• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2010

Purpose : This research intended to find out the effects of scalenus medius muscle relaxed posture on the increase of head-neck rotation for general adults. Methods : This research was conducted on 30 subjects whose both sides head neck rotation angles are not the same and that agreed to participate in the experiment. In a posture of sitting erectly on a mat, both sides head neck rotation angles were measured with C-ROM equipment, and while supporting arm in direction opposite the side where head neck rotation limited and leaning over the body at 45 degree and neck at vertical condition against ground, head-neck rotation angles were measured each with C-ROM equipment. Results : The Head-Neck rotation angle on the side of limited head-neck rotation demonstrated more increase in scalenus medius relaxed posture than in erect sitting posture, showing significant difference statistically(p<0.05). The head-neck rotation angle on the side of non-limited Head-Neck rotation demonstrated more decrease in scalenus medius relaxed posture than in erect sitting posture, not showing any significant difference statistically (p>0.05). Conclusions : This posture may be used for preventing limit of head-neck rotation caused of scalenus medius muscle tension and increasing head-neck rotation.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.3 s.71
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• pp.45-56
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• 2007

Objectives : We investigated the possibility of cervical spine misalignment caused by scalenus anticus syndrome to find out how it affects cervical spine misalignments. Methods : 28 patients with scalenus anticus syndrome (sample group), along with 21 participants without neck pain (control group), who attended the Dept. of Oriental Rehabilitation Medicine, College of Oriental Medicine, Dong-guk University from the 20th of June to the 30th of November, 2006 were investigated. After researching misalignments through neutrality, flexion and extension lateral x-ray examination views, we measured the difference of each length of cervical spine misalignment. We analyzed the relationships among the neutrality lateral, flexion lateral and extension lateral positions. Results : We found with statistical significance that there were differences in length of cervical spine misalignments between the sample and control groups. Furthermore, we found that C3 and C4 vertebra bodies were shown in lateral neutrality position, only C3 vertebra body in flexion lateral position, and C2, C3, and C4 vertebra bodies in extension lateral position. Conclusions : It is considered that scalenus anticus syndrome could increase cervical spine misalignment which could be a factor in causing cervical spine disease.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.43-51
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• 2006

The term thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is used to describe patients with compressed subclavian arteries, veins, and brachial plexuses in the region of the thoracic outlet. The objective of this study was to evaluate a scalenus stretching exercise that aims to restore normal function to patients with TOS. This study consisted of 60 patients with symptoms of TOS, and divided the patients into 3 groups: one that received manual therapy, one that practiced self stretching, and a control group. Each group consisted of 20 patients. This study assessed the efficacy of scalenus stretching exercise by examining the resting pain, tenderness, spherical grip power, and pinch grip power of patients. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, Scheffe post hoc test, and independent t-test. The results showed that resting pain was statistically significant within the manual therapy and self stretching groups (p<.05), and that the resting pain of the manual therapy group was more statistically significant than that of the self stretching group (p<.05). Tenderness, spherical grip power, and pinch grip were statistically significant within the manual therapy and self stretching groups (p<.05), but there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (p>.05). Finally I could see that there were no statistical differences between manual therapy and self stretching to improve the symptoms of the patients with TOS. These results imply that self stretching by patients is as important as manual therapy by a physical therapist.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.239-248
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• 1992

Two hundred sisty five patients who complained of neck pain with stiffness and pain of the suprascapular area were studied. In most cases the anatomical locations of pain were in the levator scapulae muscles or trapezius muscles. Hyperactivity of dorsal scapular nerve or spinal accessory nerve which innervate those muscles was thought to be responsible for these pains. The hyperactivity of the nerves may be due to the spasm of the sternocleidomastoid muscle and the scalenus medius muscle which the nerves meet during their courses to the levator scapulae or trapezius muscles. Therefore, spasmolytic treatment on the scalenus medius provided effective relief for neck or shoulder pain.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.586-590
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• 1993

Thoracic Outlet syndrome is defined to compression of the subclavian vessels and brachial plexus at the superior aperture of the thorax. It was previously designed due to presumable etiologies such as scalenus anticus, costoclavicular, hyperabduction, cervical rib or first rib syndromes. We experienced a case of thoracic outlet syndrome[scalene anticus syndrome] .Patient has been suffered from swelling and numbness of the right forearm and hand for 2 years. Diagnosis was made by preoperative selective angiography. Scalenus anticus and medius muscle resction and first rib resection was done with transaxillary approach. Postoperative course was not eventful.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 1999

Surgical treatment was performed on the 39 cases out of 76 cases of entrapments of the thoracic outlet. The remaining 36 cases of entrapments were treated by conservatively. The operated cases were categorized as follows. They were 34 cases of scalenus anticus syndrome, 1 of cervical rib syndrome, 2 of costoclavicular syndrome, and 2 of hyperabduction syndrome. 1. Scalenus anticus syndrome : Anterior scalenotomy was performed by simple sectioning of the attachment to the first rib. 2. Cervical rib syndrome : Complete decompressive resection of cervical rib sometimes required both anterior and posterior approaches to avoid over-retraction of the brachial plexus. 3. Costoclavicular syndrome : Partial decompressive claviculectomy was undergone instead of conventional total claviculectomy. 4. Hyperabduction syndrome : The resection of coracoid process was performed as well as conventional tenotomy of pectoralis minor muscle to insure free up-and-down moving of neurovascular bundle at the time of hyperabduction. Every diagnostic maneuver was tested at the time of operation to observe whether or not neurovascular decompression including restoration of radial pulse was sufficient. Despite of the postoperative vascular restoration was inmediate, neurogenic symptoms were improved slowly. Because this entity is essentially chronic nerve injnry, its recovery needed a couple of months or several. Although improvement was slow, ultimate results were definite. Complication was not observed.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.271-277
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• 1975

한국재내산양(韓國在來山羊) 11두(頭)의 흉벽근(胸壁筋)을 절개하여 관찰하였던 바 다음과 같은 결과(結果)를 얻었다. 1. 산양(山羊)의 흉벽(胸壁)에는 횡격막을 포함하여 11개의 筋들을 확인할 수 있었다 : 전배거근(前背鋸筋) M. serratusdorsalis cranialis, 후배거근(後背鋸筋) M. serratus dorsalis caudalis, 사각근(斜角筋) M. scalenus, 늑횡근(肋橫筋) M. transversus costarum, 늑골거근(肋骨擧筋) Mm. levatores costarum, 외늑간근(外肋間筋) Mm. intercostales externi, 내늑간근(內肋間筋) Mm. intercostales interni, 늑연골간근(肋軟骨間筋) Mm. intercartilaginei, 늑골후인근(肋骨後引筋) M. retractor costae, 흉횡근(胸橫筋) M. transversus thoracis, 횡격막(橫隔膜) Diaphragma. 2. 전배거근(前背鋸筋)의 발달이 아주 미약하여 단지 1예(例)에서만 볼 수 있었다. 3. 사각근(斜角筋)은 천부(淺部)(M. scalenus supracostalis)와 심부(深部)(M. scalenus primal costae)로 구분되었으며 이들은 각각 배(背), 복(腹)으로 나누어졌고, 천부(淺部)는 제 1늑골 및 제 3~4늑골에서 기시(起始)하고 있었다. 4. 늑연골간근(肋軟骨間筋)은 제 7늑간에서는 양쪽 늑골이 서로 밀접하게 붙어있어 나타나지 않았으며, 제 1늑간 부터 제 6늑간 사이에서는 섬유방향이 거의 수평으로 향하고 있어 내늑간근(內肋間筋)의 연장으로 보이고 제 8늑간 부터 마지막 늑간사이에서는 거의 수직으로 향하고 있어 외늑간근(外肋間筋)의 연장으로 보인다.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.145-151
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• 1999

Pain is the most common symptom that brings a patient to the hospital. Repetitious stress and sprain injury result in various pains, and so we tried to improve cervical movement and release from pain by using taping technique of actual agonists and postural muscles in addition to psychological relaxation. The 4 patient with neck problems were applied Arikawa taping approaches. The flexor or extensor patterns were determined by Arikawa method at first. if the symptoms and patterns were similar, the taping was attached same point. After taping on major muscles of causing neck pain levator scapula, scalenus medius, sternocleidomastoid, splenius capitis, semispinalis capitis. - we found neck pain released and cervical ROM increased. In conclusion, we determined cervical movement related to rotation of splenius capitis, extention of semispinalis capitis, levator scapula, flexion and rotation of scalenus medius.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.63-68
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• 1992

One hundred and four patients who complained of chest pain or back pain in the region between scapular were studied. In most cases, anatomical location of pain was in the rhomboid or serratus anterior muscle. Hyperactivity of dorsal scapular nerve or long thoracic nerve which innervate those muscles was thought to be responsible for the pain. The hyperactivity of the nerves may be due to the spasm of the scalenus medius muscle which the nerves meet during their course to the rhomboid or serratus anterior muscles. Therefore, spasmolytic treatment including trigger point injection, physical therapy, laser therapy, or NSAIDs may be effective for the treatment of chest pain or back pain.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.149-154
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• 2016

Purpose: The aim of this study is to suggest an intervention method for clinical use in the future by analyzing the effect of breathing exercise on activity of sternocleidomastoid muscle and scalenus anterior muscle, which are respiratory synergist muscles, and pulmonary functions in patients with forward head posture. Methods: Prior to the experiment, 12 patients (experimental group) performed feedback exhalation exercise along with conventional deep neck exercise, and 11 subjects (control group) performed feedback deep neck exercise along with conventional deep neck exercise. The intervention programs were performed for 40 minutes once a day (three times a week for four weeks). Results: Before intervention, %RMS was measured for surface electromyography (sEMG), and FVC, FEV1, and FEV1/FVC were measured using a spirometer. After four weeks, these items were re-measured under the same condition and analyzed. In within-group comparison of the experimental group, activity of sternocleidomastoid muscle and scalenus anterior muscle showed a significant decrease (p<0.05)(p<0.001), and forced vital capacity (FVC) showed a significant increase (p<0.05). In within-group comparison of the control group, activity of sternocleidomastoid muscle and scalenus anterior muscle showed a significant decrease (p<0.05), and in between-group comparison, there were significant differences in activity of sternocleidomastoid muscle and FVC (p<0.05). Conclusion: Long-term forward head posture restrains exercise performance of the neck and leads to exercise avoidance of the neck during daily activities, thus restraint factors might be created even while breathing. To cut off this link, a constant effort is required and diversified research on the correlation between neck functions and breathing should be conducted.