• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.45-53
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• 2019

Background: The purpose of present study was to examine the effect of ultrasound therapy and static stretching on hamstring length and balance. Design: Randomized Controlled Trial. Methods: A total of 30 adults in S college, Seongnam city, Gyeonggi-do, between the ages of 20-30 were randomly assigned to two groups. Group 1 (n=15) had ultrasound therapy, called US group. Group 2 (n=15) had static stretching, called SS group. Measurements were taken prior to starting the program and after completing the experiment using Finger to floor test and Active knee extension test to get the results of hamstring flexibility and the ability of static balance. Paired t-test was used to compare each group pre-test values to post-test values and to compare US post-test values to SS post-test values on PASW 18.0. Results: 1) Both hamstring SS group and US group had significant increase (p<.05) in Finger to floor test and Active knee extension test. 2) Dominant leg standing had significant change (p<.05) only in US group. 3) There was no significant difference between US group and SS group. Conclusion: Results showed that US group and SS group had an effect on changes in hamstring length (p<.05). However, they did not show a significant increase in static balance. Further effective studies on hamstring SS group and US group were needed based on this examination.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.39-51
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• 1999

Background and Purpose. Objective measurements of hamstring muscle length are needed to quantify baseline limitations and to document the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions. Several indirect clinical tests for measuring hamstring muscle length are available, but influence of their test procedure is not well documented. The purpose of this study were 1) to describe hamstring muscle length as reflected by use of six tests(active straight leg raising(ASLR), passive straight leg raising(PSLR), passive straight leg raising with the lower back flat(PSLRB), active knee extension(AKE), passive knee extension(PKE), hip joint angle(HJA). 2) to examine the correlation among the tests. Subjects, Sixty subjects(30 men. 30 women) ranging in age from 18 to 25 years(mean 20.2 years) and with no limitation hamstring flexibility and no neurological and orthopedical problems. Methods. All subjects performed six tests. A inclinometer was used to determine the end point of range of motion. HJA was measured using an inclinometer placed over the sacrum. PSLRB were tested PSLR with the low back flat and the opposite thigh slightly flexed and support on pillows. Results, A mean ASLR value of 85.9 degrees, PSLR value of 99.9 degrees, PSLRB value of 109.8 degrees, AKE value of 77.2 degrees PKE value of 83.1 degrees and HJA value of 73.0 degrees were obtained for all subjects. A dependent t-test showed significant difference between the angles of ASLR and PSLR(p<0.001). There was a significant difference between the angles of PSLR and PSLRB(p<0.001). There was a significant difference between the angles of AKE and PKE(p<0.001). The highest correlation was between PSLR and PSLRB(r=0.915, p<0.001). All SLR tests were significants related(p<0.001), as well as AKE and PKE(p<0.001). The lowest correlation was between PKE and HJA(r=0.171. p>0.05). Conclusion and Discussion. The results indicated that the hip flexion angles for ASLR, PSLR and PSLRB were a difference, and the knee extension angles for AKE and PKE were a difference.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 2018

Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of Mulligan's bent leg raise (BLR), two leg rotation (TLR) and straight leg raise with traction (traction SLR) technique on the change of shortened hamstring length. Methods: Sixty subjects participated in this study. The subjects were randomly assigned to either the BLR group (n=20) or TLR group (n=20) or traction SLR group (n=20). 90-90 SLR test was performed for evaluation of hamstring shortening at initial time of study. After intervention, immediate effect(immediately after intervention) and effect of maintenance (after 60 minutes from intervention) were assessed. Results: All three groups showed significant differences in the immediate evaluation and the post evaluation after 60 minutes on the change of shortened hamstring length compared to the initial evaluation. When three groups were compared, in the immediate effect, BLR and traction SLR groups were higher than TLR group (p<.05). And the effect after 60 minutes, BLR group was higher than the other two groups (p<.05). Conclusion: In the results of this study, three groups showed immediately and lasting effectiveness in flexibility of shortened hamstring. In addition, BLR and traction SLR groups were more flexible than TLR group in the immediate evaluation and BLR group had better maintenance of flexibility than the other two groups in the post evaluation after 60 minutes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.149-156
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• 2009

Purpose：The hamstring muscle has an important role in standing, walking and other functions related to daily living. Most people with Cerebral Palsy(CP) have muscle tightness, especially in the hamstring, which may cause abnormal alignment in the lower extremities. To investigate an effective treatment for hamstring muscle tightness by observing the effects of heat pack or Soft tissue mobilization(STM) on hamstring muscles. Methods：Thirteen-two volunteers with CP aged between 9 and 13 years($M\pmSD$: $11\pm1.46$), were recruited and divided into four groups of four: (1) the STM for people with Spastic CP group, (2) the heat pack(HP) for people with Spastic CP group, (3) the STM for people with Mixd CP group, and (4) the heat pack for people with Mixed CP group. All received treatment three times per week for six weeks. A inclinometer was used to measure for hip flexion & knee extension joint range motion(ROM). Results：The ROM of hip flexion & knee extension were improved at the STM and HP for people with Spastic CP groups. The ROM and hip flexion were improved at the STM and HP for people with Mixed CP groups. The amount of increase ROM are differenced by the types of CP. Conculusion：STM and heat pack, both are effective for people with CP especially for Spastic CP.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.65-71
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• 2021

Background: The hamstring is a muscle that crosses two joints, that is the hip and knee, and its flexibility is an important indicator of physical health in its role in many activities of daily living such as sitting, walking, and running. Limited range of motion (ROM) due to hamstring tightness is strongly related to back pain and malfunction of the hip joint. High-frequency diathermy (HFD) therapy is known to be effective in relaxing the muscle and increasing ROM. Objects: To investigate the effects of HFD on active knee extension ROM and hamstring tone and stiffness in participants with hamstring tightness. Methods: Twenty-four participants with hamstring tightness were recruited, and the operational definition of hamstring tightness in this study was active knee extension ROM of below 160° at 90° hip flexion in the supine position. HFD was applied to the hamstring for 15 minutes using the WINBACK device. All participants were examined before and after the intervention, and the results were analyzed using a paired t-test. The outcome measures included knee extension ROM, the viscoelastic property of the hamstring, and peak torque for passive knee extension. Results: The active knee extension ROM significantly increased from 138.8° ± 9.9° (mean ± standard deviation) to 143.9° ± 10.4° after the intervention (p < 0.05), while viscoelastic property of the hamstring significantly decreased (p < 0.05). Also, the peak torque for knee extension significantly decreased (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Application of HFD for 15 minutes to tight hamstrings immediately improves the active ROM and reduces the tone, stiffness, and elasticity of the muscle. However, further experiments are required to examine the long-term effects of HFD on hamstring tightness including pain reduction, postural improvement around the pelvis and lower extremities, and enhanced functional movement.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2019

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Graston technique for lower extremity range of motion (ROM), muscle strength, walking ability in hemiplegia patients. Methods: Twelve subjects participated in this study. The ROM of the knee extension was measured by 90-90 straight leg raise test, the hamstring and quadriceps muscle strength was collected by utilizing a handheld dynamometer. In addition walking speed was evaluated by 10 meter walking test. The group was applied intervention using a Graston instrument for one minute. After intervention, immediate effect was assessed. The significant level was set at ${\alpha}=.05$. Results: The ROM of the knee extension, quadriceps muscle strength and walking speed were significantly increased. Hamstring muscle strength was significantly reduced. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that Graston instrument technique has the effect of instantaneously flexibility the muscles, and the muscle applied with the technique has weakened, while the muscle of the opposite side has increased the muscle strength. In addition, the muscle flexibility and the walking speed have increased.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.23-32
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• 2017

PURPOSE: Flexibility and range of motion are very important factors in sports performance, rehabilitation, and musculoskeletal pain. The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of cupping therapy on flexibility, muscle activity, and pain threshold of hamstring muscle compared to passive stretching in healthy subjects. METHODS: Thirty healthy subjects were randomly assigned in a crossover design to cupping therapy and passive stretching. Subjects were tested to compare their effects according to the intervention such as Passive range of motion (PROM) (straight leg raising) and active range of motion (AROM). And algometer (pain) testing and MVC assessment using EMG were performed as dependent variables. RESULTS: The cupping therapy group and passive stretching group showed significant differences in all variables including PROM (p=.00, p=.00), AROM (p=.00, p=.03), Pain Threshold (p=.03, p=.08), Semitendinosus MVC (p=.01, p=.00), and Biceps femoris MVC (p=.01, p=.16). There were no significant differences between the two groups in all variables. CONCLUSION: These findings of this study suggested that cupping therapy has as much positive effect on flexibility, pain threshold, and muscle contraction as passive stretching. Also, it is more convenient and easier to work on patients than passive stretching. Therefore, cupping therapy should be considered as another option to treat range of motion, pain, and muscle activity in the clinical field.

• Archives of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.33-44
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• 2018

Purpose: The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of cervical stabilization exercise (CSE) on hamstring flexibility in patients with neck pain. A secondary purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of cervical range of motion (CROM) and craniovertebral angle (CVA). Methods: This study was a single-blind, randomized, comparative trial. Twenty patients were allocated into either the cranio-cervical flexion exercise (CCFE) group or the CSE group. Before and after the intervention, we measured straight leg raise (SLR), popliteal angle (PA), CROM, and CVA in the sitting and standing positions. Fisher's exact test, the Mann-Whitney test, and Wilcoxon's signed-rank test were used to analyze our data. Results: Both groups showed significant improvements in the value of SLR, PA, cervical extension, cervical rotation, and CVA in the standing position (both, p<.05) after intervention. However, only the CSE group showed significant improvements in cervical right lateral flexion (z=-2.209; p<.01) and cervical left lateral flexion (z=-2.537; p<.05) after intervention. The CSF group showed more significant improvements in SLR, PA, both cervical lateral flexions, and both cervical rotations than the CCFE group. Conclusions: The results of this study will guide future research in identifying the effectiveness of CSE. In conclusion, it can be inferred that CSE has a positive effect on SLR, PA, CROM, and CVA in the standing position in patients with chronic neck pain.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.40-46
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• 2017

Background: The active knee extension (AKE) test commonly used to assess the flexibility of the hamstring muscles. Many researchers have tested the reliability of the AKE test; however, no published studies have examined the intrarater and interrater reliability of the AKE test using a PBU. Objects: The purpose of this study was to determine the intrarater and interrater reliability of the AKE test performed with a pressure biofeedback unit (PBU) on healthy subjects. Methods: Sixteen healthy male participants volunteered and gave informed consent to participate in this study. Two raters conducted AKE tests independently with a PBU. Each knee was measured twice, and the AKE testing was repeated one week after the first round of testing. Results: The interrater reliability's intraclass correlation coefficients ($ICC_{2,1}$) were .887~.986 for the right knees and .915~.988 for the left knees. In addition, the intrarater (test-retest) reliability ($ICC_{3,1}$) values ranged between .820~.915 and .820~.884 for Raters 1 and 2, respectively. The values for the standard error of mesurement were low for all tests ($.81{\sim}2.97^{\circ}$); the calculated minimum detectable change was $2.24{\sim}8.21^{\circ}$. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the AKE test performed with a PBU had excellent interrater and intrarater reliability for assessing hamstring flexibility in healthy young males.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.39-46
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• 2017

PURPOSE: The effectiveness of the stretching to increase the range of motion of the joint, reduce the risk of injury, enhance athletic performance or decrease post exercise muscle soreness. This study was to compare the effect of the stretching method applied on the shortened hamstring muscle for flexibility, strength, pressure pain threshold value and muscle tone. METHODS: This study is a two-group pretest- posttest design. Fifty-four healthy young adults were randomly assigned to a vibration-assisted stretching group (VASG, n=27) or a static stretching group (SSG, n=27). Participants performed each stretch in 4 sets of 30 seconds each. A 30-second break time was provided between the sets. The range of motion, strength, pressure pain threshold values and muscle tone of the hamstring muscle were measured to compare the effects of the stretching methods. RESULTS: Both the VASG and the SSG participants showed significant improvement in the range of motion and strength (p<.05); however, the increase in the VASG was significantly higher than that in the SSG (p<.05). The pressure pain threshold values and muscle tone were significantly decreased only in the VASG (p<.05). CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that vibration-supported stretching is an effective intervention for people with hamstring shortening, with high pain level and muscle tone decrease.