• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1717-1724
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• 2019

Background : Several studies have suggested different arguments for the effect of stretching exercises and core muscle exercises on flexibility and balance ability. Objective : To determine the effects of stretching exercises and core muscle exercise on flexibility and balance ability. Design : Quasi experimental research Method : The study applied exercise interventions (three sessions per week for 6 weeks) on 40 subjects. The subjects were divided into stretching and core muscle exerciseing groups to identify the change of flexibility and balance ability. Sit- and- reach test results and hip hyperextension were measured for identifying changes in flexibility, and the Romberg test and Pedalo stabilizer were used for changes in balance ability. Results : Both the stretching exercise and core muscle exercise groups showed a statistically significant increase in flexibility (p<.05). However, the stretching exercise group showed a statistically significant increase in balance ability (p<.05), whereas the core muscle exercise group showed partially statistically significant differences in this par t(p>.05). In the analysis of the differences in the amount of change in flexibility, based on the types of exercise, stretching exercises showed a significant difference (p<.05), whereas a significant difference was not found in the amount of change in balance ability (p>.05). Conclusions : These findings indicate that stretching exercises are the more effective intervention for improving and maintaining flexibility, whereas there is no difference between stretching and core muscle exercises with respect to improving balance ability.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of abdominal muscle strengthening exercises and back muscle stretching on the flexibility of spinal column. Methods: The subjects were consisted of healthy adults ( 28 of females, 32 males; mean aged 21.6) from 18 to 29. All subjects randomly assigned to the control group, back muscle stretching group, abdominal muscle strengthening exercises group. back muscle stretching group received back muscles stretching for 20 minutes, abdominal muscle strengthening exercises group received abdominal muscle strengthening exercises for 30 minutes per day and 3 times a week during 3 week period. Spine motion analyzer (Spinal Mouse) was used to measure the flexibility of spinal column. All measurement of each subjects were measured at pre-experiment, after 10 days, and after 21 days. Results: The results of this study were summarized below 1. The sacral tilt angle of the hip joint of control group, back muscle stretching group, abdominal strengthening exercises group was no significantly differences at pre-experiment and after 10 days(p>0.5), but differency of each group occurred at after 21 days(p<0.5). the sacral tilt angle significantly increased at the back muscle stretching group, abdominal muscle strengthening exercises group, rather than the control group. 2. The thoracic vertebral tilt angle of the control group, back muscle stretching group, abdominal muscle strengthening exercises group was no significantly differences at pre-experiment, after 10 days, after 21 days(p>0.5). 3. The lumbar vertebral tilt angle of the control group, back muscle stretching group, abdominal muscle strengthening exercises group was no significantly differences at pre-experiment, after 10 days, after 21 days(p>0.5). 4. The spinal tilt angle of control group, back muscle stretching group, abdominal muscle strengthening exercises group was no significantly differences at pre-experiment and after 10 days(p>0.5), but differency of each group occurred at after 21 days(p<0.5). the spinal tilt angle significantly increased at the back muscle stretching group, abdominal muscle strengthening exercises group, rather than the control group(p<0.5). 5. The length of the spinal column of control group, back muscle stretching group, abdominal muscle strengthening exercises group was no significantly differences at pre-experiment and after 10 days (p>0.5), but differency of each group occurred at after 21 days(p<0.5). the length of the spinal column significantly increased at the back muscle stretching group, abdominal muscle strengthening exercises group, rather than the control group(p<0.5). Conclusion: these data suggests that 3-week abdominal muscle strengthening exercises and back muscle stretching improved the flexibility of sacrum, spinal column, and also improved spinal column lengthening. Additional randomized controlled trials to more fully investigate treatment effects and factors that may mediate these effects are needed.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.39-46
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• 2011

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of three types of therapeutic exercises by applying them to lower back pain patients. Methods : This program was conducted for 30 patients 30 to 55 years old, who visited a rehabilitation center due to lower back pain. We separated participants into three groups with different therapeutic exercises: one with lumbar stabilization exercises, another with stretching exercises, and the other with both exercises. Each exercise was held once a day, 3 days a week, for 6 weeks. We analyzed the effect of these exercises by checking the change of lumbar muscle strength and pain relief. Lumbar muscle strength was measured by AS-Med and pain strength was estimated by VAS. Results : The result of the programs was established according to the following list: 1) Lumbar stabilization exercises and stretching exercises lead to higher lumbar muscle strength and pain relief (p<0.05). 2) Lumbar muscle strength in the lumbar stabilization exercise group was significantly higher than the stretching exercise group (p<0.05). 3) Pain relief in the stretching exercise group was significantly higher than the lumbar stabilization exercise group (p<0.05). Conclusion : This study shows all of the groups experienced higher lumbar muscle strength and pain relief. Specifically, there was higher lumbar muscle strength in the lumbar stabilization exercise group and higher pain relief in the stretching exercise group. Therefore the ideal intervention to improve lumbar muscle strength and pain relief for patients is to implement both lumbar stabilization exercises and stretching exercises.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 2016

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of passive stretching exercises of the scalene muscles known as respiratory accessory muscles, on forced vital capacity. METHODS: Ten of the participants were randomly selected as an experiment group to perform passive stretching exercises on the scalene muscles. Ten additional students were selected randomly as a control group. The forced vital capacity was assessed by using a digital spirometer (Pony FX, COSMED Inc, Italy) both before and after the passive stretching exercises were performed. Subsequently, passive stretching exercises of the scalene muscles were performed in the experimental group. There were no interventions to the control group. RESULTS: As for the forced vital capacity (FVC), the experiment group showed significant increase in items of forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second ($FEV_1$), peak expiratory flow (PEF), forced expiratory volume in 1 second/vital capacity ($FEV_1/VC$), and maximal expiratory flow 75%(MEF 75%) after the scalenemuscles passive stretching exercises were performed. The control group, however, showed no change. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that passive stretching exercises of the scalene muscles could be helpful for forced vital capacity improvement.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.1614-1618
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of joint mobilization and manual stretching exercises in patients with hallux valgus. Twenty-three participants were divided into two groups; joint mobilization (n=11) and manual stretching exercises (n=12). The subjects participated in the experiment for 15minutes, three times a week, four weeks. The joint mobilization (Grade III, Maitland) was performed to experimental group for a minute and then rested for 10 seconds for each set. The manual stretching was performed to control group with three exercise session (preparatory and finishing exercises, agonist contraction exercises, agonist contraction and hold-relax exercises). In the results of the study, intragroup comparison of the deformity angles (DA) was shown to decrease from $15.18^{\circ}$ to $13.09^{\circ}$ in the joint mobilization group (p<.05) and from $19.00^{\circ}$ to $16.83^{\circ}$ in the stretching exercises group (p<.05). However, left static foot pressure (LSFP), right static foot pressure (RSFP), left dynamic foot pressure (LDFP) and right dynamic foot pressure (RDFP) did not significantly increase or decrease after the experiment. Intergroup differences also were not statistically significant in all variables (p>.05). The current study suggests that JM and MSE are effective in decreasing the DA in patients with hallux valgus.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.87-96
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• 2013

Purpose The purpose of this study was to research the effects of exercise programs on genu varum persons' distance of between two legs. Method 40 persons who had genu varum were participated in this research. Randomly, among 30 were allocated in experimental group and others were allocated in control group. Stretching exercises, bend exercises and joint mobilization were applied to the experimental group for 6 weeks. For the statistical analysis, we used the independent t-test and the paired t-test. Result Stretching exercises, bend exercises and joint mobilization had statistically effects on distance of knees with gathering legs, distance of knees, distance of malleoluses, differences of distance from between malleoluses to between knees by GPS. Stretching exercises, bend exercises and joint mobilization had statistically effects on distance of knees, distance of malleoluses by ruler. Conclusion Therefore, this study showed that stretching exercises, bend exercises and joint mobilization influenced on the change of genu varum.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.24-31
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• 2012

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of self-stretching exercises for iliotibial band (ITB) (Side-lying; right hip and knee were flexed to support the pelvis while left hip was extended and adducted, Standing A; side-bending of the trunk on standing with crossed leg, Standing B; same as Standing A, except the hands were clasped overhead and shifted right side, and Standing C; same as Standing B, except moving the arms diagonally downward) to help determine the most effective self-stretching method to stretch ITB. Twenty-one healthy subjects who do not have ITB shortness from Yonsei University (14 men and 7 women) between the ages of 18 to 28 years voluntarily participated. Ultrasound was performed to measure the thickness of the ITB between the long axis of the ITB and the level parallel to the lateral femoral epicondyle during four self-stretching exercises. All data were found to approximate a normal distribution. We used a one-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) to compare the thickness of the ITB among all self-stretching exercises. The level of significance was set at ${\alpha}$=.05. The ANOVA was followed by Bonferroni's correction. The overall mean of ITB thickness was $1.14{\pm}.4$ mm (${\pm}$ standard deviation) in resting status. The change in the ITB thickness in percentages between the tested position of each self-stretching exercises and resting status was significant (p<.05) (Side-lying $26.62{\pm}10.18%$ with 95% confidence interval [CI]=21.99~31.25%; Standing A $29.46{\pm}16.19%$ with 95% CI=22.09~36.84%; Standing B $44.06{\pm}14.82%$ with 95% CI=37.31~50.81%; Standing C $53.76{\pm}12.1%$ with 95% CI=48.25~59.29%). Results indicated significant differences among four self-stretching exercises except Side-lying versus Standing A (p<.01). Based on these findings, the Standing C self-stretching exercise was the most effective in stretching the ITB thickness among four types of ITB self-stretching exercises. Additionally, the Side-lying self-stretching exercise using gravity to stretch the ITB is recommended as a low-load (low-intensity), long-duration stretch.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of chest mobilization and stretching exercises on maximal inspiratory pressure and maximal expiratory pressure in healthy adults who use computers for extended periods of time each day due to coronavirus disease 2019. Methods: Twenty-five healthy adults in their 20s and without respiratory disease (15 female, 10 male) took part in this study. Two types of thoracic mobilizing exercises using a Theraband and three types of stretching exercises using a foam roller were performed. Maximum inspiratory pressure and maximum expiratory pressure were measured three times each before and after the interventions. In terms of statistical methods, the maximum inspiratory pressure due to chest mobility and stretching was compared with the maximum expiratory pressure using parametric paired t-test and non-parametric Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: Maximum inspiratory pressure (p = .012) and maximum expiratory pressure (p = .006) showed significant differences before and after chest mobilization exercise and stretching among the participants. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that chest mobilization and stretching exercises are effective exercise methods for improving maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressure. They suggest that these exercises can prevent respiratory muscle weakness and improve aerobic fitness in healthy people as well as those in need of cardiorespiratory physiotherapy.

• 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.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.10-15
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• 2021

Objective: Limited ankle dorsiflexion is related to ankle injuries. There are various exercises to increase the flexibility of the gastrocnemius for improving the passive range of motion in ankle dorsiflexion. However, to performances in daily activities and athletic sports and higher efficiency of walking and running, both ankle dorsiflexion passive and active range of motion are needed. To investigate the effects of combined gastrocnemius stretching and tibialis anterior resistance exercise on ankle kinematics (passive and active range of motion of ankle dorsiflexion) and tibialis anterior muscle activity in subjects with limited ankle dorsiflexion. Design: Cross-sectional single-group repeated measures design. Methods: Fourteen subjects with limited ankle dorsiflexion were recruited (in the right ankle in 7 and the left ankle in 7). All subjects performed gastrocnemius stretching alone and tibialis anterior resistance exercise after gastrocnemius stretching. The passive and active range of motion of ankle dorsiflexion were measured after interventions immediately. The tibialis anterior activity was measured during active range of motion of ankle dorsiflexion measurement. Results: There was no significant difference of ankle dorsiflexion passive range of motion between gastrocnemius stretching alone and the tibialis anterior resistance exercise after gastrocnemius stretching. The tibialis anterior resistance exercise after gastrocnemius stretching significantly increased active range of motion of ankle dorsiflexion compared to gastrocnemius stretching alone (p<0.05). The tibialis anterior resistance exercise after gastrocnemius stretching significantly increased tibialis anterior activity better than did gastrocnemius stretching alone. Conclusions: Thus, subjects with limited ankle dorsiflexion should be encouraged to perform tibialis anterior resistance exercises.