Background: People these days use smartphone extensively as a means of diverse social activities, but excessive use of it has also created increasing forward head posture (FHP) with neck pain. To improve this FHP, neck stabilization exercise is necessary. Objectives: This study was to investigate the effects of stabilization exercise using biofeedback on FHP subjects with neck pain. Design: A non-randomized, controlled intervention study. Methods: This study chose 18 college students in their 20s whose neck disability index (NDI) was equal to or higher than 10 and cranio-vertebral angle indicated FHP as experimental group. The control group selected 18 persons with no neck pain and a normal range of cranio-vertebral angle. The stabilization movement was performed by applying three phases of pressure, with low of 20 mmHg, intermediate of 25 mmHg, and high of 30 mmHg, using the Stabilizer. To check the effects of stabilization exercise according to pressure, the circumference of deep neck muscles was measured with ultrasonic waves, and the activity of surface muscle of sternocleidomastoid (SCM) was measured using electromyography (EMG). Results: When the circumference of the deep neck flexor was analyzed according to the pressure change during stabilization exercise, the experimental group showed increase at all pressures. The activity of the SCM of the surface muscle increased in both groups as the pressure increased. Conclusion: The application of stabilization exercise was found to be more effective on forward head posture subjects with neck pain at lower pressures.

Background: Forward head posture (FHP) causes various posture imbalances associated with the head and neck. Myofascial release is an effective treatment method used for relaxing muscles and reducing muscle hyperactivity, but no studies have been conducted on suboccipital and neck muscles related to FHP. Objects: The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate effect of roller massages on the cranio-cervical flexion (CCF) range of motion (ROM) and CCF strength applied to suboccipital and neck muscles in subject with forward head posture. Methods: Twenty-four FHP subjects (male: 13, female: 11) were recruited for this study. All subjects were recruited with a craniovertebral angle (CVA) of 53 degrees or less and a head tilt angle (HTA) of 20.66 degrees or higher. CCF strength was measured using Pressure biofeedback unit (PBU) in the supine posture and CCF ROM was measured using smartphone-based inclinometer. Roller massage (RM) was applied to suboccipital and neck muscles for 2 minutes and CCF ROM and strength were remeasured. Results: These results of this study showed that CCF ROM was a significant difference in CCF ROM before and after RM (p < 0.05). CCF strength also showed a significant difference before and after RM (p < 0.05). Conclusion: RM method might be recommended to increase the immediate ROM and strength of CCF in subjects with forward head posture.

The purpose of this study was to examine the immediate effect of neck stabilization exercise and Swiss ball exercise on the recovery from the fatigue of neck muscles induced. The turtleneck posture was set artificially by using Smartphone with healthy adults. Repetitively measured ANOVA was executed to examine the changes in the muscle fatigue of sternocleidomastoid, upper trapezius, and splenius capitis among three-time intervals (at the time of general resting, work and after intervention) in the three intervention groups (neck stabilization exercise group, Swiss ball exercise group, and ordinary rest group). There were no significant differences in the changes of fatigue of sternocleidomastoid muscle among all three intervention groups at the time of general resting, work and after intervention (p>.05). Although there was no significant difference in the changes in the fatigue of upper trapezius and splenius capitis muscles between the intervention groups at the time of general resting and work (p>.05), there was the significant difference between the three intervention groups at the time of work and after intervention (p>.05). This study suggest that Swiss ball exercise is more effective in reducing the muscular fatigue of the neck and shoulder at a turtleneck posture than neck stabilization exercise.

This study compared the effects of the initial head position (i.e., a HHP versus a relaxed head position) of subjects with and without a FHP on the thickness of the deep and superficial neck flexor muscles during CCF. The study recruited 6 subjects with a FHP and 10 subjects without a FHP. The subjects performed CCF in two different head positions: a HHP, with the head aligned so that the forehead and chin formed a horizontal line, and a relaxed head position (RHP), with the head aligned in a self-selected comfortable position. During the CCF exercise, the thickness of the longus colli (LCo) and the thickness of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) were recorded using ultrasonography. The thickness of each muscle was measured by Image J software. The statistical analysis was performed with a two-way mixed-model analysis of variance. The thickness of the SCM differed significantly (p<.05) between the subjects with and without FHP. According to a post hoc independent t-test, the change in thickness of the SCM increased significantly during CCF in the subjects with FHP while adopting a HHP compared to that in the subjects without FHP. The change in thickness of the SCM was not significantly different between the two positions in subjects without FHP, and there was no significant change in thickness of the LCo muscle during the CCF exercise according to the initial position in both subjects with and without FHP. The results suggest that CCF should be performed in RHP to minimize contraction of the SCM in subjects with a FHP.

본 연구는 뇌졸중 후 발생한 삼킴 장애 환자를 대상으로 목근육에 표면 전극을 이용한 전기 자극 치료가 삼킴 장애에 미치는 영향을 알아보고자 하였다. 연구방법 : 본 연구는 연세대학교 원주의과대학 부속 원주기독병원에서 뇌졸중으로 진단 받은 사람으로서 삼킴 장애가 비디오투시검사를 통해 확인된 18명을 대상으로 하였다. 자연회복 여부를 확인하기 위하여 2주 동안 삼 킴 장애 치료를 목적으로 한 어떠한 처치도 받지 않았고, 그 후 전기 자극 치료를 하루 1시간, 일주일에 5회, 4주간 실시하였다. 삼킴 기능의 변화를 알아보기 위하여 2주 통제 기간 전후와 전기 자극 치료 2주후, 전기 자 극 치료 4주 후에 비디오투시검사를 실시하여 각 대상자별 4회의 검사가 실시되었다. 녹화된 동영상을 바탕으 로 연하 곤란 척도와 인두 통과 시간을 측정하였다. 결과 : 대상자들은 통제기간동안 삼킴 기능의 변화가 없었지만(p>.05), 2주간의 전기 자극 치료 후 유의한 삼킴 기능의 향상을 보였으며(p<.05), 4주 전기 자극 치료 후에도 2주 전기 자극 치료 후보다 유의한 삼킴 기능의 향 상이 있었다(p<.05). 그러나 인두통과시간은 2주 치료 후, 4주 치료 후 모두 유의하게 변하지 않았다(p>.05). 삼 킴 후 인두기의 잔여물은 양배꼴동, 후두개곡에서 유의하게 줄어들었다(p<.05). 결론 : 본 연구 결과 대상자들은 2주 기간 동안 삼킴 기능의 자연 회복을 보이지 않았고 전기 자극 치료 후에 유의 한 기능 향상을 보여 전기 자극 치료의 효과를 증명하였다. 대상자들은 2주 전기 자극치료에서 뿐만 아니라 4주 치료 후에도 계속적인 기능 상승을 보였는데 앞으로는 본 연구보다 장기적인 치료의 효과와 이의 지속여부를 확 인하는 연구가 필요할 것으로 생각된다. 또한 인두통과시간은 삼킴 기능의 변화를 민감하게 나타내지 못하였으 므로 인두 통과 시간만을 측정하는 삼킴 기능의 평가는 추후 연구에서도 주의가 필요할 것으로 생각된다.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of slump sitting postures on the masticatory, neck, shoulder, and trunk muscles associated with work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMD). Eleven healthy adults (age, 23.3±2.7 yrs; height, 174.0±4.1 ㎝; weight, 61.4±6.6 ㎏) participated in this study. The participants were free of injury history and neurologic deficits in the masticatory, neck muscles and upper extremities at the time of participation. The subjects were asked to perform erect and slump sitting postures under the guidance of physical therapists. The surface electromyography (EMG) was recorded from the anterior temporalis, masseter, upper trapezius, serratus anterior, middle trapezius, L3 paraspinal, external abdominal oblique, gluteus maximus muscles of 11 adults as they performed visual terminal display work, which are known as the weakened and tightened muscles owing to WRMD. The recorded signals were averaged and normalized to the mean amplitude of the EMG signal obtained during submaximal reference voluntary contractions. The results of study were as follows: The masseter, upper trapezius, serratus anterior, middle trapezius, L3 paraspinal, external abdominal oblique muscles significantly differed in the slump sitting posture (p<.05). The muscle activities of the serratus anterior, middle trapezius muscle, and external abdominal oblique were significantly lower and that of the masseter, upper trapezius, L3 paraspinal muscles were significantly higher. Further research is needed to assess the motor control problems and the function of the deep muscles in posture stability of patients with WRMD.

목적 : 연하곤란이 있는 환자에게 목에 붙이는 전극을 통하여 전기자극을 주는 신경근 전기자극 치료의 안전성과 치료효과를 알아보기 위함이다. 연구방법 : 연하곤란 증상이 있는 10명을 대상으로 2주일 동안 1주일에 5번, 하루에 한 시간씩 신경근 전기자극 치료를 하였다. 전기자극 치료 시작 전․후에 비디오 투시조영연하검사로 환자가 흡입 없이 삼킬 수 있는 음식물의 형태를 근거로 삼킴 기능 점수를 최소 0점에서 최고 6점까지 주었으며 삼킴 기능에 관련된 임상증상을 치료 전과 치료 후로 평가하여서 Wilcoxon 부호 순위검증으로 비교 분석하였다. 결과 : 삼킴 기능 점수는 1.6점에서 4.4점으로 유의하게 증가되었으며(p＜0.05), 환자의 90%에서 삼킴 기능이 증가하였다. 또한 삼킴 기능에 관련된 구토반사, 기침반사, 혀의 운동성, 후두 편위가 신경근 전기자극 치료 전에 비하여 치료 후에 유의하게 회복하였다. 결론 : 신경근 전기자극 치료는 목의 삼킴 기능에 관련하는 근육을 활성화시키는 것뿐만 아니라 삼킴 기능에 영양을 미치는 임상적 증상의 회복에도 도움이 되므로 연하곤란을 치료하기 위한 신경근 전기자극 치료는 안전하고 효과적인 것으로 입증되었다.