• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.208-215
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• 2012

Purpose: We attempt to assess the differences in the degree of lumbar lordosis in patients with lower back pain caused by the herniation of the nucleus pulposus and in normal people (divided into male and female groups). Methods: This study was conducted with 14 patients (7 males, 7 females) diagnosed with, and being treated for, lumbar herniated nucleus pulposus and 14 normal people (7 males, 7 females). In order to examine the degree of lumbar lordosis in these subjects, hip flexor lengthening tests were conducted and the lumbar curves were measured in three postures (supine, sitting, and prone) and the results were compared. Results: The measured values of the curves for the standing and prone postures showed statistically significant differences between the normal group and the patient group, between the normal male group and the male patient group, and between the normal female group and the female patient group (p<0.05). Conclusion: The measurement method that uses flexible curve rulers in the standing or prone postures can be usefully utilized in assessing the lumbar lordosis of patients with lumbar herniation of the nucleus pulposus.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.226-233
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was conducted in order to investigate the exercise limit that may occur depending on changes in postural alignment by examining the significance of postural alignment changes, foot pressure, and balance of patients with stroke. Methods: In this study, 50 patients diagnosed with a stroke were selected as subjects. Imbalance of postural alignment of the trunk, pelvic tilt of trunk rotation of the body, angle of kyphotic curving of the thoracic, and angle of lordotic curving of the lumbar vertebra were measured. Foot pressure was examined by measuring average pressure and weight bearing. Balance was examined by measuring the center of pressure and limit of stability. Results: The significance of postural alignment, foot pressure, and weight bearing of the non-paretic side was examined. In addition, the significance between postural alignment and balance was examined. Conclusion: It is thought that limits of foot pressure and balance in the standing position can be caused by postural alignment. Thus, both a therapeutic intervention program and postural alignment training should be provided together in order to improve the function of patients with stroke.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.1063-1073
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• 1999

Objective: Poor head and neck support during sleep can exacerbate the neck pain. Based on the ideal sleep posture and pillow suggested by Cyriax, we designed a new cervical pillow and compared the degree of pain reduction, quality of sleep and pillow satisfaction with a low hospital pillow and a high pillow. Method: The newly designed pillow has a built-in pressure-adjustable air bag in the cervical area and provides normal cervical lordotic curve in supine position and maintains cervical and thoracic vertebrae to form a horizontal line in side-lying position. Thiry-four patients with cervical pain used low hospital pillows for the first week of 3-week randomized crossover design study. They were subsequently randomly assigned to use each of the other two pillows for 1-week period. Outcomes were measured using Visual analog scale, Sleep questionaire, a pillow satisfaction scale. Result: Compared with other 2 types of pillow, Subjects using the newly desinged pillow showed much reduced pain intensity, increased duration of sleep and better satisfaction. Conclustion: We desinged a cervical pillow with built-in pressure adjustable air bag and it can significantly reduce pain intensity and improve quality of sleep in patients with cervical pain.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.1-8
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• 2010

Objectives : The propose of this study was to observe the correlation between Cervical hypolordosis and radiological result. Methods : We randomly selected among the 110 patients with X-ray and C-spine MRI films who have visited Jaseng Hospital of Oriental Medicine with neck pain. Radiographic measures of cervical lordosis and herniated disc were collected, and statistically analyzed. Results : In this study, if the finding of a X-ray showed straightening of cervical lordotic curve, based on MRI finging, the amount of herniation was more severe. Conclusions : There was a significant correlation between Cervical hypolordosis and herniated disc. Hypolordosis group complained a severe herniated disc.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.217-223
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• 2021

Purpose: This study sought to identify the effects of coordinative locomotor training (CLT) using elastic bands on the flexibility and body alignment of right-handed baseball players in elementary school. Methods: The subjects were 20 instructed right-handed baseball players in elementary school. They were classified into the experimental group with 10 players (n=10) to be given coordinative locomotor training using elastic bands and the control group with 10 players (n=10). Flexibility was measured by the sit and reach exercise. Body alignment was measured using formetric 4D method to measure the trunk imbalance angle (TI), trunk torsion angle (TT), pelvic tilt angle (PTi), pelvic torsion angle (PTo), pelvic rotation angle (PR), kyphotic angle (Ky), and lordotic angle (Lo). Results: There was a significant increase in the flexibility within the experimental group (p<0.05). after the intervention. There was also a significant increase in the difference between the experimental group and the control group (p<0.05). There was a significant decrease in PR during body alignment in the experimental group after intervention (p<0.05). An analysis of the differences between groups showed a significant decrease in the PR of the experimental group compared to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: These findings show that coordinative locomotor training using elastic bands would be effective for enhancing the flexibility and pelvic rotation of elementary school right-handed baseball players.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.181-188
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• 2019

Purpose: This study was performed to determine the effects of a gluteus maximus strengthening exercise on both spinal alignment and dynamic balance in subjects with kyphosis. Methods: We measured the kyphosis angle of 150 subjects and selected those whose kyphosis angle was > $50^{\circ}$. The participants included 10 male and 12 female college students. After a gluteus maximus strengthening exercise was applied, the subjects were measured by the formetric 4D and Biorescue systems. The collected data were analyzed by a paired t-test with the SPSS (Ver. 21) program for spinal alignment and dynamic balance comparisons both before and after the gluteus maximus strengthening exercise was completed. Results: The results regarding spinal alignment showed statistically significant decreases in pelvic tilt, kyphotic angle, and lordotic angle after the intervention (p < .05). However, trunk imbalance, pelvic torsion, surface rotation, and lateral deviation were not significantly different after the exercise. The results of the dynamic balance showed statistically significant increases in limits of stability after the exercise (p < .05). Conclusion: The above results suggest that the implemented gluteus maximus strengthening exercise may be effective for spinal alignment and dynamic balance in subjects with kyphosis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.115-121
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• 2021

PURPOSE: This study analyzed the correlation between the plantar pressure and body alignment according to the dominant hand of elementary school baseball players. METHODS: The subjects consisted of 32 elementary school baseball players. The 32 players were classified in the right-hand dominant group (Rt. Group, n = 22) and left-hand dominant group (Lt. group, n = 10). The plantar pressure was measured using a pedoscan to determine the maximum pressure and pressure distribution. The body alignment was measured using a fometric 4D to measure the trunk imbalance angle (TI), pelvic tilt angle (PTi), pelvic torsion angle (PTo), pelvis rotation angle (PR), kyphotic angle (Ky), lordotic angle (Lo), and trunk torsion angle (TT). RESULTS: Participants showed correlations in the Rt. group, according to the left maximum pressure, Lo (r = .592, p < .05), and TT (r = .514, p < .05); according to the right maximum pressure, PR (r = .539, p < .05), and Lo (r = .503, p < .05). In the left pressure distribution, the PR (r = -.521, p < .05) showed a negative correlation. In the Lt. group, the PT (r = -.591, p < .05) showed a negative correlation in the left pressure distribution. CONCLUSION: These results can be used as basic data for a body analysis study of elementary school baseball players in the future.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.43-50
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• 2004

Objective : Obesity is associated with degenerative arthropathy giving stress on joints. It also amplifies loads of weight bearing joints by changing the gravity line of the body. Our aim is to investigate the correlation between obesity and lumbar lordosis in obese pre-menopausal Korean females. The hypothesis was tested that there is a correlation between obesity and lumbar lordosis. Methods : A cross-sectional evaluation of 44 Females (baseline age 30.77 ± 6.46) with BMI 31.53 ± 3.82 (kg/㎡) was done. Body composition was measured using bio-impedance analysis (BIA), and anthropometry was done by the same observer. A lateral whole spine X-ray was taken in standing position to measure the lumbar lordotic angle (LLA), Ferguson angle (FA) and lumbar gravity line (LGL). A Pearson correlation was used to measure the correlation between obesity and lumbar lordosis (SPSS 10.0 for windows). Results : Body mass index (BMI kg/㎡) had a negative relationship with LLA((equation omitted)=-0.469), FA((equation omitted) =-0.347) and LGL((equation omitted)=-0.389). Body fat rate had a negative relationship with LLA only(γ=-0.385). Waist circumference had a negative relationship with LLA((equation omitted)=-0.345) and LGL((equation omitted)=-0.346). WH ratio had no relationship with lumbar lordosis. Conclusion : These data show that obesity is related to mechanical structures, such as lumbar lordosis. BMI was the most useful index, which reflects a change of mechanical structure of lumbar, more than other variables in this study.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.338-344
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• 2010

Objective : This study assessed the safety and efficacy of one level unilateral laminotomy bilateral decompression (ULBD) with the placement of a device for intervertebral assisted motion (DIAM) compared with one level ULBD only in elderly patients with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (DLSS). Methods : A non randomized prospective analysis was performed on 16 patients who underwent one level ULBD with DIAM (Group A) and 20 patients with one level ULBD only (Group B) between February 2007 and March 2008. Radiographic imaging, visual analog scale (VAS) and MacNab outcome scale were obtained before and after surgery at a mean interval of 21 months (range 17-27 months). Results : The disc height, interpedicular distance, slip distance and segmental lordotic angle were similar between two groups. In the group A, there was no significant difference between the pre- and post-operative imaging in terms of the sagittal balance and disc height. Both groups showed significant improvement in the clinical outcomes. In addition, there was significantly less low-back pain in the group A than in the group B at the last follow up, while the clinical improvement of the leg pain and MacNab outcome scale showed no significant difference in the two groups. There were no major complications or DIAM associated complications. Conclusion : ULBD with DIAM is a safe and efficacious treatment for selective elderly patients with DLSS, particularly for relieving low back pain comparing to ULBD. ULBD with DIAM did not alter the disc height or sagittal alignment at the mean 21 months follow-up interval.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.357-362
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• 2015

Objective : To investigate risk factors for S1 screw loosening after lumbosacral fusion, including spinopelvic parameters and paraspinal muscles. Methods : We studied with 156 patients with degenerative lumbar disease who underwent lumbosacral interbody fusion and pedicle screw fixation including the level of L5-S1 between 2005 and 2012. The patients were divided into loosening and non-loosening groups. Screw loosening was defined as a halo sign larger than 1 mm around a screw. We checked cross sectional area of paraspinal muscles, mean signal intensity of the muscles on T2 weight MRI as a degree of fatty degeneration, spinopelvic parameters, bone mineral density, number of fusion level, and the characteristic of S1 screw. Results : Twenty seven patients showed S1 screw loosening, which is 24.4% of total. The mean duration for S1 screw loosening was $7.3{\pm}4.1$ months after surgery. Statistically significant risk factors were increased age, poor BMD, 3 or more fusion levels (p<0.05). Among spinopelvic parameters, a high pelvic incidence (p<0.01), a greater difference between pelvic incidence and lumbar lordotic angle preoperatively (p<0.01) and postoperatively (p<0.05). Smaller cross-sectional area and high T2 signal intensity in both multifidus and erector spinae muscles were also significant muscular risk factors (p<0.05). Small converging angle (p<0.001) and short intraosseous length (p<0.05) of S1 screw were significant screw related risk factors (p<0.05). Conclusion : In addition to well known risk factors, spinopelvic parameters and the degeneration of paraspinal muscles also showed significant effects on the S1 screw loosening.