• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.18 no.6
• /
• pp.67-75
• /
• 2006

Purpose: Many kinds of musculoskeletal disease and symptom are caused by the longtime computer works. However, trapezius muscle tonus has not been established in regarding to keyboard height during typing. Therefore, this study is to evaluate the relationship between trapezius muscle tonus and the height of keyboard while typing, controling for the postures of neck, Lumbar, cervical vertebra. Methods: The experimental height of keyboard was set at elbow height, 3cm higher, 6cm higher, 9cm higher, than elbow. We studied trapezius tonus with the mean value for 2 minutes by EMG in 15 males and 15 females worker of hospital in seoul, who did not have a history of muscle disease, neurological signs, nerve damage. Results: In this experimental, as the height of the keyboard went up, the trapezius tonus significantly increased with shoulder abduction of brachium. Second, right and left trapezius tonus appeared similar while typing. Third, the best height that release the trapezius tonus the was as high as elbow and 3cm higher than elbow. Conclusion: With these above results, we suggest that the appropriate height of keyboard during typing to release the trapezius tonus most is the height of the elbow and 3cm higher than elbow. The study has important implications for focusing on the height of VDT worktable and complaining of a pain by oneself which are useful to establish a method of prevention of musculoskeletal disorder in work in the future.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.15-24
• /
• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness between myofascial release technique and ultrasound in subjects with myofascial pain syndrome. Method : Twenty subjects with myofascial pain syndrome were randomly assigned to a myofascial release technique group(n=10) or an ultrsound group(n=10). The Cervical Range of Motion(C-ROM) instrument was used to measure cervical range of motion. Electromyography(EMG) was used to measure muscle power sternocleidomastoid and upper trapezius. Result : The result of this study shows there were no significant differences in ROM increase and muscle power increase between the myofascial release technique group and the ultrasound group. In the group with Myofascial Release Technique, the average score was $61.40{\pm}11.12$ in SCM flexion of C-ROM and $127.87{\pm}4.24$ in Rt. upper trapezius extension of EMG. In the group with ultra sound, the average score was $68.60{\pm}10.02$ in SCM flexion of C-ROM and $131.50{\pm}5.45$ in Rt. upper trapezius extension of EMG. Conclusion : The results suggest that there was no significant difference between two therapeutic techniques.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.271-281
• /
• 2021

Purpose : This study aimed to apply muscle relaxation exercise and ultrasound therapy as an effective treatment method for tension headache patients by comparatively analyzing the muscle mechanical properties, neck disorder index, and headache impact test. Method : The subjects were classified into three groups based on the intervention received: the therapeutic ultrasound (n=15, group I), placebo therapeutic ultrasound combined with the suboccipital release (n=15, group II), and therapeutic ultrasound combined with suboccipital release (n=15, group III) groups. The intragroup and intergroup differences in muscle mechanical properties, neck disability index, and headache impact test were compared and analyzed. Result : The comparison and analyses of the changes in muscle tone and post hoc analysis revealed statistically significant intragroup decreases in the suboccipitalis and upper trapezius in groups I and III. Furthermore, statistically significant intergroup differences in the upper trapezius with a greater change in group III than in group II and suboccipitalis with greater changes in group III than in groups I and II were observed. The comparison and analyses of the changes in muscle stiffness and post hoc analysis revealed statistically significant intragroup decreases in the upper trapezius in group I and suboccipitalis in group III. Moreover, statistically significant intergroup differences in both muscles with greater changes in group III than in group II for both cases were observed. The comparison and analyses of the changes in the neck disability index and post hoc analysis revealed statistically significant intragroup decreases in all three groups and statistically significant intergroup differences with greater changes in group III than in groups I and II. The comparison and analyses of the changes in the headache impact test and post hoc analysis revealed statistically significant intragroup decreases in all three groups and a statistically significant intergroup difference with greater changes in group III than in groups I and II. Conclusion : The therapeutic ultrasound and suboccipital muscle release exercise effectively increased the flexibility of the muscles around the cervical vertebrae and reduced muscle tension and stiffness in tension-type headache patients.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.124-133
• /
• 2024

Objective: This study aims to investigate the immediate effects of myofascial release and Duoball assisted self-relaxation (DASR) techniques on pain and muscle tension in patients experiencing chronic cervical pain. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Methods: This study is a randomized controlled experimental study. Eighteen patients with chronic neck pain who met the selection criteria were randomly assigned to myofascial release group and myofascial release group using Duoball. Results: The frequency results for assessment muscle tension showed a decrease of about 10% in the suboccipital muscle, SCM, Pect m, UT, and LS in both the MFR and DASR groups, and the stiffness results showed a decrease in all muscles except the upper trapezius in the MFR group and the DASR group. All were found to decrease by about 10% in the suboccipital muscle, SCM, Pect m, UT, and LS, and the decrement results showed an increase of about 15% in the suboccipital muscle, SCM, Pect m, UT, and LS in both the MFR and DASR groups(p<0.05). Conclusions: In patients experiencing chronic neck pain, application of MFR and duoball assisted self relaxion was shown to be effective on pain and muscle tension. MFR is a non-pharmacological intervention method with few potential side effects and is considered a universal and easily applicable treatment method.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.147-155
• /
• 2023

Purpose: Headache is a very common disease experienced at least once in daily life, and tension-type headaches have a high and increasing prevalence. Chronic headaches can cause functional damage and huge socioeconomic impacts. This study aimed to compare the effects of myofascial release technique with manual therapy and self-myofascial release technique using a foam roller on the pain threshold and body schema in patients with chronic tension-type headaches. Methods: The study was conducted on 20 patients living in Busan with chronic tension headaches. Myofascial release technique with manual therapy was performed on the suboccipital, sternocleidomastoid, scalene, and upper trapezius muscles. The self -myofascial release technique using a foam roller was applied to the cervical and thoracic muscles. A laterality test was performed using a recognized neck application developed to evaluate body schema ability. A pressure-pain threshold test was performed using an electronic pressure algometer to compare the results before and after the myofascial release technique. Results: After applying myofascial release with manual therapy and a foam roller, the pressure-pain threshold values showed significant changes in both groups (p<.05). As a result of the laterality test, myofascial release with manual therapy and a foam roller were applied to the painful area. The values showed significant changes in both groups (p<.05), but only the group using the foam roller showed a significant difference (p<.05) in painless areas. Conclusion: The myofascial release technique with manual therapy can be the primary treatment technique for pain control in painful areas. The self-muscle release technique using a foam roller can be an effective method when there is no pain or when maintenance is needed after pain control.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.245-254
• /
• 2020

Purpose: The study investigated the effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy with myofascial release techniques (ESWT+MFR) on pain, movement, and function in patients with myofascial pain syndrome. Methods: Forty participants with upper trapezius trigger points were recruited and randomly allocated to two groups: an experimental group (n = 20) and a control group (n = 20). The experimental group performed the ESWT+MFR, and the control group performed only myofascial release techniques. Each group was treated for 15 minutes, twice a week for four weeks. Pain was assessed using a visual analogue scale and a pressure pain threshold measure. Movement was assessed by cervical range of motion, and cervical and shoulder function were assessed on the Constant-Murley Scale and the Neck Disability Index before and after treatment. Results: The results indicate statistically significant improvements in the two groups on all parameters after intervention as compared to baseline (p < 0.05). As compared to the control group, the experimental group showed statistically significant improvements on the visual analogue scale and pressure pain threshold, cervical range of motion (except rotation), and on the Neck Disability Index (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The ESWT+MFR is more effective than myofascial release techniques for pain, movement, and function in patients with myofascial pain syndrome and would be clinically useful for physical therapists treating myofascial pain syndrome.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.57-66
• /
• 2016

Background: For the treatment of forward head posture (FHP) and forward shoulder posture, methods for strengthening scapular retractors and deep cervical flexors and stretching pectoralis and upper cervical extensors are generally used. No study has yet assessed whether suboccipital release (SR) followed by cranio-cervical flexion exercise (CCFE) (SR-CCFE) will result in a positive change in the shoulders and neck, showing a "downstream" effect. Objects: The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate effects of SR-CCFE on craniovertebral angle (CVA), shoulder abduction range of motion (ROM), shoulder pain, and muscle activities of upper trapezius (UT), lower trapezius (LT), and serratus anterior (SA) and LT/UT and SA/UT muscle activity ratios during maximal shoulder abduction in subjects with FHP. Methods: In total, 19 subjects (7 males, 12 females) with FHP were recruited. The subject performed the fifth phase of CCFE immediately after receiving SR. CVA, shoulder abduction ROM, shoulder pain, muscle activities of UT, LT, and SA, and LT/UT and SA/UT muscle activity ratios during maximal shoulder abduction were measured immediately after SR-CCFE. A paired t-test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used to determine the significance of differences in scores between pre- and post-intervention in the same group. Results: The CVA (p<.001) and shoulder abduction ROM (p<.001) were increased significantly post-versus pre-intervention. Shoulder pain was decreased significantly (p<.001), and LT (p<.05) and SA (p<.05) muscle activities were increased significantly post- versus pre-intervention. The LT/UT muscle activity ratio was increased significantly post- versus pre-intervention (p<.05). However, there was no significant change in UT muscle activity and SA/UT muscle activity ratio between pre- and post-intervention (p>.05). Conclusion: SR-CCFE was an effective intervention to improve FHP and induce downstream effect from the neck to the trunk and shoulders in subjects with FHP.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
• /
• v.12 no.6
• /
• pp.425-432
• /
• 2014

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of myofascical release (MR) on the degree of pain and nerve conduction velocity (NCV) in middle-aged women. Participants were 28 middle-aged women and MR carried out three times (1, 3, 5 day) at intervals of two times. We did survey about changes of pain before the MR and how they changed after the MR. Also measured pressure pain threshold (PPT) and visual analogue scale (VAS) by using the algometer at trapezius muscle. In median nerve, we did motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) test and sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) test for measuring incubation period, amplitude and nerve conduction. The most painful time was 18~21 and the most painful part was shoulder. The pain scale, PPT and VAS after the MR had significantly decreased than before the MR. The latency was significantly decreased and the amplitude was significantly increased in the MNCV and the latency was significantly decreased in the SNCV after the MR. Also it was effective in ameliorating pain scale and latency of NCV. Consequently, the MR can be effective in prevent pain scale caused by fatigue in middle-aged women as replacement therapy.