• PNF and Movement
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.415-424
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• 2020

Purpose: This study aimed to compare changes in abdominal muscle thickness in different standing postures with a handheld load between subjects with and without chronic low back pain (CLBP). Methods: Twenty subjects with CLBP and 20 controls participated in this study. Ultrasound imaging was used to assess the changes in the thickness of the transverse abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO) muscles. Muscle thickness in three different standing postures (standing at rest, standing with loads, standing with lifting loads) was compared with the muscle thickness at rest in the supine position and was expressed as a percentage of change in the thickness of the muscle. Results: While standing with loads, the change in IO muscle thickness in the CLBP patients increased more significantly than in the pain-free controls (p < 0.05). The standing with lifting loads posture showed a significant increase in the change in thickness of the TrA compared with the standing with loads posture (p < 0.05). In addition, the standing with lifting loads posture showed a significant decrease in the change in the thickness of the EO when compared with the standing with loads posture (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The automatic activity of the IO muscle in subjects with CLBP increased more than that of the pain-free controls in the standing with loads posture. These findings suggest that IO muscle function may be altered in those with CLBP while standing with loads. Additionally, TrA the activation level was found to be associated with increased postural demand caused by an elevated center of mass.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.189-206
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• 1999

This study was performed to investigate the factors affecting muscle activity and cephalometric variables according to change of head postures. For this study, 150 patients with temporomandibular disorders and 80 dental students without any signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders were selected as the patients group and as the normal group, respectively. Head position to body-midline in frontal plane and upper quarter posture to body plumb line in sagittal plane were observed clinically and electromyographic(EMG) activity of anterior temporalis, masseter, sternocleidomastoideus, and trapezius on clenching were recorded with $BioEMG^{(R)}$ in four head postures, which were natural head posture(NHP), forward head posture(FHP), $20^{\circ}$ upward head posture(UHP), and $20^{\circ}$ downward head posture(DHP). Cephaloradiographs were also taken in the same head postures as in EMG taking, but that was taken only in NHP for the patient group. Cephalometric variables measured were SN angle, CVT angle, atlas inclination angle, occlusal plane angle, Me-C2 angle, pharyngeal width, occiput~axis distance, area of pharyngeal space, and cervical curvature. The data were analyzed by SAS statistical program. The results of this study were as follows : 1. Between the patient and the normal group, there were significant difference in distance from plumb line to acromion, eye-tragus angle, electromyographic activity of the four muscles, and cephalometric variables of linear measurement. 2. There was no consistent pattern of correlation between upper quarter posture, EMG activity and cephalometric variables in any case without relation to cervical curvature and head position in frontal plane. 3. Sternocleidomastoid muscle only showed variation of electromyographic activty with changes of head postures, but all the muscles did show correlation with head postures. 4. All the cephalometric variables measured in this study showed difference of mean value by head posture, and CVT angle, pharyngeal width, occiput-atlas distance, and area of pharyngeal space showed correlation between these variables with change from NHP to FHP, and from NHP to UHP.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.147-155
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• 2021

Objective: This study is to investigate the effect of real-time feedback from the therapist on posture, muscle strength, pain of subjects with forward head posture based on a non-face-to-face complex exercise program. Design: Two-group pretest-posttest design. Methods: Thirty healthy men and women in their twenties with forward head posture with a Craniovertebral angle of 52° or less were targeted, the final selection was made as 15 experimental groups who performed the non-face-to-face intervention program while receiving real-time feedback and 15 control subjects who performed the non-face-to-face intervention program without providing feedback. Six of them were eliminated, and a total of 24 were conducted as subjects. All exercise groups performed an exercise program three times a week, 30 minutes each, for a total of two weeks. Before and after exercise, Craniovertebral angle (CVA), CranioRotation angle (CRA), muscle strength, and tenderness threshold were evaluated. Results: Significant differences were shown in both groups in CVA, and tenderness threshold before and after exercise (p<0.05), and CRA, the left middle trapezius muscle strength, only in the experimental group (p<0.05). In the comparison of theamount of change between exercise groups, the group that received feedback on CVA, CRA and tenderness threshold showed a significant change than the group without feedback (p<0.05). Conclusions: As a result of this study, it can be seen that the therapist's real-time feedback is more effective in improving the forward head posture. This requires feedback from the therapist on posture correction during non-face-to-face exercise intervention.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.87-97
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• 2000

This study was performed to investigate the effects of repetitive mandibular opening movement and change of head posture on the vibration of temporomandibular(TM) joint. For this study, 23 patients with internal derangement of TM joint were selected. All they had clinically noticeable TM joint sound. Observation of the joint vibration were performed in four head postures, namely, natural head posture (NHP), forward head posture(FHP), upward head posture(UHP), and downward head posture(DHP). For recording of joint sound vibration, Sonopak of Biopak system(Bioresearch Inc., Milwaukee, USA) was used, The author could take results related to integral higher than 300Hz, integral lower than 300Hz, ratio of integral higher than 300Hz to integral lower than 300Hz, total integral which was sum of higher and lower integral, peak amplitude, and peak frequency in each opening movement, which was carried out three times in each head posture. Integral means amount of vibration. The data obtained were analysed by SPSS windows program and the results of this study were as follows : 1. In NHP, total integral in right TM joint was 5O.3Hz in the first opening, 67.9Hz in the second opening, and 74.0Hz in the third opening movement, bur there was no significant increase of total integral with repetitive opening movement. This finding was similar in left TM joint. Integral lower than 300Hz were higher than integral higher than 300Hz in almost every opening movement. 2. There was no significant difference of total integral between right and left side of TM joint, but there was a tendency of higher total integral in right TM joint than that in left TM joint except for results in DHP. 3. Peak amplitude in NHP ranged from 2.0 to 4.7, and peak frequency in NHP were 101.4-170.0Hz. And there was no consistent findings related to increase or decrease of these value according to repetitive opening in each head posture. 4. Change of head posture did not result any difference in integral, peak amplitude, and peak frequency. In conclusion, change of head posture and repetitive mandibular opening movement did not make any significant effect on the vibration of temporo-mandibular joint, especially, on total integral, peak amplitude, and peak frequency.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.83-91
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• 2007

This experiment studied the change in a human's control of his or her static posture by analyzing the stabilogram diffusion and, by using the said study, evaluated the control ability of different groups with different experiences. The postures had a rising requirement of heel-rise according to three conditions: heel-toe, ball, toe; the groups were divided into dance major student and non-dance majors. The results of the critical points according to posture did not show a direct relation with the change in postures that had a rising requirement of heel-rise. The diffusion coefficient(D) had greater stochastic activity for short-term regions that utilize open-loop controls without feedback than for long-term regions that used closed-loop controls with feedback to maintain balance. The directional results of the body undergoing disturbance showed that A/P direction's diffusion coefficient (D) was larger than that of M/L direction. Both feet's planar diffusion coefficients were a linear combination of the diffusion coefficients calculated for the x and y axis. In studying the different abilities to control posture between a dance major student and a non-dance majors, a comparison of open-loop control's diffusion coefficient(D) was effective, and dance major student had superior control ability to that of non-dance majors.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.278-285
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• 2020

Background: Individuals with forward head posture (FHP) have neck pain. To correct the FHP, a posture correction band is commonly used. However, we do not know the posture correction band influenced the pulmonary function in individuals with FHP. Objects: This study aimed to elucidate the effects of the posture correction band on the pulmonary function in young adults with neck pain and FHP and to monitor how the pulmonary function changed over time. Methods: Twenty subjects with chronic neck pain and forward head posture were recruited. Subjects performed pulmonary function test four times: before, immediately, and 2 hours after wearing the postural band, and immediately after undressing the postural band. Vital capacity (VC), forced vital capacity (FVC), peak expiratory flow (PEF), and forced expiratory volume at one second (FEV1) were measured. The modified Borg dyspnea scale was used to measure each subject's responses to the posture correction band. The mixed-effect linear regression was used to the effect of the posture correction band over time. Results: There were no significant differences in VC, FVC, PEF, FEV1 values over time (p > 0.05), although all values slightly decreased after applying posture correction band. However, the score of the modified Borg scale significantly changed after wearing the postural bands (p < 0.05), indicating the subject felt discomfort with posture correction band during breathing. Conclusion: Because the posture correction band did not change the pulmonary function over time, but it induces psychological discomforts during breathing in people with FHP. Therefore, this posture correction band can be used for FHP realignment after discussion with the subjects.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.13-22
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• 2009

Objectives : Informations on pulse diagnosis in literature are based on diagnosing pulse waveforms on supine posture. However, today's pulse waveforms are measured on various postures for the convenience of patients or doctors. For objective measurement, the effect of posture on the pulse waveforms should be considered. The objective of this study was to find posture-related changes in the radial pulse waveforms. Methods : We used an instrument, DMP-3000(DAEYOMEDI Co., Ansan, Korea), measuring radial pulse waveforms noninvasively by tonometric method. 25 male subjects participated in the trial. Before measuring radial pulse waveforms subjects had rest for 5 min. The pulse waveforms were measured on the left wrist. Each subject underwent this course on the supine, sitting, and standing posture. We analyzed pulse waveforms with Height-parameters, Time-parameters, Energy, and Elastic rate. Results : Height-parameters(h1~h5) on the supine posture were bigger than those on the sitting and standing posture. In case of Time-parameters, the parameters making up systolic time decrease in order of on standing, sitting, and supine position. However, systolic time and diastolic time didn't have any changes. Energy of pulse was the biggest on supine posture and Elastic rate on standing posture. Conclusions : In this study we found that posture changes affect radial pulse waveforms. For quantification of the changes, more trials should be done. After analyzing much data we might apply parameters of pulse waveforms changed by posture. Also, we might diagnose special disease with properties of pulse waveforms by posture.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.25-29
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of two different lifting posture on the plantar foot pressure, force and COP(center of pressure) trajectory path during object lifting. Fourteen healthy adults who had no musculoskeletal disorders were instructed to lift with two postures(stoop and squat) and two object weights(empty box and 10 kg box). Plantar foot pressures, forces and COP trajectory path were recorded by the F-mat system(Tekscan, Boston, USA) during object lifting with barefoot. Plantar foot surface was defined as seven regions for pressure measurement; two toe regions, three forefoot regions, one midfoot region and one heel region. Paired t-test was used to compare the outcomes of peak pressure and maximum force with different two lifting postures and two object weights. Plantar peak pressure and maximum force under hallux was significantly greater in squat posture than stoop posture during the two different boxes lifting(p<.05). During the empty box lifting, maximum force under lessor toes was significantly less and plantar peak pressure under second metatarsal region was significantly greater in squat than stoop(p<.05). Maximum force under heel was significantly less in squat than stoop posture during 10kg box lifting(p<.05). Finally, COP trajectory path was significantly greater in squat than stoop(p<.05). These findings confirm that there are significantly change in the structure and function of the foot during the object lifting with different posture. Future studies should focus on the contribution of both structural and functional change to the development of common foot problems in adults.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.23-30
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• 2023

Background: Flexion of cervical and lumbar joints is required when viewing a smartphone screen. Thus, these joints are overused, together with the surrounding joints and muscles. Long-term use of smartphones will cause changes in cervical and lumbar posture. The effect on forward head posture will vary, depending on the angle of cervical flexion start position in relation to the smartphone. This study investigated how forward head posture changes over time when using a smartphone at 20° and 40° cervical flexion start positions. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Twenty-five subjects with a forward head posture angle of 35° or less participated in the study. A Forward Head Posture app on the participants' smartphones measured forward head posture 5 and 10 minutes after watching videos on their smartphones. Cervical range of motion was used to set a smartphone watching start posture of 20° and 40° of cervical flexion. Results: There was no significant difference in forward head posture, irrespective of cervical flexion start position, but the angle of forward head posture increased more at cervical flexion of 40° than at cervical flexion of 20°. There was no significant difference in what according to smartphone video viewing times, but the angle of forward head posture increased over time. Conclusion: An increase in forward head posture over time with smartphone usage poses a potential risk of neck and shoulder pain. Therefore, smartphone users should avoid prolonged screen time.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.67-74
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• 2017

Purpose : Forward head posture is typical neck disorders occur in all people. And this attitude causes a shortening and weakening of the muscles in the body. It also causes excessive extension acts as a reward. This attitude has to change if the pain occurs around the neck and shoulders, and are subjected to unusual stress. Patients with chronic neck pain associated with forward head posture was found to be the more severe the fall of the respiratory, forward head posture poor quality of much breath. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of changes in forward head posture and neutral head posture on respiratory. Method : Forty volunteers were participated in study and divided into two groups [forward head posture group (n=20) and neutral head posture group (n=20)]. We measured cervical alignment with global postural system to find out a forward head posture. Respiratory function was measured with a SPIROVIT SP-1 equipment and we found out a forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume at one second (FEV1) and FEV1/FVC. A pared t-test was used to determine a statistical significance for the pulmonary function variation and a independent t-test was used to determine a statistical significance in the two groups. Results : In the experimental group, FVC and FEV1 were significantly higher in the artificial neutral head posture than in the forward head posture. In the control group, FVC and FEV1 were significantly higher in the neutral head posture than in the forward head posture. FVC, FEV1, and FEV1/ FVC were significantly higher in the neutral head posture of control group than the artificial neutral head posture of experimental group and higher in the artificial forward head posture of control group than the forward head posture of experimental group. Conclusion : In conclusion, neutral head posture is considered to be an important factor in correct posture and improvement of lung function and continuous study of posture correction program for posture imbalance will be needed.