• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.44-50
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• 2015

This study compared the effects of the initial head position (i.e., a HHP versus a relaxed head position) of subjects with and without a FHP on the thickness of the deep and superficial neck flexor muscles during CCF. The study recruited 6 subjects with a FHP and 10 subjects without a FHP. The subjects performed CCF in two different head positions: a HHP, with the head aligned so that the forehead and chin formed a horizontal line, and a relaxed head position (RHP), with the head aligned in a self-selected comfortable position. During the CCF exercise, the thickness of the longus colli (LCo) and the thickness of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) were recorded using ultrasonography. The thickness of each muscle was measured by Image J software. The statistical analysis was performed with a two-way mixed-model analysis of variance. The thickness of the SCM differed significantly (p<.05) between the subjects with and without FHP. According to a post $h^{\circ}C$ independent t-test, the change in thickness of the SCM increased significantly during CCF in the subjects with FHP while adopting a HHP compared to that in the subjects without FHP. The change in thickness of the SCM was not significantly different between the two positions in subjects without FHP, and there was no significant change in thickness of the LCo muscle during the CCF exercise according to the initial position in both subjects with and without FHP. The results suggest that CCF should be performed in RHP to minimize contraction of the SCM in subjects with a FHP.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.149-154
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• 2020

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the Kaltenborn-Evjenth concept of nerve mobilization combined with intermittent cervical segment traction (ICST) on pain, Neck Disability Index (NDI) scores, range of motion (ROM) and endurance in persons with cervical radiculopathy (CR). Design: Two-group pretest-posttest design. Methods: Thirty subjects participated in this study and were randomly assigned to two groups. The ICST group (n=15) was performed simultaneously with nerve mobilization and cervical traction for the segment with cervical pain at the same time. The intermittent cervical total traction (ICTT) group (n=15) performed nerve mobilization and cervical traction for the whole cervical area at the same time. In this study, outcome measures such as the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), NDI, ROM, endurance (cranio-cervical flexion test), and passive intervertebral motion performed before and 4 weeks after the experiment were compared to investigate the effects of each intervention. Results: In both groups, there were significant differences in the VAS, NDI scores, and endurance, and there were significant differences between the two groups except for endurance (p<0.05). In the ICST group, significant differences were found in all ROM, and in the ICTT group, significant differences were found in only extension, and there were significant differences between the two groups (p<0.05). Conclusions: The ICST group showed more improvement than the ICTT group in pain, NDI scores and ROM. Moreover, our findings show that the ICST could be used as a new strategy for manual therapy in persons with CR.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.302-308
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• 2020

Objective: The endurance and strength of deep neck flexor (DNF) muscles have a major role on the function and stability of the cervical spine. In recent years, there has been a lack of research that have investigated the muscle tone of the superficial neck muscles. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of between contraction ratio of the DNF and sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscles, DNF endurance, and muscle tension of the neck muscles. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Forty-seven subjects (male=20, female=27) participated in this study. The muscle tone of the upper trapezius (UT), SCM, and suboccipital (SO) muscle was measured using a contact soft tissue tone-measuring instrument. For the contraction ratio of the SCM and longus colli muscle, the thickness of the relaxation and maximum contraction state of the SCM and longus colli muscles were assessed using a diagnostic ultrasound measuring instrument and a pressure biofeedback unit. The deep neck flexor endurance test (DNFET) was performed in a cranio-cervical flexion posture. The correlations between the measured variables were investigated. Results: The relationship between the DNFET and SO tone showed a significant negative correlation (p<0.05). The relationship between the DNFET and contraction ratio showed a significant positive correlation (p<0.01). There was no significant correlation between the DNFET and SCM and UT tone. Conclusions: This study confirmed that there is a relationship between DNF endurance, DNF activation, and SO tone. The information on the results of this study may be used as a reference that can be actively applied in the clinical environment.