• Archives of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.33-44
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• 2018

Purpose: The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of cervical stabilization exercise (CSE) on hamstring flexibility in patients with neck pain. A secondary purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of cervical range of motion (CROM) and craniovertebral angle (CVA). Methods: This study was a single-blind, randomized, comparative trial. Twenty patients were allocated into either the cranio-cervical flexion exercise (CCFE) group or the CSE group. Before and after the intervention, we measured straight leg raise (SLR), popliteal angle (PA), CROM, and CVA in the sitting and standing positions. Fisher's exact test, the Mann-Whitney test, and Wilcoxon's signed-rank test were used to analyze our data. Results: Both groups showed significant improvements in the value of SLR, PA, cervical extension, cervical rotation, and CVA in the standing position (both, p<.05) after intervention. However, only the CSE group showed significant improvements in cervical right lateral flexion (z=-2.209; p<.01) and cervical left lateral flexion (z=-2.537; p<.05) after intervention. The CSF group showed more significant improvements in SLR, PA, both cervical lateral flexions, and both cervical rotations than the CCFE group. Conclusions: The results of this study will guide future research in identifying the effectiveness of CSE. In conclusion, it can be inferred that CSE has a positive effect on SLR, PA, CROM, and CVA in the standing position in patients with chronic neck pain.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.63-74
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aims to compare hamstring flexibility and pressure pain threshold (PPT) after an intervention with proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation contract-relax (PNF CR) technique, myofascial release (MFR), and a massage gun (MG), as well as to verify the effectiveness of the MG. Methods: This study recruited 36 participants (22 males and 14 females) with shortening of less than 70 degrees upon a straight leg raise (SLR) test, and they were randomly assigned to one of the PNF, MG, and MFR groups, each of which underwent its own protocol for 30 minutes. Flexibility of the hamstring was measured after the intervention using the active and passive knee extension (AKE and PKE) test, the sit and reach test, and PPT. Results: The AKE and PKE angles significantly decreased, as well as significantly increased in flexibility when each of the PNF, MFR, and MG interventions was performed (p<0.05). In addition, there was no significant difference among groups. However, according to the Cohen's D effect size, the MG demonstrated the largest effect size in AKE (d = 1.41) and PNF demonstrated the largest effect size in PKE (d = 1.66) and flexibility (d = 0.63). Conclusion: All interventions used in our study are effective in increasing hamstring flexibility. Based on the Cohen's D effect size, an MG is beneficial to increase the AKE, whereas PNF CR technique is recommended for increasing PKE and flexibility.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.49-59
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• 2023

PURPOSE: This study examined the relationship between lumbar instability and shortening of the iliopsoas muscles in patients with chronic low back pain. METHODS: Forty-nine patients with chronic low back pain participated in this study. The modified Thomas test was used to examine the shortening state of the iliopsoas muscle. The length of the iliopsoas muscle was measured using the hip flexion angle, and those with a flexion angle of 10° or more were classified as positive. Five subtests were used for the lumbar instability test: testing for prone lumbar instability, passive lumbar extension, anterior-posterior mobility, passive straight leg raise, and age. Those who tested positive for at least three of these tests were classified as positive for the lumbar segment instability test. RESULTS: There was a significant association between the results of the lumbar instability test and the shortening of the iliopsoas test (p < .05). After analyzing the association between the iliopsoas length test and the five lumbar instability subtests, the results of the prone lumbar instability test (p < .001) and the anterior-posterior mobility test (p < .05) showed a significant association with the iliopsoas length test. CONCLUSION: The association between lumbar instability and shortening of the iliopsoas muscles was examined in 49 patients with chronic low back pain. Patients with shortened iliopsoas muscles tested positive in the lumbar instability tests more often. Hence, the length test of the iliopsoas muscle can be used to determine lumbar instability in patients with chronic low back pain.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.132-140
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• 2020

Objectives: This research study aimed to determine the effect of Korean medicine treatments on a patient with lumbar disc herniation accompanying polycystic kidney disease. Methods: Acupuncture, herbal medicine, pharmacopuncture, spine decompression therapy, Motion Style Acupuncture Treatment (MSAT), and Chuna were preceded for treatment. We checked the patient's Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), numeric rating scale (NRS), and straight leg raise test (SLRT) on admission and discharge; we also used the NRS and SLRT to evaluate the patient's symptoms on every third day during the hospital stay. Because it is important to manage blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine, and blood pressure during the early stage of polycystic kidney disease, BUN and serum creatinine levels were checked weekly while blood pressure was checked every morning. Results: Twelve days after admission, the NRS for lower back pain and right leg pain decreased from 7 to 3 and from 7 to 2, respectively. The ODI value also decreased from 56 to 20 while the SLRT value increased from 30/70 to 60/70. The BUN and serum creatinine levels and the blood pressure readings were all within normal range every time they were checked. Conclusions: The use of Korean medicine treatments resulted in improvements in NRS, ODI, and SLRT on a patient with a herniated lumbar disc herniated who had a past history of polycystic kidney disease; thus, the patient was able to maintaining kidney functioning. Herbal medicine, an alternative method of analgesic anti-inflammatory drugs that has been evaluated as relatively safe on liver and kidney function, could be suggested on a patient with a past history of polycystic kidney disease to maintain kidney function when renal function and blood pressure are monitored.

• 한국체육학회지인문사회과학편
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.665-677
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• 2017

This study aimed to examine the evolution of exercise performance and medical assessments in U-12 youth football players. Participants were recruited from an youth football players (YFG, n=15; $11.2{\pm}0.9yrs$) and normal youth (CON, n=15; $11.5{\pm}0.6yrs$). Both groups were tested for exercise performance (health related physical fitness, skill related physical fitness, functional movement screen; FMS and Y-balance) and medical assessments (lower extremity alignment, range of motion; ROM and manual muscle test; MMT). YFG showed a positive effects on pacer in health related physical fitness, 50-m run and Single-leg standing with eyes closed in skill related physical fitness, active straight leg raise and rotary stability in FMS, non-dominant composite score in Y-balance, respectively compared to CON. However, YFG showed a negative effects on Q-angle of dominant and non-dominant in lower extremity alignment, dorsiflexion of non-dominant, plantarflexion of dominant and non-dominan in ROM, hip extension and abduction, knee flexion and extension of dominant, knee flexion and extension of non-dominant in MMT, respectively compared to CON. These results indicated that U-12 youth football players have shown excellent exercise performance, but medical assessments has proved negative effects.

• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.727-738
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• 2012

The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of a 4 week course of Cox distraction manipulation (CDM) combined with therapeutic modalities on the treatment of patients with L4-5 herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP). A total of 15 patients with L4-5 HNP (mean age, 37.76 years; age range 20-50years) participated in the study. A 4 week course of CDM combined with therapeutic modalities was delivered to the patients for 6 days per week for the first two weeks, and three times per week for two additional weeks. The entire treatment consisted of 18 visits over 4 week period. Comparisons of changes in the muscle strengthening (MS), straight leg raise (SLR), and oswestry disability index (ODI) at pre-intervention, after two weeks treatment sessions, and at discharge (after 18 treatment sessions) were analyzed. Comparisons of changes in the disc herniation index (DHI) at pre-intervention and at discharge were analyzed using the paired t-test. There were significant improvements in the outcome measures of MS Ibs, SLR test, and ODI score after 2 weeks and 4 weeks sessions of CDM combined with therapeutic modalities as compared with the pre-intervention. However, no significant different pre-test and post-test DHI. CDM combined with therapeutic modalities appears to be a safe and efficacious, noninvasive treatment modality for patients with L4-5 HNP.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.43-50
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• 2018

Objectives Upper lumbar disc herniation (LDH) (L1/2, L2/3) has specific anatomical characteristics and different outcome after conventional treatment compared to lower LDH (L3/4, L4/5, L5/S1). The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical features and effects of korean medical treatment of upper LDH between lower LDH. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data collected from 121 patients who was had admitted at the Haeundae Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine from June 1st, 2014 to August 31th, 2018. The patients who had treated at L1/2, L2/3 level LDH were grouped and compared with those treated at the L3/4, L4/5, L5/S1 level. We reviewed the patient characteristics such as age, the positive rate of Straight Leg Raise Test (SLR test), the presence or absence of previous lumbar surgery. Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were evaluated at adimission and discharge. Results Mean age was significantly higher at upper LDH group and positive rate of SLR test was higher at lower LDH group. There was no significant difference of gender and previous lumbar surgery between two groups. Each group had a significant improvement of NRS, ODI scores. But between two groups, there was no significant difference of NRS, ODI scores. Conclusions Upper LDH group was older than lower LDH group. SLR test was useful tool to exclude upper LDH. Korean medical treatment was significantly effective to both upper and lower LDH groups. Further well designed prospective comparative studies are needed.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.125-133
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• 2021

Purpose: The clinical outcomes were investigated to determine if arthroscopic management is a useful method for 19 hips with iliopsoas tendon impingement (IPI) after total hip arthroplasty (THA). Materials and Methods: Eighteen patients (19 hips), who complained of groin pain and flexion pain that persisted after THA from September 2013 to December 2019, were the subjects of this investigation. The mean time to manifestation after THA was four months (range, 1-9 months) in patients of an average age of 60 years (range, 50-69 years). Thirteen out of 18 patients underwent THA using the direct anterior approach and five by the lateral approach. IPI was diagnosed by the medical history, physical examination, blood test, radiographic examination using X-ray and computed tomography, and topical injection therapy. All patients underwent arthroscopic treatment and a dynamic arthroscopic physical examination after exposure to the iliopsoas tendon revealed impingement. Tenotomy was then performed on the muscle portion through the total tendon portion. Symptoms and pain levels of preoperative, postoperative and follow-up period were investigated and compared. Results: The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index score decreased from an average of 58.4 (range, 40-88) before surgery to an average of 35.0 (range, 15-76) after surgery. Similarly, the visual analogue scale decreased from an average of 4.0 (range, 2-6) before surgery to an average of 1.4 (range, 0-4) after surgery. Sixteen patients (88.9%) showed pain relief and improvement in the straight leg raise test, and two patients showed postoperative muscle weakness and sustained pain. In the follow-up period, muscle weakness improved. One patient underwent arthroscopic iliopsoas tenotomy at the lesser trochanteric level but the symptoms persisted. The clinical symptoms were improved after one more tenotomy at the joint level. Conclusion: Arthroscopic iliopsoas tenotomy performed in patients with IPI after THA showed good clinical results.