PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of spinal decompression therapy on pain and disability in patients with chronic low back pain. METHODS: Twenty patients with chronic low back pain were divided into an experimental group (spinal decompression therapy, n=10) and a control group (conservative physical therapy, n=10). Both groups were treated three times a week over a four-week period. RESULTS: The comparison of between-group changes post-treatment revealed statistically significant lower levels of pain and disability in the experimental group than the control group. The comparison of within each group changes before and after the treatment showed statistically significant declines in pain and disability indexes of both groups. CONCLUSION: Spinal decompression therapy may be an effective intervention for improving pain and disability in patients with chronic low back pain.
Decompression* ; Humans ; Low Back Pain*

Effort to improve balance ability in the field of rehabilitation has been constantly issued and developed up to now. A variety of subcomponent of postural control including function and cognition should be needed in many body systems and be complicatedly linked to each system. In South Korea, although decreased postural dysfunction due to neurological or musculoskeletal disorders has been well documented, we do not have many experience and knowledge of vestibular rehabilitation for maintain and improve balance function. In the United States, vestibular physical therapy is already acknowledged as clinical subspecialty by American Physical Therapy Association. However, there is no curriculum subject related to vestibular rehabilitation in standard education of physical therapy and no specialist who has clinical experience and knowledge of this realm. Therefore, we reviewed general information and basic knowledge of vestibular rehabilitation such as current state of vestibular disorder in South Korea, pathology, major causes of vestibular dysfunction including peripheral vestibular disorders, vestibular neuritis, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, and central disorder, evaluation of vestibular dysfunction, and treatment for vestibular dysfunction new approaches. We expect that physical therapist in South Korea recognize clinical significance of vestibular exercise and that clinical concern and research will be begun in near future.
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo ; Cognition ; Curriculum ; Dizziness ; Education ; Humans ; Korea ; Pathology ; Physical Therapists ; Rehabilitation ; Specialization ; United States ; Vestibular Neuronitis

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of kinesio taping on lumbar flexibility onto erector spinae and sacroiliac joint. METHODS: Sixty healthy adults (male=36, female=24) participated in this study and were randomly assigned to the experimental group that received kinesio taping onto erector spinae and sacroiliac joint (n=30) or the control group that received X-letter placebo taping onto them (n=30). Lumbar flexibility (flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation) was measured using back range-of-motion instrument (BROM) II before and after taping. RESULTS: In the change of lumbar flexibility after taping in the experimental group, there were statistically significant difference in flexion, lateral flexion, and rotation (p < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in extension. There was no significant difference in the change of lumbar flexibility after taping in the control group. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, kinesio taping onto erector spinae and sacroiliac joint improved the joint function. Kinesio taping may reduce the muscle tension and facilitate the circulation of tissue fluid. In light of these results, it is thought that the application of kinesio taping had influence on an increase in lumbar flexibility. Therefore, kinesio taping will be able to be used as the method of the prevention of pain and the treatment in the lumbar region.
Adult ; Humans ; Joints ; Lumbosacral Region ; Methods ; Muscle Tonus ; Pliability* ; Sacroiliac Joint*

PURPOSE: Gait variability is defined as the intrinsic fluctuations which occur during continuous gait cycles. Increased gait variability is closely associated with increased fall risk in older adults. This study investigated the influence of attention-demanding tasks on gait variability in elderly healthy adults. METHODS: We recruited 15 healthy elderly adults in this study. All participants performed two cognitive tasks: a subtraction dual-task (SDT) and working memory dual-task (WMDT) during gait plus one normal gait. Using the LEGSys+ system, we measured the coefficient of variation (CV %=100×[standard deviation/mean]) for participants' stride time, stride length, and stride velocity. RESULTS: SDT gait showed significant increment of stride time variability compared with usual gait (p < 0.05), however, stride length and velocity variability did not difference between SDT gait and usual gait (p>0.05). WMDT gait showed significant increment of stride time and velocity variability compared with usual gait (p < 0.05). In addition, stride time variability during WMDT gait also significantly increased compared with SDT gait (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: We reported that SDT and WMDT gait can induce the increment of the gait variability in elderly adults. We assume that attention demanding task based on working memory has the most influence on the interference between cognitive and gait function. Understanding the changes during dual task gait in older ages would be helpful for physical intervention strategies and improved risk assessment.
Adult* ; Aged* ; Aging ; Gait* ; Humans ; Memory, Short-Term ; Risk Assessment

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of whole body vibration exercise (WBVE) on lower extremity muscle activity and balance ability according to different methods of exercises in football player and use it as basic data for the rehabilitation training of chronic ankle instability. METHODS: Thirty subjects were randomly divided into two groups: the two groups, which each group have 15 members, are WBVE group and neuromuscular training (NMT) group according to training method. The exercise program was conducted for six weeks. Subjects were measured on lower extremity muscle activity and balance ability. RESULTS: The muscle activity increasement of the WBVE group was significantly higher than that of the NMT group (p < 0.05) and the balance ability decreasement of the WBVE group was significantly higher than that of the NMT group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings of this study suggest that WBVE may have a beneficial effect on improvement of lower extremity muscle activity and balance ability in football player with chronic ankle instability.
Ankle* ; Exercise ; Football* ; Lower Extremity* ; Methods ; Rehabilitation ; Vibration*

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of trunk side shift exercise on the Cobb's angle. METHODS: Fifty-eight subjects (control group=30, scoliosis group=28) were enrolled in this study. The idiopathic scoliosis groups were divided randomly into two groups, a side shift exercise (SSE) group, and a trunk stabilization exercise (TSE) group. The SSE group performed side shift exercise on the developed chair training for eight weeks. The TSE group performed trunk stabilization exercise. A one-way ANOVA test was carried out to compare the results within the idiopathic scoliosis patient group before and after the exercises based on the different exercise methods. RESULTS: The Cobb's angles were compared among control group and SSE group and TSE group. As a result, there was a significant difference from SSE group and TSE group(p=0.000), but there were no significant differences between the SSE and TSE groups (p=0.085). CONCLUSION: Side shift exercises are effective in improving the Cobb's angle. Therefore, the use of the side shift exercise chair designed in this study can replace general exercise either at work or during studies. Therefore, this method is easily accessible for busy modern students who are exposed to scoliosis or spinal disorders due to a pattern of inactivity.
Exercise ; Humans ; Methods ; Scoliosis*

PURPOSE: This paper provides basic clinical data on the treatment of scoliosis patients by analyzing the effects of the type and position of scoliosis on the static balance using Tetrax on adolescents who have balance disorders as a consequence of structural changes, such as scoliosis. METHODS: A total of 110 adolescents were divided into 6 groups according to the radiographs and 60 adolescents were sampled, 10 each for each group. The static balance was measured and analyzed on the existence of sight using Tetrax. RESULTS: The changes followed by existence of sight in static balance group showed a significant difference statistically in Stability index in all groups (p < 0.001). The changes in the static balance in each group in terms of the stability index were significant in all groups, where the experiments were performed under the eyes opened and eyes-closed condition (p < 0.01)(p < 0.001). The post-hoc comparison revealed the stability index to be the highest in the eyes-opened condition in group III, but not in group IV. In the eyes-closed condition, group III showed the highest stability index of all the groups. CONCLUSION: Adolescents with lumbar scoliosis had a lower static balance in single scoliosis with the eyes-closed condition or had little movement compensation. In addition, unlike the other normal scoliosis, back scoliosis has negative effects on the posture because it causes an increase in the disturbance of posture. Therefore, future studied will be needed to examine the imbalance of posture in people suffering from back pain.
Adolescent* ; Back Pain ; Compensation and Redress ; Humans ; Posture ; Scoliosis*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the correlations among the resting physical factors related to a six-minute walk test (6MWT) and to determine the effects of the resting physical factors on the distance and intensity related to the 6MWT in healthy female subjects. METHODS: A total of 43 healthy female subjects (22.84±3.90 yrs) participated in this study. They performed the 6MWT, and the physical factors related to the 6MWT were assessed. SPSS 20.0 was used to analyze the data, and the mean and standard deviation were calculated, and the collected data were analyzed by the Pearson's correlation coefficient (among physical factors related to 6MWT) and independent t-test (between six-minute walk distance [6MWD] groups and six-minute walk intensity [6MWI] groups). RESULTS: The 6MWD had a significant negative correlation with the resting HR (beat/min) in healthy female subjects (r= −0.49, p < 0.05). The 6MWI had a significant negative correlation with the resting systolic blood pressure (SBP) (r= −0.45, p < 0.01). A comparison of the 6MWD revealed the long distance group (LDG, 700-799 m) to be significantly higher than the middle distance group (MDG, 600-699 m) in the 6MWI (%), %predicted distance (%), predicted VO2max (mL/kg/min), resting HR (beat/min), and resting SBP (mmHg)(p < 0.05). In the comparison of 6MWI, the moderate intensity group (MIG, 64-75%HRmax) was significantly lower than the low intensity group (LIG, 50-63%HRmax) in the resting SBP (mmHg) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the resting physical factors are related to the 6MWD and 6MWI of the 6MWT in healthy females. In particular, SBP is associated with not only the 6MWD but also the 6MWI in 6MWT.
Blood Pressure ; Female* ; Humans

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the effects of compelled weight shift in paretic lower limb training on balance ability in patients with stroke. METHODS: Thirty-six individuals with hemiparesis, who were randomly assigned to a 10CWST (10 mm constrained -weight shift training) group, a 5CWST (5 mm constrained-weight shift training) group, and a control group participated in this study. Compelled weight shift training was performed in 3 sets of 5 min with a rest period of 1 min between sets. Both the 5CWST and 10CWST groups performed 5 times per week for 4 weeks. Static (mediolateral and anteroposterior sway velocities) and dynamic balance (mediolateral and anteroposterior distances) was assessed using the Good Balance system. RESULTS: Significant differences were found in the M-L and A-P sway velocities, and the M-L sway distance. The M-L and A-P sway velocities, and M-L sway distance showed significantly large group effects (p < 0.05), time effects (p < 0.05), and group-by-time interaction (p < 0.05). The post hoc analyses indicated that, following intervention, the 10CWST group showed more significant changes in the M-L and A-P sway velocities, and the M-L sway distance than the control group. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the use of compelled weight shift in paretic lower limb training may be an effective method to improve balance ability in patients with stroke.
Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Methods ; Paresis ; Stroke*

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the current status of the use of neglect test tools and the awareness for egocentric neglect (EN) and allocentric neglect (AN). METHODS: A survey questionnaire was distributed to occupational therapists attending continuing education at the Daegu-Gyeongbuk branch on April 16. A total 143 responses were collected, and with the exception of 5 incomplete responses, 138 of them were analyzed. RESULTS: The most commonly used unilateral neglect test tools were the line bisection test (86 responses, 62.3%), cancellation test (35 responses, 25.4%), copy and drawing test (7 responses, 5.1%). In a follow-up survey of 86 respondents who used line bisection tests as the most commonly used test, the majority (82 responses, 95.3%2) were found to use the 20-line test paper. In question about the familiarity and education experience for test manual, only 20 responses (23.2%) and 3 responses (3.5%) answered ‘Yes’. In a question about the experience of a manual and the article for the manual, 25 responses (29.1%) answered ‘Yes’. In the question regarding the separation of EN and AN on the unilateral neglect test, 44 responses (31.9%) were ‘distinction’ and 94 responses (68.1%) were ‘no distinction’. CONCLUSION: Information on the guidance and interpretation of the line bisection test is lacking and the concept of EN and AN was insufficient.
Classification* ; Education ; Education, Continuing ; Follow-Up Studies ; Recognition (Psychology) ; Surveys and Questionnaires