• PNF and Movement
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.79-86
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate muscle activity according to knee flexion angle during single-limb-deadlift exercises. Methods: In total, 26 healthy volunteers participated. The single-limb-deadlift consisted of 0˚, 15˚, and 30˚ knee joint bending. The electromyography data were collected from the semitendinosus (SM), the biceps femoris (BF), the rectus femoris (RF), the vastus lateralis (VL), and the vastus medialis (VM). In addition, hamstrings and quadriceps (HQ) ratio was measured during the single-limb-deadlift using electromyography. Results: During the single-limb-deadlift, RF, VL, and VM were significantly higher at 30˚ bending angles compared to muscle activity of 0˚ and 15˚ knee-joint bending. The HQ ratio had significant differences in all three knee joint bending angles. In particular, the single-limb-deadlift carried out to a 30˚ knee-joint bend showed the closest value to 1. Conclusion: The most balanced coactivation ratios were observed during a single-limb-deadlift to a 30˚ knee-joint bend angle. A single-limb-deadlift at a knee-bend angle of less than 30˚ could be used as an exercise to prevent ACL injury. It could also be used for post-injury rehabilitation programs by increasing knee-joint stability.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.71-76
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• 2019

Background: An 8-year-old girl had severe neck pain and stiffness after trauma. CT scan showed atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation (AARS). She had conservative treatment because she did not have neurological symptoms and spinal basilar artery dysfunction. Conservative therapy was halter traction twice for 4 weeks. However, pain and stiffness persisted. She had been recommended to have surgery from her physician, but she received manual therapy for non-surgical procedures. Methods: The joint mobilization, muscle energy technique, motor control exercise, and deep neck flexor (DNF) endurance exercise were applied as manual therapy and 10 session for 2weeks. Results: Clinical outcomes were measured at initial baseline, after 2 weeks, and after 6weeks. Active range of motion was completely restored after 6weeks and numeric pain rating scale was completely reduced after 2 weeks. The strength of neck flexor muscle recovered to normal after 2 weeks, and the DNF endurance was improved to 25 seconds after 2 weeks and to 42 seconds after 6weeks. Motor control capacity recovered to 30 ㎜Hg after 2 weeks. Conclusions: This case report describes the immediate and short-term clinical outcomes for a patient presenting with symptoms of neck pain following AARS. Clinical rationale and patient preference aided the decision to incorporate manual therapy as a treatment for this patient. Manual therapy has shown a successful recovery in AARS patients, more research is needed to validate the inference of this case report.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.451-460
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a modified constraint induced movement therapy (mCIMT) using proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on the upper extremity function and activities of daily living (ADLs) in patients with subacute stroke. Methods: Fourteen participants with subacute stroke were randomly assigned to a group using both mCIMT and PNF or a group using mCIMT alone. Each group underwent twenty sessions (1 h/d, 5 d/wk) for 4 weeks. Patients were assessed with the action research arm test (ARAT), the Fugl-Meyer assessment for the upper extremities (FMA-UE), the Modified Barthel Index (MBI), and motor activity logs (MALs; amount of use [AOU] and quality of movement [QOM]). Results: Both the experimental group and the control group showed significant intragroup improvement in the ARAT, FMA-UE, MBI, and MAL-AOU (p<0.05). The group using both mCIMT and PNF exhibited greater improvement in the ARAT, FMA-UE, MBI, and MAL-AOU than did the group using mCIMT alone. Statistical analyses showed significant differences in the ARAT (p=0.01), FMA-UE (p=0.01), MBI (p=0.00), and MAL-AOU (p=0.01) between the groups. Conclusion: This study applied mCIMT combined with PNF for subacute stroke patients, and the results showed significant improvements in the patients' upper extremity function and ADLs. Therefore, mCIMT using PNF may be more effective than mCIMT alone in improving upper limb function and ADLs in patients with subacute stroke.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.461-473
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the effects of inspiratory muscle training with chest expansion exercises on pulmonary function, maximal inspiratory pressure, and gait in individuals with stroke. Methods: The participants in this study included 36 stroke patients. These patients were randomly divided into three groups: an inspiratory muscle training (IMT) with chest expansion (CE) group (n=12), an IMT group (n=12), and a control group (n=12). Participants in the IMT with CE group underwent IMT and CE exercises 5 times per week for 30 minutes over 4 weeks, whereas those in the CE group and the control group received IMT and conventional physical therapy, respectively, for the same duration. The investigator measured the patients' pulmonary function, maximal inspiratory pressure, and gait endurance. Results: After the intervention, the change values for the forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF), maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), and six-minute walk test (6MWT) in the IMT with CE group and the control group were significantly greater than those of the control group (p<0.05). Similarly, after the intervention, the change values of the FVC, FEV1, PEF, MIP, and 6MWT in the IMT with CE group were significantly greater than those in the IMT group (p<0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that IMT with CE could be used to increase pulmonary function, maximal inspiratory pressure, and gait endurance in stroke patients.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.47-56
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• 2019

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of neck pattern of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on balance and walking ability in patients with chronic stroke. Methods: Fourteen participants with chronic stroke were randomly assigned to vestibular rehabilitation and then divided into two groups: the neck pattern group or treadmill group. Each group underwent 20 sessions (20 minutes/day, five days/week, for four weeks). Patients were assessed with the Berg balance scale (BBS) and gait parameters (gait speed, cadence, step length, and double-limb support period) using a GAITRite system. Results: Vestibular rehabilitation for the neck pattern group and the treadmill group showed significant intragroup improvement on the BBS and in terms of gait speed, cadence, step length, and double-limb support period (p < 0.05). Vestibular rehabilitation was more effective for the neck pattern group than for the treadmill group in terms of the BBS (p = 0.00; 95% CI, 1.49-5.94), gait speed (p = 0.01; 95% CI, 0.05-0.16), cadence (p = 0.02; 95% CI, 0.54-4.99), and step length (p = 0.00, 95% CI, 1.55-4.62). Conclusion: This study used the neck pattern of PNF for vestibular rehabilitation in patients with chronic stroke. The results showed significant improvement in the patients' balance and walking ability. Therefore, the neck pattern of PNF for vestibular stimulation may be more effective than treadmill training to improve balance and walking ability in patients with chronic stroke.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2019

Purpose: This study verifies the muscle activity around the amputation site during proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) pattern exercise for the upper extremities on the non-amputated part in upper extremity amputees and provides basic data on effective exercise around an amputation site. Methods: Manual resistance was applied to the PNF upper extremity pattern of the non-amputated part to generate muscle activity around the amputation site. The resistance was adjusted to an intensity that could cause maximal isometric contraction. The muscle activity of the amputation site and the non-amputated part was measured using a surface electromyogram for the upper trapezius, middle trapezius, infraspinatus, serratus anterior, and pectoralis major. Results: During the scapular exercise in the painless range, the amputated side showed significantly lower muscle activity and a lower muscle contraction ratio compared with the non-amputated side. During the PNF pattern exercise in the painless range, the amputated side showed lower muscle activity and a lower muscle contraction ratio compared with the non-amputated side. When the direct scapular exercise of the amputated side was compared with the PNF pattern exercise of the non-amputated side, their muscle contraction ratios were similar. Conclusion: This study confirmed the effectiveness of the PNF pattern exercise of the non-amputated part as a way to indirectly train the injured site with no pain for rehabilitation of patients with serious body injuries, such as amputation. It is necessary to develop effective exercise programs for the rehabilitation of the amputation site based on the results of this study.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.297-302
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• 2021

This study was conducted to investigate the level of depression in the elderly after stroke and to determine the relationship between sleep quality and post stroke depression. The study participants were 110 elderly people aged 60 or older who visited the physical therapy room after stroke, and the survey was conducted from August to November 2020. Descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis were performed for data analysis. As a result, 77.3% (85 patients) of the participants were depressed. The factor influencing on depression was the quality of sleep, and the explanatory power was 27.8%. It was confirmed that the sleep quality of the elderly after a stroke was a major influencing factor on depression. Therefore, it is thought that measures to improve the quality of sleep should be prepared in order to reduce the post stroke depression of the elderly.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.117-123
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• 2020

Purpose : VDT (visual display terminal syndrome) can affect individuals who monitor or who work or play using video screens, including those of smartphones. In general, headache symptoms from overuse of these screens can appear due to eye fatigue, muscle pain in the joints of wrists or fingers, and muscle pain in the neck or shoulders. Many studies in the literature have supported standards that seek to prevent these symptoms. The incidence of musculoskeletal diseases caused by the use of smartphones is expected to increase rapidly, particularly among children and young adults, and these diseases are expected to develop into a societal problem. Therefore, in this study we investigate whether tension headaches that develop from smartphone usage can affect forward neck posture, neck pain, and quality of life. Methods : A total of 93 students from University participated in this study. We divided participants into two groups, those with tension headaches (n = 25) and those without (n = 68) and took forward neck measurements. Headaches were classified according to criteria from the International Headache Society and involved bilateral headache position, quality of pressing or tightening pain, mild or moderate pain intensity, and none due to daily physical activity. We surveyed participants using the smartphone addiction diagnosis questionnaire, the Neck Disability Index (NDI), the Headache Impact Test (HIT-6), and the Quality of Life Questionnaire. Results : Although we found no significant differences in tension headaches due to smartphone addiction diagnosis (p = 0.25), SF-36 life quality assessment (p = 0.06), and cranio-vertebral angle (p = 0.07), we found significant differences from the HIT-6 and the NDI (p <.05). Conclusion : Tension headaches are not correlated with smartphone addiction, quality of life, and forward neck angle but do have a correlation with the degree of cervical dysfunction and the effects of the headaches.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.576-585
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• 2022

In determining the cause of dysmenorrhea, it is necessary to investigate postural alignment and balance. The purpose of this study is to compare and analyze whether there is a difference in posture alignment and foot pressure balance according to the dysmenorrhea degree. The subjects were twenty female students in their 20s, who had pain caused by dysmenorrhea. According to the degree of dysmenorrhea, the subjects were divided into mild and severe groups. In the results, there was a significant difference only in shoulder height asymmetry angle between the mild and severe groups (p<0.05), and there was no significant difference in pelvic and knee joint alignment. In the correlation analysis, there was a significant positive correlation between the dysmenorrhea score (MDQ) and shoulder height asymmetry angle was found. These results indicate that dysmenorrhea symptom and asymmetric alignment of shoulder are related. To analyze these factors, further research will need to investigate the correlation between dysmenorrhea and spinal alignment.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.23-34
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• 2022

Purpose : This study examined the effects of pain, neck dysfunction, psychosocial level, headache impact test (HIT), postural alignment, and trapezius muscle tone of the complex exercise program using dynamic taping in patients with tension headache and chronic neck pain with forward head posture. Methods : The design of this is a randomized controlled trial (RCT). Thirty-four patients with chronic neck pain were screened using a randomized assignment program and assigned to experimental group (n=17) and control group (n=17). Both groups underwent a complex exercise program. In addition, the experimental group dynamic taping was applied to the upper trapezius muscle. All interventions were applied three times per week for four weeks. The visual analogue scale (VAS), the neck disability index (NDI), short form-12 health survey questionnaire (SF-12), Headache impact test-6 (HIT-6), Craniovertebral angle (CVA), Cranial rotation angle (CRA), upper trapezius muscle tone were compared to evaluate the effect on intervention. Results : Both groups showed significant differences before and after the intervention in VAS, NDI, SF-12, HIT-6, and CVA, CRA (p<.05). In addition, significant differences in NDI and upper trapezius muscle tone were observed between the experimental group and control group (p<.05). Conclusion : A complex exercise program using dynamic taping for patients with tension headache and chronic neck pain with forward head posture are effective method with clinical significance in improving the function and reducing upper trapezius muscle tone.