• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.115-126
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• 2009

Objectives : The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the foot pressure distribution correlates with the lumbo-sacral curvature, and the Oswestry Disability Index in chronic low back pain patients. Methods : We measured the fore foot pressure and the rare foot pressure using the foot analyzer in 28 women subjects with chronic low back pain. The lumbo-sacral curvature and the Oswestry Disability Index(ODI) were also measured. Results : 1. Subjects with higher ODI(%) had significantly lower Fore foot pressure/Rare foot pressure ratio(F/R ratio) (p<0.01). 2. Lumbar lordotic angle and Ferguson angle were inversely related to ODI(%) (p<0.05, p<0.01). 3. Lumbar lordotic angle and Ferguson angle were positively related to F/R ratio (all p<0.05). Conclusions : Using the Foot Analyzer(FA-48S, Tech storm Inc.) we have shown that F/R ratio has significant correlation with the lumbo-sacral curvature and the Oswestry Disability Index. These result suggest that the Foot analyzer may be used in assessing back pain in chronic low back pain patients.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2010

Purpose : This research inquires into the effect of applying microcurrent (MC) according to various frequency levels on the pain and functional recovery of patients with chronic back pain. Methods : Thirty participants with chronic lower back pain disease were divided equally into three experimenta l groups. The MC frequency used in the first experimental group was 0.5Hz, the second experimental group was 50Hz, and the third experimental group was 100Hz for 20 minute sessions. A hot pack and ultrasound were applied to all groups as the general physical therapy. Measurements were taken using the visual analogue scale (VAS), the face pain rating scale (FPRS), and the Oswestry disability index (001). The analysis used the paired t-test in order to compare pretest and posttest results. A one-way ANOVA was performed to make comparisons with regards to frequency levels. Results : VAS, FPRS, and 001 showed significant pain decrease in all groups except for the 001 measurement in the 0.5 Hz group. There were no significant differences according to frequency levels. Conclusion: For chronic pain and functional recovery, a microcurrent produces an effect after treatment. However, results did not show a significant difference in change obtained from differing frequency levels.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.1-11
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of lumbar stabilization training and additional thoracic mobilization on pain, proprioception and static balance in patients with chronic low back pain. The subjects of this study were 48 chronic low back pain patients who were randomly allocated to an experimental group 1 ($n_1=16$, lumbar stabilization and thoracic mobilization, thoracic hypomobility), experimental group 2 ($n_2=16$, lumbar stabilization and thoracic mobilization, thoracic normal mobility), and a control group ($n_3=16$, lumbar stabilization, thoracic hypomobility) after a thoracic mobility test. Both experimental groups underwent lumbar stabilization training and additional thoracic mobilization. The control group underwent only lumbar stabilization training. The intervention was performed 3 times per week, 30 minutes each time, for a total of 6 weeks. Thoraco-lumbar joint reposition error was measured using an electrogoniometer and static balance ability was measured using the Tetrax posture analysis system. Subjects' pain level was measured using a 100 mm visual analogue scale. Statistical analyses were performed using a one-way analysis of variance and a paired t-test. Post-hoc testing was carried out with a Bonferroni test. The pain level was significantly lower in both experimental groups compared to the control group. Both experimental groups showed significant reductions in joint reposition error angle (flexion, extension, and side bending) compared to the control group. The static balance level was significantly lower in both experimental groups than in the control group. In summary, lumbar stabilization exercises and additional thoracic mobilization significantly improved the pain level, proprioception, and static balance in patients with chronic low back pain.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.29-45
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• 2024

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the effects of pain level, lower back pain dysfunction level, psychosocial level, hip abductor strength (HAS), number of positive lumbar instability tests, and dynamic balance (DB) by applying lumbar stabilization exercises according to the presence or absence of gluteus medius muscle weakness in chronic lower back pain (CLBP) patients with lumbar instability. METHODS: Thirty-five CLBP patients with lumbar instability were divided into the gluteus medius weakness (n = 18) and gluteus medius non-weakened (n = 17) groups using the gluteus medius manual muscle test. Intervention applied conservative physical therapy and lumbar stabilization exercises to both groups that lasted three times a week for four weeks. To compare the intervention effects, the quadruple visual analog scale (QVAS), the Korean version of the Oswestry disability index (K-ODI), fear-avoidance beliefs questionnaire (FABQ), HAS, lumbar instability tests positive response counter (LIC), and DB were measured. RESULTS: Significant differences were shown for QVAS, K-ODI, FABQ, HAS, LIC, and DB for both groups pre- and post-intervention (p < .05). Compared to the gluteus medius weakness group, the gluteus medius non-weakened group showed a significant difference (p < .05) in the changes in QVAS, K-ODI, FABQ-W, FABQ-total, and HAS. CONCLUSION: In CLBP patients with lumbar instability, having gluteus medius weakness was less effective in improving lumbar stabilization exercise than gluteus medius non-weakness regarding pain level, lower back pain dysfunction level, psychosocial level excluding physical activity, and hip abductor strength. Therefore, additional gluteus medius strengthening exercises are necessary for patients with lumbar instability and gluteus medius muscle weakness.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.155-163
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• 2023

Objective: The purpose of this study is to identify the difference in the quality of muscle contraction and kick movements according to the presence or absence of back pain in body kick movements of mixed martial arts athletes. Method: In this study, four athletes (32.75 ± 4.79 yrs, 172.50 ± 5.20 cm, 77.73 ± 13.28 kg) who have suffered chronic back pain for more than three months and scored 12 points in the Korean version of ODI. Four painless athletes (33.50 ± 4.04 yrs, 174.25 ± 3.10 cm, 83.50 ± 10.21 kg) participated. Results: During the body kick operation, the pain group had significantly higher muscle activity in the right Transversus abdominis and right Rectus femoris compared to the normal group (p<.05). In the rectus abdominis, the muscle activity was significantly lower than that of the normal group (p<.05). Also, the pain group has a higher toe speed than the normal group Significantly slow (p<.05), there was a delay in contraction of the Transversus abdominis. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that chronic pain in the lumbar spine degrades the core's function, resulting in inefficient coordination such as Transversus abdominis contraction delay and Transversus abdominis and Rectus femoris excessive activation to compensate for it.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.55-66
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• 1998

The purpose of this study was to test whether adhesive taping therapy, one of rehabilitation, helps to relieve chronic low back pain. Sample were selected from 35 outpatients at oriental medicine hospital in the period from April 20 to June 20, 1998. The research design was one-group pretest - posttest design. The pretest included measuring discomfort depending on the scope and types of a range of motion, and their pain by their activity of daily living(ADL). In this research design, a treatment was to expose adhesive taping therapy to samples. The posttest included remeasuring of their discomfort and pain by ADL. The results of this study was as follows: Hypothesis I was that the discomfort score of the post-treatment group had lower than does that of the pre-treatment group. This study accepted the hypothesis (t=2.70, p=.015). Hypothesis II was that the post-treatment group had the pain score by ADL lower than does the pre-treatment group. Empirical results showed statistical significance(t=4.53, p=.000). In summary, the effect measured by the discomfort with a visual analog scale was statistically significant. The degree of pain according to postures in ADL also showed statistical significance. Consequently, these findings showed that the adhesive taping therapy was effective to alleviation of chronic low back pain.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.363-373
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• 2010

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to compare differences in thoracolumbar ranges of motions by comparing ratios among 4 type diagnosis for patient with chronic low back pain. Methods : The subjects were 58 chronic low back pain patients. A motion analysis program (Global Postural System) was used after photography for posture measurement. To analyze differences in mobility percentages and ratios of thoracolumbar ranges of motion, one-way ANOVA was used. Results : Regional difference spinal posture and movement were found to diagnosis patients with chronic low back pain. Comparison of thoracolumbar ranges of motion revealed significant differences in the thoracic region during forward-bending of the trunk (p<.05). In the upper thoracic region, the herniated intervertebral lumbar disc (HILD) group was significantly larger than the spinal stenosis/herniated intervertebral lumbar disc (SS/HILD) group (p<.05). In the lower thoracic region, chronic sprains (CS) were significantly greater than in the spinal stenosis (SS) group and in the (SS/HJLD) group (p<.05). Comparative analysis of thoracic/lumbar mobility ratio showed the CS group's ratio during forward bending was largest: 1.66, while the HILD group's ratio was smallest: 84 a significant difference between the two groups (p<.01). Diagnosis was not associated with difference in thoracolumbar backward-bending range of motion (p>.05). Conclusion : Theses results indicate the clinical efficacy of diagnosing for chronic low back pain by evaluating spinal mobility.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.177-193
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• 1996

The purpose of this study was to test whether Yoga exercise, one of muscle relaxation, helps to relieve chronic low back paln. Sample were selected from nurses who were worked at K medical center in the period from March 18 to April 23, 1996. The sample size was fifteen. The research design was one-group pretest-posttest design. To test the major research question, this study had the following procedure. The pretest included measuring individuals' degree of pain and discomfort depending on the scope and types of an range of motion, and their pain by their activity of daily living(ADL). The treatment was conducted twice every other week. The reason why this study had twice observations was to control history effect and maturation which treat internal validity in the research design of this study. In this research design, a treatment was to expose Yoga exercise to samples. The exercise was taken in 30 minutes per day for four days in a week (Two consecutive days and twice every other day). The posttest included re-measuring the individuals' the degree of pain and discomfort, and their pain by their ADL. Several hypotheses concerning effect of Yoga exercise was analyzed by the paired t-test, comparing the difference scores between pre and post tests. The results of this study was as follows. The first hypothesis that the post-treatment group taking the Yoga exercise had the pain score lower than the pre-treatment group was supported(t=3.31, p=.005). The second hypothesis that the discomfort score of the post-treatment group had lower than does that of the pre-treatment group was supported(t=2.75, p=.016). The third hypothesis that the post-treatment group had the pain score by ADL lower than does the pre-treatment group was supported(t=5.52, p=.000). In summary, this study examined the effect of a yoga exercise, one of muscle relaxation, on those who were suffered from chronic low back pain. The effect measured by the degree of pain and discomfort with a visual analog scale was statistically significant. The degree of pain according to postures in ADL also showed statistical significance. These findings showed that a yoga exercise was effective to alleviation of chronic low back pain. A pretest-posttest control group design, however, needs to get more accurate results since the design satisfies Internal validity. Consequently, yoga as an exercise cure improves an interaction between muscles and articulations, and performance of ADL for those suffered from chronic low back pain. Furthermore, this positive impact may be an effective method as nursing intervention for their physical, mental, emotional, social, and psychological recovery.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.454-463
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• 2013

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of exercise program on chronic low back pain, daily living disability and depression in chronic low back pain patients treated with epidural injections. Methods: The design of this study was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest experiment. The sample was recruited among low back pain patients treated with epidural injections from an orthopedic specialty hospital. Participants were randomly assigned to a treatment group (n=25) or a comparison group (n=27). The treatment was a six week exercise program for low back pain. Data were collected from September to November 2011, and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, $x^2$-test, one-tailed t-test for independent samples, and Mann-Whitney U test using the SPSS/WIN 12.0 program. Results: Patients in the treatment group reported statistically significantly lower levels of back pain on flexion and extension, less daily living disability, and less depression than those in the comparison group. Conclusion: The back pain relief exercise program could be an effective adjunct nursing intervention for low back pain patients treated with epidural injections.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the effects of stretching and strengthening exercises on the pain, pelvic tilt (PT), functional disability, and balance of patients with chronic lower back pain (CLBP). Methods: A total of 42 patients with CLBP were randomly divided randomly into either experimental group I (EG I, n=21), who received stretching exercise, or experimental group II (EG II, n=21), who received strengthening exercise. Both interventions were applied three times a week for eight weeks. Assessments were made with a visual analogue scale (VAS), PT, Oswestry disability index (ODI), and Berg's balance scale (BBS) before and after the eight weeks intervention period. A paired t-test was conducted to compare the within-group changes before and after the intervention. An independent t-test was used compare the between-group difference. The statistical significance level was set to ${\alpha}=0.05$ for all variables. Results: The EG I and II showed significant within-group changes in the VAS, PT, ODI, and BBS (p<0.05). The changes in VAS, PT, ODI, and BBS were similar regardless of the exercise form. Conclusion: In this study, the application of stretching and strengthening exercise for subjects who complain of CLBP was effective in changing the level of pain, PT, functional disability, and balance.