PURPOSE: The paper presents an intervention for clinical applications in the future by examining the effects of 3D stabilization exercise on patients with lumbar instability, which causes problems in the muscles and balance, and analyzing the effects of balanced lumbar muscles on the static balance. METHODS: After collecting samples randomly from thirty patients with lumbar instability, fifteen patients selected for 3D stabilization exercise were placed in the stability group and fifteen patients selected for Swiss ball exercise were placed in the ball exercise group. The intervention program was applied for thirty minutes a session, once a day, three days a week for four weeks. Before the intervention, the lumbar muscle activity and static balance were measured. After four weeks, they were re-measured in the same way and the data were analyzed. RESULTS: In relation to the within-group changes in muscle activity, all groups except for the LEO and REO groups showed significant differences. Regarding the between-group changes in muscle activity depending on the left and right difference, ES, RA, and TrA but not EO showed significant differences. In addition, there were significant differences in the between-group change in static balance. CONCLUSION: 3D stabilization exercise improves the muscle activity by promoting a balanced posture of lumbar muscles and changing senses, such as a proprioceptor but this had a positive influence on the static balance by controlling the balance of muscles.
Humans ; Muscles ; Posture

PURPOSE: This study examined two trunk strategies - medio-lateral ramp and anterior-posterior ram - and their effects on pelvis and trunk movements, providing basic material for safe ramp utilization. METHODS: The present study included 20 asymptomatic males recruited from a local university. Participants were asked to stand with their feet shoulder-width apart. Their dorsal side faced the camera, and measurements were performed while standing in a neutral double stance, one leg stance, 15° of medial and lateral ramp, and 15° of anterior and posterior ramp. Participants were allowed to practice for 3 minutes, and each participant had a 30 seconds rest between the two ramp conditions. One-way repeated measures analysis of variance was used to determine the effects the ramp conditions on spinal alignment. In all analyses, p<0.05 was used to indicate statistical significance. RESULTS: The trunk-inclination angle on the posterior ramp was significantly lower than that of the double stance position (p<0.05). The trunk imbalance angle was significantly higher on the medial ramp, than that on the double stance position (p<0.05). The pelvic position and pelvic torsion angles were significantly higher in the medial, lateral, and anterior ramp positions than that of the double stance position (p<0.05). The pelvic rotation angles on the medial, lateral, and anterior ramps were significantly lower than that of the double stance position (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that when people are exposed to the same form of ramp for an extended period, posture modifications may be triggered.
Architectural Accessibility* ; Foot ; Humans ; Leg ; Male ; Pelvis ; Posture

PURPOSE: Driving is an important activity that is affected by various motor and cognitive deficits after stroke. On the other hand, there is no standard screening tool to evaluate the sitting asymmetry during driving, which is the stereotyped postural characteristic observed in patients with stroke. Therefore, this study compared the buttock pressure during simulated driving between healthy adults and patients with stroke. METHODS: Ten post-stroke patients and ten healthy subjects participated in the experiment. The participants experienced simulated driving of 6.1 km during approximately 5 minutes for adaptation. The driving scenario consisted of 3.5 km urban traffic conditions, 10 km straight highway, and 7 km curved or hilly rural roads. Force sensitive application (FSA) was used to analyze the distribution of the buttock pressure on the driver's seat. The symmetry index (SI) was determined using the average buttock pressure of each side of the buttock. The closer SI is to zero, the higher the symmetry of buttock pressure. RESULTS: These studies showed that the SI of healthy subjects was significantly closer to zero than that of the stroke patients. CONCLUSION: The buttock pressure of the stroke patients showed more asymmetry than that of the healthy subjects during simulated driving. Therefore, a therapeutic approach is needed for symmetrical sitting to improve the driving performance.
Adult* ; Buttocks* ; Cognition Disorders ; Hand ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Stroke*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to trace the development of premature babies who had undergone neurodevelopmental treatment in the neonatal intensive care unit and to identify the effects of early neurodevelopmental treatment on the development of premature babies. METHODS: Fifty-one premature babies, who had been hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit and received an infant motor performance test and Bayley scales-III evaluation of their developments during the six months of corrected age were included. They were divided into three groups: the intervention group (n=16), control group (n=23), and comparison group (n=12), depending on the risk of developmental delays and the existence of an intervention. The results of this study were analyzed using SPSS 22.0 for windows. The statistical significance level was set at α=0.05. RESULTS: Regarding the infant motor performance test scores for each group before the intervention, at two weeks after the start of intervention, and at post-conception of 40 weeks, the intervention group showed a significantly higher improvement than the control or comparison group (p<0.01). With respect to the Bayley scales-III at the corrected age of six months, the intervention group exhibited statistically significant differences from the control group in the domains of language and fine movements (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study could confirm that the early neurodevelopmental treatment of premature babies in the neonatal intensive care unit has continuous effects on the development of premature babies even after being discharged from the hospital.
Early Intervention (Education) ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal*

PURPOSE: This study was to identify the effectiveness of high-intensity laser therapy on pain and function of a frozen shoulder. METHODS: Thirty patients were assigned to two groups: the experimental group (n=15) and the control group (n=15). Both groups received traditional therapy for 4 weeks, 3 days a week. The experimental group, however, received an additional high intensity laser therapy. Pain was measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS). The functional ability was measured using the patient specific functional scale (PSFS). A paired t-test was used to determine any differences before and after the treatment, and an independent t-test was used to determine any differences between treatment groups. RESULTS: Both groups showed a statistically significant difference for VAS and PSFS score (p<0.05). In comparison between two groups, more experimental group than control group statistically significant difference (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: There seems to be a positive effect on pain and function of frozen shoulder from using high intensity laser therapy.
Bursitis* ; Humans ; Laser Therapy*

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify the effects of Pilates mat exercise may improve trunk muscle thickness and balance in healthy adults. METHODS: Eighteen healthy adults participated in this study. They were randomly assigned to one of two groups: Pilates mat exercise group (n=9) and the control group (n=9). Subjects in Pilates mat exercise group performed the exercises three days per week for 6 weeks, which consisted of warm up, main workout, and cool down. Trunk muscle thickness of the rectus abdominis (RA), internal oblique (IO), external oblique (EO), transverse abdominis (TrA), multifidus (MF), and erector spine (ES) were measured using an ultrasonography. Balance ability was evaluated using Romberg test and limits of stability (LOS). Measurements were performed before training, 3 weeks after training, and 6 weeks after training. RESULTS: There was a significant difference of RA, EO, IO, MF, and ES according to the main effect of time (p<0.05). There was a significant difference of EO, MF, ES, Romberg, and LOS according to interaction effect between the time and group (p<0.05). There was a significant difference only for LOS according to the main effect of the group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Pilates mat exercise did increase trunk muscle thickness and balance. However, the effect with respect to trunk thickness was limited. Pilates mat exercise appears to be more effective in improving muscles related to trunk extension and balance.
Adult ; Exercise ; Humans ; Jupiter ; Muscles ; Paraspinal Muscles ; Rectus Abdominis ; Spine ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: This study examined the effect of Kettle bell swing exercise on the body composition and lower limb muscular activity. METHODS: As subjects, 26 normal adults in their twenties were divided randomly into the experiment group (n=13), in which Kettle bell exercise was applied, and the control group (n=13), in which bar exercise was applied. Both groups participated in the interventions for eight weeks with three sessions per week. Each group was assessed before training and four and eight weeks into the training to determine the effects of training intervention within and between the groups. The body composition was measured with a body composition analyzer. The changes in muscle activity were measured with a surface electromyography. An independent t-test was conducted to test the significance between the groups according to the measurement points and Repeated measured ANOVA was performed to compare the groups according to the periods with the statistical significance level set to α=0.05. RESULTS: No significant changes to the main effects of time and the interactions of time according to the measurement points were observed in the Kettle bell and control groups in the body composition (p>0.05). The muscular activity of both muscles were significantly different between the Kettle bell and control groups according to the measurement points with the exception of the right lateral gastrocnemius muscle (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that Kettle bell swing exercise can have positive effects on the development of lower limb muscles.
Adult ; Body Composition* ; Electromyography ; Humans ; Lower Extremity* ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Muscles

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to confirm the immediate effect of wrist joint mobilization with taping on the range of motion, grip strength, and spasticity. METHODS: Thirty stroke patients were randomly divided into two groups: the joint mobilization with taping group (n=15) and a taping group (n=15). For measurement of spasticity and joint range of motion, the modified Tardieu scale, active and passive range of motion of wrist flexion, as well as extension were measured by the Rapael smart glove, and for grip strength measurement, grip dynamometer was performed. RESULTS: The experimental group showed a significant improvement in the range of motion, grip strength, and spasticity after 10 minutes of taping (p<0.05), no significant difference was found in the control group (p>0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The study found that wrist joint mobilization with taping has an immediate effect on wrist range of motion, grip strength, and spasticity in stroke patients, whereas it was not effective in the control group with just taping. The long-term change still needs to be evaluated, when taking into consideration of the carryover effect.
Hand Strength* ; Humans ; Joints ; Muscle Spasticity* ; Range of Motion, Articular* ; Stroke* ; Wrist Joint* ; Wrist*

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of fast walking training on a treadmill on the spinal alignment and muscle thickness of normal adults. METHODS: A total of 36 college students in their twenties participated in the study for eight weeks, and they were divided into the normal walking, fast walking, and speed change groups. All the groups were measured in a pre-test before training. The subjects performed exercise three times per week for six weeks. A post-test was conducted six weeks after training began, and a follow-up test was done two weeks after the training ended.Trunk and pelvic tilts were measured in Formetric 4D for the spinal alignment of the subjects. The muscle thickness was examined in the trunk with an ultrasound test. Repeated-measures ANOVA was conducted to test the main effects and interactions among the measurement variables according to time and group. RESULTS: ignificant differences were observed in the pelvic tilt according to time. There were significant differences in the external oblique, internal oblique, transverse abdominal muscle according to time. The post-test results showed significant differences in the left external oblique, internal oblique muscles between before training, six weeks into training, and two weeks after the completion of training. There were significant interactions in the left oblique muscles according to the time and group. CONCLUSION: These findings have some value for patient rehabilitation and clinical applications and interventions through walking training.
Abdominal Muscles ; Adult ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Muscles* ; Rehabilitation ; Ultrasonography ; Walking

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to resolve, in an efficient manner, the mechanoreceptor problems of the part far from the paretic upper extremity in stroke patients, as well as to provide clinical basic data of an intervention program for efficient neurodynamic in stroke patients, by developing a rhythmic neurodynamic exercise program and verifying functional changes depending on the increase in the upper extremity nerve conduction velocity. METHODS: Samples were extracted from 18 patients with hemiplegia, caused by stroke, and were randomly assigned to either the experimental group I for the general upper extremity neurodynamic (n=9) and the experimental group II for rhythmic upper extremity neurodynamic (n=9). An intervention program was applied ten times per set (three sets one time) and four times a week for two weeks (once a day). As a pre-test, changes in the upper extremity nerve conduction velocity and functions were assessed, and two weeks later, a posttest was conducted to re-measure them in the same manner. RESULTS: The wrist and palm sections of the radial nerve and the wrist and elbow sections of the median nerve, as well as the wrist, lower elbow, upper elbow, and axilla sections of the ulnar nerve had significant differences with respect to the upper extremity nerve conduction velocity between the two groups (p<0.05)(p<0.01), and significant differences were also found in the upper extremity functions (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Rhythmic neurodynamic accelerated the nerve conduction velocity more in broader neural sections than the general neurodynamic. In conclusion, rhythmic neurodynamic was proven to be effective for improving the functions of upper extremity.
Axilla ; Elbow ; Hemiplegia ; Humans ; Mechanoreceptors ; Median Nerve ; Neural Conduction* ; Radial Nerve ; Stroke* ; Ulnar Nerve ; Upper Extremity* ; Wrist