Background: Spinal Mobilization is one of the manual therapy technique that clinicians have used to treat pain, however, there is still a lack of research on changes in strength in healthy people. Objectives: To investigate the effect of posterior-anterior lumbar mobilization on lower limb strength in healthy individuals. Design: Two-group pretest-posttest design. Methods: In this study, 23 healthy subjects aged 20 years were assigned to 12 lumbar mobilization group (LMG) and 12 sham group (SG) to perform intervention and measurement through pre- and post-design. Intervention was performed in LMG with grade III~IV on L3-5 of the lumbar spine, and lumbar mobilization was performed for each segment. After intervention, knee flexion and extension strength were measured. To measure the main effect on muscle strength, a comparative analysis was conducted using paired t-test and independent t-test. Results: In LMG, knee flexor and extensor strength were increased significantly at 60°/s (P<.05). In addition, the extensors of LMG and SG were significantly different only at 60°/s, and the flexors were significantly different between groups at both 60°/s and 180°/s (P<.05). Conclusion: In healthy individuals, lumbar mobilization results in improvement of strength of knee flexor and extensor, and additional experiments on the effect of mobilization on the lumbar spine on functional changes in the lower limbs will be needed.

Background: Although various exercises have been performed for patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP), the effects of these exercises including joint mobilization, gym ball exercises, and breathing exercises on flexion relaxation ratio (FRR) have not been compared. Objective: To compare the effects of joint mobilization, gym ball exercises, and breathing exercises on the flexion relaxation phenomenon (FRP) and pain in patients with chronic low back pain. Design: Randomized pretest-posttest control group design. Methods: Thirty-six patients with chronic low back pain who were undergoing rehabilitation at a rehabilitation center were included. The patients were randomly divided into three groups: joint mobilization group (JMG; n=12), gym ball exercise group (GBG; n=12), and breathing exercise group (BEG; n=12). The exercises were performed for 40 minutes a day, twice a week, for a total of 12 weeks. Results: There were no significant differences in FRR between the three groups (P>.05). Significant decreases in the modified visual analog scale (MVAS) scores after intervention between the groups were found (P<.05). The GBG was significantly decreases from the JMG in the MVAS (P<.05). However, there were significant improvements between the pre- and post-interventional findings on FRR and MVAS in the three groups (P<.05). Conclusion: We demonstrated that intervention using joint mobilization, gym ball exercises, and breathing exercises improve FRP and pain in patients with CLBP.

Background: Self-checked monitoring home exercises are recommended for preventing falls among people with Parkinson’s disease. However, as these home exercises are performed autonomously by patients without professional management, their accuracy and efficiency can be compromised. Objective: To investigate the effects of providing regular training sessions to patients and caregivers and of patient self-monitoring of exercise performance following the implementation of a self-checked monitoring exercise program for people with Parkinson’s disease. Design: Randomized Pretest-Posttest Control Group Design. Methods: We provided regular self-checked monitoring home exercise and general home exercise programs to 30 participants for 12 weeks. Once a month at the first, fifth, and ninth-week sessions, a rehabilitation team attended the Parkinson’s group education. In addition to the subject in the experimental group perform the home exercises program to provide feedback regarding the home exercises program and to carry out a self-monitoring checklist performance for 12 weeks. Results: The 10 m walk test, functional reach test, and sit to stand test and the modified Barthel index significantly improved in the self-checked monitoring home exercise group. Conclusion: These results suggest that self-checked home exercise programs, which facilitate safety and consistent performance of exercises at home, are beneficial for people with Parkinson’s disease.