• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.439-445
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• 2014

PURPOSE: This study was to investigate the effect of direction of gliding in the tibiofibular (TF) joint on angle of active ankle dorsiflexion (AADF). METHODS: Fifteen subjects with no medical history of lower extremities were recruited in this study. The digital dynamometer was used to maintain the same gliding force in each condition. The angle of AADF was measured by using the electronic goniometer. Subjects were instructed to perform the AADF in three trials during the each gliding in the TF joint by the examiner. The conditions were no gliding and four directions of gliding in the proximal (anterior-superior: A-S vs posterior-inferior: P-I) and distal (posterior-superior: P-S vs. anterior-inferior: A-I) TF joint. A repeated measured ANOVA was used to compare angle of the AADF in each TF joint. The paired-sample t tests with Bonferroni correction were used in order to Post hoc pair-wise comparisons. The significant level was set at 0.016 (0.05/3). RESULTS: In distal TF joint, the angle of AADF in the A-I direction of gliding was significantly lower than those in no gliding and P-S direction of gliding (p<0.01). In proximal TF joint, the angle of AADF was significantly lower than those in no gliding and A-S direction of gliding (p<0.01). Although there was no significant differences, angle of AADF were largest in the P-S direction of gliding among four conditions. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that gliding technique of TF joint would be required to improve the angle of AADF in subjects with limitation of ankle dorsiflexion.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate effect of applying self-myofascial release (SMR) to the plantar fascia using a foam roller on hamstring and lumbar spine superficial back line (SBL). Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Thirty-one healthy adults agreed to the method and purpose of the study. Selection and exclusion criteria were screened, and baseline measurements for the Toe Touch test and passive straight leg raise (PSLR) test were obtained. The participants were then randomly assigned to the SMR group or the sham group. After group assignment, the SMR group rolled the surface of the foot from the heel to the metatarsal head using a foam roller for 5 minutes. The sham group received passive mobilization of the ankle joint in the supine position. Afterwards, the Toe Touch test and the passive straight leg-raise test were re-assessed. Results: In the SMR group, the Toe Touch test results showed significant improvement (p<0.05). Left and right PSLR test results showed a significant increase (p<0.05). In the sham group, there was no significant difference between pre and post-test results. The SMR group showed a significant difference in the PSLR test and Toe Touch test compared to the sham group (p<0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study showed that SMR on the plantar fascia was immediately effective for improving the flexibility of the SBL of the lumbar spine and hamstring.