Background: Patients who underwent rotator cuff repair (RCR) require management to control pain and prevent re tear and stiffness. Thoracic mobilization has been applied for the improvement of vertebra and shoulder movements and pain reduction. Also, core stability exercise is an intervention necessary for rehabilitation after shoulder surgery. Objectives: To examine the short term benefits of thoracic mobilization and core stability exercise for patients after RCR. Design: Randomized controlled trial with multi arm parallel group and single blind assessor. Methods: 30 participants after RCR were recruited. Participants were categorized into conventional physical therapy (CPT) group, thoracic mobilization (TM) group, and core stability exercise (CSE) group according to the randomization program. Each treatment, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimuli (TENS), TM, and CSE was applied to each group. 3 physical therapists only conducted evaluations; VAS (visual analogue scale), ROM (range of motion), and Korean version of Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI). Results: VAS and SPADI were statistically reduced, and ROM was statistically improved in all 3 groups. In between three group comparisons of changes in outcome variables, there was not a significant difference in VAS, but there was a significant difference in ROM and SPADI. In the post hoc test, ROM and SPADI showed a significant difference in TM and CSE compared to CPT. Conclusion: TM according to Maitland concept and CSE had beneficial effects compared to CPT in patients after RCR.

Core stability exercises for patients with hemiplegia have become increasingly important and a variety of exercises have been developed over the years to give the hemiplegic patients more stable postural control. This study examined the therapeutic effects of the core stability exercises on the ability of static and dynamic postural control. Fifteen hemiplegic patients (7 males, 8 females, age ranging from 46 to 76 years) hospitalized in a Daejoen rehabilitation hospital were enrolled in this study. Nine and 6 patients had a cerebral infarction and cerebral hemorrhage, respectively. The subjects participated in a core stability exercise program consisting of a total of 12 sessions 3 times each week over a 4-week period with each exercise lasting approximately 15 minutes. The ability of static and dynamic postural control by Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Timed Up and Go (TUG), respectively, were measured before and after the core stability exercise. A Wilcoxon signed ranks test was used to compare the effects of the ability of static and dynamic postural control before and after core stability exercise in patients with hemiplegia. The =.05 level of significance was used for the statistical tests. Core stability exercises were effective in improving the ability of static postural control; BBS (p<.05). Core stability exercises were also effective in improving the ability of dynamic postural control; TUG (p<.05). Overall, core stability exercise is believed to be an important therapeutic method in rehabilitation programs for hemiplegic patients.