• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.11 no.12
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• pp.800-806
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to identify the effect of lumbar lordotic curve adjustment on head and neck posture in older adults. Methods Twenty healthy older participants (mean age 71.32) were photographed while watching monitor in sitting with or without lumbar roll support(length 28cm, diameter 10cm). The upper cervical angle and lower cervical angle were measured using the NIH ImageJ 1.32. Comparisons between upper and lower cervical angle with or without lumbar roll support were made using paired-t test analysis. Results Subjects demonstrated a significant difference in the mean upper and lower cervical angle. Mean difference of the upper cervical angle was about $2.83^{\circ}$ with and without lumbar roll support(p<0.005). Mean difference of the lower cervical angle was about $4.44^{\circ}$ with and without lumbar roll support(p<0.0001). Conclusions This study showed that healthy older adults demonstrated more ability to maintain an upright posture of cervical spine during lumbar lordotic curve maintenance with lumbar roll support than without lumbar roll support. When the clinicians consider improvement of the head and neck posture in older adults, they must incorporate adjustment in the lumbar region.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.16-25
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• 2010

The aim of this study was to determine the muscle activity of the abdominalis and erector spinae during bridging and unilateral bridging exercises on the firm surface, the sir-fit, and the foam roll. Eighteen healthy young subjects were recruited for this study. Surface electromyographic (EMG) activities were recorded from the both sides of the rectus abdominalis, external obliques, internal obliques, and erector spinae muscles during bridging and unilateral bridging-exercises. A one-way repeated analysis of variance was used to compare the EMG activity of each muscle according to the support surface condition. Differences in the EMG activities between the bridging and unilateral bridging exercises, and between the right and left side were assessed using a paired t-test. The study showed that the EMG activities of all of the muscles were significantly higher when the bridging exercise was performed using the foam roll or sit-fit than on the firm surface. The EMG activities of the right rectus abdominis, right external obliques, the right internal oblique, and both erector spinae were significantly higher during unilateral bridging ex exercise using the foam roll or the sit-fit than on the firm surface. The EMG activities of all of the muscles were significantly higher during the unilateral bridging exercise than during the bridging exercise. Based on these finding, performing the unilateral bridging exercise using the sit-fit or the foam roll is a useful method for facilitating trunk muscle strength and lumbar stability.