• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.55-65
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• 2020

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of breathing exercises via joint mobilization on the lung function and spinal alignment of 30 straight-necked women in their 20 s and 30 s. METHODS: The participants were divided into two groups: an experimental group who performed breathing exercises via joint mobilization, and a control group who performed general stretching exercises. The differences between the two groups were measured and compared at three points in time: during the pre-examination, after four weeks of intervention, and after a four-week maintenance period. The changes in each group were measured before and after the intervention and after a one-month maintenance period and compared. For data analysis, the SPSS 22 was used to obtain the mean and standard deviation with a significance level of α = .05. RESULTS: Eight weeks of breathing exercises via joint mobilization and general stretching exercises positively impacted the lung function and spinal alignment in straight-necked patients. In particular, the experimental group showed more significant differences in spinal alignment after four weeks period of intervention and four weeks of maintenance. CONCLUSION: Breathing exercises via joint mobilization can be considered an effective intervention that can improve the respiratory volume and spinal alignment for patients with straight necks.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.83-90
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• 2016

Purpose : Recommended posture according to the location of operating teeth have been standardized in dental clinic to prevent musculoskeletal disorder. However, clinicians do not comply with this rule in many cases. This study investigated the effects of operating posture on cranio-cervical range of motion (CROM) and muscles activity of neck and upper extremity. Methods : Sixteen healthy dental hygiene students were participated. During operating posture (3 recommended and 3 experimental postures which were set front, side, back, respectively), CROM in the fronal and sagittal plane were measured by Cervical Range of Motion Instrument and muscle activities of Sternocleidomastoid, upper trapezius, middle deltoid, extensor carpi radialis, brachioradialis, and abductor pollicis brevis were measured by Pocket EMG system. Result : CROM were significantly decreased in recommended posture in comparison with experimental posture (p<.05). In addition, muscle activity of middle deltoid was significantly decreased in recommended front posture. Moreover, brachioradialis and extensor carpi radialis showed the same result in recommended back posture (p<.05). Conclusion : Recommended posture is close to neutral posture and to reduce muscle fatigue and overuse, which may considered as a preventing musculoskeletal disorder and partially explain its efficacy in dental clinic.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.197-204
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• 2010

Scapular position and motion are essential for normal upper limb mobility; Further, the posture of patients with thoracic kyphosis is related to shoulder girdle function and disorder. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of thoracic posture on the shoulder range of motion and on three-dimensional scapular kinematics. Thirty healthy subjects performed right-arm abduction along the frontal plane while standing in both erect and in slouched trunk posture. The scapular position and rotation, and shoulder and thoracic angles were recorded using a motion analysis system. The scapular upward rotation and internal rotation were significantly altered according to postural tatiges; however, scapular tilt was not affected. Shoulder angle was significantly decreased in the slouched posture as c rpared to tatt in the erect posture. Thus, a slouched posture(thoracic kyphosis) significantly affects the shoulder range of motion and scapular kinematics during shoulder abduction in the frontal plane.

• Bulletin of the Korean Institute for Industrial Safety
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.11-17
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• 2003

In recent years, work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are one of major issues in occupational safety and health in Korea, since the number of injured workers has rapidly increased and the related regulation was amended to improve the work conditions. Main risk factors of WMSDs in Korean industries include manual handling of heavy weight loads, awkward postures, repetitive tasks, prolonged static muscle contraction, and so on. in this article, some ergonomics case studies for identifying the risk factors of WMSDs and far their prevention were introduced. They include a biomechanical analysis for the heavy-weight handling task in a machine-repair shop, physiological evaluation of backpack-carrying tasks in a beverage delivery job, and a set of psychophysical studies to evaluate static-postural load. These studies showed that there are several different ergonomic approaches to identifying and evaluating risk factors of WMSDs and to eliminating them or reducing their levels, and that it is important to select proper methods and apply them in improving the work conditions according to the characteristics of the task. In addition, it needs to develop practical and effective ergonomic tools to prevent WMSDs and to provide these tools to the safety managers in the field so that they can improve the tasks by themselves.

• Journal of Korean Institute of Industrial Engineers
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.581-591
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• 1995

The main objective of this study is to compare three representative methods predicting compressive forces on lumbosacral disc : LP-based method, double LP-based method and EMG-assisted method. Two subjects simulated lifting tasks performed in the refractories industry, in which vertical and horizontal distance, and weight of load were varied. To calculate the L5/S1 compressive forces, EMG signals from six trunk muscles were measured and postural data and locations of load were recorded using the Motion Analysis System. The EMG-assisted model was shown to reflect well all three factors considered here. On the other hand, the compressive forces of the LP-based model and the double LP-based model were only significantly affected by weight of load. In addition, lowly positive correlation was observed between compressive forces of the EMG-assisted model and lifting index(LI) of 1991 NIOSH lifting equation. From this results, it can be concluded that compressive forces on L5/S1 by the EMG-assisted method should be used as biomechanical criterion in order to evaluate risk of jobs precisely, and LI can not evaluate risk of lifting tasks fully.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.87-92
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• 2024

This study aims to compare six observational methods for assessing arm- and hand-intensive tasks, based on literature review. The comparison was conducted in viewpoints of body regions, force/external load, motion repetition, other factors including static posture, coupling, duration/break, pace, temperature, precision task, and final risk or exposure level. The number of risk factors assessed was more, and assessment procedure was more complex than the observational methods for assessing whole-body postural loads such as Ovako Working Posture Analysis System(OWAS), Rapid Upper Limb Assessment(RULA), and Rapid Entire Body Assessment(REBA). Due to these, the intra- and inter-reliabilities were not high. A past study showed that while Hand Arm Risk Assessment Method(HARM) identified the smallest proportion of the work tasks as high risk, Strain Index(SI) and Quick Exposure Check(QEC) hand/wrist were the most rigorous with classifying most work tasks as high risk. This study showed that depending on the observational technique compared, the evaluation factors, risk or exposure level, and evaluation results were different, making it necessary to select a technique appropriate for the characteristics of the work being assessed.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.23-30
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• 2024

Background: Following lower limb strength training exercises, patients with stroke often experience muscle fatigue, which can frequently lead to falls. Therefore, this study aims to explore how lower limb muscle fatigue caused by squats affects the strength and balance of healthy individuals before extrapolating it to patients with stroke. Design: Cross-sectional study Methods: The study followed a cross-sectional design. The study was conducted on 30 healthy adults. Strength and balance were measured before and after performing wall squat exercises. Muscle strength was measured using a dynamometer, while balance was assessed with the S3 check system. A paired t-test was used for the analysis. Results: The knee extensor and hip extensor showed a significant decrease after wall squat (p < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference observed in knee flexor and hip abductor between before and after wall squat. Balance did not show a significant difference between before and after wall squat. Conclusion: Muscle fatigue caused by wall squats was found to reduce the strength of the knee and hip extensors, while having no impact on balance. The results of this study may serve as foundational data for future research targeting patients with stroke.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.585-590
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• 2003

Purpose : This study is designed to determine the prevalence of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy and its relationship to risk factors in adolescents with diabetes mellitus(DM). Methods : Ninety-two diabetic patients(80 with type 1 DM and 12 with type 2 DM), ranging from eight to 26 years of age, were studied for cardiovascular autonomic function, and the relationship to age, duration of diabetes, glycated hemoglobin(HbA1c), urinary albumin excretion, and the presence of diabetic retinopathy and abnormal nerve conduction velocities(NCV) were analysed. Autonomic function was assessed by measuring heart rate variation during valsalva manoeuvre, deep breathing and standing from a lying position(30 : 15 ratio), and postural hypotension. Results : Among patients with type 1 DM, 22.5% had early, 8.7% had definite, and 1.3% had severe autonomic dysfunction, and among patients with type 2 DM, 16.7% had early, 8.3% had definite, and 8.3% had severe autonomic dysfunction. On logistic regression analysis including both type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients, the age of the patient(OR=1.133(1.003-1.279), P<0.05) and duration of diabetes(OR=1.148(1.009-1.307), P<0.05) significantly predicted cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction while HbA1c, blood pressure, urinary albumin excretion, and presence of diabetic retinopathy and abnormal NCV did not. The valsalva ratio was borderline or abnormal in 31.5% of patients, the heart rate variation on deep breathing in 41.3%, the 30 : 15 ratio in 14.1%, and postural hypotension in 9.8% of patients. The valsalva ratio and the heart rate variation on deep breathing significantly predicted cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction, but the 30 : 15 ratio and postural hypotension did not. Conclusion : Cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction was found in 32.6% of diabetic patients and 10.8 % of patients had definite or severe involvement. The risk of cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction increased with the patient's age and the duration of DM. This study suggests that the valsalva ratio and the heart rate variation on deep breathing are the most useful tests in evaluating the cardiovascular autonomic function in children and adolescents with DM.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.121-131
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• 2002

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the physical load by identifying harmfully working postures and to develop recommendations for improving the existing situation with nurses in ICU, thereby to provide the basis for development of work-related musculoskeletal preventive program. Method: Various types of tasks were recorded with a video camera to chart and analyze different postures by OWAS(Ovako Working Posture Analysing System). Collected data showed that poor postures were adopted, not only for lifting or repositoning a patient, but also for other tasks. Data Analysis: The performed activities were then divided into Nursing Intervention Classification. Altogether 128 postures were selected for analysis. Then they were classified into different OAC (OWAS Action Categories). From all the observation, unhealthy postures, for which corrective measures had to be considered immediately (i.e., 75% classified as OACII+III+IV) were found. Collected data were analyzed in terms of percentage, 2-tail Mann-Whitney U test. Result: Poor postures mainly occur during 'positioning the patient' and 'airway suctioning' in NIC. No difference was found (p=0.060) between the percentage of harmful posture adopted during the patient handling tasks and non-patient handling tasks. Conclusion: This study shows, that in the nursing profession with ICU not only occur during patient handling, but also during other activities. The OWAS method was useful in determining the physical load by locating potential activities due to harmfully working postures, providing a detailed description with analysis, and suggesting successful means to reduce postural load.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.293-309
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to analyze the kinematic variables of the right-straight punch(RSP) in boxing with three-dimensional analysis technical methods. The subjects are boxers who have been playing in national boxing representative team and the RSP is their special favorite technique, The right-straight punches were filmed on 16mm video cameras(30frames/sec.) The kinematic variables were temporal, postural and center of gravity(COG). The mean and the standard deviation of variables have been obtained and used as basic factors for examining characteristics of the RSP by out-boxers. From the data analysis and discussion, the following conclusions have been drawn. 1) Temporal variables It is a significant characteristic that LDJ and KDM s' the amount of elapsed time(EF) needed for both an attack and a defense were similar : ET for stretch-out of attack-arm was $0.52{\pm}0.04\;sec$. and return was $0.54{\pm}0.01\;sec$. Therefore, a defense motion is as important as an attack motion. 2) Posture variables When the subjects performed a RSP, the significant characteristic of the ankle angle was that it wasn't completely returned to the original position after stretching-out. Therefore it is necessary to do supplementary exercises, such as side steps, to move the center of gravity more effectively. The hee angle was not fully stretched either. In regard to the hip angle, it should be rotated with all strength to harmonize with the direction of movement. 3) Center of Gravity(COG) variables When both LDJ and KDM performed a RSP, a significant characteristic was the transformation of sagittal view rather than transverse or frontal views.