• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.523-531
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• 2013

Most patients with chronic low back pain experience functional disability of trunk muscle, and limitations in physical activity. While there are many types of exercise programs available, in recent years sling exercise has been emerging as the exercise program for spinal stabilization. It has been supported by a great amount of research with positive findings on its effectiveness. This research studies the effects of bridging exercise, conducted on a sling, on pain level and trunk muscle activation in supine, sidelying, and prone positions during a 4 weeks period. 10 healthy people(normal group, n=10) and 28 patients with low back pain participated in this study. 28 patients were divided into two groups; one group participated in exercise with the sling(experimental group, n=14) and the other group exercised without the sling(control group, n=14). They were asked to use the Numerical Rating Scale(NRS) to answer to the level of their pain they felt (no pain: 0 point, severe pain: 10 points). During sling bridging exercises, the muscle activity level in each muscle measured in each position was standardized as three seconds of EMG signals during five seconds MVIC. In conclusion, the experimental group with four weeks of sling bridging exercise experienced a statistically significant reduction in the pain level(p<.05) and increase in the muscle activities of erector spinae when in supine position, internal oblique when in sidelying position, and rectus abdominis in prone position(p<.05). Regular sling bridging exercise reduces the low back pain and enhances other trunk muscle activation, thereby positively affect spinal stabilization.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.19-27
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• 2020

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a multi-modal exercise program for patients with chronic low back with respect to pain intensity, trunk muscle strength and Oswestry disability index. Methods: Thirty patients with chronic low back pain were recruited and divided equally into two groups. The multi-modal training program comprised a series of exercises such as warm-up, stabilization exercises, stretching, endurance exercises, and cool down whereas the control group performed only stabilization exercises. The both group spent an equal amount of time performing 60 minutes per day, three times per week, for five weeks. Results: The experimental group demonstrated statistically significant improvements in range of motion, trunk muscle strength, the visual analogue scale, and the Oswestry Disability Index (p<.05). Intergroup comparison showed a statistically significant difference in the range of motion of the lumbar spine and the degree of disability in the experimental group. Muscle strength and pain were statistically significant in both groups. Conclusion: The multi-modal exercise program is effective for patients with chronic low back pain, as it reduces lower back pain, increases trunk muscles strength, and decrease the potential for becoming disabled.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.142-158
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• 2009

The increasing number of crimes in rapidly changing modern society is enhancing people's desire for safety. As of 2008, 2,900 private security businesses with 133,000 employees operated in the private security industry which emerged in response to growing demands from society and people. Of the employees, bodyguards (hereinafter referred to as "private security guard") accounted for about 10% or 13,000. Most private security guards were suffering from various occupational diseases. Especially as they needed to guard their clients many hours a day and worked in a standing position for a long time, private security guards often complained of low back pain. Under the pain, they were hardly expected to perform their tasks efficiently. There are several causes of low back pain. The most prevalent cause is muscle weakness and imbalance around low back. Especially because private security work often requires security guards to maintain a standing position for a long time, many of them are suffering from low back pain. This study pursued the following purposes. First, it tried to identify the pathogenesis of low back pain caused by muscle weakness and imbalance around low back. Second, it tried to provide private security guards, who can hardly have personal time at work, with an easy method to prevent and manage low back pain any time by researching an effective therapy for low back pain caused by muscle weakness and imbalance around low back.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.63-70
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of the hand acupressure and lumbar strengthening exercise on young adult women with back pain. Methods: The study used a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The subjects consisted of 37 female young adults (19 persons in the experimental group and 18 persons in the control group). The hand acupressure and strengthening exercise for lower back were developed by the investigator and a hand acupressure expert. The experimental group was exposed to this program 5 days a week for 4 weeks. The visual analog scale, back muscle strength, flexibility, and quality of life were used as measurement instruments. The data were analyzed with frequency, t-test, and repeated measures ANOVA using SPSS 18.0. Results: In this study, the hand acupressure and strengthening exercise showed siginificant effects on the back muscle strength, flexibility, and quality of life in the experimental group compared to the control group. However, back pain score was not significantly decreased after the program. Conclusion: The study suggests that this program can be applied for the women with low back pain in order to enhance the back muscle strength, flexibility, and quality of life.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.175-186
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• 2019

Objective: Non-specific chronic low back pain (NS-CLBP) has been related to abnormal trunk muscle activations, but literature reported considerable variability in muscle amplitudes of NS-CLBP patients during prolonged sitting periods. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the differences among homogenous NS-CLBP subgroups in muscle activity, using muscle co-contraction indices as a more objective approach, and their roles on pain development during a 1-hour period of prolonged sitting. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Twenty NS-CLBP subjects with motor control impairment (MCI) [10 classified as having flexion pattern disorder, and 10 with active extension pattern disorder], and 10 healthy controls participated in the study. Subjects followed a 1-hour sitting protocol on a standard office chair. Four trunk muscle activities including amplitudes and co-contraction indices were recorded using electromyography over the 1-hour period. Perceived back pain intensity was recorded using a numeric pain rating scale every 10 minutes throughout the sitting period. Results: All study groups presented with no significantly distinctive trunk muscle activities at the beginning of sitting, nor did they change over time when pain increased to a significant level. Both MCI subgroups reported a similarly significant increase in pain behavior through mid-sitting (p<0.001). However, after mid-sitting, they significantly differed from each other in pain (p<0.01) but did not differ in the levels of muscle activation. Conclusions: This study was the first to highlight the similarities in trunk muscle activities among homogenous NS-CLBP patients related to MCI and compared them to healthy controls while sitting for an extended period of time, and the significant increase in pain over the 1-hour sitting might not be attributed to trunk muscle activation.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.11-20
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• 2009

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of stretching and strengthening exercise on the static flexibility and pain intensity for the iliopsoas muscle, which is one of the main reasons for the chronic low back pain. Methods: The subjects of this study were 15 male adult patients with showed 6 score or higher in the visual analogue scale(VAS) and complained of low back pain over three months who visited department of the physical therapy, KIA motors Industrial Health Center, from October, 2008 through December, 2008. Fifteen subjects were trained stretching, mat exercises and sling exercises for iliopsoas muscle at 4-5 times a week for 4 weeks. I measured the changes on the extensibility of iliopsoas muscle, static flexibility of low back and VAS between pre- and post exercise treatment. Date were analyzed using the Wilcoxon's signed rank test considering the size of the samples. Results: 1. The angle of the hip joint that showed the extensibility of iliopsoas muscle was relieved, which was significant statistically (p<.05). 2. The static flexibility was statistically significantly improved in the trunk flexion test, trunk extension test and Schober-Test (p<.05). 3. The VAS showed decrease, which is significant statistically (p<.05). Conclusion: It is believed that the exercise treatment of iliopsoas muscle has the significant effects on the improvement of static flexibility and decrease of pain intensity for the chronic low back pain patients.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.14-19
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• 2022

Background: Plank exercise (PE) is an effective exercise to enhance lower back stability by strengthening the core and lower limb muscles. However, in patients with a shortened hamstring muscle (HAM), PE may cause abnormal movement of the pelvis and lower back due to HAM hyperactivity. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of PE on the core muscles and HAM in subjects with a shortened HAM. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Subjects were divided into a normal length of HAM group (NHG; 9 subjects) and a shortened length of HAM group (SHG; 14 subjects). The activities of the erector spinae (ES), rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), and HAM muscles were measured using surface electromyography. Results: The results showed that RA, EO, and ES muscle activities were higher in the NHG than in the SHG; however, no significant differences were detected. Conclusion: HAM activity was significantly higher in the SHG than in the NHG. In subjects with a shortened HAM, PE may hyperactivate the HAM, adversely affecting the pelvis and lower back.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.1-14
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• 1995

Neuromuscular difference between normal subjects and low-back pain patients has been identified in terms of neural excitation signal measured by Electromyography (EMG) under the dynamic flexion/extension trunk motion. Ten healthy subjects and ten low-back pain patients were recruited for this study. New parameters and normalization technique were introduced to quantify the muscle excitation pattern among the flexor-extensor pairs of muscles : rectus abdominis (RA)-erector spinae (ES at L1 and L5 level), external oblique (EO)-internal oblique (IO), rectus femoris (quadricep : QUD)-biceps femoris( hamstring : HAM), and tibialis anterior (TA)-gastrocnemius (GAS). Results indicated that the temporal EMG pattern such as peak timing difference between the hip flexor (QUD) and extensor (HAM) and the duration of coexcitation between ES at L5 and RA muscle pairs showed a statistically significant difference between normal subjects and low-back pain patients. Improtantly, this study presented a new technique to identify the dynamic muscle excitation pattern that canb be least affected by EMG-length-velocity relationship. Further study can performed to validate this method for clinical application to quantitatively identify the low-back pain patients in the future.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.663-682
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to identify the superior exercise on the reduction of low back pain, between the Mckenzie exercise and the williams exercise. 24 chronic low back pain patients were randomly divided into 3 groups (Mckenzie exercise group = 8, williams exercise group = 8, control group = 8). Each group examined using the Borg scale in a reduction of low back pain, the EMG amplitude in a stationary sit-up position and in a stationary 1000 back extension position. The Results are as follow. 1. After the training period, the Mckenzie exercise group and the williams exercise group revealed reduction of low back pain, but the control group does not revealed it. 2. After the training period, there were no significant differences on the reduction of low back pain between the Mckenzie exercise group and the williams exercise group. 3. After the training period, no groups decreased on the abdominal muscle EMG amplitude. 4. After the training period, all groups revealed no significant differences on the abdominal muscle EMG amplitude. 5. After the training period, all groups decreased on the low back muscle EMG amplitude. 6. After the training period, all groups revealed no significant differences on the low back muscle EMG amplitude. Overall, the study suggested that the Mckenzie exercise and the williams exercise achieve the same effect on the reduction of low back pain, and the fact seems to be influenced by other factors without muscular adaptation.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.109-117
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• 2016

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between walking ability of lumbar spinal stenosis patients and the cross-sectional area (CSA) of lumbar paraspinal muscles. Methods This study was carried out on 62 lumbar spinal stenosis patients who had limited walking abilities because of neurogenic claudication (NC). All patients received more than 2 weeks of complex treatment at Mokhuri Neck&Back Hospital. CSA of lumbar paraspinal muscles was measured from axial T2-weighted MRI and divided by CSA of adjacent vertebral body to avoid influence of body statues (RCSA-Relative CSA). Pain Free Walking Distance and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) was measured before and after treatment. Results The Pain Free Walking Distance had significantly increased in patients who had bigger RCSA of psoas muscle (r=0.313, p<0.05). Conclusions The psoas muscle can be a predictive factor for restoring walking ability of lumbar spinal stenosis patients who have limitations walking.