• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.43-50
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in the flexicurve kyphosis index (KI), the flexicurve lordosis index (LI) and the distance from the inferior angle of the scapula to the nearest vertebral spinous process (DS), as a dependent variable of scapular protraction, after applying of adolescents with thoracic hyperkyphosis using three different garments. A repeated measures design was used. Ten adolescents ($15.8{\pm}1.0$ years) with thoracic hyperkyphosis ($40.1{\pm}3.7$ Cobb angle) were recruited from a university hospital. A flexicurve ruler was used to measure KI and LI and a scoliometer was used to measure DS under three different conditions: wearing-a hospital garment (HG), wearing-a sham garment (SG), and wearing-an experimental garment (EG). KI under EG condition was significantly decreased compared with that wearing the HG. However, there was no significant difference between wearing the SG and HG. LI when wearing the EG was significantly increased compared with that when wearing HG. However, there was no significant difference under SG and HG conditions. DS when wearing the EG was significantly decreased compared with wearing HG. However, there was no significant difference between the SG and HG. The results of this study show that the EG was effective in decreasing KI, but not effective in decreasing LI. Hence, the effect of the EG for correcting sagittal spine angle in adolescents with thoracic hyperkyphosis is still debatable. However, since we showed that DS decreases in the EG, this method could be applied in correcting the scapular protraction.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.49-55
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• 2012

Background: The purposes of this study were to: 1) investigate the relation between thoracic kyphosis, postural stiffness and thoracic rotation and 2) the intra-rater reliability of the measurement methods for thoracic kyphosis and rotation angle. Methods: Thirty-nine young adults (13 males, 26 females) participated in the study. Thoracic kyphosis was measured using a Flexicurve while standing in their usual relaxed posture and then in their maximally erector posture. Index of kyphosis (IK) measures taken in the relaxed and maximally erect positions were used to estimate postural stiffness. Thoracic rotation range of motion (ROM) was measured using universal goniometer and inclinometer in two positions. The association between the magnitude of the IK and thoracic stiffness and thoracic rotation ROM was also examined. Reliability was determined using intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC). Results: When measured from the mean relaxed IK (${\pm}SD$) was 7.42 (${\pm}1.47$) and mean erect IK was 4.92 (${\pm}1.63$) and mean IK ratio was 1.66 (${\pm}.65$). The relaxed IK was significantly correlated with the range of motion thoracic rotation in two positions (r=.503~580, p<.01). Conclusion: Thoracic kyphosis in relaxed position was associated with the range of motion thoracic rotation. Thoracic kyphosis measurement with the Flexicurve and range of motion 2 techniques of thoracic rotation showed good reliablity and may be a useful measurement tool in clinical practice.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2012

Thoracic kyphosis is occasionally used to describe someone with accentuated thoracic curvature, hyperkyphosis is preferred since kyphosis itself refers to the normal sagittal angle of thoracic curvature. The angle of thoracic kyphosis tends to increase with age resulting in hyperkyphosis in some individuals. The persons who suffer from hyperkyphosis are at increased risk for a variety of adverse health outcomes that include musculoskeletal alteration, physical functional limitations, poor quality of life, falls, and even earlier mortality. Hyperkyphosis may develop from vertebral fractures, degenerative disc disease, either muscle weakness, decreased mobility and sensory deficits. The gold-standard orthopaedic technique for assessment of thoracic kyphosis is standing lateral spine radiographs. Other clinical measures are Debrunner kyphometer, inclinometer, flexicurve ruler, arcometer, flexible electrogoniometer and spinal mouse.