• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.17-27
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• 2015

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of three interventions (intervention by passive range of motion exercise plus manual cervical traction, Mulligan's joint mobilization, and strengthening exercises) after Kaltenborn's joint mobilization on the cervical spine alignment, and muscle activity in patients with a forward head posture. METHODS: The subjects were 39 students from H University in Chungnam and C University in Jeonbuk. The subjects in each group attended training sessions three times a week for four weeks. We used one-way ANOVA and Scheffe's post hoc test to compare values between groups, and used paired t-test to compare the values of the dependent variables within groups. RESULTS: The results showed that the active intervention group experienced a significant increase compared to the passive intervention group in terms of the craniovertebral angle, cervical lordosis angle, and had significant decreases compared to the passive intervention group in terms of the upper trapezius muscle activity. The active intervention group also had significant increases in craniovertebral angle and decreased anterior scalene muscle activity than the active-assistive intervention group. The active-assistive intervention group had significant decreases compared to the active intervention group in terms of the serratus anterior, levator scapulae, and splenius capitis muscle activity. CONCLUSION: It appears that the subjects with a forward head posture had significant improvements in the cervical lordosis angle, cranial rotation angle, craniovertebral angle, and muscle activity after intervention by Mulligan's joint mobilization (active-assistive intervention component) and strengthening exercises (active intervention component) after applying Kaltenborn's joint mobilization.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.61-68
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• 2024

PURPOSE: This study aimed to provide basic clinical data by analyzing the impact of motion observation training and stretching exercises for improving postures on the neck alignment and balance of stroke patients to enable them to accurately recognize the correct exercise method. METHODS: After sampling 20 stroke patients who met the selection criteria, this study randomly assigned 10 people who were administered the stretching exercise with observation training to the experimental group and 10 who received only the stretching exercise intervention to the control group by drawing lots. Next, neck alignment and balance were pre-tested. All interventions were conducted for 30 minutes, 3 times a week for 4 weeks, and when all the interventions were completed after 4 weeks, neck alignment and balance were re-measured in the same way as the pre-test. RESULTS: The comparison of changes in neck alignment and balance within the experimental and control groups showed statistically significant differences in the craniovertebral angle, cranial rotation angle, and balance (p < .05) (p < .01). Between the groups, statistically significant differences were found in the craniovertebral angle, cranial rotation angle, and balance (p < .05) (p < .01). CONCLUSION: A statistically significant difference in neck alignment and balance was observed in the group that underwent stretching exercises combined with observational training and a statistically significant difference was found between the groups. Therefore, it is believed that observation training should be used in clinical practice to improve forward head posture and restore balance in stroke patients.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.1508-1512
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• 2018

This study was conducted to examine the effect of joint mobilization on forward head posture and to propose an effective method to improve correct body posture and balance. A total of eight patients from a Maitland-applied group (n=8) received mobilization therapy to increase the mobility of the cervical joint, with Maitland's movement grade III intensity for 30 seconds of treatment and 30 seconds of rest, for ten intervals, three times a week for four weeks. The craniovertebral angle (CVA) changes before and after the intervention with the Maitland technique were measured as $56.85{\pm}2.31^{\circ}$ before, $63.23{\pm}2.23^{\circ}$ two weeks after, and $64.98{\pm}1.27^{\circ}$ four weeks after joint intervention. There were significant CVA changes before and after the Maitland technique (P <.05). The results of this study suggest that the Maitland technique is useful for improving the head vertebral angle in patients with forward head posture.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.454-463
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• 2022

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare concurrent validity and test-retest reliability based on Craniovertebral angle of 'Angles video goniometer', a smart phone application for convenient range of motion measurement, and 'Image J', an analysis software with high reliability and validity. This was conducted to find out whether 'Angle video goniometer' can be used clinically. Design: Cross-sectional study Methods: Fifty subjects were imaged laterally, and the angle of the head and spine was measured using Image J and the Angles video goniometer, respectively, in a resting posture and a chin in posture. The level of concurrent validity between the two measurement methods and the level of inter-rater reliability and intra-rater reliability were analyzed. Results: For forty participants, the concurrent validity between Image J and Angles video goniometer showed very high validity with ICC of 0.997(0.995~0.999) and 0.994(0.994~0.998), CVME% 0.71~0.72%, SEM% 0.31~0.34, MDC% 0.86~0.94. The test-retest intra-rater reliability showed very high reliability ICC 0.994(0.991~0.996), CVME% 0.71%, SEM% 0.31~0.43, MDC% 0.86~1.19%. The test-retest inter-rater showed very high reliability ICC 0.995(0.992~0.997), CVME% 0.71%, SEM% 0.43~0.59%, MDC% 1.20~1.62% Conclusions: Angles video goniometer', a smartphone application, is a device with very high reliability and validity for craniovertebral angle measurement in healthy adults, and it is a device that can be easily used in clinical practice.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.25-35
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• 2023

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of applying mat Pilates and kinesio taping on the craniovertebral angle and muscle activity of adults in their 20s with a forward head posture. METHODS: The subjects were 20 adults in their 20s with a forward head posture: 10 from the Mat Pilates group (MPG) and 10 from the Kinesio taping group (KTG). Each group received the intervention for four weeks. The craniovertebral angle and muscle activity were measured before and after the intervention. Statistical analysis of this study was performed using SPSS Ver. 23.0 for Windows was used, and the statistical significance level was set to α = .05. RESULTS: The change in the craniovertebral angle within each group was decreased significantly after the intervention for both MPG and KTG (p < .05), but there was no significant difference in the comparison result of the difference in the amount of change between each group (p > .05). The change in muscle activity within each group did not show any significant change before and after the intervention in all the MPG and KTG muscles (p > .05), and there was no significant difference in all variables for the difference in the amount of change between each group (p > .05). CONCLUSION: Mat Pilates effectively reduced the CVA, but neither intervention significantly affected muscle activity.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2024

Purpose: The prevalent use of mobile devices may contribute to musculoskeletal disorders, such as forward head posture (FHP), among users. The measurement of the craniovertebral angle (CVA) using photographic images is frequently employed in assessing FHP. Although manual CVA measurement using photographic images is reliable in clinical settings, computer programs or mobile applications to support tele-physical therapy are not yet fully developed. Therefore, in the current study, we propose an automatic method for extracting CVA from photographic images of FHP subjects to facilitate tele-physical therapy. Methods: To develop the automatic CVA measuring computer program, photographic images were obtained from 10 FHP participants. The location information obtained from the markers attached to the tragus and the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra were used as coordinates. Using these coordinates, straight line 1 was generated by connecting the seventh spinous process of the cervical vertebra and the tragus, while straight line 2 was drawn parallel to the coordinate obtained from the seventh spinous process of the cervical vertebra. The arc tangent function was used to calculate the angle between the two straight lines. The automatic CVA measurement computer program utilizing photographic images was developed using MATLAB (ver. 2016b). Results: The results showed that the automatic CVA measurement computer program demonstrated stable repeatability and high accuracy. Conclusion: The proposed approach was able to automatically estimate the CVA using photographic images. The developed computer program can potentially be used for easier and more reliable clinical assessment of FHP.

• Advanced Industrial SCIence
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.15-21
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• 2023

In this study, we wanted to know the change in the craniovertebral angle before and after stretching and muscle tone according to rest time immediately after stretching. 57 students in their 20s and 30s were targeted, and the craniovertebral angle was compared before and after stretching. Static manual stretching was applied for stretching, and after 30 seconds, it was repeated three times with a break time of 10 seconds, and before stretching, immediately after, two minutes after, and five minutes after stretching were measured using muscle tone measuring equipment. As a result, there was no significant difference in craniovertebral angle before and after stretching, and the change in muscle tone according to the rest time after stretching was more significant after 5 minutes than before stretching. It is more effective to take five minutes to rest after stretching, reduce muscle tone than working immediately after stretching.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2018

Background: This study was conducted to prove the effects of the Schroth exercise on sagittal postural alignment to the visually impaired students. Methods: The subjects were 8 students who attend the special school in Daegu and performed the Schroth exercise 3 times per week for 3 weeks. Craniovertebral angle and pelvic alignment were measured to compare the effects of the exercise. Results: Craniovertebral angle and pelvic alignment on sagittal plane showed significant differences (p<.05). Conclusions: Schroth exercise was effective to improve postural alignment of sagittal plane to the visually impaired students and these results will have a positive impact on future study of improvement of postural alignment on sagittal plane to the visually impaired students.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2013

Background: The purpose of this study is to analysis of correlation upper body according to forward head posture. Methods: The subjects of this study were 40 female university students who were equally and randomly allocated to a forward head posture group, normal group. Using general posture system, electromyograph, visual analogue scale, tape measurement, neck disability index were evaluated. Results: There was positive correlation between posture analysis and Sternocleidomastoid, neck flexion (p<.05). There was positive correlation between Craniovertebral angle (CVA) and trapezius upper, VAS (p<.05). There was negative correlation between posture analysis and CVA (p<.05). There was negative correlation between Cranial rotation angle and CVA (p<.05). Conclusion: Increased forward head posture lead to increase of pain, muscles activity, so it suggests to be necessary on the prevention of dysfunction and limited activities daily living.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.38-45
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• 2019

Purpose: This study purpose to comparison the effects of passive scapular alignment exercise and hold & relaxation technique on craniovertebral angle (C1~C7) with forward head posture due to using variety bag and using computer in healthy subjects. Design: Randomized Controlled Trial. Methods: 22 subjects were divide into two groups: PSAEx group and H/R group two groups. After exercise, the CVA were measured using C7 and tragus. Collected data were statistically analyzed by SPSS 20.2 Results: There were significant differences pre and post the exercise. Conclusion: PSAEx and H/R technique was effective to correct a abnormal CVA posture. The result of this study may helpful as basic data for orthopedic physical therapy.