• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.321-328
• /
• 2022

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of neck stabilization exercise combined with vibroacoustic sound on patients with chronic neck pain and tension-type headache. Design: Two group pre test - post test design. Methods: 36 patients participated. Headache impact test-6(HIT-6), numerical rating scale(NRS) and muscle characteristics were measured at pre-post test. Participants divided into vibroacoustic sound group(VSG, n=18), control group(CG, n=18). VSG performed neck stabilization exercise and vibroacoustic sound stimulation. CG performed neck stabilization exercise. Both groups participated 3 times a week for a total of 4 weeks. Results: NRS showed a significant difference before and after intervention in both groups (p<0.05). HIT-6 showed a significant difference before and after intervention in the VSG group (p<0.05). Muscle tone showed a significant difference before and after intervention in the experimental group (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in muscle stiffness and muscle elasticity before and after the intervention in both groups (p>0.05). Conclusions: Based on the results of the study, it is thought that sonic vibroacoustic sound can be established as an effective treatment tool through a study applied to various diseases and symptoms.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.18 no.6
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 2006

Purpose: This study compared the effects of non-cold and cold conditions on the viscoelastic properties of tendon structures in vivo. Methods: Seven male subjects perfomed plantar flesion exercise with maximal isokinetic voluntary contraction, which consisted of muscle contraction for 6 see and relaxation for 60 secs, 10 times for 1 set, Totally 10 sets were repeated. Before and after each task, the elongation of the tendon and aponeurosis of the medial gastrocnemius muscle (MG) was directly measured by ultrasonography. (The relationship between the estimated tendon force and tendon elongation.) Tendon cross-sectional area and ankle joint moment arm were obtained from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The tendon force was calculated from the joint moments and the tendon moment arm and stress was obtained by dividing force by cross-sectional areas (CSA). The strain was measured from the displacements normalized to tendon length. Results: After cooling, the tendon force was larger in cold than non-cold. The value of the tendon stiffness of MVC were significantly higher under the cold condition than under the non-cold condition. The maximal strain and stress of $7.4{\pm}0.7%$ and $36.4{\pm}1.8$ MPa in non-cold and $7.8{\pm}8.5%,\;31.8{\pm}1.1$ MPa in cold (P<0.05). Conclusion: This study shows for the first time that the muscle endurance in cooling increases the stiffness and Young's modulus of human tendons. The improvement in muscle endurance with cooling was directly related to muscle and tendon.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.271-281
• /
• 2021

Purpose : This study aimed to apply muscle relaxation exercise and ultrasound therapy as an effective treatment method for tension headache patients by comparatively analyzing the muscle mechanical properties, neck disorder index, and headache impact test. Method : The subjects were classified into three groups based on the intervention received: the therapeutic ultrasound (n=15, group I), placebo therapeutic ultrasound combined with the suboccipital release (n=15, group II), and therapeutic ultrasound combined with suboccipital release (n=15, group III) groups. The intragroup and intergroup differences in muscle mechanical properties, neck disability index, and headache impact test were compared and analyzed. Result : The comparison and analyses of the changes in muscle tone and post hoc analysis revealed statistically significant intragroup decreases in the suboccipitalis and upper trapezius in groups I and III. Furthermore, statistically significant intergroup differences in the upper trapezius with a greater change in group III than in group II and suboccipitalis with greater changes in group III than in groups I and II were observed. The comparison and analyses of the changes in muscle stiffness and post hoc analysis revealed statistically significant intragroup decreases in the upper trapezius in group I and suboccipitalis in group III. Moreover, statistically significant intergroup differences in both muscles with greater changes in group III than in group II for both cases were observed. The comparison and analyses of the changes in the neck disability index and post hoc analysis revealed statistically significant intragroup decreases in all three groups and statistically significant intergroup differences with greater changes in group III than in groups I and II. The comparison and analyses of the changes in the headache impact test and post hoc analysis revealed statistically significant intragroup decreases in all three groups and a statistically significant intergroup difference with greater changes in group III than in groups I and II. Conclusion : The therapeutic ultrasound and suboccipital muscle release exercise effectively increased the flexibility of the muscles around the cervical vertebrae and reduced muscle tension and stiffness in tension-type headache patients.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2002.10a
• /
• pp.77.5-77
• /
• 2002

A mechanical device was developed for assisting the grasping function of a person whose fingers suffered cervical injury and thus are unable to grasp. This device is composed of a mechanical glove put on the user's hand and a muscle sensor to measure the activity of his or her muscle. The mechanical glove consists of a finger frame, a base and an air cylinder mounted on the base. With the kinematics carefully designed, the finger frame can achieve the grasping motion under the actuation of the air cylinder. For controlling this motion, an innovative sensor was developed to detect the user's motion intention. The sensor measures the change of the muscle stiffness...

• Journal of Veterinary Science
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.45.1-45.6
• /
• 2023

Bovine spastic paresis (BSP) is a neuromuscular disorder characterized by hypertension and stiffness of hindlimb. Two Korean native cattle (Hanwoo) calves developed BSP or BSP-like symptoms, and a tenotomy of superficial tendon of medial head and deep tendon of lateral head of gastrocnemius muscle was performed for treatment. A cast was applied postoperatively to prevent muscle rupture and was removed three weeks later. The prognosis was evaluated at 3 weeks, 6 and 18 months postoperatively. Neither calf showed any other postoperative sequelae. This is the first case study to report the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of BSP in Hanwoo.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.88-95
• /
• 2008

Purpose: This study was to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of the Resistance Exercise Program on pain, stiffness, ADL and bone mineral density in Arthritis Patients at home. Methods: Forty-two patients participated in this study and they were divided randomly into two groups (exercise and control group). Two subjects dropped during the study period. The exercise group had a structured training which was 50 minutes in duration, five times per week for a period of 16 weeks and the control group without any scheduled treatment. Data were gathered for 16 weeks (May 21, 2007- September 10, 2007) and were analyzed by using SPSS Win 12.0. Results: The pain, stiffness, ADL, balance and bone mineral density in the exercise group were improved significantly after the Resistance Exercise Program. However, a significant improvement on the above mentioned variables was not observed in the control group.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.55-70
• /
• 2024

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of three relaxation techniques, namely, Static Stretching Exercise (SSE), Eccentric Contraction Exercise (ECE), and Suboccipital Muscle Release (SMR) on the flexibility and balance of the lower limb in adults with hamstring shortening. Methods: The participants were 45 adults in their 20s with hamstring shortening. They performed three exercises (i.e., SSE, ECE, and SMR) for two weeks. We measured flexibility, muscle tone and stiffness, proprioception, and balance before and after the intervention, applying each relaxation technique. Data were analyzed using two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). The significance level was set at α=0.05. Results: Flexibility increased in the SSE, ECE, and SMR groups, with the SSE group showing the greatest improvement. Muscle tone and stiffness decreased in all groups, with the ECE group exhibiting the highest reduction. Proprioception increased in the SSE, ECE, and SMR groups, with SSE demonstrating the greatest enhancement. Balance also increased in all groups, with the ECE group showing the most pronounced improvement. Conclusion: Overall, all three relaxation techniques for hamstring shortening resulted in improved flexibility, muscle tone and stiffness, proprioception, and balance of the lower limb in adults with hamstring shortening. The findings of this study underscore the importance of selecting an appropriate technique according to the purpose of treatment and the condition of the patient.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.191-197
• /
• 2017

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a community-based muscle and joint self-management program with muscle stretching and muscle strengthening exercises for community-dwelling older adults. Methods: The study was a pre-and-post design in a single group, which examined the effects after the intervention of muscle and joint self-management program for 6 weeks, on the 42 subjects of the elderly who registered in a Community Senior Center in J city. Data analyses were conducted with paired t-test by using a SAS (version 9.2 for Windows) program. Results: The effectiveness of muscle and joint self-management program on shoulder flexibility and right knee extension (flexibility) were significantly improved (t= 2.72, p= .010; t= -2.26, p= .029). Joint symptoms (pain, stiffness), physical functioning, depression, fatigue, and left knee extension were not significantly improved after the muscle and joint self-management program. Conclusion: The results showed the possibility of this 6-week exercise program in improving shoulder and knee flexibility for community-dwelling older adults.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.19-27
• /
• 2019

PURPOSE: This study examined which stretching exercise had the most positive effect on increasing the range of motion (ROM) of the knee joint in healthy people and whether there was a difference between continuous stretching and intermittent stretching. METHODS: This study included 30 healthy university students from OOO University. The subjects were asked to sit on a mat and perform hamstring-stretching exercise during which the ROM and muscle tone were measured with pre and post-tests. Each subject was assigned randomly to a continuous stretching group (stretching without relaxation time group, n=10, G1) or intermittent stretching group (stretching with 10s relaxing time group, n=10, G2; and stretching with 20s relaxing time group, n=10, G3). The participants conducted hamstring stretching exercises with a sit-and-reach box at three different rest times (0s, 10s, and 20s). Subsequently, they underwent passive knee extension (PKE) tests, in which the ROM of the knee joint was measured with a goniometer, and the muscle tone was evaluated using a MyotonPro. RESULTS: Significant differences in muscle tone, stiffness, and ROM were observed between pre-test and post-test in each groups (p<.05). Although the post hoc tests indicated no significant differences in muscle tone and ROM between the continuous stretching group and intermittent stretching group (p>.05), the rate of change of the ROM showed that the intermittent stretching group developed more effective maintenance of the hamstring flexibility. CONCLUSION: No significant differences in the muscle tone of the hamstring and ROM of the knee joint were observed according to the hamstring stretching exercises with three different rest times. On the other hand, the rate of change of the ROM showed that intermittent stretching maintained the hamstring flexibility more effectively.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.71-80
• /
• 2024

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching, based on ballistic stretching and the contract-relax technique, on hip joint flexibility and muscle tone in adults with shortened rectus femoris muscles. Methods: The study involved 40 adults with shortened rectus femoris muscles, identified using the modified Thomas test. Participants were randomly divided into two groups: PNF stretching, employing the contract-relax technique, and ballistic stretching. Measurements included muscle tension, hip joint range of motion, and muscle characteristics. The rectus femoris muscle shortening effect was confirmed by the modified Thomas test, while the flexibility effect was assessed through hip joint motion range. The muscle tension effect was determined using Myoton-PRO. Results: Both stretching methods resulted in significant improvements in modified Thomas test angles and frequency, with the PNF stretching group showing notably greater changes. However, neither stretching method significantly affected decrement or stiffness measurements. These findings suggest that PNF stretching may be more effective for certain outcomes compared to ballistic stretching. Conclusion: In summary, both stretching methods positively influenced flexibility and muscle tension, with PNF stretching showing a greater impact. These findings highlight the importance of selecting the appropriate stretching technique for achieving functional improvements in muscles, which could serve as valuable indicators for preventing and treating muscle injuries in both sports and daily activities.