• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.93-101
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• 2019

PURPOSE: This study tries attempted to provide basic clinical data to reduce pain and improve function by comparing the muscle fatigue of the superficial neck muscles and neck disability index (NDI) by performing McKenzie exercise or passive stretching exercise for chronic neck pain patients. METHODS: Sixteen chronic neck pain patients were selected and divided into the McKenzie group (n=8) and passive stretching group (n=8). The intervention program was performed three times a week for four weeks. The time for one exercise was 30 minutes. Before the intervention, the muscle fatigue the superficial neck muscles and NDI were measured. They were measured again after four weeks using the same method. RESULTS: The median frequency of the superficial neck muscles increased significantly in the McKenzie group and passive stretching group (p<.05). The NDI of both the McKenzie group and the passive stretching group decreased significantly. A comparison of the groups, revealed a significant difference in only the median frequency values of the upper trapezius muscle and splenius capitis muscle (p<.05). The NDI values of both groups were similar. CONCLUSION: Both McKenzie exercise and passive stretching exercises showed a significant difference in the degree of fatigue and NDI. McKenzie exercise delayed the replace of the fast twitch fibers which helped improve the muscle fatigue of the upper trapezius muscle and splenius capitis muscle. On the other hand, additional studies applying more variables for the muscle function to improve the symptom of chronic neck pain patients will be needed.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.11-22
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of neck stabilization exercise with PNF for neck alignment, neck disability index, and sitting balance in adults with forward-head posture. Methods: Forty participants were randomly assigned to two groups. Patients in the neck stabilization exercise group (NSG, n = 20) and the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation neck pattern exercise group (PNFG, n = 20) were studied 30 minutes a day three times a week for four weeks. Outcomes were measured using cranial vertical angle (CVA), the Korean version of the neck disability index (KNDI), anterior limit of stability (ALOS), and posterior limit of stability (PLOS) before and after the intervention period. Results: There were significant effects in the CVA and the KNDI of both groups pre- and post-intervention. There were significant effects in ALOS and PLOS in the PNFG pre- and post-intervention compared with the NSG. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that PNF with neck exercise could be beneficial to the static balance of adults with forward-head posture.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.131-140
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• 2014

Objectives This study was aimed at comparing clinical effectiveness among trigger point treatment, Self-exercise treatment, trigger point - self-exercise cooperative treatment for neck pain caused by traffic accidents. Methods 63 patients with neck pain by traffic accidents were divided into 3 groups. Different types of treatments were carried out for each groups ; group A with trigger point, group B with self-exercise, group C with trigger point and self-exercise cooperative treatment. 3 groups were also treated with general acupuncture and herb-medicine treatment. Pain threshold, visual analogue scale (VAS), and neck disability index (NDI) were checked on a daily basis. SPSS ver. 18.0 for Windows was used for analysis of data. The effectiveness of treatment of each groups were verified by using paired test and one-way repeated-measures ANOVA test, and the comparison of VAS, NDI and pain threshold were demonstrated by independent samples t-test. Results 3 groups all showed significant difference in pain threshold, VAS and NDI after 8 days later. Group C showed more improvement in pain threshold, VAS and NDI than shown in group A and B. In the first period (from pre-treatment to 4th day treatment) group C showed significant difference in NDI and pain threshold but not in VAS as compared to group A and B. In the second period (from 4th treatment to 8th day treatment), Group C showed significant difference in pain threshold, VAS and NDI as compared to group A and B. Conclusions Trigger point - self-exercise cooperative treatment is proved to be more helpful to improve the unstability and reduce neck pain than trigger point treatment or self-exercise treatment only, therefore eventually leading to better satisfaction for patients with neck pain.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.889-895
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• 2010

This study compared the effects of craniocervical flexion exercise with conservative cervical flexion exercise in workers with chronic neck pain. Subjects were randomly allocated to two groups: control (n=20) and experimental group (n=20), respectively. The conservative exercise for the control group consisted of cervical flexion exercise, whereas the experimental group performed a craniocervical flexion exercise. To compare the two groups, the visual analogue scale (VAS) for a pain, neck disability index (NDI) for a neck disability scale, and cross sectional area (CSA) of longus colli muscle using ultrasound image were assessed on pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 2 weeks follow-up. 2-way repeated ANOVA was used with Bonferroni post-hoc test. (1) There were significant main effects (within and between groups) (p<0.05) and interaction effect (p<0.05) in VAS. Post-hoc test revealed that there were significant differences in all pair-wise comparisons. (2) There were significant main effects (within and between groups) (p<0.05) and interaction effect (p<0.05) in NDI. Post-hoc test revealed that there were significant differences between pre-intervention and post-intervention, pre-intervention and 2 weeks follow-up. (3) There were significant main effects (within and between groups) (p<0.05) and interaction effect (p<0.05) in CSA of longus colli muscle. Post-hoc test revealed that there were significant differences in all pair-wise comparisons. The findings indicate that craniocervical flexion exercise are more effective for improving pain, neck disability, and CSA of longus colli muscle than cervical flexion exercise in workers with chronic neck pain.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.865-870
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• 2015

This study examined the effects of stretching and sling stabilizing exercises on changes in the angle of the cervical spine in military neck patients. The subjects were 20 adults diagnosed with a military neck(male:10, female:10) and they were randomly and equally assigned to a stretching exercise group and a sling stabilization exercise group. The total study period was four weeks. The intervention was applied three times per week for 60 minutes per each time. Before conducting the exercise, X-ray of each group was photographed to measure craniospinal angle(CVA) and cranial rotation angle(CRA). According to the result of comparing the two groups in changes in the cervical spine angle, there was no significant difference, and the result of comparing pre- and post-intervention was that there was significant change in CVA and CRA in the stretching group (p<.05) but there was no significant change in CVA and CRA in the sling stabilization exercise. Such result suggests stretching exercise is good for improving a military neck and stretching is more effective than sling in the therapeutic intervention for a military neck.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.35-41
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• 2021

Purpose : It is necessary to demonstrate the effect of non-invasive and non-pharmacological interventions such as manual therapy and therapeutic exercise for the management of nonspecific neck pain. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of myofascial release therapy plus therapeutic exercise for disability owing to neck pain and quality of life in individuals with nonspecific neck pain. Methods : Eighteen participants with nonspecific neck pain were randomly allocated to intervention (n=9) and control groups (n=9). The intervention group received a myofascial release therapy for 20 min and performed neck stabilization exercises for 30 min twice a week for 4 weeks. The control group performed neck stabilization exercises for 30 min twice a week for 4 weeks at the same time points as the intervention group. Disability owing to neck pain and quality of life were quantified using the neck disability index (NDI) and the Korean version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF), respectively. NDI and WHOQOL-BREF were assessed before and after intervention. Results : The disability owing to neck pain significantly changed between the groups over time (total score of NDI, p=.049). There were significant time and group interactions in pain (pain intensity of NDI, p=.035) and concentration (concentration of NDI, p=.049). Personal care, lifting, reading, headaches, work, driving, sleeping, and recreation did not show significant improvement between the groups over time. Total score, overall quality of life and general health, physical health domain, psychological domain, social relationships domain, and environmental domain quantified by WHOQOL-BREF did not show significant improvements between the groups over time. Conclusion : These results suggest the clinical use of myofascial release therapy in addition to therapeutic exercise for the management of nonspecific neck pain. Further studies are needed to generalize the findings of this study.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.291-302
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the effects of neck and trunk stabilization exercise on the onset time of trunk muscle contraction in the elderly. Methods: Elderly subjects were divided into 2 groups: a neck and trunk stabilization exercise group (NTSG) and a control group (CG). The NTSG performed both neck and trunk stabilization exercises and the CG performed gait training on a treadmill, at 30 min per session, 3 times per week, over 8 weeks. Surface electromyography was employed to measure the onset times of trunk muscle contractions in the right anterior deltoid, rectus abdominis, external oblique abdominis, internal oblique abdominis, and erector spinae muscles. Results: The NTSG subjects showed earlier and statistically significant onset of contraction in trunk muscles as compared to the CG. Conclusion: The combination of neck and trunk stabilization exercises may more effectively improve the onset of muscle contractions in the elderly than other types of exercise. The present study's findings may be used as basic data for the development of exercise programs suitable to the elderly, specifically for the design of home exercise programs.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.81-92
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• 2013

Purpose : This research was carried out to find how neck exercise program combined with self stretching and muscle strengthening program influences on smart phone addicts with forward head posture. Methods : The subjects of this study were 20 smart phone-addicts with forward head posture and we divided them into 2 groups. The experimental group(10 people) participated in neck exercise program as a intervention for 3 months and the control group(the other 10 people) didn't participate in neck exercise program. Neck exercise program were composed of self stretching and muscle strengthening program. Then we measured cervical alignment with GPS(Global Posture System) and evaluated balance ability with Balance Master ver 7.0 systems. Results : The result were as follows. 1. After the intervention, experimental group were significantly more closed to normal cervical alignment than control group. 2. After the intervention, experimental group increased in dynamic balance ability a little more than control group. Conclusion : Neck exercise program seems to get cervical alignment better and improve balance ability.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.9-19
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• 2019

Background: This study was planned to assess and compare the effectiveness of cervical region stabilization exercise and strengthening exercise on pain and range of motion in patient with chronic neck pain. Methods: Fifty-one patient with chronic neck pain were randomly allocated into strengthening and stabilization exercise (SSE) group (n=27) and Strengthening exercise (SE) group (n=24). The program was carried for 12 sessions, 3 days/week in 4weeks. Pain intensity with visual analog scale (VAS), cervical range of motion, deep cervical flexor strengthening were evaluated before and after the intervention. Results: After the program, pain intensity decreased in group SE and SSE were found (p<.05). Range of motion and deep cervical muscle strength increased in group SE and SSE were found(p<.05). The intergroup comparison showed that significant difference in range of motion and deep cervical muscle strength (p<.05). Conclusions: The study suggest that both SSE program and SE program might be a useful treatment for patients with chronic neck pain. However SSE program might be superior in improving cervical range of motion and deep cervical flexor strength compare to SE program.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.61-70
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• 2017

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of therapeutic massage and Mckenzie exercise on pain and range of motion in chronic neck pain patient: a case study. Method : A Twenty-year old female subject with chronic neck pain was selected, she received therapeutic massage and Mckenzie exercise for 30 minutes a day, three days a week for five weeks. Pain was measured visual analog scale(VAS), neck disability index(NDI) and the Copenhagen neck functional disability scale (CNFDS). Range of motion was measured using a goniometer(shoulder joint) and the CROM Deluxe(cervical range of motion instrument). Result : VAS, NDI and CNFDS were decreased 3 score, 4 score and 6 score(respectively) than before the training. The range of motion was increased in shoulder joint and neck movement than before the training. Conclusion : The massage and Mckenzie exercise increased range of motion in shoulder joint and neck movement, and decreased neck pain in chronic neck pain patient. Additional research on therapeutic massage and Mckenzie exercise for improving pain and range of motion is need.