• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.386-392
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• 2013

Purpose: This study aimed to verify the impact of the time that the sitting posture is maintained on changes in muscle performance and head alignment. Methods: The subjects of this study were healthy adults aged between 20 and 30 years. Ninety-three subjects participated in this study (male: 57, female: 36). The subjects were divided into a one-hour group, a two-hour group, and a three-hour group. All the subjects adjusted the height of their chair to a comfortable position and then seat for one, two, or over three hours. Both prior to and after the experiment, the muscle performance (muscle strength, endurance, and flexibility) of the subjects was measured. Results: In the 2-hours and 3-hour group, muscle strength, flexibility and endurance reduced significantly before and after the study, and the head alignment significantly changed. Conclusion: Thease findings showed that sitting continuously for longer than two hours decreases muscle strength, endurance, and flexibility. A flexed posture affects the muscle performance of the lumbar region and may result in problematic postures, such as a forward head position.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.33-37
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• 2021

[Purpose] Sex hormones deficiency leads to dramatically bone loss in particular postmenopausal women. Royal jelly has anti-osteoporosis effect due to maintain bone volume in that condition. We hypothesized that royal jelly protein (RJP, a latent residue after extracting royal jelly) also prevents bone deficient in ovariectomized (OVX) female rats, the animal model of postmenopausal women. [Methods] Female Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 30, 6 weeks age old) were sham operated (Sham; sham operated group, n = 7), OVX control group (OC, n = 7), OVX with low RJP intake group (ORL, n = 8), and OVX with high RJP intake group (ORH, n = 8) during 8 weeks experimental periods. In the end point of this experiment, the bone samples (lumbar spine, tibia, and femur) were surgically removed under anesthesia. These bone samples were evaluated bone mineral density (BMD) and bone strength. [Results] BMD of lumbar spine in RJP intake groups (ORL, ORH) were higher than that in OC group (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01) in RJP intake volume dependent manner. BMD of tibial proximal metaphysis and diaphysis in RJP intake groups were also higher than these in OC group (p < 0.01 and p < 0.01 / p < 0.05 and p < 0.001). In addition, breaking force of femur in RJP intake groups were significantly increase compared with that in OC group (p < 0.001 respectively). [Conclusion] These findings indicate that RJP contribute to prevent sex hormone related bone abnormality.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.25-33
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• 2009

In dancers, intact muscular coordination is a well balanced antagonist, which could be a decisive factor in protection against injury as dancers often have hypermobile joints and their ankle joints often bear their full body weight in extreme positions. The purposes of this study were to identify the isokinetic strength to the knee and ankle and the isometric strength of the trunk in female collegiate dancers and controls. Furthermore, the study aimed to investigate the peak torque ratio of knee extension to flexion, ankle plantarflexion (PF) to dorsiflexion (DF), and dominant legs to nondominant. Twenty-one female collegiate dancers (20.0 years of age) and twenty-one female collegiate students (19.3 years of age) performed isokinetic maximum efforts of the knee extensors and flexors at $60^{\circ}/sec$ and $120^{\circ}/sec$, the ankle plantarflexors and dorsiflexors at $30^{\circ}/sec$ and $120^{\circ}/sec$ and isometric maximum efforts of the lumbar extensors at $0^{\circ}$, $12^{\circ}$, $24^{\circ}$, $36^{\circ}$, $48^{\circ}$, $60^{\circ}$, and $72^{\circ}$. The results were as follows: The isokinetic peak torque of the knee extensors and the ratio of knee extensors to flexors of dancers were significantly higher than those of controls (p<.01). However, the isometric peak torque of the back extensors (p<.01) and isokinetic peak torque of the ankle plantarflexors and dorsiflexors (p<.05) of dancers were significantly lower than those of controls. Further studies are needed to identify the difference in proprioception of the joints between dancers and controls.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.109-126
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• 2003

This study was designed 10 investigate the effects of therapeutic gymnastic ball exercise on pain, flexibility, lumbar disability level and daily activity levels in male patients of the armed forces medical hospital who complain of chronic low back pain. Twenty-three males were placed in the experimental group and twenty-nine males were placed in the control group. All of the subjects were chosen on the basis of availability among in-patients who were diagnosed with low back pain. The control patients were matched to the experimental group and they were selected considering gender, pain duration and age. Gymnastic ball exercise therapy was developed by the author with the assistance of a rehabilitation specialist. Gymnastic ball exercise therapy includes muscle relaxation, flexibility, muscle strength and posture development exercises. The gymnastic ball exercise therapy was carried out by the experimental group three times a week for eight weeks. Before and after the experiments, the intensity of pain, the lumbar joint mobility (flexibility), the lumbar disability levels, and the daily activity levels of the subjects were measured, respectively. The intensity of pain and the lumbar disability levels were measured by the Visual Analogue Scale, the level of flexibility by a measurement ruler, and the level of disability by the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Scale. Data were analysed using a t-test, a paired t-test and an unpaired t-test. The results were as follows: 1. The intensity of pain in the lumbar spine in the experimental group was significantly decreased compared with that of the control group during the 4th week and 8th week. 2. The flexibility of the lumbar spine in the experimental group was significantly increased compared with that of the control group during the 4th week and 8 week. 3. The level of pain caused by anterior, posterior, left lateral and right lateral bending and by rotation in experimental group was significantly decreased compared with that of the control group. 4. The Oswestry Disability score of the experimental group was significantly increased compared with that of control group. These findings indicate that gymnastic ball exercise therapy could be effective in decreasing pain and lumbar disability, and increasing the daily activity levels and lumbar flexibility in patients with chronic low back pain. The study also suggests that gymnastic ball exercise therapy could be an essential factor for effective nursing intervention for patients suffering from chronic low back pain.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.95-104
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• 2020

PURPOSE: A prospective study was conducted to investigate the correlation between the inspiration ability, bone mineral density, lumbar muscle strength, and muscular endurance for the national softball athletes in the national training center. METHODS: The general characteristics of study subjects, inspiration ability, bone mineral density, muscle strength, and muscular endurance data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. In addition, the Pearson product moment correlation was performed to investigate the correlation between the inspiratory capacity, bone mineral density, muscle strength, and muscular endurance. RESULTS: The inspiration, flow rates, and volume were not correlated with the bone mass and bone mineral density. Inspiration and the flow rates and volume were not correlated with the bone mass and bone mineral density. On the other hand, inspiration was correlated with the Extensor muscles (r=.464, p=.006) at an angular velocity of 60°/s and the flexors (r=.463, p=.006) and extensor muscles (r=.615, p<.001) at an angular velocity of 180°/s. The flow rate was also correlated with the extensor muscles (r=.444, p=.009) at an angular velocity of 60°/s and with flexor muscles (r=.432, p=.011) and extensor muscles (r=.589, p<.001) at an angular velocity of 180°/s. Finally, the volume was correlated at the extensor muscles at an angular velocity of 180°/s (r=.534, p=.001). CONCLUSION: The correlation between the inspiratory capacity, bone mineral density, muscle strength, and muscular endurance of softball athletes did not correlate with the bone mass and bone density. On the other hand, the lumbar muscle strength increased with increasing inspiratory capacity.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2010.11a
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• pp.957-958
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• 2010

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.269-279
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• 2008

Purpose: The study was to examine the effect of lumbar stabilization exercise on back pain, physical fitness, sleep, and depression in middle-aged women who have chronic back pain. Methods: With one group pre-post test design, 18 subjects who have had more than 6 months of back pain were recruited by convenience sampling in D metropolitan area. Lumbar stabilization exercise was based on Tai Chi for back pain program developed by Lam(2003). This program was mainly focusing on strengthening lumbar stabilizing muscle for one hour per session, twice a week for 20 weeks. Degree of back pain, back pain disability, sleep, and depression were measured at three time points(pretest, 12 weeks, and 20 weeks) by a structured study questionnaire. Physical fitness variables including waist flexibility, mobility, and back muscle strength were measured three times at health promotion center located in the university hospital. Data were analyzed by frequency, descriptive statistics, and repeated measures of ANOVA. Results: Mean age of subjects was 52 years(SD = 6.4). Most of them(90%) had suffered from back pain more than one year and 67% was taking medicine to relieve their back pain. Results showed that back pain score and disability score were not significantly decreased after the exercise. On physical fitness variables, however, waist flexibility(F = 3.50, p = .04) and mobility(F = 3.31, p = .04) were improved after the exercise. Quality of sleep(F = 4.48, p = .03) was improved gradually and depression scores were also decreased(F = 3.12, p = .05) after the exercise. Conclusion: This lumbar stabilization exercise was not able to reduce chronic back pain, but could improve physical fitness and psycho-social variables for community dwelling women who have chronic back pain. Further study is needed to replicate this exercise with control group to confirm the positive effect.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.238-245
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• 2017

This retrospective observational study was aimed to evaluate that Daoyin Exercise therapy improves the symptoms related to lumbar disc herniation. We analyzed the medical records of 7 patients, who satisfied with inclusion and exclusion criteria. The subjects of the study were the patients who were prescribed Daoyin Exercise Therapy and Korean medical treatments for lumbar intervertebral disc herniation at Dunsan Korean Medicine Hospital of Daejeon University from July 25th, 2016 to March 31th, 2017. The effects of Daoyin Exercise Therapy was evaluated by comparing before and after taking Daoyin Exercise Therapy through 0-10 Numeric Rating Scale(NRS), Roland & Morris Disability Questionnaire(RMDQ), Trunk Extension Flexion(TEF) Program, EuroQol five Demension Questionnaire(EQ-5D, EQVAS) of the symptoms including lower back pain. The Daoyin Exercise Therapy combined with Korean medicine treatment reduced NRS($3.357{\pm}3.038$) and RMDQ($9.50{\pm}6.364$), and improved Muscle endurance($44.429{\pm}45.136$), EQ-5D($0.09{\pm}0.12$) and EQVAS($6.571{\pm}19.260$) of the 7 patients without side effects. These results implied that Daoyin Exercise Therapy might helps to improve symptoms of patients with lumbar disc herniation by reducing the symptoms of lower back pain and improving muscle endurance, quality of life, strength enhancement and core muscles.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.103-109
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• 2015

Purpose: Abdominal breathing exercises are recommended to activate the breathing muscles and the pelvic floor muscles, as well as to increase postural alignment during exhalation. The purpose of this study was to clarify the effect of improving abdominal muscle strength on menstrual pain in women in their twenties using abdominal breathing exercises. Method: In this study, 32 female university students were included as the subjects. The subjects were divided into two groups based on the area of menstrual pain: lumbar pain (n=16) and lower abdomen pain (n=16). The abdominal breathing positions were divided into two positions, which included a hook lying position and hip and knee flexions at $90^{\circ}$ in the supine position. Exercises were used to strengthen the abdominal muscles during exhalation. Four sets of the exercises were completed three times a week over the course of eight weeks. The degree of pain was measured using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Muscle thickness was measured using an ultrasound. Result: The thickness of the transverse abdominis (TrA) and internal oblique (IO) increased in the lower abdomen pain group. However, thickness of the external oblique (EO) did not increased following abdominal breathing. No significant difference in posture was identified in the lower abdomen group. TrA thickness increased significantly in the lumbar pain group. However, thickness did not increase significantly in the lumbar pain group. In addition, the lumbar pain group experienced no significant effects on posture. IO thickness increased following hip and knee flexions at $90^{\circ}$ in the lumbar pain group. Menstrual pain decreased following intervention in both groups. There was no significant difference in the degree of pain reduction between both groups. Conclusion: As examples of alternative medicine, abdominal breathing exercises may be effective in decreasing menstrual pain.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.207-214
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• 1996

Main cause of low back pain is a poor posture. Most low back pains are due to a poor posture. The poor posture induces muscle tension and finaliy low back pain. The poor posture arehabitually trained from the childhood by the environmetal factors. In general, maintaining good posture during working and sleeping hours are the first line of defence against back pam. (1) Supine posture is the easiest posture that relaxes and fixes muscles. Supine posture is thus a starting position for on exercise. Lying down releases the weight pressures of head and shoulder and thus body can be relaxed and extended which are helpful for treating back pain. However, supine posture can increase the pressure in ribcage posture aspect and disphragram due to visceral oragans. (2) Sitting in one position for a long time results in fatigue and relaxation of spinal muscies. Finally, body strength is weakened and sitting posture will become poor. If this poor posture continues for a longer time, pain will be accompanied due to overelongation of muscle ligaments. The habitual poor posture could induce intervertebral disc distortion. If the intervertebral disc is damaged, sitting in one position or movement causes pain. (3) Abnormal lumbar curve induces the tention of abdominal muscle and paravertebral muscle groups as well as tention of lower limb muscle group connected to pelvis. For a person with weak body strength, muscle relaxation increases curvature in lumbar, chest and cervical regions. This will induce a pelvic anterior tilting of the imaginary line between A. S. I. S. and P. S. I. S. Hip joint extensor muscle acts on releasing the pelvic anterior tilting. Contrections of hamstring muscle and femoral muscle recover the imaginary line between A.S.LS. and P.S.I.S. from pelvic anterior tilting. thus, contraction of rectus abdominis muscle are required to maintain the normal lumbar curve.