Background: Stroke impairs postural control and hip abductor function. Closed Kinetic Chain (CKC) exercise emphasizes weight-bearing control, whereas Open Kinetic Chain (OKC) exercise emphasizes isolated strengthening. Objectives: To compare CKC, OKC, and combined hip abductor strengthening exercises on static balance and gait ability in chronic stroke. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Thirty participants were randomly assigned to CKC (n=10), OKC (n=10), or combined exercise (n=10) groups. Trained three times weekly for eight weeks. Static balance was assessed using Center of Pressure (COP) variables from the HUR BT4 system, including C90 area (90% confidence circle area) and standard deviation (STD) velocity, and gait ability was evaluated using the 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT). Results: With eyes open, C90 area and trace length decreased in the CKC and combined groups (P<.05), and trace length improved more in the combined than the OKC group (P<.05). With eyes closed, all groups showed reductions in C90 area, trace length, and STD velocity (P<.05), with greater improvement in selected parameters in the combined group. Gait speed improved significantly in the CKC and combined groups (P<.05). Conclusion: CKC-based and combined exercises improved static balance and gait ability. CKC-based training may be an option for improving weightbearing control and gait in stroke rehabilitation.

Background: Lumbar radiculopathy caused by disc herniation is frequently accompanied by pain, functional disability, and impairments in sensorimotor control, including reduced proprioception and altered motor control. Interventions that integrate neural and mechanical components may enhance rehabilitation outcomes beyond exercise alone. Objectives: To investigate the effects of manual therapy combined with neurodynamic exercise and motor control exercise (MTN) with motor control exercise alone (MCE) on lumbar proprioception, motor control, and functional disability in patients with lumbar radiculopathy. Design: Randomized, single-blind clinical trial. Methods: Thirty patients with lumbar radiculopathy due to L4–S1 disc herniation were randomly assigned to either the MTN group or the MCE group. Both groups participated in supervised interventions three times per week for six weeks. The MTN group received lumbar joint mobilization and slider-based neurodynamic mobilization integrated with motor control exercise, whereas the MCE group performed motor control exercise only. Lumbar proprioception was assessed using joint position error during trunk flexion and extension. Motor control was evaluated using pressure biofeedback–based abdominal drawing- in performance. Functional disability was assessed using the Korean version of the Oswestry Disability Index. Outcomes were measured at baseline and during follow-up. Results: Significant group-by-time effects were observed for lumbar joint position error, motor control outcomes, and functional disability. The MTN group demonstrated earlier and greater improvements across all outcome measures compared with the MCE group, whereas improvements in the MCE group were more gradual. Conclusion: Compared with motor control exercise alone, the addition of manual therapy and neurodynamic exercise resulted in superior improvements in lumbar proprioception, motor control, and functional disability. An integrated MTN approach may be an effective rehabilitation strategy for patients with lumbar radiculopathy.

Background: Neck discomfort and movement limitations are common musculoskeletal problems among modern people. While cervical and thoracic joint mobilization are widely used interventions for cervical dysfunction, research comparing their immediate effectiveness in adults with asymmetrical cervical rotation is limited. Objectives: To compare the immediate effects of cervical versus thoracic joint mobilization in adults with adults with asymmetrical cervical rotation and discomfort. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Thirty adults with left-right differences in cervical rotation of more than 5 degrees were randomly assigned to a cervical mobilization group (CMG, n=15) or thoracic mobilization group (TMG, n=15). Both groups received Grade III mobilization for 15 minutes. Range of motion (ROM), pain (VAS), and neck disability index (NDI) were measured before and after intervention. Results: Both groups showed significant increases in ROM after intervention (P<.001). Within-group analysis revealed that the TMG showed significant pain reduction (P<.01) and significant reduction in left-right rotation asymmetry (P<.001), while the CMG showed improvement in ROM but no significant changes in asymmetry or pain (P>.05). Neither group showed significant changes in NDI. Between-group comparisons showed no significant differences in any outcome measures. Conclusion: Both cervical and thoracic joint mobilization increased cervical range of motion in adults with asymmetrical cervical rotation discomfort. The TMG demonstrated significant within-group improvements in left-right rotation asymmetry and pain reduction, suggesting potential clinical benefits of thoracic mobilization for certain aspects of cervical dysfunction.