• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• 제24권2호
• /
• pp.37-47
• /
• 2017

Background: Active trigger points (TrPs) of the suboccipital muscles greatly contribute to the occurrence of chronic tension-type headache, with increased sensitivity of TrPs and facilitated referred pain. Objects: This study aimed to investigate whether the integration of high-frequency diathermy into suboccipital release is more beneficial than the use of suboccipital release alone. Methods: Thirty subjects were assigned to either experimental group-1 (EG-1) to undergo suboccipital release combined with high-frequency diathermy (frequency: 0.3 MHz, and electrode type: resistive electronic transfer), or EG-2 to undergo suboccipital release alone, or the control group (CG) with no intervention, with 10 subjects in each group. The assessment tools included the headache impact test 6 (HIT-6), perceived level of tenderness, neck disability index, and neck mobility. Intervention was performed for 10 minutes, twice per week, for 4 weeks, and measurements were performed before and after the interventions. Results: The between-group comparison of the post-test values and changes between pretest and post-test showed significant differences for all parameters at p<.05, except for the left-to-right lateral bending range. In the post hoc test, EG-1 showed significant differences for the parameters in comparison with the CG, while no significant differences in the perceived tenderness level, on both temporal regions, were found between EG-2 and CG. Furthermore, the HIT-6 score and perceived tenderness level, in the right temporal region, showed significant differences between EG-1 and EG-2. In the within-group comparison, EG-1 and EG-2 appeared to be significantly different between pretest and post-test (p<.05), except for the perceived tenderness level in the right temporal region, with significance for the EG-1 group only (p<.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that the suboccipital release technique may be advantageous to improve headache, tenderness, and neck function and mobility, with more favorable effects with the incorporation of high-frequency diathermy.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
• /
• 제30권3호
• /
• pp.146-157
• /
• 2017

Objectives: This study was performed to assess the effectiveness of Korean medicinal treatments including Antaeeum-gamibang on posterior neck pain and lower back pain caused by traffic accidents during pregnancy. Methods: Patients were treated by Antaeeum-gamibang, acupuncture and Chuna manual therapy. To measure treatment outcomes, Numerical rating scale (NRS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), Neck disability index (NDI), European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (EQ-5d), and range of motion (ROM) were used. Results: After treatment, the average NRS of posterior neck pain significantly decreased from $4.20{\pm}1.30$ to $1.80{\pm}0.45$ and the average NRS of lower back pain significantly decreased from $6.40{\pm}1.14$ to $2.20{\pm}0.84$. ODI significantly decreased from $41.42{\pm}17.79$ to $28.29{\pm}14.69$, NDI significantly decreased from $34.93{\pm}9.85$ to $20.27{\pm}8.96$. EQ-5d and ROM improved at all cases. Conclusions: Korean Medicinal treatments including Antaeeum-gamibang may be effective in the treatment of posterior neck pain and lower back pain caused by traffic accidents during pregnancy. However, more case reports and studies are required to identify exactly what treatment is more efficient.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• 제8권2호
• /
• pp.89-96
• /
• 2014

This paper tries to examine whether the application of joint mobilization to subjects who have the forward head posture due to malalignment in the cervical joint has influence on posture changes and functions in the cervical joint. The subjects were 39 students from G University in Gyeongsangbuk-do. The cervical joint mobilization was applied to 20 subjects and not to 19. The students with a cervical lordosis angle of $21^{\circ}C$ or less, an anterior weight bearing (AWB) of 15mm or greater, and a cervical extension ROM of $70^{\circ}C$ or less in terms of radiography were selected as subjects under their voluntary agreement. The patients actively performed the joint mobilization slowly 8 times per session while therapists continuously applied sustained accessory glide to their painful joints 3 times per week for 4 weeks along with the cervical expansion and flexion in SNAGS among other Mulligan's (1995) techniques. The measurement was carried out in terms of radiographic inspection and neck disability indexes. As a result of the experiment, it turned out that the subjects with the forward head posture had changes in the cervical AWB and ARA, the ranges of expansion and flexion, and the NDI(Neck Disability Index) after the intervention for the experimental group by applying cervical joint mobilization. There were no changes observed in the control group. In conclusion, the application of joint mobilization turned out to have influence on the improvement of cervical joint postures, and craniocervical region functions.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• 제28권5호
• /
• pp.57-64
• /
• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy after acupuncture on local acupoints group and distal acupoints group for chronic neck pain. Design : A randomized, crossover clinical trial. Methods : From 15st, September 2010 to October 30th, 2010. 20 patients with chronic neck pain were randomly assigned to either group A or group B. Group A received acupuncture at local acupoints then after 1 week washout period acupuncture at distal acupoints. Group B received the treatment in reverse order. To evaluating efficiency and satisfaction, visual analog scale(VAS), neck disability index(NDI), cranio-cervical flextion test(C-CFT) and five-point likert scale were measured before and after each treatment. Results : Patients in local acupoints group experienced greater improvement than distal acupoints group in VAS. Both local acupoints group and distal acupoints group showed significant improvement in NDI but not in C-CFT and the NDI score change comparison between the two groups had no significance. Local acupoints group showed more effective than distal acupoints group on five-point likert scale. Conclusions : Local acupoints is more effective than distal acupoints in controlling pain in chronic neck pain.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
• /
• 제11권1호
• /
• pp.25-32
• /
• 2016

Objectives : This study was designed to compare the effect of Muscle Relaxation Pharmacopuncture(JS5-MR) and Chuna Manual Therapy on the patients with neck pain caused by traffic accidents. Methods : We investigated 39 cases of patients with neck pain cased by traffic accidents, who had been treated from April 2014 to December 2014. We divided patients into two groups : Group A was treated with Muscle Relaxation Pharmacopuncture and Group B was treated with Chuna Manual Therapy. We measured the effectiveness of treatment using Visual Analog Scale(VAS) and Neck Disability Index(NDI) score. Results : In result each group had significant decrease in VAS and NDI after treatment. Group A showed significant decrease as compared to Group B in NDI change. But there was no significant difference in the VAS change between two groups. Conclusions : According to the result of this study, it was suggested that Chuna Manual Therapy and Muscle Relaxation Pharmacopuncture are effective in reducing neck pain casued by traffic accidents. Muscle Relaxation Pharmacopuncture was more effective in reducing NDI. Further well designed prospective study is needed.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• 제11권3호
• /
• pp.195-204
• /
• 2023

Purpose : This study applied general training (control group) or cranio-cervical flexor training (experimental group) using a pressure biofeedback unit along with general training for 4 weeks to secondary school teachers with moderate to severe neck pain and forward head posture. After that, we tried to compare the effects through differences in neck pain intensity (using numberical rating scale), functional performance (using neck disability index), and cranio-vertebral angle change. Methods : All 50 subjects were randomly assigned to either the "experimental group (n= 25)" or the "control group (n= 25)", and the measurements were evaluated in the same way before the intervention (baseline) and after the intervention (4 weeks). During the intervention period, the subject visited the physiotherapy center and made a reservation three times a week at a fixed time as much as possible, and each training session was thoroughly conducted under the 1:1 guidance of the therapist in charge so that the correct movement and number of times could be performed without compensatory action. Results : As a result of the homogeneity analysis on the general characteristics of the subjects, there were no significant differences between the groups in all variables (p>.05). Compared to the "control group", the "experimental group" showed significant improvement after intervention in all measured variables of neck pain intensity, functional performance, and cranial-vertebral angle (p<.05). Conclusion : For secondary school teachers with forward head accompanied by neck pain, cranio-cervical flexor training using a compression biofeedback unit is an excellent method to show superior pain reduction and functional performance improvement compared to general training alone. In addition, it can be presented as a more effective intervention method that can promote recovery of forward head posture, which is an essential element of the solution.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
• /
• 제29권3호
• /
• pp.23-30
• /
• 2023

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of joint mobilization and muscle strengthening exercises on neck function, range of motion, and muscle tone in patients with forward head posture. Methods: A total 32 subjects were divided into muscle strengthening exercise (n=16) and joint mobilization (n=16) who met the diagnostic criteria for the forward head posture, and the study method used the neck disability index (NDI) and BPM Pro to compare the range of motion. Results: As a result of the study, there was no significant difference between each group, and when looking at the differences before and after each group, there was a significant difference in neck pain in both groups. There was a significant difference in muscle tension in the joint mobilization group, but there was no significant difference in the muscle strengthening exercise group. In the range of joint mobilization, there was a significant difference in the range of left joint mobilization of the joint mobilization group, there was no significant difference in the range of right joint mobilization, and there was no significant difference in the range of joint mobilization of the muscle strengthening exercise group. Conclusion: The above results revealed that joint mobilization and muscle strengthening exercises were effective on neck function, range of motion, and muscle tone in forward head posture patients.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
• /
• 제29권3호
• /
• pp.43-53
• /
• 2023

Background: Patients with neck pain develop instability due to muscle imbalance, decreased proprioception, and balance disorders. Studies have examined various exercise methods as treatment methods, but few studies have compared the effects of cervical stabilization exercise and dynamic balance exercise. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of dynamic balance exercise on pain, functional level, and psychosocial level in patients with non-specific chronic neck pain. Methods: Thirty-four non-specific chronic neck pain patients were randomly assigned to the experimental group (EG, n=17) and control group (CG, n=17); the cervical stabilization exercise and dynamic balance exercise program were applied to the EG; and only the cervical stabilization exercise program was applied to the CG. The intervention was conducted twice a week, for six weeks. Assessment items evaluated pain, dysfunction (Korean version neck disability index), range of motion, craniocervical flexion test, cervical deep flexor endurance test, and psychosocial level. Data analysis was performed using intention-to-treat analysis as assigned. To analyze differences in the items assessed in the two groups, we used a repeated measures analysis of variance with an interaction between group (EG, CG) and time point (baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks). Results: The endurance of the cervical flexor muscles between the group and the measurement point after intervention (p<.05). Both groups showed significantly improved endurance between time points after the intervention (p<.05), with the EG showing a greater change than the CG. None of the other measurement items differed in the pattern of change between measurement points. Conclusion: In conclusion, the EG applying a cervical stabilization exercise and a dynamic balance exercise experienced a significant difference in muscle endurance improvement compared to the CG. We propose an exercise intervention program that includes stabilization exercises and dynamic balance exercises for patients with chronic cervical pain who lack muscle endurance.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
• /
• 제30권1호
• /
• pp.29-42
• /
• 2024

Background: This study aimed to determine the effects of training on breathing re-education on pain and dysfunction levels, posture, quality of life (QoL), and pulmonary function in patients. Methods: This study included 34 patients with chronic neck pain and upper thoracic breathing pattern were included. The participants were assigned to either the routine physical therapy program (RPTP) (CG; n=17) or RPTP and breathing pattern re-education training (EG; n=17). The CG and EG groups performed RPTP for 40 minutes, and only the EG groups performed breathing re-education training for 10 minutes. Exercises were performed thrice weekly for both groups. Level of pain and dysfunction, posture, QoL and pulmonary function status were assessed before and after the intervention. Results: After four weeks of intervention, numeric pain rating scale (NPRS), Korean version of neck disability index, cranio-vertebral angle, cranial rotation angle, and 12-item short form health survey-physical and mental component summaries had significant differences before and after intervention in both groups (p<.01). However, only NPRS, forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1s, and maximum voluntary ventilation showed significant interactions between the two groups and measurement time (p<.01). Conclusion: Breathing re-education training and RPTP may be optimal for patients with chronic neck pain and may be more effective in improving neck pain and pulmonary function.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
• /
• 제6권1호
• /
• pp.105-111
• /
• 2011

Objects : This study was to report a clinical effect of Chuna Treatment for HIVD-cervical spine Failed Back Surgery Syndrome(FBSS) patient. Methods : In order to alleviate both arm tingling, numbness and neck stiffness, the patient was treated by acupuncture therapy, cervical traction technique of Chuna treatment and conservative managements. To evaluate the effect of the treatment, Recovery rate of Hirabayashi, Verbal Numerical Rating Scale(VNRS) and Neck Disability Index(NDI) score were used. Results : VNRS and NDI were improved and Recovery rate was 100%. Conclusions : Korean Treatment can be effectively used for a patient with HIVD-cervical spine FBSS patient. Further clinical studies are needed to verify the findings.