• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.319-324
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• 2020

Purpose: This study was to investigate the effect of dorsal neck muscle fatigue on the cervical range of motion (CROM) and proprioception in adults with the forward head posture (FHP). Methods: Thirty pain-free subjects were enrolled in this study. All subjects were measured the forward head angle by taking the capture of the sagittal plane of their upper body to determine the FHP. Subjects were distributed into two groups: the FHP group (n=14) and Control group (n=16). All subjects were measured the CROM and the Head repositioning accuracy (HRA) for joint proprioception before and after inducing muscle fatigue of the dorsal neck. The CROM and HRA were measured in neck flexion, extension, right-left lateral flexion, and right-left rotation. Sorenson's test was used to induce muscle fatigue of the dorsal neck. Results: Total CROMs were significantly decreased after dorsal neck muscle fatigue in both groups (p<0.05). Total HRAs were significantly increased after dorsal neck muscle fatigue in the FHP group (p<0.05), but there were no significant differences in the control group (p>0.05). Total CROM changes were not significant differences between groups (p>0.05), but total HRA changes were significant differences between groups (p<0.05) except for right and left lateral flexion (p>0.05). Conclusion: Immediate CROM and proprioception reduction after the dorsal neck muscle fatigue were observed in adults with the FHP. Therefore, FHP can significantly affect the CROM and positioning consistency of cervical proprioception.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2009

Purpose：The purpose of this study was to investigate of the change of the forward head posture(FHP) according to computer using time. Methods：Subjects were 30 male and 30 female. The factors of FHP were measured cranial vertical angle, cranial rotation angle, and head, upper back, neck flexion/extension angle according to computer using time. Change of FHP used to Digital Inclinometry(JTech, Dualer IQTM Dual Inclinometer). The data were collected by data logger(Logger Teknologi HB, Akarp, Sweden). Results：Cranial vertical angle, cranial rotation angle, and head, upper back, neck flexion/extension were increased according to computer using time(p<.05). But cranial vertical angle and cranial rotation angle, and head, upper back, neck flexion/extension were not significant differences between male and female group(p>.05). Conclusion：The effects of cranial vertical angle, cranial rotation angl and head, neck and upper back angle depend on the computer task time. Increased of FHP may result increased tension in posture muscles of cervical spine, resulting in a risk of musculoskeletal disorders.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2021.10a
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• pp.561-562
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• 2021

In this paper, the angles are measured for bending so that the chin touches the chest by bending the neck and extension, which takes a posture as if raising the neck and looking at the ceiling. The basic bending angle is 45-50°, and the maximum range of motion is 80-90°. The angle of extension is also 40°~50° as default, and the normal is limited to 70°.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.1-10
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• 2011

This study compared the stability of the cervical spine according to the presence of neck pain and deep neck flexor performance. Thirty subjects with neck pain, and thirty subjects without neck pain were recruited for this study. The Cranio-cervical flexion (CCF) test was applied using a pressure biofeedback unit to classify the subjects into four subgroups; no cervical pain and good deep neck flexor performance (NG group), no cervical pain and poor deep neck flexor performance (NP group), cervical pain and good deep neck flexor performance (PG group), and cervical pain and poor deep neck flexor performance (PP group). The head sway angle was measured using a three-dimensional motion analysis system. A 3-kg weight was used for external perturbation with the subject sitting in a chair in the resting and erect head positions with voluntary contraction of the deep neck flexors. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed with a Bonferroni post hoc test. The deep neck flexor performance differed significantly among the four groups (p<.05). The NG group had significantly greater deep neck flexor performance than NP and PP groups. The stability of the cervical spine also differed significantly among the four groups in the resting head position (p<.05). The head sway angle was significantly smaller in NG group as compared with the other groups. The PP group had the greatest head sway angle in the resting head position. However, there was no significant difference in the stability of the cervical spine among the groups in the erect head position with voluntary contraction of deep neck flexors (p=.57). The results of this study suggest that the deep neck flexor performance is important for maintaining the stability of cervical spine from external perturbation.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.1914-1920
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• 2019

Background: Mobilization and cranio-cervical flexion exercise has been reported in reducing pain from cervical part and improving its motor function; also, has been represented that alleviate of neck pain and recover of neck muscles improve the normal gait performance. However, few studies have identified the effects of mobilization and exercise on pain and gait parameters with preceding issues. Objective: To examine the effects or changes of pressure pain threshold (PPT) and gait parameters in patients with chronic neck pain. Design: Cross-Sectional Clinical Trials Methods: Twenty patients with the history of neck pain (>3 months) performed the cervical mobilization and cranio-cervical flexion exercise. Gait parameters were assessed with wireless device and collected data were transmitted to the personal computer via Bluetooth. The PPT was measured posteroanterior direction at the prone position and the mean of subsequent three PPT measurements was used for the final analysis. Results: Both cervical central posteroanterior mobilization (CCPAM) (p<.000) and sling-based cranio-cervical flexion exercise (SBCCFE) (p<.000) group showed a significant increase in the PPT and the gait parameters, cadence (p<.023), was significantly increased in the CCPAM group, however slightly increased in the SBCCFE group. The comparison between the CCPAM and the SBCCFE groups after treatment did not show significant differences for the score on the PPT and gait parameters. Conclusions: This study suggests that CCPAM and SBCCFE increase PPT, cadence, and gait speed.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.24-30
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• 2019

Purpose: This study compared the effectiveness of three methods, fascial distortion model (FDM), myofascial release (MFR), self-myofascial release (SMR), on the neck range of motion and pain. Methods: In this study, the collected data were processed statistically using SPSS version 22.0 for Windows. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the general characteristics of the subjects. Repeated measure ANOVA was conducted to analyze the range of motion of the neck of the group and VAS, and Contras was used to see the difference in significance over time. One-way ANOVA was used to compare the differences among the groups and a post-hoc test was used. The significance level (${\alpha}$) was 0.05. Results: In the range of motion, the flexion and extension of the neck, right rotation, and left rotation were significantly different in the SMR, FDM, and MFR groups. The right lateral flexion showed significant differences in the FDM, MFR, and SMR groups. The VAS was similar in the groups at 2 and 4 weeks, but there was a significant difference among the FDM, MFR, and SMR groups at 6 weeks. Conclusion: In this study, MFR and MSR as well as FDM were effective in controlling the range of motion and pain control of the neck. Further studies will be needed to determine the effects of long-lasting treatments other than pain control. These studies and the present study will be used as a basis for ongoing research into the duration and method of application for musculoskeletal therapies.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.16-23
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• 2018

Postural instability can increase the likelihood of hazardous slip and fall accidents in workplaces. The present study intended to extend understanding of the effect of abnormal neck posture on postural control during quiet standing. The effect of body fatigue on the postural control was also of primary concern. Twelve healthy undergraduate students volunteered to participate in the experiment. Standing on a force platform with the neck neutral, flexed, extended, or rotated, subjects' center of pressures (COP) were measured under the two levels of body fatigue. For the fatigue condition, Subjects exercised in a treadmill to meet the predetermined level of body fatigue. Analyzing the position coordinates of COPs, the length of postural sway path was assessed in both medio-lateral (ML) axis and anterior-posterior (AP) axis. Results showed that, in AP direction, neck extension or rotation significantly increased the sway length as compared with neck neutral. Neck extension led to greater sway length compared to neck rotation. Neck flexion did not differ from neck neutral. The sway length in the AP direction also became significantly larger as the body fatigue accumulated after treadmill exercise. In ML direction, as compared to neutral posture, the neck extension, flexion, or rotation did not significantly affect the length of postural sway path. However, the sway length seemed to increase marginally with the neck extended during the fatigued condition. This study demonstrates that abnormal neck posture may interfere with postural control during standing. The ability to maintain postural stability decreases significantly with the neck extended or rotated. Body fatigue leads to postural instability further.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.253-261
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• 2013

PURPOSE: The Purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in the thickness of Sternocleidomastoid muscle(SCM) and deep cervical flexor muscle(DCF) through CranioCervical Flexion Exercise(CCFEx) Using Sling. METHODS: Subjects were randomly allocated two group: control group (n=21) without neck pain, experimental group (n=17) with pain. Muscle thickness was measured using CranioCervical Flexion Test(CCFT) and ultrasonography before or after intervention. RESULTS: In experimental group, compared with muscle thickness of exercise before, SCM thickness rate of change was slightly decreased according to pressure increased after exercise(p<.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that CCFEx using sling is effective for SCM and DCF of choric neck pain patients.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.338-349
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• 2000

Neck muscle forces and spinal loads at the C4/5 level were estimated that result from isometric voluntary ramp efforts gradually developing to maximums in flexion, extension, left lateral bending and right lateral bending. Electromyographic (EMG) activities, a three-dimensional anatomic data of the neck and a hybrid model, EMG-assisted optimization (EMGAO) model, were used. The model computed the cervical loads at 25%,50%,75%, and 100% of peak moments. The highest model-predicted C4/5 joint compressive forces occurred during flexion; $361\;({\pm}164)\;N,\;811\;({\pm}288)\;N,\;1207\;({\pm}491)\;N\;and\;1674\;({\pm}319)\;N$ in 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of peak moment respectively. Variations in load distribution among the agonistic muscles and co-contractions of antagonistic muscles were estimated during ramp efforts. Results suggest that higher C4/5 joint loads than previously reported are possible during isometric, voluntary muscle contractions. These higher physiological loads at C4/5 level must be considered possible during orthopedic reconstruction at this level.