• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.852-858
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to provide fundamental clinical data for the treatment plan and rehabilitation of patients with cervical hypolordosis by comparing the cervical headache and muscle activity after cervical stretching exercise and cervical traction, which are generally applied to patients with cervical hypolordosis. The research subjects included 20 patients without gender division who were diagnosed with cervical hypolordosis. After applying cervical stretching exercise and cervical traction for six weeks, cervical headache and the activity of the muscles around the cervical vertebra(upper trapezius muscle, sternocleidomastoid muscle, splenius capitis muscle, and anterior temporal muscle) were investigated and the following results were obtained. In a comparison of the within group intervention effects of the two groups, cervical pain statistically significantly decreased in the cervical stretching exercise group. According to the results of analyzing the change of muscle tension in the upper trapezius muscle, both the cervical traction group and showed a statistically significant within group difference in the left and right side. According to the results of analyzing the change in the muscle tension of the splenius capitis muscle, both groups showed a statistically significant within group difference in the left and right side. In a between-group comparison, a statistically significant difference in the right side was observed. These results confirm that cervical vertebra traction and cervical stretching exercise decrease the cervical headache and muscle activity of the upper trapezius muscle and the splenius capitis muscle among patients with cervical hypolordosis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.117-124
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• 2021

PURPOSE: This study examined the effect of muscle thickness of the deep cervical flexor muscle, muscle tonicity, and muscle fatigue of the superficial cervical flexor muscle by applying a functional latex pillow to patients with chronic cervical pain. METHODS: An experimental group using a functional latex pillow and a control group using a general pillow were assigned randomly to 30 people. Each pillow was applied in a comfortable lying position in the experimental group and control group. The deep cervical flexor muscle thickness was measured in the longus colli and longus capitus using ultrasonography. The muscle tonicity and muscle fatigue of the superficial cervical flexor muscle were measured separately in the sternocleidomastoid muscle using a myotonometer and electromyography. RESULTS: In the experimental group(functional latex pillow), the muscle tonicity of the superficial cervical flexor muscle like the sternocleidomastoid muscle was significantly lower than that of the control group (general pillow)(p < .01). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the functional latex pillow may effectively reduce the muscle tonicity of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, which is the superficial cervical muscle, in patients with chronic cervical pain. On the other hand, it was not effective on the muscle thickness of the deep cervical flexor muscle and muscle fatigue of the superficial cervical flexor muscles.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of cervical ROM and muscle endurance on cervical joint mobilization of normal adults. Both joint mobilization group(n=20) and control group(n=20) were measured an cervical ROM and muscle endurance time by CROM and stop watch at pre-test, post-test in 1 weeks, post-test in 2 weeks and post-test in 3 weeks. The flexion ROM, extension ROM and muscle endurance of the joint mobilization group were significantly different among the experimental period (p<.05). The Correlation of muscle endurance and extension ROM is significantly Correlation (p<.05). In conclusion, we were found that cervical joint mobilization could increase cervical ROM and muscle endurance and Correlation of muscle endurance and extension ROM.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.50-54
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate differences of cervical flexor muscle thickness (i.e., sternocleidomastoid muscle and deep cervical flexor muscles) depending on levels of pressure bio-feedback unit and eye directions during cranial-cervical flexor exercise in healthy subjects. Methods: A total of 30 subjects (12 males and 18 females) who had no medical history related to musculoskeletal and neurological disorders were enrolled in this study. They were instructed to perform cranial-cervical flexion exercise with adjustment of five different pressures (i.e., 22 mmHg, 24 mmHg, 26 mmHg, 28 mmHg, and 30 mmHg) using a pressure biofeedback unit, according to three different eye directions (i.e., $0^{\circ}$, $20^{\circ}C$, and $40^{\circ}C$). Muscle thickness of sternocleidomastoid muscle and deep cervical flexor muscles was measured according to pressure levels and eye directions using ultrasonography. Results: In results of muscle thickness in sternocleidomastoid muscle and deep cervical flexor muscles, the thickness of those muscles was gradually increased compared to the baseline pressure level (22 mmHg), as levels in the pressure biofeedback unit during cranial-cervical flexion exercise were increasing. In addition, at the same pressure levels, muscle thickness was increased depending on ascending eye direction. Conclusion: Our findings showed that muscle thickness of sternocleidomastoid muscle and deep cervical flexor muscles was generally increased during cranial-cervical flexion exercise, according to increase of eye directions and pressure levels. Therefore, we suggested that lower eye direction could induce more effective muscle activity than the upper eye direction in the same environment during cranial-cervical flexion exercise.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.446-453
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• 2022

Objective: The popularization of smartphones can lead to abnormal cervical alignment in university students. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship among smartphone screen time, cervical alignment, and muscle function in university students. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Seventy-five university students participated in the study. They completed the evaluation of cervical alignment and muscle function, such as handgrip strength, proprioception, and muscle quality (tone, stiffness, and relaxation time). All participants recorded their general characteristics and individual smartphone screen time before the evaluation. They were evaluated craniovertebral angle (CVA) using smartphone application (angle meter 360) for measuring cervical alignment. The muscle function was assessed using a digital hand-held dynamometer, dual inclinometer, and MyotonPRO device. Results: Of all participants, twenty-five university students had forward head posture (CVA<49°, 33.33%). Independent t-test revealed that there were significant differences on smartphone screen time, muscle stiffness, and muscle relaxation between the participants with and without forward head posture (p<0.05). There were significant correlations between the smartphone screen time and the CVA, muscle tone, and muscle relaxation (r=-0.493, 0.250, and -0.500, respectively). Conclusions: The results indicate that the university students with forward head posture had high smartphone screen time and muscle stiffness compared to the students without forward head posture, and smartphone screen time might be associated with cervical alignment and muscle quality.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.15-27
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• 2024

Background: This study examined the effects of the muscle energy technique and cervical traction after applying conservative physical therapy to patients with cervical radiculopathy. Methods: Twenty-six patients with cervical radiculopathy were randomized into two groups: the experimental group (n=13) and the control group (n=13). The two groups performed the muscle energy technique and for 4 weeks, 3 times a week, in 70-minute sessions. Pain, range of motion, function, and muscle performance were assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS), cervical range of motion (CROM) goniometer, neck disability index (NDI), and stabilizer pressure biofeedback, before and after training. Results: After four weeks of therapy, the VAS (p<.001), NDI (p<.01), and the maximum strength of the deep neck flexion muscles significantly decreased (p<.01) and CROM significantly increased in both groups (p<.05). Conclusion: The muscle energy technique and therapeutic modalities such as cervical traction are effective in reducing VAS and NDI and increasing CROM and muscle performance in patients with cervical radiculopathy.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.28-37
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of smartphone use on muscle fatigue and tenderness in the cervical erector spinae (CES) and the upper trapezius (UT) and on the cervical range of motion among subjects with and without neck muscle pain. The subjects were 30 smartphone users in their 20 s who -were assigned to either an experimental group with neck muscle pain or a control group without neck muscle pain. Muscle fatigue and tenderness in the CES and the UT as well as the subjects' cervical range of motion were measured before and after 20-min smartphone sessions in a sitting position. In a between-group comparison of muscle fatigue, the experimental group showed a significantly greater decrease in median frequency in the CES and the right UT after smartphone use (p<.05). Regarding the assessment of muscle tenderness after smartphone use, the experimental group showed a statistically significant decrease in the pressure-pain threshold (PPT) in all muscles (p<.05), whereas the control group showed a significantly decreased PPT in the right CES and the UT (p<.05). The assessment of the cervical range of motion revealed a statistically significant reduction in the cervical flexion-extension and left lateral flexion in the experimental group (p<.05) after smartphone use. However, there was no significant change in the cervical range of motion in the control group (p>.05) after smartphone use. When compared with the control group, the experimental group demonstrated greater changes in cervical extension, lateral flexion, and rotation, except for cervical flexion (p<.05). In conclusion, when smartphone users have pre-existing neck muscle pain, the use of a smartphone further increased muscle fatigue and tenderness in the neck and reduced PPT and the cervical range of motion.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.253-261
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• 2013

PURPOSE: The Purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in the thickness of Sternocleidomastoid muscle(SCM) and deep cervical flexor muscle(DCF) through CranioCervical Flexion Exercise(CCFEx) Using Sling. METHODS: Subjects were randomly allocated two group: control group (n=21) without neck pain, experimental group (n=17) with pain. Muscle thickness was measured using CranioCervical Flexion Test(CCFT) and ultrasonography before or after intervention. RESULTS: In experimental group, compared with muscle thickness of exercise before, SCM thickness rate of change was slightly decreased according to pressure increased after exercise(p<.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that CCFEx using sling is effective for SCM and DCF of choric neck pain patients.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.57-67
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• 2021

Background: This study examined the effects of the muscle energy technique and cervical traction after applying conservative physical therapy in patients with cervical radiculopathy. Methods: Patients were randomly divided into two groups muscle energy technique (8 subjects) and cervical traction (8 subjects). Each group performed their exercise 70 minutes per day, three times week for four weeks. Pain intensity was measured with a visual analogue scale (VAS). Function was measured with the neck disability index (NDI). Cervical range of motion (ROM) was measured with a cervical range of motion (CROM) goniometer. Results: After four weeks of therapy, VAS (p<.05) and NDI (p<.05) significantly decreased, and ROM significantly increased in both groups (p<.05). There were also significant differences between the two groups for these three measures (p<.05). Conclusion: The muscle energy technique and cervical traction are more effective than cervical traction alone in reducing VAS and NDI and increasing ROM in patients with cervical radiculopathy.

• CELLMED
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• v.13 no.15
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• pp.54.1-54.4
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• 2023

Objective: A single-patient case study on the use of OCNT for cervical spinal stenosis. Methods: A50-year-old Korean male with frequent leg muscle cramps and severe muscle weakness was treated with OCNT. Results: After OCNT, pain and cramps disappeared, and muscle strength improved to the point of no longer hindering daily activities. Conclusion: OCNT can be beneficial in alleviating symptoms of pain and muscle weakness in patients with cervical spinal stenosis.