Background: Neck pain is a major health problem in developed countries and has a lifetime prevalence of 50%. Major problems include a reduced cervical range of motion, muscle stiffness, dysfunction, postural changes, and decrease in psychosocial level. Objects: This study aimed to investigate the effects of applying the upper trapezius inhibition dynamic taping to patients with chronic neck pain on their neck pain, functional level, cervical range of motion, psychosocial level, and neck posture. Methods: The study design was a randomized controlled trial. A total of 40 patients with neck pain participated in this study and were randomly assigned to a Dynamic Taping group (n = 20) or Sham Taping group (n = 20). In both groups, basic intervention cervical pain control therapy and shoulder stabilization exercise program were performed. In addition, dynamic taping and sham taping were applied to participants in the Dynamic Taping and Sham Taping groups to inhibit the trapezius muscle, respectively. All interventions were performed three times a week and a total of 12 times for 4 weeks, and the participants’ neck pain, functional impairment level, cervical range of motion, psychosocial level, and neck posture were measured and compared before and after the intervention. Results: Both groups showed significant differences in neck pain, functional level, cervical range of motion, psychosocial level, and neck postural before and after the intervention (p < 0.05). Moreover, there were significant differences between the two groups regarding the functional level and neck posture (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Inhibition dynamic taping of the upper trapezius muscle suppression is an effective method with clinical significance in reducing pain in individuals with chronic neck pain and improving the functional level, cervical range of motion, psychosocial level, and neck posture.

Background: Stretch-oriented home exercise programs are often used as treatments for patients with adhesive capsulitis; however, there is lack of research on home exercise programs to strengthen rotator cuffs. Objects: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of home exercise programs for rotator cuff strengthening on pain, range of motion (ROM), disability level, and quality of life in patients with adhesive capsulitis. Methods: Twenty-two patients with adhesive capsulitis volunteered to participate in this study. The subjects were randomly divided into an experimental group (n = 11) and control group (n = 11). For the experimental group, manual therapy and home exercise programs for rotator cuff strengthening were applied for 6 weeks; for the control group, only manual therapy was applied for 6 weeks. Shoulder pain (quadruple visual analogue scale, QVAS), ROM, disability (shoulder pain and disability index-Korean version, SPADI), and quality of life (world health organization quality of life scale-Korean version, WHOQOL-BREF) were evaluated at baseline, after 3 weeks, and after 6 weeks of intervention. The changes in the measurement variables were analyzed by using repeated measure analysis of variance. Results: Significant differences were observed between the experimental group and control group in the QVAS; SPADI-pain scores; SPADI-disability scores; SPADI-total scores; flexion, abduction, internal and external rotation ROM of the glenohumeral joint; and WHOQOLBREF total, overall, physical health, and psychological scores. All groups displayed statistically significant improvements as observed in the QVAS, SPADI, flexion, abduction, external and internal rotation ROM of the glenohumeral joint, and WHOQOL-BREF. Conclusion: Home exercise programs for rotator cuff strengthening had a positive impact on shoulder pain, shoulder ROM, disability level, and quality of life in patients with adhesive capsulitis. Therefore, we propose the use of home exercise programs for rotator cuff strengthening in the exercise rehabilitation of patients with adhesive capsulitis.

Background: Sling exercises are frequently used for the rehabilitation process of patients with shoulder joint injuries, but research on the significant frequency intensity and appropriate treatment duration for sling exercises with local vibration stimulation is lacking. Objects: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of sling exercise with vibration on shoulder range of motion (ROM), muscle strength, pain, and dysfunction in patients with a medical diagnosis of shoulder joint injury. Methods: Twenty-two patients were randomly assigned to the experiment and control groups. Six sling exercises with and without 50 ㎐ vibrations were applied in the experiment and control groups, respectively. Each exercise consisted of 3 sets of 5 repetitions performed for 6 weeks. The assessment tools used included shoulder joint range of motion, muscle strength, pain level, and shoulder pain and disability index for functional disability. We conducted re-evaluations before and 3 and 6 weeks after intervention. The changes in the measurement variables were analyzed and compared between the two groups. Results: The ROM of the external rotation of the shoulder joint had a significant interaction between the group and the measurement point (F=3.652, p<.05). In both groups, we found a significant increase in external rotation angle between the measurement points (p<.05). The flexor strength of the shoulder joint significant interaction between the group and the measurement point (F=4.247, p<.05). Both the experiment (p<.01) and control groups (p<.05) showed a significant increase in shoulder flexor strength at the measurement points. After 6 weeks of the interventions, both the groups showed significantly improved VAS (p<.01), SPADI (p<.01), and orthopedic tests (p<.01). However, there was no significant difference between the group and the measurement point in terms of the clinical outcomes observed. Conclusion: The sling exercise with local vibration of 50 ㎐ affected the external rotation of the shoulder range of motion and improved shoulder flexor strength in the patients with shoulder injuries. Therefore, we propose the use of the sling exercise intervention with vibration in the exercise rehabilitation of patients with shoulder joint injuries.

Background: In the treatment of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, the goals of traditional physical therapy are not only to reduce the inflammatory process leading to pain, but also to decrease joint overload and muscle hyperactivity. To achieve those goals, physical therapists generally use a photo-therapy, joint mobilization, and massage. Objects: To examine the impact of an unloading technique using non-elastic taping on the pain, opening mouth, functional level, and quality of life in patients with TMJ disorder. Method: Twenty patients with TMJ disorder were included in this study and randomly divided into the experimental (n1=10), and control (n2=10) groups. Traditional physical therapy including massage and stretching for 30 min was performed in both groups. Non-elastic taping was performed in the experimental group after traditional physical therapy, and they were recommended to keep the tape attached for 12 hours. Outcomes for pain, functional level, and quality of life were measured using a survey. The opening mouth was measured using a general ruler. Result: Significant differences were observed in the pain level, opening mouth, functional level, and quality of life after the intervention and on follow-up in both groups. However, we found that while the levels of all parameters were maintained throughout the follow-up period in the experimental group, the functional status level was not maintained throughout the follow-up period in the control group. Conclusion: Our unloading technique using non-elastic tape results comparable to those achieved by traditional physical therapy in the treatment of TMJ. However, the unloading taping method using non-elastic tape is more effective than traditional physical therapy in maintaining the impact of intervention

This study aimed to compare the characteristics of breast cancer surgery and shoulder surgery patients on the shoulder range of motion (ROM), degree of pain and dysfunction, and scapular position. This study was carried out with a total of 90 women: a breast cancer surgery group (BS, n1=30), a shoulder surgery group (SS, n2=30) and a control group (n3=30). Shoulder ROM, the Quadruple Visual Analogue Scale (QVAS), the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), and the Scapular Index (SI) were used to assess shoulder function. Statistical analyses were performed using a one-way analysis of variance, crosstab test, and independent sample t-test. Post-hoc testing was carried out with Bonferroni test. There were significant differences in shoulder ROM when the BS and the SS were compared with the control group. However, there was no significant difference in ROM between the BS and SS. Furthermore, there was a significant difference in shoulder pain between both surgery groups, and there was greater shoulder dysfunction in the SS than in the BS. There was also a significant difference in upper extremity posture when the BS and the SS were compared to the control group. Finally, there was no significant difference in upper extremity posture between the BS and the SS. This study compared shoulder ROM, pain, dysfunction, and upper extremity postures between the BS and SS. While there were no significant differences in shoulder ROM, pain, and upper extremity posture between both surgery groups, the level of dysfunction was found to be significantly different. Therefore, health professionals managing for breast cancer surgery or shoulder surgery patients should consider these outcomes.