• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.1897-1902
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• 2019

Background: Tension-type headaches, which make up the highest proportion of headaches, are prone to develop into chronic tension-type headaches (CTTH). The characteristic of CTTH in patients is that the active myofascial trigger point (ATrP) which causes pain in the muscles of the back of the head is increased, compared to the normal headache and moves the head position forward. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of myofascial release (MFR) and posture correction in effectively improving neck function and sleep quality in the symptoms of CTTH patients. Design: Observer-blind study Methods: To reduce ATrP, MFR was applied and exercise was also applied to correct posture. The subjects of this study were 48 individuals randomly divided into three groups; The MFR group using the MFR technique; The MFR with exercise group subject to both the MFR technique and forward head position correction exercises (MFREx), and the control group. MFR and MFREx groups were given the relevant interventions twice a week for four consecutive weeks, and went through the number ATrPs, range of motion (ROM) of neck, Neck Disability Index (NDI) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) before and after the intervention. A physical therapist, who was fully familiar with the measuring methods of the equipment, was the measurer and not aware of the target's condition was blinded to take measurements only before and after intervention. Results: There was a significant improvement in the ATrP, Neck ROM, NDI and PSQI in the group of patients to whom the MFR technique and MFREx were applied. MFREx was more effective in increasing neck mobility. Conclusions: According to this study, the application of MFR is effective in improving neck movement and sleep quality in chronic tension headache patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.455-463
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• 2014

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of Graston and self-myofascial release (SMR) techniques on knee joint flexibility, hamstring, and quadriceps strength. METHODS: Twenty subjects with hamstring shortness participated in this study. The subjects were assigned randomly to one of two groups: The Graston technique (GT) group received intervention using a Graston instrument for one minute, and the SMR group performed self-exercises using a foam roll for one minute. The range of motion (ROM) of the knee joint was measured by active knee extension test, and a handheld dynamometer was utilized to collect the hamstring and quadriceps muscle strength. This experiment was performed by two physical therapists. The significant level was set at ${\alpha}$=0.05. RESULTS: The results were as follows: 1) The ROM of the knee joint and quadriceps muscle strength were significantly increased in both groups. 2) Hamstring muscle strength was significantly reduced in both groups. 3) There were no significant differences between the GT group and SMR group for any variable. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that SMR is an effective and easy technique for restoring proper muscle length and strength in subjects with hamstring shortness. We recommend that SMR technique be used for treat hamstring shortness in clinical setting and home-program.

• 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.

• 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.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.87-95
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• 2013

Objectives: This report of three cases illustrates the potential effect of chuna therapy and myofascial release technique on back pain and curve regression in the at-risk, skeletally immature patient with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Methods: The correction program for scoliosis takes 3 month per case. Chuna Therapy and MRT were given once a week and other oriental medicine care was given twice a week to care the complications of scoliosis. The Cobb's angle(by X-ray, Full spine view) and Visual analogue scale(VAS) were evaluated before and after the treatments. Results: After the program, both of Cobb's angle and VAS decreased. Conclusion: Though it is a case report, we found Chuna Therapy and MRT might have valid effect on adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients. Further rigorous case series and controlled trials are warranted.

• 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.

• 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.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2024

Background: This study was conducted to apply active release techniques to male youth basketball players to help improve physical development and damage prevention and improve performance through improved balance and functional movement. Design: Randomized control trial. Methods: The subjects included 33 youth basketball players who were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n=17) and the control group (n=16). For the experimental group, the active release technique was applied to the hip muscles, calf muscles, posterior thigh muscles based on the distribution of injuries surveyed in youth basketball players in the Korean Basksetball League. The Y-balance test and the functional reach test (FRT) were used to assess balance and the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) was used to assess functional movement. Interventions were conducted twice a week for 4 weeks at 40 minutes per session. The experimental group was the active release technique group, and static stretching, a common exercise therapy technique, and self-myofascial release using a foam roller were applied for 20 minutes. The control group received general exercise therapy and placebo active release technique. The placebo active release technique applies pressure only. results:The experimental group showed a greater improvement in balance, as evidenced by the FRT, compared to the control group, which received general exercise treatment. However, there was no statistically significant difference in improvement between the 2 groups. In the case of the experimental group, the difference in the Y balance test before and after the intervention was larger than that of the control group, but there was no statistically significant difference. Significant improvement was found in functional movement, as evidence by the FMS, for the trunk stability test (p < 0.05), in-line lunge test (p < 0.05), rotational stability test (p < 0.05), total score (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In this study, the active release technique improved the balance and functional movement of young basketball players more than general exercise therapy. The application of the active release technique is therefore expected to assist in physical development, prevent damage, and improve the performance of youth basketball players.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.1-9
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• 2009

Background: The purpose of this study is to find out the effect on the improvement in idiopathic scoliosis when applying the orthopedic manual physical therapy and myofascial release technique. Methods: 20 patients in Cheon-An ${\bigcirc}{\bigcirc}$ hospital were selected as subjects whose Cobb's angle were higher than $10^{\circ}$ according to the radiograph. They were treated for 60 minutes a day, three days a week, and 8 weeks so that the total time of visit would be 24. We performed five tests (Moire test, X-ray, standing height test, Cobb's angle, pelvic level test, VAS) to indentifiy the therapeutic effects. Results: Four test results were improved more remarkably after those treatment than before(p<.001), except pelvic level test (p>.001). Conclusion: we confirmed that there were correcting effects on most of the valuation index from the primary analysis, which divided the subjects into 2 groups by Cobb's angle, but there were more effective in patients having lower than $25^{\circ}$. There were similarly correcting effects on most of the valuation index according to the secondary analysis, but there were particularly more effective in children.

• 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.