• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.63-74
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• 2022

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the effects of manual therapy with stabilization exercises to manual therapy alone, on neck pain and body functions in patients with chronic mechanical neck pain. METHODS: Twenty patients with chronic mechanical neck pain were recruited and randomly allocated into two groups. A control group(n = 10) was given the manual therapy alone and an experimental group(n = 10) was given the manual therapy with stabilization exercises. The intervention was carried out 3 days per week for 4 weeks. The cervical resting pain, the most painful motion pain, craniocervical flexor endurance, forward head posture and neck disability index were used to assess participants at baseline and after 4 weeks. RESULTS: A comparison of the parameters before and after the intervention showed that both groups experienced significant improvements in the resting pain, the most painful motion pain, craniocervical flexor endurance, and forward head posture except for the forward head posture in the control group. A comparison of the parameters between the groups did not show a significant difference. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the combined intervention of manual therapy with stabilization exercise does not seem to be more effective than manual therapy alone for improving neck pain, craniocervical flexor endurance, forward head posture, and the neck disability index in patients with chronic mechanical neck pain.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.9 no.11
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• pp.196-201
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to identify the effects of the apply of lumbar stabilization exercises and lumbar strengthening exercises using Medx machine on back functions such as static balance, lumbar reposition sense, and back pain(VAS) in chronic low back pain. This study divided 30 chronic low back pain patients who experienced only lumbar back pain(male: 5, female: 10) into a lumbar stabilization exercise group and a complex exercise group, and then performed their respective exercise programs for three times a week over a 8-week period. The lumbar static balance, lumbar reposition sense, and lumbar back pain were measured using a pair t-test within each group, and were also compared between two groups using an independent t-test. The results of the present study were as follows: Both groups exhibited statisti cally significant increases after performing their own exercise program in the static balance, lumbar reposition sense, and lumbar back pain(p<.05). However, the comparison of two groups confirmed that the complex exercise group resulted in greater effects than the lumbar stabilization exercise group(p<.05). In conclusion, muscle strengthening and stabilization exercises in chronic low back pain patients are considered to not only relieve back pain, but also improve various back functions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.121-129
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• 2019

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to measure the effects of cervical stabilization exercises on neck pain, forward head posture, and the acoustic characteristics frequency and amplitude modulation of patients with chronic neck pain caused by forward head posture using pressure biofeedback. METHODS: 20 patients with chronic neck pain and voice disorders presenting at the S Exercise Center in Daegu, Korea, were included in the study. A cervical stabilization exercise program of 50 minutes per session was performed three times a week for eight weeks. Pressure biofeedback was utilized to determine the impact of the exercises on neck pain, forward head posture, and the acoustic characteristics of the patients. The measurements were taken prior to and after the intervention to determine any changes. RESULTS: A significant improvement in neck pain, craniovertebral angle and the acoustic characteristics frequency and amplitude modulation of the patients was demonstrated after the intervention (p<.05). CONCLUSION: Cervical stabilization exercises were demonstrated to have a significantly positive effect on neck pain, forward head posture, and vocalization stability in patients with chronic neck pain in the current study based on measurements taken using a pressure biofeedback system. This indicates that an improvement in forward head posture positively impacts postural stability and vocalization. Future studies investigating a greater range of interventions designed to improve neck pain and acoustical effects in patients with chronic neck pain and forward head posture patients are warranted.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.103-110
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• 2022

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate effect of core stabilization exercises on the erector spinae contractile properties and trunk isokinetic muscle function of middle age with low physical activity and sedentary lifestyle. Method: Twenty (female: n=10, male: n=10) middle-age subjects (age: 37.25 ± 6.08 years, height: 168.01 ± 6.84 cm, weight: 71.37 ± 11.75 kg) participated in this study. Tensiomyography was measured on the erector spinae, and the isokinetic trunk muscle function test was measured at an angular velocity of 60 °/s and 90 °/s. All subjects performed the core stabilization exercises for 60 min per day, 3 times a week, for 7 weeks. A paired t-test was performed with a significance level of 0.05. Results: Tensiomyography of the erector spinae revealed a significant post-exercise increase in the maximum radial displacement (p < .05) and velocity of contraction (p < .05), however, there wasn't a significant post-exercise change in the contraction time. Additionally, the isokinetic muscle function test of the trunk revealed a significant post-exercise increase in trunk extensor relative strength (p < .05) and strength ratio (p < .05). Conclusion: Our results indicated that core stabilization exercises reduced erector spinae muscle stiffness, increased the velocity of erector spinae contraction. Additionally, data showed the improvement in the trunk extensor strength help induce a more balanced development in trunk muscle.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.29-45
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• 2024

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the effects of pain level, lower back pain dysfunction level, psychosocial level, hip abductor strength (HAS), number of positive lumbar instability tests, and dynamic balance (DB) by applying lumbar stabilization exercises according to the presence or absence of gluteus medius muscle weakness in chronic lower back pain (CLBP) patients with lumbar instability. METHODS: Thirty-five CLBP patients with lumbar instability were divided into the gluteus medius weakness (n = 18) and gluteus medius non-weakened (n = 17) groups using the gluteus medius manual muscle test. Intervention applied conservative physical therapy and lumbar stabilization exercises to both groups that lasted three times a week for four weeks. To compare the intervention effects, the quadruple visual analog scale (QVAS), the Korean version of the Oswestry disability index (K-ODI), fear-avoidance beliefs questionnaire (FABQ), HAS, lumbar instability tests positive response counter (LIC), and DB were measured. RESULTS: Significant differences were shown for QVAS, K-ODI, FABQ, HAS, LIC, and DB for both groups pre- and post-intervention (p < .05). Compared to the gluteus medius weakness group, the gluteus medius non-weakened group showed a significant difference (p < .05) in the changes in QVAS, K-ODI, FABQ-W, FABQ-total, and HAS. CONCLUSION: In CLBP patients with lumbar instability, having gluteus medius weakness was less effective in improving lumbar stabilization exercise than gluteus medius non-weakness regarding pain level, lower back pain dysfunction level, psychosocial level excluding physical activity, and hip abductor strength. Therefore, additional gluteus medius strengthening exercises are necessary for patients with lumbar instability and gluteus medius muscle weakness.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.238-243
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• 2020

Objective: The purpose of this study was to confirm the validity of a respiratory retraining exercise using pressure biofeedback units among individuals with stroke as an effective intervention for improving quality of life. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Thirty patients with stroke were recruited as subjects. Among them, 15 patients were randomly assigned to an experimental group performing lumbar stabilization exercise and respiratory retraining exercise, and the other 15 patients were randomly assigned to a control group conducting only lumbar stabilization exercises. Exercises were conducted 3 times a week for 6 weeks, and quality of life was evaluated in the pre-test, 3 weeks and 6 weeks periods. The respiratory retraining exercises were performed using a pressure biofeedback unit and the degree of the quality of life was measured using the Stroke- Specific Quality of Life. For data analysis on the study results, a two-way repeated ANOVA was used in order to observe for changes in the measured variables according to time for both groups. If there was a reciprocal action between the groups and the time in the effect test within the entities, a one-way repeated ANOVA was implemented and was statistically processed. Results: There was a significant difference in the main effect test between the 2 populations depending on the duration of the experiment (6 weeks) (p<0.05). Conclusions: The above results showed that respiratory retraining exercises may provide positive effects in the treatment of stroke as the quality of life showed significant differences according to the duration of treatment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.59-67
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• 2012

Purpose : This study was somatosensory less in patients with idiopathic scoliosis somatosensory input to the lumbar stabilization exercises carried out to determine the most effective treatment method to be stable and unstable in terms of supporting the lumbar stabilization exercises the patient's torso length and postural sway by comparing the distance from a standing position and looked for differences in effect on the balance. Methods : The subjects of the study were 18 patients who showed the symptom of scoliosis. The study classified the patients into two experimental groups, one using an unstable surface and one a fixed surface, and the patients were required to do a lumbar stabilization exercise a total of 12 times for 60 minutes per session, three times a week for four weeks. The study carried out a paired comparison t-test so as to compare differences between measurement values in each experimental group before and after the exercise. Results : Superior iliac spine on the left, there was a significant reduction in the group doing the lumbar stabilization exercise on an unstable surface (p<0.05). Regarding change in sway distance to the left and right directions in the group doing the lumbar stabilization exercise on the unstable surface, there was a significant decrease in both the condition of closed eyes or open eyes (p<0.05). As for change in sway distance in forward-and-backward direction, there was a significant reduction in the condition of either closed eyes or open eyes (p<0.05). Conclusion : The lumbar stabilization exercise on an unstable surface improved the trunk posture of patients with scoliosis symmetrically, and the static balance ability in a standing posture was discovered to be improved. In the future, the lumbar stabilization exercise on an unstable surface may be used as a posture correction and balance increase exercise for patients with scoliosis.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.131-139
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• 2020

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of virtual reality (VR)-based core stabilization exercise on upper extremity function, postural control, and depression among persons with stroke with hemiplegia. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: This study was conducted with the inclusion of 24 participants and were randomly assigned to either the VR-based trunk stability exercise group (n=12) or control group (n=12). The VR-based trunk stability exercise group performed core stabilization exercises in a VR environment for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, the control group conducted general core stabilization exercises for 30 minutes. The participants trained 3 times a week for 4 weeks. The manual functional test (MFT), Box and Block Test (BBT), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS), the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) were used to assess all participants before and after the intervention. Results: The VR-based core stabilization exercise group had a significant improvement in upper extremity function (MFT, BBT) and postural control (BBS) compared with the control group (p<0.05). The VR-based core stabilization exercise showed a significant difference after intervention in the TIS and GDS scores (p<0.05), but they did not significantly differ between the two groups. Conclusions: The result showed that VR-based core stabilization exercise can be effective in improving upper extremity function and postural control among patients with stroke more than the sole application of general physical therapy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.67-72
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• 2015

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to examine the effects of motion taping on the effects of lumbar stabilization exercise. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 24 normal males with no problem in their nervous systems or musculoskeletal systems. The subjects were randomly assigned to a control group of 12 subjects and an experimental group of 12 subjects. The control group was applied with lumbar stabilization exercise while the experimental group was applied with lumbar stabilization exercise after being attached with tapes. The intervention period was four weeks in total and the subject underwent the exercises three times per week. The exercise time per session was set to one hour in principle consisting of warm-up exercise and cool-down exercise for 10 minutes each and main exercise for 40 minutes. Lumbar muscle strength was measured as a factor to examine the effects of lumbar stabilization exercises. RESULTS: The control group showed an increase in lumbar muscle strength from $111{\pm}6.30kg$ to $113{\pm}6.23kg$ and the experimental group showed an increase in lumbar muscle strength from $108{\pm}6.46kg$ to $116{\pm}5.21kg$. The increases shown by both groups were statistically significant and the experimental group that was applied with motion taping showed a larger increase in lumbar muscle strength compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Lumbar stabilization exercise is considered to be good for lumbar stability and muscle strengthening and lumbar stabilization exercise applied with motion taping is considered to show larger effects for muscle strengthening and the improvement of lumbar functions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.65-72
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• 2016

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to determine the differences between the muscle activity of cranio-cervical flexion and extension muscles according to the types of tools used through a short-term intervention of cranio-cervical static stabilization exercises using small tools. METHODS: A total of fifteen male and female adults in their 20s who showed forward head posture in the overall body posture measurement system participated in this study. Each subject performed cranio-cervical static stabilization exercises about flexion and extension while using a sling, a foam roller, a TOGU ball, and without tools separately, and the muscle activity of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, scalenus anterior and splenius capitis was measured. Each value was measured for 10 seconds a total of three times. The maximum voluntary isometric contraction value was computed using the average during the middle four seconds. RESULTS: Cranio-cervical flexion exercises using various tool types, the average activity of the sternocleidomastoid and scalenus anterior muscles was significantly higher when applying the TOGU ball (p<.05). According to the results of implementing cranio-cervical flexion exercise using various tools, the maximum muscle activity of the sternocleidomastoid muscle was significantly higher for the TOGU ball (p<.05). CONCLUSION: Based on these results, the provision of an unstable surface using small tools rather than a stable surface is recommended as an exercise scheme for proprioceptive stimulation in a forward head posture. Particularly, we recommend using the TOGU ball for the provision of an unstable surface to increase the muscle activity of the sternocleidomastoid muscle and scalenus anterior.