• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.25-35
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• 2020

Objective: To compare the effects of joint mobilization, gym ball exercises, and breathing exercises on breathing pattern disorders and joint position sense in persons with chronic lower back pain. Design: Three-group pretest-posttest design. Methods: Thirty-six individuals with chronic low back pain who were undergoing a postural correction and vertebral movement at a rehabilitation center participated in this study. The subjects were randomly divided into the joint mobilization group (n=12), gym ball exercises group (n=12), and the breathing exercises group (n=12). The exercises were applied for 40 minutes a day, twice a week for a total of 12 weeks. Measurement tools included the end-tidal CO₂ (ETCO₂), respiration rate (RR), breath hold time, Nijmegen Questionnaire (NQ), excursion, and joint position error (JPE). Results: The groups showed significant differences in the ETCO₂, RR, NQ, Excursion and JPE test before and after the intervention (p<0.05). The differences between the groups were significant in the group that received the gym ball and breathing exercises in ETCO₂ and RR (p<0.05). The differences between the groups were most significant in the group that received breathing exercises in NQ and excursion (p<0.05). The differences between the groups were significant in the group that received the gym ball and breathing exercises in JPE Lt. and Rt. (p<0.05). Conclusions: All three interventions had a significant impact on the biomechanical changes, respiratory variables, and joint position sense in participants with chronic lower back pain. Breathing exercises were found to be particularly effective in improving respiratory parameters.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1981-1991
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• 2020

Background: Although various exercises have been performed for patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP), the effects of these exercises including joint mobilization, gym ball exercises, and breathing exercises on flexion relaxation ratio (FRR) have not been compared. Objective: To compare the effects of joint mobilization, gym ball exercises, and breathing exercises on the flexion relaxation phenomenon (FRP) and pain in patients with chronic low back pain. Design: Randomized pretest-posttest control group design. Methods: Thirty-six patients with chronic low back pain who were undergoing rehabilitation at a rehabilitation center were included. The patients were randomly divided into three groups: joint mobilization group (JMG; n=12), gym ball exercise group (GBG; n=12), and breathing exercise group (BEG; n=12). The exercises were performed for 40 minutes a day, twice a week, for a total of 12 weeks. Results: There were no significant differences in FRR between the three groups (P>.05). Significant decreases in the modified visual analog scale (MVAS) scores after intervention between the groups were found (P<.05). The GBG was significantly decreases from the JMG in the MVAS (P<.05). However, there were significant improvements between the pre- and post-interventional findings on FRR and MVAS in the three groups (P<.05). Conclusion: We demonstrated that intervention using joint mobilization, gym ball exercises, and breathing exercises improve FRP and pain in patients with CLBP.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.123-131
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• 2015

PURPOSE: This study attempts to examine the impact of respiratory muscle exercises on the respiratory function and quality of sleep among stroke patients. METHODS: A total of 20 stroke patients were randomly divided into a breathing-exercise training group(n=10) and a breathing-device-training group(n=10). Changes in pulmonary function, as well as the quality, were measured before and after the intervention. The breathing exercise was performed three times a week for a total of eight weeks. Breathing-device exercises made use of a lung-capacity-strengthening device and were performed for three times a week for eight weeks. One Flow FVC was used as a measurement tool for the pulmonary function test. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI) and a sleep measurement tool were used for sleep evaluation. RESULTS: In a comparison of changes in pulmonary function before and after the training, the breathing-exercise group and the breathing-device-training group showed a significant difference. In changes of sleeping measure and PSQI, the breathing-exercise group and the breathing-device-training group also showed significant differences. CONCLUSION: Diverse index analyses confirmed that breathing exercises and exercises using a lung-capacity-strengthening device, were effective in improving respiratory function and quality of sleep among stroke patients experiencing respiratory function disorders and sleep disorders.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.278-292
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• 2023

Objective: This study was performed to investigate the effects of thoracic joint mobilization and breathing exercises on diaphragmatic thickness, chest expansion, respiratory function, and endurance in patients with chronic stroke. Design: Randomized controlled trial Methods: The study included 24 chronic stroke patients who were randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group (12 people) performed 15 minutes of thoracic joint mobility exercises and 15 minutes of breathing exercises, three times a week for 6 weeks, 30 minutes each time. The control group (12 people) received 15 minutes of conservative physical therapy and 15 minutes of breathing exercises, 3 times a week for 6 weeks, 30 minutes per session, the same as the experimental group. The experimental and control groups performed the same breathing exercises. To assess training effectiveness, changes in diaphragm thickness, chest expansion, respiratory function, and endurance were measured. Results: As a result, the experimental group exhibited significant improvements in diaphragm thickness, chest expansion, and respiratory function. The endurance mode also displayed significant enhancement (p<0.05), a finding consistent with the control group. However, the experimental group displayed more substantial improvements in non-affected diaphragm thickness and thoracic expansion compared to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusions: Drawing from these findings, breathing exercise which combine thoracic mobilization, will be actively utilized in addition to physical therapy interventions in clinical trials as an effective intervention method.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.79-84
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• 2014

Background : This study is for respiratory muscle activity and chest expansion through practice abdominal breathing exercises. Methods : The subjects were consisted normal 30 persons(15 males and 15 females). The control group to 15 people to compare group and 15 people for the abdominal breathing exercise group through lip retraction movement of the therapist with the resistance of mediated abdominal breathing exercises. For 8 weeks EMG was used to know the changes in respiratory muscle. We also found out the changes in chest expansion. And the t-test was conducted to analyze among the compared group, the abdominal breathing group the differences between before and after the experiment. Results : On the changes in respiratory muscle muscular activity in the transverse abdominis have shown significant results(p<.05), and the change in chest expansion was no significant(p>.05). Conclusion : Various breathing exercises in future research on intervention programs can be studied to promote the public if the functional status is considered to be of much help.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.55-65
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• 2020

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of breathing exercises via joint mobilization on the lung function and spinal alignment of 30 straight-necked women in their 20 s and 30 s. METHODS: The participants were divided into two groups: an experimental group who performed breathing exercises via joint mobilization, and a control group who performed general stretching exercises. The differences between the two groups were measured and compared at three points in time: during the pre-examination, after four weeks of intervention, and after a four-week maintenance period. The changes in each group were measured before and after the intervention and after a one-month maintenance period and compared. For data analysis, the SPSS 22 was used to obtain the mean and standard deviation with a significance level of α = .05. RESULTS: Eight weeks of breathing exercises via joint mobilization and general stretching exercises positively impacted the lung function and spinal alignment in straight-necked patients. In particular, the experimental group showed more significant differences in spinal alignment after four weeks period of intervention and four weeks of maintenance. CONCLUSION: Breathing exercises via joint mobilization can be considered an effective intervention that can improve the respiratory volume and spinal alignment for patients with straight necks.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.67-70
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• 2024

Purpose: This study investigated the effect of virtual reality and Schroth breathing exercises on the lung function characteristics of normal adults in their 20s. Methods: The subjects were randomly divided into groups with ten people each in the experimental groups, namely the virtual reality breathing exercise group (BBEG) and the Schroth breathing exercise group (SBEG), and the control group. The experimental groups performed each breathing exercise for 4 weeks. Subsequently, pulmonary function test indicators such as the forced vital capacity (FVC) and the forced expiratory volume (FEV1) were measured. Results: In the within-group comparison of the subjects before and after the exercises, there was a significant difference in the FVC and FEV1 (p<0.05), but there was no significant difference in FEV1/FVC. The result of the difference test between groups showed that there was a significant difference in FEV1/FVC after exercise (p<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in the remaining items (p>0.05). Conclusion: Improvement in lung function was seen in both exercise groups, and the changes in FEV1/FVC indicated significant improvement in the lung function of the experimental groups compared to the control group.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.268-277
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• 2023

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Pilates breathing exercises on functional disability and lumbar flexibility in patients with non-specific chronic low back pain. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Methods: 30 patients with non-specific low back pain were selected and classified into an experimental group (n=15) and a control group (n=15). Both groups were assessed for functional disability using the Oswestry Disability Index and flexibility of the lumbar spine using the modified-modified Schober test before and after the intervention. The intervention was applied twice a week for four weeks. The experimental group performed Pilates breathing exercises followed by spinal stabilization exercises, while the control group only performed spinal stabilization exercises. Results: Both groups showed significant improvements in functional disability and lumbar flexibility after the intervention. However, when comparing between the two groups, the experimental group showed a more significant effect than the control group. Conclusions: The combination of Pilates breathing exercises and spinal stabilization exercises can be considered an effective approach to improve low back pain and prevent chronic pain in patients with non-specific chronic low back pain.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.234-240
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• 2017

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of breathing exercises and lumbar segmental exercises on the segmental stability of patients with chronic back pain. Methods: Fifty-nine patients, who suffered from chronic low back pain, were enrolled in this examination. They were divided randomly into three groups: experiment group 1 underwent breathing and segmental stabilization exercises (n=20), experiment group 2 experienced segmental stabilization exercises (n=20), and the control group was given the modality treatment (n=19). The measurements were assessed through an Oswestry disability questionnaire (ODQ), as well as a lumbar segmental instability test (LSIT). Results: The ODQ results for experimental groups 1 and 2 were similar (p<0.05), both before and after six weeks of exercise, but different among the three groups (p>0.05). The differences in segmental instability of each of the three groups were similar (p<0.05), and also similar among the three groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that lumbar segmental stabilization exercises are efficient in increasing the segmental stability and alleviating pain in patients with chronic back pain. Additional studies on this subject will be needed to improve the clinical applications in the future.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.103-109
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• 2015

Purpose: Abdominal breathing exercises are recommended to activate the breathing muscles and the pelvic floor muscles, as well as to increase postural alignment during exhalation. The purpose of this study was to clarify the effect of improving abdominal muscle strength on menstrual pain in women in their twenties using abdominal breathing exercises. Method: In this study, 32 female university students were included as the subjects. The subjects were divided into two groups based on the area of menstrual pain: lumbar pain (n=16) and lower abdomen pain (n=16). The abdominal breathing positions were divided into two positions, which included a hook lying position and hip and knee flexions at $90^{\circ}$ in the supine position. Exercises were used to strengthen the abdominal muscles during exhalation. Four sets of the exercises were completed three times a week over the course of eight weeks. The degree of pain was measured using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Muscle thickness was measured using an ultrasound. Result: The thickness of the transverse abdominis (TrA) and internal oblique (IO) increased in the lower abdomen pain group. However, thickness of the external oblique (EO) did not increased following abdominal breathing. No significant difference in posture was identified in the lower abdomen group. TrA thickness increased significantly in the lumbar pain group. However, thickness did not increase significantly in the lumbar pain group. In addition, the lumbar pain group experienced no significant effects on posture. IO thickness increased following hip and knee flexions at $90^{\circ}$ in the lumbar pain group. Menstrual pain decreased following intervention in both groups. There was no significant difference in the degree of pain reduction between both groups. Conclusion: As examples of alternative medicine, abdominal breathing exercises may be effective in decreasing menstrual pain.