• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.1-9
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• 2016

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of abdominal breathing and thoracic expansion exercises on craniovertebral and cranial rotation angles in patients with rotator cuff injury. METHODS: This study enrolled 19 patients with rotator cuff injury, and ten and nine of the patients were randomly placed in abdominal breathing and thoracic expansion exercise groups, respectively. After pain treatment in each group, breathing exercise was conducted thrice a week for four weeks. The patients were recorded by using a digital camera and Image J (version 1.46, National Institutes of Health, USA), an angle measurement program, was used to analyze changes in the craniovertebral angle, cranial rotation angle, and sagittal shoulder posture. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences in the craniovertebral angle were found in both the abdominal breathing and thoracic expansion exercise groups (p<.05). A significant difference in cranial rotation angle was found in the thoracic expansion exercise group only (p<.05). No statistically significant differences in sagittal shoulder posture were found in both groups (p>.05). CONCLUSION: Although abdominal breathing and thoracic expansion exercises did not effectively change sagittal shoulder posture, the exercises were effective in improving craniovertebral and cranial rotation angles. Therefore, abdominal breathing and thoracic expansion exercises are suggested as effective exercise programs for forward head posture.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.73-80
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• 2024

PURPOSE: This study examined the immediate effects of thoracic mobility exercises on the thoracic range of motion and chest expansion to provide data on thoracic mobility exercises in adults. METHODS: Adults were assigned randomly to two groups: the group that performed thoracic mobility exercises (TME group; n=10) or the group that performed thoracic mobility exercises using balance tools (TMEB group; n=10). The exercises were performed for 10 min in three different positions. The range of motion and chest expansion were measured before and after the exercise. RESULTS: The within-group comparisons before and after the intervention showed significant differences in the range of motion measurements for lateral flexion and rotation in the TME and TMEB groups (p < .05); difference in measurements of chest expansion was observed only in the TMEB group (p < .05). No significant differences in the range of motion for flexion and extension were observed in either group or during chest expansion in the TME group (p > .05). The between-group comparisons showed a significant difference in left lateral flexion (p < .05), whereas no other measures differed significantly (p > .05). CONCLUSION: The TME and TMEB groups showed significant increases in the thoracic range of motion; the TMEB group showed a significant increase in chest expansion.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.278-292
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• 2023

Objective: This study was performed to investigate the effects of thoracic joint mobilization and breathing exercises on diaphragmatic thickness, chest expansion, respiratory function, and endurance in patients with chronic stroke. Design: Randomized controlled trial Methods: The study included 24 chronic stroke patients who were randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group (12 people) performed 15 minutes of thoracic joint mobility exercises and 15 minutes of breathing exercises, three times a week for 6 weeks, 30 minutes each time. The control group (12 people) received 15 minutes of conservative physical therapy and 15 minutes of breathing exercises, 3 times a week for 6 weeks, 30 minutes per session, the same as the experimental group. The experimental and control groups performed the same breathing exercises. To assess training effectiveness, changes in diaphragm thickness, chest expansion, respiratory function, and endurance were measured. Results: As a result, the experimental group exhibited significant improvements in diaphragm thickness, chest expansion, and respiratory function. The endurance mode also displayed significant enhancement (p<0.05), a finding consistent with the control group. However, the experimental group displayed more substantial improvements in non-affected diaphragm thickness and thoracic expansion compared to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusions: Drawing from these findings, breathing exercise which combine thoracic mobilization, will be actively utilized in addition to physical therapy interventions in clinical trials as an effective intervention method.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.145-156
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• 2002

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of thoracic flexibility exercise on chest function and mobility and to provide the information of physical therapy for patients with idiopathic scoliosis. Forty female subjects who were diagnosed with scoliosis participated in this study and were divided into the experimental and control groups. The experimental group consisted of 20 patients who were treated with thoracic flexibility exercise program during the admission (10 days) ad one month after discharge. The control group consisted of 20 patients who were not treated with thoracic flexibility exercise program. Vital capacity was measured using a respirometer. The chest expansion were calculated using differences of chest circumference between maximum inspiration and maximum expiration measured under armpits, at the junction between the sternum and xyphoid process, and at the waist. All subjects were measured two times: before the admission and at one month after discharge. Data were compared by groups using independent t-test, Vital capacity and chest expansion values (the armpit, chest and waist values) were significantly higher for the experimental group compared to those of the control group (p<.05). The findings of this study show that thoracic flexibility exercise program can lead to an increase in vital capacity and chest expansion and has a positive effects in relieving symptoms and restoring thoracic mobility.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.205-213
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• 2021

Purpose: This study investigated the immediate effects of a figure-8 shoulder brace and taping intervention on round shoulder posture, thoracic kyphosis, and chest expansion mobility in forward head posture. Methods: Thirty patients with forward head posture were assigned randomly to the figure-8 shoulder brace group (n = 15) or the taping intervention group (n = 15). Patients were assessed for forward head posture, shoulder posture, thoracic kyphosis, and chest expansion. Results: The figure-8 shoulder brace and taping intervention groups showed a significant difference for forward head posture, shoulder posture, and thoracic kyphosis after the experiment (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that a figure-8 shoulder brace and taping intervention has a positive effect on rounded shoulder posture, thoracic kyphosis, and chest expansion in patients with forward head posture.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.169-174
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• 2014

Purpose: This study demonstrated a postural alignment exercise as conservative management strategy for a woman with excessive thoracic kyphosis presenting decreased chest function, and reports its results. Methods: A 21-year-old woman with thoracic kyphosis presenting limited chest function. The exercise program underwent for 30 min in the intervention phase, which consisted of exercises to improve the strength of back extensor and to stretch anterior chest region. Outcome measures comprised the severity of thoracic kyphosis and chest function (vital capacity [VC], forced expiratory volume in a second [FEV1], and chest expansion length). Results: The thoracic kyphotic angle decreased by 23.6% ($9.38^{\circ}$) and 25.4% ($10.58^{\circ}$) in the intervention and follow-up phases respectively. Also, chest function was improved in the intervention (VC: 3.7% [$0.10{\ell}$], FEV1: 17.1% [$0.39{\ell}$], and chest expansion length: 17.1% [0.96 cm]), and the improvement was maintained during the follow-up phase (VC: 4.8% [$0.13{\ell}$], FEV1: 17.1% [$0.39{\ell}$], and chest expansion length: 64.3% [1.81 cm]). Conclusion: These findings suggest that the postural alignment exercise was favorable for improving chest function of a woman with thoracic kyphosis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.255-261
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• 2023

Background: The surgical threshold for bicuspid aortic valve (BAV)-related aortopathy is a matter of debate due to its uncertain etiology and prognosis. This study investigated the prognosis of unrepaired BAV aortopathy in patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from 720 patients (age, 60.8±11.5 years; 246 women) who underwent SAVR for BAV disease without aortic repair between 2005 and 2020 at Asan Medical Center. The clinical endpoints were defined as occurrences of sudden death, aortic dissection or rupture, and elective aortic repair. To estimate postoperative changes in the dimensions of the unrepaired aorta, the individual annual aortic expansion rate was calculated. Multiple linear regression models were used to evaluate the risk of aortic expansion. Results: The mean ascending aortic diameter was 39.5±4.6 mm, and 299 patients (41.5%) had a baseline ascending aorta diameter >40 mm. During 70.0±68.3 months of follow-up, the mean annual aortic expansion rate was 0.39±1.96 mm/yr, no aortic dissection or rupture was observed, and sudden deaths were reported in 12 patients (0.34% per person-year). Linear regression analysis revealed no significant correlation between the baseline ascending aortic diameter and postoperative aortic expansion (R²=0.004, β=-0.84, p=0.082). Conclusion: In selected patients undergoing SAVR for a BAV (<55 mm), the risk of adverse aortic events was very low. As this observation contradicts current practice guidelines advocating for proactive aortic replacement in dilated ascending aortas measuring >45 mm, the study results need further validation by studies involving larger populations or randomized controlled trials.

• The Korean journal of sports medicine
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.197-206
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• 2018

Purpose: This study analyzed the muscle activity changes induced by motions of reaching forward and chest expansion that were examined from the bilateral muscles with rectus abdominis, external oblique, multifidus, and longissimus thoracic using Pilates cadillac instrument. Methods: Nine young adult women, who have no musculoskeletal disorder and any of chronic diseases, were participated. Surface electromyography system was used for recording of all signals produced by muscles, and then normalized as percentage of maximum voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC). The paired t-test and repeated measures of analysis of variance was performed. Results: Reaching-forward motion showed a higher muscle activity from non-dominant external oblique muscle than that of the chest-expansion motion. During both reaching-forward motion and chest-expansion motion, MVIC values collected from dominant side of external oblique muscle were shown a significantly lower than the values obtained from non-dominant side (p<0.05). Conversely, %MVIC values in external oblique muscle collected from dominant side showed a significantly higher than the values obtained from non-dominant side of the same oblique muscle (p<0.05). Reaching-forward motion was caused a higher %MVIC on non-dominant external oblique muscle than that of the chest-expansion motion (p<0.05). Regardless of dominant or non-dominant sides, external oblique muscle was shown the highest activation rate of all the other muscles during reaching forward action, and longissimus thoracic muscle was shown the highest activation rate of all the other muscles during chest expansion action. Conclusion: Reaching-forward motion is suitable for activating an external oblique muscle, and chest-expansion motion is an effective enough in activating of longissimus thoracic muscle.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.37-45
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• 2018

Background: Posterior-anterior (PA) vertebral mobilization, a manual therapy technique has been used for relieving pain or stiffness treating in spinal segment for in clinical practice, however evidence to gauge efficacy is yet to be synthesised. Objects: This study aimed to investigate the effect of PA mobilization of the thoracic spine on the respiratory function in patients with low back pain (LBP). Methods: The study participants included 30 patients with chronic LBP. They were randomly allocated to the experimental and control groups. The experimental and control groups received PA mobilization of the T1-T8 level of the thoracic spine and placebo mobilization, respectively. All patients received interventions for 35 minutes a day, five times a week, over 2-week period, respectively. Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second ($FEV_1$), peak expiratory flow (PEF), forced expiratory flow 25~75% ($FEF_{25{\sim}75%}$), and chest wall expansion were measured before and after the intervention. Statistical analysis was performed using independent t-test and two-way analysis of variance, and Pearson's correlation analysis was used to compare the correlation between respiratory function and chest measurement. Results: The experimental group showed significant improvements in FVC, $FEV_1$, PEF, $FEF_{25{\sim}75%}$ (p<.05), and chest wall expansion (p<.05) compared with the control group. Conclusion: PA mobilization of the upper thoracic spine may be beneficial for improving respiratory function parameters including FVC, $FEV_1$, PEF, $FEF_{25{\sim}75%}$, and chest wall expansion in patients with chronic LBP.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2015

Background: To evaluate the effect of thoracic mobility exercise and deep breathing exercise applied to stroke patients on pulmonary function. Methods: The subjects were divided into two group. Twenty-five patients with stroke were randomly assigned to DB (deep breathing exercise) group (n=13) and TM (combination of deep breathing exercise and thoracic mobility exercise) group (n=12). During four weeks, DB group were carried out deep breathing exercises for 5~10 minutes twice a day and TM Group were carried out deep breathing exercises for 5~10 minutes and thoracic mobility exercise for 20~30 minutes twice a day. All tests were completed before and after experiment. The pulmonary functions were measured by PowerBreathe K5 (Hab International Ltd, England) and tape measure respectively. For each case, the experimental data were obtained in 4 items; average of inspiratory load, inspiratory flow speed, inspiratory flow volume and chest expansion. Results: The results of this study were as follows: 1. In DB group, the statistically significants were shown on average of inspiratory flow speed, inspiratory flow volume and chest expansion (p<.05). 2. In TM group, the statistically significants were shown on all items (p<.05). 3. There was a statistically significant difference on all items between DB group and TM group (p<.05). Conclusions: The above results revealed that DB and TM group can be used to improve pulmonary function in stroke patients. In comparison of DB and TM group, TM group was more improved. In conclude, thoracic mobility exercise helped improving function of vital capacity and chest expansion in stroke patients.