• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.1006-1010
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• 2016

This study aimed to examine the effects of thoracic cage mobilization on the respiratory function, spinal curve and spinal movement in patients with restrictive lung diseases. The subjects were ten community-dwelling elderly with a restrictive lung diseases when measured using a spirometer($FEV1/FVC{\leq}65%$, FVC<80%). They received an intervention over an eight-week period: three times a week and for 30 minutes a day. SPSS for Windows(ver. 19.0) was used to analyze all the collected data. Independent t-tests were used to examine changes before and after the intervention. The study's results showed statistically significant improvement(p<.05) in forced expiratory volume in 1 second(chage rate: .$24{\pm}.25$), thoracic curve(chage rate: $-2.50{\pm}2.76$), lumbar curve(chage rate: $-.80{\pm}1.32$), thoracic flexion(chage rate: $2.10{\pm}1.52$), thoracic extension(chage rate: $-2.00{\pm}1.25$), lumbar flexion(chage rate: $2.40{\pm}3.13$) and lumbar extension(chage rate: $-1.30{\pm}1.42$). The results of this study suggest that the thoracic cage mobilization contribute to improve pulmonary function in patients with restrictive lung disease.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.371-381
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• 2022

Purpose: Forward head posture (FHP) is known to cause pain, limit range of motion, and reduce quality of life. Joint mobilization is commonly used to correct FHP. However, no study has compared cervical, thoracic, and combined cervical and thoracic joint mobilization for FHP. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the effects of each mobilization technique on range of motion in the sagittal plane and pain in patients with FHP. Methods: Forty-five patients were recruited and randomly divided into three groups: the mobilization group (CM; n = 15), the cervical and thoracic mobilization group (CTM; n = 15), and the thoracic mobilization group (TM; n = 15). Each intervention was performed in sets of three and repeated six times. Range of motion and pain were assessed pre- and post-intervention. The cervical range of motion was evaluated using a goniometer, and pain was evaluated using a visual analogue scale and pain thresholds of the suboccipital and upper trapezius muscles. Results: All groups showed an increase in range of motion post-intervention, but the increase in the CTM group was significantly greater than in the CM and TM groups (p < 0.05). Pain measured using the visual analogue scale decreased in all groups, but the decreases in the CM and CTM groups were significantly greater than in the TM group (p < 0.05). The pain thresholds of the suboccipital and upper trapezius muscles increased in all groups, but the increase in the CTM group was significantly greater than in the CM and TM groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Overall, our findings suggest that CTM may be more effective than CM or TM for improving cervical range of motion in the sagittal plane and pain in patients with FHP.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.223-233
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• 2022

Purpose: The study aimed to determine the effect of extra thoracic mobilization exercises on shoulder pain and function in patients who had undergone rotator cuff repair. Methods: Following the recording of baseline measurements, 20 subjects who had undergone rotator cuff repair were randomized into two groups: the experimental group (n = 10), which did thoracic mobilization exercises, and the control group (n = 10), which received traditional physical therapy. Each group participated in the intervention five times per week for two weeks. The pain (using the visual analogue scales [VAS]), the flexion and abduction range of motion (ROM), and the shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI) scores of both groups were recorded pre- and post-intervention. Paired t-tests were used to determine whether post-intervention scores were significantly different from pre-intervention scores, and independent t-tests were used to analyze differences in the dependent variables between the two groups. Results: After the two-week intervention, both groups experienced significantly decreased VAS and SPADI scores (p < 0.05) and significantly increased flexion and abduction ROM (p < 0.05). The experimental group that undertook the thoracic mobilization exercises showed greater improvements in pain, flexion and abduction ROM, and the SPADI than the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that thoracic mobilization exercises reduce shoulder pain and disability and enhance function in patients who have undergone rotator cuff repair.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.9
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• pp.51-57
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a thoracic mobilization exercise using the Kaltenborn on the convergence lung function. The study was conducted on 20 university students in their 20s over a four-week period. The 20 subjects were randomly selective assigned to a Kaltenborn thoracic mobilization exercise group and diaphragm exercise control group. The experimental group performed a Kaltenborn thoracic mobilization exercise for 30 minutes. The control group performed a diaphragmatic breathing exercise for 30 minutes. Each exercise program was performed three times a week for four weeks. When comparing the breathing capacity of the experimental and controls before and after the experiment, the experimental group showed significant changes in TV, IRV. In testing the differences between the experimental and controls in their changes after the experiment, TV, IRV showed a significant change. Based on the results of this study, a thoracic mobilization exercise using the Kaltenborn thoracic mobilization exercise may have positively affected the extrementals lung function. Therefore, if a thoracic mobilization exercise using the Kaltenborn is combined with a respiratory exercise program in the future, it will likely become a more effective treatment technique.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2020

Background: Thoracic spine self-mobilization exercise is commonly used to manage patients with neck pain. However, no previous studies have investigated the effects of thoracic spine self-mobilization exercise alone in patients with chronic neck pain. Objects: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of thoracic self-mobilization using a tool on cervical range of motion (ROM), disability level, upper body posture, pain and fear-avoidance beliefs questionnaire (FABQ) in patients with chronic neck pain. Methods: The subjects were 49 patients (21 males, 28 females) with chronic neck pain. The subjects were randomly divided into an experimental group (EG, n = 23) and control group (CG, n = 26). For the EG, thoracic self-mobilization was applied. We placed a tool (made with 2 tennis balls) under 3 different vertebral levels (T1-4, T5-8, T9-12) of the thoracic spine and the subjects performed crunches, which included thoracic flexion and extension in supine position. Five times × 3 sets for each levels, twice a week, for 4 weeks. Cervical pain, disability, upper body posture, FABQ results, and ROM were evaluated at baseline, after 4 weeks of intervention, and at 8 weeks of follow-up. Assessments included the quadruple visual analogue scale (QVAS); Northwick Park neck pain questionnaire (NPQ); craniovertebral angles (CVA), forward shoulder angle (FSA) and kyphosis angle (KA) measurements for upper body posture; FABQ and cervical ROM testing. Results: The EG showed a statistically significant improvement after intervention in the QVAS (-51.16%); NPQ (-53.46%); flexion (20.95%), extension (25.32%), left rotation (14.04%), and right rotation (25.32%) in the ROM of the cervical joint; KA (-7.14%); CVA (9.82%); and FSA (-4.12%). Conclusion: These results suggest that, for patients with chronic neck pain, thoracic self-mobilization exercise using a tool (tennis balls) is effective to improve neck pain, disability level, the ROM, and upper body posture.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.11-23
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the effects of cervico-thoracic (C-T) mobilization technique and therapeutic exercise on muscle activity, craniovertebral angle (CVA), and neck disability index (NDI) in patients with neck pain. Methods: : A total of 30 patients with neck pain were included and divided into C-T mobilization combined with Pilates group (Experimental group; EG) and thoracic mobilization and self-exercise (Control group; CG) group; each group consisted of 15 patients. The exercises were performed by patients in both groups three times a week, for four weeks. NDI was used to measure functional disability and sEMG was used to measure muscle activity. Results: The EG participants showed significant improvement in the CVA and NDI after the intervention than the CG (p<.05). While both groups presented after intervention decreased muscle activity(upper trapezius), there were no statistically significant differences between the groups (p>.05). Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that thoracic mobilization technique combined with Pilates exercise may have beneficial effects on CVA and NDI in patients with neck pain and forward head posture.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.149-158
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• 2019

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of thoracic mobilization (TM) on the angle of thoracic kyphosis, and static and dynamic balances by application period. The subjects of this study were 18 adult males and females (${\geq}20years\; old$) who had the angle of thoracic kyphosis equal to or higher than $40^{\circ}$. A pre-test was conducted for all subjects and TM was carried out. Data were collected before the intervention, 3 weeks after the intervention, and 6 weeks after the intervention. It was measured three times per measurement and mean values were used for the analysis. The results of this study showed that the angle of thoracic kyphosis significantly (P<.05) decreased after applying TM. However, the migration area ($mm^2$) of the center of pressure (COP) in the static balance did not vary significantly. In the case of the dynamic balance, when eyes were open, the migration area ($mm^2$) of the COP significantly (P<.05) decreased after 3 weeks. When eyes were open, the migration area ($mm^2$) of the COP significantly (P<.05) decreased after 3 weeks and 6 weeks. Therefore, an intervention for improving the human body alignment and balance should be applied for a long-term, rather than a short-term, in order to be effective.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.83-90
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of scapular stabilization exercise and thoracic joint mobilization on scapular position, scapular motion and shoulder pain and disability index(SPADI) in adults with scapular dysfunction. A total 42 subjects were divided into a scapular stabilization exercise group(A, n=14), a thoracic joint mobilization group(B, n=14) and scapular stabilization exercise with thoracic joint mobilization group(C, n=14) and performed exercise and joint mobilization three times per week for four weeks, total 12 times. As for changes in scapular position among the groups, group C showed statistically significant increase(p<.05). In changes of scapular motion among the groups, group C showed statically significant improvement in shoulder abduction 45° and 90° both(p<.05), In changes of SPADI among the groups, group C were showed statistically significant improvement(p<.05). In conclusion, scapular stabilization exercise and thoracic joint mobilization were effective on improving scapular position, movement and SPADI score in adults with scapular dysfunction.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.27-35
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of cervical and thoracic joint mobilization on cervical pain, cervical range of motion(ROM) and balance in adults with forward neck posture. A total 26 subjects were divided into a cervical joint mobilization group(CMG, n=13) and a thoracic joint mobilization group(TMG, n=13). performed joint mobilization three times per week for four weeks. As for changes in pain and ROM, statistically significant decrease were founded within group comparison(p<.05). In changes of static balance within group comparison, the CMG showed statically significant improvement in right foot on eyes closed(p<.05), while there were no significant changes in the TMG(p<.05). There were no significant differences were observed between group comparison(p<.05). In changes of dynamic balance within group comparison, the CMG and TMG were showed statistically significant improvement(p<.05). In conclusion, the joint mobilization on cervical and thoracic were effective on improving cervical pain, cervical range of motion and balance in adults with forward neck posture.