The purpose of the study was to investigate the immediate effects of negative pressure soft tissue therapy on muscle tone, muscle stiffness and balance in patients with stroke. In total, 20 patients with stroke and assigned to the negative pressure soft tissue therapy group (NPST, n=10) or, placebo-negative pressure soft tissue therapy group(Placebo-NPST, n=10). Both groups underwent NPST or placebo-NPST once a day during the experimental period. MyotonPRO was used to assess the parameters for muscle tone and stiffness. Biorescue was used to assess the parameters for balance. Each group showed improvements in muscle tone, muscle stiffness, and balance ability (p<.05). Especially, Muscle tone, muscle stiffness, and anterior length in the limit of stability were the significant improvement on NPST group (p<.05). The results of the study suggest that the NPST is effective in improving muscle tone, muscle stiffness, and balance ability in patients with stroke.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether static stretching or Thera-band stretching of hamstrings is more effective in improving the flexibility of hamstrings. A total of 40 participants performed stretching 3 times a week for 4 weeks, and a sitting trunk flexion meter was used to measure the flexibility of the hamstrings. Differences in hamstring flexibility before and after the application of static and Thera-band stretching were analyzed, and differences between the stretching methods were also analyzed. As a result, hamstring flexibility increased significantly after the static stretching program (p=.000), and also increased significantly after the Thera-band stretching program (p=.000). Although both programs were effective in improving hamstring flexibility, but there was no significant difference between the two groups (p=.058). Therefore, static stretching and Thera-band stretching are effective interventions to improve and maintain hamstring flexibility.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of core muscle training on balance ability. Forty subjects in their 20s participated in a 6 week core muscle training program. Balance ability before and after the intervention were assessed and analyzed using the Romberg test, which was conducted on the floor, pedalo, and balancefit. The differences between the measurement methods of balance ability using varied platforms was also compared and analyzed. After the 6-week core exercise training program, the training group represented statistically significant increases in all 3 methods for static balance ability. In the control group, all 3 methods represented no statistically significant increases. Upon comparing the different methods of the Romberg test, there were no notable differences between conducting the test on varying platforms for both groups. This study suggests that the core muscle exercise training program increased the balance ability.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of kinematic taping on respiratory muscle strength in smokers. Twenty - five university students who smoke were involved in the study. All participants were applied to kinematic taping to breathe deeply again. Subjects sit on their backs straight up and place their hands on their thighs. Tape 1 is applied from the lower prominent neck vertebrae(seven cervical vertebra) inward and downward, past shoulder blade, around ribs to the lower tip of sternum. Tape 2 extends to the lower, outer edge of shoulder blade, around ribs to the lower tip of sternum. Respiratory muscle strength was measured with Micro Mouth Pressure Measurement before and after taping. The application of kinematic taping significantly improved the inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength (p<.05). These findings suggest that kinematic taping effective in improving respiratory muscle strength and deep breathing.

The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of Pilates and Tai Chi as physical therapy interventions for pain and dysfunction in chronic lumbago patients. A total of 31 females who were at least 20 years old and diagnosed with chronic lumbago were divided into a Pilates group(PG) (n=10), Tai Chi group(TCG)(n=11), and conservative group(CG)(n=10), to measure their pain and dysfunction before and after a six week intervention. With regard to the changes in the lumbago consciousness scale before and after the six-week intervention, all three groups showed statistical significance(p<.05). The intergroup differences were significant between the PG and CG and between the TCG and CG. All three groups also showed statistical significance(p<.05) in the Oswestry Disability Index before and after the six-week intervention. Again, the intergroup differences were significant between the PG and CG and between the TCG and CG. Based on these results, the application of Pilates and Tai Chi with conservative treatment may be effective in reducing pain and improving dysfunction in chronic lumbago patients.

The purpose of the present study is to provide exercises, together with music, that are helpful for elderly people’s balancing ability, and to determine their effects in order to provide data for the promotion of elderly persons’health. Thirty elderly persons were randomly assigned to a balance training group(BTG) of 15 subjects, or a music and balance training group (music therapy + balance training [MTBTG]) of 15 subjects; intervention was implemented three times per week for six weeks. To measure the changes in their balancing ability before and after the experiment, the limit of stability, the“Timed Up and Go”(TUG) test, and the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) were measured. Changes in the limit of stability before and after the experiment were shown to be significant in both the BTG and the MTBTG. Changes in the limit of stability of the right side before and after the experiment showed statistically significant differences between the BTG and the MTBTG. Changes in the TUG test and the BBS before and after the experiment were shown to be statistically significant in both the BTG and the MTBTG. The application of music during balance training thus is considered to have a positive effect on elderly persons’balancing ability.

The purpose of this study is to identify the practical knowledge about osteoporosis and health promoting behavior possessed by male and female university students in their twenties. Next, the study seeks to analyze the difference in the degree of knowledge and practice of health promoting behavior depending on the students’ area of study (health-related or non-health-related major) and previous education about osteoporosis. A survey was given to 300 male and female university students in Jeju Island from November 18 to December 6, 2013. Regarding knowledge about osteoporosis, the accuracy rate of health science major participants was 16.8 % higher than that of those of non-health science, and the accuracy rate of participants with previous education about osteoporosis was 12.9 % higher than those who had not. Health promoting behavior showed a higher degree of practice among students in health-related majors and those with previous applicable education. There were significant differences between the knowledge of osteoporosis and major and the presence and absence of prior education. Regarding the degree of health promoting behavior and major, the presence or absence of prior education showed significant differences. Among male and female students in their twenties, the recognition of knowledge about osteoporosis is very low. There is a need to develop various programs that focus on osteoporosis prevention rather than treatment, to improve the quality of education and training content according to the individual, and to lower the target age for osteoporosis education.

The purpose of this study is to provide the case of influence of myofacial release(MFR) and cryotherapy in acute whiplash injury. The subjects were consisted of 3 adults(2 males, 1 female) who had been diagnosed with whiplash injury. The performance period was 1 weeks, 6 times and 1 time is 40min(MFR: 20min, cryotherapy: 20min). We measured neck pain(Visual analogue scale, VAS) and cervical alignment(cervical curvature & line of gravity). All measurements of each subject were measured at pre-treatment and post-treatment. The results are listed below. The neck pain(VAS) index decreased from 7.54cm to 4.11cm. The cervical curvature increased from 23.62°to 29.76°. The line of gravity decreased from 8.03mm to 3.66mm. Based on the results, it can be suggested that both MFR and cryotherapy can be used to neck pain and alignment in acute whiplash injury.

Experts of medicine, philosophy and psychology found that human somatotypes were related to personality or physical characteristics and classified somatotypes into various forms. This study explored the changes and types of somatotyping methods from Before Christ to present day and identified the status of studies of somatotypes in the area of physical therapy. This study covered the methods applied in various majors with a focus on those provided in books and papers of Heath BH. and Carter JEL. Based on the results, there are officially twelve assessment methods. Currently, the method of Heath & Carter is most widely applied. Somatotypes are studied in many areas. It is actively explored in the area of pain physical therapy, thermotherapy and integumentary physical therapy. Also, the soft tissue physical therapy area seeks interdisciplinary studies. This study found that there were various assessment methods in diverse areas. It is likely that continuous studies will develop new assessment methods. It is hoped that in the area of physical therapy, somatotypes shall be applied more amply.

The present study was performed to obtain the basic information about growth and quality related characteristics and optimum harvesting time for podedible pea which is a new crop in Korea but believed to have a great deal of potentials for both domestic and overseas markets. They can be consumed either as a fresh succulent vegetable or as tender green pods. The daily green pod yield of pod-edible peas started to increase from ten days after flowering and the maximum yield was recorded on 26 days after flowering. Ninety percent of pod yields could be harvested from 16 to 36 days after flowering. Mean green pod yield for the tested varieties was approximately 8.0 t/ha. Total vitamin C content of pod-edible peas showed continuously decreasing trends from five days after flowering. The highest sucrose content was obtained at ten days after flowering. The highest panel score based on sweetness, chewiness, and hardness for the processed green pods was shown at 10-15 days after flowering in all varieties tested, indicating that the optimum harvesting time for pod-edible peas was considered to be 10-15 days after flowering.