• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.50-60
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to apply the joint mobilization technique to the level of segments with pain and to the level of segments with hypomobility respectively and compare the immediate effects of the joint mobilization technique on the pain, the active cervical range of motion (ROM), and treatment satisfaction of patients with acute mechanical neck pain. After the baseline assessment, forty-two patients were randomized into two groups: a painful group ($n_1=21$) that received joint mobilization at the most painful cervical spine level and a hypomobile group ($n_2=21$) that received joint mobilization at the most hypomobile cervical level. The patients received an intervention that applied unilateral posterior-anterior gliding for 5 minutes and two repetitions of 10 times of active extension motion with distraction. In the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, the painful group and the hypomobile group were improved significantly in all pain variables (p<.001), while the painful group was improved significantly in the active cervical flexion (p<.001), extension (p<.001), left side-bending (p<.01), right side-bending (p=.001), left rotation (p<.001), and right rotation (p<.001). The hypomobile group was significantly improved in active cervical flexion (p=.001), extension (p<.001), left side-bending (p<.05), right side-bending (p=.001), left rotation (p=.001), and right rotation (p<.01) after intervention. In the Mann-Whitney U test, there was no significant difference in any of the dependent variables after the intervention between the two groups, but the painful group was slightly superior to the hypomobile group in all variables except for the right lateral flexion ROM and treatment satisfaction. These outcomes suggest that the cervical joint mobilization may be applied to either the level of painful segments or the hypomobile segments for the treatment of patients with acute mechanical neck pain.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.117-124
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• 2002

Poor posture of the neck and head long been recognized as a factor contributing to the onset and perpetuation of pain in the head and neck region. The purposes of the study were to evaluate the changes in forward head posture and pressure pain threshold in tension type headache group and control group. Forward head posture were measured to craniovertebral angle and cranial rotation angle. Craniovertebral angle was smaller in tension type headache group(p<0.05), and cranial rotation angle was larger in tension type headache group(p<0.05). Pressure pain threshold was similar between tension type headache group and control group with the exception of right suboccipitalis and left temporalis(p<0.05).

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.40-48
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• 2012

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare sling exercise group to McKenzie exercise group in patients with chronic neck pain. Design: Two group pretest-posttest design. Methods: Twenty subjects who have chronic neck pain were randomly divided into sling exercise group (n=10) and McKenzie exercise (n=10). Sling exercise group (n=10) received sling exercise for 30 minutes per day, twice a week over a 4 week period. And the other group were exercised McKenzie exercise (n=8) for 30 minutes per day, twice a week over a 4 week period. Neck disability index (NDI), Visual analog scale (VAS), algometer, digital manual muscle tester (MMT) and cervical muscle strength and cervical range of motion (ROM) are closely measured to identify the effect of sling exercise and McKenzie exercise. Results: For NDI, VAS, algometer on both trapezius, both rotation of cervical muscle strength, both lateral flexion of cervical muscle strength, cervical extension of ROM and both lateral flexion of ROM were significantly increased after intervention in sling exercise group (p<0.05), For VAS, algometer on both trapezius, left (Lt.) rotation of cervical muscle strength, Lt. lateral flexion of cervical muscle strength, cervical flexion and extension of ROM and Lt. lateral flexion of ROM were significantly increased after than before intervention in McKenzie exercise group (p<0.05). Conclusions: These study outcomes clearly support the notion that sling and McKenzie exercise improved pain, Muscle strength and ROM of patients with chronic neck pain. These results suggest that sling and McKenzie exercise program is suitable for chronic neck pain.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.58-68
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• 2015

This study aimed to determine the effect of lower trapezius muscle strengthening exercises on pain, neck disability index (NDI), cervical range of motion (ROM), and lower trapezius muscle strength in patients with unilateral neck pain. Following baseline measurements, the subjects (N=40) with unilateral neck pain were randomized into one of two 5 weeks exercise intervention groups: a experimental group (EG, $n_1=20$) that received strength training of the lower trapezius muscles or a control group (CG, $n_2=20$) that received routine physical therapy program. Each group participated in the intervention for 30 minutes, 3 times a week, for 5 weeks. All participants performed 2 repetitions of each intervention per day. The numeric pain rating scale for pain, NDI, ROM, and lower trapezius strength were recorded both pre- and post-intervention for both groups. Paired t-tests were used to determine significant changes post-intervention compared with pre-intervention and independent t-tests were used to analyze differences in the dependent variables between the 2 groups. After the 5-weeks intervention, both groups experienced significantly decreased pain and disability level (p<.05) and significantly increased cervical flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation ROM (p<.05). The EG that received strength training of the lower trapezius muscles showed greater improvements in pain and functional disability level, cervical rotation, and lower trapezius strength than the CG (p<.05). These results suggest that a lower trapezius strengthening exercises reduce neck pain and neck disability level and enhance cervical ROM and lower trapezius strength level in patients with unilateral neck pain.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.49-65
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• 2001

This thesis aims to reveal the unsatisfactory unfitting factors in the tight collars of adult males' dress shirts for the purpose of improving neck-collar fitness. For this study, nine adult males were chosen as the subjects. When the subjects erected their necks upright, the researcher conducted an experiment, using the direct anthropometrical measuring method and the gypsum method by turns, in order to understand neck shapes by way of right-neck lateral flection, left-neck lateral flection, neck flection, neck extension, right neck rotation, and left neck rotation. And then, the propriety of allowances from body surface alteration was verified by analyses through the measurement of wearing comfortableness and clothing pressure in two sorts of ready-made dress shirts, which had different allowances. The consequences of this study are as follows: 1. In length alteration to movement, a decrease was found in the opposite (and an increase in the identical) directions of right-neck lateral flection, left-neck lateral flection, and neck flection movements. Also, when the subjects shook their heads, an increase was seen by 0.42$\sim$0.63cm in neck girth, 0.31$\sim$1.12cm in 3cm-above-the-neck base girth, and 1.16cm in neck extension of 3cm-above-the-neck base girth. 2. As a result of the drafts of surface measurement, the alteration ratios of dimensions and vertical length dropped in the identical directions of the movement, but grew in the opposite directions. A reverse change was shown in horizontal length. The rough widening gaps for making drafts were 0.7cm in front left and right, and 0.2cm in back left and right of 3cm-above-the-neck base girth. On the whole, the space was about 1.8cm, while there was no significant variation between the upright stationary test and the movement test. 3. There were important differences between the two kinds of ready-made dress shirts (Type A: 1cm allowance in neck girth; Type B: 2cm allowance) in clothing pressure and wearing comfortableness. That is, Type A had higher pressure and more uncomfortable sense of wearing. In other words, as clothing pressure and wearing comfortableness are negatively related to each other, Type A's greater clothing pressure led to worse wearing comfortableness.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.51-60
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• 2012

This study aimed to determine the usefulness of classifying patients with neck pain on the basis of the results of passive scapular elevation test. We classified 21 patients with neck pain into positive (n=12) and negative (n=9) groups on the basis of passive scapular elevation test; the 2 groups then equally performed scapular stabilization exercise program for 30 min, 3 times a week, for 4 weeks. Visual analogue scale (VAS), neck disability index (NDI), and range of motion (ROM) were recorded both before and after the intervention for both groups. Paired t-test was used to determine that there were significant changes between before and after the intervention, and independent t-test was used for analyzing changes between two groups of dependent variables. After 4 weeks of training, we observed significant decrease in pain and disability (p<.05) and a significant increase in rotation, flexion, extension, and side-bending ROM (p<.05) in both groups. Further, between pre- and post-intervention evaluations, we observed a significant decrease in pain and disability and a significant increase in rotation and flexion ROM in the positive group than in the negative group (p<.05). These results indicate that passive scapular elevation test may be used to identify mechanical disorders of the cervicoscapular muscle in patients with neck pain. Therefore, we recommend the use of passive scapular elevation test to determine appropriate treatment intervention when treating patients with neck pain.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.655-666
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• 2013

PURPOSE: The main objective of this study is observing the effects of the functional postural trunk exercise (FPTE) on deep cranio-cervical flexor (CCF) muscle endurance applied on neck pain patients suffering from the acute whiplash-association disorder (WAD). METHODS: The study was tested with 47 patients with neck pain. All patients were equally treated with the ordinary therapy, only experimental group (n=23) was treated with FPTE: assumption of an upright lumbo-pelvic and spinal postural position, adding a neck lengthening manoeuvre in addition. Patients attended physical therapy for 3 times a week, for 4 weeks. Visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, neck disability index (NDI), range of motion (ROM), were recorded both before and after the intervention. Also muscle activity in the CCF test was employed to analyze the changes between before and after. RESULT: After 4 weeks of training intervention, a remarkable increase in muscle endurance, rotation, extension ROM (p<.05) and decrease in pain and NDI (p<.05) in both groups. Further, the differences between groups were muscle endurance (F=60.350, p<.01), pain, and the left rotation ROM (p<.05). CONCLUSION: From the results, the experimental group had significant the increase in muscle endurance, and the significant decrease in pain. Whilst further research in this category is necessary, these observations suggest that applying exercise in early diagnosis can be of help to treat the neck pain patients suffering from the WAD.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.149-157
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of using smartphones for tele-rehabilitation on head position and neck dysfunction in workers with visual display terminal (VDT) syndromes over a four-week period. Methods: Sixteen VDT workers volunteered to participate in stretch exercise and posture education sessions. The subjects were divided into three groups as follows: five subjects in the visit group (VSG), six subjects in the video group (VEG), and five subjects in tele-rehabilitation group (TG). The subjects in all the groups performed the exercises three days per week for four weeks. Cranial rotation angle (CRA), craniovertebral angle (CVA) measurement, and neck disability index (NDI) tests were performed before and four weeks after the intervention. Results: No significant difference in the CRA and CVA variables was found among groups. No significant difference in the CRA variable was found within each group. A significant difference in the CRA variable was found in the VSG after the four-week intervention. No significant difference in NDI was found among the groups. The NDIs among all the groups were significantly decreased after the intervention when compared with the NDIs measured before the intervention. Conclusion: The use of smartphones in the tele-rehabilitation of VDT workers with neck pain was found to be as effective on neck function as the conventional intervention method. The tele-rehabilitation of VDT workers with neck dysfunctions may be presented as an alternative way.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.137-146
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• 2021

Purpose: The study aimed to determine the effect of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) lower trapezius muscle strengthening exercise on pain, cervical range of motion (ROM), and neck disability index (NDI) in patients with chronic neck pain. Methods: Following baseline measurements, the subjects (n = 30) with chronic neck pain were randomized into two groups: the PNF group (n = 15) that received PNF strength training of the lower trapezius muscles or a control group (n = 15) that received gentle palpation of the skin. Each group participated in the intervention for 30 min, three times per week for six weeks. The visual analogue scale for pain, ROM, and NDI of both groups were recorded at both pre- and post-intervention. Paired t-tests were used to determine significant changes in the post-intervention compared with pre-intervention, and independent t-tests were used to analyze differences in the dependent variables between the two groups. Results: After the six-week intervention, both groups experienced significantly decreased pain and NDI (p < 0.05) and significantly increased cervical flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation ROM (p < 0.05). The PNF group that received PNF strength exercise of the lower trapezius muscles showed greater improvements in pain and NDI and cervical rotation of ROM than those of the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that the PNF lower trapezius strengthening exercise reduces neck pain and disability level and enhances cervical ROM in patients with chronic neck pain.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.23-29
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• 2013

Background: People who have painful neck have reduced proprioception in the neck. Reduced proprioception in the neck is related to the muscle spindle activity in the deep neck flexors. The aim of this study was to know that proprioception in the neck was increased by strengthening exercise of the deep neck flexors. Methods: Thirty subjects with chronic neck pain were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n=15) and the control group (n=15). Deep neck flexor muscle exercise with stabilizer were conducted for the study group three times a week for six weeks. Relocation errors in 30 degree rotation to the left were measured three times before and after intervention each. Results: Neck disability index were decreased in the experimental group (p<.05) but not in the control group (p>.05). Relocation errors were decreased in the experimental group after intervention (p<.05), but not in the control group (p>.05). Conclusions: Proprioception in the neck can be increased by the strengthening exercise of deep neck flexors in the subject with chronic neck pain.