• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.1797-1802
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• 2019

Background: Breathing is the essential step of Pilates exercise and can be used to activate core muscles. Although the effects of breathing exercise on pain, breathing muscles, and cervical posture have been extensively studied, little is known about the impact of Pilates breathing on spinal posture and alignment. Purpose: To determine the effect of 3D-Pilates breathing exercise on spinal curvature and alignment of healthy adults during corrected to normal alignment. Design: One group pre-post test design Methods: Eighteen participants were given a 3D-pilates breathing exercise twice a week (20 minutes per session) for three weeks and warmed up for 10 minutes before each exercise session. To examine spinal curvature and alignment of each subject, this study used radiation free rasterstereography (Formetric III, Germany). Paired t-test and Wilcoxon signed rank test were performed to determine the difference between pre and post exercise. Results: There were statistically significant differences in height (p<.001), kyphosis angle (p<.05), trunk imbalance (p<.05), kyphotic apex (p<.01), cervical fleche (p<.05), pelvic tilt (p<.01), and lateral deviation (p<.05) between before and after 3D Pilates breathing exercise. However, there was no significant difference in lordosis angle. Conclusions: The study results indicated that three week 3D-pilates breathing exercise program could be presented as an effective rehabilitation method for improving spinal curvature and alignment.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 2010

Objectives : The authors aimed to determine the presence of relationships between cervical pain and cervical curvature, lumbar curvature, sacral slope and sagittal spinal balance. Methods : Medical records of outpatients who made their first visits to the Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion in the Spine center at Kyung Hee East-West Neo Medical Center between September 1, 2008 and October 31, 2009 were evaluated. A total of 50 patients visiting within the time period had visited with a chief complaint of cervical pain, and had lateral entire spine X-rays taken. After excluding patients with previous spine operations, 46 patients were selected for the final analysis. The cervical lordotic angle(CLA), lumbar lordotic angle(LLA), Ferguson's angle(FA), and sagittal vertical axis(SVA) were measured on the lateral entire spine X-ray cuts, and the relationships between these values and patient gender, age, chief complaint, and duration of symptoms were assessed. Results : No significant difference was found in relationships between gender and measured values. SVA showed statistically significant correlation between age, but CLA, LLA, and FA was not. There was a significant difference in SVA between patients with only cervical pain and those with both cervical pain and low back pain. Patients with a duration of symptoms longer than 6 months showed a statistically significant difference in SVA with those who had shorter symptoms. Correlation analysis between measured values was statistically significant only between LLA and FA. Conclusions : Evaluation and treatment of sagittal imbalance should be considered in patients presenting with cervical pain if symptoms have persisted for over 6 months or have accompanying low back pain.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.224-232
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• 2018

Objective : Cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) can be treated via anterior or posterior approach, or both. The optimal approach depends on the characteristics of OPLL and cervical curvature. Although most patients can be successfully treated by a single surgery with the proper approach, renewed or newly developed neurological deterioration often requires repeat surgery. Methods : Twenty-seven patients with renewed or newly developed neurological deterioration requiring salvage surgery for multi-segment cervical OPLL were enrolled. Ten patients (group AP) underwent anterior approach, and 17 patients (group PA) underwent posterior approach at the initial surgery. Clinical and radiological data from initial and repeat surgeries were obtained and analyzed retrospectively. Results : The intervals between the initial and repeat surgeries were $102.80{\pm}60.08months$ (group AP) and $61.00{\pm}8.16months$ (group PA) (p<0.05). In group AP, the main OPLL lesions were removed during the initial surgery. There was a tendency that the site of main OPLL lesions causing renewed or newly developed neurological deterioration were different from that of the initial surgery (8/10, p<0.05). Repeat surgery was performed for progressed OPLL lesions at another segment as the main pathology. In group PA, the main OPLL lesions at the initial surgery continued as the main pathology for repeat surgery. Progression of kyphosis in the cervical curvature (Cobb's angle on C2-7 and segmental angle on the main OPLL lesion) was noted between the initial and repeat surgeries. Group PA showed more kyphotic cervical curvature compared to group AP at the time of repeat surgery (p<0.05). Conclusion : The reasons for repeat surgery depend on the type of initial surgery. The main factors leading to repeat surgery are progression of remnant OPLL at a different segment in group AP and kyphotic change of the cervical curvature in group PA.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.45-48
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• 2016

Objectives: A diagnostic imaging in a fifty five year-old woman diagnosed orthopedically as ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) at C5 and C6 levels was reinterpreted for Chuna mannual therapy. The cervical spinal lesion in simple X-ray and CT scan images was discussed by spinal listing systems and disc block subluxation theory. The primary adjustive target was C4 disc block subluxation, which had been affected by kyphosis. Chuna manual therapy based on diagnostic images could be helpful for adjusting spinal subluxation, correcting its adaptation curvature, and preventing its latent pathology efficiently.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.97-109
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• 2011

Objectives: To investigate the correlation among cervical curvature, neck pain, and headache in patients with chronic neck pain. Methods: A clinical study was carried out in 48 chronic neck pain patients in the hospital of Gang-Dong Kyung-Hee University. The curvature of the cervical spine was measured by 3 types of measuring methods, Neck pain and headache were estimated using questionnaire and visual analogue scale (VAS). Results: Curvature angles of the cervical spine had significant positive correlation with the neck pain and headache, and headache can be estimated by cervical curvature using linear regression. Conclusions: The results suggests that the cervical curvature of chronic neck pain patients has a positive correlation with the nock pain and headache, and cervical curvature will be a posible preditor of chronic tension-type headache in patients with chronic neck pain.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.188-191
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• 2006

Objective : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and necessity of combined anterior approach [discectomy and fusion] and posterior approach[open-door laminoplasty] in the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Methods : The authors reviewed 14 cases in whom combined anterior and posterior approach performed for cervical myelopathy due to simultaneous anterior and posterior pathology such as huge central disc herniation with narrow spinal canal between January 2000 and December 2002. Clinical symptoms were evaluated by Japanese Orthopaedic Association [JOA] score and then the cervical curvature, change of spinal canal to vertebral body[SC/VB] ratio and canal widening were measured and compared to the clinical symptoms. Results : The mean JOA score increased from $10.4{\pm}3.1$ preoperatively to $14.8{\pm}1.2$ at the final follow up with a mean recovery rate 66.4%. In all cases, there were not neurologic deterioration. Mild postoperative complications developed in two cases. One patient had a limitation of range of neck motion and the other one showed kyphotic change. Postoperative radiography showed an improvement of body to canal ratios [average $0.70{\pm}0.08$ before surgery to $1.05{\pm}0.12$ after surgery and mainte nance or recovery of cervical lordosis. Canal widening of antero-posterior diameter and dimension after operation is 6.8mm. $116.61mm^2$. Conclusion : Combined anterior and posterior procedure could be helpful in decompression of the spinal cord and good functional recovery in spondylotic myelopathy patients with combined anterior and posterior pathology such as huge disc herniation accompanying narrow spinal canal.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.185-191
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• 2015

Objective : In order to provide normal values of the pediatric sub-axial cervical spinal canal and vertebral body growth pattern using computed tomographic scans, a total of 318 patients less than 10 years old were included. Methods : The growth of the vertebral body and canal space was investigated using four different age groups. The Torg ratio (TR) was calculated and all patients were classified into a low TR group and a high TR group according to a cutoff value of 1.0. To account for spinal curvature, the C3-7 angle was measured. Results : Very little axial expansion and growth in height were observed (2.9 mm and 3.4 mm, respectively), and the spinal canal increments (1.8 mm) were much smaller than the dimensions of the vertebral body. The mean TR values were $1.03{\pm}0.14$ at the C3 vertebral level, $1.02{\pm}0.13$ at C4, $1.05{\pm}0.13$ at C5, $1.04{\pm}0.13$ at C6, and $1.02{\pm}0.12$ at C7 in all patients. The mean sub-axial angle (C3-7) was $7.9{\pm}10.6^{\circ}$ (range: $-17-47^{\circ}$). Conclusion : The upper sub-axial spinal canal continuously increased in size compared to the lower sub-axial spine after 8 years of age. Considerable decrements in the TR was found after late childhood compared to younger ages. Generally, there were no significant differences between boys and girls in vertical length of the cervical vertebrae. However, the axial dimension of the vertebral body and the spinal canal space varied according to gender.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.33-41
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• 2010

Objectives : This study is designed to find out the relationship of scoliotic curve, cervical lordosis, lumbar lordosis and Ferguson's angle. Method : The study was composed of 46 scoliosis patients who had single curvature(Group I) on their lumbar spine(Group I-A) or thoracic spine(Group I-B) and 38 patients who had double curvature(Group II) on their lumbar and thoracic spine. The patients were evaluated with X-ray findings of full spine AP and Lateral views and statistically analyzed. Results : 1. Group II showed a significant increase in scoliotic curve angle as compared with Group I(P<0.05). 2. Scoliotic curve has a negative relationship with cervical lordosis in group II. Conclusion : 1. The patients who has double curvature of spine had higher scoliotic curve angle compared with who has single curvature. 2. The Scoliotic curve and cervical lordosis was statistically concerned on patients who has double curvature of spine.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.356-369
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• 2013

Objective : We performed a retrospective analysis of medical records and radiographic images of patients who never underwent spinal treatment including diagnosis. The objective of this study is to explain the biomechanical and physiologic characteristics of cervical alignment related to thoracic inlet angle including T1 slope changes in each individual. Methods : We reviewed the cervical CT radiographs of 80 patients who visited ENT outpatient clinic without any symptom, diagnosis and treatment of cervical spine from January 2011 to September 2012. All targeted people were randomized without any prejudice. We assessed the data-T1 slope, Cobb's angle C2-7, neck tilt, sagittal vertical axis (SVA) C2-7 and thoracic inlet angle by the CT radiographs. Results : The relationships between each value were analyzed and we concluded that Cobb's angle C2-7 gets higher as the T1 slope gets higher, while the SVA C2-7 value decreases. Conclusion : We propose that the T1 slope is background information in deciding how much angle can be made in the cervical spinal angle of surgical lordotic curvature, especially severe cervical deformity.

• The Journal of Korea CHUNA Manual Medicine
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.85-92
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• 2001

Objectives : To study the cervical lordosis and disc degeneration in neck pain patients with or without low back pain. Subjects. The study was composed of 57 neck pain patients with low back pain(LBP group) and 40 neck pain patients without low back pain(Non-LBP group). Methods : Radiographic measures of spinal lordosis(cervical and lumbar) and disc degeneration were collected, and statistically analyzed. Results: LBP group showed a significant increase in cervical lordotic angle as compared with Non-LBP group, whereas no significant change in cervical disc degeneration. A relationship was found between cervical and lumbar disc degeneration in LBP $group({\gamma}-0.3064)$. Conclusions : The findings from this study suggest that the curvature of the cervical spine is related to the subject's low back pain.