• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.29-35
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of neck exercises on neck-shoulder posture and pain of high school students with neck disorders. Methods: Twenty seven subjects were randomly assigned to one of 3 groups a craniocervical flexion training group (CCFT), a neck strengthening exercise group (ST), and a basic stretching exercise group (CG). CCFT and ST exercised five times a week for eight weeks under the researcher's guidance. The control group performed basic stretching exercises. Diagnostic radiologic equipment was used for the measurement of neck-shoulder posture. Neck disability index, and numeric rating scales were used. Results: The CCFT showed a significant pre-post treatment difference on measures of neck flexion angle and forward shoulder angle changes compared to the ST and CG groups (p<0.05). The CCFT group also showed a significantly greater improvement on the neck disability index and numeric rating scales changes than the ST and CG groups (p<0.01). Conclusion: Because CCFT decreases neck flexion angle, forward shoulder angle, neck disability index, and pain in the forward head posture, it is useful for treating patients with neck disorders.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.15-21
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• 2018

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of cervical deep muscle flexion exercise (CCFE) on craniovertebral angle, pain, and neck disability for patients with chronic neck pain Methods: The subjects of this study were randomly divided into three groups of 30 patients with chronic neck pain: rectus abodominis functional massage (n=10), cervical deep muscle flexion exercises group (n=10), and the control group(n=10). To assess visual analog scale (VAS) was used to test the neck pain, To assess neck posture was used to craniovertebral angle, VAS was used to test the neck pain, neck disability index (NDI) was used to test the neck dysfunction. All measurements were performed before and after each intervention was applied 3 times a week for 4 weeks. Results: In the results of all measurements, 2 groups except for the control group showed a significant change in the recovery of posture, neck pain, neck disability index (p<.05). Conclusions: Our results of this study showed that applying cervical deep muscle flexion exercise and rectus abodominis functional massage to patients with chronic neck pain improved cervical posture, neck pain, neck disability.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.117-124
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• 2009

Purpose：The purpose of this study was to investigate of the change of the forward head posture(FHP) according to computer using time. Methods：Subjects were 30 male and 30 female. The factors of FHP were measured cranial vertical angle, cranial rotation angle, and head, upper back, neck flexion/extension angle according to computer using time. Change of FHP used to Digital Inclinometry(JTech, Dualer IQTM Dual Inclinometer). The data were collected by data logger(Logger Teknologi HB, Akarp, Sweden). Results：Cranial vertical angle, cranial rotation angle, and head, upper back, neck flexion/extension were increased according to computer using time(p<.05). But cranial vertical angle and cranial rotation angle, and head, upper back, neck flexion/extension were not significant differences between male and female group(p>.05). Conclusion：The effects of cranial vertical angle, cranial rotation angl and head, neck and upper back angle depend on the computer task time. Increased of FHP may result increased tension in posture muscles of cervical spine, resulting in a risk of musculoskeletal disorders.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• 제11권4호
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• pp.19-26
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• 2016

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of correction on posture parameters between a horse riding simulator exercise and a conventional exercise occurring in an open linear chain linking the head to the pelvis in the sagittal plane of young adults with a forward head posture. METHODS: In this study, 30 subjects were randomly divided into two groups of 15 subjects each, were assigned to the horse riding simulator exercise or the neck exercise group and they performed exercise 30 minutes per each round two times a week for six weeks. To determine the subjects' forward head posture, the three angles and three distances were measured. RESULTS: The forward head angle and head distance results showed a significant change between pre and post intervention in both group. The horizontal distance between acromion and tragus results showed a significant change between pre and post intervention in neck exercise group (CG), but no significant change in horse riding simulator exercise group (EG). The averages of each measured values of EG and CG before and after were compared, but there are no significant different between groups. CONCLUSION: Although the effects of the horse riding exercise were lower than those elicited by the neck exercise, the results demonstrated that the horse riding simulator exercise improved posture alignment for subjects with forward head posture. Therefore, the horse riding simulator exercise can constitute an appropriate alternative exercise for subjects with forward head posture.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• 제1권2호
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• pp.81-92
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• 2013

Purpose : This research was carried out to find how neck exercise program combined with self stretching and muscle strengthening program influences on smart phone addicts with forward head posture. Methods : The subjects of this study were 20 smart phone-addicts with forward head posture and we divided them into 2 groups. The experimental group(10 people) participated in neck exercise program as a intervention for 3 months and the control group(the other 10 people) didn't participate in neck exercise program. Neck exercise program were composed of self stretching and muscle strengthening program. Then we measured cervical alignment with GPS(Global Posture System) and evaluated balance ability with Balance Master ver 7.0 systems. Results : The result were as follows. 1. After the intervention, experimental group were significantly more closed to normal cervical alignment than control group. 2. After the intervention, experimental group increased in dynamic balance ability a little more than control group. Conclusion : Neck exercise program seems to get cervical alignment better and improve balance ability.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• 제39권6호
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• pp.278-283
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• 2018

Nowdays, many people suffer from the neck pain due to forward head posture(FHP) and text neck(TN). To assess the severity of the FHP and TN the craniovertebral angle(CVA) is used in clinincs. However, it is difficult to monitor the neck posture using the CVA in daily life. We propose a new method using the cervical flexion angle(CFA) obtained from a wearable sensor to monitor neck posture in daily life. 15 participants were requested to pose FHP and TN. The CFA from the wearable sensor was compared with the CVA observed from a 3D motion camera system to analyze their correlation. The determination coefficients between CFA and CVA were 0.80 in TN and 0.57 in FHP, and 0.69 in TN and FHP. From the monitoring the neck posture while using laptop computer for 20 minutes, this wearable sensor can estimate the CVA with the mean squared error of 2.1 degree.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.183-188
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• 2016

Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate neck posture, range of motion, muscle endurance and self-report of pain and disability in smartphone users. Methods: Seventy-eight university student volunteers, aged between 18 and 30 years (mean age 23.2), were assessed for: a head-neck posture by measuring cranial vertical angle, neck range of motions using cervical range of motion device, and a deep neck flexor endurance using a stabilizer. Finally, subjects were asked about their neck pain and completed disability questionnaires, ie, Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire, Neck Disability Index, and World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0. Results: Thirty-eight subjects experienced recurrent neck pain with/without upper limb pain (neck pain group) and 40 reported no current neck pain with/without upper limb pain (no neck pain group). Differences were found between groups on pain and disability questionnaires. Subjects with neck pain had significantly higher disability scores than those of no neck pain group. However, there were no differences observed between groups in a head-neck posture, neck range of motions, and deep neck muscle endurance time. The smartphone usage time was negatively correlated with neck pain intensity and disability score whereas it had positive relationship with flexibility and posture. Conclusion: Group differences were observed as lower capacity not only for neck specific daily activities but for general functioning in daily routine when the neck pain and no neck pain groups were compared. Therefore, functioning in daily activities should be investigated as prevention for further developing neck pain in smartphone users.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.189-197
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• 2022

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a lower trapezius strengthening exercise program on an unstable support surface on pain, neck dysfunction, psychosocial factors, and postural alignment in neck pain patients with forward head posture. Design: A randomized controlled trial Methods: A total of 36 neck pain patients participated in this study. Screening tests were performed and assigned to experimental group (n=18) and control group (n=18) using randomization program. Both groups performed the lower trapezius strengthening exercise program. In addition, in the experimental group, an exercise program for lower trapezius muscle strengthening was performed on an unstable support surface. All interventions were performed 3 times a week, for a total of 5 weeks. quadruple visual analogue scale (QVAS), neck disability index (NDI), short form (SF)-12, and postural alignment were measured before and after the intervention to compare their effectiveness. Results: Both groups showed significant differences in QVAS, NDI, SF-12, and postural alignment before and after intervention (p<0.05). In addition, the experimental group showed significant differences in NDI and postural alignment compared to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusions: The lower trapezius strengthening exercise program on unstable support surfaces is an effective intervention method with clinical significance in improving neck disability and postural alignment in patients with neck pain with forward head posture.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.55-64
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• 2021

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to apply dynamic neuromuscular stabilization (DNS) to subjects with forward head posture (FHP) and to compare its effects on respiratory function as against the conventional neck stabilization exercise and neck stretching and extensor strengthening exercises. METHODS: The whole-body posture measurement system was used to measure the degree of FHP, and a spirometer and a respiratory gas analyzer were used to measure the respiratory function. After the intervention was completed, the changes over time were analyzed in the DNS group, the neck stabilization exercise group, and the neck stretching and extensor strengthening exercise group. The inter-group difference in the changes was also analyzed. A repeated ANOVA was performed to compare the respiratory function according to the period between the three groups, and the least significant difference (LSD) method was used for the post hoc test. RESULTS: After the 6-week exercise period, respiratory functions, such as forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume for 1 second (FEV1), forced expiratory volume for 1 sec/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC), maximum oxygen intake (VO₂max), and the volume of expired gas (VE), significantly improved according to the period (p < .05), but no inter-group differences were found. CONCLUSION: DNS is an effective training method, and can be applied along with neck stabilization exercise and neck stretching and extensor strengthening exercises, which are widely used in clinical practice, to people with FHP who cannot directly perform neck exercises to improve their respiratory function.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• 제7권4호
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• pp.265-272
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• 2019

Purpose : Excessive computer use frequently results in musculoskeletal disorders of the neck and shoulder such as forward head posture (FHP). The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of neck and shoulder exercise program on spino-pelvic alignment and the correlation between change in head and neck posture and spino-pelvic alignment in FHP. Methods : The study included 44 participants with FHP. The participants performed the exercise for correction of FHP 2-3 times a week for 4 weeks. We examined whole spine X-ray images in the lateral standing position with both arms crossed. We measured anterior head translation distance (AHT), craniovertebral angle (CVA), cervical lordosis (CL), thoracic kyphosis (TK), lumbosacral lordosis (LSL), sacral slope (SS), pelvic tilt (PT), and pelvic incidence (PI) of the subjects. The association between change in AHT and each spino-pelvic parameter was also subjected to Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis. Results : There were statistically significant differences before and after exercise in the parameters of AHT, CVA, and SS (p<.05). Significant negative correlation was observed between the change in AHT and CVA (r=-.768, p<.001), and CL (r=-.388, p<.05). There was significant positive correlation between the change in AHT and SS (r=.328, p<.05), and PI (r=.333, p<.05). However, no significant correlation was observed in change in AHT with that of TK, LSL, and PT. Conclusion : Based on the above results, we conclude that there is a relationship between change in AHT, which is a parameter associated with forward displacement of the head, and that of CVA, CL, SS, and PI after exercise in cases of FHP.