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: Progressive muscle weakness is aggravated not only in the skeletal muscles but also in the respiratory muscles in many patients with neuromuscular diseases (NMD). Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) has been reported as therapy for pulmonary rehabilitation to improve respiratory strength, endurance, exercise capacity, and quality of life, and to reduce dyspnea. Objects: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of playing harmonica for 5 months on pulmonary function by assessing the force vital capacity (FVC), peak cough flow (PCF), maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximal expiratory pressure (MEP), and maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) in patients with NMD. Methods: Six subjects with NMD participated in this study. The subjects played harmonica once a week for 2 hours at a harmonica academy and twice a week for 1 hour at home. Thus, training was performed thrice a week for 23 weeks. The examiner assessed pulmonary function by measuring FVC in the sitting and supine positions and PCF, MIP, MEP, and MVV in the sitting position at the beginning of training and once a month for 5 months. Results: Both sitting and supine FVC significantly increased after playing harmonica (p=.042), as did MIP (p=.043) and MEP (p=.042). Conclusion: Playing harmonica can be used as an effective method to improve pulmonary function in patients with NMD.

This study evaluated and compared the effectiveness on upper motor extremity function between proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation which has been frequently used in clinical practice, and action observation training in terms of improving upper motor extremity function. A study with a single-subject design (A-B-C-A') was conducted with a patient who was diagnosed with left hemiplegia. A repeated-measure analysis was conducted to assess results of the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT), Box and Block Test (BBT), and grip and pinch strength test performed daily in the study for 4 weeks. The results of the analysis indicated that the WMFT score, BBT score, grip strength, and pinch strength were improved from 29.60 to 39 (24.10%), from 1.67 to 4.93 each (EA) (66.22%), from 2.06 to 2.66 libras (lbs) (22.61%), and from 1.57 to 1.93 lbs (18.94%), respectively, from the baseline period to treatment period B. The values were improved from 29.60 to 42.20 (29.86%), from 1.67 to 7 EA (76.21%), from 2.06 to 3.47 lbs (40.57%), and from 1.57 to 1.67 lbs (6.12%), respectively, from the baseline period to treatment period C. From treatment period B to treatment period C, the WMFT score, BBT score, and grip strength were improved from 39 to 42.20 (7.58%), from 4.93 to 7 EA (29.56%), and from 2.66 to 3.47 lbs (23.20%), respectively, but pinch strength was decreased from 1.93 to 1.67 lbs (15.83%). In conclusion, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation and action observation training both have positive effects on upper extremity motor function. However, we suggest that the posttreatment effect of action observation training was better than that of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation.

목적: 본 연구는 관성 과부하 원리를 활용한 반응 신경계 훈련에 따른 초보 골퍼의 머리와 클럽 헤드의 협응성을 분석하는데 목적이 있다. 방법: 중심축 이동 현상이 주로 나타나는 골프 입문자를 대상으로 골프 피치샷을 실험과제로 선정하였다. 반응 신경계 훈련 집단은 7kg 클럽벨을 활용하여 관성 과부하 동작을 피치샷 연습과 병행하여 실시하였으며, 최소 관성 부하 훈련 집단은 400g 아동용 T-배트를 적용하여 관성의 부하 정도를 최소한으로 제한하여 피치샷 연습과 병행하였다. 통제 집단은 별도의 추가적 훈련 없이 피치 샷 연습만을 수행하였다. 골프 수행력 평가는 피치 샷 정확성 점수판을 활용하였으며 3차원 영상 분석을 통해 머리의 좌우 이동 거리, 그리고 머리와 클럽 헤드의 상관계수를 도출하였다. 결과: 전반적으로 반응 신경계 훈련 집단이 비교 집단에 비해 우수한 수행력을 보였으며, 머리의 좌우 이동 거리와 머리-클럽 헤드의 협응 관계에서도 반응 신경계 훈련 집단이 월등히 향상되는 결과를 나타내었다. 논의: 동작의 오류 극대화를 통해 올바른 협응 구조를 유도하는 반응 신경계 훈련은 운동 기술 학습의 새로운 접근법이다. 앞으로 더욱 창의적이고 다양한 반응 신경계 훈련을 통하여 자기주도 학습 환경을 제안하는 많은 후속 연구를 기대한다.