• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.68-77
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• 2023

Background: The weakness of the gluteus medius (GM) is associated with various musculoskeletal disorders. The increasing GM activity without synergistic dominance should be considered when prescribing pelvic drop exercise (PD). Isometric hip extension or flexion of the non-weight bearing leg using thera-band at the ankle during PD may influence hip abductor activities. Objects: To determine how isometric hip extension or flexion of the non-weight bearing leg using thera-band at the ankle during PD influences the activities of three subdivisions of GM (anterior, GMa; middle, GMm; posterior, GMp), tensor fasciae latae (TFL), contralateral quadratus lumborum (QL), and GMp/TFL, GMm/QL activity ratios in patients with GM weakness. Methods: Twenty-three patients with GM weakness were recruited. Three types of PD were performed: PD, PD with an isometric hip extension of the non-weight bearing leg (PDE), and PD with an isometric hip flexion of the non-weight bearing leg (PDF). Surface electromyography (SEMG) was used to measure hip abductor activities. One-way repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to assess the statistical significance of muscle activities and muscle activity ratios. Results: GMa, GMm, and GMp activities were significantly greater during PDF than during PD and PDE (p < 0.001, p = 0.001; p = 0.001, p = 0.005; p = 0.004, p = 0.004; respectively). TFL activity was significantly greater during PDE than during PD and PDF (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). QL activity was significantly greater during PDF than during PD (p = 0.003). GMp/TFL activity ratio was significantly lower during PDE than during PD and PDF (p = 0.001, p = 0.001, respectively). There were no significant differences in the GMm/QL activity ratio. Conclusion: PDF may be an effective exercise to increase the activities of all three GM subdivisions while minimizing the TFL activity in patients with GM weakness.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.139-151
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• 2021

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of wall-squat with short-foot exercise on pain, dysfunction, and pelvic alignment in chronic low back pain patients. METHODS: Thirty outpatients diagnosed with chronic low back pain and pronated foot were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided randomly into a wall-squat with short-foot exercise group (WS; n = 15) and a normal wall-squat exercise group (NW; n = 15). These groups performed their respective exercises 15 times, for three sets, three times a week over six weeks. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to measure the subjects' pain, and the Roland-Morris disability questionnaire (RMDQ) was used to measure the subjects' dysfunction. A navicular drop test (NDT) was used to measure the subjects' arch height. To assess the patients' pelvic alignment, their lordosis, sacral tilt, lumbar width, sacral width, ilium length, and ilium width were measured by X-ray imaging. RESULTS: Both the WS and NW groups exhibited significant decreases in their VAS and RMDQ scores after exercise (p < .05). The WS group exhibited significant increases in their arch height (p < .05). Significant differences in the VAS, sacral tilt, sacral width, and ilium length were observed between the WS and NW groups (p < .05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that wall-squat exercise is effective in decreasing the level of pain and dysfunction in chronic low back pain patients. In addition, the wall-squat with short-foot exercise is considered more effective in improving the pelvic alignment than without short-foot exercise. This can be an effective method for the non-pharmacological and non-surgical treatment of chronic low back pain

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.269-279
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• 2023

Purpose : The most effective intervention for flat foot is strengthening exercises for the intrinsic and extrinsic of the foot. Additionally, visual feedback is necessary for movement accuracy. However, the effectiveness of the intervention when combined with visual feedback was not revealed. To confirm this, the research was to investigate the effect of visual feedback and a complex exercise program on navicular bone height, plantar pressure, and lower extremity alignment. Methods : The twenty eight adult men and women with flat foot were randomly assigned to group 1 (n=14) and group2 (n=14), group1 performed complex exercises with visual feedback, and group 2 performed only complex exercises. Both groups performed a 40 minute compound exercise program three times a week. Navicular drop test, plantar pressure test, and lower extremity alignment test were performed equally in both group. Results : As a result of comparing the change in navicular height within the group according to the intervention, both groups showed a significant difference before and after the exercise (p>.05). There was not significant difference comparing the difference between the groups in the navicular height (p>.05). Comparing the change in plantar pressure within groups, there was not significant difference in the change in plantar pressure in both groups (p>.05). Coparing the difference before and after exercise between groups, there was not significant plantar pressure (p>.05). Comparing the change in leg alignment within the group, there was a significant difference in the change in ankle before and after exercise in group 1 (p<.05), but there was not significant difference in group 2. There was not significant difference in pelvic tilt and knee tilt before and after exercise in both groups (p>.05). Comparing the before and after exercise difference between groups, there were not significant in all variables of leg alignment (p>.05). Conclusion : The results of this study showed that complex exercise applied to patients with flat foot were effective in increasing the height of the navicular bone and ankle angle, but there was no effect due to visual feedback.