The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of manual therapy on lower extremity alignment in pelvic malalignment. The subjects were 20 adults with pelvic malalignment. They were divided into two groups: manual therapy group (n=10) and stretching exercise group (n=10). Each group performed the intervention two times per week for 4 weeks. The lower extremity alignment was measured by pelvic deviation, functional leg length inequality, and plantar pressure distribution, which were measured between pre- and post-test. In the result of pelvic deviation, there was a significant difference between the pre- and post-test of the manual therapy group and stretching exercise group. In the result of the functional leg length inequality, there was a significant difference between the pre- and post- test of the manual therapy group. In the result of plantar pressure distribution, there was a significant difference between the pre- and post- test of the manual therapy group. These findings suggest manual therapy improves the pelvic deviation, functional leg length inequality, and plantar pressure distribution in the pelvic malalignment.

The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of chiropractic treatment on the alignment of the lower extremities and plantar pressure in subjects with pelvic misalignment. The study included 20 subjects with pelvic misalignment. They were divided into two groups: the chiropractic treatment group (n=10) and stretching group (n=10). They performed the intervention for 10 minutes, twice a week, for weeks, and pelvic displacement, functional leg length, and plantar pressure were measured In chiropractic group, both pelvic displacement and plantar pressure distribution were significantly decreased and leg length difference was significantly increased (p<.05). However, in the stretching group, only pelvic displacement was significantly reduced (p<.05), and leg length difference and plantar pressure distribution decreased slightly. There was no significant difference in all variables between the groups. This study suggests that chiropractic and stretching are effective in changing pelvic displacement, leg length difference, and plantar pressure distribution.

Background: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) recovers the alignment of the knee joint, but fails to automatically restore the alignment and function of the hip and ankle joints. It may affect the alignment and stability of the knee joint, therefore therapeutic intervention in hip and ankle joint is necessary for the rehabilitation process after TKA. Objects: The aim of this study was to comparison of the effects of the two exercise methods on the coronal plane alignment after TKA. This study conducted an experiment by dividing subjects into a lower extremity isometric co-contraction group (LEIC) and a quadriceps isolated isometric contraction (QIIC) group. Methods: A total of 37 subjects were randomly assigned to the LEIC (n1=19) or the QIIC (n2=18). Exercise was applied to five times per week for three weeks, starting on the eighth day after surgery. Range of motion exercises were performed as a common intervention and then each group performed quadriceps isometric contraction exercises with 10 sets of 5 repetitions. Radiological imaging was performed prior to surgery, one month and six months after surgery. In addition, the hip-knee-ankle angle (HKA) and tibiotalar angle (TTA) were measured. Results: The HKA was close to neutral in the LEIC rather than the QIIC (p<.05). The LEIC showed varus and the QIIC exhibited valgus TTA (p<.05). In a comparison of HKA and TTA over time, there was no significant change in either group (p>.05). According to the comparison of the TTA before surgery, the LEIC showed significant changes in the varus direction (p<.05), while there was no significant change in the QIIC (p>.05). Conclusion: The LEIC method triggered changes in the TTA and brought the HKA close to the neutral. Thus, LEIC is more effective than QIIC in creating stability in the coronal plane alignment of the knee and ankle joints after TKA.