• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.121-127
• /
• 2011

Objectives : To introduce the Jeongham Therapy which means a mandibul-rectifying treatment. And to show meaningful changes of thoracic kypkosis and lumbar lordosis by the Jeongham Therapy. Methods : We reviewed 8 patients having abnormal thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis who were treated at the JeongHam Korean Medical Clinic. We measured thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis by 3D Body Analyzer 'IBS 2000'. Results : Between before and after the Jeongham Therapy, statically significant differences were found in the thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis. And in these values of measurements, the thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis diminish after the Jeongham Therapy. Conclusion : These results suggest that the Jeongham Therapy is a meaningful therapy to diminish the thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.49-55
• /
• 2012

Background: The purposes of this study were to: 1) investigate the relation between thoracic kyphosis, postural stiffness and thoracic rotation and 2) the intra-rater reliability of the measurement methods for thoracic kyphosis and rotation angle. Methods: Thirty-nine young adults (13 males, 26 females) participated in the study. Thoracic kyphosis was measured using a Flexicurve while standing in their usual relaxed posture and then in their maximally erector posture. Index of kyphosis (IK) measures taken in the relaxed and maximally erect positions were used to estimate postural stiffness. Thoracic rotation range of motion (ROM) was measured using universal goniometer and inclinometer in two positions. The association between the magnitude of the IK and thoracic stiffness and thoracic rotation ROM was also examined. Reliability was determined using intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC). Results: When measured from the mean relaxed IK (${\pm}SD$) was 7.42 (${\pm}1.47$) and mean erect IK was 4.92 (${\pm}1.63$) and mean IK ratio was 1.66 (${\pm}.65$). The relaxed IK was significantly correlated with the range of motion thoracic rotation in two positions (r=.503~580, p<.01). Conclusion: Thoracic kyphosis in relaxed position was associated with the range of motion thoracic rotation. Thoracic kyphosis measurement with the Flexicurve and range of motion 2 techniques of thoracic rotation showed good reliablity and may be a useful measurement tool in clinical practice.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.34 no.5
• /
• pp.272-277
• /
• 2022

Purpose: This study compared the subjective and objective sleep quality between subjects with and without thoracic hyper-kyphosis. Methods: Forty participants were divided into a hyper-kyphosis (n=17) and normal group (n=17) by thoracic spinal angle measurement. The subjective sleep quality was measured using PSQI, a self-report, and objective sleep quality was measured using an actigraphy that measures time according to sleep patterns. Results: The PSQI scores of subjects with thoracic hyper-kyphosis were significantly higher than those with normal thoracic curvature (p=0.013). The total sleep time and real sleep time were less in subjects with hyper-kyphosis than in normal subjects (p=0.006; p=0.029). The light sleep time was less in subjects with excessive spondylolisthesis than in normal subjects (p=0.010). Light sleep time was less in those with hyper-kyphosis, but deep sleep time was similar to the subjects with a normal thoracic curvature (p=0.003; p=0.140). Conclusion: Subjects with thoracic hyper-kyphosis had a decrease in subjective sleep quality, such as sleep discomfort, and objective sleep quality, such as a decrease in sleep time compared to normal subjects.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.235-240
• /
• 2022

Background: A spinal extension and intensive rehabilitation program reduced the symptoms and pain of kyphosis, and improved function. Objects: This study aimed to demonstrate the effect of a spine extension device on the degree of thoracic kyphosis and extension angles, confirm reduction of the kyphosis angle and an increase in flexibility. Methods: Thirteen adults were enrolled in the experiment, using the spine extension device, which was set to passively extend the spine. The angle between the spinous process of the first thoracic vertebra and the spinous process of the twelfth thoracic vertebra was measured by dual inclinometer before and after using the spine extension device. Results: In the static posture, the thoracic kyphosis decreased after using the spine extension device in the thoracic extension posture, and there was a significant difference (p < 0.05); thoracic extension angle increased with statistical significance (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In this study, the thoracic kyphosis angle and thoracic extension angle of the subjects before and after using spine extension device was compared and analyzed, which proved that the spine extension device can effectively improve the mobility of spinal extension.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2012

Thoracic kyphosis is occasionally used to describe someone with accentuated thoracic curvature, hyperkyphosis is preferred since kyphosis itself refers to the normal sagittal angle of thoracic curvature. The angle of thoracic kyphosis tends to increase with age resulting in hyperkyphosis in some individuals. The persons who suffer from hyperkyphosis are at increased risk for a variety of adverse health outcomes that include musculoskeletal alteration, physical functional limitations, poor quality of life, falls, and even earlier mortality. Hyperkyphosis may develop from vertebral fractures, degenerative disc disease, either muscle weakness, decreased mobility and sensory deficits. The gold-standard orthopaedic technique for assessment of thoracic kyphosis is standing lateral spine radiographs. Other clinical measures are Debrunner kyphometer, inclinometer, flexicurve ruler, arcometer, flexible electrogoniometer and spinal mouse.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.169-174
• /
• 2014

Purpose: This study demonstrated a postural alignment exercise as conservative management strategy for a woman with excessive thoracic kyphosis presenting decreased chest function, and reports its results. Methods: A 21-year-old woman with thoracic kyphosis presenting limited chest function. The exercise program underwent for 30 min in the intervention phase, which consisted of exercises to improve the strength of back extensor and to stretch anterior chest region. Outcome measures comprised the severity of thoracic kyphosis and chest function (vital capacity [VC], forced expiratory volume in a second [FEV1], and chest expansion length). Results: The thoracic kyphotic angle decreased by 23.6% ($9.38^{\circ}$) and 25.4% ($10.58^{\circ}$) in the intervention and follow-up phases respectively. Also, chest function was improved in the intervention (VC: 3.7% [$0.10{\ell}$], FEV1: 17.1% [$0.39{\ell}$], and chest expansion length: 17.1% [0.96 cm]), and the improvement was maintained during the follow-up phase (VC: 4.8% [$0.13{\ell}$], FEV1: 17.1% [$0.39{\ell}$], and chest expansion length: 64.3% [1.81 cm]). Conclusion: These findings suggest that the postural alignment exercise was favorable for improving chest function of a woman with thoracic kyphosis.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2019

Background: In previous studies, changes in postural alignment were found when the slope was changed during walking. Downhill walking straightens the trunk by shifting the line of gravity backward. Objects: This study investigated the effect of the downhill treadmill walking exercise (DTWE) on thoracic angle and thoracic erector spinae (TES) activation in subjects with thoracic kyphosis. Methods: A total of 20 subjects with thoracic kyphosis were recruited for this study. All the subjects performed the DTWE for 30 minutes. A surface EMG and 3D motion capture system were used to measure TES activation and thoracic angle before and after the DTWE. Paired t-tests were used to confirm the effect of the DTWE (p<.05). Results: Both the thoracic angle and TES activation had significantly increased after the DTWE compared to the baseline (p<.05). An increase in the thoracic angle indicates a decrease in kyphosis. Conclusion: The DTWE is effective for thoracic kyphosis patients as it decreases their kyphotic posture and increases the TES activation. Future longitudinal studies are required to investigate the long-term effects of the DTWE.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.205-213
• /
• 2021

Purpose: This study investigated the immediate effects of a figure-8 shoulder brace and taping intervention on round shoulder posture, thoracic kyphosis, and chest expansion mobility in forward head posture. Methods: Thirty patients with forward head posture were assigned randomly to the figure-8 shoulder brace group (n = 15) or the taping intervention group (n = 15). Patients were assessed for forward head posture, shoulder posture, thoracic kyphosis, and chest expansion. Results: The figure-8 shoulder brace and taping intervention groups showed a significant difference for forward head posture, shoulder posture, and thoracic kyphosis after the experiment (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that a figure-8 shoulder brace and taping intervention has a positive effect on rounded shoulder posture, thoracic kyphosis, and chest expansion in patients with forward head posture.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.179-186
• /
• 2021

Background: Patients with advanced asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have postural deviations such as thoracic hyperkyphosis, forward shoulder posture (FSP) due to an increase in head and cervical protraction, reduced shoulder range of motion and a corresponding increase in scapula elevation and upward rotation. Unlike congenital vertebral kyphosis that are permanent and rigid deformities with bony and other structural deformations which cause respiratory impairment, these deformities in these patients may be more flexible. Since the thoracic hyperkyphosis has been implicated as having adverse health consequences it is necessary to evaluated the relationship between thoracic kyphosis and cardiopulmonary functions of patients with COPD and asthma. Methods: It was a cross-sectional analytical study. Eighty-four eligible patients with COPD and asthma were recruited from the Respiratory Unit, Department of Medicine, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), and basic anthropometric parameters, pulmonary parameters, cardiovascular parameters, thoracic kyphosis (Cobb) angle and presence of respiratory symptoms of participants were assessed. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results: There was no significant correlation between the thoracic kyphosis and selected pulmonary parameters (Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1, p=0.36), Forced Vital Capacity (FVC, p=0.95), Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR, p=0.16), Thoracic expansion (TE, p=0.27)/cardiovascular parameters (Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP, p=0.108), Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP, p=0.17) and Pulse Rate (PR, p=0.93) as well as the respiratory symptoms (SGRQ scores, p=0.11) in all subjects. Conclusion: There was no relationship between thoracic kyphosis and selected pulmonary/cardiovascular parameters as well as respiratory symptoms in patients with COPD and asthma.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.149-158
• /
• 2019

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of thoracic mobilization (TM) on the angle of thoracic kyphosis, and static and dynamic balances by application period. The subjects of this study were 18 adult males and females (${\geq}20years\; old$) who had the angle of thoracic kyphosis equal to or higher than $40^{\circ}$. A pre-test was conducted for all subjects and TM was carried out. Data were collected before the intervention, 3 weeks after the intervention, and 6 weeks after the intervention. It was measured three times per measurement and mean values were used for the analysis. The results of this study showed that the angle of thoracic kyphosis significantly (P<.05) decreased after applying TM. However, the migration area ($mm^2$) of the center of pressure (COP) in the static balance did not vary significantly. In the case of the dynamic balance, when eyes were open, the migration area ($mm^2$) of the COP significantly (P<.05) decreased after 3 weeks. When eyes were open, the migration area ($mm^2$) of the COP significantly (P<.05) decreased after 3 weeks and 6 weeks. Therefore, an intervention for improving the human body alignment and balance should be applied for a long-term, rather than a short-term, in order to be effective.