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

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.279-284
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• 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
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 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
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.943-951
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• 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.

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

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2019

Purpose: This paper proposes proper and effective neck exercises by comparing the deep and superficial cervical flexor muscle activities and thickness according to the pressure level during cranio-cervical flexion exercises between a normal posture group and forward head posture group. Methods: A total of 20 subjects (8 males and 12 females) without neck pain and disabilities were selected. The subjects' craniovertebral angles were measured; they were divided into a normal posture and a forward head posture group. During cranio-cervical flexion exercises, the thickness of the deep cervical flexor neck muscle and the activity of the surface neck muscles were measured using ultrasound and EMG. Results: The results showed that the thickening of the deep cervical flexor was increased significantly to 28 and 30 mmHg in the forward head posture group. The sternocleidomastoid muscle activity increased significantly to 24, 26, 28, and 30 mmHg in the forward head posture group. The anterior scalene muscle activity increased significantly to 26, 28, and 30mmHg in the forward head posture group. A significant difference of 26, 28, and 30 mmHg in the sternocleidomastoid and anterior scalene muscles was observed between two groups. Conclusion: To prevent a forward head posture and maintain proper cervical curve alignment, the use of the superficial cervical flexor muscles must be minimized. In addition, to perform a cranio-cervical flexion exercises to effectively activate the deep cervical flexor muscles, 28 and 30 mmHg for normal posture adults and 28 mmHg for adults with forward head postures are recommended.

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

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.233-236
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• 2006

A 67-year-old man with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) underwent F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for staging of gastric cancer. The projection images of F-18 FDG PET/CT showed intensely increased F-18 FDG uptake in the anterior neck, chest wall, and upper abdomen. We suspected distant metastases of cervical lymph nodes, ribs, and peritoneum in gastric canter. However, the transaxial images of F-18 FDG PET/CT showed abnormal F-18 FDG uptake in scalene muscles of anterior neck, intercostal muscles of chest wall, and diaphragm of upper abdomen. Patients with COPD use respiratory muscles extensively on the resting condition. These excessive physiologic use of respiratory muscles causes increased F-18 FDG uptake as a result of increased glucose metabolism. The F-18 FDG uptake in respiratory muscles of gastric cancer patient with COPD mimicked distant metastases in cervical lymph nodes, ribs, and peritoneum.

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

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.903-906
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• 1998

A 17-year-old-boy with a bilateral incomplete cervical rib, upon abduction of his left arm at 45 degrees, had immediately begun to show symptoms of severe tingling, claudication, pallor, and weakness of his left upper extremity. These symptoms were aggravated at 90 degrees, leaving him debilitated from his work in the printing office. Transfemoral positional subclavian arteriography revealed total occlusion of the subclavian artery immediately distal to a cervical rib during 90 degrees abduction. Resection of the anterior scalene and medial aspect of the middle scalene muscles, cervical and first ribs, and arteriolysis were performed via a combined supraclavicular and infraclavi cular approach. He has returned to work as a printer with marked relief of symptoms and has remained asymptomatic over follow-up periods of 10 months.