The Effects of Joint and Muscle Mobilization on Pain and Flexibility of the Patients with Degenerative Disc Disease

근관절가동기법이 퇴행성 디스크 질환을 가진 환자의 통증과 유연성에 미치는 영향

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to find out the effects of Joint and Muscle Mobilization applied to the patients with Degenerative Disc Disease by measuring, assessing and analyzing the changes on pain and in flexibility before and after Joint and Muscle Mobilization. Method: Surveyed from June. 2008 to July. 2009 were 10 patients suffering from DDD. Joint and muscle Mobilization were applied for 15 minutes in total. After Joint Mobilization, the Oswestry Disability Index(ODI), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were used to measure the degree of the pain on the patients. After Joint and Muscle Mobilization, Spinal-$Mouse^{(R)}$ were used to measure the degree of the flexibility on the patients. Result: 1. There was significant decrease in the numerical values of the VAS & ODI after Joint and Muscle Mobilization (p<0.01). 2. There was significant decrease in the degree of the pain on the patients after Joint and Muscle Mobilization (p<0.01). 3. From the analysis into DDD in the degree the pain before and after Joint and Muscle Mobilization with Paired Sample T-test, It became evident that the longer the period of treatment was, the higher the pains decreases drastically, while significant difference was shown in the flexibility and the degree of the pain (p<0.01). Conclusion: Summed up, it can be generally concluded that Joint and Muscle Mobilization is an effective treatment to rid the patients with DDD of pains safely and promptly. It is, therefore, suggested to continue and expand the study on the cure of DDD and to motivate patients. Joint and Muscle Mobilization is considered as safest and most efficient pain remedy.