• 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 the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.51-59
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• 2020

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to provide clinical basic data to reduce pain and improve function by comparing neck muscle activity and neck alignment using self-stretching and passive stretching exercises for chronic neck pain caused by forward head posture. METHODS: The subjects were divided into 15 subjects assigned to perform self-stretching exercise and 15 subjects assigned to perform passive stretching exercise. The intervention was conducted for a total of 4 weeks. The muscle activity in the neck was measured by surface electromyography (EMG) before intervention, and craniovertebral and cranial rotation angles were measured by X-ray. The 4-week intervention was conducted and the above items re-measured in the same manner and analyzed. RESULTS: Muscle activity within both groups after intervention using self-stretching or passive stretching exercise was significantly different (p < .05)(p < .01). Neck alignment of both groups was significantly different (p < .001)(p < .01). Further, muscle activities of the upper trapezius and splenius capitis muscles showed significant differences (p<.05). Lastly, neck alignment showed statistically significant difference (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Self-stretching exercise activated motor nerves as a posture correction exercise, thereby improving inhibition of muscle activity, muscle contraction delay, and pathological conditions of the muscle. For future research, interventions of self-stretching exercise will be needed for patients with chronic back pain accompanied by forward head posture, and various clinical studies on postural improvement of forward head posture by maintaining a normal muscle tone state are needed.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.259-268
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• 2022

Objective: The purpose of this study was to measure the immediate effect of hip hinge exercise stretching on hamstring flexibility, pelvic tilting angle, proprioception, and dynamic balance in individual with tightness of the hamstring. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Methods: A total of 35 healthy young adults (27 males, 8 females) volunteered for this study and randomly divided into three groups (Hip hinge exercise stretching group, passive stretching group, and PNF stretching group). The hamstring flexibility, pelvic tilting angle, knee joint proprioception, dynamic balance was conducted for 3 times. In order to evaluate the hamstring flexibility, the active knee extension test was performed. Forward bending test was performed to examine pelvic tilting angle.The proprioception was tested by the joint position sense test and dynamic balance was evaluated by Y balance test. Results: The hamstring flexibility, pelvic tilting angle and dynamic balance were significantly improved between three groups before and after intervention (p<0.05). Dynamic balance was significantly difference between the three groups in the posterolateral direction (p<0.05). Conclusions: This study result showed that hip hinge exercise stretching was the most effective method for increasing hamstring flexibility, pelvic tilting angle and dynamic balance. In addition, it is necessary to study whether hamstring stretching is effective in low back pain patient with hamstrings tightness.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.11-22
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• 2021

Background: This study was to investigate the effects of active stretching and stability exercise on piriformis muscle thickness and low back pain of male patients with chronic low back pain. Design: Randomized Controlled Trial. Methods: 45 male patients participated in this study. All subjects were randomly assigned. Subjects divided into 15 who underwent contract relaxation (CR) of the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) to their hip joints, 15 who underwent a combination of isotonic (CI) of the PNF, and the rest 15 who underwent the two techniques (CR+CI). Real-time diagnostic ultrasound was used to measure thickness of the piriformis muscles. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to measure degrees of low back pain. A two-way repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare the average values. The SPSS 24.0 was used as the statistical program, and the significance level was set at .05. Results: The CR and the CR+CI groups had more decreased thickness of piriformis muscle when compared to the CI group. The CR+CI group had more decreased pain when compared to the CR and the CI groups. Conclusion: These results suggest that combination of stretching and stability exercise was effective on male patients with chronic low back pain showing limited hip medial rotation.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.55-61
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• 2023

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine whether applying ultrasound after stretching the erector spinae muscle is an effective method for normal adults as a way to restore reduced back flexibility that causes back pain. Methods: The study was conducted on 60 healthy volunteers divided randomly into four groups (control group, stretching group, ultrasound group, ultrasound after stretching group). The flexibility-promoting effects were determined by assessing, each group, at the time of treatment, pre and post by modified fingertip to-floor (MFTF) and active straight leg raising (ASLR). The data were analyzed using the two-way ANOVA repeated measure with significant level α=.05. Results: Each group showed statistically significant changes in MFTF distance and ASLR degree. In the post-hoc test about this result, the length of MFTF and degree of ASLR in ultrasound after stretching group increased significantly compared to the others. Conclusion: The results suggest that using ultrasound after stretching is far more effective in increasing the flexibility of the erector spinae than using stretching or ultrasound intervention.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.55-61
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• 2010

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to find out which method was efficient to enhance the flexibility of lower back between PNF(proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation) and hamstring stretching. Method : subject were 20 young people between the ages 20 and 25. subjects were randomly assigned to one of 2groups; PNF(n=10), static(n=10). respective group received the same stretching does of 3days per week for 4weeks. Trunk flexion forward a measuring instrument and tapeline were performed to measurement the flexibility of lower back at different times(before starting the exercise, 4weeks after starting). Results : The results of the study were as follows: The lower back flexibility was increased significantly in PNF groups. PNF, static groups showed meaningful defference in trunk flexion forward. The finding indicate that PNF may be preferred technique for improving flexibility and that flexibility training results in on increased consistency of flexibility scores.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.66-75
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• 2021

Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of muscle energy technique and stretching on pain and pressure pain fear-avoidance beliefs questionnaire in patients with chronic back pain aged 30~40 years. Design: Pretest-Posttest design: single blind. Methods: The subjects of this study were 30, 22 males and 8 females between the ages of 30 and 40 with chronic back pain. Each group consists of three groups of 10 people. Changes in back pain were observed using Korean version of Oswestry Disability Index (K-ODI), visual analogue scale (VAS), and fear-avoidance beliefs questionnaire (FABQ). And the change in tenderness was observed using digital pressure statistics. Changes between groups after 3 weeks were compared with those before the experiment using one way ANOVA to determine the changes after 3 weeks. And the change within the group was investigated using the paired t-test. Results: As a result of the experiment, there were significant differences in the group changes in K-ODI, VAS, FABQ, and pressure pain (p<0.05). And there was a significant difference in all items after 3 weeks compared to before the experiment (p<0.05). Conclusion: In patients with chronic back pain, the muscle energy technique and stretching gave a significant difference in pain and pressure pain, fear-avoidance beliefs questionnaire changes. And this result suggests the possibility of providing basic data for future research and clinical physiotherapy intervention.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2019

Background: The purpose of this study was to the effects of stretching on lumbar flexibility after lumbar and lower muscle strengthening exercise. Design: Randomized Controlled Trial. Methods: 24 subjects without back pain in their twenties were divided into 12 experimental groups and 12 control groups. The experimental group performed a stretching program after muscle strength exercise. In the control group, only muscle strength exercise was performed, and total exercise was performed 24 times a week for 8 weeks to compare and analyze before and after experiment. Results: The results of this study are as follows: 1) There was no statistically significant difference in both before and after weight of experimental group and control group. 2) There was no statistically significant difference in both before and after skeletal muscle levels of experimental group and control group. 3) There was no statistically significant difference in both before and after fat mass of experimental group and control group. 4) There was a statistically significant difference in both before and after trunk forward flexion of experimental group and control group. Conclusion: This research showed a positive affect on increasing flexibility, which is expected to have a great effect on improvement of flexibility in the future.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.221-232
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• 2022

Purpose : In this study, rectus abdominis relaxation intervention was administered to office workers who were experiencing low back pain due to sitting for extended periods of time in an incorrect posture. This study aimed to develop an effective treatment program for individuals who experience low back pain. This was done by verifying changes using the Korean Oswestry Disability Index (K-ODI) and considering kyphosis. Both factors are related to low back pain. Methods : This study included 39 office workers with low back pain. The participants were randomly assigned to three groups. 1) The functional massage and self-stretching (FAS) group (n=14). 2) The diaphragmatic breathing and self-stretching (DAS) group (n=13). 3) The self-stretching (S) group (n=12). All groups applied the intervention for 30 minutes a day, thrice a week for four weeks. All participants were evaluated using the K-ODI and thoracic kyphosis measurements before and after the intervention. Results : The findings of this study are as follows. All three groups had improved K-ODI scores after the intervention. The FAS and DAS groups showed a greater effect than the S group. However, there was no difference in effect between the FAS and DAS groups. Kyphosis was not improved in any of groups after the intervention, and there was no difference between the three groups. Conclusion : This study showed that the FAS, DAS, and S programs were effective relaxation interventions that improved the K-ODI for office workers with low back pain. The FAS and DAS programs were more effective than the S program. Therefore, it is recommended to combine relaxation and stretching of the rectus abdominis muscle for office workers who experience low back pain. Clinically, a relaxation intervention that is most appropriate for the patient, depending on his or her condition, should be.

• The Journal of Korea CHUNA Manual Medicine
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.119-127
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• 2003

Objective : We found out improvement at low back pain and lumber strength by isotonic lumbar extension training on lumbar strength and self low back exercise stretching program. Methods : We evaluated the symptom's changes VAS(Visual Analogue Scale) and lumbar strength by Medx which could estimate and exercise lumbar muscle. Conclusions: We can decrease low back pain by strengthening lumbar muscle, in additionally when patients are In admission state we may improve lumbar muscle more than Opd. state.