• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.242-252
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• 2023

Background: Neck pain is a common problem in the general population and second only to low back pain in musculoskeletal problems. The aim of this study is to compare three different types of exercise training in patients with chronic neck pain. Methods: This study was conducted on 45 patients with neck pain. Patients were divided into 3 groups: Group 1 (conventional treatment), Group 2 (conventional treatment plus deep cervical flexor training), and Group 3 (conventional treatment plus stabilization of the neck and core region). The exercise programs were applied for four weeks, three days a week. The demographic data, pain intensity (verbal numeric pain scale), posture (Reedco's posture scale), cervical range of motion ([ROM] goniometer), and disability (Neck Disability Index [NDI]) were evaluated. Results: In all groups, a significant improvement was found in terms of pain, posture, ROM, and NDI values in all groups (P < 0.001). Between the groups, analyses showed that the pain and posture improved more in Group 3, while the ROM and NDI improved more in Group 2. Conclusions: In addition to conventional treatment, applying core stabilization exercises or deep cervical flexor muscle training to patients with neck pain may be more effective in reducing pain and disability and increasing ROM than conventional treatment alone.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.553-564
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• 2022

Objective: The purpose of this studyaimed to investigate the effects of scapular stabilization training using the different exercise prop for impingement syndrome of factory workers. Design: A randomized controlled trial Methods: Twenty shoulder impingement syndrome subjects were randomly divided into two groups of ten subjects each. Inclusion criteria was presence of positive sign in at least two of Neer test, Hawkins test, Yocum test, Jobe test and Speeds test. Andexclusion criteria, those with surgical history of rotator cuff, those with disease in upper limb other than shoulder impingement syndrome, those who took anti-inflammatory drugs over the past 12 months were excluded from the sample. One group was performed scapula stabilization exercise using elastic bands, while dumbbell group performed the exercise using dumbbell. Both groups performed the exercise after applying the general physical therapy. After applying five days a week for a total of six weeks, range of motion of shoulder joint, muscle strength and pain and function level were evaluated. Results: After the intervention, in both groups, all dependent variables at the 6-week post-test significantly improved compared with the pre-test (p<0.05). In addition, elastic band exercise group showed a significant differences in SPADI function score and SPADI total score compared to the dumbbell group(p<0.05). Conclusions: The elastic band training may be effective methodology using low-to-moderate intensity resistance for SPADI scores.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.454-462
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• 2021

Background: This study was performed to reveal the relationships between the cross-sectional areas (CSAs) of the paraspinal muscles and the severity of low back pain (LBP), including the level of disability. Methods: This single-center cross-sectional study was conducted on 164 patients with chronic LBP. The effects of demographic characteristics, posture, level of physical activity, disc herniation type, and sarcopenia risk on the CSAs of paraspinal muscles were evaluated along with the relationship between the CSAs and severity of pain and disability in all patients. The CSAs of paraspinal muscles were evaluated using the software program Image J 1.53. Results: A negative significant correlation was found between age and the paraspinal muscle's CSA (P < 0.05), whereas a positive correlation was present between the level of physical activity and the CSA of the paraspinal muscle at the L2-3 and L3-4 levels. The CSAs of paraspinal muscles in patients with sarcopenia risk was significantly lower than those in patients without sarcopenia risk (P < 0.05). The CSAs of paraspinal muscles at the L2-3 and L3-4 levels in obese patients were significantly higher than those in overweight patients (P = 0.028, P = 0.026, respectively). There was no relationship between the CSAs of paraspinal muscles and pain intensity or disability. Conclusions: Although this study did not find a relationship between paraspinal CSAs and pain or disability, treatment regimens for preventing paraspinal muscles from atrophy may aid pain physicians in relieving pain, restoring function, and preventing recurrence in patients with chronic LBP.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.480-489
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• 2017

Blood flow restriction(BFR) exercise is defined as low intensity and short term exercise using pneumatic pressure belts at the top of limbs, which affects the physiological functions of the body. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of walking exercise with BFR on inflammatory index, isokinetic muscle function, and thigh circumference in obese women. Eleven obese women(> BMI $25kg/m^2$ & > body fat 30%) wore pneumatic pressure belts on both femurs and performed walking exercise twice per day, 3 days/wk for 4 weeks (walking 2 min; resting 1 min). Data analysis was carried out using paired t-test. Body weight, BMI, and body fat significantly decreased after exercise(p<.05), and right thigh circumference significantly decreased(p<.05). The concentration of plasma IL-6 significantly increased(p<.05) after exercise. TNF-${\alpha}$ level was not statistically different but tended to slightly increase. CRP slightly decreased, although it did not reach statistical significance after exercise. Muscle strength significantly increased in the $60^{\circ}/sec$ of right/left side extension, left side flexion, and $180^{\circ}/sec$ of left side extension after training(p<.05). These results suggest that 4 weeks of blood flow restriction walking exercise has positive effects on inflammatory index and isokinetic muscle function. Therefore, we consider that blood flow restriction exercise can be used for treatment of obesity, related chronic diseases, and metabolic syndrome. Further, blood flow restriction exercise for a short time has similar effects as a high intensity resistance program.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.226-232
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• 2016

In the elderly, a lower muscle mass and higher body fat mass are induced by a lower level of physical activity. A negatively changed body composition with an advanced age can lead to a higher falling risk and rate of diseases. On the other hand, aerobic-type exercise positively influences the body composition and hyperlipidemia in the elderly. Therefore, this study examined the effects of aquarobic training for 12 weeks on the body composition and blood lipid levels in obese old women. The subjects (n = 31, body fat: 33.42%) completed a 12 week water based aerobic training at 12 - 13 of Borg Scale of intensity (three times per week, each session: an hour). The body composition was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (Inbody 770-Biospace, Seoul, Korea) and the concentrations of blood lipids (high-density lipids cholesterol (HDL), low-density lipids cholesterol (LDL), triglyceride (TG) total cholesterol (TC)) were determined at pre and post training. A paired t-test was used for data analysis with ${\alpha}=0.05$. In the results, the body composition (% body fat (p < 0.05) and waist circumference (p < 0.05)) were reduced significantly. The LDL (p < 0.05), TG (p < 0.001) and TC (p < 0.05) were reduced significantly. In conclusion, a 12 week aquarobic exercise program helps improve the body composition and concentrations of serum lipids. Therefore, aquarobic exercise can enhance lipolysis using fat as energy to induce an improvement of the body composition and induce hyperlipidemia.