• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.624-631
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• 2017

This study aimed to identify the effect of the push-up plus exercise with sling on the muscle activity and lung function in adults with forward head posture over a period of 8 weeks. A total of 16 adults with forward head posture were recruited. The participants were divided into two groups : control (n-=8) and experimental (n=8). From July 6 until Aug 28, 2015, the participants were instructed to perform the knee push-up plus exercise and knee push-up plus using sling exercise three times a week to begin with and progressing to three sets of push-ups on each occasion after 8 weeks. The participants in both groups showed an increase in their craniovertebral angle (both groups p<0.001) and a decrease in their crania rotation angle (control p<0.05, experimental p<0.001). The participants in both groups showed a decrease in their trapezius activity (both groups p<0.001), an increase in their serratus anterior and lower trapezius muscle activity (both groups p<0.001), (and an increase in their) lung function (control group p<0.01, experimental group p<0.001). These findings show that push-up plus exercise improves posture and increases activation of lung function, while the push-up plus exercise in the sling is more effective in improving the forward head posture. The push-up plus exercise in the sling was more effective in improving the forward head posture, but there was no significant difference in the lung function between the two groups. Therefore, the push-up plus exercise in the sling is recommended as an exercise that is effective for the improvement of the posture and lung function of persons with forward head posture.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.18-26
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• 2021

Previous studies have reported that deep neck flexor (DNF) exercise can improve neck problems, including neck pain, forward head posture, and headache, by targeting the deep and superficial muscles of the neck. Despite the prevailing opinion across studies, the benefits of DNF can vary according to the type of neck problems and the outcome measures adopted, ranging from positive outcomes to non-significant benefits. A meta-analysis was conducted in this study to assess conclusive evidence of the impact of DNF exercise on individuals with neck problems. We used PUBMED, MEDLINE, NDSL, EMBASE, and Web of Science to search for primary studies and the key terms used in these searches were "forward head posture (FHP)," "biofeedback," "pressure biofeedback unit," "stabilizer," "headache," and "neck pain." Twenty-four eligible studies were included in this meta-analysis and were coded according to the type of neck problems and outcome measures described, such as pain, endurance, involvement of neck muscle, craniovertebral angle (CVA), neck disability index (NDI), cervical range of motion (CROM), radiographs of the neck, posture, strength, endurance, and headache disability index. The overall effect size of the DNF exercise was 0.489. The effect sizes of the neck problems were 0.556 (neck pain), -1.278 (FHP), 0.176 (headache), and 1.850 (mix). The effect sizes of outcome measures were 1.045 (pain), 0.966 (endurance), 0.894 (deep neck flexor), 0.608 (superficial neck flexor), 0.487 (CVA), 0.409 (NDI), and 0.252 (CROM). According to the results of this study, DNF exercise can effectively reduce neck pain. Thus, DNF exercise is highly recommend as an effective exercise method for individuals suffering from neck pain.