• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.105-108
• /
• 1998

Backgrounds: Cervical epidural nerve block is useful in the management of a variety of acute, chronic and cancer related pain syndromes involving the head, face, neck and upper extrimity. To safely perfom the cervical epidural block, an appreciation of the expected distance from skin to epidural space is important. We studied the distance from skin to cervical epidural space of adults to determine if any relationship exists between patient height, weight and neck circumference and the distance from skin to epidural space. Methods: Patients 170, suffering from neck and upper extremity pain with cervical HIVD(herniated intervertebral dics) were selected. Cervical epidural block was performed at $C_{6\sim7}$ or $C_{7-}T_1$ intervertebral space. Then measured the distance from skin to epidural space and analysed the relationship between age, height, weight and neck circumference and the distance from skin to epidural space. Results: The cervical epidural depth of male $C_{6\sim7}$, male $C_{7-}T_1$, female $C_{6\sim7}$ and female $C_{7-}T_1$ groups were $5.17{\pm}0.63$, $5.47{\pm}0.59$, $4.84{\pm}0.56$ and $5.01{\pm}0.60$ cm respectively. Cervical epidural depth significantly correlated with body weight, ponderal index and neck circumference. Conclusions: The distance from skin to cervical epidural space has significant relationships with weight, ponderal index and neck circumference. Although experience is important, patient's weight and neck circumference are indicating factor, of the cervical epidural depth.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.133-139
• /
• 2010

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to compare about quantity of pain and fatigue according to cervical spine curvature of patient with neck pain. Methods : Cervical spine curvature was measured using the sagittal radiography of the cervical spine, neck pain was evaluated using the VAS and neck fatigue was evaluated using fatigue symptom checklist. Based on four line Cobb's method, 51 subjects were divided into hypolordosis group, normal group, hyperlordosis group. Window version SPSS 12K was used for statistical analysis about relation between pain and cervical spine curvature of each group, also about between fatigue and cervical spine curvature of each group. Results : 1. A significant difference was not found between pain and cervical curvature of each group. 2. A significant difference was not found between fatigue and cervical curvature of each group. Conclusions : There was no relation between pain and cervical curvature of each group, also fatigue and cervical curvature.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.197-202
• /
• 2015

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the effects of a proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) program on neck pain, cervical range of motion, pressure pain, and the cervical flexion-relaxation ratio in a visual display terminal (VDT) worker. Methods: We recruited a 33-year-old VDT worker diagnosed with chronic VDT syndrome. The subject was treated using a PNF program for 20 minutes a day, three times a week for six weeks. All evaluations were performed every two weeks on the first test day. Results: The PNF program resulted in a significant improvement in the subject's neck pain, cervical range of motion, pressure pain, and the cervical flexion-relaxation ratio after six weeks, in comparison to the subject's condition before treatment. Conclusion: The PNF program can be used effectively to improve neck pain, cervical range of motion, pressure pain, and the cervical flexion-relaxation ratio in visual display terminal (VDT) workers.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2019

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of cervical extension-traction exercise on cervical alignment, pain, and neck disability in patients with mild turtle syndrome. Methods: Thirty two outpatients with mild turtle neck syndrome were recruited and randomly divided into two groups. Participants in the experimental group was applied cervical extension-traction exercise (CETE, n=16) and in the control group applied cervical stabilization exercise (CSE, n=16) for three times a week for 4 weeks. Results: Cobb angle and Jochumsen depth were CETE showed significant difference within the group post test (p<.05). And the CETE was significantly higher than the CSE. In the pressure pain threshold, both CETE and CSE showed significant differences within post test (p<.05). And the CETE was significantly higher than the CSE. Neck disability index were significant (p<.05) in the CETE post test. There was no significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: Our results of this study showed that applying cervical extension-traction exercise to patients with mild turtle syndrome improved cervical alignment, pain and neck dysfunction.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.93-101
• /
• 2019

PURPOSE: This study tries attempted to provide basic clinical data to reduce pain and improve function by comparing the muscle fatigue of the superficial neck muscles and neck disability index (NDI) by performing McKenzie exercise or passive stretching exercise for chronic neck pain patients. METHODS: Sixteen chronic neck pain patients were selected and divided into the McKenzie group (n=8) and passive stretching group (n=8). The intervention program was performed three times a week for four weeks. The time for one exercise was 30 minutes. Before the intervention, the muscle fatigue the superficial neck muscles and NDI were measured. They were measured again after four weeks using the same method. RESULTS: The median frequency of the superficial neck muscles increased significantly in the McKenzie group and passive stretching group (p<.05). The NDI of both the McKenzie group and the passive stretching group decreased significantly. A comparison of the groups, revealed a significant difference in only the median frequency values of the upper trapezius muscle and splenius capitis muscle (p<.05). The NDI values of both groups were similar. CONCLUSION: Both McKenzie exercise and passive stretching exercises showed a significant difference in the degree of fatigue and NDI. McKenzie exercise delayed the replace of the fast twitch fibers which helped improve the muscle fatigue of the upper trapezius muscle and splenius capitis muscle. On the other hand, additional studies applying more variables for the muscle function to improve the symptom of chronic neck pain patients will be needed.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.93-103
• /
• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to report Four cases of Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS) patients after spinal fusion surgery who showed significant improvement in pain and function with Complex Korean medical treatment. Methods: This study was a retrospective observational study. We reviewed medical records of Four patients with lumbar pain or radiating leg pain, who have received spinal fusion surgery in the past. All Four patients took complex treatments of Mokhuri Neck and Back hospital which involes Acupuncture, Pharmaco-acupuncture, Gangchuk herbal medicine, Chuna and Physical therapy during about four-week of admission treatment. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), Pain Free Walking Distance (PFWD) scores were assessed before and after treatments. Results: The average of hospitalization period was 28.5 days. Mean VAS scores decreased from 6.5 to 2.3, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores decreased from 56.25 to 38.25 and Pain Free Walking Distance (PFWD) also improved from 10m to 166.6m. Conclusion: This study implies that a combination of Korean medical treatments might be effective in relieving pain, and improving the functional status of FBSS patients. Further studies are needed to fully understand the mechanisms underlying the effects.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.40-48
• /
• 2012

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare sling exercise group to McKenzie exercise group in patients with chronic neck pain. Design: Two group pretest-posttest design. Methods: Twenty subjects who have chronic neck pain were randomly divided into sling exercise group (n=10) and McKenzie exercise (n=10). Sling exercise group (n=10) received sling exercise for 30 minutes per day, twice a week over a 4 week period. And the other group were exercised McKenzie exercise (n=8) for 30 minutes per day, twice a week over a 4 week period. Neck disability index (NDI), Visual analog scale (VAS), algometer, digital manual muscle tester (MMT) and cervical muscle strength and cervical range of motion (ROM) are closely measured to identify the effect of sling exercise and McKenzie exercise. Results: For NDI, VAS, algometer on both trapezius, both rotation of cervical muscle strength, both lateral flexion of cervical muscle strength, cervical extension of ROM and both lateral flexion of ROM were significantly increased after intervention in sling exercise group (p<0.05), For VAS, algometer on both trapezius, left (Lt.) rotation of cervical muscle strength, Lt. lateral flexion of cervical muscle strength, cervical flexion and extension of ROM and Lt. lateral flexion of ROM were significantly increased after than before intervention in McKenzie exercise group (p<0.05). Conclusions: These study outcomes clearly support the notion that sling and McKenzie exercise improved pain, Muscle strength and ROM of patients with chronic neck pain. These results suggest that sling and McKenzie exercise program is suitable for chronic neck pain.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.169-185
• /
• 2007

Objectives : The studies on variation in diagnosis on the neck and nuchal pain has not been done thoroughly as we can use it in clinical practice of these days. For this reason, I examined the variation in diagnosis mentioned in the classics of Oriental Medicine as the preceding study on standardization of variation in diagnosis on neck and nuchal pain. Methods : I gathered the twenty kinds of classics of Oriental Medicine that were computerized, the textbooks on Oriental Medicine which are being used these days, and the theses on current clinical research. After gathering these data, I analyzed these according to the variation in diagnosis. Results : The classics of Oriental Medicine on the neck and nuchal pain mentioned very much about the neck and nuchal pain occurred by the pathogenic factor of Wind, Cold, and Dampness, disharmony created by deficiency of Liver and Kidney, and pathogenic state of Meridians of Taiyang. According to the texts of these days, the differentiation of syndromes can be divided into four kinds of items such as Wind-Cold pathogen, Wind-Dampness pathogen, Phelgm-Heat, and disharmony between Qi and Blood. The theses of these days rarely mentioned about variation in diagnosis on the neck and nuchal pain. Conclusions : The differentiation of syndromes on the neck and nuchal pain can be divided into four kinds items as affection by exopathogen like Wind, Cold, Dampness, Heat, and so on, stagnation of Qi and the coagulation blood, deficient syndrome of Liver and Kidney, and deficient syndrome of Qi and Blood.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.261-267
• /
• 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
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.36-41
• /
• 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.