• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.62-70
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• 2018

Background: The craniocervical flexion (CCF) exercise is one of the effective exercise in correcting forward head posture (FHP). However, some people with FHP achieve CCF with compensatory movements, for example, low cervical flexion using superficial neck flexors such as the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle. No study has yet investigated whether a dual­pres ure biofeedback unit (D-PBU) method to prevent low cervical flexion would be helpful in performing pure CCF movement. Objects: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of the CCF using D-PBU method and the traditional CCF method on the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the longus colli muscle (LCM) and the activity of SCM muscle in subjects with FHP. Methods: Twenty­four FHP subjects (male: 16, female: 8) were recruited for this study. All subjects performed CCF using two different methods: the traditional CCF method and the CCF using D-PBU method. The CSA of the LCM was measured via ultrasound, and surface electromyography was used to measure SCM muscle activity. Results: The change in CSA of the LCM was significantly larger during the CCF using D-PBU method ($1.28{\pm}.09$) compared with the traditional CCF method ($1.19{\pm}.08$) (p<.05). The SCM muscle activity using the CCF using D-PBU method ($2.01{\pm}1.97$ %MVIC) was significantly lower than when using the traditional CCF method ($2.79{\pm}2.32$ %MVIC) (p<.05). Conclusion: The CCF using D-PBU method can be recommended for increasing LCM activation and decreasing SCM muscle activity during CCF movement in subjects with FHP.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.302-308
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• 2020

Objective: The endurance and strength of deep neck flexor (DNF) muscles have a major role on the function and stability of the cervical spine. In recent years, there has been a lack of research that have investigated the muscle tone of the superficial neck muscles. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of between contraction ratio of the DNF and sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscles, DNF endurance, and muscle tension of the neck muscles. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Forty-seven subjects (male=20, female=27) participated in this study. The muscle tone of the upper trapezius (UT), SCM, and suboccipital (SO) muscle was measured using a contact soft tissue tone-measuring instrument. For the contraction ratio of the SCM and longus colli muscle, the thickness of the relaxation and maximum contraction state of the SCM and longus colli muscles were assessed using a diagnostic ultrasound measuring instrument and a pressure biofeedback unit. The deep neck flexor endurance test (DNFET) was performed in a cranio-cervical flexion posture. The correlations between the measured variables were investigated. Results: The relationship between the DNFET and SO tone showed a significant negative correlation (p<0.05). The relationship between the DNFET and contraction ratio showed a significant positive correlation (p<0.01). There was no significant correlation between the DNFET and SCM and UT tone. Conclusions: This study confirmed that there is a relationship between DNF endurance, DNF activation, and SO tone. The information on the results of this study may be used as a reference that can be actively applied in the clinical environment.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.11 no.12
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• pp.326-334
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• 2011

The aim of the study was to investigate the thickness of deep neck muscles during neck endurance tests using ultrasonography images to assess muscle sizes in persons with or without neck pain experience. Sixty-five university students volunteered for the study. The thicknesses of longus colli, longus capitis, semispinalis and cervical multifidus were assessed bilaterally using diagnostic ultrasound equipment during each endurance test. Participants were divided into two groups based on their Neck Pain(NP) experience; 45 subjects of those had no experience of NP (Group1) whereas 20 subjects of those reported NP experience sometime in their lives (Group2). Endurance time of both neck flexion and extension tests in Group1 showed significantly longer than Group's (p<0.01). The thicknesses of deep neck flexors and extensors were observed smallest at the terminal of endurance tests in general. Only left longus colli was found to be significantly smaller at rest in subjects of Group2 than Group 1's (P=0.02). The size difference between at contraction and the terminal of right longus capitis was observed bigger in subjects of group1 than subjects in group2. Future studies are needed to conduct with clinical subjects to assess contraction patterns of neck muscles.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.497-504
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• 2011

Purpose : Chronic cervical pain is a common source of disability in society. There has been no research regarding the amount of pressure for the deep cervical flexors during cranio-cervical flexion exercise (CCFE). The purpose of this study is to determine optimal pressure levels to facilitate deep cervical muscles (longus colli & longus capitis) during cranio-cervical flexion exercise, using ultrasound measurement of the muscles. Methods : Using a cross-sectional design, the study was performed in an experimental group of 19 subjects (7 men, 12 women) with no cervical pain. Participants were instructed to perform the CCFE, and during the five incremental stages of the test, changes in thickness, as compared to resting baseline values, were measured using ultrasonography for sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) and deep cervical muscles (DCF). Results : Both DCF and SCM muscles demonstrated an increase in recruitment with each progressive phase of the test. In comparing the different pressure increments, the most significant changes found in DCF thickness were between phase 2 and phase 3 (p<.05). However no differences were found between pressure increments for SCM thickness (p>.05). Conclusion : The results suggest 26 mm Hg as the optimal pressure level during cranio-cervical flexion exercise for facilitation of deep cervical flexor.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.69-78
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• 2017

Background: The purpose of the present study is to report the effect of muscle performance on knee flexion and extension by chin in exercise. Methods: This study was Participated in 10 healthy subjects. For conducting the chin-in exercise, subjects are lay down with supine position. Using the rounded towel, subjects was performed contraction of longus colli and longus capatis muscle by push the towel. Chin-in exercise was conducted 3 times a day, 4 times a week for 4 weeks. By using the Biodex system4, We measured absolute muscle strength, relative muscle strength, total exercise quantity and average rate of production in knee flexion and extension. The data was analyzed by the repeated-measure ANOVA for comparing before, after exercise 2 weeks, after exercise 4 weeks changes of factors. Results: After chin-in exercise, there was significant difference of before, after 2 weeks and 4weeks results in absolute muscle strength, relative muscle strength, total exercise quantity, average rate of production, agonist/antagonist ratio(p<.05). Conclusion: As a results of this study, chin-in exercise may help to improve muscle ability of knee joint activation and knee joint action performance.

• Clinical Pain
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.115-120
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• 2019

Acute calcific tendinitis (ACT) is a benign painful inflammatory disorder characterized by resorptive process of calcific deposits following the formation of calcium hydroxyapatite crystals in the tendons. It can occur at various sites, especially in the shoulder or hip joint. ACT involving the lateral epicondyle of the humerus and the cervical spine is very rare. Few reports have demonstrated successive ACT at different sites. We report three cases of successive ACT in women, occurring at the subscapularis followed by the lateral epicondyle, flexor carpi ulnaris followed by the supraspinatus, and longus colli followed by the iliopsoas, respectively.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.11-20
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• 2016

Background: A forward head posture (FHP) is one of the most common types of poor head posture in patients with neck disorder. A prolonged FHP might increase pressure on the posterior cranio-cervical structure and exhibit reduced performance on a cranio-cervical flexion test (CCFT). CCFT is included to activate deep cervical flexor muscles and inhibit excessive activation of superficial cervical flexor muscles. Therefore, the selective activation of deep cervical flexors is needed for effective exercise for FHP. Objects: The purpose of this study was to compare muscle thickness between longus colli (Lco) and sternocleidomastoid (SCM) using ultrasonography in subjects with FHP depending on head support. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, case-control research design study. The ultrasonographic images of Lco and SCM were taken in 17 subjects with FHP during the 5 phases of the CCFT with and without a head support. Towel was used for supporting head to make the neutral head position in supine. Changes in muscle thickness during the test were calculated to infer muscle activation. Data were analyzed using repeated measures of two-way analysis of variance with the significance level of .05. Results: When subjects performed the CCFT with head support, there was a significant difference in muscle thickness of Lco and SCM (p<.05). According to a post hoc paired t-test, change of thickness of Lco was greater at all phases, and change of thickness of SCM muscle was less at phase 4 and 5 in condition with head support (p<.01) compared to condition without head support (p<.01). Conclusion: The result of this study suggest that applying head support for neutral head position during CCFT could be a useful method for activating Lco muscle without excessive activation of SCM muscle.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.117-124
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• 2021

PURPOSE: This study examined the effect of muscle thickness of the deep cervical flexor muscle, muscle tonicity, and muscle fatigue of the superficial cervical flexor muscle by applying a functional latex pillow to patients with chronic cervical pain. METHODS: An experimental group using a functional latex pillow and a control group using a general pillow were assigned randomly to 30 people. Each pillow was applied in a comfortable lying position in the experimental group and control group. The deep cervical flexor muscle thickness was measured in the longus colli and longus capitus using ultrasonography. The muscle tonicity and muscle fatigue of the superficial cervical flexor muscle were measured separately in the sternocleidomastoid muscle using a myotonometer and electromyography. RESULTS: In the experimental group(functional latex pillow), the muscle tonicity of the superficial cervical flexor muscle like the sternocleidomastoid muscle was significantly lower than that of the control group (general pillow)(p < .01). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the functional latex pillow may effectively reduce the muscle tonicity of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, which is the superficial cervical muscle, in patients with chronic cervical pain. On the other hand, it was not effective on the muscle thickness of the deep cervical flexor muscle and muscle fatigue of the superficial cervical flexor muscles.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.269-272
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• 2001

Fourteen dogs referred to veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Seoul National University were diagnosed as esophageal foreign body (9 cases), megaesophagus (4 cases) and esophageal stricture (1 case). Patients showed a variety of clinical signs including regurgitation, vomiting, anorexia, hypersalivation, and retching. Survey radiographic examination included the entire esophagus, including the caudal pharynx and cranial abdomen. contrast radiographs were done to identify lesions or to characterize abnormal radiographic findings on survey films. In case static contrast studies were not sufficient were not sufficient to differentiate the diseases, dynamic fluoroscopic studies were performed. In thoracic megaesophagus, when gas filled, it provided several hallmark findings such as visualization of paired longus colli muscle and tracheal stripe sign. When gas-distended, the caudal thoracic esophagus was seen as a pair of thin, soft-tissue stripes that converged into a point overlying the diaphragm and cranial abdomen. All cases of megaesophagus could be solely identified by survey radiographs. In esophageal foreign body, 6 cases out of 9 patients had the history of having foreign body and others not. Most of esophageal foreign body could be diagnosed on survey radiographs and one case with radiolucent foreign body was confirmed by esophagram. It appeared as radiopaque material along the path of esophagus and the radiopacity was determined by its nature. Obstruction caused by foreign body eventually led to dilation of the esophageal lumen cranial to the site in 3 cases. In esophageal stricture, there was no remarkable findings on survey radiograph of the thorax. However, esophagography with barium sulfate showed the narrowing of the esophagus near hiatus. On fluoroscopy, swallowed barium was stagnated cranial to the site despite the esophageal peristalsis.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.44-50
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• 2015

This study compared the effects of the initial head position (i.e., a HHP versus a relaxed head position) of subjects with and without a FHP on the thickness of the deep and superficial neck flexor muscles during CCF. The study recruited 6 subjects with a FHP and 10 subjects without a FHP. The subjects performed CCF in two different head positions: a HHP, with the head aligned so that the forehead and chin formed a horizontal line, and a relaxed head position (RHP), with the head aligned in a self-selected comfortable position. During the CCF exercise, the thickness of the longus colli (LCo) and the thickness of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) were recorded using ultrasonography. The thickness of each muscle was measured by Image J software. The statistical analysis was performed with a two-way mixed-model analysis of variance. The thickness of the SCM differed significantly (p<.05) between the subjects with and without FHP. According to a post $h^{\circ}C$ independent t-test, the change in thickness of the SCM increased significantly during CCF in the subjects with FHP while adopting a HHP compared to that in the subjects without FHP. The change in thickness of the SCM was not significantly different between the two positions in subjects without FHP, and there was no significant change in thickness of the LCo muscle during the CCF exercise according to the initial position in both subjects with and without FHP. The results suggest that CCF should be performed in RHP to minimize contraction of the SCM in subjects with a FHP.