중소기업 지원액의 대다수는 중기업보다는 소기업에게 지원되고 있으며, 대기업에 대한 규제도 자산규모가 최소 1,000억 원이 넘었을 때 시행된다는 점이 이를 뒷받침하고 있다.

This paper aims to analyze the effect of distinction between LSEs and SMEs on firm growth. Previous literatures strongly insisted that distinction between SMEs and LSEs on the basis of 300 employees and consequent discriminatory supports have the threshold effect on the growth of SMEs. However, relevant discussion was usually based on case studies or questionnaire, which means threshold effect on firm growth had never been proved by empirical analysis. Therefore we verified the threshold effect from two perspectives-the possibility to decrease the size and the growth rate. Moreover, two databases were used-the database of the statutory audit firms from Korea Information Service and the Mining and Manufacturing Census from the National Statistical Office. The former is the most suitable database in that it contains firm level data and is very credible. But, it may include information of firms which are more eager to grow. On the other hand, although the latter is the most comprehensive database in the available databases, it contains the establishment level data. Therefore, the data of multi-plant firms which are more eager to grow should be eliminated in the analysis. Therefore, it is expected that two databases are complimentary to each other. The regression analysis with two databases showed that there was no abnormal growth pattern in the vicinity of firms with less than 300 employees. Possible explanations are as follows. Policy supports for SMEs were mainly targeted on SSEs (Small sized enterprises) rather than MSEs (Medium sized enterprises) and the regulations on LSEs were applied only when the equity exceeded 100 billion won. Therefore, the burden from the growth of SMEs grow to LSEs is not significant enough to retard normal growth intentionally.

Trade openness is an important determinant of the inflation process. The effect of trade openness on inflation, however, is still an issue of debate at both theoretical and empirical levels. This study tried to provide a contribution to the literature by examining the relationship between inflation and trade openness in Tunisia over the period 1975Q1-2015Q4 using a nonlinear model. The originality of this study stems from the fact that it is the first investigation considering both the Residual-Based Tests for Cointegration in Models with the Regime Shifts and Threshold Regression model. The linear model confirms the existence of a positive relationship between inflation and trade in Tunisia. Yet, considering the nonlinear model, trade openness growth and Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation growth show a statistically significant negative link as long as the trade openness evolution does not exceed the threshold. Nevertheless, if the trade openness growth is higher than the threshold, integrating the trade positively affects CPI inflation. Furthermore, a positive influence of Money supply growth on this type of inflation was noticed in Tunisia in all the considered regimes proving the effect of monetary factors on inflation level. Consequently, trade openness could be used to control inflation in Tunisia.

The language threshold effect on comprehending an L2 (second language) text was experimentally examined, using two types of measurement tool, multiple-choice &true/false questions and a recall task for L2 reading comprehension. Cognitive processes implicated in each measure were delineated to allow a finer analysis on the role of L1 reading competence and L2 proficiency in comprehending an L2 text. In order to observe how one aspect of L2 proficiency, vocabulary knowledge, is related to language threshold effect, thirty-two 9th grade Korean students in Korea were given a vocabulary knowledge acquisition activity in a treatment condition between a pretest and a posttest. The relative contributions that L1 reading competence and L2proficiency made to L2 reading comprehension were analyzed before the treatment and after the treatment using multiple-regression analysis technique. The findings of this repeated measure design were consistent with previous correlational studies showing that the role of L1 reading competence became stronger as L2 proficiency operationalized via vocabulary knowledge improved. What is elaborated in the present study is the fact that cognitive processes, initiated by a recall task, are more sensitive to the weakening of language threshold effects.