• PNF and Movement
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.185-192
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to confirm the effectiveness of the diaphragm stretching technique as a treatment method for low back pain by evaluating maximum inspiratory pressure, maximum expiratory pressure, and changes in back mobility in patients with low back pain. Methods: Thirty-four patients with low back pain were randomly divided into two groups: an experimental group and a control group. The diaphragm stretching technique was conducted in the experimental group, and the placebo intervention was conducted in the control group. The diaphragm stretching technique was conducted once, maintaining tension for 7 min. The placebo intervention was conducted in the same position as the diaphragm stretching technique, but with only light contact maintained without pressure. Maximum inspiratory pressure, maximum expiratory pressure, and back mobility were measured before and after the intervention, and the changes were compared and analyzed. A paired sample t-test was used to compare measurements within the group before and after the intervention. An independent t-test was used to compare the experimental and control groups. Statistical significance (α) was set at 0.05. Results: In the experimental group, maximum inspiratory pressure, maximum expiratory pressure, and back mobility increased significantly after the intervention (p < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the changes in all areas of the control (p > 0.05). As a result of comparative analysis of changes before and after the intervention, there were significant differences in maximum inspiratory pressure, maximum expiratory pressure, and back mobility only in the experimental group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The diaphragm stretching technique improved maximum inspiratory pressure, maximum expiratory pressure, and back mobility compared to the placebo intervention. Therefore, the diaphragm stretching technique can be recommended as a physical therapy intervention to improve pain in patients with LBP.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.159-169
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• 2023

Purpose: The study examined the effect of dynamic taping and Kinesio Taping intervention on round shoulder posture, pectoralis minor length, craniovertebral angle, and balance in 20s adults with rounded shoulder posture. Methods: A total of 20s Adults with rounded shoulder posture were recruited and randomized to Group I (n = 15) and Group II (n = 15). Group I performed dynamic taping. Group II performed Kinesio Taping. Round shoulder posture and pectoralis minor length were measured using a tape measure. The craniovertebral angle was measured using a goniometer. Balance was measured using Biorescue. Results: As a result of comparison within groups, groups I and II showed a significant difference for round shoulder posture, pectoralis minor length, craniovertebral angle, and balance after the experiment (p < 0.05). In a comparison between the two groups, the experimental group showed a more significant difference in round shoulder posture, pectoralis minor length, craniovertebral angle, and balance than the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that dynamic taping intervention was effective in round shoulder posture, pectoralis minor length, craniovertebral angle, and balance in 20s adults with rounded shoulder posture.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.203-212
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aims to confirm the effects of stretching and meditation intervention on mental health-related anxiety, depression, and quality of life in college students in their 20s with sequelae of COVID-19. Methods: 30 men and women were randomly assigned to the stretching and meditation intervention group (10 people), the stretching intervention group (10 people), and the meditation group (10 people), and the experiment was conducted for 4 weeks. As for the analysis method, a paired t-test was performed for intra-group changes after 4 weeks, and one-way analysis of variance was performed for between-group changes. In addition, the significance level was set at 0.05. Results: Within-group changes in anxiety and depression were significantly different in all groups after 4 weeks (p < 0.05). There was a significant difference between SMG and SG and between SMG and MG in the change between groups after 4 weeks (p < 0.05). In the change in quality of life, there was a significant difference in all groups after 4 weeks (p < 0.05). There was also a significant difference between SMG and MG in the change between groups after 4 weeks. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, the combined method of meditation and stretching intervention had a positive effect on the mental health of adults in their 20s and suggests the possibility of using it to improve mental health after recovering from COVID-19.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.223-229
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• 2023

Purpose: Assessing physical strength and muscle mass is crucial, but many methods rely on specialized equipment, which can be challenging. In situations where a quick and straightforward test is needed, the sit-to-stand test (STST) proves useful. Although several studies have investigated STST and muscle mass separately, the actual correlation between these two factors has not been extensively researched. Hence, the objective was to comprehensively investigate the correlations between the different tests. Methods: The study participants consisted of 20 healthy young men in their 20s. In this study, measurements were taken for muscle mass, the five-times sit-to-stand test, the 30-second sit-to-stand test, and the 1-minute sit-to-stand test. The results of each test were analyzed using Pearson's correlation analysis. Results: Although no significant correlation was found between muscle mass and STST, interestingly, significant correlations were observed among the different types of STST. Conclusion: The STST is a rapid and straightforward test used to assess lower limb strength and balance ability in individuals. However, there is a dearth of research on STST conducted in domestic settings. Based on the findings of this study, further research is necessary to establish age- and gender-specific reference values for STST. This will allow its broader application, encompassing not only older adults and patients but also healthy individuals.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.129-137
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• 2023

Purpose: The physical therapy diagnosis process requires high-level background knowledge, the ability to obtain added information from patients, accurate examination skills, and a framework for transforming thoughts into a diagnostic decision. Thus, the physical therapy diagnostic process is highly complicated and difficult work. To function as autonomous professionals, physical therapists must develop effective clinical diagnosis skills. As such, mobile application aids can help with accurate and scientific diagnoses. Therefore, this study aims to develop and evaluate the usability of a mobile application for physical therapy diagnoses. Methods: In this study, a diagnostic application was developed using App Inventor, the development environment was the Chrome web browser for Windows 10, and the mobile application was run on a Google Pixel 5. The developed application was evaluated for usability by 20 physical therapists with more than 5 years of clinical experience in the musculoskeletal physical therapy field, and a usability evaluation was conducted using a 5-point Likert scale for accuracy, convenience, satisfaction, and usability. The collected Likert scores were converted into percentages and analyzed as descriptive statistics. Results: The graphical user interface consisted of an initial screen with program guidance, 18 screens presenting the algorithm, and 12 screens presenting the estimated diagnosis based on the algorithm. As such, the usability evaluation of the developed application was as follows: accuracy 100%, convenience 90%, satisfaction 91%, and usability 88%. Conclusion: The newly developed mobile application for physical therapeutic diagnoses has a high accuracy, and it will aid in building an easy and reliable physical therapy diagnosis system.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.107-117
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• 2023

Purpose: The aim of this study is to compare the immediate effects of weight-assisting methods on vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscle activation, on the VMO/VL muscle activation ratio, and on muscle onset time in healthy subjects when ascending stairs. Methods: Healthy participants were randomly assigned to the belt group (n = 11), hand group (n = 11), and control group (n = 11). In the belt group, a belt was wrapped around the sacrum and pulled forward with both hands, moving the center of weight forward, while ascending stairs. The hand group grasped the hips with both hands and climbed stairs, assisting their weight from the rear and moving the center of weight backward, and the control group climbed the stairs without any intervention. Results: Muscle activation of the VMO decreased significantly after the intervention in the belt and hand groups, and activation of the VL muscle in both groups showed a greater decrease than that of the VMO muscle. Further, the VMO/VL muscle activation ratio increased significantly, with an improvement shown in the order of the belt group, hand group, and control group, while muscle onset time also improved in the order of the belt group, hand group, and control group. Conclusion: The belt group demonstrated the greatest effect across all dependent variables, confirming that in clinical practice, these two weight-assisting methods are more effective interventions during stair ascent for patients with knee joint instability, pain, and imbalance than no assistance.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aims to examine the functional difference in the long and short heads of the biceps brachii by investigating the onset time of muscle contractions in the biceps brachii in the supination motion according to whether the flexor of the elbow joint is excluded. Methods: This study was conducted with 21 healthy men aged in their 20s. While performing forearm pronation at an elbow flexion angle of 90 degrees, the onset time of muscle contractions in the long and short heads of the biceps brachii was measured and compared in a posture where the humerus is placed on a table and the posture is lifted against gravity. Using an independent samples t-test, the difference in the onset time of muscle contractions in the long and short heads of the biceps brachii was analyzed. Results: The onset time of the long head was shorter if the flexor activity of the elbow joint was excluded, while that of the short head of the biceps brachii was shorter if it was not excluded. Conclusion: It is noted that the long head of the biceps brachii mainly functions as a supinator muscle, while the short head of the biceps brachii plays a role in stabilizing and maintaining flexion of the elbow joint.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2023

Purpose: The aim of this study is to determine the effects of gastrocnemius stretching with talus-stabilizing taping on ankle dorsiflexion and subtalar joint pronation during walking. Methods: In total, 26 subjects with limited ankle dorsiflexion were equally divided into two groups: a gastrocnemius stretching with talus-stabilizing taping group (13 subjects) and a gastrocnemius stretching group (13 subjects). They were assessed according to ankle dorsiflexion and subtalar joint pronation during walking before and after an intervention, which involved two types of gastrocnemius stretches performed three times a week for six weeks. Results: Ankle dorsiflexion was significantly increased in both groups (p<0.05), though the gastrocnemius stretching with talus-stabilizing taping group showed a significantly greater improvement in ankle dorsiflexion than the gastrocnemius stretching group (p<0.05). However, subtalar joint pronation showed no difference between the two groups before and after (p>0.05), also between groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: Gastrocnemius stretching with talus-stabilizing taping is a useful stretching exercise that improves ankle dorsiflexion during walking in subjects with limited ankle dorsiflexion movement.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2023

Purpose: This systematic review aims to determine whether robot-assisted training is more effective in gait training for persons with subacute hemiparetic stroke. Methods: This study adopted a systematic review study design focused on subacute hemiparetic stroke, and four core academic databases were searched until June 11, 2021, for relevant studies, including PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and ProQuest Central. The review included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effects of robotic-assisted training on gait performance in persons with a diagnosis of subacute hemiparetic stroke. The selected RCT studies were qualitatively synthesized based on the population, intervention, comparison, outcome, settings, and study design (PICOS-SD). Results: The study selected five RCTs involving 253 subacute hemiparetic stroke patients and performing robotic-assisted gait training using the following devices: the Lokomat, Morning Walk, Walkbot, ProStep Plus, or Gait Trainer II. Five RCTs were eligible for the meta-analysis after quantitative synthesis, and the results showed that the robot-assisted gait training group had a greater gait performance than the control group based on the 10-meter walk test, Berg balance scale, Rivermed mobility index, functional ambulation category, and modified Barthel index. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the gait performance of subacute hemiparetic stroke patients changes throughout robot-assisted gait training, but there were no indications that any of the clinically relevant effects of robot-assisted training are greater than those of conventional gait training. Further, the small sample size and different therapeutic intensities indicate that definitive conclusions could not be made.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.139-146
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• 2023

Purpose: The aim of this study is to provide basic information to create an efficient training program to improve shoulder stability and function in patients with injuries and in patients having undergone surgery of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles, which have a relatively high incidence of injury in shoulder joint disease. Further, independent activities of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles were investigated according to forearm rotation and the neutral and lateral rotation postures. Methods: The activities of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles were measured using surface electromyography in 22 healthy adults in Busan, and isokinetic muscle strength measurement equipment was used to measure muscle strength during shoulder lateral rotation. The subjects performed lateral rotation of the shoulder in three different forearm postures (neutral, supine, prone) to measure shoulder muscle activity and lateral rotation strength. Results: The independent activity ratio (% Isolation) of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles during lateral rotation of the shoulder joint demonstrated a significant difference (p<0.05) according to the change in forearm posture. Conclusion: The supraspinatus muscle showed independent activity ranging from highest to lowest in the order of pronation, neutral, and supination of the forearm, while the independent activity of the infraspinatus muscle ranged from highest to lowest in the order of neutral, supination, and pronation of the forearm. Therefore, the most active forearm positions for the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles are pronation and neutral, respectively.