• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.49-59
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• 2023

PURPOSE: This study examined the relationship between lumbar instability and shortening of the iliopsoas muscles in patients with chronic low back pain. METHODS: Forty-nine patients with chronic low back pain participated in this study. The modified Thomas test was used to examine the shortening state of the iliopsoas muscle. The length of the iliopsoas muscle was measured using the hip flexion angle, and those with a flexion angle of 10° or more were classified as positive. Five subtests were used for the lumbar instability test: testing for prone lumbar instability, passive lumbar extension, anterior-posterior mobility, passive straight leg raise, and age. Those who tested positive for at least three of these tests were classified as positive for the lumbar segment instability test. RESULTS: There was a significant association between the results of the lumbar instability test and the shortening of the iliopsoas test (p < .05). After analyzing the association between the iliopsoas length test and the five lumbar instability subtests, the results of the prone lumbar instability test (p < .001) and the anterior-posterior mobility test (p < .05) showed a significant association with the iliopsoas length test. CONCLUSION: The association between lumbar instability and shortening of the iliopsoas muscles was examined in 49 patients with chronic low back pain. Patients with shortened iliopsoas muscles tested positive in the lumbar instability tests more often. Hence, the length test of the iliopsoas muscle can be used to determine lumbar instability in patients with chronic low back pain.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.225-234
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• 2021

Objective: We aimed to identify the effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching on pain, hip range of motion, and functional disability in patients with chronic low back pain. Design: Randomized controlled trial Methods: In total, 45 patients with chronic low back pain were randomly divided into a conventional stretching group (n=22) and a PNF stretching group (n=23). Both interventions were performed three times per week for 6 weeks. Assessments were made using the visual analog scale, Flexion-Abduction-External Rotation test, modified Thomas test, prone hip extension test, and Oswestry disability index before and after the 6-week intervention period. We conducted a paired t-test to compare the within-group findings before and after the intervention. An independent t-test was used to compare the between-group differences. The statistical significance level was set at α=0.05, for all variables. Results: Both groups showed significant improvements in pain, hip range of motion, and functional disability after the intervention (p<0.05). A significant difference was observed in pain, hip range of motion, and functional disability in patients belonging to the PNF stretching group (p<0.05). Conclusions: This study provides evidence that the application of PNF stretching can effectively reduce pain and improve hip range of motion and functional disability in patients with chronic low back pain.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.101-107
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• 2017

Aluminum alloys are widely used in automotive industry because of their high strength-to-density ratio and excellent corrosion resistance. However, conventional cold stamping of aluminum alloys leads to low formability and excessive spring-back. To overcome these problems, Hot Forming Quenching (HFQ) is applied to manufacture automotive part using aluminum alloy. The purpose of this study is to investigate effect of forming temperature on spring-back in HFQ of T6 heat treated AA6061 sheet. In this study, hat shape forming test was adopted to evaluate spring-back characteristics according to various forming temperatures. In additions, the test was also performed with warm forming conditions in comparison with dimensional accuracy of HFQed part. The experimental results showed that dimensional accuracy of HFQed part was superior to warm formed part and amount of spring-back was decreased as forming temperature rise.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2002.03a
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• pp.49-54
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• 2002

This paper describes a systematic way of simultaneously identifying the ambient pore pressure and the rigidity index (=G/s$\_$u/) of soil by applying an optimization technique to the piezocone dissipation test result. An ambient pore pressure and optimal rigidity index were determined by minimizing the differences between theoretical excess pore pressures developed by Randolph ＆ Wroth(1979) and measured excess pore pressures from piezocone using optimization technique. The effectiveness of the proposed back-analysis method was examined against the well-documented performance of piezocone dissipation tests (Tanaka ＆ Sakagami, 1989), from the viewpoints of proper determination of selected target parameters and saving of test duration. It is shown that the proposed back-analysis method can evaluate properly the ambient pore pressure and the rigidity index by using only the early phase of the dissipation test data. Also, it is shown that with the optimized rigidity index and ambient pore pressure the proposed back-analysis method permits the horizontal coefficient of consolidation to be identified rationally.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.484-490
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was aimed to investigate the impact of job stress on low back symptoms among Clinical nurses (CNs) in university hospital. Methods: A total of 322 CNs employed in a hospital in Seoul were interviewed by a well-trained interviewer using the structured questionnaire. Data collected for this study includes demographics, social and work characteristics, low back symptoms, and job stress. To test the impact of job stress on low back symptoms, we used multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: The prevalence of low back symptoms was 25.8% in this study. Low back symptoms differed significantly by factors, such as physical work burden, past history of injury and work duration. Also low back symptoms differed significantly by organizational system among independent variables of job stress. In a multiple logistic regression analysis, the odds ratio of organizational system to low back symptoms was 2.07 after an adjustment. Conclusion: This study showed that organizational system among job stress was a significant variable in explaining low back symptoms. We suggest the improvement of organizational system category as a preventive strategy for low back pain in CNs working in hospital.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.107-118
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• 2012

Objectives: This study examines the occurrence of disease resulting from low back pain and factors of working environment meaningfully influencing the occurrence of lumbago as well as analyzes '2nd Korean Working Condition Survey (KWCS)' conducted in 2010 so as to establish the prevention and improvement measures. Methods: The analysis method is that it is to compare the prevalence rate of low back pain according to working environment via odds ratio and to implement the test about the factors having the difference in working environment between low back pain group and normal group through weighted t-test. Results: As a result, it indicates that there is a meaningful difference for prevalence rate of low back pain according to age, status in employment and education level which are socio-demographical factors. The analysis in working hours shows that the period of work is a factor raising the prevalence rate of low back pain rather than weekly working hours. The analysis in the work risk factor indicates that the increase in prevalence rate of low back pain takes place to either workers with repetitive movement and continuously standing posture or those with heavy stress and emotional labour. Conclusions: Workers with low back pain have suffered from accident, depression, anxiety disorder and sleep. The factors in which the prevalence rate of low back pain decrease are to provide information on health and safety and working speed, and enough rest.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.141-150
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify relationships among nursing activities, the use of body mechanics, and job stress in nurses with low back pain. Methods: Participants were 225 nurses with low back pain working at an university hospital. The data were collected with self-reported questionnaires at March, 2012 and analyzed by descriptive statistics, t test, ANOVA, Scheff$\acute{e}$e test and multiple regression analyses. Results: There was significantly a higher degree of pain in subjects who working at special units including intensive care units and emergency room than at general wards. Low back pain was negatively correlated with the use of body mechanical principles while it was positively associated with the degree of job stress. According to results of multiple regression analyses, low back pain was significantly associated with the use of body mechanics and job stress in nurses working at general ward and special units including intensive care units and emergency room. Conclusion: The use of the principles of body mechanics and reducing job stress are important to prevent low back pain in nurses. It is necessary to develop and apply stress management and education program about the use of the principles of body mechanics.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.73-88
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• 2007

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to find out The effect of Low back pain on the total pattens of Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation(PNF). Methods : The subjects of the study were 62 low back pain patients. They were divided into two groups: 31 in the experimental group and 31 in the control group. the experimental group performed modalities and PNF total patterns three times for a week. the control group performed only modalities and ROM exercise three times for a week. Back muscle strength was measured by a back muscle strength measuring machine, the intensity of pain was measured by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and the level of disability was measured by Oswestry low back pain disability index. Study measurements were compared before and after 6 weeks exercise program. The two groups of subjects were assessed by utilizing two different balance measurement: Static standing balance was measured by balance performance monitor (BPM) and Dynamic standing balance was measured by one leg standing(OLS). The scale for static standing balance was measured by using, sway area, sway path, max velocity. Results : The results of this study were as follow: 1) The score on visual analogue scale shows statistically significant increase on PNF group of post test(p<.05). 2) The score on Oswestry low back pain disability index. shows statistically significant decrease on PNF group of post test(p<.05). 3) The change sway area was statistically significant on pre-test and post-test(p<.05). 4) The change sway path was statistically significant on pre-test and post-test(p<.05). 5) The change max velocity was statistically significant on pre-test and post-test(p<.05). 6) The score on one leg standing shows statistically significant increase on PNF group of post test(p<.05). Conclusion : These results of this study indicated that Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Total patterns which performed for six weeks had a statistically significant influence on low back pain. If the exercise for muscle strength is performed along with therapeutic stabilizing exercise, a better effect can be expected on low back pain. We hope that this study will provide a basic data for further research with a bigger group and on a long-term effect.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.41-52
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• 2008

This paper concerns the load carrying capacity of back-to-back reinforced soil wall for use in roadway and railway construction. Two test conditions, designed with due consideration of the FHW A design guideline, were first developed and a number of cases having different reinforcement lengths were tested under a surchage loading until failure. The results indicated that for cases in which two sides of reinforcements do not overlap, the wall behavior was similar to those of single wall. For cases in which the reinforcements overlap each other, on the other hand, the load carrying capacity of the wall significantly decreased when reinforced with reinforcement layers having lengths less than 50% of the wall height.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.381-387
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• 2017

Purpose: Although some studies indicate that the Sorensen test may not be used to examine back muscles such as the erector spinae, alternatives to the back-extension test are rarely suggested. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate an effective way to stimulate the erector spinae muscles by adding a component of trunk rotation and lateral bending to general back extensions. Methods: A total of 18 healthy, physically active participants performed simple trunk extension, extension with trunk rotation, and extension with lateral bending. Surface electromyography responses of the latissimus dorsi, thoracic, and lumbar levels of the erector spinae; the gluteus maximus; and the biceps femoris muscles were investigated during these 3 conditions of modified back extension tests. Results: The simple trunk extension exercise caused significant increases in activity of the gluteus maximus and biceps femoris muscles as compared to the extension with rotation and lateral bending exercises. The extension with trunk rotation exercise showed significantly greater activation in the thoracic and lumbar levels of the erector spinae and in the latissimus dorsi as compared to the other exercises. The index measuring subjective difficulty was significantly lower in the simple trunk extension exercise as compared to the extension with trunk rotation and extension with lateral bending exercises. Conclusion: The present study suggests that extension with trunk rotation has the advantage of stimulating the para-spinal muscles, while simple trunk extension may not be adequate to selectively simulate the para-spinal muscles but may be appropriate for examining global trunk extensors.