A Study for cervical range of motion in Physical Therapists

물리치료사들의 경추 가동범위에 관한 연구

The purpose of this study is to find out the influence of Physical Therapists' heavy work on their cervical spines. Subjects were 80 members of Physical Therapists, 40 males and 40 females who were between 3rd decades to 4th decades. The Cervcial Range of Motion instrument was used to measure six cervical range of motion such as flexion, extension, left and right lateral flexion, left and right rotation. The degree of rotation and both lateral flexion was appeared as decrement in 4th decades than 3rd decades(P<0.05). And the left lateral flexion in female Physical therapiest was increased than in male ones(P<0.05). By this results, it was proved that the older the PT's age, the less the cervical motion range and there were more decrement in male Physical Therapists than female Physical Therapists. And finally I think that the evaluating method used in this study will be clinically very useful and be a basic raw materials for evaluating the existence and the degree of functional disability as in the occupational hazards due to Physical Therapist's heavy work.