Background: In patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), lumbar flexion exercise (LFE) is considered a standard therapeutic exercise that widens the space between the spinal canal and intervertebral foramen. However, some researchers have reported that lumbar extension exercise (LEE) may improve lumbar pain and functional ability in patients with LSS. Although exercise intervention methods for patients with LSS have been widely applied in clinical settings, few studies have conducted comparative analysis of these exercise methods. Objects: This study aimed to compare the effects of LFE, LEE, and lumbar flexion combined with lumbar flexion-extension exercise (LFEE) on pain, range of motion (ROM), pelvic tilt angle, and functional gait ability in patients with LSS. Methods: A total of 30 patients with LSS, LFE (n1=10), LEE (n2=10), and LFEE (n3=10) were assigned to each of the three exercise groups. The numerical pain rating scale (NPRS), modified-modified schober test (MMST)-flexion, MMST-extension, pelvic tilt inclinometer, and 6-minute walking test (6MWT) were measured. Results: After the intervention, statistically significant differences were observed in the NPRS (p=.043), MMST-flexion (p<.001), MMST-extension (p<.001), and 6MWT (p=.005) between groups. According to the post hoc test, the NPRS was statistically significant difference between the LFEE and LEE groups (p=.034). The MMST-flexion was statistically significantly different between the LFE and LEE (p=.000), LFE and LFEE (p=.001), and LEE and LFEE (p=.001) groups. The MMST-extension was statistically significantly different between the LFE and LEE (p<.001), LFE and LFEE (p=.002), and LEE and LFEE (p=.008) groups. The 6MWT was statistically significantly different between the LFE and LFEE (p=.042) and the LEE and LFEE (p=.004) groups. Conclusion: This study suggested that LFEE was the most effective exercise for pain and functional gait ability in patients with LSS, LFE was the most effective exercise for lumbar flexion ROM, and LEE was the most effective exercise for lumbar extension ROM.

This study investigated therapeutic effects of pelvic tilt exercise (PTE) on weight bearing and body sway during sit-to-stand (STS) on 18 hemiplegic patients who had visited the Hanyang University Seoul Hospital and Injae University Sanggyebek Hospital physiotherapy rooms. The study compared the patients with 18 normal adults. The subjects were sampled out from those who could get up independently, maintain a standing posture more than 10 seconds, understand the movements of this study and have no difficulty in performing the tasks. By executing STS in a natural way with habitual movements before and after PTE, the weight bearing was measured by using Mediance II. In order to compare the difference of weight distribution, weight bearing and body sway on affected and nonaffected sides during STS before and after PTE, the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test was used. The statistical significance level was based on p<.05. The results revealed that the difference of weight distribution in the hemiplegic group was significantly decreased (p<.05), whereas there was no significant difference in the healthy group (p>.05). Weight bearing loaded on the affected side was 42.53±7.65% and 44.20±6.32%, respectively, in the hemiplegic group during STS before and after PTE. Weight bearing during STS after PTE is increased significantly, as compared with weight bearing before PTE (p<.05). Body sway in the hemiplegic group was significantly decreased (p<.05). As mentioned, PTE proved to be effective for improvement in weight bearing on the affected side during STS of hemiplegic patients.