• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.218-223
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of active vibration exercise on the neck pain, disability index, and muscle activity of patients with forward head posture. Methods: A total of 24 patients were randomly assigned to an experimental group or a control group (n=12 each). The experimental group performed active vibration exercise using a flexi-bar for 20 minutes a day, five times a week for four weeks. The study measured patient neck pain using a visual analog scale, neck pain related disability using the neck disability index, and muscle activity using electromyography. Results: The intragroup comparison showed significant differences in the visual analog scale score, neck disability index score and upper trapezius, lower trapezius and serratus anterior muscle activity values among patients in the experimental group. The intergroup comparison showed that differences in the visual analog scale score, neck disability index score and upper trapezius, lower trapezius and serratus anterior muscle activity values in the control group. Conclusion: This study showed that active vibration exercise was effective in improving the neck pain, disability index, and muscle activity of patients with forward head posture.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.319-324
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• 2020

Purpose: This study was to investigate the effect of dorsal neck muscle fatigue on the cervical range of motion (CROM) and proprioception in adults with the forward head posture (FHP). Methods: Thirty pain-free subjects were enrolled in this study. All subjects were measured the forward head angle by taking the capture of the sagittal plane of their upper body to determine the FHP. Subjects were distributed into two groups: the FHP group (n=14) and Control group (n=16). All subjects were measured the CROM and the Head repositioning accuracy (HRA) for joint proprioception before and after inducing muscle fatigue of the dorsal neck. The CROM and HRA were measured in neck flexion, extension, right-left lateral flexion, and right-left rotation. Sorenson's test was used to induce muscle fatigue of the dorsal neck. Results: Total CROMs were significantly decreased after dorsal neck muscle fatigue in both groups (p<0.05). Total HRAs were significantly increased after dorsal neck muscle fatigue in the FHP group (p<0.05), but there were no significant differences in the control group (p>0.05). Total CROM changes were not significant differences between groups (p>0.05), but total HRA changes were significant differences between groups (p<0.05) except for right and left lateral flexion (p>0.05). Conclusion: Immediate CROM and proprioception reduction after the dorsal neck muscle fatigue were observed in adults with the FHP. Therefore, FHP can significantly affect the CROM and positioning consistency of cervical proprioception.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.57-69
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• 2019

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze the effects of neck and trunk combined exercise program and single exercise on neck angle and neck and shoulder muscle activity. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: In the single exercise group, the basic stretching, head bending and neck bending exercises were performed. The neck and trunk combined exercise group performed torso strength and trunk stability exercises to stabilize the trunk, and then performed the same neck exercise as the single exercise group. The exercise program was conducted 5 days per week for 2 weeks. One-way repeated ANOVA was used to investigate the statistical analysis of neck angle, neck and upper and middle trapezius muscle activity. Results: 1) There was no significant difference in neck angle degree after exercise in neck single exercise group. 2) In the neck and trunk combined exercise, the neck angle degree decreased continuously with the increase of the experimental period and showed a significant difference. 3) In the single exercise group, the muscles which showed significant difference compared to the post-exercise were the right upper, left and right middle trapezius. 4) In the neck and trunk combined exercise group, the right neck muscles showed significant difference after the exercise before the experiment. Conclusion: It was found that the neck and trunk combined exercise was more effective in reducing neck angle and the muscle activity of the subjects with forward head posture was decreased and increased. However, both exercises showed positive effects.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.250-252
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• 2010

Vascular leiomyomas are benign tumors of smooth muscle origin arising from the muscularis layer of blood vessel walls. They can occur anywhere in the body where smooth muscle is found and usually occur in the lower extremity as a slow-growing, firm, occasionally painful mass. However they are rare in the head and neck and very rare in hard palate. Here we report a case of a vascular leiomyoma presenting as a soft mass of the hard palate and review the literatures.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.7-20
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• 2019

Objectives The purpose of this study was to improve the comfort of daily life such as reduction of headache and increase of movement of neck by using muscle relaxation approach and joint movement approach for office worker with tension type headache of foward head posture sitting over 5 hours. Methods For this, 9 male and 15 female participated in the foward head posture with tension type headache. Each group consisted of 3 male and 5 female. Groups are divided into groups, such as muscle relaxation therapy, joint movement therapy, muscle relaxation and joint movement therapy. After intervention for each group for a month, we measured neck movement and head disability index and neck disability index 2 week. SPSS 23.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) was used for data analysis. The one-way repeated analysis of variance (ANOVA), one-way ANOVA, compared t-test was used for statistical analysis. Results Three intervention groups have brought improvements in neck movement and daily life comfort. There is significant difference in the improvement of neck extension and change in neck disability index between 2 and 4 weeks in the joint movement approach compared to muscle relaxation approach, muscle relaxation and joint movement approach. Conclusions Office workers are exposed to tension type headache. However, muscle relaxation approach and joint movement approach can improve neck movement and daily life comfort.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.51-59
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• 2020

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to provide clinical basic data to reduce pain and improve function by comparing neck muscle activity and neck alignment using self-stretching and passive stretching exercises for chronic neck pain caused by forward head posture. METHODS: The subjects were divided into 15 subjects assigned to perform self-stretching exercise and 15 subjects assigned to perform passive stretching exercise. The intervention was conducted for a total of 4 weeks. The muscle activity in the neck was measured by surface electromyography (EMG) before intervention, and craniovertebral and cranial rotation angles were measured by X-ray. The 4-week intervention was conducted and the above items re-measured in the same manner and analyzed. RESULTS: Muscle activity within both groups after intervention using self-stretching or passive stretching exercise was significantly different (p < .05)(p < .01). Neck alignment of both groups was significantly different (p < .001)(p < .01). Further, muscle activities of the upper trapezius and splenius capitis muscles showed significant differences (p<.05). Lastly, neck alignment showed statistically significant difference (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Self-stretching exercise activated motor nerves as a posture correction exercise, thereby improving inhibition of muscle activity, muscle contraction delay, and pathological conditions of the muscle. For future research, interventions of self-stretching exercise will be needed for patients with chronic back pain accompanied by forward head posture, and various clinical studies on postural improvement of forward head posture by maintaining a normal muscle tone state are needed.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.23-30
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• 2023

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of joint mobilization and muscle strengthening exercises on neck function, range of motion, and muscle tone in patients with forward head posture. Methods: A total 32 subjects were divided into muscle strengthening exercise (n=16) and joint mobilization (n=16) who met the diagnostic criteria for the forward head posture, and the study method used the neck disability index (NDI) and BPM Pro to compare the range of motion. Results: As a result of the study, there was no significant difference between each group, and when looking at the differences before and after each group, there was a significant difference in neck pain in both groups. There was a significant difference in muscle tension in the joint mobilization group, but there was no significant difference in the muscle strengthening exercise group. In the range of joint mobilization, there was a significant difference in the range of left joint mobilization of the joint mobilization group, there was no significant difference in the range of right joint mobilization, and there was no significant difference in the range of joint mobilization of the muscle strengthening exercise group. Conclusion: The above results revealed that joint mobilization and muscle strengthening exercises were effective on neck function, range of motion, and muscle tone in forward head posture patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.121-127
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• 2017

PURPOSE: Forward head posture and turtle neck are common musculoskeletal disorders of the cervical vertebrae. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of combined exercise training and chiropractic on the grip strength and cervical muscle strength of subjects with forward head posture and turtle neck. METHODS: The subjects were divided into two groups: forward head posture (n=9) and turtle neck (n=9). Both groups performed combined exercise training and chiropractic. The subjects were instructed about the exercise training once a week. This training was performed for 30 minutes every day for 8 weeks, and the chiropractic was performed for 15 minutes once a week. The cervical muscle strength and grip strength were measured. Two-way repeated measured ANOVA was performed for statistical analysis. RESULTS: In changes to the left grip strength, the main effect over time was significant, but the interaction effect and the main effect in the groups were not significant. In changes to the right grip strength, no difference was found to be statistically significant. In changes to the cervical muscle strength, no difference was found to be statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The increases of grips strengths and cervical muscle strength in forward head posture group were greater than turtle neck group but there were not found to be statistically significant.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.145-154
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• 2023

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of the sling exercise wearing a neck orthosis on the craniovertebral angle, muscle tension, and headaches in adults with a forward head posture and tension headache. METHODS: In this single-blinded, randomized, controlled, comparative study, a total of 22 adults with forward head postures and tension headaches were randomly assigned to the experimental group (sling exercise wearing a neck orthosis, n = 11) or the control group (sling exercise without a neck orthosis, n = 11). All participants undertook the sling exercise program (3×/week for 4 weeks). The craniovertebral angle, muscle tension, and headache were measured before and after the 4-week training. RESULTS: Significant improvements were observed in the craniovertebral angle, muscle tension, and headache in the experimental group (p < .05). This group also showed a larger decrease in the muscle tension and headache (upper trapezius, -4.97 Hz vs -1.70 Hz, p < .05; splenius capitis, -5.44 Hz vs -2.54 Hz, p < .05; headache, -19.73 score vs -14.64 score, p < .05, respectively). CONCLUSION: The sling exercise wearing a neck orthosis could be an effective way to relieve the symptoms caused by a forward head posture. It could also be a more effective way of decreasing muscle tension and headaches than the sling exercise without wearing a neck orthosis.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2017

Objective: This study tried to examine the muscle activity of the neck and trunk according to head posture changes during use of laptops. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: This study included nineteen young men and women. All subjects maintained each posture while practice typing on laptops for ten minutes with a 5-minute break between each posture. For the neutral head posture, the subjects practiced typing while pulling their chins down towards the Adam's apple and were able to look at their knees while having their external auditory meatus, acromion, and greater trochanter vertical to the ground. For the natural head posture, they practiced typing while balancing their posture between extension and flexion of the cervical vertebrae by themselves without any guidelines. While a forward head posture was created by having their heads face the front horizontal to the rope hanging from the ceiling, they practiced typing with their external auditory meatus located in the place which was 5 cm in front of the vertical plane. The subjects used general word process but practiced typing with accuracy and high speed. Muscle activities were randomly measured using surface electromyography according to each postures. Results: The research result had found that muscle activity with the natural head posture was more significantly reduced than that of the forward head posture in the sternocleidomastoid muscle, upper trapezius, cervical vertebral spinae, and thoracic vertebrae spinae muscles (p<0.05) and that the neutral head posture was more significantly reduced than that of forward head posture in the upper trapezius, cervical vertebral spinae, and thoracic vertebrae spinae muscle activity (p<0.05) with significant increases in lumbar spinae muscle activity (p<0.05). Also, muscle activity with the neutral head posture significantly increased more in the sternocleidomastoid muscle and lumbar spinae than that of the natural posture (p<0.05). Conclusions: Our study results suggest that in order to prevent musculoskeletal pain, the neutral head posture with use of laptops is effective in reducing load to the shoulders and vitalizing the postural muscles.