• 한국산학기술학회논문지
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• 제11권11호
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• pp.4331-4337
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• 2010

본 연구는 만성 목통증 환자를 대상으로 심부목굽힘근 운동을 적용하여 통증, 목장애지수, 그리고 심부목굽힘근의 지구력에 미치는 영향을 알아보고자 하였다. 본 연구에서는 만성 목통증 환자 37명을 무작위로 도구를 이용한 중재와 심부목굽힘근 운동을 시행하는 실험군과 도구를 이용한 중재만을 실시하는 대조군으로 나누었다. 모든 중재는 12주 동안 주 3회 실시하였다. 실험 전, 6주 후, 그리고 12주 후에 통증을 평가하기 위한 VAS, 기능을 평가하는 목 장애지수, 그리고 심부목굽힘근의 지구력을 측정하여 효과를 비교하였다. 통계처리 방법으로 실험 전 후 차이를 검증하기 위하여 반복측정 분산분석을 실시하였고, 두 군 간의 차이를 검증을 위하여 독립표본 t검증을 실시하였다. 모든 통계적 유의수준은 0.05로 하였다. 본 연구의 결과 심부목굽힘근 운동이 적용된 실험군에서 통증과 목장애지수가 유의하게 향상되었고(p<.05), 심부목굽힘근의 지구력이 유의하게 증가하였다(p<.05). 본 연구의 결과를 통해 심부목굽힘근 운동이 만성 목통증 환자에게 효과적임을 알 수 있다. 심부목굽힘근 운동은 통증과 기능을 향상시키고 더 나아가 만성 목통증 환자의 삶의 질도 향상시킬 수 있을 것으로 기대된다. 따라서 재활에 있어 효과적인 방법을 제시할 수 있을 것으로 사료되어진다.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제29권5호
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• pp.265-270
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• 2017

Purpose: This study examined the effects of neck stabilization exercises with vibratory stimulation on the neck disability index and thickness of the deep neck flexor. Methods: Thirty subjects (control group=15, experimental group=15) with mild neck pain were enrolled in the study. The control group underwent craniocervical flexion exercise (control group, CG) and the experimental group was given craniocervical flexion exercise with vibratory stimulus (experimental group, EG) (3 sets, 3 times per week for 6 weeks). To examine the effects of exercise, the subjects were evaluated using the neck disability index (NDI), the thickness of the deep neck flexor muscle, and muscle strength. An independent and paired t-test were used to compare the effects of the exercise between the groups. Results: The NDI score of the two groups increased significantly after 6 weeks of treatment (p<0.001) and there was a significant difference between the EG group at 3 weeks (p<0.05) and 6 weeks (p<0.01). The thickness of the deep neck flexor in the CG group increased significantly after 6 weeks of treatment in all pressure stages (p<0.001). The EG group showed a significant increase after 3 and 6 weeks of treatment in all pressure stage (p<0.001), and 22 mmHg, a significant difference between 3 and 6 weeks (p<0.05) and among 24, 28, and 30 mmHg at 6 weeks (p<0.05). The maximum muscle strength of the deep neck flexion muscles increased significantly in the two groups after 6 weeks of treatment (p<0.001) and there was significant difference between the EG group at 6 weeks (p<0.01). Conclusion: Craniocervical flexion exercise with vibratory stimulus decreases the NDI, and increases the thickness of the deep neck flexor and maximum muscle strength of the deep neck flexion muscles in patients with mild neck pain.

• 대한정형도수물리치료학회지
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.33-37
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• 2015

Background: The purpose of this study on the effects of deep cervical flexors strengthening exercise to forward head posture and pain of neck in patients with chronic neck pain. Method: We selected 30 subjects among neck pain patients and carried out measurements. The subjects' forward head posture was measured including head tilt angle (HTA), neck flexion angle (NFA) and forward shoulder angle (FSA), neck disability index (NDI), numeric rating scale (NRS). The subjects underwent deep cervical flexors muscle strengthening with pressure bio-feedback device for 4 weeks. Then, after intervention, the subjects' forward head posture was measured again. It was performed Wilcoxon signed-ranks test for confirming the effect of deep cervical flexor muscles strengthening exercise. Results: As a result of comparison of measurements before and after intervention, we found that there were statistically significant improvement in the subjects' NDI, NRS and forward head posture including head tilt angle, neck flexion angle and forward shoulder angle. Conclusion: We concluded that deep cervical flexors strengthening exercise has the effect of alleviation of neck pain patients and is effective for forward head posture.

• 대한정형도수물리치료학회지
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.23-29
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• 2013

Background: People who have painful neck have reduced proprioception in the neck. Reduced proprioception in the neck is related to the muscle spindle activity in the deep neck flexors. The aim of this study was to know that proprioception in the neck was increased by strengthening exercise of the deep neck flexors. Methods: Thirty subjects with chronic neck pain were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n=15) and the control group (n=15). Deep neck flexor muscle exercise with stabilizer were conducted for the study group three times a week for six weeks. Relocation errors in 30 degree rotation to the left were measured three times before and after intervention each. Results: Neck disability index were decreased in the experimental group (p<.05) but not in the control group (p>.05). Relocation errors were decreased in the experimental group after intervention (p<.05), but not in the control group (p>.05). Conclusions: Proprioception in the neck can be increased by the strengthening exercise of deep neck flexors in the subject with chronic neck pain.

• 대한정형도수물리치료학회지
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.9-19
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• 2019

Background: This study was planned to assess and compare the effectiveness of cervical region stabilization exercise and strengthening exercise on pain and range of motion in patient with chronic neck pain. Methods: Fifty-one patient with chronic neck pain were randomly allocated into strengthening and stabilization exercise (SSE) group (n=27) and Strengthening exercise (SE) group (n=24). The program was carried for 12 sessions, 3 days/week in 4weeks. Pain intensity with visual analog scale (VAS), cervical range of motion, deep cervical flexor strengthening were evaluated before and after the intervention. Results: After the program, pain intensity decreased in group SE and SSE were found (p<.05). Range of motion and deep cervical muscle strength increased in group SE and SSE were found(p<.05). The intergroup comparison showed that significant difference in range of motion and deep cervical muscle strength (p<.05). Conclusions: The study suggest that both SSE program and SE program might be a useful treatment for patients with chronic neck pain. However SSE program might be superior in improving cervical range of motion and deep cervical flexor strength compare to SE program.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.18-26
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• 2021

Previous studies have reported that deep neck flexor (DNF) exercise can improve neck problems, including neck pain, forward head posture, and headache, by targeting the deep and superficial muscles of the neck. Despite the prevailing opinion across studies, the benefits of DNF can vary according to the type of neck problems and the outcome measures adopted, ranging from positive outcomes to non-significant benefits. A meta-analysis was conducted in this study to assess conclusive evidence of the impact of DNF exercise on individuals with neck problems. We used PUBMED, MEDLINE, NDSL, EMBASE, and Web of Science to search for primary studies and the key terms used in these searches were "forward head posture (FHP)," "biofeedback," "pressure biofeedback unit," "stabilizer," "headache," and "neck pain." Twenty-four eligible studies were included in this meta-analysis and were coded according to the type of neck problems and outcome measures described, such as pain, endurance, involvement of neck muscle, craniovertebral angle (CVA), neck disability index (NDI), cervical range of motion (CROM), radiographs of the neck, posture, strength, endurance, and headache disability index. The overall effect size of the DNF exercise was 0.489. The effect sizes of the neck problems were 0.556 (neck pain), -1.278 (FHP), 0.176 (headache), and 1.850 (mix). The effect sizes of outcome measures were 1.045 (pain), 0.966 (endurance), 0.894 (deep neck flexor), 0.608 (superficial neck flexor), 0.487 (CVA), 0.409 (NDI), and 0.252 (CROM). According to the results of this study, DNF exercise can effectively reduce neck pain. Thus, DNF exercise is highly recommend as an effective exercise method for individuals suffering from neck pain.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.19-29
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• 2015

Impaired respiratory function is common in patients with stroke. The purpose of this study were to investigate the effectiveness of exercises and to assess forced vital capacity and peak cough flow after completion of neck stabilizing and respiratory reeducation exercises (combining diaphragmatic breathing and pursed-lip breathing exercises). The 45 participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group 1 ($n_1=15$), experimental group 2 ($n_2=15$), and a control group ($n_3=15$). All subjects performed conservative physical therapy for 30 minutes. Experimental group 1 undertook the neck stabilizing exercise and the respiratory reeducation exercise. Experimental group 2 undertook the respiratory reeducation exercise. Additional exercise did not exceed 30 minutes, five times a week for six weeks. The subjects were assessed for deep neck flexor thickness and breathing function (forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume at one second, forced expiratory volume at one second/forced vital capacity, peak expiratory flow, and manual assisted peak cough flow) at pre-post value. The results of this study were as follows. Experimental group 1 showed a significant increase only in deep neck flexor thickness change rate (p<.05). All groups showed significant increases in forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume at one second, and peak expiratory flow in pre-post measurement (p<.05). Experimental groups 1 and 2 showed an increase in manual assisted peak cough flow in pre-post measurement (p<.05). There was no significant difference between experimental group 1 and experimental group 2, but experimental group 1 improved more than experimental group 2 in respiratory function as a whole. In conclusion, these findings suggest that the neck stabilizing exercise in combination with the respiratory reeducation exercise can improve forced vital capacity and peak cough flow in patients with stroke.

• 대한물리의학회지
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.253-261
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• 2013

PURPOSE: The Purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in the thickness of Sternocleidomastoid muscle(SCM) and deep cervical flexor muscle(DCF) through CranioCervical Flexion Exercise(CCFEx) Using Sling. METHODS: Subjects were randomly allocated two group: control group (n=21) without neck pain, experimental group (n=17) with pain. Muscle thickness was measured using CranioCervical Flexion Test(CCFT) and ultrasonography before or after intervention. RESULTS: In experimental group, compared with muscle thickness of exercise before, SCM thickness rate of change was slightly decreased according to pressure increased after exercise(p<.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that CCFEx using sling is effective for SCM and DCF of choric neck pain patients.

• PNF and Movement
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.333-341
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of open and closed kinetic chain exercises with a sling on neck flexor thickness during chin-in movement in office workers with forward head posture. Methods: Thirty-one selected subjects randomly performed chin-in movement in open kinetic chain and closed kinetic chain exercises using a sling. All subjects were measured for their neck flexor thickness using ultrasound measurement equipment during the performance of chin-in movement in open and closed kinetic chain exercised. A paired t-test was used to compare the thickness of the total neck flexor, superficial, and deep neck flexor, respectively, between open and closed kinetic chain exercises with chin-in movement. Results: The thickness of the superficial neck flexor diminished in size more greatly during the chin-in movement with the closed kinetic chain than the open kinetic chain, but this was not a statistically significant difference (p > 0.05). On the other hand, the thickness of the total neck flexor and deep neck flexor had more greatly increased during the chin-in movement with the closed kinetic chain than the open kinetic chain, and this was a statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study suggested that chin-in movement with a closed kinetic chain is more effective in activating the deep neck flexor than the open kinetic chain. Thus, we believe that the closed kinetic chain exercise using a sling is an effective intervention to correct the postural alignment of individuals with forward head posture.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제36권2호
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• pp.242-252
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• 2023

Background: Neck pain is a common problem in the general population and second only to low back pain in musculoskeletal problems. The aim of this study is to compare three different types of exercise training in patients with chronic neck pain. Methods: This study was conducted on 45 patients with neck pain. Patients were divided into 3 groups: Group 1 (conventional treatment), Group 2 (conventional treatment plus deep cervical flexor training), and Group 3 (conventional treatment plus stabilization of the neck and core region). The exercise programs were applied for four weeks, three days a week. The demographic data, pain intensity (verbal numeric pain scale), posture (Reedco's posture scale), cervical range of motion ([ROM] goniometer), and disability (Neck Disability Index [NDI]) were evaluated. Results: In all groups, a significant improvement was found in terms of pain, posture, ROM, and NDI values in all groups (P < 0.001). Between the groups, analyses showed that the pain and posture improved more in Group 3, while the ROM and NDI improved more in Group 2. Conclusions: In addition to conventional treatment, applying core stabilization exercises or deep cervical flexor muscle training to patients with neck pain may be more effective in reducing pain and disability and increasing ROM than conventional treatment alone.