Background: Child care center teachers are exposed to musculoskeletal injuries caused by repetitive movements at low heights due to the nature of their jobs. Self-myofascial release (SMFR) improves flexibility, pain, and functional performance. Pectoralis minor self-stretching (PMSS) improves muscle flexibility and postural alignment. PMSS has been commonly used to correct a rounded shoulder posture (RSP). Objectives: To examine the shoulder height, muscle tone, muscle stiffness, and muscle elasticity for women child care center teachers with RSP. Design: Randomized study. Methods: The participants were 20 women child care center teachers with RSP. They were randomly assigned two groups: SMFR group (n=10) and PMSS group (n=10). They performed each exercise for 20 min, 3 times a week for 4 weeks. They measured shoulder height, muscle tone, stiffness, and elasticity of upper trapezius before and after exercise. Results: In the shoulder height, there was no significant difference between two groups. There were significant decreases within both groups. In the muscle tone, stiffness, and elasticity, there was no significant difference between two groups and within two groups. Conclusion: SMFR using a hard massage ball and PMSS have a positive effect on posture correction for child care center teacher with RSP.

Background: Self-myofascial release using a foam roller has short-term effects for improving muscle function and joint range of motion (ROM) and reducing delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) after exercise. Objectives: The purpose of our study was to examine the muscle physiological changes for each set in self-myofascial release of the hamstring muscles using a foam roller in order to provide basic data for the most effective program composition for improving muscle tension, stiffness, and flexibility of the hamstring muscles. Design: A quasi-experimental clinical trial. Methods: To confirm the effect of self-myofascial release of the hamstring muscles using a foam roller, muscle tone and stiffness of the hamstring muscles were measured. As an intervention method, the study subject performed four sessions of self-myofascial release by moving a foam roller back and forth on the posterior thigh muscle of the right leg. Results: There were statistically significant changes in the stiffness of the biceps femoris and the flexibility of the hamstring muscles. Conclusion: Self-myofascial release with foam rolling is an effective intervention method for increasing hamstring flexibility and ROM, and it is recommended as effective to perform self-myofascial release for three to four sessions to maintain normal muscle tone and stiffness of the hamstring muscles.

Background: Although it has been reported that both self-myofascial release (SMR) with foam rolling (FR) and active static hamstring stretching (e.g., jackknife stretching) are effective in improving hamstring flexibility, no study has compared the effects of these exercises. Objectives: To compare the effects of SMR with FR and jack-knife stretching on hamstring flexibility. Design: A Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Subjects with hamstring tightness were divided into the SMR with the FR group (n=12) and the jack-knife stretching group (n=12). Subjects groups performed SMR with FR or jack-knife stretching according to group assignment. To identify changes in hamstring flexibility, the finger-to-floor distance (FFD) test, active knee extension (AKE) test, and passive straight leg raising (PSLR) test were performed at pre- and post-exercise. Results: Significant increases occurred in knee extension angle during the AKE test and hip flexion angle during the PSLR test after exercise in both groups (P<.001). Additionally, FFD and anterior pelvic tilt during the FFD test significantly increased (P<.001); however, we observed no significant interaction and main effects for the groups (P>.05). Conclusion: Both SMR with FR and jack-knife stretching are effective in improving hamstring flexibility in subjects with hamstring tightness.

본 연구는 비만 여자대학생을 대상으로 8주간의 자가근막이완 운동이 신체조성, 혈관, 대사기능에 미치는 효과에 대해서 알아보고자 하였다. 비만 여자대학생 19명을 대상으로 포기자 1명을 제외하고자 가근막이완 운동집단(n=9)과 통제집단(n=9)으로 무선 배정하였다. 운동집단은 폼롤러를 이용하여 8주간 주 2회, 1회에 40분간 자가근막이완 운동을 실시하였고, 통제집단은 동일한 기간 동안 일상생활을 유지하 도록 하였다. 측정 변인으로 신체조성은 체중과 체지방률을 측정하였고, 혈관기능은 혈압, 심박수, 맥파전 파속도, 대동맥증폭지수, 상완동맥 혈관내피세포 의존성 이완능을 측정하였으며, 대사기능은 공복 혈당과 중성지방 수치를 측정하였다. 본 연구결과 폼롤러를 이용한 자가근막이완 운동 후 체중과 체지방률은 유의한 감소가 나타나지 않았다. 폼롤러를 이용한 자가근막이완 운동 후 심박수, 혈관내피세포의존성 이완능, 맥파전파속도는 유의한 변화가 나타나지 않았으나, 상완동맥과 중심동맥 수축기 혈압이 유의하게 감소하였고(p<.01), 대동맥 증폭지수도 유의하게 감소하였다(p<.05). 대사기능의 변인인 혈당과 중성지방은 유의한 감소가 나타나지 않았다. 본 연구의 결과를 종합해 보면 비만 여자대학생에게 8주간의 자가근막이완 운동 은 신체조성 변인인 체중과 체지방률, 대사기능의 변인인 혈당과 중성지방에 유의한 차이가 나타나지 않았 다. 그러나 혈관기능의 변인인 상완동맥과 중심동맥 수축기 혈압, 대동맥 증폭지수에서 유의한 차이를 보였다. 따라서 8주간의 폼롤러를 이용한 자가근막이완 운동은 비만 여자대학생의 혈관기능을 개선시키는데 효과적인 운동방법이 될 것으로 판단된다.