• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.33-44
• /
• 2017

Background: Lumbar stabilization exercise and gluteal muscle strengthening exercises are widely used to treat for lower back pain patient. The present study aimed to compare the effects of lumbar stabilization exercise and gluteal muscle strengthening exercises on chronic lower back pain with lumbar spine instability, with regard to pain intensity, disability, and psychosocial factors. Methods: Among 53 patients with chronic lower back pain, those with spine instability were selected using 5 examination tests. The selected 28 patients were randomly assigned to lumbar stabilization exercise group (LSE, n=15) and gluteal strengthening exercise group (GSE, n=13). Each group performed the corresponding exercise for 40 minutes, twice a week for 4 weeks. To analyze and compare the effects, pain intensity, the level of low back disability, and psychosocial factors were assessed before and after intervention. Results: There was significant difference in lower back pain intensity between the two groups before and after intervention. The change in low back disability was significant in the GSE group alone following intervention (p<.05), but no other significant difference was found between the groups. Among psychosocial factors, the changes in the fear-avoidance beliefs questionnaire (FABQ)-physical activity and FABQ-total were significant in the LSE group alone following intervention (p<.05). However, no significant difference were found in these factors between the two groups before and after intervention. Conclusions: LSE and GSE for lower back pain with lumbar spine instability showed no significant difference for pain intensity, physical disability, or psychosocial functioning.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 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 Korean Physical Therapy Science
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.15-23
• /
• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Interferential current stimulation therapy(ICT) on pain, balance, and walking ability of elderly patients with chronic low back pain. Methods: Twenty participants were randomly assigned to ICT group (2 males and 8 females) and placebo ICT group (3 males and 7 females). Participants were ICT and placebo ICT for 20 minutes, and the pre- and post-VAS, TUG and postural balance were measured. Results: The ICT group showed significantly decreased pain scores in the elderly patients with chronic low back pain (p<.05) than the placebo ICT group. The postural fluctuation with eyes opened and closed was significantly lower than the placebo ICT group(p<.05), and the ICT group showed remarkable improvement (p<.05). Conclusion: ICT was expected to improve decrease pain, improve postureal sway and walking ability remarkably. Therefore, It was expected that the application or ICT would be an effective method for elderly patients with Chronic Low Back Pain.

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

• Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.111-117
• /
• 2004

Clinical conditions causing the lower leg injury and pain in athletes include acute injuries which are acute compartment syndrome, acute strain injury, contusion, muscle cramps, and chronic injuries which are chronic exertional compartment syndrome, achilles tendinitis, shin splints and stress fractures. Most injuries occur during running, jumping and playing soccer. Many of these conditions relate to overuse, increased strength, training errors and environment. It is necessary to know the cause of injuries and treatment methods to prevent the sports related lower leg injuries.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.53-62
• /
• 2000

This study was designed to distinguish by the characteristic difference and the degree of symptoms such as fatigue, pain, coping to pain, and efficacy on pain, and to offer descriptive data for nursing intervention for improving coping ability to pain along each characteristics of disease in chronic arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. The subjects were 135 outpatients in the hospital for rheumatic disease in H-university, Seoul. The data were collected by structural questionnaire, from April 29 to June 29, 1999. The results were that the fatigue score was high in the OA patients while the RA patients and SLE patients experienced middle range of fatigue score, but which was not statistically different. Although the RA patients felt higher pain than other diseases, they have well coped with their pain than the others. In efficacy on pain the SLE patients had higher score than others but all of the disease showed lower score. No statistically significant difference among the three group was recorded in efficacy on pain. Therefore, pain management in the RA patients was primary nursing intervention because they felt severe pain and have well coped with pain while they had lower pain efficacy score than the others. It is also important that fatigue management and coping strategies on pain for the OA patients and SLE patients are specially supportive in the nursing intervention.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.61-65
• /
• 1989

Chloroma is a localized myeloblastic tumor which may develop during the course of myelogenous leukemia or as a presenting sign of the disease. A 47-year-old female diagnosed as chronic myelogenous leukemia in her hematologic remission period complained of left lower leg pain. The lumbar-spine series showed multiple osteolytic changes in the left lateral border of the lumbar spine. An inhomogenous soft tissue mass involving left lateral aspects of lumbar vertebrae was identified by CT-scanning. At the first pain attack, lumbar epidural steroid and local anesthetic injection could abolish her pain and the patient could go a few days without pain. The following radiation therapy could also improve the symptom and retain the pain free interval. One month later, a second pain attack occurred and lumbar and caudal epidural steroid and local anesthetic injections could result only in an incidental relief of pain. Radiation and chemotherapy were started but failed to relieve pain. A neurolytic block was considered but the patient's general condition was aggravated and even verbal communication with her became impossible.

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

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.56 no.6
• /
• pp.482-487
• /
• 2014

Objective : We assessed the life-time prevalence (LTP) of chronic low back pain (LBP) in young Korean males. We also evaluated the relationship between lumbar spinal lesions and their health related quality-of-life (HRQOL). Methods : A cross-sectional, self-reported survey was conducted in Korean males (aged 19-year-old) who underwent physical examinations for the conscript. We examined 3331 examinees in November 2014. We included 2411 subjects, who accepted to participate this study without any comorbidities. We interviewed using simple binary questions for their LBP experience and chronicity. HRQOL was assessed by Short-Form Health-Survey-36 (SF-36) in chronic LBP and healthy control groups. Radiological assessment was performed in chronic LBP group to determine whether there were any pathological causes of their symptoms. Results : The LTP of chronic LBP was 13.4%. Most (71.7%) of them didn't have any lumbar spinal lesions (i.e., non-specific chronic LBP). The SF-36 subscale and summary scores were significantly lower in subjects with chronic LBP. Between specific and non-specific chronic LBP group, all physical and mental subscale scores were significantly lower in specific chronic LBP group, except mental health (MH) subscale score. In MH subscale and mental component summary score, statistical significant differences didn't appear between two groups (p=0.154, 0.126). Conclusion : In Korean males 19 years of age, the LTP of chronic LBP was 13.4%, and more than two-thirds were non-specific chronic LBP. Chronic LBP had a significant impact on HRQOL. The presence of lumbar spinal pathoanatomical lesions affected mainly on the physical aspect of HRQOL. It influenced little on the mental health.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.162-172
• /
• 2011

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate differences in pain, pain interference, and fatigue, according to the level of physical activity in the elderly with chronic pain. Methods: Data were collected between January and March 2011 from 116 elders with chronic pain living in community settings. The data were analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 17.0 program for descriptive statistics, $x^2$ test, t-test, ANOVA and ANCOVA. The reliability of the instruments was tested with Cronbach's ${\alpha}$ coefficient, which ranged from .91 to .93. Results: The results were as follows. The mean total physical activity was 2287.4 MET-min/week, and 41.4% of the investigated subjects were classified into the low physical activity group. After adjusting for age and sex, the moderate and high physical activity groups were significantly lower in pain (F=6.33, p=.002), pain interference (F=11.57, p<.001), and fatigue (F=3.16, p=.046) than the low physical activity group. Conclusion: Results from this study suggest that the level of physical activity can influence pain, pain interference and fatigue. Therefore, incorporating more physical activities into daily routines, inactive elderly individuals may improve their pain, pain interference and fatigue.