• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.81-87
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• 2021

PURPOSE: This study compared the cross-sectional areas (CSA) of the cervical muscles of straight neck patients and normal participants during a craniocervical flexion exercise (CCFE) using computerized tomography (CT) to investigate the effects of CCFE on the cervical curve. METHODS: Eighteen subjects were recruited for this study. Nine subjects were allocated to the straight neck group (subjects with pain and a cervical lordosis angle of less than 20°); the remainder formed the control group (subjects with a cervical lordosis angle greater than 20°). The CSA of the subjects' neck flexors (longus colli, longus capitis, and sternocleidomastoid) were measured by CT during rest and CCFE in the supine position, and the range of motion (ROM) of neck flexion was measured using a C-ROM instrument in a sitting. RESULTS: The straight neck group had a significantly smaller CSA of the longus colli, longus capitis, and sternocleidomastoid than the control group (p < .05). Both the straight neck and control groups showed statistically significant increases in the CSA of the neck flexors during CCFE compared to that at rest (p < .05). In addition, the straight neck group showed a significantly smaller ROM of neck flexion than the control group (p < .05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study provide more concrete evidence for therapists by demonstrating that CCFE improves the neck function by strengthening the neck flexors and increasing the neck stability for straight neck patients. Therefore, it is necessary to perform CCFE and neck extension exercises to rehabilitate straight neck patients.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.77-91
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• 2023

Background: Congenital muscular torticollis results in reduced head mobility, such as cervical rotation, due to the abnormal size and contraction of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Korea Pediatric integrative manual therapy and stretching are recommended to improve head rotation upper cervical spine mobility. Therefore, in this study, the effect of the new PIMT was investigated. Methods: The patient is a 3.5 month-old diagnosed with congenital muscular torticollis (CMT). Due to the limitation of head rotation and cervical spine rotation and flexion mobility, the child visited a rehabilitation center and after diagnosis, Pediatric integrative manual therapy (PIMT) treatment was performed five times a week for a total of 15 weeks. The child's head rotation and flexion limitation and plagiocephaly were evaluated. Results: In conclusion, this study shows that compared to other treatments, PIMT approach is a more effective treatment for improving head rotation and cervical limitation for range of motion in CMT infants. Conclusion: PIMT approach was effective in improving cervical rotation and Head lateral flexion mobility and plagiocephaly in CMT patients.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.91-102
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• 2015

Two patients, diagnosed as cervical spinal cord injury, were hospitalized and treated by Korean medical interventions with Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES). The range of motion of the shoulder joint, manual muscle test were adopted to measure the resulting motor recovery after treatment. And the Korean version of Barthel index (K-MBI) was adopted as a method of measuring the improvement of quality of life after treatment. The range of motions and muscle strengths of the shoulder joints were improved. The activities of daily living were slightly improved in case 2, but showed no improvement in case 1. FES was effective for upper extremities rehabilitation of spinal cord injured patients. Further studies are needed to set up an Korean medical protocol for spinal cord injury rehabilitation.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1997 no.11
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• pp.280-283
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• 1997

Human cervical spine has to protect the neural components and vascular structures. Also, it must have the flexibility afforded by an extensive range of motion to integrate the head with the body and environment. Because of these two-sided features, human cervical spine has very complicated shapes and their injury mechanisms are not fully understood yet. We have developed analytical model of human CS by using the finite element method. The model has been verified with in vivo and in vitro experimental results. From the qualitative analysis of simulation results, we were able to explain some of the fundamental mechanisms of neck pain. Further more, this FE model of human CS can be used as an analytical tool or biomechanical design of the clinical device and safety restraints.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.33-40
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• 2007

Objectives : This study was peformed to evaluate the effect of Chuna Traction, Correction and conservative treatment. Methods : The patient was diagnosed as cervical bulging disc, protrusion and Uncovertebral joint arthrosis through Cervical spine MRI and treated with conservative treatment(Chuna, Acupunture etc.). We measured Visual Analog Score(VAS) and Range Of Motion(ROM) to evaluate treatment effects. Results and Conclusions : ROM of Cervical spine has improved. VAS score was also decreased.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.77-83
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• 2007

Objectives The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of Sweet Bee Venom herbal acupuncture for patients with acute whiplash injury by Traffic Accident. Methods This clinical study was carried out 25 cases of acute whiplash injury patients which had been treatment in Woosuk oriental hospital from March, 2007 to September, 2007. Sweet bee venom herbal acupuncture(N=15) and normal saline(N=10) injected on the acupoints that were cervical area. I checked the VAS for the pain and ROM(range of motion) of the cervical. these were checked 3 times. one was before treatments, another was after 3 times treatments with sweet bee venom herbal acupuncture and normal saline injection, and the other was after 5 times treatments with sweet bee venom herbal acupuncture and normal saline injection. Results VAS score was significantly improved after 5 times treatments with the sweet bee venom herbal acupuncture compared to normal saline I.M. on the acupoints that was cervical area. There were significant changes in the sweet bee venom herbal acupuncture group with VAS and ROM check. Conclusions This study suggests that sweet bee venom herbal acupuncture can improve symptoms in patients with acute whiplash injury by traffic accident.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.393-405
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• 1996

This study was performed to investigate the effects of changes of head posture and cervical spine shape on the mandibular resting or clenching electromyographic(EMG) activity in anterior temporalis(TA), masseter(MM), sternocleidomastoid muscle(SCM) and trapezius insertion(TI). 30 patients with Temporomandibular Disorders(TMDs) participated in this study. EMG activity($\mu$V) at rest and clenching was observed in four head postures, namely natural head posture(NHP), forward head posture(FHP), upward head posture(UHP), and downward head posture(DHP). For taking in upward or downward head posture head was inclined 10$^{\circ}$ upward or downward and CROM$^\textregistered$(cervical-range-of motion, Performance attainment Inc., USA) was used to maintain same posture during the procedure, and BioEMG$^\textregistered$ (Bioelectromyograph, Bioresearch Inc., USA) was used to record EMG activity in the above four muscles at eight locations on both sides. The recorded EMG activity($\mu\textrm{V}$) were compared and analyzed by cervical spine shape such as the head position from plum line, cervical curvature, and cervical inclination. Head position from plum line was measured in vertical plate calibrated with cm scale, comical curvature by radius was measured with adjustable curved ruler, and cervical inclination by cervical vertebrae tangent(CVT)was measured in lateral cephalograph. The results obtained were as follows : 1. Mean value of head position from plum line, cervical curvature, and cervical inclination were 4.8cm, 26.7cm, and 86.6$^{\circ}$, respectively, And There were no correlationship among these items. 2. For resting EMG activity by head posture, the value in anterior temporalis was higher at FHP than at DHP, the value in masseter was higher at FHP than at NHP, and DHP, the value in sternocleidomastoid muscle was higher at UHP than at NHP, and the value in trapezius insertion was higher at FHP and DHP than, NHP and UHP. The clenching EMG activity, however, did not show any difference by head posture. 3. Comparison of resting and clenching EMG activity between higher and lower groups by head position from plum line, cervical curvature, and cervical inclination did not show any significant difference. From this result, the author concluded that the cervical spine shape had not significantly affected to EMG activity in usual patients with TMDs.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.9-19
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• 1993

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of craniocervical posture on craniomandibular disorders with chronic headache. The author measured craniocervical posture on frontal and sagittal plane with photographs for 26 headache patients, 23 TMD patients, and 27 nonpatients. Range of cervical spine motion was also measured. The bilateral electromyograms of masseter and anterior temporalis muscles were recorded at rest and during maximum clenching. The results were as follows : On the lateral view photos, eye-tragus-C7 line angle was larger and the tragus-C7-horizontal line angle was smaller in the patient groups than in the nonpatient group (p<0.05). On the frontal view photos, mouth corner line angle was larger in the headache patient group than in the nonpatient group and TMD patient group (p<0.05) Interclavicular angle was smaller in the headache patient group and TMD patient grop than in the nonpatient (p<0.01) The right and left differences of SAIC-plane distance and finger tip-plane distance were significantly larger in headache patient group than TMD patient group and nonpatient group (p<0.01, p<0.001). Cervical motion range was smaller in the TMD patient group and headache patient group than in the nonpatient group (p<-.001, p<0.05, p<0.05). The resting EMG activities of right masseter muscle were higher in the headache patient group than in the nonpatient group (p<0.05). However, the EMG activities of masseter and anterior temporalis muscles during maximal clenching were lower in the patient group than in the nonpatient grop (p<0.01). The asymmetry index of resting EMG of masseter muscles was higher in the headache patient group than nonpatient group (p<0.05).

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.53-58
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• 2021

Background: To evaluate whether extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in the pain point is a more effective treatment than the trigger point for myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) of the upper trapezius. Objects: The purpose of this study was to compare the most effective areas when applying extracorporeal shock wave therapy. Methods: A total of 30 patients with MPS were randomly assigned to the trigger point in the ESWT (n = 15) and pain point ESWT (n = 15) groups. Interventions in both groups were performed in one session, i.e., 2,000 shocks with 1.5 bar intensity. Pain and function were assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) and cervical range of motion (ROM) and based on mechanical muscle properties. Statistical analysis was performed using the repeated measures two-way analysis of variance to determine the significance probability between pre- and post-test. Results: Changes in mechanical muscle properties were not statistically significant between the two groups. However, VAS and cervical ROM showed statistically significant differences at pre- and post-intervention, regardless of the group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Although no significant difference was observed in the intervention effect, applying an extracorporeal shock wave to the pain point rather than the pain trigger point should be considered in order to save time in effectively and accurately identifying the pain trigger point and site.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.655-666
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• 2013

PURPOSE: The main objective of this study is observing the effects of the functional postural trunk exercise (FPTE) on deep cranio-cervical flexor (CCF) muscle endurance applied on neck pain patients suffering from the acute whiplash-association disorder (WAD). METHODS: The study was tested with 47 patients with neck pain. All patients were equally treated with the ordinary therapy, only experimental group (n=23) was treated with FPTE: assumption of an upright lumbo-pelvic and spinal postural position, adding a neck lengthening manoeuvre in addition. Patients attended physical therapy for 3 times a week, for 4 weeks. Visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, neck disability index (NDI), range of motion (ROM), were recorded both before and after the intervention. Also muscle activity in the CCF test was employed to analyze the changes between before and after. RESULT: After 4 weeks of training intervention, a remarkable increase in muscle endurance, rotation, extension ROM (p<.05) and decrease in pain and NDI (p<.05) in both groups. Further, the differences between groups were muscle endurance (F=60.350, p<.01), pain, and the left rotation ROM (p<.05). CONCLUSION: From the results, the experimental group had significant the increase in muscle endurance, and the significant decrease in pain. Whilst further research in this category is necessary, these observations suggest that applying exercise in early diagnosis can be of help to treat the neck pain patients suffering from the WAD.