The objectives of this study were to investigate the relationship between fear-avoidance beliefs and functional status in individuals suffering from low back pain, and to identify factors that influence on fear-avoidance beliefs, functional status and pain. A cross-sectional study included 214 individuals with low back pain. Each of subjects completed a fear-avoidance beliefs questionnaire (FABQ) which divided into two subscales, FABQ for physical activity (FABQ-PA) and FABQ for work(FABQ-W), Oswestry disability index (ODI) and numeric pain rating scale (NPRS). Individuals with radiating pain were significantly higher in FABQ-PA, FABQ-total, and ODI scores than with no radiation pain (p<.05). Individuals who had received surgery were significantly higher in FABQ-PA, FABQ-total, ODI and NPRS scores when compared with individuals who had not received it (p<.05). And individuals with taking medication were significantly higher in all variables (FABQ-PA, FABQ-W, FABQ-total ODI and NPRS) than individuals not taking medication (p<.05). In correlation analysis. age appeared to be significantly correlated with FABQ-PA, FABQ-total and ODI scores (p<.05), and all variables was significantly correlated with each other (p<.01). These findings indicate that individuals suffering from low back pain have psychosocial problems such as fear-avoidance beliefs as well as functional status and pain. Fear-avoidance beliefs may contribute to aggravate physical symptoms, and therefore it should be carefully considered for the management of individuals with low back pain.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a weekly circuit-group exercise program on functional performance, flexibility of the trunk and lower extremities, and balance in individuals with chronic stroke who are living in a community. Thirteen community-living individuals (eleven males and two females) with chronic stroke participated in this study. The group exercise program was set up as a weekly circuit application with four stations aiming to strengthen the muscles, increase endurance, improve flexibility, and enhance functional capacity. The average duration of a session was an hour, and the sessions were conducted once a week for six months for a total of 24 sessions. Assessments for functional performance, flexibility of the trunk and lower extremities and balance were conducted four times: before treatment, after one month of treatment, after four months of treatment, and after six months of treatment. There were significant improvements in functional performance and flexibility of the trunk and lower extremities in the given time frame. No significant improvement was observed in balance ability. The findings suggest that a weekly circuit-group exercise program has some benefits in terms of managing the physical symptoms of individuals with mobility problems after stroke. Therefore, this program can be adapted and employed as a community-based rehabilitation program for such patients. Further studies with various community-based treatments will be conducted to validate these findings.

This study compared the effect of therapeutic exercise with conservative treatment in women with chronic neck pain. Subjects were allocated to control, neck isometric exercise, and cervical stabilization exercise groups consisting of 29, 32, and 31 patients, respectively. The conservative treatment for the control group consisted of hot packs, ultrasound, interferential current therapy, and intermittent cervical traction. The neck isometric exercise group performed a neck isometric exercise and the cervical stabilization exercise group performed a cervical stabilization exercise. To compare the three groups, the levels of perceived pain, neck disability, and psychological depression were assessed on admission, at discharge, and one month after discharge. On admission and at discharge, the pain and neck disability scores did not differ significantly among the groups. However, one month after discharge, both the neck isometric and cervical stabilization exercise groups had significantly improved perceived pain levels as compared to control (p<.05). The improvement in the degree of neck disability was most significant in the cervical stabilization exercise group (p<.05). On comparing the changes in the variables at the three assessments for each group, there was a significant difference between the control and cervical stabilization exercise groups (p<.05). The findings indicate that therapeutic exercises, especially cervical stabilization exercises, are more effective for improving pain and neck disability than conservative treatment.

Muscle tone (stiffness/hardness) or muscle compliance changes during muscle contraction. The purposes of this study were to assess the intrarater and interrater reliabilities of the Myotonometer®, electronic device that quantifies muscle tone. Two raters used the Myotonometer to assess the right bicep brachia and quadriceps muscles of 30 voluntary persons without any orthopedic or neurological problems (age range, 18~21 yrs). Muscles were measured in a relaxed state and during brief sustained voluntary maximal isometric contraction. Intrarater correlation coefficients were calculated for each muscle and for each condition (relaxed and contracted). Intrarater reliabilities (intraclass correlation coefficients, ICCs) ranged from .778 to .954, relaxed, biceps brachia), .926 to .963 (contracted, biceps brachia), .935 to .990 (relaxed, quadriceps) and .679 to .952(contracted, quadriceps). Interrater reliabilities ranged from .652 to .790 (relaxed, biceps brachii), .813 to .907 (contracted, biceps brachii), .831 to .950 (relaxed, quadriceps) and .849 to .937 (contracted, quadriceps). Myotonometer measurements had high to very high intrarater and interrater reliability for measurements of the biceps brachia and quadriceps muscles.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics and the current condition of musculoskeletal pain sufferers among fitness center users. The investigation used self-reporting questionnaire with the 797 subjects. On average, the subjects were 30.6 years old, 168.8 cm in height and 65.2 kg in weight. Among them, 423 were male (53.1%) and 374 were female (46.9%). Out of them, 276 suffered from pain, (35.2%). More men felt muscle aches than women (p<.05). In terms of pain, lower back area topped the list with 44.9%, followed by the lower extremities (30.1%), the neck (17.8%) and the upper part of the body (17.8%). Dieters suffered the most from pain (86.2%) while those exercising to build strength suffered the least with 26.8%. There was a significant relationship between the purpose for exercising and the amount of pain suffered (p<.05). By kind of exercise, pain stroke aerobic exercisers disproportionately with 42.4% while it almost steered clear of exercisers for strengthening with 26.9%. There was significant relationship between the kind of exercise and pain suffered (p<.05). The type of suffering differed by body shape. A significantly higher number of overweight people experienced pain than underweight people (p<.05). 32.8% of pain sufferers commented that the pain affects their workout, and on this issue there was no gender difference (p>.05). The pain caused more difficulties in doing activities of daily living for overweight or obese peoples than underweight peoples (p<.05). More than a third of health club and fitness center users are experiencing musculoskeletal pains. Measures such as professional training or information provision is required to prevent injury or disorder caused by improper exercise.

The quadriceps-angle (Q-angle) and the ratio of hamstring/quadriceps (H/Q) are important for the stability of the knee and for protection from excessive stress. The aim of this study was to examine the association between Q-angle and H/Q ratio with and without knee osteoarthritis. We compared knee osteoarthritis patients with symptom-free women. The mean age of the patients in the arthritis group (25 women, osteoarthritis) was 59.7 years. The non-arthritis group consisted of 25 women with a mean age of 55.2 years. Of the 25 women with osteoarthritis, 5 had the condition in their left knee, 5 had it in their right knee, and 15 had it on both sides. There was no significant difference in the knee Q-angle of the left and right knees of the arthritis group and the non-arthritis-group (p>.05). The strength of all the muscles around the involved right knee in the arthritis group was significantly weaker than that of the non-arthritis group (p<.05). However, in the left knee, only the strength of the knee extensors and internal rotators was significantly weaker than that of the non-arthritis group (p<.05). The Q-angle was not associated with the H/Q ratio and internal rotators/external rotators ratio of the involved knee in the arthritis group (p>.05). Neither was the Q-angle associated with the pain level of an involved knee in the arthritis group (p>.05). The knee pain was not associated with the H/Q ratio of the involved knee in the arthritis group (p>.05). The Q-angle was not associated with the ratio of H/Q and pain level of the involved knee in the osteoarthritis women.

This study analyzes the factors involving clinical practice which have an influence on the satisfaction of students majoring in physical therapy at colleges or universities located in the Pusan and Kyungnam area. We investigated using a self-reporting method 305 students receiving a grade point average between 2.0 and 4.0 and who had finished their clinical practice. We also investigated the characteristics of clinical settings which make up the clinical practice, the general characteristics of the students involved and the characteristics of a clinical teaching method performed by physical therapists versus a teaching method by a professor of a university. The number of students divided according to educational background are as follows: 149 people (48.9% of the total group) were 4 year students, 156 people were 3 year students (51.1% of the total group). Sixty-nine students' or 22.6% of the group were men while women consisted of 236 persons or 77.4% of the group. Four year students had a longer clinical practice period than that of the 3 year students (p<.05). An average satisfaction score of students with their clinical practice was 3.84. The satisfaction scores showed no significant difference between genders, educational backgrounds, and grades. (p>.05). There were no significant differences in the satisfaction score of students with their clinical practice was 3.84. The satisfaction scores showed no significant difference between genders, educational backgrounds, and grades. (p>.05). There were no significant differences in the satisfaction scores regarding the student management system among varying gender or educational backgrounds between the 3 year and 4 year programs. The average satisfaction score with the environment of the physical therapy room was 3.35. And there were no significant differences in the physical therapy room satisfaction score based on sex or educational system (p>.05). The most influential factor of determining clinical practice satisfaction was a student management system of the clinical practice (p<.01). The next most influential factors were the clinical practice period (p<.05), size of facilities (p<.01) and relationship with physical therapists (p<.01) (=.554).

The purpose of this study was to compare the muscle activity during a push-up on a suspension sling and a fixed support at the same level. Tests were performed on 15 male subjects. Electromyography using a surface EMG recorded the activity of the triceps, pectoralis major, and internal and external oblique muscles during each push-up. EMG activity was recorded at 0, 45, and 90 degrees of elbow flexion in the push-up position on a suspension sling or a fixed support at the same height above the floor (30 cm). The testing order was selected randomly. The subjects were asked to maintain the push-up position with straight knees, hips, and trunk for 5 seconds at each elbow angle. The mean root mean square (RMS) of EMG activity was calculated. EMG activity was normalized using the maximum voluntary isometric contractιn elicited using a manual muscle testing technique. Two-factor repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the average RMS value of EMG activity for each condition. The EMG activity for the pectoralis major, and internal and external oblique muscles during a push-up on a sling was significantly higher than on a fixed support at all angles of elbow flexion (p<.01). There were significant differences in the EMG activity of the pectoralis major and triceps brachii muscles at difference angles of elbow flexion (p<.05). The pectoralis major muscle had the highest EMG activity at 90 degrees of elbow flexion on both the sling and fixed support. The triceps brachii muscle had the highest EMG activity at 45 degrees of elbow flexion on both the sling and fixed support. The internal and external oblique muscles had the highest EMG activity at 0 degrees of elbow flexion, although the difference with angle of flexion was not significant. These results suggest that to improve proximal and trunk stability and muscle strength, push-ups are more useful when performed on a suspension sling than On a fixed support.

This research was performed to compare spinal segment motion angle between low back pain (LBP) group and painless group during trunk flexion-extension and to investigate the effect of transversus abdominis strengthening exercise on spinal segment motion angle in LBP group. Nine subjects with LBP and ten subjects without LBP participated. Transversus abdominis strengthening exercise was performed in LBP group for three weeks, and spinal segment motion angles were compared before and after the exercise performance. Spinal segment motion angles were measured both in sitting and standing position. Results were as followed: 1) Subjects' average age was 24.79 years, height was 167.84 cm, and weight was 59.95 kg. 2) Spinal segment motion angle of T10/l1 was significantly higher in LBP group compared with painless group (p<.05) in sitting position during trunk flexion-extension. 3) In sitting position, whereas entire lumbar segment motion angles were lower in LBP group compared with painless group (p<.05), angle of L4/5 was higher in LBP group compared with painless group (p<.05). 4) There was no significant difference in thoracic segment motion angle in standing position. 5) After three weeks of transversus abdominis strengthening exercise, thoracic segment motion angle increased both in sitting and standing position (p<.05). 6) In painless group, there was no significant difference in entire spinal segment motion angles in sitting and standing position (p>.05). When spinal segment motion angles were compared between sitting and standing position, there were slight differences. In sitting position, there was no difference in spinal segment motion angle between LBP group and painless group while hip joint motion angle and sacral inclination angle of LBP group was lower than those of painless group (p<.05). In standing position, lumbar segment motion angle was significantly lower in LBP group than that of painless group. Transversus abdominis strengthening exercise influenced thoracic segment motion angle more significantly than lumbar segment motion angle.

Many pregnant women have experienced low back pain (LBP) during pregnancy and after delivery, and it has been an important component in women health. This study was designed to investigate the characteristics and management of the LBP in postpartum women. Eighty-five postpartum women were participated in this survey. Mean age of 85 women was 28.1 years. Of 85 postpartum women, 55.3% (n=47) had LBP after pregnancy. Thirty of 47 women had pain on lumbar region, 17 postpartum women had pain on sacroilium region. Of 85 postpartum women, 74% (n=54) had LBP before pregnancy and 71.8% (n=61) had LBP during pregnancy. Of 47 postpartum women who had LBP, 83% (n=39) had not received medical management for LBP, 12.8% (n=6) took medication, and 4.3% (n=2) performed self-exercise. None of postpartum women had received physical therapy during pregnancy and after delivery for treatment low back pain. The pain in SI region was more severe than in lumbar region after pregnancy according to VAS (visual analog scale) (p<.05). However, there was no significant difference in VAS scores between SI pain and lumbar pain before and during pregnancy (p>.05). Pain region after delivery was related to pain region of pre-pregnancy and during pregnancy (p<.01). Pain level after delivery was related to the pain and night pain level during pregnancy (p<.01).

The purpose of this study was to investigate the treatment effect of three interventions on the disuse atrophy of rat hindlimb after two weeks suspension. Forty-eight 11~12 weeks old female Sprague-Dawley white rats were divided into four intervention groups: 1) suspension only (S; n=10), 2) intensive weight bearing treadmill (IWBT; n=10), 3) electrical stimulation (ES; n=9), 4) 2)+3) (ES/IWBT; n=9). Another 10 rats received no intervention or hindlimb suspension and served as controls (C). After the interventions, 1) the cross-sectional area (CSA), 2) the ratio of white muscle fiber composition (WMFC), 3) isometric tetanic tension (ITT), and 4) muscle weights (MWs) were measured from the four calf muscle specimens. The results were as follows: 1. In all intervention groups, the CSAs of medial and lateral gastrocnemius (MG LG), soleus (SOL), and flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) decreased when compared to the control (C) group (p<.05). The CSA increased in FDS and LG for the IWBT group, in SOL for the ES/IWBT group compared to the S only group (p<.05). 2. The ratios of WMFC in MG, LG, SOL, and FDS increased compared to the C group for all interventions (p<.05). The ratios of WMFC decreased in SOL and LG for the IWBT group, in SOL for the ES/IWBT group compared to the S only group, and decreased in SOL for the ES/IWBT group compared to the IWBT group (p<.05). 3. The ITT in the MG, LG, SOL, and FDS decreased compared to the C group for all interventions (p<.05). The ITT increased in MG LG/FDS, SOL, and the whole calf muscles (WCMs) in the IWBT, ES and ES/IWBT groups compared to the S only group (p<.05). 4. The MWs in MG LG/FDS, SOL, WCMs decreased compared to the C group for all interventions (p<.05). The MWs increased in MG LG/FDS and WCMs for the IWBT group, in SOL for the ES group, and in SOL for the ES/IWBT group compared to the S only group (p<.05). 5. In atrophied muscles, the IWBT group showed the best recovery and the ES/IWBT and ES groups followed in decreasing order. The most susceptible muscle to disuse atrophy was the SOL. But conversely, it showed the best recovery in the ES/IWBT group. After two weeks of hindlimb suspension, the calf muscles of rats atrophied and their isometric tension decreased. These changes were best reversed by hindlimb-focused treadmill activity. The next best results were achieved by electrical stimulation combined with the treadmill followed by only electrical stimulation. These findings indicate that full weight bearing treadmill activity alone or in combination with electrical stimulation are effective treatments for non-weight bearing induced muscle atrophy. Further study of the effect of different intensities of electrical stimulation and variations in the duration period of full weight bearing treadmill activity on disuse atrophy is recommended.

The purpose of this study was to compare the differences of weight-bearing distribution between subjects with low back pain and healthy subjects. Fifty-one subjects (22 men, 29 women; mean age = 42.9 years) with low back pain and 31 healthy subjects (11 men, 20 women; mean age = 35.4 years) were evaluated. The weight-bearing distribution was measured by two commercial scales during comfortable standing. The difference of weight-bearing distribution between right and left side was calculated for each subject. The differences of weight-bearing distribution in subjects with low back pain and healthy subjects were 6.0 kg and 4.5 kg, respectively. However, there were no significant differences in the weight-bearing distribution between subjects with low back pain and healthy subjects.

The purposes of this research were to understand the realities of health management and to analyze the subjective, functional, psychological, and social health effects of the application of an exercise and education program to manage health on an elderly population residing in an agricultural community. The specific purposes of this research were: 1. to determine the subjective, functional, psychological health conditions, and performance level of instrumental activities of daily living of both the experimental and control groups before introducing a health management program, and then 2. to compare these with both the experimental and control groups' subjective, functional, psychological health condition and performance level of instrumental activities of daily living after applying the health management program. The health management program was introduced to the experimental group (50 people) but not to the control group (50 people). The health management program was composed of a health exercise program and a health education program. A comparative study of subjective health conditions was done to examine the effect of the health management program and the characteristics of health related variables before and after the program application. The results were as follows: 1. When the experimental group, which had received the 8-week health management exercise and education program, was compared with the control group, which had not, the experimental group's subjective health condition scored higher than that of the control group (p

This study was carried out to find out general characteristics and health-related be haviors of elders aged 60 or over and factors related to their activities of daily living, and thus to contribute to their health maintenance and promotion. The subjects were 200 elders who had resided at An-Dong city and participated in this study. To collect data, the field survey was conducted from December 13 to 23, 1996 with structured questionnaires by 6 trained student interviewers. Chi-square test, t-test and Pearson's correlation were used for data analysis by use of SPSS/ program. The major findings were as follows; 1) In the individual characteristics of the respondents, the average age were 73.6 years old. 21.5% of the subjects were 60-69 years old, while 27.5% were 70-74 years old, 25.0% were 75-79 years old, 26.0% were 80 years old or over. 2) For the degree of the subject's perceptive health condition, the aver age 3.39 point and standard deviation 1.09. The perceptive health condition of the subjects was in the mid point range of health condition. 3) 46.6% of men and 25.8% of women practiced exercise regularly for their health maintenance and promotion. 4) For the degree of the subject's perceptive health condition, the difference by sex was not statistically significant. 5) 51.8% of men and 60.2% of women has idea for interventions to health promotion program by rehabilitation services.

지금까지의 내용을 요약하면 먼저, 인체의 각 관절 주위에는 관절의 움직임과 위치를 파악하는 감지기 역할을 하는 기계적 감수기가 있다. 이러한 감수기는 크게 네가지로 구분되어지는데 대개 I형 감수기, II형 감수기 등의 용어를 사용한다. 각각의 감수기의 특성(표 2.)을 알아보면, 루피니(Ruffini)감각기와 유사한 모양을 하고 있는 I형 관절감수기는 주로 운동의 속도(speed)와 방향(direction)을 감지(detection) 하며, 파시니안(P

The techniques of joint mobilization and traction are used to improve joint mobility or to decrease pain by restoring accessory movements to the shoulder joints and thus allowing full, nonrestriced, pain-free range of motion. In the glenohumeral joint, the humeral head would be the convex surface, while the glenoid fossa would be the concave surface. The medial end of the clavicle is concave anterioposteriorly and convex superioinferiorly, the articular surface of the sternum is reciprocally curved. The acromioclavicular joint is a plane synovial joint between a small convex facet on lateral end of the clavicle and a small concave facet on the acromion of the scapula. The relationship between the shape of articulating joint surface and the direction of gliding is defined by the Convex-Concave Rule. If the concave joint surface is moving on a stationary convex surface, gliding occur in the same direction as the rolling motion. If the convex surface is moving on a stationary concave surface, gliding will occur in an opposite direction to rolling. Hypomobile shoulder joints are treated be using a gliding technique.

Physical therapists use assumptions about motor control in every aspect of their work in treating stroke patients. An understanding of the recovery process after stroke, some neural mechanism of recovery and therapeutic model is critical factor for physical therapist to evaluate and obtain a higher final stage of recovery. The purpose of this article was to review the recovery process after stroke, some neural mechanism of recovery, the role of rehabilitation in the process of recovery, therapeutic model and its limitation. This article will help understanding of recovery process. evaluation, and treatment of the stroke patients. Each therapeutic method consists of a different set of assumptions and they are not completely independent of one another. Therefore specializing in any techniques of physical therapy will not be enough to treat stroke, so we are in need of integrated approach and objective measurement instrument to adequately evaluate and treat stroke patients.

For the purpose of clarifying to what degree the mothers of developmentally delayed children are involved in treating their child at home. 193 mothers were sampled from 220 mothers of developmentally delayed children below 12 years of age who have visited one of four institutions: the Rehabilitation Hospital of Yonsei Medical Center, Inchon Severance Hospital, Disabled Welfare Center in Myongil-dong, and Nambu Disabled Welfare Hall. The study period was from Mar. 25, 1995 through Apr. 15, 1995. A questionnaire survey was conducted listing the characteristics of the developmentally delayed children, their mothers, mother's satisfaction with their therapists, and the actual conditions of the home treatment. 1. The mothers who treat their child at home for more than 31 minutes a day show a high involvement score, while the mothers of those who give treatment for less than 30 minutes a. day show a low involvement score. That is, the longer the treatment, the greater the involvement score. This indicates a statistically significant result(p<0.01). 2. In cases where a child's father is involved in the home treatment, his/her mother discloses a statistically high involvement score(p<0.001). 3. The result of analysis of cases where other family members, relatives or friends (fathers excepted) reveals a statistically significant high involvement score(p<0.05) for the mother. 4. Mothers in general represent a statistically significant high involvement in home treatment. In the meantime, the mothers in a nuclear family show a higher involvement home treatment than mothers in an extended family(p<0.01). 5. Among those respondents who think that home treatment is helpful and that mothers' involvement in home treatment is helpful, the mothers record a statistically significant high involvement score(p<0.05). When seen from the above perspectives, it seems of much significance that fathers and other relatives or family members play an important role in enhancing the involvement of mothers in home treatment. One point to note here is that providing a long home treatment time is crucial. Therefore, it is recommended that family members have access to rehabilitation treatment for training developmentally delayed children or their care giver; and moreover, we needed to carry out family training or at least arrange for meetings between the family members and medical personnel involved in the child's rehabilitation.