• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.97-104
• /
• 2010

Objectives : The authors aimed to determine the presence of relationships between cervical pain and cervical curvature, lumbar curvature, sacral slope and sagittal spinal balance. Methods : Medical records of outpatients who made their first visits to the Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion in the Spine center at Kyung Hee East-West Neo Medical Center between September 1, 2008 and October 31, 2009 were evaluated. A total of 50 patients visiting within the time period had visited with a chief complaint of cervical pain, and had lateral entire spine X-rays taken. After excluding patients with previous spine operations, 46 patients were selected for the final analysis. The cervical lordotic angle(CLA), lumbar lordotic angle(LLA), Ferguson's angle(FA), and sagittal vertical axis(SVA) were measured on the lateral entire spine X-ray cuts, and the relationships between these values and patient gender, age, chief complaint, and duration of symptoms were assessed. Results : No significant difference was found in relationships between gender and measured values. SVA showed statistically significant correlation between age, but CLA, LLA, and FA was not. There was a significant difference in SVA between patients with only cervical pain and those with both cervical pain and low back pain. Patients with a duration of symptoms longer than 6 months showed a statistically significant difference in SVA with those who had shorter symptoms. Correlation analysis between measured values was statistically significant only between LLA and FA. Conclusions : Evaluation and treatment of sagittal imbalance should be considered in patients presenting with cervical pain if symptoms have persisted for over 6 months or have accompanying low back pain.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.147-159
• /
• 2015

Objectives The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical application of chuna for thoracic in the patients with nuchal pain. Methods Seven patients were treated by chuna for thoracic to evaluate the effect of the treatment. The patient's symptoms were assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS), neck disability index (NDI) and cervical lordotic curvature. Results In all cases, the pain was reduced according to VAS, NDI. Cervical lordotic curvature of 6 cases were improved in terms of Jackson's angle. 5 cases were improved in terms of Depth of cervical curve and Method of Jochumsen. 4 cases were improved in terms of Angle of cervical curve (C2~C7) and Ishihara index. 3 cases were improved in terms of Angle of cervical curve (C1~C7). Conclusions These results suggest that chuna on thoracic might be an effective method to treat nuchal pain with extension malposition of thoracic. But, it's necessary to have more observations and experiments.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.189-195
• /
• 2019

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of chin tuck exercise (CTE) on the craniovertebral angle (CVA), strength and endurance of deep cervical flexor (DCF) muscles in subjects with forward head posture(FHP). This study was performed on 30 subjects with FHP. Method : Thirty subjects were divided into two groups; modified CTE (n=15), conventional CTE (n=15). Both of the group performed the exercise 4 times a week for 6 weeks. The subjects performed CTE in two different methods; modified CTE, with device designed that help keep cervical lordois curve, and coventional CTE, without using device. The CVA was measured using Image software version. A pressure biofeedback unit was used to measure the strength and endurance of the DCF muscles. The data was analyzed by the paired t-test for comparing before and after changes of variables in each group and the independent t-test for comparing the between groups. Result : There was statistically significant difference of before and after strength and endurance of DCF muscles in modified CTE (p<0.05). There was statistically significant difference of before and after only endurance of DCF muscles in conventional CTE (p<0.05). There was statistically significant difference of between the two group in strength of DCF muscles (p<0.05). Conclusion : Muscle strength to stabilize the spine plays an important role in maintaining a good posture. Therefore, we suggest that the application of CTE with a device designed to maintain the lordotic curvature in the neck is likely to yield better outcomes in FHP subjects in future studies.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.11-20
• /
• 2006

Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate clinical effects of Chuna treatment on the neck pain patient with hypolordotic cervical spine. Methods: From June 2006 to August 2006, 20 cases of neck pain patient with hypolordotic cervical spine were divided into 2 groups. Control group(n=10) was treated only acupuncture therapy, and sample group(n=10) was treated Chuna after acupuncture therapy same as control group. Degrees of pain were measured with Visual Analogue Scale(VAS), and the change of cervical curvature was assessed Depth of cervical curve, Method of Jochumsen, and Angle of cervical curve. Results: 1. After 3th and 5th treatment, there was statistical significance between control and sample group in VAS. 2. After 5th treatment, there was not statistical significance between control and sample group in Depth of cervical curve, Method of Jochumsen, and Angle of cervical curve. Conclusions: On treating the neck pain patient with hypolordotic cervical spine, Chuna treatment is more effective than only acupuncture therapy in reducing neck pain, but Chuna treatment for short-term is not more effective than only acupuncture therapy in restoring cervical curvature.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.213-225
• /
• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors related on pain in female office workers. Methods : Neck pain group of 31 female subjects complained of neck and arm discomfort. Normal group of 20 female subjects had no complaints or minimal discomfort. Cervical curvature and muscle tone were assessed by whole spine x-ray, meridian-electromyography(MEMG), craniovertebral angle, and Moire. Neck pain was evaluated by Neck Disability Index(NDI) and Visual Analog Scale(VAS). The emotional and other physical factors that could effect neck pain were checked by questionnaires including Beck Depression Index(BDI), Stress Reaction Index(SRI), Holmes & Rahe Social Readjustment Rating Scale(SRRS), International Physical Activity Questionnaire(IPAQ), and Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale(GSRS). Results : The contraction and fatigue of upper trapezius by MEMG was significantly higher in the neck pain group. And BDI, SRI, SRRS, and GSRS were significantly higher in the neck pain group (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the Jackson's angle, Cobb's method, craniovertebral angle, and moire between two groups. Conclusions : The results suggest that neck pain is related to mental stress rather than physical stress and physical stress does not change cervical curvature significantly.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.39-53
• /
• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical application of chuna for temporomandibular joint(TMJ) in nuchal pain patients with temporomandibular joint disorder(TMD). Methods : Four patients were treated by chuna for TMJ to evaluate the effect of the treatment. The patient's symptoms were assessed by visual analogue scale(VAS), neck disability index(NDI), cervical lordotic curvature. Results : In all case, the pain was reduced according to VAS, NDI. cervical lordotic curvature of three cases were improved. Conclusions : These results suggest that chuna for TMJ might be an effective method to treat nuchal pain with TMD. But, it's necessary to have more observations and experiments.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.199-208
• /
• 2010

Objectives : To study the cervical lordosis and roentgenographic analysis of cervical disc space in neck pain with or without temporomandibular disorder(TMD). Methods : Radiographic measures of cervical lordosis, cervical disc space narrowing were collected, statiscally analyzed. Results : TMD group showed a significant increase in cervical lordotic angle as compared with non-TMD group, whereas no significant change in cervical disc degeneration. Conclusions : The findings from this study suggest that the curvature of the cervical spine is related to the subject's TMD.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.1797-1802
• /
• 2019

Background: Breathing is the essential step of Pilates exercise and can be used to activate core muscles. Although the effects of breathing exercise on pain, breathing muscles, and cervical posture have been extensively studied, little is known about the impact of Pilates breathing on spinal posture and alignment. Purpose: To determine the effect of 3D-Pilates breathing exercise on spinal curvature and alignment of healthy adults during corrected to normal alignment. Design: One group pre-post test design Methods: Eighteen participants were given a 3D-pilates breathing exercise twice a week (20 minutes per session) for three weeks and warmed up for 10 minutes before each exercise session. To examine spinal curvature and alignment of each subject, this study used radiation free rasterstereography (Formetric III, Germany). Paired t-test and Wilcoxon signed rank test were performed to determine the difference between pre and post exercise. Results: There were statistically significant differences in height (p<.001), kyphosis angle (p<.05), trunk imbalance (p<.05), kyphotic apex (p<.01), cervical fleche (p<.05), pelvic tilt (p<.01), and lateral deviation (p<.05) between before and after 3D Pilates breathing exercise. However, there was no significant difference in lordosis angle. Conclusions: The study results indicated that three week 3D-pilates breathing exercise program could be presented as an effective rehabilitation method for improving spinal curvature and alignment.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
• /
• v.30 no.1_2
• /
• pp.65-71
• /
• 2018

Purpose : Standardized pillow may not support patient's individual cervical spine thoroughly when head and neck radiation therapy with $Tomotherapy^{(R)}$. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to make a comparative analysis for the difference of using standardized pillow only and using customized cervical spine immobilizer with standardized pillow. Materials and Methos : The head and neck cancer patients who are treated image-guided radiation therapy(IGRT) with $Tomotherapy^{(R)}$ were divided into two groups, 20 patients using standardized pillow only, and 20 patients using customized cervical spine immobilizer with standardized pillow. We achieved 20 mega-voltage computed tomography(MVCT) image per patient, compared curvature of the cervical spine in MVCT with curvature of the cervical spine in CT-simulation. Results : Results of comparative analysis were curvature consistency 95.9 %, maximum error of distance 41.9 mm, average distance error per fractionation 19.4 mm, average standard deviation 1.34 mm in case of using standardized pillow only, curvature consistency 98.9 %, maximum error of distance 12.9 mm, average distance error per fractionation 5.8 mm, average standard deviation 0.59 mm in case of using customized cervical spine immobilizer with standardized pillow. Conclusion : Using customized cervical spine immobilizer shows higher reproducibility and low distance error, therefore customized cervical spine immobilizer could be useful for head and neck cancer patients who need radiation therapy.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.647-651
• /
• 2014

The purpose of this study is to provide the case of influence of myofacial release(MFR) and cryotherapy in acute whiplash injury. The subjects were consisted of 3 adults(2 males, 1 female) who had been diagnosed with whiplash injury. The performance period was 1 weeks, 6 times and 1 time is 40min(MFR: 20min, cryotherapy: 20min). We measured neck pain(Visual analogue scale, VAS) and cervical alignment(cervical curvature & line of gravity). All measurements of each subject were measured at pre-treatment and post-treatment. The results are listed below. The neck pain(VAS) index decreased from 7.54cm to 4.11cm. The cervical curvature increased from $23.62^{\circ}$ to $29.76^{\circ}$. The line of gravity decreased from 8.03mm to 3.66mm. Based on the results, it can be suggested that both MFR and cryotherapy can be used to neck pain and alignment in acute whiplash injury.