This study aimed to examine whether McConnell taping for deltoid inhibition affects the Electromyographic (EMG) activity of shoulder girdle muscles during arm elevation. Ten young healthy men were randomly assigned to an experimental and control groups of five men each. For the experimental group, we performed taping for deltoid inhibition on the skin over anterior and posterior deltoids with non-elastic specific tape, and sham-taping with non-elastic under-tape for the control group. Surface EMG measurements were performed three times (before, during and after the tapings) at upper and lower trapezius, mid-deltoid, and serratus anterior muscles while elevating dominant aim with loading and unloading conditions. In deltoid inhibition taping group, there were significant differences in EMG activity of mid-deltoid (p<.05) and serratus anterior (p<.05) muscles during arm elevation with loading. During arm elevation without loading, the EMG activity was significantly decreased for MD in the McConnell taping group (p<.05). The findings indicate that deltoid inhibition taping can modify the activation patterns in shoulder girdle muscles as well as in deltoid muscle. in clinical setting. it may be effectively used for the management of patients with shoulder dysfunction.

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.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of a disease-specific exercise (DSE) on temporomandibular joint (TMJ) function and neck mobility in TMJ dysfunction associated with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Ten AS patients (seven males and three females) with TMJ dysfunction were recruited for this study. The DSE included exercises to correct head and neck posture and to improve the flexibility of the neck and TMJs. The patients attended treatment three times a week for 4 weeks, averaging 1 hour each session. Assessments were performed pretreatment, posttreatment, and 6 weeks after the completion of treatment. General physical status was assessed by four clinical measures (tragus-to-wall distance, modified Schober test, lumbar side flexion, and intermalleolar distance), the Bath ankylosing spondylitis function index (BASFI), and the Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index. The main outcome measures included TMJ function (craniomandibular index (CMI)), and neck mobility (flexion, extension, rotation, and lateral rotation). None of the measures of general physical status, with the exception of BASFI, were significant1y different between the pretreatment, posttreatment, and 6-week follow-up (p>.05). However, CMI and all neck movements, except for extension, significant1y improved after the treatment (p<.05). These improvements were maintained during the follow-up period. The DSE used in the present study seems to be a clinical1y useful method for managing patients with symptoms from the stomatognathic system in AS. Further studies with more subjects and longer treatment times, including the follow-up period, will be conducted to validate these findings.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of submerged relaxation therapy for the spasticity on the affected side in three subjects with post-stroke hemiparesis. A single-subject alternating design with multiple baselines across individuals was employed in this study. Each subject alternately participated in a range of motion exercises on the mat and in the pool, and relaxation exercises in the pool. The muscle tone of the affected side was measured using the tone assessment scale (TAS). Measurements were made immediately and one hour following the intervention. The findings showed a therapeutic effect of submerged relaxation exercise on reducing spasticity for all subjects. The effect of submerged relaxation exercise on decreasing muscle tone was maintained for one hour measurements after the submerged relaxation exercise, although the mean TAS score assessed one hour after intervention was higher than that assessed immediately. The results of this study suggest that submerged relaxation exercise has a positive effect on decreasing spasticity on the affected side in persons suffering from post-stroke hemiparesis. Future research on submerged relaxation exercise should focus on objective evaluation and functional the aspects relevant to activities of daily living.

Although conservative management of congenital muscular torticollis (CMT) has been well documented, relatively little is known about the response to the treatment. The purposes of this case report were to describe the use of a therapeutic approach based on motor development in physical therapy intervention for an infant with CMT and to report the result of the treatment. The patient was a 20-day-old baby boy with left CMT presenting muscular mass in the left sternocleidomastoid muscle. The angle of the lateral head tilt was 20 degrees. The size of muscular mass was 5.3 mm in ultrasonography. Intervention included ultrasonic therapy, soft tissue massage, passive and active range of motion exercises, motor developmental therapy, and parent instruction. The procedures of motor developmental therapy and changes in the amount of lateral head tilt were documented using photography. The size of the mass was decreased to .3 mm before the 5-month follow-up. The patient also maintained a midline head position in the supine position and a midline head alignment during all functional activities. A therapeutic approach based on motor development is a beneficial method for reducing an asymmetrical head and neck position, and facilitating normal development as a component of physical therapy intervention.

이 연구의 목적은 만성요통 여성 환자들에서 나타나는 자세 이상을 평가하고 방사선적 변수들과 임상적인 변수들과의 상관성을 알아보는 것이다. 이 연구의 대상자는 만성요통 여성 환자 38명과 대조군 32명이었다. 변수의 측정은 모든 대상자들이 이완된 자세로 기립한 상태에서 방사선 검사를 실시한 후 경추전만각, 흉추후만각, 요추전만각, 그리고 요추경사각을 측정하였다. 대상자들의 연령과 통증기간은 의무기록지를 참고하였다. 자료분석은 요통군과 대조군의 방사선적 변