• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.9 no.12
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• pp.665-673
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• 2009

This study was conducted to compare the PNF and Trunk Exercise Program has effectiveness on the pain, disability, static and dynamic balance in chronic low back pain patients. To evaluate the effects of exercise, subjects were evaluated by using VAS for pain, Oswestry disability index for disability, One leg stand test for static balance and Balance System for dynamic balance test. Pain, Oswestry disability index, One leg stand test, and Dynamic balance test in PNF had statistical significance than Trunk exercise program(p<0.05). So this results were suggested that the lifting and chopping pattern of PNF was effective on pain, disability and balance in chronic low back pain patients.

• Clinical Pain
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.49-52
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• 2021

Bertolotti's syndrome (BS) refers to chronic low back pain (LBP) associated with lumbosacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV). Many studies suggest that the anomalous articulation alters biomechanics, resulting in discomfort on the ipsilateral side. Herein, we present an unusual case of BS presenting pain on the non-articulated side. A 46-year-old man visited our clinic with history of chronic LBP, refractory to treatment of analgesics, modalities and manual therapies. Electrodiagnostic studies showed no evidence of lumbosacral radiculopathy. Radiographies noted unilateral pseudoarticulation of L5~S1 vertebrae, on the contralateral side of his pain. The pain improved dramatically after sacroiliac joint block and facet joint block with iliolumbar ligament infiltration on the non-articulated side. Clinicians should be cautious that the unaffected joint in BS may serve an important role in altered lumbopelvic biomechanism, since it might eventually lead to intractable chronic LBP when overlooked.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.52-61
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• 2023

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of a combined functional intervention program on the pain-related questionnaire, the erector spinae contractile properties, and trunk extensor strength of prime-aged females with non-specific chronic low back pain. Method: 16 (female: 16) prime-aged subjects (age: 60.88 ± 6.09 years, height: 158.16 ± 5.58 cm, weight: 59.05 ± 9.44 kg) participated in this study. Results: Except for Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia all pain-related questionnaires revealed a significant decrease after the intervention program (p<.001). Tensiomyography of the erector spinae revealed a significant post-intervention program increase in the maximum radial displacement (p<.05) and velocity of contraction (p<.05), however, there wasn't a significant post-intervention program change in the contraction time. Additionally, Trunk extensor strength showed a significant increase post-intervention program (p<.001). Conclusion: Our results indicated that the combined functional intervention program positively changed pain-related questionnaires and reduced erector spinae muscle stiffness, increasing the velocity of erector spinae contraction. Additionally, improved the trunk extensor strength.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.86-95
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• 2022

Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of ultra-thin microcurrent patch application on pain, tenderness, trunk flexion, and trunk extension in patients with back pain. Design: pretest-posttest design: single blind. Methods: Thirty men and women diagnosed with chronic back pain were classified into 15 microcurrent application groups and 15 placebo groups. Changes in pain were observed on a visual analog scale, tenderness was observed with a digital tenderness meter, and changes in trunk flexion and trunk extension angles were evaluated with a posture analyzer. The paired t-test was used to see the changes within each group before and one week after the experiment, and the independent t-test was used to see the change in the difference between the groups, and the significance level was 0.05. Results: In both the experimental group and the control group, there was a significant difference in pain within and between groups(p<0.05). In the experimental group, there were significant differences in the intra- and inter-group changes in the erector spinae muscle tenderness and low back pain disorder index(p<0.05). In the experimental group, there was a significant difference in the change in trunk flexion and extension within the group(p<0.05). Conclusion: In this study, it was confirmed that the application of ultra-thin microcurrent was effective for pain, tenderness, and movement of back extension in patients with low back pain. It is expected that it will be used as a basic data for microcurrent therapy and as a treatment method for improving the function of patients with back pain in the future.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.162-167
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• 1991

Epidural steroid therapy has been well-established for the treatment of sciatica and low back pain. Disappointing results following surgical decompression or discectomy pain owing for to nerve root compression have led to trials of corticosteroids injected either systemically or into the intrathecal or epidural space to treat intervertebral disc. Epidural steroid is less effective in the patients with low back pain who have a history of surgical operation, so that the use of epidural morphine and methylprednisolone has been advocated for the amelioration of chronic low back pain in the post-laminectomy pain("failed back") syndrome over the past several years. We treated 47 patients with low back pain who had a history of one or two surgical procedures. We concluded that epidural steroid therapy is less effective in the patients with "failed back" syndrome than in the virgin back furthermore, there is a greater risk of complication such as inadvertent dural puncture and corresponding motor paralysis and headache.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.187-196
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• 2007

Objectives : This study was designed to evaluate the effect of Moxa Pellet therapy on chronic low back pain. Methods: Subjects were voluntarily recruited by newspapers and internet. The Moxa Pellet therapy was performed for 4 weeks. Patients were randomized to three groups: Moxa Pellets, Control-l and Control-2 group. Moxa Pellets group administered with Moxa Pellets, Control-l group administered with moxa pellet-shaped moxa pellet without available components and Control-2 group administered with round bonded fabric that could not give pressing stimulation. Acupuncture points used in this study were $GV_3$, $BL_{23}$, $BL_{24}$, $BL_{25}$ and $BL_{22}$. The patient's symptoms were assessed before and after 4 weeks treatments by VAS, SF-MPQ and SF- 36. Results : The results are follows; 1. VAS score showed significant difference in Moxa Pellet group and Control-l group after treatment. 2. SF-MPQ score showed significant difference only in Moxa Pellet group. 3. Moxa Pellet group showed significant difference in PF, RE, MR, and BP of SF- 36 score after treatment; Control-l group showed no significant difference; Control-2 group showed significant difference in BP. There were no significant difference among the groups. Conclusions : This study suggests that Moxa Pellet therapy can be applicable to improve symptoms in the patients with chronic low back pain. Further studies on the Moxa Pellet therapy and other treatment in the patients with chronic low back pain is recommended.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.43-55
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of contract relaxation and a combination of isotonics in proprioceptive neuromucular facilitation (PNF) on hip and lumbopelvic motions of male patients with chronic low back pain. Methods: As the subjects of this study, a total of 45 male patients with chronic low back pain were divided into groups: 15 who underwent contract relaxation (CR) of the PNF of their hip joints, 15 who underwent a combination of isotonics (CI) of the PNF, and 15 who underwent both techniques. A device for analyzing three-dimensional motion was used to measure hip medial rotation angles, lumbopelvic rotation angles, and hip medial rotation angles at the start of lumbopelvic rotation during hip medial rotation. A two-way repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare the average values. Results: There were interactions in the hip medial rotation angles, lumbopelvic rotation angles and hip medial rotation angles at the start of lumbopelvic rotation based on the methods and periods of exercise (p < 0.05). The CR and the CR+CI groups displayed more increased hip medial angles when compared to the CI group. The CR+CI group had more decreased lumbopelvic rotation angles when compared to the CR and the CI groups. The CR+CI group had more increased hip medial rotation angles at the start of lumbopelvic rotation when compared to the CR and the CI groups. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the combination of stretching and stability exercises was effective in male patients with chronic low back pain who showed limited hip medial rotation.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.15-26
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• 2013

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to find out the relationship between lumbar lordotic angle and low back pain patterns. Methods: We randomly selected the 1191 patients (595 males, 596 females) who have visited Bu-Chun Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine with low back pain. We have taken lumbar x-ray films and measured their lumbar lordotic angle, the angle formed between L1 superior margin and S1 superior margin. We investigated 1191 patients' low back pain patterns(date of occurence, existence of radiating pain, trend of increasing pain with lumbar extention and flexion, trend of increasing pain with standing and sitting positions) and analysed the relationship between lumbar lordotic angle and low back pain patterns. Results: 1. The lumbar lordotic angle of the acute phase patient is more straight than the chronic one. 2. The lumbar lordotic angle of the patients with radiating pain is more straight than the patients without radiating pain. 3. At acute phase, the lumbar lordotic angle of the patients with increasing pain from lumbar extention is more straight than those with increasing pain from lumbar flexion. 4. At chronic phase, the lumbar lordotic angle of the patients with increasing pain from lumbar flexion is more straight than those with increasing pain from lumbar extention. Conclusions: There was a significant correlation between lumbar lordotic angle and low back pain.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.33-44
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• 2017

Background: Lumbar stabilization exercise and gluteal muscle strengthening exercises are widely used to treat for lower back pain patient. The present study aimed to compare the effects of lumbar stabilization exercise and gluteal muscle strengthening exercises on chronic lower back pain with lumbar spine instability, with regard to pain intensity, disability, and psychosocial factors. Methods: Among 53 patients with chronic lower back pain, those with spine instability were selected using 5 examination tests. The selected 28 patients were randomly assigned to lumbar stabilization exercise group (LSE, n=15) and gluteal strengthening exercise group (GSE, n=13). Each group performed the corresponding exercise for 40 minutes, twice a week for 4 weeks. To analyze and compare the effects, pain intensity, the level of low back disability, and psychosocial factors were assessed before and after intervention. Results: There was significant difference in lower back pain intensity between the two groups before and after intervention. The change in low back disability was significant in the GSE group alone following intervention (p<.05), but no other significant difference was found between the groups. Among psychosocial factors, the changes in the fear-avoidance beliefs questionnaire (FABQ)-physical activity and FABQ-total were significant in the LSE group alone following intervention (p<.05). However, no significant difference were found in these factors between the two groups before and after intervention. Conclusions: LSE and GSE for lower back pain with lumbar spine instability showed no significant difference for pain intensity, physical disability, or psychosocial functioning.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.11-20
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• 2009

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of stretching and strengthening exercise on the static flexibility and pain intensity for the iliopsoas muscle, which is one of the main reasons for the chronic low back pain. Methods: The subjects of this study were 15 male adult patients with showed 6 score or higher in the visual analogue scale(VAS) and complained of low back pain over three months who visited department of the physical therapy, KIA motors Industrial Health Center, from October, 2008 through December, 2008. Fifteen subjects were trained stretching, mat exercises and sling exercises for iliopsoas muscle at 4-5 times a week for 4 weeks. I measured the changes on the extensibility of iliopsoas muscle, static flexibility of low back and VAS between pre- and post exercise treatment. Date were analyzed using the Wilcoxon's signed rank test considering the size of the samples. Results: 1. The angle of the hip joint that showed the extensibility of iliopsoas muscle was relieved, which was significant statistically (p<.05). 2. The static flexibility was statistically significantly improved in the trunk flexion test, trunk extension test and Schober-Test (p<.05). 3. The VAS showed decrease, which is significant statistically (p<.05). Conclusion: It is believed that the exercise treatment of iliopsoas muscle has the significant effects on the improvement of static flexibility and decrease of pain intensity for the chronic low back pain patients.