• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.49-55
• /
• 2013

Purpose: This study was conducted in order to analyze the effect of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation lower extremity pattern on muscular strength and flexibility in an aquatic environment. Methods: Ten members of the experimental group and 10 members of the control group were randomly selected from 20 college students who are in their 20s. Bilateral symmetry pattern among proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation lower extremity patterns was applied in an aquatic environment in the experimental group three times per week for a period of six weeks, and a set consisted of 10 times, which was repeated 10 times. On the other hand, subjects in the control group did not receive any treatment while maintaining daily life. Muscular strength was measured using a dynamometer and electromyogram system for maximum voluntary isometric contraction of hip flexor, hip extensor, knee flexor, and knee extensor. Cervical flexibility was measured using cervical range of motion instrument for cervical flexion, rotation, and lateral flexion. Lumbar flexibility was measured using back range of motion instrument II for lumbar flexion. Results: For the experimental group, significance was observed for hip flexor, extensor, knee flexor, extensor, cervical flexion, rotation, lateral flexion, and lumbar flexion. For the control group, no significance was observed for any other variables except for cervical flexion. As a result of observation of difference between the two groups, relatively high significance was observed in the experimental group, compared with the control group. Conclusion: In conclusion, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation lower extremity pattern had a positive effect on muscular strength and flexibility in an aquatic environment.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
• /
• v.30 no.12 s.255
• /
• pp.1509-1517
• /
• 2006

The intervertebral fusion was reported to increase the degeneration of the neighboring region. Recently, a new technique of inserting an interspinous process fixator has been introduced to minimize the degenerative change in the lumbar spine. This study analyzed biomechanical effects of the fixator in the lumbar spine, and designed a new prototype to improve flexibility of the fixator with a reduced size. The evaluation was based on the displacement, stiffness and von-Mises stress obtained from the mechanical test and finite element analysis. A finite element lumbar model of L1 to L5 was constructed. The finite element model was used to analyze intervertebral fusion, insertion of a commercial fixator and a new prototype. The range of motion of intervertebral segments and pressures at vertebral discs were calculated from FEA. The results showed that the stiffness of the prototype was reduced by 32.9% than that of the commercial one.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.269-279
• /
• 2008

Purpose: The study was to examine the effect of lumbar stabilization exercise on back pain, physical fitness, sleep, and depression in middle-aged women who have chronic back pain. Methods: With one group pre-post test design, 18 subjects who have had more than 6 months of back pain were recruited by convenience sampling in D metropolitan area. Lumbar stabilization exercise was based on Tai Chi for back pain program developed by Lam(2003). This program was mainly focusing on strengthening lumbar stabilizing muscle for one hour per session, twice a week for 20 weeks. Degree of back pain, back pain disability, sleep, and depression were measured at three time points(pretest, 12 weeks, and 20 weeks) by a structured study questionnaire. Physical fitness variables including waist flexibility, mobility, and back muscle strength were measured three times at health promotion center located in the university hospital. Data were analyzed by frequency, descriptive statistics, and repeated measures of ANOVA. Results: Mean age of subjects was 52 years(SD = 6.4). Most of them(90%) had suffered from back pain more than one year and 67% was taking medicine to relieve their back pain. Results showed that back pain score and disability score were not significantly decreased after the exercise. On physical fitness variables, however, waist flexibility(F = 3.50, p = .04) and mobility(F = 3.31, p = .04) were improved after the exercise. Quality of sleep(F = 4.48, p = .03) was improved gradually and depression scores were also decreased(F = 3.12, p = .05) after the exercise. Conclusion: This lumbar stabilization exercise was not able to reduce chronic back pain, but could improve physical fitness and psycho-social variables for community dwelling women who have chronic back pain. Further study is needed to replicate this exercise with control group to confirm the positive effect.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.156-166
• /
• 2003

Purpose: To investigate the effects of self-management course in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Method: Forty-nine subjects were sampled according to research criteria, and divided into two groups: 24 of the experimental group and 25 of control group. To the experimental group, self-management course which developed by the investigators was applied for 6 weeks, each session adopted for two hours per week and additional 30-minutes exercise was carried out two times a week. Result: After participating the self-management course in experimental group, 1) the degree of pain was significantly decreased 2) significant improvement in the flexibility of lumbar spine, 3) uncertainty was significantly decreased. 4) Self-efficacy was not changed between the two groups after self-management course. Conclusions: These findings indicate that the self-management course could be effective in improving the flexibility of lumbar spine and decreasing pain, and uncertainty in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.22 no.5
• /
• pp.79-90
• /
• 2005

Objectives : The purpose of this study Is to evaluate the effect of acupuncture treatment on the lunbar extensor muscle flexibility of normal people by comparing ICT(interferential current therapy) group. Methods : This study was carried out on 30 subjects employed using 15 qestionaires and radiography. Subjects were divided into two groups including acupuncture treatment group and ICT treatment group. In the control group, subjects were taken ICT treatment for 15 minutes and in the test group were needled at BL23, BL24, BL25, BL4O, BL52 and BL60 for 15 minutes. Then subjects did the sit and reach test and the standing and reach test, right after treatment and after 10minutes. Results : 1. Compared to the before -treatment result of the sit and reach test and standing and reach test, the after-treatment result showed the improved flexibility. 2. The result gained from the test group is slightly larger than that of the control group. Conclusion : We brought to the conclusion that acupuncture treatment has possibility to increase flexibility of lumbar extensor muscle.

• The Journal of Korean society of community based occupational therapy
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.57-65
• /
• 2013

Objective : The purpose of this study was to identify the effect and difference of abdominal muscle strengthening exercise, back muscle stretching and multi-training on the lumbar flexibility of 20s adults. Method : The abdominal muscle strengthening exercise, back muscle stretching and multi-training were conducted 9 times targeting 21 subjects who attended K University from 2013 May 29 to June 14. Sit and Reach Tests were conducted 2 times(before and after exercise program) for flexibility test and measured data were processed with SPSS program WIN 12.0K. By the Wilcoxon signed rank test, the effectiveness of exercises are verified. By the Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney test, the difference of effectiveness among the exercise groups are verified. Result : The results of this study were summerized below 1. Before and after exercise, in abdominal muscle strengthening exercise group, back muscle stretching group and multi-training group are showed statistically significant differences(p<.05), 2. There were statistically significant difference in the improvement of the flexibility between each group(p>.05). Conclusion : These data suggests that all of the 3 exercise programs are brought positive influences on the improvement of flexibility, and abdominal muscle strengthening exercises and flexibility multi-training are effective on the flexibility more than, back muscle stretching in 20s adults.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.115-125
• /
• 2016

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the effects of lumbar stabilization exercise with those of the neurodynamic technique on low back pain in patients with lumbar instability. METHODS: The subjects included those with more than three tests with positive results for lumbar instability and those with a positive sign during the neurodynamic test, all of whom had low back pain. For the lumbar stabilization exercise group (n=15), lumbar stabilization exercise was performed using a sling system, while the neurodynamic technique group (n=15) performed the neurodynamic technique. The intervention was performed 5 days a week for 4 weeks. All measurement of each subject were measure at pre-intervention and post-intervention (after 4 weeks). SPSS/PC ver. 18.0 program was used to compile results. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in general characteristics of subjects between both groups (p>.05). Assessed items included the visual analog scale score (VAS), Korean version of the Oswestry Disability Index (KODI), lumbar instability test positive response counter (LIC) and Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire score (FABQ), and a significant reduction was observed post-intervention compared to pre-intervention values in both groups (p<.01). Other assessed items such as trunk flexibility and lumbar extensor endurance and lumbar flexor endurance were significantly increased post-intervention in both groups compared to pre-intervention values (p<.01). There was no significant difference in all parameters between both groups (p>.05). CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the neurodynamic technique may be useful for improving low back pain in patients with lumbar instability.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.25 no.6
• /
• pp.386-392
• /
• 2013

Purpose: This study aimed to verify the impact of the time that the sitting posture is maintained on changes in muscle performance and head alignment. Methods: The subjects of this study were healthy adults aged between 20 and 30 years. Ninety-three subjects participated in this study (male: 57, female: 36). The subjects were divided into a one-hour group, a two-hour group, and a three-hour group. All the subjects adjusted the height of their chair to a comfortable position and then seat for one, two, or over three hours. Both prior to and after the experiment, the muscle performance (muscle strength, endurance, and flexibility) of the subjects was measured. Results: In the 2-hours and 3-hour group, muscle strength, flexibility and endurance reduced significantly before and after the study, and the head alignment significantly changed. Conclusion: Thease findings showed that sitting continuously for longer than two hours decreases muscle strength, endurance, and flexibility. A flexed posture affects the muscle performance of the lumbar region and may result in problematic postures, such as a forward head position.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.103-112
• /
• 1990

The intervertebral disc in the anterior portion of the function unit gives the spine its flexibility. The disc is attached closely to the vertebral endplates. Between these endplates and the annulus fibrosus, the nucleus pulposus of the lumbar disc is enclosed in a circle of unyielding tissues. Compressive pressure placed on the disc is dissipated circumferentially in a passive manner In response to the greater axial forced exerted on the lumbar spine in comparison to the cervical and thoracic spines, the nucleus pulposus has its greatest surface area in the lumbar spine. The intervertebral disc is not only structure that helps diss pate stresses placed on the spine. With flexion, extension, rotation, or shear stress, the load distribution on the function unit is shared by the intervertebral disc, anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments, the facet joints and capsules, and other ligamentous structures like the ligamentum flavum, interspinous and supraspinous ligaments, which attach to the posterior elements of the functional unit.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.46-54
• /
• 2012

Ely's test is commonly used to assess rectus femoris muscle flexibility. however, a reliability limit of this test was demonstrated by a previous study. In this study, we present an alternative method using an application for a digital horizontal level in a smartphone (DHLS) to complement the reliability limit of Ely's test. The aim of this study was to examine the reliability of Ely's test using DHLS on the pelvis, compared to using visual observation (VO) of pelvic and hip motions. Nineteen patients with lumbar extension-rotation syndrome were recruited for this study. An examiner examined the rectus femoris flexibility (both pass/fail and goniometer scoring) through Ely's test using both DHLS and VO. A retest session was completed two hours later for within-day reliability and seven days later for between-day intra-rater test-retest reliability. Results showed higher Kappa values for pass/fail scoring and higher intraclass correlation coefficient values for goniometer scoring in Ely's test using DHLS, compared to using VO. Measurement error and Bland and Altman plots further demonstrated the degree of intra-rater variance during Ely's test using DHLS in a clinical setting, compared to using VO. These results demonstrated that Ely's test using DHLS showed acceptable reliability compared to using VO. Ely's test using DHLS could be widely used for measuring the rectus femoris muscle flexibility in patients with lumbar extension-rotation syndrome, although the inter-rater reliability needs to be established first.