The Comparison of the Time Effect between Hot pack and Static Stretching Exercise for Lumbar Flexibility

온열요법과 스트레칭이 시간에 따라 요부의 유연성에 미치는 영향의 비교

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of heat therapy, stretching exercise and to verify which method was most effective for lumbar flexibility improvement. Subjects were 20 apparantly healthy person(male10, female10) who did not have any medical problem. They were randomly divided and assigned into 2 groups: heat therapy, stretching exercise. For testing flexibility, trunk flexion, bunk extension, and Schober-test were performed. Pre-test was done prior to the each group's treatment. Test was done at 2nd week, 4th week and 6th week. There were no significant difference in improvement of trunk flexion and trunk extension after 6 weeks treatment among 2 methods. However in all 2 groups, there were statically significant improvement in flexibility as time go on. The rate of improvement was highest at 2nd week, while this was attenuated afterwards. The Schober-test score changed significantly from pre-test to the mid-test and to the post-test, while there were no significant difference among 2 methods of treatment. With the results above, it was concluded that heat therapy, stretching-exercise were all effective for improving flexibility without any significant priorities.