PURPOSE: This study investigated the effects of trunk muscle activity with power grasping during one leg stance. METHODS: Twenty-eight subjects participated in this study. Subjects were divided into two groups, one that performed power grasping, and another that did not. An investigator measured the activities of a subject's trunk muscle such as internal oblique (IO), external oblique (EO), erector spinae (ES), and gluteus medius (GM) while a subject was doing one leg stance. RESULTS: An independent t-test was used to analyze trunk muscle activities with power grasping during one leg stance between the experimental group and the control group. Only the EO activity differed significantly between groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that one leg stance with power grasping affected trunk muscle activity. Therefore, this is a useful method for providing lumbar spine stability.
Hand Strength* ; Humans ; Leg* ; Low Back Pain ; Methods ; Research Personnel ; Spine

PURPOSE: This purpose of this study was to compare additionally applied weight underwater gait training and over-ground gait training to improve balance and lower extremity strength in stroke patients. METHODS: Subjects were randomly allocated into two groups. Underwater gait training group (n=10) and Over-ground gait training group (n=9). The groups performed their respective programs as well as conventional physical therapy 3 times/week for 6 weeks. All subjects were assessed with the Berg balance scale test, the timed up and go test, and the medical research council test pre and post in-tervention. A paired t test was applied to compare the differences before and after the intervention, and an independent t test was used to compare the differences between the groups. The level of statistical significance was set at p<0.05. RESULTS: The results showed that subjects in the underwater gait training group had a significantly increased Berg balance scale, timed up and go, and medical research council scores (p<0.05), and over-ground gait training group showed a significantly increased medical research council score (p<0.05) after intervention. The underwater gait training group showed a more significant improvement in medical research council, Berg balance scale and the timed up and go test scores compared to the over-ground gait training group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Findings of this study suggest that applying additional weight during underwater gait training improves lower extremity strength and balance in stroke patients. It' findings can contribute to the development of more efficient rehabilitation for stroke patients.
Gait* ; Humans ; Lower Extremity* ; Rehabilitation ; Stroke*

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine how a manual therapy (joint mobilization and flexion-distraction technique) would affect pain and function with the chronic low back pain. METHODS: Thirty patients were assigned to either the experimental group (n=15) or the control group (n=15). Patients in the experimental group performed joint mobilization and flexion-distraction technique. Patients in the control group performed spinal decompression therapy. Both exercises were performed for three days per week, for a period of six weeks. Pain was measured by the visual analogue scale (VAS) and functional disability was measured using the Oswestry disability index (ODI). A paired t-test was used for identify differences before and after treatment, and an independent t-test was used to identify differences between treatment groups. RESULTS: In the within group comparison, the experimental group and control group differed significantly for all variables (p<0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in any variables between groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The above results confirmed that it is necessary to confirm the various benefits of therapy with the joint mobilization and the flexion-distraction technique. The findings of the concerned study will be useful to doctors applying therapy to treat patients with the chronic low back pain.
Decompression ; Exercise ; Humans ; Joints ; Low Back Pain* ; Musculoskeletal Manipulations*

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to examine the effects of different sizes of blood flow restriction areas on the thickness of the external oblique and biceps brachii. METHODS: The study subjects were 52 adults who were divided into four groups that performed plank exercises over a six-week period after blood flow restriction. Changes in the thickness of the external oblique and biceps brachii were measured using ultrasonography before the experiment, then three and six weeks after the experiment. The changes in each variable over time were evaluated by repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULTS: The external oblique and biceps brachii showed significant differences in muscle thickness with regard to time and the interaction between time and each group (p<0.01), but no significant differences with regards to changes between groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: A larger blood flow restriction area resulted in a statistically significant increase in muscle thickness. The results of this study may be used as the basis for future studies and for rehabilitation in clinical practice.
Adult ; Exercise ; Humans ; Rehabilitation ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the changes in dorsiflexion and balance following proximal and distal tibiofibular joint manipulation in individuals with a history of lateral ankle sprain (LAS). METHODS: Fifteen participants with a history of unilateral LAS, exhibiting a restriction in ankle dorsiflexion were included in this study. LAS ankle received a manipulation to the proximal and distal tibiofibular joint, while the opposite control ankle received no manipulation intervention. The outcome measures included ankle dorsiflexion and balance. Ankle dorsiflexion was measured using weight-bearing lunge test. Static and dynamic balances were measured using the overall, anterioposterior, and mediolateral balance index via the biodex balance system. Measurements were obtained prior to and following manipulation. RESULTS: This study showed that ankle dorsiflexion and dynamic balance were improved following the manipulation compared to those prior to the manipulation (p<0.05). There was no significant change in static balance (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The joint manipulation technique applied to the ankle of those with a history of LAS appears to improve ankle dorsiflexion and dynamic balance. This suggest that a manipulation to the proximal and distal tibiofibular joint could be provided as preliminary data regarding the prophylactic effects of recurrent LAS.
Ankle Injuries* ; Ankle* ; Joints* ; Lung ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Weight-Bearing

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of blood flow restriction and different support surfaces for bridge exercises on the thickness of the transverse abdominis and multifidus, which are trunk-stabilizing muscles. METHODS: The study's subjects were 45 adults who were divided into three groups that performed bridge exercises over a six-week period on their respective support surfaces after blood flow restriction. Changes in the thickness of the subjects' transverse abdominis and multifidus muscles were measured using ultrasonography before the experiment, then three and six weeks after the experiment. The changes in each variable over time were analyzed using a repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULTS: The transverse abdominis showed significant differences in muscle thickness with regard to time and the interaction between time and each group (p<0.05), but no significant differences with regard to changes among groups (p>0.05). The multifidus showed significant differences in muscle thickness with regard to time, the interaction between time and each group, and changes between groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Blood flow restriction and different support surfaces for bridge exercises led to significant differences in the thickness of the transverse abdominis and multifidus. This study's results may be used as the basis for future studies and for rehabilitation in clinical practice.
Adult ; Exercise ; Humans ; Muscles ; Paraspinal Muscles ; Rehabilitation ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the validity and reliability of the measurement of shoulder joint motions using an inertial measurement unit (IMU). METHODS: For this study, 33 participants (32 females and 1 male) were recruited. The subjects were passively positioned with the shoulder placed at specific angles using a goniometer (shoulder flexion 0°–170°, abduction 0°–170°, external rotation 0°–90°, and internal rotation 0°–60° angles). Kinematic data on the shoulder joints were simultaneously obtained using IMU three-dimensional (3D) angular measurement (MyoMotion) and photographic measurement. Test-retest reliability and concurrent validity were examined. RESULTS: The MyoMotion system provided good to very good relative reliability with small standard error of measurement (SEM) and minimal detectable change (MDC) values from all three planes. It also presented acceptable validity, except for some of shoulder flexion, shoulder external rotation, and shoulder abduction. There was a trend for the shoulder joint measurements to be underestimated using the IMU 3D angular measurement system compared to the goniometer and photo methods in all planes. CONCLUSION: The IMU 3D angular measurement provided a reliable measurement and presented acceptable validity. However, it showed relatively low accuracy in some shoulder positions. Therefore, using the MyoMotion measurement system to assess shoulder joint angles would be recommended only with careful consideration and supervision in all situations.
Female ; Humans ; Organization and Administration ; Photography ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Reproducibility of Results* ; Shoulder Joint* ; Shoulder*

PURPOSE: Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is a device that activates the sensorimotor cortex through electrodes attached to the surface of the skin. However, it is difficult to expect positive changes if the recipient is not attentive to the motion. To complement the perceived cognitive limitations of FES, we attempted to investigate the changes of sensorimotor cortex activity by simultaneously providing action observation with FES. METHODS: Electroencephalogram was measured in 28 healthy volunteers. Relative band power over the sensorimotor cortex was analyzed and compared in three conditions: during rest, during FES alone, during action observation with FES. RESULTS: The results showed significant differences in each relative band power. Relative alpha power and relative beta power were the lowest by application of FES combined with action observation, while the relative gamma power was the highest. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that combining FES with observation could be more effective than FES alone in neurorehabilitation.
Complement System Proteins ; Electric Stimulation* ; Electrodes ; Electroencephalography ; Healthy Volunteers ; Neurological Rehabilitation ; Sensorimotor Cortex* ; Skin

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among pain, range of motion of the neck, neck disability index and grip strength after thoracic manipulation and cervical stabilization training in patients with chronic neck pain. METHODS: In this study, twelve subjects with chronic neck pain were included. All participants had thoracic manipulation and cervical stabilization training. Intervention was conducted three times per a week, for 4 weeks. The visual analogue scale (VAS), range of motion of neck, neck disability index (NDI), as well as the grip strength before and after intervention were measured in all participants. Paired ttest was used to compare variables before and after intervention. Pearson correlation analysis was used to identify the correlations between the variables. RESULTS: All variables after the intervention were significantly improved. There was a significant negative correlation between VAS and flexion angle of the neck (r=−0.669, p<0.05). Moreover, there was a significant positive correlation between NDI and VAS (r=0.636, p<0.05), and a significant negative correlation between NDI and flexion angle of the neck (r=−0.692, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients with reduced pain following therapeutic intervention illustrated that there would be an improvement in the flexion angle rather than the extension angle of the neck, and that those with increased flexion angle would have less restriction of activities in daily living.
Hand Strength* ; Humans ; Neck Pain* ; Neck* ; Range of Motion, Articular* ; Statistics as Topic*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of self-postural control on foot pressure in subjects with forward head posture. METHODS: Forty-two healthy adults were recruited in this study. Participants were divided into two groups: The forward-head postural (FHP) group (craniovertebral angle<53°, n=22) and the control group (craniovertebral angle≥53°, n=20). In the FHP group, foot pressure was measured using three different standing postures: Comfortable standing posture (CSP), subjective neutral standing posture (SNSP), and neutral standing posture with visual feedback (NSP-VP). Each position was performed in random order. In the control group, foot pressure was measured only using the comfortable standing posture. RESULTS: With respect to CSP and SNSP, there was a significant difference on heel pressure between the two groups (p<0.05). Regarding NSP-VP, however, there was no significant differences on heel pressure between the two groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: We suggest that cervical posture control using visual feedback has a positive effect on the distribution of foot pressure in subjects with forward head posture.
Adult ; Feedback, Sensory* ; Foot* ; Head* ; Heel ; Humans ; Posture*