• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.19-23
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• 2013

TIn this paper, we propose a novel fuzzy stretching method that adopts a triangle type fuzzy membership function to control the highest and lowest brightness limit dynamically. As an essential procedure to enhance the brightness contrast, stretching is an important procedure in color image processing. While popular Ends-in Search stretching method should be provided fixed minimum and maximum brightness threshold from experience, our proposed method determines them dynamically by fuzzy membership functions. The minimum and maximum limit is determined by computing the lowest and highest pixel value according to the membership degree of our designed triangle type membership function. The experiment shows that the proposed method result in far less skewed histogram than those of Ends-in Search stretching thus successfully verifies its effectiveness.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.56-61
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• 2019

Purpose: The spasticity of stroke patients decreases the ankle range of motion and increases the gastrocnemius muscle tone. This study examined the effects of stretching exercise and far infrared irradiation on the ankle function in stroke patients with spasticity. Methods: This study was conducted on 20 stroke patients admitted to Jesaeng General Hospital, who were divided into a study group (stretching exercise with far infrared) and control group (stretching exercise only). The dorsiflexion range of motion was measured using a smartphone and the medial gastrocnemius muscle tone and stiffness were measured using a Myoton pro. Results: With the exception of the non-paretic gastrocnemius muscle tone in the control group, the medial gastrocnemius muscle tone and stiffness decreased significantly in both groups. In both groups, the dorsiflexion range of motion increased significantly. In addition, the experimental group had a significantly higher dorsiflexion range of motion than the control group. On the other hand, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the medial gastrocnemius muscle tone and stiffness. Conclusion: For stroke patients with spasticity, stretching exercises increased the ankle's range of motion and decreased the gastrocnemius muscle tone. The addition of heat therapy further increased the ankle's range of motion. On the other hand, as the sample size was small, future studies should include more subjects.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.1614-1618
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of joint mobilization and manual stretching exercises in patients with hallux valgus. Twenty-three participants were divided into two groups; joint mobilization (n=11) and manual stretching exercises (n=12). The subjects participated in the experiment for 15minutes, three times a week, four weeks. The joint mobilization (Grade III, Maitland) was performed to experimental group for a minute and then rested for 10 seconds for each set. The manual stretching was performed to control group with three exercise session (preparatory and finishing exercises, agonist contraction exercises, agonist contraction and hold-relax exercises). In the results of the study, intragroup comparison of the deformity angles (DA) was shown to decrease from $15.18^{\circ}$ to $13.09^{\circ}$ in the joint mobilization group (p<.05) and from $19.00^{\circ}$ to $16.83^{\circ}$ in the stretching exercises group (p<.05). However, left static foot pressure (LSFP), right static foot pressure (RSFP), left dynamic foot pressure (LDFP) and right dynamic foot pressure (RDFP) did not significantly increase or decrease after the experiment. Intergroup differences also were not statistically significant in all variables (p>.05). The current study suggests that JM and MSE are effective in decreasing the DA in patients with hallux valgus.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.225-234
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• 2021

Objective: We aimed to identify the effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching on pain, hip range of motion, and functional disability in patients with chronic low back pain. Design: Randomized controlled trial Methods: In total, 45 patients with chronic low back pain were randomly divided into a conventional stretching group (n=22) and a PNF stretching group (n=23). Both interventions were performed three times per week for 6 weeks. Assessments were made using the visual analog scale, Flexion-Abduction-External Rotation test, modified Thomas test, prone hip extension test, and Oswestry disability index before and after the 6-week intervention period. We conducted a paired t-test to compare the within-group findings before and after the intervention. An independent t-test was used to compare the between-group differences. The statistical significance level was set at α=0.05, for all variables. Results: Both groups showed significant improvements in pain, hip range of motion, and functional disability after the intervention (p<0.05). A significant difference was observed in pain, hip range of motion, and functional disability in patients belonging to the PNF stretching group (p<0.05). Conclusions: This study provides evidence that the application of PNF stretching can effectively reduce pain and improve hip range of motion and functional disability in patients with chronic low back pain.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.11-17
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to provide objective and basic data for an effective treatment method by examining changes in the mechanical properties of muscles and the degree of tenderness when a combination of stretching exercise and ultrasound therapy is applied to patients with tension headaches. Methods: The participants were classified into two groups based on the intervention received: the therapeutic ultrasound combined with suboccipital stretching (n=15, experimental group) and infrared combined with suboccipital stretching (n=15, control group) groups. The intragroup differences in mechanical muscle properties and modified total tenderness score were compared and analyzed. Results: The comparison and analyses of the changes in muscle tone and stiffness revealed statistically significant intragroup decreases in the upper trapezius and suboccipitalis in the experimental group. Similarly, the comparison and analyses of the changes in muscle stiffness revealed statistically significant intragroup decreases in the upper trapezius in the control group. Conclusion: Therapeutic ultrasound combined with suboccipitalis stretching 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 Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.12 no.10
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• pp.4523-4530
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• 2011

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of stretching management on musculoskeletal joint pain in community indwelling elderly farmers. The study included 28 residents who lived in a rural community. All participants were assigned randomly to either the stretching group (n=13, $59.67{\pm}4.77$ year-old) or the control group (n=15, $61.44{\pm}10.41$ year-old). Respondents were interviewed by means of a structured questionnaire. Pain severity of 6 body areas caused by symptoms of work-related musculoskeletal disorders and pain severity on day time variations were measured by the visual analogue scale on a self-assessed questionnaire. The stretching group was administered stretching therapy (45 min, 2 sets, warming up and cool down, main exercise; total 19 stretching kinds of subset 5 fields) for 12 times for 4 weeks. There were no significant difference between the two groups in general social and pain characteristics. After 4 weeks of stretching, the stretching group showed significant improvements at almost all joint pain scores except arm/elbow, and day time variation scores of pain compared to both baseline scores, and with control group scores. These results showed that stretching therapy is one of the most useful modalities to manage musculoskeletal pain in community-based elderly farmers.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.25-34
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• 2004

This was one experimental study, conducted to identify the effects of stretching exercise included health education on physical health index, self-reported symptoms, and self-efficacy of exercise in Elderly. Subjects included 28 women elderly who were residents of H Dong, Dondae moon-Gu, Seoul. The treatment intervention was applied during total 8 weeks as 5 times/week for stretching exercise with 2 times/weeks for health education. Data collection were from February to April, 2004. SPSS Window program was used by aims of this study for data analysis. The results were as following: 1. 75 old age above (39.3%) was the most of age in subjects. None education (42.9%) was the most of subjects in this study. Perceived health state was the most as 71.4% in moderate and good health state. 2. Stretching exercise included health education, significantly effected on the total Cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride (p=.009*; p=.043*; p=.006*). However, the body fat weight was no significantly on the effect of stretching exercise included health education (p=.991). Also, stretching exercise included health education, significantly effected on total self-reported symptoms (p=.001*) with joint pain, joint rigidity, fatigue, indigestion, elimination disorder, and sleep disturbance. However, indigestion (p=.129) was no significantly on the effect of stretching exercise included health education. Self efficacy of exercise (p=.000*) was significantly on the effect. As according to this results, physical health index (total Cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride) and self-reported symptoms (joint pain, joint rigidity, fatigue, elimination disorder, and sleep disturbance) were reduced through stretching exercise included health education. Self efficacy was improved by this exercise program. Therefore, it is confirmed that stretching exercise included health education is an effective nursing intervention for physical, mental, and psychological health management in elderly. Accordingly, authors are proposing that variously effective health management exercise programs must be developed for elderly, at the same time, the application and following up on the programs will be more important in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.23-32
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• 2017

PURPOSE: Flexibility and range of motion are very important factors in sports performance, rehabilitation, and musculoskeletal pain. The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of cupping therapy on flexibility, muscle activity, and pain threshold of hamstring muscle compared to passive stretching in healthy subjects. METHODS: Thirty healthy subjects were randomly assigned in a crossover design to cupping therapy and passive stretching. Subjects were tested to compare their effects according to the intervention such as Passive range of motion (PROM) (straight leg raising) and active range of motion (AROM). And algometer (pain) testing and MVC assessment using EMG were performed as dependent variables. RESULTS: The cupping therapy group and passive stretching group showed significant differences in all variables including PROM (p=.00, p=.00), AROM (p=.00, p=.03), Pain Threshold (p=.03, p=.08), Semitendinosus MVC (p=.01, p=.00), and Biceps femoris MVC (p=.01, p=.16). There were no significant differences between the two groups in all variables. CONCLUSION: These findings of this study suggested that cupping therapy has as much positive effect on flexibility, pain threshold, and muscle contraction as passive stretching. Also, it is more convenient and easier to work on patients than passive stretching. Therefore, cupping therapy should be considered as another option to treat range of motion, pain, and muscle activity in the clinical field.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.579-587
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• 2010

To investigate the properties of PET films, PET films were extruded at various temperature above $T_m$ and quenched at $18^{\circ}C$ for amorphous sheet, and stretched along a direction defined as the machine direction (MD) with a transverse direction (TD) above $T_g$ at various stretching ratios and then annealed at various temperatures produced by SKC PET line. Thermal shrinkage of MD and TD increased with decreasing annealing temperature and extruding temperature, and increasing stretching ratio. The degree of crystallinity, density, heat of fusion (${\Delta}H$) and pre-melting point ($T_m'$) increased with increasing annealing temperature and extruding temperature. Number average molecular weight ($M_n$) and intrinsic viscosity decreased with increasing extruding temperature. Tensile strength and modulus increased with increasing stretching ratio, however decreased with increasing annealing temperature. Reflective index of both stretching and thickness direction increased with increasing stretching ratio and annealing temperature.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.7-15
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• 2017

Purpose: This randomized controlled trial was conducted to compare the effectiveness of global postural reeducation to segmental stretching in subjects with neck and shoulder pain. Methods: Sixteen subjects with neck and shoulder pain were randomized into two intervention groups, a global posture reeducation group (n=8) that performed muscle chain stretching, and a segmental stretching group (n=8) that performed conventional static muscle stretching. The intervention program consisted of two 40 minutes individual sessions per week for four weeks. Subjects were evaluated pre-intervention, two-week after intervention and at a four-week follow-up appointment for pain intensity, disability and health-related quality of life. Two-way repeated analysis of variance was used for between-time and between-group comparisons. The significance level was 0.05. Results: Significant pain relief and decreasing discomfort of the neck and shoulder were observed after intervention in both groups, and there was an interaction between time lapse and groups (pain, F=10.31, neck disability, F=25.45, shoulder disability, F=12.82, p<0.05). Quality of life also improved after intervention in both groups. Moreover, the physical components score improved, and a significant interaction was observed between time and groups (F=4.85, p<0.05). However, no significant improvement in mental component score of quality of life and no significant interaction between time and groups were observed (p>0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that a GPR intervention in subjects with neck and shoulder pain induces greater improvement of pain and disability and quality of life than segmental stretching.