• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.61-68
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• 2024

PURPOSE: This study aimed to provide basic clinical data by analyzing the impact of motion observation training and stretching exercises for improving postures on the neck alignment and balance of stroke patients to enable them to accurately recognize the correct exercise method. METHODS: After sampling 20 stroke patients who met the selection criteria, this study randomly assigned 10 people who were administered the stretching exercise with observation training to the experimental group and 10 who received only the stretching exercise intervention to the control group by drawing lots. Next, neck alignment and balance were pre-tested. All interventions were conducted for 30 minutes, 3 times a week for 4 weeks, and when all the interventions were completed after 4 weeks, neck alignment and balance were re-measured in the same way as the pre-test. RESULTS: The comparison of changes in neck alignment and balance within the experimental and control groups showed statistically significant differences in the craniovertebral angle, cranial rotation angle, and balance (p < .05) (p < .01). Between the groups, statistically significant differences were found in the craniovertebral angle, cranial rotation angle, and balance (p < .05) (p < .01). CONCLUSION: A statistically significant difference in neck alignment and balance was observed in the group that underwent stretching exercises combined with observational training and a statistically significant difference was found between the groups. Therefore, it is believed that observation training should be used in clinical practice to improve forward head posture and restore balance in stroke patients.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2020

Background: A backpack is available equipment for moving some objects. Most studies have found that the appropriate weight limit of backpack for students is between 10% to 15% of their body weight (BW). However, Some students should carry a backpack heavier than 15% of BW. Therefore, It is associated with abnormal shoulder and neck posture on students. Objects: This study tested the effects that various amounts of weight carried by university students in their backpacks had on their cervical posture and electromyography of neck muscle. Methods: The subjects consisted of 12 students (6 male, 6 female) in university. There were three loading conditions tested: no backpack, a backpack that weighed 10% and 15% of the student's BW. The dependent variables were the craniovertebral angle (tragus to C7) and the neck muscle activities (sternocleidomastoid, upper trapezius). All 12 subjects were asked to walk while wearing a backpack for 5 minutes and were then instructed to rest for 2 minutes. Results: When assessing the craniovertebral angle, the results of this study were significantly decreased in the order of 0%, 10%, and 15%. And then, there were significantly increased electromyography of neck muscles that comparison of the weight of 10% and 15% on 0%. It was found that as the weight of the backpack increased, the craniovertebral angle decreased (p < 0.05) and the muscle activities increased (upper trapezius p = 0.012, sternocleidomastoid p = 0.013). Conclusion: Our study recommended that some students shouldn't carry on over the 15% backpack of own weight, and also they should distribute backpack load to equal on body for optimal posture.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.33-45
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• 2024

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effect of elastic band-resistive exercise using audio-visual medium on pain, proprioception, and motor function in adults with chronic neck and shoulder pain. Design: One group pretest-posttest follow-up experimental design. Method: Twenty adult women with neck and shoulder pain voluntarily participated in this study. Elastic band-resistive exercise using audio-visual medium including cervical flexion and extension, shoulder external rotation, and scapular retraction-protraction motions was conducted 5 times a week for 3 weeks. The Numerical Rating Scale, pressure threshold tool, CROM goniometer, and Image J software were used to assess subjective pain level, tenderness threshold (pain), joint position sense error (proprioception), joint range of motion, and postural alignment (motor function), respectively. Result:: The pain intensity and threshold and joint position sense error showed significant decreases after the intervention, whereas the joint range of motion angle revealed significant increases. The postural alignment including forward head posture and rounded shoulder revealed significant improvements after the intervention. Conclusions: Therefore, we suggest that elastic band-resistive exercise through audio-visual medium would be helpful in preventing and managing pain and physical dysfunction in individuals with chronic neck and shoulder pain, and then it would support the development of health management-related online education content.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.83-90
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• 2017

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between shoulder gradient, range of motion of the neck, and subjective pain level of the potential risk group of smart-phone addiction. Methods : The subjects of this study were 90 women's who had potential risk of smart-phone addiction. VAS was used to measure subjectively pain intensity. Global Postural System was used to measure forward head posture. CROM was used to measure flexion, extension, lateral flexion of cervical range of motion. Results : The results of this study showed that was significant positive correlation between the both shoulder gradient, and cervical range of motion(p<.05). Statistically significant negative correlation between the VAS and left lateral flexion(p<.05). Conclusions : The difference between the gradient of both shoulders increased with the use of smart-phone addiction, and the cervical left lateral flexion decreased as the pain increased. This suggests that recognition on decrease of using smart phone and postural correction is necessary.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.403-414
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• 2020

Purpose: This study examined how performing chin tuck exercises in supine, sitting, and standing positions affects changes in the muscle activity of the neck and shoulder. Methods: Seventeen men and three women with forward head posture participated in the study. The subjects performed the chin tuck exercise using a pressure biofeedback unit. After determining the ideal order for performing the chin tuck exercise in supine, sitting, and standing positions through randomized controlled trials, muscle activity was measured in the dominant-side sternocleidomastoid, scalenus anterior, upper trapezius, and levator scapulae. Muscle activity was measured three times in each muscle for each position, and the average of the three measurements was used for analysis. Results: In this study, the chin tuck exercise performed in a supine position reduced muscle activity of the sternocleidomastoid, scalenus anterior, upper trapezius, and levator scapulae significantly more than performing the exercise in either sitting or standing positions (p < 0.05). No significant difference in muscle activity was observed when the exercise was performed in a sitting position versus a standing position (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Performing a chin tuck exercise in a supine position is more effective for stabilizing the neck and shoulder than performing it in a sitting or standing position, as it reduces excessive tension and fatigue in the neck and shoulder.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.457-473
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• 1998

This study was performed to investigate the morophological and positional correlation between the upper cervical vertebra, the oral structures and the pharyngeal tissues, and the correlation of these anatomical structures with dental features, such as teeth wear area nad tooth contact status, etc. Seventy patients with temporamandibular disorders and sixty three dental students without any signs and symptoms in head and neck region were selected for this study. All they had natural dentition without any fixed and removable protheses. Teeth wear area and arch width wre measured from the upper dental cast, tooth contact status were observed by T-Scan system$^\textregistered$ and four cephaloradiograpohs were taken from four head postures, namely, natural(NHP), forward(FHP), upward(UHP), and downward head postiure(DHP). 22 cephalometric items were measured on the films and the data were processed with SAS statistical program. The result of this study were as follows : 1. In normal group, angle of cervical vertebra tangent and of between hard and soft palate were broader in female subjects than those in male subjacets, but distance from subocciput to axis, size of soft palate, and pharyngeal space width were larger in male subjects. 2. In normal group with natural head posture, the items correlated each others from the three anatomical regions were distance between first nad second vertebra in posterior part, distance from the lingual surface of lower anterior teeth to anterior surface of soft palate, and distance from the hyoid bone to third vertebra. 3. Three set of items showed significant correlation each other in the four head postures in normal group. First set was the angle between hard and soft palate and the idstance from subocciput to posterior arch of first vertebra, second set was the distance between first and second vertebra in posterior part and the teeth wear area, third set was number and force of tooth contact and length of soft palate and distance from anterior tip of hyoid bone to mandibular plane.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.189-195
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• 2019

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of chin tuck exercise (CTE) on the craniovertebral angle (CVA), strength and endurance of deep cervical flexor (DCF) muscles in subjects with forward head posture(FHP). This study was performed on 30 subjects with FHP. Method : Thirty subjects were divided into two groups; modified CTE (n=15), conventional CTE (n=15). Both of the group performed the exercise 4 times a week for 6 weeks. The subjects performed CTE in two different methods; modified CTE, with device designed that help keep cervical lordois curve, and coventional CTE, without using device. The CVA was measured using Image software version. A pressure biofeedback unit was used to measure the strength and endurance of the DCF muscles. The data was analyzed by the paired t-test for comparing before and after changes of variables in each group and the independent t-test for comparing the between groups. Result : There was statistically significant difference of before and after strength and endurance of DCF muscles in modified CTE (p<0.05). There was statistically significant difference of before and after only endurance of DCF muscles in conventional CTE (p<0.05). There was statistically significant difference of between the two group in strength of DCF muscles (p<0.05). Conclusion : Muscle strength to stabilize the spine plays an important role in maintaining a good posture. Therefore, we suggest that the application of CTE with a device designed to maintain the lordotic curvature in the neck is likely to yield better outcomes in FHP subjects in future studies.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.371-381
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• 2022

Purpose: Forward head posture (FHP) is known to cause pain, limit range of motion, and reduce quality of life. Joint mobilization is commonly used to correct FHP. However, no study has compared cervical, thoracic, and combined cervical and thoracic joint mobilization for FHP. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the effects of each mobilization technique on range of motion in the sagittal plane and pain in patients with FHP. Methods: Forty-five patients were recruited and randomly divided into three groups: the mobilization group (CM; n = 15), the cervical and thoracic mobilization group (CTM; n = 15), and the thoracic mobilization group (TM; n = 15). Each intervention was performed in sets of three and repeated six times. Range of motion and pain were assessed pre- and post-intervention. The cervical range of motion was evaluated using a goniometer, and pain was evaluated using a visual analogue scale and pain thresholds of the suboccipital and upper trapezius muscles. Results: All groups showed an increase in range of motion post-intervention, but the increase in the CTM group was significantly greater than in the CM and TM groups (p < 0.05). Pain measured using the visual analogue scale decreased in all groups, but the decreases in the CM and CTM groups were significantly greater than in the TM group (p < 0.05). The pain thresholds of the suboccipital and upper trapezius muscles increased in all groups, but the increase in the CTM group was significantly greater than in the CM and TM groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Overall, our findings suggest that CTM may be more effective than CM or TM for improving cervical range of motion in the sagittal plane and pain in patients with FHP.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.180-186
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• 2022

Background: The craniocervical flexion test (CCFT) was developed for the activation and endurance of deep cervical flexors. However, the muscle thickness and muscle thickness changing ratio of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) and deep cervical flexor (DCF) muscles in subjects with and without forward head posture (FHP) have not been reported. Objects: To determine the difference in thickness of the SCM and DCF muscles and the difference in the muscle thickness changing ratio between SCM, DCF, and DCF/SCM 20 mmHg and DCF/SCM 30 mmHg between subjects with and without FHP. Methods: Thirty subjects with and without FHP were enrolled. The muscle thickness of the SCM and DCF was measured when maintained at a baseline pressure of 20 mmHg and a maximum pressure of 30 mmHg using a pressure biofeedback unit during the CCFT. Ultrasonography was used to capture images of SCM and DCF muscle thickness during the CCFT, which was calculated using the picture archiving and communication system (PACS). Results: We observed a significant difference within the pressure main effect between SCM and DCF at a baseline pressure of 20 mmHg and a maximum pressure of 30 mmHg (p < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the muscle thickness and muscle thickness changing ratio for SCM and DCF during CCFT between subjects with and without FHP. Conclusion: There was no significant difference in the muscle thickness recruitment pattern during CCFT in posture changes between subjects with and without FHP.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.126-130
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• 2009

Arytenoid motion has long been recognized as complex. Misunderstandings about the specifics of arytenoid motion remain prevalent. The resultant misunderstandings have led to erroneous or suboptimal clinical approaches to the treatment of vocal fold immobility. A thorough understanding of the anatomy of the arytenoid and cricoid cartilages, the cricoarytenoid joint, and related ligaments, muscles, and other structures is essential in order to fully understand laryngeal motion disorders. Arytenoid motion occurs in three directions. Movements involving a change anteriorly and posteriorly, as well as vertically, are due to the revolving or pitchlike motion of the arytenoid along the minor axis of the cricoid's elliptically shaped facet. The medial and lateral movements are due to the orientation of the arytenoid which in turn is determined by the forward, lateral, and inferior inclination of the cricoid-arytenoid facet. During adduction it is the outward angulation of the vocal process from the body of the arytenoid that allows the entire length of the vocal proceses to approximate one another and to have this meeting occur at the proper vertical height.