• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.113-119
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• 2017

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of Schroth's three-dimensional exercises in combination with respiratory muscle exercise (SERME) on Cobb's angle and functional movement screen (FMS). Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Fifteen subjects with scoliosis were randomly assigned to two groups. Eight subjects were assigned to the experimental group and seven subjects were assigned to the control group. The experimental group underwent SERME using SpiroTiger (Idiag, Switzerland), while the control group performed only the Schroth's three-dimensional exercises (SE). Both groups performed exercises for one hour per day, three times a week for eight weeks. Cobb's angle, pulmonary function (forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume at one second, and peak expiratory flow) and FMS were measured before and after the experiment. Results: After intervention, the SERME group showed a significant difference in Cobb's angle, FMS scores, and pulmonary function as compared to before intervention (p<0.05). In the SE group, there was a statistically significant difference in Cobb's angle, pulmonary function, and FMS scores compared to before intervention (p<0.05). The SERME group showed a significant difference in Cobb's angle and peak expiratory flow in pulmonary function compared to the SE group (p<0.05). Conclusions: The results suggest that SERME could be a more effective intervention for improvement of the Cobb's angle and pulmonary function for scoliosis patients.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.552-556
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of feedback breathing exercise on respiratory muscle activity. Thirty stroke patients were randomly and equally assigned to an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group received rehabilitation exercise treatment for 30 minutes and feedback respiratory exercise for 30 minutes and the control group received rehabilitation exercise treatment for 30 minutes and conducted motomed exercise for 30 minutes. All of them conducted exercises five times per week for four weeks. Respiratory muscles including the upper trapezius(UT), longissimus dorsi(LD), rectus abdominis(RA), external abdominal oblique(EAO) and, internal abdominal oblique(IAO) were measured using MP 150WSW prior to and after the experiment. Regarding pulmonary functions prior to and after the experiment, the experimental group showed significant differences in all sections but the control group did not show significant differences in any sections. As for in-between group differences after the experiment, there were significant differences in the UT, LD, RA, and IAO but no significant differences in the EAO. In conclusion, respiratory muscle activity was more effective for the experimental group than the control group. It is considered that feedback respiratory exercise may induce improvement in respiratory muscles in stroke patients through feedback breathing exercise.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.47-52
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• 2012

Purpose : The purpose of the study was to examine if a respiratory muscle strengthening training in patients with stroke can improve their pulmonary function. Methods : Volunteers were included for the study if a patient diagnosed stroke more than 6 months and had 24 points or higher in MMSE-K scores. Twenty-eight subjects participated in this study and were randomly divided into two groups; a breathing exercise group(n=14) and a control group(n=14). The intervention for all subjects was conducted for 20minutes, three times a week for 4 weeks. Subjects for the breathing exercise group had the respiratory muscle strengthening training using spiro-tigers, where-as subjects in the control group got their usual treatment ie a postural training. The six-minute walking test(6MWT) and the pulmonary function tests(FVC, $FEV_1$, $FEV_1$/FVC, VC, Vt, IRV and ERV) were employed to assess treatment effects at baseline and after their intervention. Results : Twenty-four subjects finished their 4-week treatment programs. The general characteristics between groups were found to be similar (p>0.05). The pulmonary function between groups were also observed no difference across groups at the baseline measurement (p>0.05). In the post treatment group comparison, subjects in the breathing exercise group showed an increase in lung function with VC ($2.73{\pm}0.80{\ell}$) and Vt ($0.87{\pm}0.38{\ell}$) than those in the control group ($1.91{\pm}0.80{\ell}$ and $0.48{\pm}0.22{\ell}$ respectively) (p<0.05). However, there was no difference found in 6MWT, FVC, $FEV_1$, $FEV_1$/FVC, IRV, and ERV across groups (p>0.05). Conclusion : A significant increase in VC and Vt was found in subjects with stroke, who had four-week training on respiratory muscle strengthening. However, respiratory muscle strengthening showed no effect on walking speed and FVC, $FEV_1$, $FEV_1$/FVC, IRV, and ERV in patients with stroke.