• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.377-385
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• 2006

Purpose: This study were to examine the relationship among chronic pain, pain beliefs, pain coping, and fatigue and to define the main factors influencing chronic pain in the elderly. Method: Data were collected by self-reported questionnaires from 276 Korean elderly. Data analysis was done with SPSS 10.1 for descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson Correlation Coefficient, and Stepwise multiple regression. Results: Chronic pain score was 5.45, which was slightly higher than the average. There were significant differences in chronic pain according to age, marital state, economic state, and duration of pain. There was a significant positive correlation between chronic pain and pain beliefs, passive pain coping, physical fatigue and mental fatigue. In addition, there was a significant negative correlation between chronic pain and active pain coping. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that 44% of the variance in chronic pain was significantly accounted for by passive pain coping(31%), pain beliefs(8%), physical fatigue(4%), and active pain coping(1%). Conclusion: These results suggested that pain beliefs, pain coping, and fatigue can be influencing factors on chronic pain for the elderly. Also, the findings can provide a basis for nursing intervention development to effectively manage chronic pain for the elderly.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.43-47
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• 2017

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of physical therapy plus Kinesio taping (KT) on muscle tone and stiffness in patients with shoulder pain. METHODS: This study included 22 participants who were divided into the experimental group (n=11) who underwent a routine physical therapy with KT and the control group (n=11) who received the same physical therapy only. The physical therapy consisted of heat application and electrical stimulation. Heat was applied for 10 minutes and electrical stimulation was conducted for 20 minutes. Intervention was provided over a 1-week period, and frequency for muscle tone and stiffness was measured to determine changes in shoulder muscle status. The muscles were supraspinatus and deltoid. Measurements were taken before, after 1day, 3day and after 1 week to identify time-dependent effects of intervention. RESULTS: The effects of the intervention were significant in both groups, and effects were greater in the experimental group. Changes in muscle tone and stiffness were statistically significant in both groups and at varying time points (p<.05). CONCLUSION: Based on the improved muscle performance found in this study, KT is considered an effective intervention strategy for patients with shoulder pain when it is combined with conventional physical therapy.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.4564-4571
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• 2012

This study performed a virtual reality exercise program for self-back pain control of industrial workers with chronic back pain and analysed their physical function and health-related quality of life relating to industrial chronic back pain. The subjects of the study were thirty chronic back pain patients working for K company and were divided into Nintendo Wii Sports Group made of 15 subjects and Physical Therapy Group made of 15. As variables for physical functions, back strength, flexibility, balance and pain were measured and for the health-related quality of life, SF-36 of each group was measured before and after the exercise program. To compare differences before and after the program, a paired t-test was used and to compare differences between both groups, an independent samples t-test was used. As a result of the test, it was discovered that balance and pain of the both groups were improved statistically significantly. Physical functions of the Nintendo Wii Sports Group were improved statistically significantly in comparison with those of the Physical Therapy Group. The health-related quality of life was improved statistically significantly only for the Nintendo Wii Sports Group. In conclusion, it is suggested that as the virtual reality exercise program had a positive influence on chronic back pain of industrial workers, it should be considered as a home exercise program for back pain control.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.63-89
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• 1996

This study has been done for the purpose of determining whether the positive association between social support and depression is attributable to an overall beneficial effect of support(direct effect) or to a process of support protecting persons from adverse effects of stressors such as life events, pain or physical disability (buffering effect). The sample consisted of 214 patients who were identified as the rheumatoid arthritis. The instruments used in this study were Depression Scale(CES-D), Perceived Social Support Scale, Life Events Questionnaire, AIMS Pain Scale, and Physical Disability Scale. The data were analysed by the use of t-test, ANOVA, Pearson Correlation Coefficient and Stepwise Multiple Regression. The results of this study are summerized as follows : 1. The 1st hypothesis, "The higher the life events degree, the higher the depression degree" was supported(r=.49, P=.0001). 2. The 2nd hypothesis, "The higher the pain degree, the higher the depression degree" was supported(r=.44, P=.0001). 3. The 3rd hypothesis, "The higher the physical disability degree, the higher the depression degree" was supported (r=.46, P=.0001). 4. The 4th hypothesis, "The higher the social support degree, the lower the depression degree" was supported(F=84.52, P=.0001). 5. The 5th hypothesis, "There will be different in the relationship between the degrees of life events and depression according to social support degree" was rejected (F=.29, P=.5928). 6. The 6th hypothesis, "There will be different in the relationship between the degrees of pain and depression according to social support degree" was supported (F=3.19, P=.0755). 7. The 7th hypothesis, "There will be different in the relationship between the degrees of physical disability and depression according to social support degree" was supported(F=5.69, P=.018). 8. The predictive variables for depression were the degrees for social support, life events, pain, and physical disability. 9. The depression degree showed a inverse correlation with social support degree (r=-.56, p=.0001). The social support degree showed a inverse correlation with the degrees of life events(r=-.22, p=.0007), pain(r=-.18, p=.0069) and physical disability(r=-.15, p=.0293). 10. The depression degree showed significant differences in the variables of sex (t=2.26, p=.025), educational level(r=.189, P=.006) and the number of treatment method (r=.201, P=.003). In conclusion, it was found that social support had the direct effect on depression and the buffering effect in each relationship between degrees of pain or physical disability and depression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. So the researcher thinks that it is effective that nurses should provide these patients with social support to reduce depression in cases of having severe pain or physical disability.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.655-666
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• 2013

PURPOSE: The main objective of this study is observing the effects of the functional postural trunk exercise (FPTE) on deep cranio-cervical flexor (CCF) muscle endurance applied on neck pain patients suffering from the acute whiplash-association disorder (WAD). METHODS: The study was tested with 47 patients with neck pain. All patients were equally treated with the ordinary therapy, only experimental group (n=23) was treated with FPTE: assumption of an upright lumbo-pelvic and spinal postural position, adding a neck lengthening manoeuvre in addition. Patients attended physical therapy for 3 times a week, for 4 weeks. Visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, neck disability index (NDI), range of motion (ROM), were recorded both before and after the intervention. Also muscle activity in the CCF test was employed to analyze the changes between before and after. RESULT: After 4 weeks of training intervention, a remarkable increase in muscle endurance, rotation, extension ROM (p<.05) and decrease in pain and NDI (p<.05) in both groups. Further, the differences between groups were muscle endurance (F=60.350, p<.01), pain, and the left rotation ROM (p<.05). CONCLUSION: From the results, the experimental group had significant the increase in muscle endurance, and the significant decrease in pain. Whilst further research in this category is necessary, these observations suggest that applying exercise in early diagnosis can be of help to treat the neck pain patients suffering from the WAD.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.7-15
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• 2017

Purpose: This randomized controlled trial was conducted to compare the effectiveness of global postural reeducation to segmental stretching in subjects with neck and shoulder pain. Methods: Sixteen subjects with neck and shoulder pain were randomized into two intervention groups, a global posture reeducation group (n=8) that performed muscle chain stretching, and a segmental stretching group (n=8) that performed conventional static muscle stretching. The intervention program consisted of two 40 minutes individual sessions per week for four weeks. Subjects were evaluated pre-intervention, two-week after intervention and at a four-week follow-up appointment for pain intensity, disability and health-related quality of life. Two-way repeated analysis of variance was used for between-time and between-group comparisons. The significance level was 0.05. Results: Significant pain relief and decreasing discomfort of the neck and shoulder were observed after intervention in both groups, and there was an interaction between time lapse and groups (pain, F=10.31, neck disability, F=25.45, shoulder disability, F=12.82, p<0.05). Quality of life also improved after intervention in both groups. Moreover, the physical components score improved, and a significant interaction was observed between time and groups (F=4.85, p<0.05). However, no significant improvement in mental component score of quality of life and no significant interaction between time and groups were observed (p>0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that a GPR intervention in subjects with neck and shoulder pain induces greater improvement of pain and disability and quality of life than segmental stretching.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.29-39
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• 2013

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine if the program focusing on gluteal muscle exercise combined lumbar stabilization had an effects on pain, functional disability and lumbar instability in chronic low back pain patients who had lumbar instability. METHODS: Thirty four patients were recruited in this study. The participants were randomly allocated stabilization exercise group (SEG) (n=17) and gluteal muscle exercise group (GEG) (n=17). The gluteal muscle exercise group conducted gluteal muscle exercises combined lumbar stabilization and stabilization exercise group did only lumbar stabilization exercise for 30 minutes three times a week for six weeks. Pre-exercise assessment tools, visual analogue scale (VAS) and Korean version Oswestry Disability Index level (KODI) were used for pain and functional disability each. Also, these were scored by the tool of lumbar instability. The pain, functional disability levels, and lumbar instability after six weeks with this exercise were re-evaluated. RESULTS: First, SEG showed a significant decrease in the lumbar pain, functional disability levels and lumbar instability. Second, GEG showed a significant decrease in the lumbar pain, functional disability levels and lumbar instability. The third, GEG showed even more significant decrease in the lumbar pain levels, functional disability levels and lumbar instability than SEG. CONCLUSION: Gluteal muscle exercises combined lumbar stabilization are more effective than only lumbar stabilization exercise in the pain levels, functional disability levels and lumbar instability for the chronic low back pain patients with lumbar instability.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.121-129
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• 2019

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to measure the effects of cervical stabilization exercises on neck pain, forward head posture, and the acoustic characteristics frequency and amplitude modulation of patients with chronic neck pain caused by forward head posture using pressure biofeedback. METHODS: 20 patients with chronic neck pain and voice disorders presenting at the S Exercise Center in Daegu, Korea, were included in the study. A cervical stabilization exercise program of 50 minutes per session was performed three times a week for eight weeks. Pressure biofeedback was utilized to determine the impact of the exercises on neck pain, forward head posture, and the acoustic characteristics of the patients. The measurements were taken prior to and after the intervention to determine any changes. RESULTS: A significant improvement in neck pain, craniovertebral angle and the acoustic characteristics frequency and amplitude modulation of the patients was demonstrated after the intervention (p<.05). CONCLUSION: Cervical stabilization exercises were demonstrated to have a significantly positive effect on neck pain, forward head posture, and vocalization stability in patients with chronic neck pain in the current study based on measurements taken using a pressure biofeedback system. This indicates that an improvement in forward head posture positively impacts postural stability and vocalization. Future studies investigating a greater range of interventions designed to improve neck pain and acoustical effects in patients with chronic neck pain and forward head posture patients are warranted.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 2021

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of trigger finger on pain, muscle strength and function in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) patients. METHODS: A total of 60 subjects (30 carpal tunnel syndrome with trigger finger and 30 carpal tunnel syndrome without trigger finger) were assessment for pain, muscle strength (power grip, key pinch , tip to tip pinch, three jaw pinch) and function. The effect sizes of the two groups were compared, and the correlation between the trigger finger and each variable was analyzed. RESULTS: The results showed that there were significantly difference in the pain, muscle strength excluding three jaw pinch and function (p < .05). The results also showed correlation between trigger finger and pain (r = .552), muscle strength excluding three jaw pinch (power grip r = -.296, key pinch r = -.260, tip to tip pinch r = -.285), and function (r = .375). The function of carpal tunnel syndrome patients was related to pain (r = .550) and power grips (r = -.324) of muscle strength. CONCLUSION: In carpal tunnel syndrome patients with trigger finger compared to carpal tunnel syndrome, muscle weakness, pain increase, and function reduction were shown. In addition, trigger finger are correlated with muscle strength, pain and function, and muscle weakness and increased pain affect the daily living of carpal tunnel syndrome patients with triggers finger. Therefore, physical therapy interventions of carpal tunnel syndrome patients with trigger finger should be combined with treatment for muscle strength enhancement as well as pain reduction.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.39-46
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• 2015

Purpose: For this study, low back pain was analyzed by determining the influences of pain threshold, proprioceptive sense, and balance ability. Method: A total of 80 college students participated in this study with 30 adults regarded as normal and 50 adults regarded as having lower back pain. Measurements for participants regarding pain threshold, proprioception, and balance ability were conducted from April 10 to May 16, 2014. Result: Results from this study show significant differences between groups for back with regards to cold pain threshold, warm pain threshold measurements. There were also significant differences in proprioception for extension measurements. Finally, there were significant differences when comparing groups regarding balance for total balance score. Conclusion: With this data, practicing physical therapists can realize that a difference may exist between the patient's perception of treatment received and the actual treatment given by professionals due to differences in threshold, proprioception and balance ability. It is important for physical therapists to understand the reliance on objective data showing the effects of threshold, proprioception and balance ability on patients with back pain.