• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate effect of applying self-myofascial release (SMR) to the plantar fascia using a foam roller on hamstring and lumbar spine superficial back line (SBL). Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Thirty-one healthy adults agreed to the method and purpose of the study. Selection and exclusion criteria were screened, and baseline measurements for the Toe Touch test and passive straight leg raise (PSLR) test were obtained. The participants were then randomly assigned to the SMR group or the sham group. After group assignment, the SMR group rolled the surface of the foot from the heel to the metatarsal head using a foam roller for 5 minutes. The sham group received passive mobilization of the ankle joint in the supine position. Afterwards, the Toe Touch test and the passive straight leg-raise test were re-assessed. Results: In the SMR group, the Toe Touch test results showed significant improvement (p<0.05). Left and right PSLR test results showed a significant increase (p<0.05). In the sham group, there was no significant difference between pre and post-test results. The SMR group showed a significant difference in the PSLR test and Toe Touch test compared to the sham group (p<0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study showed that SMR on the plantar fascia was immediately effective for improving the flexibility of the SBL of the lumbar spine and hamstring.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.89-93
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• 2016

Objectives : The purpose of this case is to report the improvement after treatment about a patient with meralgia paresthetica. Methods : We treated the patient with acupucture therapy, cupping therapy, electroacupuncture therapy, percutaneous radiofrequency thermoablation and myofascial release technique by Turbo SASO from $26^{th}$ June 2015 to $3^{rd}$ July 2015 by evaluating femoral function with VAS score. Results : After 5 times of treatment, this patient achieved excellent outcome following the technique, showing that clinical symptom as able to walked and pain was disappeared, VAS changed from 10 to 3 and the result of patrick test came out negative. Conclusions : The various symptoms appear in the Meralgia paresthetica such as numbness, paresthesia, and pain in the anterolateral thigh, which may result from either an entrapment neuropathy or a neuroma of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve(LFCN). Oriental medical treatment for meralgia paresthetica resulted in satisfactory results by diminishing the symptoms progressively during the five days of treatment. Differential diagnosis was based on careful physical examination. More research of meralgia paresthetica is needed.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.74-78
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• 2019

Objective: Myofascial release (MFR) is used to restore tissue extensibility of the fascia tissue and is considered to be useful in a number of clinical settings, such as low back pain (LBP). Dynamic myofascial release (DMFR) is the manual therapy, which combined the conventional MFR with the joint mobilization. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the DMFR on trunk mobility, and furthermore, whether the increase of trunk mobility can carry over the improvement of dynamic standing balance in persons with chronic nonspecific LBP. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Thirty persons with chronic non-specific LBP participated in the study and were randomly assigned to the DMFR group (n=15) or the control group (n=15). DMFR was performed for two sessions (15 minutes/session) per week for four weeks for the treatment group. Both the DMFR and control groups were allowed to perform low-intensity physical activities during the treatment period. The Modified-modified $Sch{\ddot{o}}ber$ test (MMST) for trunk mobility and the Functional Reach Test (FRT) for dynamic standing balance were measured before and after the treatment period in both the DMFR group and the control group. Results: The MMST value of DMFR group increased significantly in all trunk range of motion (flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation) after treatment, compared with the control group (p<0.05). Additionally, the FRT value of the DMFR group improved significantly after treatment, compared with the control group (p<0.05). Conclusions: We suggest that DMFR have a positive effect on trunk mobility and standing balance in persons with chronic LBP.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.43-52
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• 2021

Purpose : Chronic neck pain negatively impacts the quality of life and causes various problems in daily life due to pain, insomnia, and sleep disturbances in patients with this condition. Therapeutic interventions to solve these problems in rehabilitation and physical therapy are being introduced; however, the evidence of the efficacy of myofascial release (MFR) is still insufficient. This study aimed to investigate the effects of applying MFR on pain, insomnia, and sleep disturbances in patients with chronic neck pain. Methods : Ten patients with chronic neck pain were randomly selected and grouped into the experimental group (n₁ = 10) and control group (n₂ = 10) by cross-over design. Pain was measured before and after MFR intervention. Moreover, insomnia was measured only after MFR intervention. Polysomnography was performed after MFR intervention. Wilcoxon signed rank test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for the visual analog scale (VAS). Independent sample t-test was separately performed to measure insomnia and sleep. Results : After MFR intervention, the VAS score of the experimental group (p = 0.005) significantly decreased than that of the control group (p = 0.002). The insomnia score of the experimental group significantly decreased than that of the control group (p = 0.001). The total sleep time (p = 0.001), sleep efficiency (p = 0.001), and sleep latency (p = 0.001) of the experimental group significantly increased than those of the control group in the polysomnographic measurement. Conclusion : The application of MFR of the neck and upper trunk may have a positive effect on pain, insomnia, and sleep disturbances in patients with chronic neck pain. It was also suggested that an objective and quantitative polysomnography can be used more often in the field of rehabilitation and physical therapy.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.89-94
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• 2023

Purpose: This study investigates the impact of self-myofascial release using a foam roller on the quadriceps femoris for pelvic stability. We further compare the effects of a GRID surface Foam Roller (GFR), a Non-Vibration Foam Roller (NVFR), and a Vibration Foam Roller (VFR). Methods: Thirty healthy adults (15 males, 15 females) participated in this study and were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: GFR, NVFR, or VFR. Participants walked at self-selected speeds with an arm sling before and after foam roller stretching. The analyzed gait parameters included pelvic tilt, pelvic obliquity, and pelvic rotation. Results: In the NVFR and VFR groups, there was a Significant differences were obtained in the pelvic tilt between pre-test and post-test values (p<0.05) in the NVFR and VFR groups, but no significant difference was observed in the GFR group (p>0.05). Comparing the amount of change between the three groups exhibited a significant decrease in pelvic tilt in the NVFR and VFR groups compared to the GFR group (p<0.017). No significant differences were found in pelvic obliquity and pelvic rotation (p>0.05) in all groups. Conclusion: While walking, the use of a VFR for self-myofascial release results in pelvic alteration by reducing the anterior pelvic tilt. We propose that a foam roller can be utilized to enhance pelvic stability during gait.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.63-74
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aims to compare hamstring flexibility and pressure pain threshold (PPT) after an intervention with proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation contract-relax (PNF CR) technique, myofascial release (MFR), and a massage gun (MG), as well as to verify the effectiveness of the MG. Methods: This study recruited 36 participants (22 males and 14 females) with shortening of less than 70 degrees upon a straight leg raise (SLR) test, and they were randomly assigned to one of the PNF, MG, and MFR groups, each of which underwent its own protocol for 30 minutes. Flexibility of the hamstring was measured after the intervention using the active and passive knee extension (AKE and PKE) test, the sit and reach test, and PPT. Results: The AKE and PKE angles significantly decreased, as well as significantly increased in flexibility when each of the PNF, MFR, and MG interventions was performed (p<0.05). In addition, there was no significant difference among groups. However, according to the Cohen's D effect size, the MG demonstrated the largest effect size in AKE (d = 1.41) and PNF demonstrated the largest effect size in PKE (d = 1.66) and flexibility (d = 0.63). Conclusion: All interventions used in our study are effective in increasing hamstring flexibility. Based on the Cohen's D effect size, an MG is beneficial to increase the AKE, whereas PNF CR technique is recommended for increasing PKE and flexibility.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.87-93
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• 2012

Background: Headaches arising from cervical musculoskeletal disorders are common. Conservative therapies are recommended as the choice of first treatment. Evidence to the effects of manual therapy is inconclusive and available only during the short term. There is no evidence to exercise, and no study has investigated the effect of combined therapies for cervicogenic headache. Methods: In this study, 30 participants who met the diagnostic criteria for cervicogenic headache were randomized into two groups: experimental group and control group. The experimental group was performed myofascial release (MFR), Mulligan technique and self stretching exercises. The control group was performed electrical therapy and self stretching exercises. Assessments were performed to 30 participants before and after 4 weeks therapy. The components of assessments were headache intensity(HI), headcahe duration (HD), neck pain (NP) and neck disability index (NDI). Results: After 4 weeks therapy, HI, HD, neck pain and NDI were significantly reduced in both groups (p<.01). The HI, HD, neck pain and NDI were significantly reduced in experimental group more than in the control group (p<.01). Conclusions: Manual therapy could reduce the symptoms of cervicogenic headache.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.119-130
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• 2021

Purpose : We aimed to validate a new manual therapy to treat tension type headache(TTH) by applying myofascial release techniques to the scalp and to examine the changes in the quality of life and the headache characteristics after treatment and at the 6-month follow-up. Methods : Thirty patients were recruited in this study and were assigned to two groups through simple random sampling. Fifteen patients were assigned to the manual therapy group (MT) and 15 patients to the scalp myofascial release technique (SMT) group. However, five patients from the MT group and one from the SMT group were excluded. Therefore, 24 patients with TTH (10 males, 14 females) participated in the study. Patients underwent either MT or SMT. The procedures were performed by a physical therapist twice per week for 4 weeks. The quality of life [using the brief pain inventory (BPI) and the headache impact test (HIT)], and the frequency, duration, and intensity of the headache [on a visual analog scale (VAS)] were assessed before and after the treatment, and at the follow-up. Results : After 4 weeks of SMT, the frequency (p<.001), duration (p<.05), and intensity (p<.001) of the headache and the quality of life (HIT; p <.001, BPI; p<.001) significantly improved in the patients with TTH. The improvement in these parameters remained significant even after 6 months of follow-up. Similarly, After 4 weeks of MT, the frequency (p<.05), duration (p<.05), and intensity (p<.01) of the headache, and the quality of life (HIT; p<.05, BPI; p<.001) significantly improved in the patients with TTH. The improvement in these parameters remained significant even after 6 months of follow-up. There was no significant difference in these parameters between the two groups. Conclusion : It has been suggested that MT using the SMT can be used as a non-invasive treatment to treat the frequency, duration, and intensity of the TTH, and to improve the quality of life.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.146-146
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• 2023

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.45-51
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• 2017

Objective: This study aimed to identify the area with greatest effect using self-myofascial release technique (self-MFR) in the hamstring, suboccipital, and plantar regions. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Twenty-two adult subjects were evaluated for flexibility and hamstring pain threshold after self-MFR. Based on the superficial back line, the self-MFR application areas were the suboccipital region, hamstring, and plantar regions. Self-MFR was applied to each area using a wooden pole for a total of 4 minutes. Self-MFR was applied for 3 days at the same time of day, which was randomly assigned for each subject. Treatment was applied to one area each day. The sit and reach test (SRT), active range of motion (AROM), and passive ROM (PROM) were used to determine changes in flexibility, and an algometer was used to determine pain threshold. Pre/post-self-MFR effectiveness was tested using a paired t-test. Repeated measurement was used to compare self-MFR effects in the suboccipital, hamstring, and plantar regions. Results: When the self-MFR technique was applied to the 3 areas, the SRT showed significant improvement over baseline (p<0.05). Bilateral AROM and PROM showed significant improvements (p<0.05). When the self-MFR technique was applied to the hamstring, the semimembranosus showed a significant change in pain threshold (p<0.05). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that indirect application based on the Anatomy Trains could be effective for those who need to improve muscle flexibility. Moreover, self-MFR easily alleviates myofascial pain while maintaining flexibility, and can be performed at any time and place.