The purpose of this study was to determine if a gentle form of manual lumbar traction could reduce painful lumbar motions associated with lumbar disc degeneration (LDD). This clinical trial incorporated 134 participants with painful active lumbar motion. Participants were randomly assigned to an experimental treatment or sham group. 67 participants received sidelying manual lumbar traction while the other 67 participants received a sham treatment. Pre and post treatment NPRS values for the painful active lumbar motion were recorded for each group. There was a statistically significant improvement (P=0.00) for decreased pain intensity during active lumbar motion in the experimental group as compared to the sham treatment group. The average percent decrease in numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) values was 52.1% for the experimental treatment group and 8.1% for the sham group. The results of the study suggest that side-lying manual lumbar traction can improve painful lumbar motion in patients with LDD.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of stable and unstable bridging exercises on the EMG activity of abdominal muscles. Twenty healthy women participated in this study and the muscle activities of left-right rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), and internal oblique (IO) muscles were recorded during 4 bridging exercises (unilateral/ bilateral, stable/unstable). The activity of the right EO muscle was the highest during unilateral exercise in unstable condition, and left EO muscle also produced the same result. The activity of the right IO muscle was the highest during unilateral exercise in an unstable condition, and left IO muscle also produced the same result. The activity of the right RA muscle was the highest during unilateral exercise in a stable condition, and left RA muscle produced the same result. Unstable/unilateral (USUL) represented the highest activity among the 4 exercises. EO/IO muscles represented the highest activity during the USUL exercise, and RA did so during the stable/unilateral exercise. These results suggest that specific posture (USUL) can be administered targeting a specific side of abdominal muscles.

The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze the difference of the ankle joint movements during landing. Seven adult males voluntarily participated in the study and the average foot size of the subjects was 269.8 mm. Image analysis equipment and the ground reaction force plate (landing type) was used to measure th kinetic variables. As a result of this study, it was confirmed that the vertical ground reaction force peak point appeared once in the barefoot with forefoot, while two peak points appeared in the barefoot and functional shoe foot with rear foot landing. About ankle angle, fore foot landing ankle angle, the average with bare foot landing was $-10.302^{\circ}$ and the average with functional shoe foot landing was $-2.919^{\circ}$. Also about rear foot landing, ankle angle was $11.648^{\circ}$ with bare foot landing and $15.994^{\circ}$ with functional shoe landing. The fore foot landing, ankle joint force analysis produced 1423.966N with barefoot and 1493.264N with functional shoes. But, the rear foot landing, ankle joint force analysis produced 1680.154N with barefoot and 1657.286N with functional shoes. This study suggest that the angle of ankle depends on the landing type and bare foot running/functionalized shod running, and ankle joint forces also depends on landing type.

This study investigated the effects of indirectly applying proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) to the scapular adductor muscles of stroke patients on their scapular movements and walking ability. Five patients who were diagnosed with stroke participated in this study as a single group. PNF patterns were applied to the scapulae anterior elevation and posterior depression patterns and upper limbs patterns of the patients in side lying and sitting positions together. The data were analyzed with a paired t-test in order to identify within-group differences in the measurements before and after the intervention. The scapular movements of the upper and lower parts, weight bearing and walking speed were significantly improved in the stroke patients after the application of PNF (p<0.05). These results suggest that PNF training effective in improving the scapular movements and walking ability in patients with stroke.

This study used both kinesiotaping and extracorporeal shock wave therapy on patients diagnosed with frozen shoulder - a common musculoskeletal disorder in adults - in order to observe the effects on the joint range of motion. 21 adult(male 12, female 9) were selected and distributed into randomized groups. One group received kinesiotaping (n=10) and the other group received kinesiotaping together with extracorporeal shockwave therapy (n=11). After a 6 week duration of receiving kinesiotaping and extracorporeal shockwave therapy, changes in the joint range of motion in the patients were observed. Post-treatment of frozen shoulder, the changes in abduction within the shoulder joint were as follows: in both groups there was a noticeable increase in the joint range of motion (p<.05). Post-treatment of frozen shoulder, the changes in external rotation within the shoulder joint were as follows: both groups showed a significant increase in the joint range of motion (p<.05). The result of suggest that, it can be inferred that both the extracorporeal shockwave therapy and kinesiotaping are effective in increasing the joint range of motion in patients with frozen shoulder.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of community-based rehabilitation (CBR) program on activities of daily livings (ADLs), quality of life and assistive technology satisfaction for disabled adults in South Korea. Fourteen community-dwelling subjects were participated in a home-based rehabilitation program which performed once a month for 2 months. The outcome measures included Modified Barthel Index (MBI) for assessing ADLs, EuroQol five-dimensions questionnaire (EQ-5D) for quality of life (QoL) and Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with assistive Technology 2.0 (QUEST 2.0) for assistive technology. Significant improvements in ADLs, quality of life and assistive technology satisfaction were observed after the program. This study indicated that community-based rehabilitation program is an effective method for improving ADLs, quality of life and assistive technology satisfaction for adults with disabilities.

The Purpose of this study was to determine the effects of sciatic nerve mobilization on pain and lower back muscle strength in female patients in their 40s who have been diagnosed with lumbar radiculopathy. Using a simple blinded method, 20 female patients with neuropathy in the nerve segments between L4-S1 were randomly divided into one group (n=10) that would undergo sciatic nerve mobilization, and another group (n=10) that would perform lower back segment stabilization exercises. The two groups attended 3 sessions per week, with each session taking 30 minutes, for a duration of 4 weeks. In the preliminary examinations, the pain index as well as the isometric muscle strength of the lower back extensor and flexor muscles were measured. After the passing of 4 weeks. The same method of measurement was used for the concluding examinations. Comparison of the pain indices in the two groups revealed that they both experienced a statistically significant decrease, and further inspection revealed that the there was a more substantial difference in the sciatic nerve mobilization group. Results of comparing changes in the Isometric Muscle Strength lower back muscle and bending muscle by group, In comparison between groups, the isometric strength of the lower back extensor showed a more significant difference in the sciatic nerve mobilization group (p <.05). Conclulsion, it can be inferred that application of sciatic nerve mobilization has a positive effect on the pain index and isometric muscle strength of the lower back in female patients with lumbar radiculopathy in their 40s.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of hypobarichypoxic training program on competitive performance. This was done by observing their conditioning and measuring their blood constituents before and after a multi-staged intermittent training program, over 2 weeks. Three national handicapped cyclists were placed in a multi-leveled hypobaric-hypoxic (flat-4000 meter (m) high elevation) environment with consistent temperature and humidity ($23{\pm}2^{\circ}C$, $50{\pm}5%$) for 2 weeks. After the training, the blood constituents and average heart rate (HR) were measured and the following results were obtained. In all three athletes, there were no unique changes in red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit, while there was a rise in the reticulocyte count. Observations of the difference in average HR during exercise at varying altitudes showed that athlete A had an average increase in the HR for the first 5 days at 2000 m. For athlete B, the comparison of the first and last training sessions at an altitude of 2000 m showed an HR increase of approximately 17%. For athlete C, there was a steady increase in the HR until day 7 of the training. As such, hypobaric-hypoxic training suggested that improvement of aerobic exercise performance in these athletes and it is recommended that there be a development for future training programs at high altitude, geared towards handicapped athletes of various disciplines.

The purpose of this case study was to identify the effects of posteroanterior (PA) mobilization on the cervical spine in a patient with chronic whiplash-associated disorder (WAD). The subject of this study was a 58-year-old woman who sustained a chronic WAD as a result of a motor vehicle accident two years prior. The subject has progressively worsening neck pain and stiffness. The subject was determined to have a grade IIb WAD the use of the Modified Quebec Classification. The intervention was central and unilateral PA mobilization on the spinous process of C4 and C5. The PA mobilizations were performed at the end of range to Maitland grade IV. The PA mobilization was conducted once daily for a total of eight days. Two sets of measurements were done one before and one after the intervention. Neck pain, cervical stiffness, range of motion and lordosis of the cervical spine were measured. Experimental intervention decreased the neck pain, and increased the neck stiffness and cervical ROM (range of motion) such as flexion, extension, lateral flexion and rotation. X-ray photographs also represented that cervical curvature increased from $35^{\circ}$ to $40^{\circ}$. This study suggested that PA cervical mobilization applied to hronic WAD is effective in decreasing pain, increasing cervical ROM and cervical curvature.