• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.93-108
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• 2006

Purpose : To evaluate effects of McKenzie exercise on the functional recovery and forward head posture of chronic neck pain patients. Methods : The subjects were consisted of fifteen patients who had abnormal neck posture, mild neck pain (28 males, 17 females; mean aged 21.9) from 19 to 33 years of age(mean age 21.9). All subjects were received McKenzie exercise for 35 minutes with clinical massage per day three times a week during 4 weeks period. Neck disability index was used to measure functional disability level. Visual analogue scale(VAS) was used to measure subjective pain level. craniovetebral angle(CVA), cranial rotation angle(CRA) was used to measure forward head posture with digital camera. All measurements of each patients were measured at pre-treatment and after 2 week, after 4 week, post-treatment on 2 week. Result : The VAS of McKenzie exercise was significantly reduced between pre-treatment and post-treatment (p<.05) and effects of pain reduce was continued follow 2 weeks. The Neck Disability Index of McKenzie exercise was significantly reduced between pre-treatment and post-treatment (p<.05) and effects of pain reduce was continued follow 2 weeks. The CVA of McKenzie exercise was significantly reduced between pre-treatment and post-treatment (p<.05) and effects of pain reduce was continued follow 2 weeks. The CRA of McKenzie exercise was not significantly reduced between pre-treatment and post-treatment (p<.05). Conclusion : McKenzie exercise improved pain and function of Chronic neck pain patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2015

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to observe the effect of pain and function according to the high and low manual passive coping strategies after whiplash injury. METHODS: The study was tested with 30 patients with neck pain. Coping was measured at after 10 days using the Pain Management Inventory. Group was divided into high passive(experimental) and low passive(control) group. All patients were equally treated with the ordinary therapy. Patients attended physical therapy for 3 times a week, for 6 weeks. Visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, Pain Disability Index (PDI), neck disability index (NDI), were recorded both before and after the intervention. RESULTS: Each coping strategy group were evaluated after 6 weeks. VAS has been significantly reduced in both groups (p <.05). PDI and NDI was significantly decreased after the experiment before. In the experimental group (p <.001), the control group showed no significant difference. In the comparison between groups VAS was significantly reduced compared with the control group (p <.05), PDI and NDI was significantly reduced compared with the control group (p <.001). CONCLUSION: Low passive coping strategy predicts neck pain and disability recovery. It may be beneficial to assess and improve coping strategy early in whiplash injury.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.42-56
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• 2019

Background: Individuals with mechanical neck pain show biomechanical and neurophysiological changes, including cervical spine muscle weakness. As a result of deep muscle weakness, it causes stability disability and reduced upper thoracic spine mobility, which finally leads to functional movement restriction such as limited range of motion and dysfunction. Recent studies have shown that thoracic spine manipulation and mobilization could reduce symptoms of mechanical neck pain in patients. Objects: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of thoracic mobility exercise on cervicothoracic function, posture feature, and pain intensity in individuals with mechanical neck pain. Methods: The study subjects were 26 persons who were randomly assigned to the experimental (with thoracic mobility exercise) and control groups (without thoracic mobility exercise), with 13 subjects in each group. The cervicothoracic function (neck functional disability level and cervicothoracic range of motion), posture feature, and pain rating (using a quadrupled visual analogue scale [QVAS]) were measured before, after 3 weeks, and after 6 weeks. Results: Statistically significant group-by-time interactions were found with repeated analyses of variance for the Korean neck disability index (KNDI), all cervical range of motion (CROM), all thoracic range of motion (TROM), cranial rotation angle, sagittal shoulder posture (SSP), and QVAS (p<.05). All groups showed significant improvements from all times in all the evaluated methods. The KNDI, CROM, TROM of left rotation, and SSP in the experimental group showed significant improvements after 3 weeks, and the TROM of the right rotation and QVAS in the experimental group showed significant improvements after 6 weeks when compared with the control group. Conclusion: Thoracic mobility exercise during 6 weeks might be effective intervention to improve the functional level, posture feature, and QVAS pain rating for managing individuals with mechanical neck pain.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.201-210
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• 2021

This study was conducted not only to find out the effect of straight body exercise on neck pain, necks disability and neck length change of turtle neck syndrome patients but also to provide fundamental data for this field in the future. Number of 60 persons were selected by pre-test and divided to 21 persons in straight body exercise group, 19 persons in exercise group and 20 persons in control group(non-exercise group). 5 kinds of straight body exercise were applied in straight body exercise group, 8 kinds of strengthening cervical vertebral exercise were applied in exercise group and no exercise was applied in control group. Neck pain, necks disability index and neck length were measured before and after exercise and 10 weeks later as well. The data were analyzed by SPSS(v18.0). In straight body exercise group and exercise group, neck length, neck pain and necks disability index were significantly decreased after eight weeks of exercise and there was no significant difference in control group. Neck length which was checked every week in straight body exercise group and exercise group was significantly decreased and there were significant differences after 3 weeks.. After 2 weeks of 8 weeks exercise, neck length, neck pain and necks disability were checked again in post test and those results were maintained just like 8 weeks exercise status. As above results, it was more efficient in the straight body exercise group than exercise group and control group to decrease neck pain, necks disability and neck length of turtle neck syndrome patients. Furthermore, after 2 weeks of 8 weeks exercise, the results were maintained just like 8 weeks exercise status. Therefore, the author consider that straight body exercise will be effective exercise for turtle neck syndrome patients, and this study would provide fundamental data for this field in the future.

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

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.143-154
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• 2024

PURPOSE: The present study was conducted to improve the understanding of the Korean Standard Functional, Disability, and Health Classification (KCF) and its ease of use in the clinical domain of the musculoskeletal system by comparing, analyzing, and linking the KCF codes with items from patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), which are currently mainly used to evaluate patients with neck, shoulder, waist, and knee pain. METHODS: The items of the most widely used PROMs, the Neck Disability Index (NDI), Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) scores, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and the codes of the KCF were linked by two experts according to the linking rules. RESULTS: The concordance between the items of each of the PROMs and the KCF code linked by the two experts was NDI,86.4%86.4%, DASH 83.3%, ODI 92.0%, and WOMAC 80.7%. The NDI, DASH, and WOMAC indexes were found to comprise items corresponding to physical function, activity, and participation areas, and were linked to 22, 43, and 31 KCF codes, respectively. In addition to these two areas, the ODI included items related to environmental factors and was linked to 25 codes (duplicated codes are treated as one). CONCLUSION: This research can be used by adding the KCF code to the questions of the currently used evaluation tool. This coding can be easily applied and will contribute to the easy understanding of the KCF.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.39-51
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• 2022

Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of neck and shoulder self-stretching exercise using audiovisual media on neck pain, postural alignment, and joint position error in women with chronic neck pain. Methods: The subjects included 20 women that gave consent to participate in the study voluntarily. They performed the self-stretching exercises using audiovisual media was carried out 20 minutes 5 times a week during 3 weeks. Neck disability index (NDI) and visual analogue scale (VAS) were used to measure the functional disability and pain, A pressure pain threshold was measured using an algometer, and a cervical range of motion (CROM) measurement tool was used to measure the range of motion and error of proprioceptive position sense of the cervical spine. To assess posture alignment, forward head angle (FHA), forward shoulder angle (FSA) were measured using image J software. Results: The neck pain intensity was statistically significantly within group (p<.05). Neck and shoulder functional disability were a statistically significant difference within group (p<.05). Splenius capitis and upper trapezius pressure pain threshold were statistically significant difference in within group (p<.05). The postural alignment was statistically significantly within group (p<.05). The cervical range of motion in neck extension, right and left lateral flexion were statistically significantly within group (p<.05). The joint position error in neck flexion, extension, right and left lateral flexion decreased statistically significantly within group (p<.05). Conclusion: Self-stretching exercise using audiovisual media increased the mobility of the neck, decreased neck pain and joint position error, and improved posture alignment. As a result, there was a positive effect by applying the self-stretching exercise using audiovisual media to people with neck pain. Based on this, it is thought that it can be used as the basis for research related to home training programs for healthy self-management.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.99-109
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• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to analysis the relationship between hours of smartphone use and neck pain in university students. Methods : A survey of 2,353 university students was conducted in Gyeonggi province and Incheon city using a self report questionnaire from April 1 to 11 2013. The questionnaire of questions regarding the hours of using smartphone, mainly used function in participant's smartphone and neck discomfort degree. Neck disability index(NDI) was used to evaluate degree of pain. The collected data were analyzed with the t-test and Kendall's tau test using the SPSS 21.0 program and R 3.1.0, respectively. Results : 1. Almost all of the survey participants(99.07 %) were smartphone users. 66.97 % of them answered that they use their smartphone daily more than 2 hours and 48.18 % of them answered that they use their smartphone 10 to 30 minutes everytime they use it. 2. The overall distribution of NDI scores was 'no disability(0~4 score, 62.92 %)', 'mild disability(5~14 score, 32.85 %)', 'moderate disability(15~24 score, 1.19 %)'. As a result of t-test, we found that the average NDI score for female students was significantly higher than the average NDI score for male students(p<0.05). 3. The Kendall's tau test revealed that total time spent daily using smartphones has a strong positive correlation with 'pain intensity', 'lifting', 'reading' 'headache', 'concentration', and 'driving'(p<0.05) in NDI. Also, time duration of one time smartphone usage has a strong positive correlation with 'pain intensity', 'lifting', 'reading', 'headache', 'concentration', 'work', and 'recreation'(p<0.05). 4. The Kendall's tau test revealed that total NDI scores have a significantly strong positive correlation with both of total time spent daily using smartphones(p<0.05) and time duration for one time smartphone usage(p<0.05). This results imply that long-time use of smartphone has a strong relationship with neck pain. Conclusions : The results of the study would be a good starting point for future studies to reduce the risks of chronic neck pain caused by smartphone usage.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2013

Background: The purpose of this study is to analysis of correlation upper body according to forward head posture. Methods: The subjects of this study were 40 female university students who were equally and randomly allocated to a forward head posture group, normal group. Using general posture system, electromyograph, visual analogue scale, tape measurement, neck disability index were evaluated. Results: There was positive correlation between posture analysis and Sternocleidomastoid, neck flexion (p<.05). There was positive correlation between Craniovertebral angle (CVA) and trapezius upper, VAS (p<.05). There was negative correlation between posture analysis and CVA (p<.05). There was negative correlation between Cranial rotation angle and CVA (p<.05). Conclusion: Increased forward head posture lead to increase of pain, muscles activity, so it suggests to be necessary on the prevention of dysfunction and limited activities daily living.