Background: Self-myofascial release using a foam roller has short-term effects for improving muscle function and joint range of motion (ROM) and reducing delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) after exercise. Objectives: The purpose of our study was to examine the muscle physiological changes for each set in self-myofascial release of the hamstring muscles using a foam roller in order to provide basic data for the most effective program composition for improving muscle tension, stiffness, and flexibility of the hamstring muscles. Design: A quasi-experimental clinical trial. Methods: To confirm the effect of self-myofascial release of the hamstring muscles using a foam roller, muscle tone and stiffness of the hamstring muscles were measured. As an intervention method, the study subject performed four sessions of self-myofascial release by moving a foam roller back and forth on the posterior thigh muscle of the right leg. Results: There were statistically significant changes in the stiffness of the biceps femoris and the flexibility of the hamstring muscles. Conclusion: Self-myofascial release with foam rolling is an effective intervention method for increasing hamstring flexibility and ROM, and it is recommended as effective to perform self-myofascial release for three to four sessions to maintain normal muscle tone and stiffness of the hamstring muscles.

Background: Problem-based learning (PBL) is presented as a superior teaching method compared to existing lecture-based learning. Objectives: To analyzed the effectiveness of creative problem-solving competency, class participation, and self-efficacy in physical therapy students after PBL. Design: Questionnaire design. Methods: This study involved 29 physical therapy students and analyzed changes in their creative problem-solving competency, class participation, and self-efficacy and the correlations between these measurement variables before and after PBL on the “Therapeutic Exercise & Practice” subject. Results: PBL in the musculoskeletal exercise therapy-related subject significantly improved class participation and self-efficacy (P<.05) compared to conventional lecture-based learning, but there was no significant difference in creative problem-solving competency. There was also a positive correlation between a higher level of class participation and higher self-efficacy (P<.05). Conclusions: PBL in the “Therapeutic Exercise & Practice” subject in the Department of Physical Therapy can be an effective educational strategy to increase students’ class participation and self-efficacy. Accordingly, instructors in this department should systematically construct the design of PBL curricula to improve the quality of educational content.

Background: Junior colleges have been establishing plans for the development of start-up education for students and have been providing various educational programs to support students’ start-up businesses. Objectives: The effects of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial self-efficacy on the start-up intention of college physical therapy students were analyzed. Design: Questionnaire design. Methods: Surveys on entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial self-efficacy, and start-up intention were conducted with 269 college physical therapy students, and the levels of individual measurement variables, correlations, and variables affecting start-up intention were analyzed. Results: College physical therapy students showed differences in start-up intention between genders, and male students tended to have a higher startup intention (P<.001) than female students. The correlations among the major variables were analyzed. According to the results, all sub-factors of start-up intention had significant positive correlations with all sub-factors of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial self-efficacy (P<.05). In addition, multiple regression analysis was conducted to identify factors affecting start-up intention. Start-up education was shown to have no direct effect on start-up intention. Innovation (β=.238, P=.000), risk sensitivity (β=.228, P=.000), and initiative (β=.220, P=.001), which are sub-factors of entrepreneurship, were shown to have effects on start-up intention. Self-regulated efficacy (β=-.193, P=.039) and task challenge (β=.210, P=.004), which are sub-factors of entrepreneurial self-efficacy, were found to have effects on start-up intention. Conclusions: To boost the start-up intention of college physical therapy students and induce their start-ups, customized start-up education that considers entrepreneurship level and gender is necessary.

Background: Height is an important factor in determining a person’s appearance, so people often wear height increase elevator shoes insoles (HIESI) or high heels to make themselves look taller. However, high heels often act as a risk factor for musculoskeletal diseases. Objectives: To investigated how muscle tone and muscle stiffness in the lumbar region of young adult men varied according to the height of the HIESI, and analyzed the correlation. Design: Non-randomised trial. Methods: Muscle tone and muscle stiffness in the upper and lower lumbar regions of 20 healthy young adult men in an upright standing position were measured as the subjects wore no insoles and 2 cm, 3 cm, and 4 cm insoles. Results: Muscle tone and muscle stiffness in the lumbar region did not show a significant change according to the increased height of the HIESI. However, a positive correlation was observed when the subjects wore 4 cm HIESI, as there was a significant increase (P<.05) in muscle tone and stiffness in the left side of the upper lumbar region and in the right side of the lower lumbar region. Conclusion: Wearing HIESI for short periods of time in the static standing position did not cause a change in muscle tone and muscle stiffness in the lumbar region. However, wearing 4 cm HIESI demonstrated a correlation of increased muscle tone and stiffness in the upper and lower lumbar regions in an asymmetric manner.

Background: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, untact online classes have expanded in universities. To ensure continuous improvements in the quality of university education, it is important to analyze factors affecting students’ satisfaction with lectures in this untact online environment. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate lecture satisfaction among physical therapy students with experience of untact online classes. Design: Questionnaire design. Methods: The study population comprised 124 physical therapy students with experience of participation in untact online classes. We analyzed various factors affecting students’ satisfaction with lectures delivered via untact online classes and the correlations between these factors. Results: In terms of untact educational system quality, the level of satisfaction was significantly lower among students who had experienced more semesters with untact online classes than among those who had experienced fewer semesters with untact online classes (P＜.05). Untact educational service quality, untact educational information quality, untact educational system quality, and lecture satisfaction/recommendation intention showed statistically significant positive correlations (P＜.001). Conclusion: It is necessary to continuously improve online support systems and untact educational service quality to enhance physical therapy students’ satisfaction with lectures delivered via untact online classes.

Background: Cervical spine mobilization is an effective intervention method to increase cervical range of motion (ROM). However, whether using a sling with cervical spine mobilization can provide a similar positive effect in improving ROM and muscle stiffness as conventional cervical spine mobilization has not yet been proven. Objectives: To investigated the effects of sling with cervical spine lateral mobilization on improving neck ROM and muscle stiffness in healthy subjects. Design: A two-group pre-posttest design. Methods: A total of 20 healthy subjects were allocated to a sling with cervical spine mobilization (SWCM) group (n=10) and a cervical spine mobilization (CM) group (n=10). The mobilization exercise at grade Ⅳ+ amplitude was applied to the left-side and right-side C3-C4 and C4-C5 of each group for three sets. The mobilization exercise was performed for 30 seconds (frequency of two vibrations per second), with a 30-second resting time. The active cervical ROM, muscle tone, and muscle stiffness of the cervical region of each group was measured and compared before and after the intervention. Results: The active cervical ROM of both groups significantly improved after the intervention (p<.05). However, no significant differences in the cervical active ROM, cervical muscle tone, and muscle stiffness were observed between two groups. Conclusion: The application of sling with cervical spine lateral mobilization is an intervention method that can be effectively used to improve the physiological movement of the neck, as well as cervical muscle tone and stiffness.

Background: Shoes cover the feet and ankle joints and come into contact with the ground directly during walking, and the shape of shoes is related to the muscle tone of the lower extremity muscles. However, no study has been conducted on the muscle tone of the lower extremity after wearing combat boots. Objectives: To compare and analyze the effects of walking in combat boots and in athletic shoes on muscle tone and stiffness, to identifying the effect of the characteristics of shoes on the muscle tone. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Thirty subjects were randomly divided into a combat boots group and an athletic shoes group, and interventions were implemented. Both groups walked for 30 minutes on a treadmill at 4.2 km/h. MyotonPRO was used to measure the muscle tone and stiffness of the lower extremity. The measuring sites were set to five muscles on both legs. Results: In the combat boots group, muscle tone and stiffness of the medial gastrocnemius on the dominant side, the muscle tone and stiffness of rectus femoris, and the muscle stiffness of hamstring on the non-dominant side significantly decreased after walking. In the athletic shoes group, there was no significant change in the muscle tone and stiffness. Conclusion: The results of this study can be used to inform the wearing combat boots while walking on a treadmill reduces the muscle tone and stiffness of the lower extremity compared to athletic shoes. It indicates that the restriction of joint movement occurring when wearing combat boots influences reducing muscle tone and stiffness.

Background: Although previous researches have developed interventions for neck problems, headache, and temporomandibular disorder in patients with forward head posture (FHP), changes in masticatory muscle tone or stiffness as FHP worsening have not been investigated. Objective: To examine changes in masticatory muscle tone and stiffness through craniovertebral angle (CVA). Design: Cross sectional study Methods: The subjects were 21 healthy males with normal head posture. Three CVA were established for posture measurement in which the bilateral anterior temporal and masseter muscles were measured during the subjects maintained a series of postures. Results: The Right masseter muscle significantly increased in stiffness with advancing FHP (p < 0.05). No significant changes were observed in the muscle tone or stiffness of any other masticatory muscles, and no significant differences were found in bilateral masticatory muscle tone or stiffness in each measurement posture. Conclusions: This study suggests that the increased stiffness of the right masseter muscle as the FHP worsened requires consideration in physical therapy assessment and intervention.

Background : Although plank exercises is reported to the changes in muscle activity of the deep muscles and superficial muscles among the core muscles. However, no study has examined the effects of forearm plank exercise on tone and stiffness in the superficial back line muscle. Objective: To compare the effects of sling forearm plank exercises and mat forearm plank exercises on the superficial back line muscle tone and stiffness. Design: Randomized controlled clinical trial (single blind) Methods: The subjects were randomized to sling forearm plank exercise group (N = 8) or mat forearm plank exercise group (N = 8). The measurements were taken for each research group following exercises: the muscle tone and stiffness of upper lumbar muscles, lower lumbar muscles, long head of biceps femoris, and medial part of gastrocnemius among the superficial back line muscles. Results: Sling forearm plank exercise group Indicated statistically significant increases in stiffness of medial part of gastrocnemius (p<.05). However, mat forearm plank exercise group reported no statistically significant in muscle tone and stiffness of all measured muscles. No significant differences in measured variables were found between the groups. Conclusions: These results suggest that the forearm plank exercise performed with an unstable surface in the defined sling can increase the stiffness of calf muscle, but it is unlikely to achieve increases in muscle tone and stiffness of the overall superficial back line muscles.