• 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.17 no.1
• /
• pp.57-68
• /
• 2019

Purpose: This study is an investigation of the effects of long-term smart phone usage and of stretching on muscle stiffness, concentration, and visual acuity. Methods: Forty healthy young adults voluntarily participated in the study and were measured for muscle stiffness, concentration, and visual acuity before smartphone usage and after 30 minutes, 60 minutes, and 90 minutes of smartphone usage. The participants were randomly allocated to the intervention group (n=20) and the control group (n=20). Five minutes after the stretching exercise and eye exercise intervention, the participants were remeasured. Results: After long-term smartphone usage, increases in muscle stiffness and concentration were statistically significant (p<0.05), whereas decreases in visual acuity were statistically significant (p<0.05). After the stretching exercise and eye exercise intervention, muscle stiffness significantly decreased (p<0.05) and visual acuity significantly increased (p<0.05). Concentration, according to the stretching exercise and eye exercise intervention, showed no significant pre- or post-test difference. Conclusion: The results from this study indicate that long-term smartphone usage effectively improved concentration but increased muscle stiffness and decreased visual acuity. Appropriate stretching and eye movement during long-term smartphones usage should mitigate the effects on muscle stiffness and visual acuity. Furthermore, smartphones should be considered an effective tool for concentration training when coupled with the development of appropriate applications.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.15-22
• /
• 2010

Purpose : This study examines the effects of pre-eccentric exercise and stretch ing to bicepsbrachii to prevent delayed onset muscle soreness and recovery of muscular function depending on the training intensity with 28 normal adults in their twenties. Methods : The subjects were divided into a control group, a group without any previous eccentric exercise, and a stretching group. Pre-eccentric exercise group conducted exercise with the intensity of 25% of maximal voluntary contraction. Pre-eccentric exercise and stretching was applied before to induce delayed onset muscle soreness and after, 24 hour post, 48 hour post, and 72 hour post. Measurements were conducted to examine pain and muscular function changes before, immediately after, and after inducing delayed onset muscle soreness. After inducing delayed onset muscle soreness, measurements were taken at the 24th hour, 48th hour, and 72nd hour. Results : The pre-eccentric exercise group and stretching group showed a significant difference from the control group by isometric contract ion power and mechanical pain threshold as a result of measuring delayed onset muscle soreness. Conclusion : From these results, electrical stimulation using presynaptic inhibition mechanism of transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) had positive effects for walking ability on inhibition of muscle tone in lower extremity. The motor level stimulation group experienced a more significant effect than the sensory level stimulation group. Therefore, the transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) is considered to be effective on walking ability increasing through inhibition of muscle tone in lower extremity for rehabilitation of post stroke hemiplegic patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.93-101
• /
• 2019

PURPOSE: This study tries attempted to provide basic clinical data to reduce pain and improve function by comparing the muscle fatigue of the superficial neck muscles and neck disability index (NDI) by performing McKenzie exercise or passive stretching exercise for chronic neck pain patients. METHODS: Sixteen chronic neck pain patients were selected and divided into the McKenzie group (n=8) and passive stretching group (n=8). The intervention program was performed three times a week for four weeks. The time for one exercise was 30 minutes. Before the intervention, the muscle fatigue the superficial neck muscles and NDI were measured. They were measured again after four weeks using the same method. RESULTS: The median frequency of the superficial neck muscles increased significantly in the McKenzie group and passive stretching group (p<.05). The NDI of both the McKenzie group and the passive stretching group decreased significantly. A comparison of the groups, revealed a significant difference in only the median frequency values of the upper trapezius muscle and splenius capitis muscle (p<.05). The NDI values of both groups were similar. CONCLUSION: Both McKenzie exercise and passive stretching exercises showed a significant difference in the degree of fatigue and NDI. McKenzie exercise delayed the replace of the fast twitch fibers which helped improve the muscle fatigue of the upper trapezius muscle and splenius capitis muscle. On the other hand, additional studies applying more variables for the muscle function to improve the symptom of chronic neck pain patients will be needed.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
• /
• v.11 no.8
• /
• pp.265-272
• /
• 2013

The purpose of this study was to provide a foundation for the methods of stretching in sports activities. The subjects were normal adults, the applied exercise was dynamic and static stretching and the research methods were measuring the jump height and muscle activity during jumping with subsequent data comparison and analysis. Twenty normal adults were randomly divided into 2 groups, and each group performed dynamic or static stretching. Jump height and the vastus lateralis and gastrocnemius muscle activities were measured during jumping, which was performed immediately before and after stretching. Statistical analysis was performed using an analysis of covariance. The results indicated that dynamic stretching was more effective than static stretching with respect to both jump height (p<.05) and muscle activity of the vastus lateralis (p<.05). Consequently, it was believed that dynamic stretching should be applied as a warm-up exercise for athletes who need to build and maintain high muscle strength.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.31-39
• /
• 2016

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of flexibility and foot pressure on stretching exercise of hamstring muscle with and without pelvis neutral position. Methods : This study was performed on 30 subjects. Thirty subjects were divided into two group; hamstring passive stretching exercise with pelvis neutral position(n=15), hamstring passive stretching exercise without pelvis neutral position(n=15). Both of the group performed the exercise 4 times a week for 6 weeks. The data was analyzed by the paired t-test for comparing before and after changes of factors in each group and the independent t-test for comparing the between groups. Results : The results were as follows. There was statistically significant difference of before and after hamstring flexibility, foot pressure in pelvis neutral position(p<0.05). There was statistically significant difference of before and after hamstring flexibility, foot pressure without pelvis neutral position group(p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference of between the two group in hamstring flexibility, foot pressure(p>0.05). Conclusion : As a result of this study, though no statistically significant difference of the between groups, we suggest that stretching exercise of hamstring muscle with pelvic neutral may be effective more than stretching exercise of hamstring muscle without pelvic neutral in flexibility, foot pressure.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.13 no.10
• /
• pp.4676-4685
• /
• 2012

We investigated to compare the effects of a low intensity eccentric exercise and dynamic stretching on symptoms of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). The eighteen women who had not participated in a regular exercise programme for the lower extremities in the previous five months were randomly assigned to one of three experimental groups: control group, a low intensity eccentric exercise group and dynamic stretching group. We measured the joint range of motion (ROM), maximal voluntary isometric exercise (MVIC), muscle soreness rating scale and ultrasound image measurement before eccentric exercise inducing DOMS, and 24, 48, and 72 hours after an eccentric exercise inducing DOMS. The exercise programme in a low intensity eccentric exercise group and dynamic stretching group were respectively performed 3 times a week for 4 weeks before eccentric exercise inducing DOMS. There was significantly different between the groups in muscle soreness rating scale and MVIC (p<.05). However, there was not significantly different between groups in ultrasound image measurement and ROM (p<.05). These results suggest that a low intensity eccentric exercise group and dynamic stretching group effectively reduced muscle soreness rating scale out of the symptoms of DOMS. A low intensity eccentric exercise group may be an effective improvement than dynamic stretching group in muscle soreness rating scale.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.11-17
• /
• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to provide objective and basic data for an effective treatment method by examining changes in the mechanical properties of muscles and the degree of tenderness when a combination of stretching exercise and ultrasound therapy is applied to patients with tension headaches. Methods: The participants were classified into two groups based on the intervention received: the therapeutic ultrasound combined with suboccipital stretching (n=15, experimental group) and infrared combined with suboccipital stretching (n=15, control group) groups. The intragroup differences in mechanical muscle properties and modified total tenderness score were compared and analyzed. Results: The comparison and analyses of the changes in muscle tone and stiffness revealed statistically significant intragroup decreases in the upper trapezius and suboccipitalis in the experimental group. Similarly, the comparison and analyses of the changes in muscle stiffness revealed statistically significant intragroup decreases in the upper trapezius in the control group. Conclusion: Therapeutic ultrasound combined with suboccipitalis stretching effectively increased the flexibility of the muscles around the cervical vertebrae and reduced muscle tension and stiffness in tension-type headache patients

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.259-268
• /
• 2022

Objective: The purpose of this study was to measure the immediate effect of hip hinge exercise stretching on hamstring flexibility, pelvic tilting angle, proprioception, and dynamic balance in individual with tightness of the hamstring. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Methods: A total of 35 healthy young adults (27 males, 8 females) volunteered for this study and randomly divided into three groups (Hip hinge exercise stretching group, passive stretching group, and PNF stretching group). The hamstring flexibility, pelvic tilting angle, knee joint proprioception, dynamic balance was conducted for 3 times. In order to evaluate the hamstring flexibility, the active knee extension test was performed. Forward bending test was performed to examine pelvic tilting angle.The proprioception was tested by the joint position sense test and dynamic balance was evaluated by Y balance test. Results: The hamstring flexibility, pelvic tilting angle and dynamic balance were significantly improved between three groups before and after intervention (p<0.05). Dynamic balance was significantly difference between the three groups in the posterolateral direction (p<0.05). Conclusions: This study result showed that hip hinge exercise stretching was the most effective method for increasing hamstring flexibility, pelvic tilting angle and dynamic balance. In addition, it is necessary to study whether hamstring stretching is effective in low back pain patient with hamstrings tightness.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.5-13
• /
• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of stretching exercise and aquatic exercise program on flexibility, pain and quality of life (QoL) in patients with osteoarthritis. Methods: Fifty elderly women were assigned either to the stretching exercise (SEG, n=25) or to the aquatic exercise groups (AEG, n=25) after 6-week self-help education program. SEG carried out supervised stretching exercise and water exercise training program was conducted by AEG (60 min/day, 2 days/wk) for 8 weeks. Flexibility, pain, and quality of life were measured by Senior Fitness Test Manual (Rikli & Jones, 2gr5), pain rating scale (0-10) and the questionnaire by World Health Organization Quality of Life BREF (Min et al., 2gr0), respectively. Results: Both SEG (all, p&H;.05) and AEG (all, p&H;.05) increased left upper and lower-body flexibility, measured by a measuring tape. Pain significantly decreased both in SEG (p=.000) and AEG (p=.004). Quality of life was significantly improved only for the SEG. Conclusion: The 8-week stretching exercise program would significantly improve flexibility, pain control and QoL in patients with osteoarthritis.