• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.57-69
• /
• 2019

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze the effects of neck and trunk combined exercise program and single exercise on neck angle and neck and shoulder muscle activity. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: In the single exercise group, the basic stretching, head bending and neck bending exercises were performed. The neck and trunk combined exercise group performed torso strength and trunk stability exercises to stabilize the trunk, and then performed the same neck exercise as the single exercise group. The exercise program was conducted 5 days per week for 2 weeks. One-way repeated ANOVA was used to investigate the statistical analysis of neck angle, neck and upper and middle trapezius muscle activity. Results: 1) There was no significant difference in neck angle degree after exercise in neck single exercise group. 2) In the neck and trunk combined exercise, the neck angle degree decreased continuously with the increase of the experimental period and showed a significant difference. 3) In the single exercise group, the muscles which showed significant difference compared to the post-exercise were the right upper, left and right middle trapezius. 4) In the neck and trunk combined exercise group, the right neck muscles showed significant difference after the exercise before the experiment. Conclusion: It was found that the neck and trunk combined exercise was more effective in reducing neck angle and the muscle activity of the subjects with forward head posture was decreased and increased. However, both exercises showed positive effects.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.230-236
• /
• 2011

The aim of this study was to investigate the alteration of lumbar spine and trunk postures on different load-carrying types and amounts under static loading. Two load-carrying types(unilateral carrying: UC vs. bilateral carrying: BC) and four different loads(0, 5, 10, and 15 kg) were randomly tested in this study. Carrying a heavy bag would affect human body posture, specifically lumbar spine curvature, which is considered as one of sources of back problems. Previous studies have not paid attention to the approach of the multisegment model of the lumbar spine and trunk. This study separated two compartments of trunk segment(the lumbar and thorax) in the analysis. The multisegment model of the lumbar spine in addition to Helen-Hayes marker set was used. Eight motion analysis cameras and a force plate were utilized. Ten male subjects(mean mass, $70.6{\pm}3.97$ kg; mean height, $178{\pm}4.18$ m) having no musculoskeletal disease participated in this study. We analyzed trunk angles in three anatomical planes and the spinal curvature in sagittal and frontal planes. Increased loading in both UC and BC significantly resulted in increases in trunk forward lean but only UC induced increases in trunk lateral lean. In addition, increased loading in BC produced flatten lumbar curvature in sagittal plane. As far as coupling motion, subjects tended to use axial rotation of the lumbar spine in transverse plane in response to increased UC loading. Finally, it is concluded that the increased static loading in UC rather than in BC tends to causes combined alterations of the spinal postures(sagittal and transverse planes together), which would be vulnerable to improper mechanical stresses on the spine.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.33-38
• /
• 2017

Objective: This study tried to examine the muscle activity of the neck and trunk according to head posture changes during use of laptops. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: This study included nineteen young men and women. All subjects maintained each posture while practice typing on laptops for ten minutes with a 5-minute break between each posture. For the neutral head posture, the subjects practiced typing while pulling their chins down towards the Adam's apple and were able to look at their knees while having their external auditory meatus, acromion, and greater trochanter vertical to the ground. For the natural head posture, they practiced typing while balancing their posture between extension and flexion of the cervical vertebrae by themselves without any guidelines. While a forward head posture was created by having their heads face the front horizontal to the rope hanging from the ceiling, they practiced typing with their external auditory meatus located in the place which was 5 cm in front of the vertical plane. The subjects used general word process but practiced typing with accuracy and high speed. Muscle activities were randomly measured using surface electromyography according to each postures. Results: The research result had found that muscle activity with the natural head posture was more significantly reduced than that of the forward head posture in the sternocleidomastoid muscle, upper trapezius, cervical vertebral spinae, and thoracic vertebrae spinae muscles (p<0.05) and that the neutral head posture was more significantly reduced than that of forward head posture in the upper trapezius, cervical vertebral spinae, and thoracic vertebrae spinae muscle activity (p<0.05) with significant increases in lumbar spinae muscle activity (p<0.05). Also, muscle activity with the neutral head posture significantly increased more in the sternocleidomastoid muscle and lumbar spinae than that of the natural posture (p<0.05). Conclusions: Our study results suggest that in order to prevent musculoskeletal pain, the neutral head posture with use of laptops is effective in reducing load to the shoulders and vitalizing the postural muscles.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.19 no.5
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2007

Purpose: Leg-crossing sitting is very common for men and woman. No solid evidence exists for either a beneficial or a detrimental effect of this posture. This study investigated the change of activities of trunk muscles between the normal group and the low back pain group during various leg-crossing positions. Methods: The subjects were consisted of 10 subjects who don't have low back pain and 10 subjects who have low back pain. In this study, we used electromyography(EMG) to evaluate the activities of both the trunk muscles (rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique, and multifidus) during various leg-crossing positions (up-right, leg-crossing, tailor-crossing, and ankle-crossing). We analyzed the data by using repeated one way ANOVA. Results: In normal group, there were increased in EMG activities of trunk muscles, but no significant differences during leg-crossing positions. In back pain group, there were increased in EMG activities of right external oblique, left. internal oblique, and both multifidus muscles in leg-crossing and tailor-crossing position, but no significant differences during leg-crossing positions. There was no significant difference of muscle activity of trunk muscles between the back pain group and the normal group. Conclusion: We suggest that low back pain people who have weak muscles of rectus abdominis, external and internal oblique are often experienced in leg-crossing posture than normal. To compensate this unstability of trunk, leg-crossing posture is substituted passive structure for activities of active muscle.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.93-103
• /
• 2021

Purpose : This study aimed to investigate the effect of trunk postural stability maintained wearing a spiral elastic band on the upper extremity function of patients with stroke who undertook a functional activity program and to provide fundamental data useful for the application of therapeutic interventions in the clinical environment of occupational therapy. Methods : The research subjects included 16 patients with stroke who were evenly divided into an experimental group and a control group. The eight-week intervention consisted of a functional activity program aimed at improving the function of the affected-side upper extremity. The experimental group performed the functional activity program while maintaining a stable trunk posture by wearing a spiral elastic band. The control group followed the program without wearing the band. Upper extremity function was assessed before and after the intervention using a manual function test (MFT) and a motor activity log (MAL), and the effectiveness on the upper extremity function of the affected side was confirmed. Results : First, in the within-group comparison of the upper extremity function scores before and after the intervention, the experimental group showed a statistically significant difference in the MFT and MAL assessment(p<.05). The control group showed a statistically significant difference in the MAL assessment(p<.05). Second, in the between-group comparison of the change in scores after the intervention, a statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups in all assessments(p<.05). Conclusion : This study confirmed the positive effect on upper extremity function of trunk stabilization posture using a spiral elastic band. The results could be useful when implementing a task-oriented training program in the clinical environment of occupational therapy in the future, as application of the training while maintaining trunk postural stability by wearing a spiral elastic band could be more effective for improving the upper extremity function of patients with stroke.

• Proceedings of the ESK Conference
• /
• 1996.04a
• /
• pp.291-300
• /
• 1996

This study is to determine the biomechanical characteristics of Korean. Male 58 and Female 54 were participated for the measurement which was performed by immersion method and reaction board method. Body parts were head with neck, trunk, upper arm, forearm, hand, thigh, leg, and foot. Their volumes were measures by immersion method. Their weight were determined by using Dempster(1995), Drills and Contini(1969) density data. Each center of body part weight were determined by specific posture on the reaction board. The postures were asked to the subject forearm- lifted posture, total let- lifted posture, foot-lifted posture. According to each posture, the center of each part were calculated.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.45-52
• /
• 2004

Altered scapular kinematics in the scapular joint is commonly believed to be a factor contributing to trunk posture. The purpose of this study was to analyze the muscle activity with several changes of the shoulder angle. Tests were performed on 10 male subjects by repeated measures. Each subject was measured while sitting in both erect and slouched trunk positions. In each sitting posture, a three-dimensional motion analysis measurement was used to measure thoracic angle and shoulder abduction angle. Measurements were taken with the shoulder abdcution angle at $0^{\circ}$, $30^{\circ}$, $60^{\circ}$, $90^{\circ}$, $120^{\circ}$, and $150^{\circ}$. By using surface Electromyography (EMG) electrodes, we recorded the activity of the upper trapezius, middle trapezius, lower trapezius, middle deltoid, and serratus anterior muscle while the subject held a 4 kg weight at each angle. The mean of root mean square (RMS) of EMG activity was calculated. The middle trapezius, lower trapezius, and middle deltoid muscle activity showed significantly higher results but serratus anterior muscle activity showed significantly lower results (p<.05). With the shoulder angle increased, the muscle activity was also significantly increased (p<.05). In conclusion, the thoracic spine posture significantly affects the scapular muscle during scapular plane abduction, and the slouched posture is associated with increased trapezius muscle activity and with decreased serratus anterior muscle activity.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.58-67
• /
• 2011

A high prevalence of protected horiculture farmer's work-related musculo-skeletal disorders (MSDs) have been reported in precedent studies. One of the tasks required ergonomic intervention to reduce the musculo-skeletal risks is the task of harvesting. The purpose of this study is to evaluate quantitatively the spinal load of worker harvesting with squatting posture to predict and prevent musculo-skeletal risks. Spinal load in Squatting posture with asymmetric trunk motion were analyzed. Before evaluating spinal load on harvesting worker by bio-mechanical approach, it is needed to validate human model. In this study, ADAMS LifeMOD human model shows satisfactory results, comparing with already validated model's results or measured results. While worker reached arms (20%, 40%, 70% arm reach) with various asymmetric trunk motion (0, 45, 90 degree), their spinal loads (extension, twisting and lateral bending moment) were evaluated. In case of extensor moment at lumbo-sacral joint, the more the arm reach got increased, the moment increased. however, in case of twisting moment and lateral bending moment, the more both arm reach and asymmetric trunk motion got increased, the moment increased significantly. The findings of this study suggest that it need to be determine the spinal load, especially twisting, lateral bending moment in evaluating musculo-skeletal workload in squatting posture.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.174-183
• /
• 2023

Background: Office workers experience neck or back pain due to poor posture, such as flexed head and forward head posture, during long-term sedentary work. Posture correction is used to reduce pain caused by poor posture and ensures proper alignment of the body. Several assistive devices have been developed to assist in maintaining an ideal posture; however, there are limitations in practical use due to vast size, unproven long-term effects or inconsistency of maintaining posture alignment. We developed a headphone and necklace posture correction system (HANPCS) for posture correction using an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor that provides visual or auditory feedback. Objects: To demonstrate the test-retest reliability and concurrent validity of neck and upper trunk flexion measurements using a HANPCS, compared with a three-dimensional motion analysis system (3DMAS). Methods: Twenty-nine participants were included in this study. The HANPCS was applied to each participant. The angle for each action was measured simultaneously using the HANPCS and 3DMAS. The data were analyzed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = [3,3] with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: The angular measurements of the HANPCS for neck and upper trunk flexions showed high intra- (ICC = 0.954-0.971) and inter-day (ICC = 0.865-0.937) values, standard error of measurement (SEM) values (1.05°-2.04°), and minimal detectable change (MDC) values (2.92°-5.65°). Also, the angular measurements between the HANPCS and 3DMAS had excellent ICC values (> 0.90) for all sessions, which indicates high concurrent validity. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that the HANPCS is as accurate in measuring angle as the gold standard, 3DMAS. Therefore, the HANPCS is reliable and valid because of its angular measurement reliability and validity.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.73-87
• /
• 2003

This study was performed on 17 female dental hygienists to find an appropriate method to reduce the hygienists' body discomfort while scaling, and provide a foundation to educate them how 10 posture during the process. To assess the arm abduction, elbow flexion, neck flexion, trunk flexion and trunk lateral bending through Video 2D(two dimensional motion) analysis and assessing the risk through the Action level of RULA(rapid upper limb assessment) checklist, an ergonomic analysis method. Correlation analyses on the posture angles and on body discomfort were performed. ANOVA analysis on scaling treatment position and the scaling treatment region of patients was also performed. The results are as following. 1. 20 analysis while scaling, arm abduction was $40{\sim}79.9^{\circ}$, elbow flexion $20{\sim}110^{\circ}$, neck flexion $50{\sim}100^{\circ}$, trunk flexion $60{\sim}80^{\circ}$, and trunk lateral bending $5{\sim}19.9^{\circ}$. 2. The Action level of RULA was 2. 3 resulted from scores 4 and 5 of group A which includes upper arm, lower ann, wrist, and scores 2 and 4 of group B which includes neck, trunk, legs. It means that the scaling treatment posture causes a high incidence rate of musculoskeletal that an additional investigation and improvement should be followed without hesitation. 3. There were significant differences among the maxilla right, maxilla anterior, maxilla left, mandible left, mandible anterior, and mandible right of a patient of the right and left upper arm, lower arm, neck, trunk, group A, group B, final RULA score while scaling treatment. 4. There were significant differences among the time position of 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 of the right and left upper arm, lower arm, neck, trunk, group A, group B, final RULA score while scaling treatment, 5. As for the body discomfort, neck, right shoulder, left shoulder, right back, right wrist etc. were listed on top. As a conclusion, performing the time position of 12 which shows low right and left final RULA scores is better than the time position of 8 and 10 which show high final RULA scores to reduce the body discomfort while scaling treatment.