• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.50 no.1
• /
• pp.36-39
• /
• 2011

Objective : To evaluate the efficacy of scalene injection in patients with thoracic outlet syndrome. Methods : We selected 142 patients diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome between January 2005 and October 2009. We performed a series of scalene injection with conservative treatment in all cases. Patients rated their pain degrees using a visual analogue scale. We also evaluated the time to return to everyday life and work, and patients' functional capacity. Results : There were no complications or instances of inadvertent somatic or sympathetic ganglionic blockade after scalene injection. Overall, 111 patients (76.5%) experienced improved symptoms after the first set of scalene injection and 128 patients (88.2%) improved after scalene injection followed by conservative treatment. Of the 68 patients who returned to work during the study period, 54 returned within 1 week, and 62 within 2 weeks. Of those who returned to work, 61 reported nearly full functional capacity. We found that scalene injection was more effective in cases of thoracic outlet syndrome related to trauma than in those related to work-related repetitive stress. Conclusion : In patients with thoracic outlet syndrome, scalene injection effectively reduces pain. We recommend scalene injection as an adjunct to conservative treatment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.35-43
• /
• 2016

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of passive stretching exercises of the scalene muscles known as respiratory accessory muscles, on forced vital capacity. METHODS: Ten of the participants were randomly selected as an experiment group to perform passive stretching exercises on the scalene muscles. Ten additional students were selected randomly as a control group. The forced vital capacity was assessed by using a digital spirometer (Pony FX, COSMED Inc, Italy) both before and after the passive stretching exercises were performed. Subsequently, passive stretching exercises of the scalene muscles were performed in the experimental group. There were no interventions to the control group. RESULTS: As for the forced vital capacity (FVC), the experiment group showed significant increase in items of forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second ($FEV_1$), peak expiratory flow (PEF), forced expiratory volume in 1 second/vital capacity ($FEV_1/VC$), and maximal expiratory flow 75%(MEF 75%) after the scalenemuscles passive stretching exercises were performed. The control group, however, showed no change. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that passive stretching exercises of the scalene muscles could be helpful for forced vital capacity improvement.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.53-57
• /
• 2016

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the correlation between the asymmetric ratio of occlusal force of the temporomandibular joint and the thickness of the middle scalene muscle. Methods: The study measured the occlusal force of the right and left temporomandibular joints in 30 subjects (12 males and 18 females). Pearson's correlation analysis was performed to examine the effect of occlusal force on the asymmetric ratio of the thickness of their middle scalene muscles by measuring the force using ultrasound after the break. Results: The correlation between the asymmetric ratio of occlusal force and muscle thickness is 0.41, according to Pearson's correlation coefficient. Therefore, the result shows a moderate correlation with the asymmetric ratio of the temporomandibular joint depending on differences in the thickness of the middle scalene muscle. Conclusion: Based on the above results, the asymmetric ratio of occlusal force was found to correlate with the thickness of the middle scalene muscle. Thus, therapeutic intervention is required for the middle scalene muscle in the case of temporomandibular joint disorder.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.279-284
• /
• 2013

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of head posture and respiratory pattern on muscle activities of sternocleidomastoid (SCM) and scalene during maximal respiration. The seventeen subjects with upper-costal breathing pattern were participated in this study. Surface electromyography was used to measure the muscles activities of SCM and scalene. The volume and velocity of inspiration were monitored by using the spirometer in each subject. Each subject was performed the 3-cycle of respiration in each condition. The mean values of three peak muscle activity in each muscle were used in the data analysis. A2 (head posture: forward head posture: FHP vs. neutral posture) X 2 (breathing pattern: costal vs. diaphragmatic) repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the normalized muscle activities of the SCM and scalene. The results showed that the muscle activities of SCM and scalene in diaphragmatic breathing were significantly lower than those in costal breathing for each head posture (p<.0125). The muscle activities of SCM in neutral position were lower than those in forward head position during costal breathing (p<.0125). The diaphragmatic breathing in neutral position of head is recommended to decrease the tension of the accessory inspiratory muscles during respiration in neck-pain patients with FHP.

• Journal of TMJ Balancing Medicine
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 2020

There are studies on breathing pattern disorder (BPD), but the causes of BPD are still complex, and various studies are ongoing. This study reviewed several studies to investigate the possibility that pathological changes in the scalene muscles may be one of the causes of dyspnea, and that treatment of them may improve respiratory disorders. Anatomically, the scalene muscles are located between the cervical vertebrae and the transverse process of the ribs and act as a respiratory muscle. If there is a problem or excessive in its role, it can cause chest breathing or oral breathing. These problems may further affect respiratory diseases such as hyperventilation syndrome, obstructive disease, restrictive disease, and respiratory disorders. According to the results of previous studies, it seems that manual therapy or exercise therapy for the scalene muscles can contribute to the treatment of BPD.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.943-951
• /
• 1999

Thoracic outlet syndrome's chief symptom has numbness and tingling sensation of tharm, hand and fingers. In the morning, patient complain of pins and needles of the hands and weakness. TOS classified three categories : Anterior scalene syndrome, Claviculocostal syndrome, Pectoralis minor syndrome Physical therapy of the TOS is heat, massage for soft tissue, stretching exercise for scalene muscles and pectoralis minor muscles, and strengthening exercise for upper trapezius and levator scapular and neck muscles. A main problem of soft tissue is mechanical causes, so physical therapists have to solve that problem by mechanical manual methods.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.171-176
• /
• 2001

This study focuses on the energy partition and heat flux distribution in creep-feed grinding. From the measurements of transient grinding temperature in the workpiece which the thermocouple was embedded, the overall energy partition to the workpiece was estimated with moving heat source theory using the developed scalene triangle heat model. The energy partition was calculated as 3.75% in down grinding smaller than 5.3% in up grinding. Also, the scalene triangle heat model was confirmed as the most optional heat model in correspond to the experimental data. Then, the heat flux distribution was calculated from temperature responses. The heat flux is negative behind the grinding zone where fluid was applied. In this experimental result, the total heat flow to the workpiece per unit width obtained by integrating the positive heat flux was 0,7W/mm for down grinding.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.97-100
• /
• 2000

Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is a combination of signs and symptoms caused by the compression of the vital neurovascular structure at the thoracic outlet region. It may stem from a number of abnormalities, including degenerative or bony disorders, trauma to cervical spine, fibromuscular bands, vascular abnormalities and spasm of the anterior scalene muscle. CPT (current perception threshold) is defined as the minimum amount of current applied transcutaneously that an individual consciously perceives. It enables quantification of the hyperesthesia that precedes progressive nerve impairment, as well as hypoesthetic conditions. We experienced a case of thoracic outlet syndrome caused by fibrosis of anterior scalene muscle. The patient was a 30 years old woman with a 3 years history of numbness on the ulnar side, progressive weakness and coldness of both hand, tiredness in the left arm, nocturnal pain in the left forearm, and pain in the left elbow, shoulder and neck. Conservative treatment, stellate ganglion block, cervical epidural block, anterior scalene block and previous operation, including both carpal tunnel release, provided no remarkable relief to the patient. A left scalenectomy and first rib resection were performed by transaxillary approach and left cervical root neurolysis was done. After surgery, we measured CPT using neurometer and found conditions worsening in the opposite arm. We performed the same procedure on right side, and followed by CPT measurement. This case suggests that CPT is a useful measurement of recovery and progression of TOS.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.119-132
• /
• 2010

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to compare interrelations between stress and muscles of neck through stress response inventory(SRI), 7 zone diagnostic system and surface electromyography(sEMG). Methods : This study was carried out with the data from SRI, 7 zone diagnostic system and sEMG. First subjects were divided into two group according to the SRI points. subjects in group A had points of SRI in which lower than 30 points. Subjects in group B had points of SRI in which higher than 30 points. And subjects were divided into nonstress group(Group C) and stress grouop(Group D) according to the result of 7 zone diagnostic system. Then we investigated how to differentiate the muscle contraction, fatigue, recovery and asymmetry ratio on sEMG for each groups. Results : In this study, the muscle contraction of both upper trapezius muscle and left sternocleidomastoid muscle and left scalene muscle in stress group were higher than nonstress group significantly. And the muscle recovery of left sternocleidomastoid muscle and left scalene muscle in stress group were higher than nonstress group significantly. Conclusions : This results show that the stress was associated with muscle condition.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.234-239
• /
• 2015

Purpose: This study is not a fragmentary study on characteristics of respiratory synergist when breathing, however it was intended to determine the effect of currently available respiratory exercise and to provide basic clinical information through investigation of oxygen demand and respiratory synergist that mobilizes for respiration during application of respiratory exercise. Methods: Experimental group I was selected from second grade of severity classification of GOLD, which has the highest percentage among patients with COPD, and experimental group II was selected from third grade of severity classification as a clinical sampling. After respiration pursing up lips and diaphragm respiration exercise were mediated together for six weeks, activity of respiratory muscles and oxygen saturation were measured and analyzed. Results: In comparison of change of respiratory synergist and oxygen saturation, activity of respiratory synergist in sternocleidomastoid muscle and scalene muscle showed a meaningful decrease in experimental group I. And, in comparison of change of respiratory synergist and oxygen saturation, activity of respiratory synergist in rectus abdominis muscle showed a meaningful increase in experimental group II. In comparison of change of respiratory synergist and oxygen saturation, activity of respiratory synergist in sternocleidomastoid muscle, scalene muscle, and rectus abdominis muscle showed a meaningful difference between experimental groups. Conclusion: Respiratory synergists work mainly as agonist of chest and upper limbs. Therefore it is very important to lower mobilization of respiratory synergist when breathing. It is considered that a multilateral approach and continued clinical research for improvement of respiratory function for patients with COPD will be needed in the future.