The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences in electromyographic (EMG) activities of upper limb muscles between cross- and parallel-aligned taping and to compare the effects of these 2 taping methods in healthy adults. Thirty subjects, who volunteered for this study, were tested under 3 taping conditions in random order: (1) no taping, (2) cross-aligned taping, and (3) parallel-aligned taping. EMG activities of the biceps brachii, triceps brachii, flexor carpi ulnaris, and extensor carpi radialis muscles were measured. All muscles showed significant differences in EMG activity among the 3 conditions (p<.05). In the post hoc test, biceps brachii and triceps brachii muscles showed significant differences in EMG activity between the no taping and the cross-aligned taping conditions and between the no taping and the parallel-aligned taping conditions. Additionally, the EMG activities of the flexor carpi radialis and extensor carpi radialis muscles appeared to be significantly different between the no taping and parallel-aligned taping conditions. These findings demonstrate that taping may be helpful for decreasing muscle activity, regardless of the direction of tape application. This study provides useful information to future researchers regarding the effects of taping on muscle activity.

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of thoracic flexibility exercise on chest function and mobility and to provide the information of physical therapy for patients with idiopathic scoliosis. Forty female subjects who were diagnosed with scoliosis participated in this study and were divided into the experimental and control groups. The experimental group consisted of 20 patients who were treated with thoracic flexibility exercise program during the admission (10 days) ad one month after discharge. The control group consisted of 20 patients who were not treated with thoracic flexibility exercise program. Vital capacity was measured using a respirometer. The chest expansion were calculated using differences of chest circumference between maximum inspiration and maximum expiration measured under armpits, at the junction between the sternum and xyphoid process, and at the waist. All subjects were measured two times: before the admission and at one month after discharge. Data were compared by groups using independent t-test, Vital capacity and chest expansion values (the armpit, chest and waist values) were significantly higher for the experimental group compared to those of the control group (p<.05). The findings of this study show that thoracic flexibility exercise program can lead to an increase in vital capacity and chest expansion and has a positive effects in relieving symptoms and restoring thoracic mobility.

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

This paper offers an approach to physical therapy and rehabilitation procedure for the temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD). Forms of physical therapy are used in the treatment of chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions that include TMD joint disorders. However, there still remains a void in the study as to the various rehabilitative protocols used on those patients with TMD. Recent evidence in clinical trials show that physical therapy is helpful for patients with TMD. Exercise programs designed to improve physical fitness had beneficial effects on TMD pain and dysfunction. This study establishes treatment procedures of physical therapy and provides a method of evaluation for patients with TMD disorders.

The purposes of this study were to assess the effect of therapeutic exercise and to offer an approach to the physical therapy and rehabilitation procedure of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) following surgery. In this research, 42 patients with TMJ surgery were assigned one of two groups. The experimental group included 21 patients who performed therapeutic exercise, and the control group included 21 patients who did not perform therapeutic exercise. Conservative therapy such as an ice pack, a hot pack, and pulsed ultrasound was applied to both groups. Treatment was applied twice a day during the admission period and, after discharge, everyday for six weeks. Visual analogue scale (VAS), incisal biting force, and joint ROM were measured before surgery and at 30 days after surgery. The results were as follows: VAS (p<0.05), mouth opening (p<0.01), lateral excursion to unaffected side (p<0.05), and protrusion (p<0.05) between experimental group and control group showed statistically significant differences. Incisal biting force and lateral excursion to affected side between experimental group and control group showed no statistically significant difference.

The purpose of this study was to identify the differences in pulmonary functioning after respiratory exercise with IPPB (Intermittent Positive Pressure Breather) in patients with progressive muscular dystrophy (PMD). The subjects were 46 patients with PMD who were admitted to the Rehabilitation Medicine Department of Youngdong Severance Hospital. The subjects were assigned into one of 2 groups. The control group received comprehensive treatments such as ROM exercise, deep breathing exercise, moist hot packs, and ultrasound twice a day while admitted at the Rehabilitation Medicine Department. Unlike the control group, the subjects at the experimental group received respiratory exercise treatment with IPPB. The subjects were admitted for 10~19 days, and the average length of hospital stay was 12.2 days. Pulmonary functioning was evaluated at admission and discharge by SENSOR MEDICS. The data were analyzed by a paired t-test and a independent t-test. The results were as follows: 1) The change of each parameter of pulmonary function tests were significantly improved in all groups after respiratory exercise treatment during admission (p<0.05). 2) By comparing the change of each parameter of pulmonary function tests between the experimental group and control group, the parameters of vital capacity (VC), forced vital capacity, forced vital capacity predicted (FVCP) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) were significantly improved in the experimental group which had received the pulmonary exercise treatment with IPPB (p<0.05). In conclusion, this study suggests that the pulmonary exercise treatments with IPPB facilitated improvement in the pulmonary functioning for the PMD patients during their hospital stay.

The purposes of this study were to investigate biomechanical variables of the lumbar spine for women who enjoy recreational exercises regularly, and to determine the factors that influence these variables. These variables were determined by the X-ray pictures of the lumbar area of 80 housewives who visited the department of rehabilitation at the Y Hospital from October 1997 to March 1998. The sacral inclination angle, the sacrohorizontal angle, the lumbosacral joint angle, and the lumbar lordotic angle were analysed. The t-test, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis were used to determine the significant differences and relationships among variables. The result were as follows: 1) There was a significant difference in the sacral inclination angle (p<0.01), the sacrohorizontal angle (p<0.05) and the lumbar lordotic angle (p<0.05) between the bilateral and the unilateral exercise group. 2) With the sacral inclination angle, the sacrohorizontal angle, the lumbosacral joint angle and the lumbar lordotic angle, correlation was found between the sacral inclination angle and the sacrohorizontal angle (p<0.01), the sacral inclination angle and the lumbosacral joint angle (p<0.05), the sacral inclination angle and the lumbar lordotic angle (p<0.05), and the sacrohorizontal angle and the lumbosacral joint angle (p<0.01). 3) In the bilateral exercise group, the sacral inclination angle correlated with age (p<0.01). The sacrohorizontal angle correlated with age (p<0.01) and exercise time (p<0.01). The lumbar lordotic angle correlated with age (p<0.05) and exercise duration (p<0.05). In the unilateral exercise group, the sacral inclination angle correlated with age (p<0.01), while the sacrohorizontal angle correlated with age (p<0.01) and exercise duration (p<0.05). The lumbar lordotic angle correlated with age (p<0.05).

Conversion disorder is defined as a specific and enduring sensorimotor dysfunction that contradicts known neurological or musculoskeletal pathology or physical findings. The patient with conversion symptoms unconsciously adopts these symptoms to convert their psychological stress to a physical phenomenon. Conversion disorder often involves the mimicry of organic symptoms similar to those experienced by a relative or an acquaintance. Because conversion symptoms are produced by psychological stress, specific treatment strategy and reinforcement program are needed for treatment. Treatment comprises avoiding unnecessary medical tests and removing symptoms by using graded exercises given by physical therapists. Clinical therapists must maintain a continuous and detailed follow-up to completely recover from conversion symptoms. The goal of treatment is to emphasize health rather than disease, to resolve physical symptoms, and to prevent recurrence. This study looks into the case reports of 4 patients diagnosed with conversion disorder.

Conversion disorder is a psychologically produced alteration or loss of physical functioning suggestive of a physical disorder. Conversion symptoms are often superimposed on organic disease and can be overlooked. Psychological techniques are central to the management include the following: avoiding confrontation with the patients; avoiding reinforcement or trivializing the symptoms; reviewing results of tests and exams and creating an expectation of recovery; educating the patient before a treatment is begun; evaluating the patient's emotional adjustment and considering it at a treatment; using caution in labeling the condition; considering referral for psychotherapy; establishing particularly a treatment plan and making a definite treatment program; adjusting patient' s environment; letting participate a family at appropriate time; developing a reinforcement program for a treatment of chronic symptoms; developing a home program for outpatients. Use behavior therapy reinforcement may be helpful with more chronic or resistant symptoms, especially when there is a history of vague or excessive somatic complaints or significant secondary gain.

The purpose of this research is to identify traction effects for the treatment of scoliosis and compare the effects among patients as their own physical characters. In this research, the patients with scoliosis hospitalized for ten days have treated in the way of the static traction for twenty hours a day, and alternating lumbar and cervical traction for twenty minutes two times a day in the department of rehabilitaton of Yong-Dong Severance Hospital. The followings are the conclusions of this research: 1) The traction for the patients with scoliosis is effective treatment method to reduce the curved angle (p<0.001). 2) Statistically there is no significant difference of the reduced curved angle between male and female after the traction (P>0.05). 3) Statistically there is significant difference of the reduced curved angle among age groups after the traction (P<0.05). 4) Statistically there is significant difference of the reduced curved angle among curved angle groups after the traction (p<0.001). 5) Statistically there is no significant difference of the reduced curved angle among shapes of curved angle after the traction (P>0.05).