• PNF and Movement
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.245-254
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• 2020

Purpose: The study investigated the effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy with myofascial release techniques (ESWT+MFR) on pain, movement, and function in patients with myofascial pain syndrome. Methods: Forty participants with upper trapezius trigger points were recruited and randomly allocated to two groups: an experimental group (n = 20) and a control group (n = 20). The experimental group performed the ESWT+MFR, and the control group performed only myofascial release techniques. Each group was treated for 15 minutes, twice a week for four weeks. Pain was assessed using a visual analogue scale and a pressure pain threshold measure. Movement was assessed by cervical range of motion, and cervical and shoulder function were assessed on the Constant-Murley Scale and the Neck Disability Index before and after treatment. Results: The results indicate statistically significant improvements in the two groups on all parameters after intervention as compared to baseline (p < 0.05). As compared to the control group, the experimental group showed statistically significant improvements on the visual analogue scale and pressure pain threshold, cervical range of motion (except rotation), and on the Neck Disability Index (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The ESWT+MFR is more effective than myofascial release techniques for pain, movement, and function in patients with myofascial pain syndrome and would be clinically useful for physical therapists treating myofascial pain syndrome.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.53-63
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between neck pain and physical factors in female office workers. Methods : Neck pain group of 31 female subjects complained of neck and arm discomfort. Normal group of 20 female subjects had no complaints or minimal discomfort. Cervical curvature and muscle tone were assessed by whole spine x-ray, meridian-electromyography(MEMG), craniovertebral angle. Neck pain was evaluated by Neck Disability Index(NDI) and Visual Analog Scale(VAS). Results : The NDI score and contraction power of upper trapezius by MEMG had a relationship significantly. However, there was no relationship between NDI and cervical curvature. Conclusions : The results suggest that neck pain is related to muscle tone rather than physical stress and cervical curvature.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.1-16
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• 2016

Objectives : This study was designed to evaluate various tools including C-spine X-ray for estimating cervical curvature and identify the effect of wooden pillow on patients diagnosed with straightening of cervical curvature. Methods : This study was carried out on 51 subjects who were encountered traffic accident suffering cervical pain and diagnosed with straightening of cervical curvature by X-ray. 51 subjects were divided into wooden pillow(experimental) group and conservative therapy(control) group. Visual analogue scale, neck disability index and lateral pictures were used and compared after treatment. C-spine AP., Lat. X-ray were used on admission day to calculate cervical curvature and scoliosis by various ways. Results : 4 different measurements of cervical curvature didn't show common results. Both wooden pillow(experimental) group and conservative therapy(control) group showed significant improvement in the visual analogue scale(VAS) and neck disability index(NDI) after hospital treatment. Comparison between center line pictured by lateral view and C-spine Lat. pictured by X-ray showed significant difference in cervical curvature. Lateral deviation of cervical vertebra showed lengthened distance between mastoid process and spinous process of C7. Conclusion : As a result of this research, I found out that various tools for calculating cervical lordosis could derive different results and C-spine AP., Lat X-ray could cause artificial cervical lordosis. According to visual analogue scale(VAS) and neck disability index(NDI) wooden pillow was not effective to reduce pain & disability caused by straightening of cervical curvature. Futhermore, correction effect of straightening of cervical curvature and scoliosis by wooden pillow was weak.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.48-53
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• 2019

Objectives : The aim of this study was to observe the clinical effect of warming acupunture therapy at Buyang(BL59), Golyun(BL60) in a traffic accident patient with neck pain. Methods : A 32-years-old, female patient with neck pain was treated by warming acupunture therapy at Buyang(BL59), Golyun(BL60) from April 28th to May 5th. The improvement of the patient's neck pain was evaluated by Visual Analog Scale(VAS), Pain Rating Score(PRS) and Neck Disability Index(NDI). Result : After treatment, flexion & extension VAS was decreased from 7.0 to 3.0 and lateral bending VAS was decreased from 7.5 to 4.0. PRS and NDI was improved 70 to 54, 41 to 35, respectively. Conclusions : The result suggests that warming acupunture therapy at Buyang(BL59), Golyun(BL60) may have therapeutic effect on neck pain patients.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.261-267
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• 2023

Forward head posture (FHP) is a musculoskeletal disorder that causes neck pain. Several exercise interventions have been used in South Korea to improve craniovertebral angle (CVA) and relieve neck pain. There has been no domestic literature review study over the past 5 years that has investigated trends and effects of exercise intervention methods for CVA with neck pain. This domestic literature review aimed to evaluate the trends and effects of exercise interventions on CVA and neck pain in persons with FHP. A review of domestic literature published in Korean or English language between 2018 and 2022 was performed. Literature search was conducted on Google Scholar and Korea Citation Index by using the following keywords: "exercise," "exercise therapy," "exercise program," "forward head posture," and "neck pain." Ten studies were included in this review. All of the studies showed positive improvements after intervention programs that included exercises. Notably, four of these studies demonstrated significant differences in results between the experimental and control groups. Among the 10 studies, nine measured visual analogue scale or numerical rating scale scores and reported significant reductions in pain following interventions, including exercise programs. Five of these studies showed significant differences in results between the experimental and control groups. Furthermore, six studies that used neck disability index exhibited a significant decrease in symptoms after implementing intervention programs that included exercise, and significant differences in results were found between the experimental and control groups. This domestic literature review provides consistent evidence to support the application of various exercise intervention programs to improve CVA and relieve neck pain from FHP. Further studies are warranted to review the effects of various exercise interventions on FHP reported not only in domestic but also in international literature.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.36-41
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• 2021

Many prior studies on neck pain after a traffic accident (TA), but there is a lack of research on risk factors for post-TA neck pain in Korea. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between post-traffic neck pain and the demographic characteristics of TA patients and to find any factors affecting the neck pain after TA. In this study, 120 TA patients in a Korean medicine hosipital were analysized. The Korean version of the Neck disability Index (NDI) and Numeral Rating Scale (NRS) were used. Data were summarized by frequency(%) and mean(standard deviation). Pearson correlation test, Independent sample t-test, chi-squre test, one-way ANOVA and two-way ANOVA were performed. The IBM SPSS Advanced Statistics for window, version 20.0 was used for statistical processing. All p-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. NDI and NRS were highly correlated. NRS and NDI showed higher scores for women, those in 30s, BMI≥25, and side collisions, but there were no statistically significant differences. For women, the direction of collision was observed to affect NDI. In this study, it was confirmed that the NDI and NRS had a high correlation. However, it was confirmed that sex, degree of obesity, direction of traffic accident collision are not factors that significantly affect the intensity of neck pain and the functional disorder by neck. It is necessary to conduct an additional study by larger scale.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.277-288
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• 2018

Background: Neck and back pain are leading sources of disability placing substantial burden on health care systems. Surgical interventions in managing chronic neck pain secondary to various disorders continue to increase. Even though surgical interventions are effective, a significant proportion of patients continue to have symptomatology and develop cervical post-surgery syndrome. This study was performed to know the effectiveness of cervical interlaminar epidural injections with or without steroids. Methods: The effectiveness of fluoroscopic cervical interlaminar epidural injections in post-surgery syndrome was evaluated in a randomized, active controlled trial. The study population included 116 patients assigned to 2 groups. Group 1 received cervical interlaminar epidural injections with local anesthetic alone and Group 2 received injection with local anesthetic and steroids. The main outcomes were defined as significant improvement (greater than 50%) of pain relief using the numeric rating scale and/or functional status improvement using the Neck Disability Index (NDI). Results: Both groups had similar results with significant improvement (${\geq}50%$ pain relief and functional status improvement) in 69% of the patients in Group I, whereas, in Group II, 71% of the patients showed significant improvement at the end of 2 years. During a 2-year period, the average number of procedures was 5 to 6, with an average of approximately 12 weeks of significant improvement per procedure. Conclusions: Fluoroscopic cervical interlaminar epidural injections administered in cervical post-surgery syndrome using local anesthetic, regardless of the use of steroids, may be effective in approximately 70% of the patients at 2-year follow-up.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.168-178
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• 2004

The purposes of this paper were to investigate the effect of active treatment compared with a conservative treatment and to provide the information for physical therapy in patients suffering from chronic neck pain. Forty female subjects who were diagnosed with cervical radiculopathy participated in this study and were divided into the conservative and active treatment groups. The active treatment group consisted of 20 patients who were treated with therapeutic modalities and active neck exercise program during the admission (15 days) and one month after discharge. The conservative treatment group consisted of 20 patients who were not received with active neck exercise program. The assessment tools were made using visual analogue scale(VAS), neck disability index(NDI) and modified Zung depression scale(MZDS). All subjects were measured three times: before the admission, at discharge, and at one month after discharge. Data were compared by groups using independent t-test. VAS, NDI and MZDS scores measured at admission and discharge were not significantly different between the groups. On the assessment performed one month after discharge, VAS and NDI scores were significantly lower for the active treatment group compared with those of the conservative treatment group(p<0.05), but MZDS score was not significantly different between the groups. In the comparison of two treatment methods for chronic neck pain, active treatment was more effective than conservative treatment. The findings of the study indicate that active treatment in chronic neck pain has a positive effect in relieving pain and restoring neck function.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.21-29
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to find out the effects of myofascial releasement on nuchal pain caused by traffic accidents. Methods : The 30 patients were divided into 2 groups : group A was treated except myofascial releasement and group B was treated with myofascial releasement. Both group were treated with acupuncture treatment, physical theraphy and herbal medication. Patients were evaluated by McGill Pain Questionnaire-Short Form(SF-MPQ), Visual Analogue Scale(VAS), Pain Disability Index(PDI) and Neck Disability Index(NDI). Results : 1. Both Group were significantly decreased in affective of SF-MPQ, VAS, after 10 times of treatment. 2. Group B compared with the Group A was significantly decreased in affective of SF-MPQ, NDI and PDI after 10 times of treatment. Conclusions : We found out that myofascial releasement is considered to be effective and useful on nuchal pain caused by traffic accidents.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.1-8
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• 2010

Purpose: The main causes of chronic neck pain (CNP) are wrong postures and degenerative changes. This study investigated the effects of specific exercise on elderly women with CNP. Methods: 29 elderly women who complain of CNP were classified into experimental group (14) and control group (15). The experimental group was treated with specific exercise and minimal conventional therapy, whereas the control group was treated only with conventional therapy. Then the effects on the visual analogue scale (VAS), neck disability index (NDI), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), Korean form of geriatric depression scale (KGDS), and range of motion (ROM) were compared between the two groups. Results: The experimental group showed significantly improved results in VAS, NDI, SAS, KGDS, and ROM after intervention (p<0.05), as did the control group (p<0.05). The comparison of changes in the experimental group before and after intervention showed superior results in the SAS, NDI, and ROM (flexion, rotation, lat. flexion) results when compared with the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Specific exercise is effective in the improvement of SAS, NDI, and ROM for elderly women with CNP.