• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.112-118
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• 2016

The neck pain is fairly common occurance. Forward head posture and text neck are poor postures which may be related with neck pain but the evidence is not enough. We developed the wearable sensor which can assess the head & neck posture in daily life. Microprocessor, Bluetooth low energy, and 3-axis accelerometer, rechargeable battery and vibratior for reminding are used to implement the wearable sensor. Real-time algorithm to parameterize the posture for one epoch is implemented which classifies the posture in the epoch into three classed; dynamic, static_good posture, and static_poor posture. Also the algorithm makes reminding to its wearer to give them the prolonged poor posture is detected. The mean error of measurement was 1.2 degree. The correlation coefficient between neck angle and craniovertebral angle was 0.9 or higher in all cases. With the pilot study on text neck syndrome was also quatified. Average of neck angle were 74.3 degree during the listening in the classroom and 57.8 degree during the smartphoning. Using the wearable sensor suggested, the poor postures of forward head posture and neck neck can be detected in real-time which can remind the wearer according to his/her setting.

• Medical Lasers
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.71-75
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• 2020

Eagle syndrome is relatively uncommon with an incidence of abnormal stylohyoid length being 4% to 7.3%. A vast majority of individuals with elongation of the styloid process are asymptomatic. It is a syndrome marked by the clinical signs and symptoms of facial pain, ear pain, throat pain, dysphagia and a globus sensation in the throat. The cause of Eagle syndrome is believed to be a congenital or hormonal change and reactive osseus hyperplasia of the styloid process in response to pharyngeal trauma or surgical intervention, such as tonsillectomy. We present here a case of a 37-year-old female with a twelve-month history of both sided oropharyngeal pain and globus sensation which has no trauma or surgical intervention. The patient presented with a long, slender, bony intraoral projection that was found to be an elongated styloid process. We removed this elongated styloid process with a CO₂ laser, and her symptoms disappeared.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.19-25
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• 1992

The pressure pain thresholds of head and neck muscles of patients suffering from tensiontype headache220, all female, ages ranged from 13 to 50 years (28.4$\pm$9.6) and 39 healthy controls, all female, ages ranged from 14 to 46 years (24.4$\pm$9.2) were recorded by the electronic algometer (Electyronic Algometer Type I, Somedic, Stockholm, Sweden). And the obtained results were as follows : 1. The pressure pain thresholds of patient group were lower than those of controls in superior sternocleidomastoid muscle, middle sternocleidomastoid muscle, and trapezius insertion muscle (P<0.001) 2. The pressure pain thresholds of patient group were not different from those of controls in anterior temporal, middle temporal, posterior temporal, deep masseter, anterior masseter, inferior masseter, medial pterygoid, posterior digastric, splenius capitus and upper trapezius muscle (P>0.05). 3. Seventy-one percent of tension-type headache patients had more than one muscle, of whicb pressure pain threshold was lowered significantly (less than mean of control - 1.5SD). 4. The pressure pain thresholds of head and neck muscles should be considered as a criterion for the diagnosis of tension-type headache.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.51-59
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• 2020

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to provide clinical basic data to reduce pain and improve function by comparing neck muscle activity and neck alignment using self-stretching and passive stretching exercises for chronic neck pain caused by forward head posture. METHODS: The subjects were divided into 15 subjects assigned to perform self-stretching exercise and 15 subjects assigned to perform passive stretching exercise. The intervention was conducted for a total of 4 weeks. The muscle activity in the neck was measured by surface electromyography (EMG) before intervention, and craniovertebral and cranial rotation angles were measured by X-ray. The 4-week intervention was conducted and the above items re-measured in the same manner and analyzed. RESULTS: Muscle activity within both groups after intervention using self-stretching or passive stretching exercise was significantly different (p < .05)(p < .01). Neck alignment of both groups was significantly different (p < .001)(p < .01). Further, muscle activities of the upper trapezius and splenius capitis muscles showed significant differences (p<.05). Lastly, neck alignment showed statistically significant difference (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Self-stretching exercise activated motor nerves as a posture correction exercise, thereby improving inhibition of muscle activity, muscle contraction delay, and pathological conditions of the muscle. For future research, interventions of self-stretching exercise will be needed for patients with chronic back pain accompanied by forward head posture, and various clinical studies on postural improvement of forward head posture by maintaining a normal muscle tone state are needed.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.211-217
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• 2017

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a 12-week professional body massage program (PMP) on forward head posture, neck pain, and plantar foot pressure balance in men in their 20s. Method: A total of 20 men with musculoskeletal diseases were recruited for this study. The participants were asked to take part in a PMP twice a week for 12 weeks. The cranial vertical angle (CVA) for forward head posture and visual analogue scale (VSC) for neck pain and right/left foot plantar pressure balances were extracted to compare between pre- and post-program differences. Results: CVAs before ($56.86{\pm}4.55^{\circ}$) and after ($62.72{\pm}4.57^{\circ}$) and VSCs before ($6.95{\pm}1.70$) and after ($1.70{\pm}1.56$) PMP revealed statistically significant differences. The right foot, after PMP, showed a significant increase in the plantar pressure balance from $46.17{\pm}2.95$ to $49.44{\pm}1.29%$, while the left foot decreased significantly from $53.83{\pm}2.95%$ to $50.56{\pm}1.29%$. Therefore, based on these results, it may be said that the foot pressure balance abilities were improved after PMP because the ideal foot pressure ratio is 50%. Conclusion: Consequently, it was suggested that a 12-week PMP could be utilized for improvement of forward head posture, neck pain, and foot plantar pressure balance in men in the 20s with musculoskeletal diseases.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of neck exercises on neck-shoulder posture and pain of high school students with neck disorders. Methods: Twenty seven subjects were randomly assigned to one of 3 groups a craniocervical flexion training group (CCFT), a neck strengthening exercise group (ST), and a basic stretching exercise group (CG). CCFT and ST exercised five times a week for eight weeks under the researcher's guidance. The control group performed basic stretching exercises. Diagnostic radiologic equipment was used for the measurement of neck-shoulder posture. Neck disability index, and numeric rating scales were used. Results: The CCFT showed a significant pre-post treatment difference on measures of neck flexion angle and forward shoulder angle changes compared to the ST and CG groups (p<0.05). The CCFT group also showed a significantly greater improvement on the neck disability index and numeric rating scales changes than the ST and CG groups (p<0.01). Conclusion: Because CCFT decreases neck flexion angle, forward shoulder angle, neck disability index, and pain in the forward head posture, it is useful for treating patients with neck disorders.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.23-34
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• 2022

Purpose : This study examined the effects of pain, neck dysfunction, psychosocial level, headache impact test (HIT), postural alignment, and trapezius muscle tone of the complex exercise program using dynamic taping in patients with tension headache and chronic neck pain with forward head posture. Methods : The design of this is a randomized controlled trial (RCT). Thirty-four patients with chronic neck pain were screened using a randomized assignment program and assigned to experimental group (n=17) and control group (n=17). Both groups underwent a complex exercise program. In addition, the experimental group dynamic taping was applied to the upper trapezius muscle. All interventions were applied three times per week for four weeks. The visual analogue scale (VAS), the neck disability index (NDI), short form-12 health survey questionnaire (SF-12), Headache impact test-6 (HIT-6), Craniovertebral angle (CVA), Cranial rotation angle (CRA), upper trapezius muscle tone were compared to evaluate the effect on intervention. Results : Both groups showed significant differences before and after the intervention in VAS, NDI, SF-12, HIT-6, and CVA, CRA (p<.05). In addition, significant differences in NDI and upper trapezius muscle tone were observed between the experimental group and control group (p<.05). Conclusion : A complex exercise program using dynamic taping for patients with tension headache and chronic neck pain with forward head posture are effective method with clinical significance in improving the function and reducing upper trapezius muscle tone.

• Journal of Korean Dental Science
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.68-76
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• 2012

Purpose: The headache is a symptom that various somatic or non-somatic disorders gives an effect to head and neck system. The neck and the shoulder pain is a common muscle pain that can not control and bothers the patient after chronic state. The headache and the neck and the shoulder muscle pain are treated with various conventional treatment methods. But, there are cases that symptoms did not resolve or increased in some clinical cases. And generally, the result of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) treatment is good. But, despite of a normal treatment was performed for TMD, there are cases that TMD symptoms did not resolved in clinical cases. In template clinic of Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, co-operative neurophysiologic treatment of Department of Neurosurgery and Dentistry are done for patients, who had head and neck pain or atypical symptoms that did not treated with various conventional treatment method such as surgery or medication etc. Materials and Methods: Four hundred fifty one patients who have treated in the template clinic, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, from January of 2006 to December of 2008 were subjected in this study. Result: Overall average age was 31.9 years old. Ratio of numbers is 74.3% in female and 25.7% in male. The success rate of treatment in TMD symptom was 89.9%, in headache was 88.8%, in muscle pain was 81.6%. Statistically significance of differences visual analogue scale evaluation between before and after had been treated patients who have over average grade headache was calculated by paired t-test. P<0.05 was considered significant. Conclusion: We suggest the template appliance can be attempted for cases whose headache, the neck and the shoulder muscle pain and TMD are not resolved with various conventional treatment methods.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.51-59
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• 2022

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effect of mobilization with movement (MWM) applied to the ankle joint, on the craniovertebral angle (CVA), pressure pain threshold, and neck disability index (NDI) in asymptomatic adults with a forward head posture (FHP). Methods: A total of 32 subjects with FHP were assigned to either the MWM group (N=16) or the cranio-cervical flexion exercise (CCFE) group (n=16). The CVA, pressure pain threshold and NDI were measured before and 4 weeks after the intervention. Results: A significant improvement in the CVA was observed in the MWM group (p<.05), whereas no significant changes (p>.05) were observed in the CCFE group. Both groups showed significant differences in the pressure pain threshold and NDI before and after the intervention (p<.05). Conclusion: The results of the study suggest that MWM applied to the ankle joint can effectively improve the CVA, pressure pain threshold, and NDI of adults with a forward head posture. Based on this study, the ankle MWM technique for dorsiflexion can be used as an objective research method for additional studies targeting FHP patients in the future.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.278-285
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• 2020

Background: Individuals with forward head posture (FHP) have neck pain. To correct the FHP, a posture correction band is commonly used. However, we do not know the posture correction band influenced the pulmonary function in individuals with FHP. Objects: This study aimed to elucidate the effects of the posture correction band on the pulmonary function in young adults with neck pain and FHP and to monitor how the pulmonary function changed over time. Methods: Twenty subjects with chronic neck pain and forward head posture were recruited. Subjects performed pulmonary function test four times: before, immediately, and 2 hours after wearing the postural band, and immediately after undressing the postural band. Vital capacity (VC), forced vital capacity (FVC), peak expiratory flow (PEF), and forced expiratory volume at one second (FEV1) were measured. The modified Borg dyspnea scale was used to measure each subject's responses to the posture correction band. The mixed-effect linear regression was used to the effect of the posture correction band over time. Results: There were no significant differences in VC, FVC, PEF, FEV1 values over time (p > 0.05), although all values slightly decreased after applying posture correction band. However, the score of the modified Borg scale significantly changed after wearing the postural bands (p < 0.05), indicating the subject felt discomfort with posture correction band during breathing. Conclusion: Because the posture correction band did not change the pulmonary function over time, but it induces psychological discomforts during breathing in people with FHP. Therefore, this posture correction band can be used for FHP realignment after discussion with the subjects.